20230916 Tomb Raider 1 - Colosseum Leve

IN 1996...

When Tomb Raider came out in around 1996/7, it was exciting. Back then, Doom, Wolfenstein and its other inspiration was kinda exhausting, not to mention giving me slight headaches. But this game was different where you kinda explore the game in your own time.

The game can be run on a minimal PC setup and you can say that I spent a lot of time exploring the 'Worlds'. Never mind if I get killed numerous times but this is a game which I can play in my own pace.

LOSER

 Yeah, that's how I felt later on when I saw other people playing the game. There were a few nifty moves she can execute and also, actually, there are a lot of secret areas which I did not know about. I thought those short tunes were reward for finding a medikit or ammo. LOL.

I always loved this level because of the lighting which lights up the pit area but not the edges where she stands. However, I always forget that the Apes always gets me.

 

SELF-AWARE AI

Decades later, thanks to Foxmaster, who created a self-aware Lara Croft, I get to watch her play and complete the level.

20230904 Running out of blinker fluid

It happened today, one of VeeChai's left indicator lights was not... indicating anymore. I am very thankful with today's cars as they do have some kind of signal or lights to tell you that something has gone wrong. Decades ago, the signals could be in the form of acrid smoke (electrical shorts), sudden stop on the road (broken timing belts or out of gas), complete darkness at night (burnt headlights or broken switch), and even the oft squeaks (I have no idea). 

These form of warning has now carried over to newer cars in the forms of non-intrusive indicators. For example, when there is an issue with the tyre, there will  be an indicator to tell you the, "Guess which tyre is flat' game has started.

And so, I had a kind of signal today when I wanted to turn left. The indicator light for the indicator indicated that it is no indicating. In other words, I need to top up the blinker fluid. By coincidence, there was a vacant spot near to a car repair/service shop. Thinking this was a sign, I happily went in to get some blinker fluid and came out RM18.00 poorer.

I mean, come on. Last month, the front right bulb went out and it only costs me RM10.00. "Aha, but these are from Japan. So they costs more.", she said. I am not that happy with her reply but I still bought it since I was that stupid. I mean, I expected half a litre of blinker fluids or something but no, these now comes in glass cartridges and I can't even see any fluid inside them anymore.

Another thing about these lights is that do not work all the time. In fact, they only work half of the time. You know, "it's working", "it's not working", "it's working" and so on.

The Japanese bulb (left) has wordings saying it is from Japan while on the right, it is darker because it is burnt.