Coffee Talk #124: Gamer vs. Jet Lag

Posted on April 8th, by raymond padilla in Coffee Talk, iPhone, PC Gaming, Today's Specials, Videogames. 333 comments

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, Jim Carrey’s next girlfriend, Fusion Garage’s JooJoo tablet, or the Yankees and Red Sox taking 12 hours to complete three games, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

Technically, it’s coffee time where I am so the column name still applies. Ha! As expected, jet lag is totally kicking my ass. I didn’t believe in jet lag for the first 25 years of my life. I thought it was a sissy excuse for tired people. Then I did a quick work trip to Tokyo and was disoriented for several days after I returned. For all of you younglings reading this, it only gets worse as you get older.

Anyway, gaming has been great with trying to deal with jet lag. Some people just stare at the ceiling until they fall asleep. I find EV training in Pokemon productive and repetitive, which usually helps me catch some Z’s. This trip I’ve been playing the hell out of Civilization Revolution for iPhone. Yes, I’ve played the game essentially the same way for over a thousand times, but I still love it. The repetition is soothing and it helps me relax.

When you guys and gals deal with jet lag or insomnia, what do you do? Is there a certain game you play? Maybe a graphic novel you bring with you on the road? How about web browsing on your phone? Let me know (please)! Maybe I’ll incorporate your techniques into my jet-lag fighting regimen.

Coffee Talk iPhone PC Gaming Videogames

bsukenyan

I don’t really do a lot of (ok any) traveling. But I do travel on the bus back and forth between campus and my apartment a lot, where I usually play some Plants V Zombies. I really like that game, and I actually like playing it more than any other PopCap game I have on my ipod. I used to play bejeweled, bookwork, and peggle a LOT, but now they have all been replaced by PVZ. It is amazing how addictive that game is. If you don’t have it, I recommend it. It will at least be worth one play through.

I was always a fan of the various car games though when it came to trips (because I almost always travel by car) and the states game is one of the best. You could modify this game and try to keep track of how many different people you come across and their ethnicity. See how many points you can get that way.
http://twitter.com/Sandrock323 Sandrock323

I haven’t slept in three days, so I’m curious what everyone does as well.
smartguy

@N8R

awesome. That is the album I bought last night.
RRODisHere

What do you guys think of Philly getting rid of McNabb? I don't think that other kid has shown anything worthy of taking over from McNabb. Big mistake.
N8R

@ RROD

I don't really have a solid opinion yet. i think McNabb is getting old and it's time for Philly to switch it up… but I can't be certain.

There's a real good chance he could do great things on another team.
N8R

This is a link that showed up on my Alexa toolbar:

http://videogames.yahoo.com/events/plugged-in/got…
bsukenyan

@N8R

That's a pretty cool list, I've seen a lot of those on other similar lists, but with Uncharted 2 definitely not on the previous lists.

Speaking of alexa toolbar…I don't remember what the number ranking for rpad.tv was when I first got the toolbar, but it seems like that number is slowly but surely climbing. Moving on up in the world!
bsukenyan

@N8R

Yeah I think when I first got it the number was holding steady for a day or two around 350,000ish, and I saw mine said 287,744 today as well. That's awesome that the 3DS story helped out as much as it did. I agree it would be awesome to beat the current 4961. I think we just have to figure out the best way to turn the daily hits into those people registering and posting.
bsukenyan

@N8R

I just remembered, I sent you an email but I didn't know if you had seen it yet, but I was just curious what font you set the logo in? I was messing around with some fonts on InDesign the other day and got curious. I couldn't really find a match by visual comparison, some were similar, just not thick enough or tall enough.
bsukenyan

@Ray

I read earlier that Gears of War 3 was announced for April 2011…if Cliff B wants some people to test it out I'm sure Iceman and I would be willing to *ahem* help. haha
Nightshade386

lol…..I'm a cronic insomniac. I almost always try and game until I crash, because otherwise I'll end up tossing and turning and keeping my wife awake. Last night it was endless games of MLB 2k10.
N8R

@ bsukenyan

No, I haven't checked that email account yet, but I will soon.

