Waste of money

I purchased Mega Man 9 on the PSN.

It was kind of an impulsive buy yesterday because I actually had it saved and I was craving a bit of classic 2D platforming. I was thinking about getting a PS1 game but the smallest PS1 game was like 350MB and I really didn't want to wait so long (besides it wasn’t 2D thus not what I was craving).

So, I began playing all the stages excepting the one included in the trial (that was too hard) and after many hours of playing I had completed ONE stage. That’s all. And BARELY.

I can't explain in writing just how much this game is filled with lame, one-hit deaths as a result of spikes, pits, outrageous attacks and robots that respawn when you move 1 pixel off-screen from where you just saw them. The game doesn’t cheat - it is simply ridiculously hard for no real reason.

The charge-up cannon is nowhere to be found as well as MM’s slide attack. So even though the game is Mega Man NINE it actually looks like Mega Man ONE.

I ought to point out, as well, that the checkpoints in the stages are almost absent and I’ve only found TWO in 8 levels which means I couldn’t even reach the halfway point the majority of my attempts.

Not to sound like a total weakling but this particular game is just too darn tricky to me. Not hard the same way Monster Hunter Freedom 2 was (in that you could beat it by using the right techniques) MM9 is simply too difficult because although you may know how to manage your character proficiently the level designs are so haphazard and cheap you need to die over and over to make any progress. Plus, every time you beat a level your methods don’t significantly transform - in fact, the “Gravity” gun I obtained through killing the one boss does NOTHING. It doesn’t even damage enemies. I have no idea what it actually does at all.

So… I feel kind of foolish right now. I just wasted $10 because I’m pretty sure I'll never play this game again…or, if I do, it’ll be a while from now on an idle weekend.

Open Source Software

I read a blog by Kris Reeves today about open source software, and I had to respond. He makes the case that open source software can't be good because of how it is developed. Well Kris, there are some folks who would like a word with you.

Open source may not be perfect, but there are many examples of successful software packages out there. The idea that open source is only for programmers is downright silly. Open source is about involving the users, and the community. Feedback, suggestions, bug trackers, and the like all contribute to enabling the users to help the development of software packages.

Big companies like Google have seen the merits of the paradigm and bought in with efforts like Android. You've heard about that, haven't you? Maybe you don't have a cell phone. Every day more and more OSS projects are making their way into the hands of end users, and everyone benefits. It's the attitude of people like you that hurts us the most. Instead of criticizing open source, you should be participating in it.

Your usability claims hold no water either. My wife and kids use Ubuntu exclusively and they have no trouble browsing the web, doing their homework, watching videos, whatever. In short, your blog is a waste of time, and I would like to request that you please return the time spent by anyone who reads it to them. Thanks.