Think Like A Criminal

On 01/31/2016 at 01:30 AM by Super Step

Well, I finally beat the last mission in GTA III. I used all the cheat codes in the book to "save" Maria from Catalina and the Colombian Cartel, having used no cheats prior. Gonna skip over the other PS2 classics I own on PS4 and go straight to IV. First GTA I ever actually beat was V last year, so I figure I'll play numbered entries first (though I have Vice City started on both Steam and PS4). Of course, this plan depends on how well my laptop responds to a bigger 360/PS3 title like that. It responded well to 2013's Tomb Raider, but hell if I know given it also crashes when I try playing Limbo or Mark of the Ninja too long. Xbox/PS2/GCN era seems to be a safe bet on my "PC," but past that is a crapshoot seemingly dependent on how well a game is ported, even if it is playable on a phone.

I'd say III is a good game, but definitely of its time. Some of the blandness is my fault for not being open to cheats until the last mission and not really exploring all that much. There's still free-roam stuff I want to do in the game, which I guess is more the point since the story was pretty tacked on. I dunno, I guess I'm classically conditioned towards linear gaming. I consider completing the main adventure/story winning, and 100%ing a game is an afterthought, even if it is supposed to be a "sandbox" title.

Otherwise, I started my lesson plan by reading the chapter on video editing the syllabus says my kids need to read. Luckily, this is all stuff I know and can teach easily as long as I come up with a good way to have them hands on with Final Cut Pro X while also being able to give my lecture. I'm gonna try amping up the discussion in my intro class that's all lecture, cause I think these kids are starting to resent me asking them if they remember the basic concepts in the book. In my defense, they need to know that crap for their test this week.

I'm gonna look up some videos and sources on how to teach so I can be more effective at it. I feel like my classes so far are hit or miss, and I want my students to get the most out of it. There should really be a course teaching you how to teach. I saw an article on that in The Atlantic I believe it was recently. Hopefully, I saved that to my Facebook stories. I have over a hundred news stories to read because of how many things pop up on my Facebook feed that interest me. I swear, I use it less and less to socialize and more and more to satisfy my cravings as a news/politics junkie.

I also just watched epsiode 6 of Jessica Jones and it seems to be picking up. I still think I'll prefer Daredevil (it's actually my favorite thing from Marvel so far in terms of movies/TV; the Netflix version, but I liked the 2004 movie when it came out and I was 14, so sue me), but I'm looking forward to seeing where this show goes. It's had interesting characters and premise from go to keep me watching, it's just a bit of a slow burn as far as how the plot moves along. Also watched a few minutes of F is for Family, but haven't finished the episode. I'm a big Bill Burr fan and I really like Bojack Horseman, so I'm hoping Netflix's assumption this will be a three-star show for me is wrong.

Well, what are you up to? How do you feel about GTA and/or sandbox games in general? Jessica Jones and Daredevil on Netflix? Netflix original cartoons? What did you like best about your favorite classes in college, especially if you were any kind of media (Film/RTV/Design/Photography) major? Both hands-on and lecture-heavy classes, since I teach both.

Matt Snee Staff Writer

01/31/2016 at 02:25 AM

GTA IV isn't that great, but it was ok at the time. However, one of the funniest parts of all those games happened to me once when I was on a rampage and killing people and the cops were chasing me and Nico (I think that's the main character's name) shouts out "But I didn't do ANYTHING!" I still crack up about that, and it's funny cause my brother was there too and we sometimes reminisce about it.

I can't really concentrate on movies or TV, but if I could I would watch daredevil, etc. Daredevil is one of my favorite marvel characters, and I grew up reading the comics.

your kids better learn that book or you're gonna have to lay the smack down!

Super Step Contributing Writer

01/31/2016 at 03:59 AM

The scantron will lay the smack down for me. That's my favorite thing about that class: no one can legitimately argue my grading is subjective when it's a multiple choice test. The creative software program heavy class on the other hand ... I'm also not looking forward to students complaining they can't find cameras.

You should watch Daredevil.

GTA IV may not be that great, but the hellish process of trying to "sign in" to it is ... well why I'm still up and why there's a blog coming up.

jgusw

01/31/2016 at 08:33 PM

I like the GTA games. Some have aged better than others. Not a fan of GTA online. I finished them all except GTA5. A friend gave me a copy of GTA5 (360) I played it a little. Not sure when I'll go back to it.

01/31/2016 at 09:54 PM

I haven't played much of online. I liked V though and Ihave played some fun online missions with friends.

Cary Woodham

01/31/2016 at 11:51 PM

Only GTA style game I played and enjoyed is one you probably never heard of. It's called Steambot Chronicles and its for PS2. It is set in a early 20th century style era, but instead of Model T cars, everyone drives around bipedal mechs. If you can find it, I highly recommend it.

Most of the Netflix original cartoons I've seen are horrible.

I think my favorite Journalism classes I had in college were my Feature Writing and Magazine classes. I also liked Freshman English classes because those were meant to be weed-out classes, but I made 100s on all my papers. :) Typography was also strangely interesting. I also took a couple of geology classes about dinosaurs and one called "Earth, Wind, and Fire" that I got a 100 on the final on! And I also took a Children's Literature class that was probably one of the easiest courses I ever took.

02/01/2016 at 02:57 PM

I've definitely heard of Steamboat Chronicles, actually. Sounds fun.

What Netflix cartoons have you seen? It's ok if it's one I like, Bojack Horseman isn't for everyone.

Hmmm .... so what you're saying is have more dinosaurs in my lectures.

KnightDriver

02/01/2016 at 01:31 AM

I've played very little of the GTA games, but open world is great with a friend or two. By myself, and I get lost.

02/01/2016 at 02:58 PM

It's actually a good thing the map in GTA III was somewhat small, because I still managed to get lost. Getting from point a to b is my least favorite thing in open world. Hell, like I said I just play the missions anyway.

goaztecs

02/03/2016 at 11:21 AM

The PS2/PSP GTA games were the best when it came to cheat codes. I don't think I used a single code since the PS3 (curse you trophy system)

Eventually I'll get back into Jessica Jones. I'm on episode 4 or 5.

02/03/2016 at 03:12 PM

I'm annoyed V doesn't have the money cheat. I want that golf course.

Jessica Jones started getting real interesting end of episode 6 to me. Everyone I've talked to has said it gets better in the second half and I agree so far. I think I'm watching episode 9 and 10 tonight, if not 9-11. Going to the bar tomorrow hopefully, then 13 on Friday to finish it.

PixlBit