My Favourite Computer Game of All-Time - From Soon Seng's Point of View Tuesday, August 12, 2008
It all began when I first brought home the 2-piece pirated borrowed cd from a friend, and popped it into my Pentium 75, to hear the marching sounds of Red Alert waft from 16 bit speakers. I was instantly hooked. Granted, it took years to load a single map, and I could have boiled several cups of coffee before even starting to play, but it was all worth it.
I can put my tanks anywhere.
It was every boy's (and girls with a fetish for heavy metal) dream come true. Plenty of explosions, heavy equipment, rock music, and a sexy lady in the form of Tanya who ran around planting bombs and saying things like "Ka-Ching!".
Pretty soon, however, I began to grow bored of watching miniature tanks roll around on a black map which slowly uncovered itself, and the phrase "Unit ready!" started to set my teeth on edge. After having completed Red Alert twice, I managed to purloin borrow yet another cd, and this time, it was Diablo. Yes, the first Diablo, which managed to chill my blood everytime I heard the eerie music and watch gruesome bodies rise up in churches, attempting to reduce my globe of red health to zero.
Its kinda creepy in the dark.
Nonetheless, the running around and hacking began to grow wearisome. I had yet to find 'The' game, which could keep me coming back for more. I tried my hand at Diablo II, and lo and behold! I was hooked...again. I slept at night, dreaming of various things to transmute, Unique Items I could unearth, and various weapons to buy (of course there were also the scantily clad elf maidens running around, but thats a different matter altogether)
(Highly pixelated) Eye Candy I can dream my items to death.
Still, something was lacking. I've always wanted to be part of the experience, to customize the settings, leaving my mark in the game, and thus far, all those mentioned earlier lacked that sense of involvement. I quested far and wide, and only managed to spoil my pirated borrowed cds through overuse.
Until I found Counterstrike.
It was like finding gold. My first glimpse of the mod was when I was blasting aliens in Half-Life, and when I shot my first kill in the head, it was pure ecstasy. (ok, mp_friendlyfire was on, and it was my own teammate, but still...) And, even better, I realized that, due to the game engine, I could pretty much do anything I wanted! I could press the (~) key, and key in all kinds of commands, so as to be able to do anything from carrying the gun in my left hand to jumping like Superman. I could spraypaint my own stuff on the wall, and hide in clouds of smoke while everyone was busy knifing each other.
Yes, even Nuffnang-ers can leave their mark!*
Suffice to say, despite the fact that I was virtually useless at the game, Counterstrike became an integral part of my life.
I suddenly had less real friends.
In a nutshell, Counterstrike managed to beat Diablo II to come in as my Favourite Computer Game of All Time, a title which will remain indefinitely undisputed.
Diablostrike/Counterblo II
Or until they amalgamate Diablo II and Counterstrike, of course.
*For the Nuffnang-ers, feel free to download the Nuffnang Spraypaint Logo (click here to download), and use it in the tournament! Installation instructions are as follows.
1. Copy Nuffnang.bmp into "SIERRA\Half-Life\logos".
2. Start Counterstrike, select Customize, and choose the Nuffnang logo as your spraypaint image.
3. Enjoy!
Posted at 09:03 pm by IsaacCheah
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Kwo Kuang Turns 22 @ The Apartment, The Curve Thursday, August 07, 2008
Sue Ann and I were the earliest to arrive at The Apartment, The Curve, for Kwo Kuang's 22nd do. After commenting about the cosy ambience of the second floor and unique wallpaper design, Li-Lynn soon joined us, followed by straggling lines of Kwo Kuang's friends from both high school and university. The whole night was pretty much about talking over the din that slowly became louder as the place started to shift into full swing; the formerly empty floor was soon packed with people.
Sue Ann and Li-Lynn (against the nice wallpaper). Me and Sue Ann (look at the right side of the picture). Me and Lynn (with respective head sizes). Me, Jolene and Kwo Kuang. Weng Hoe, Melody, Ning Khang, Weng Lum (with Kwo Kuang hovering behind). Kwo Kuang in Full Colour. Jolene must have said something interesting to Chin Ju, judging by the way he looks. Tze Ching, Lauren, myself, and Melody
 Happy Birthday! Tze Ching, Lynn, Me (Tze Ching gave some down to earth advice about relationships that night. Thank you. Thank you very much) I love taking candid photos. I still love taking candid photos. Zhao Heng, Sue Ann, Lauren, and myself. Sue Ann and I. Jolene and I. Jolene is my current partner in crime for the Nuffnang Gift Ideas contest, and we decided to exchange gifts. Her gift ideas are extremely cool though, as compared to my single-tracked mind. Have a look at it here! Everyone sort of jumped into the picture before you could even say cheese. Sue Ann and Kwo Kuang. Lynn and Jolene (tadika mates, right?). Robin! (note the exclamation mark). The Compulsory Group Photo.
The night ended with me and Sue Ann hunting for my car on the wrong floor (sorry Sue, had to make you walk around the quiet basement parking lot with me).
I love rootbeer from The Apartment.
Posted at 11:55 pm by IsaacCheah
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Nuffnang Gift Ideas Contest - From Soon Seng's Point of View Monday, August 04, 2008
Browsing through Realmart's selection of products, I realize how
difficult it is to choose something to give to a fellow Nuffnanger -
not because of the lack of choice, rather, due to the abundance of
options available for the irresolute shopper like myself. Of course,
even harder would be to choose Nuffnangers to give gifts to - I want to
give something to everyone! (which, of course, doesn't make sense,
since I'm not Bill Gates. Or even remotely
close)
Yes,
this is the one.
As such, I've finally decided upon
the Canon Powershot A570 IS as my gift of choice. The simplistic design of
the camera clearly called out to me from the online pages of Realmart's
digital camera section. If Anna Kournikova can get tennis balls to
follow her around by using one, I'm sure the Nuffnangers I give it to
won't complain all that much.
But which Nuffnanger should I give it to?
Should it be for Boss
Stewie, which
would make this my preemptive measure to be the person to give Timothy
a camera to record all the moments before he hits the front pages of
the next issue of Tatler (or after the Wild Live Blogging Stint -
National Geographic)
I can run faster than most security
guards...or so I believe.
...or perhaps it would be for Ringo, since I think most of you would agree with me
that a camera wouldn't be out of place under Ringo's Christmas tree...
after all, one can never have enough photos of
her!
I'm only worried about pepper spray in
the face...
...I could give it
M.C. Liang, since even famous celebrities need photos of themselves,
every now and
then.
Even cool people need
cameras.
...or perhaps to Jolyn or Christopher, who can place the camera next to the cool
laptops they bagged at The Wild Live Blogging Event.
I will need two, in this
case.
...wild animals need their camera time too, as Shad can definitely attest to. A Canon Powershot
A570 will certainly do justice to his tapir.
The tapir is only one of many strange
creatures that walk around his house.
...and the list goes on and on. How does one actually decide?
So, after having carefully
thinking it through, I'm going to give the camera
to...
...Jolene
Lai! Since she has a nice shiny dent across her
Lumix, and her display shows overly glowing people, I'm sure she'll be
happy with a brand new digicam. Furthermore, the Gadget Girl will
surely turn her 56k-Killer entries (read: Entries with TONNES of
photos) into 512kb-Killer entries, with this camera in her hands. And,
of course, she's an extremely nice lady who deserves (at the very
least) a camera.
Here's
a Canon A570 IS, just for
you!
May you have loads of fun and laughter with your new
toy!
And suddenly it struck me that I'm a Nuffnanger as
well.
I'm beside myself with
joy.
If I could, I'll give to the camera to myself, and disassemble it, so
that everyone gets part of it! (i.e. aperture goes to Jolyn, lanyard to
Shad, etc)
Maybe I should just join more of Nuffnang's Competitions, and spread the
joy evenly.
Visit
the Realmart
website for even more gift ideas!
Posted at 01:33 am by IsaacCheah
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Of Fun at Centrepoint, and Jollivet Turning 21... Wednesday, July 30, 2008
We met up again, in Centrepoint, and this time, Robin was around! Yes, it was the first proper conversation other than the one at the graduation where I was fooled into thinking that he was actually helping out with the event (largely due to the professional walkie-talkie he was carrying around). At the same time, it was one of the last times I would be seeing Vincent, the joker whom I hung out with back in Taylors, before he goes off to Australia.
Robin would the one on the right, which makes the one on the left Li-Lynn. Vincent and Zhao Heng are always happy together. Lauren and Sue Ann (who resides 5 minutes away) Sue Ann and Kwo Kuang (whos new hobby is trying to hide behind cola cups) Lauren and I (we have yet to eat duck rice) The Compulsory Group Photo.
On Tuesday night, I popped over to Jollivet's place to celebrate her 21st birthday bash. It was extremely pleasant to see old school friends and childhood ones alike, and catch up on old times. Its actually quite hard to believe that we've known each other all these years, and to finally see her all grown up (and making honey-baked bananas in the kitchen). And talking to Ching Yee brought back nostalgic memories of yesteryear (I also recall talking about Yi Pin and how coincidental that I actually next to her brother.. haha..).
The Birthday Girl herself! Jollivet, and Jessie/Ching Yee (I called her Ching Yee in school, but shes Jessie everywhere else..haha) Jollivet and I. The Honey-Baked Banana is rather drippy (Small World Moment: Jessie/Ching Yee was studying in the same university as Li Ping!) SMKSJ-ians Sitting Together The Compulsory Group Photo
Well, happy 21st, Jollivet! Here's to many great years ahead of you!
Posted at 11:45 pm by IsaacCheah
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Saturday, July 26, 2008
Woohoo! My trusty ol' Dell Inspiron 6000 made it on national T.V.!
Look out for the 3.15" minute marker...
And my hands too!
Alright, so I'm not good-looking enough for the camera. I'll take whatever jollies I can get. (including the fact that my laptop is more famous than me)
Jessica has finally achieved her 4 seconds of fame.
On another note, I've FINALLY watched Batman : The Dark Knight! And the show is absolutely superb. I must say, if they ever decide to bring the Joker back to the silver screen, whoever is playing the part has some pretty big Heath Ledger shoes to fill.
Posted at 03:13 am by IsaacCheah
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Of Japanese Food and Even More Japanese Food... Wednesday, July 23, 2008
For someone who normally doesn't eat Japanese food, Thursday was indeed a day filled with raw fish and noodles with funny names. Brian decided to celebrate his belated 21st birthday with some of his colleagues/friends, and had the brilliant idea of doing so in Ichiban Doshi, Pavillion, KL.
The Belated Birthday Boy himself. Thats rice underneath the raw fish.
 Sarah and I. Sarah and Brian. The retarded people. I remember this as "curry noodles". Japanese Chicken. Which tastes like normal chicken. The Compulsory Group Photo.
Later that night, I joined my cousin Eric and Jeannie for dinner at a relatively unheard of Japanese restaurant in Taipan, USJ 10, called Ogawa. We picked Jeannie up from Sungai Long, and braved the rush-hour traffic to arrive only slightly late for dinner at the very-Japanese diner. The topics we covered during that 2-hour dinner are listed as below;
1. What would happen if I made fish pregnant.
2. How I would be able to cheat on my wife.
3. Wang Li Hom is to die for.
4. How to eat sobi noodles (the answer: cold)
5. How hamsap people look like.
6. What the ice in the urinals are used for.
...and plenty of other interesting dinner-table variety topics.
The signboard is not to be mistaken for a line of health and lifestyle products distributor. We wait for the lift to arrive. Eric and Jeannie. Raw meat. I learnt that eating chrysanthemum flowers leaves an aftertaste thats hard to get rid of. Unagi. The next best meat after pork, lamb, fish, chicken, and beef. Jeannie, Eric, and I (note the chrysanthemum) Before leaving the place.
I would say that the only time I had more Japanese food in a single day was in Jogoya, Starhill.
I bet my cholesterol is going to kill me soon.
For more photos of Japanese food and us in my Facebook album, click here.
Posted at 11:30 pm by IsaacCheah
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