I did however open up Photoshop to see the font and it's called Gill Sans, At least for the part that says "Raymond Padilla and friends talk yada, yada, yada" (which is what I always thought it should say word for word, but it is Ray's site after all so he got final word).

As for the "RPAD" part… I couldn't tell you. If I had to guess I'd say Arial or Arial Black. The height and width is adjustable. Usually when it comes to logos I do, I try to manipulate fonts in such ways that they are more original and less generic and/or copyable.

On my old computer, I could make my own original fonts, and I did… a lot. But I just haven't got a Mac application that does it yet.
Nightshade386

@RRoD: I think Philly fans who have been clammoring for the Eagles to dump McNabb for a decade are in for a shock when the Eagles go 6-10 next year. As a Giants fan, I would have appreciated them at least trading him out of the god damn division though. The guy kills us every year.
http://twitter.com/Sandrock323 Sandrock323

@Nightshade386

I'm the same way. If I don't get enough games in each night, I can't get any sleep. Problem is when something is bugging me, I have no desire to play any games at all and I end up not sleeping till I finally get in the mood to play games again. (Hence my post at 3-4'o clock this morning)
N8R

@ Sandrock

Whatever's bugging you… it will get better.
smartguy

@RROD

I think they got rid of a very overrated QB. Never thought he was better than average. Struck me as a dumb quarterback when he didn't know about tie games.

I'm a saints fan, I know dumb qbs. Aaron Brooks era and the Billy Joe era.
tokz_21

@McNabb

I've always liked McNabb but he is kind of dumb. how do you not know there are ties in OT. I'm sure the Eagles are glad to be done with them but i'm not sold on Kolb.
Nightshade386

@Smartguy: Having watched McNabb play in my team's division for a decade I can tell you, while he's not the most accurate passer and he can be rather streaky, the guy just knows how to win.

The first 4 NFC Championship games he got the Eagles to, he didn't have a single WR who deserved to be starting in the NFL. Don't forget that he got them to a Super Bowl with T.O. out injured. T.O. came back for the Super Bowl after missing the entire playoffs. And I have a real hard time blaming McNabb for the Eagles Defense giving up 30+ points to the Cardinals. He threw for 375 and 3 TD's in that game.

Is he the best playoff QB ever? No. But when you think about it, he's had roughly the same amount of playoff success as Brett Favre and Peyton Manning. The only difference is that when those two won their Super Bowls they didn't have to go through a team of the decade in the big game to win their rings. Favre got an average Patriots team from the weak AFC who's head coach was about to bail on them, and Manning got an overrated Bears team from a weak NFC. McNabb got the Patriots in the middle of the Tom Brady era.

And now that he's finally got a ton of offensive talent around him, they decide to go with the young unproven guy. Makes no sense to me at all.
smartguy

@Nightshade

All QBs who are not upper echelon can be streaky. Eli is a good example, so is Big Ben. Sometimes they are on fire. McNabb has choked more than his fair share of times as well. This past season was a great example. Back to back games they are blown out by Dallas. Kolb will be a good system QB I think. I don't think his game against the Saints this year should be the litmus by which to judge him. A lot of those yards were garbage yards. In fact over half.

I don't think Eagles will have that much of a dropoff with Kolb. Realistically losing Westbrook was just as bad, so that could make the biggest difference in them.
Big Blak

@ NFL

The O-Line for the Redskins is horrible and Donny boy has bad knees, is he on the cover of Madden? (I know he isn't).
smartguy

@Big Blak

That curse will be broken this year if Brees is on it. So divine.
Big Blak

@ Smartguy

Is Brees really on the cover?
Nightshade386

Dallas was a tough matchup for Philly this year, Philly was a tough matchup for NY, and NY was a tough matchup for Dallas. Dallas had the ball for a combined 80 minutes in those two games. Toy Romo threw for 4 TD's. Where was the vaunted Philly defense? So I don't think you can look at those two games as the litmus test for McNabb either. He threw for over 3500 yards last year despite missing two games and the Eagles had the 5th best scoring offense in the NFL last year.

Also don't forget that two of the NFC championship games McNabb lost were to Carolina and Tampa Bay, two teams with outstanding defenses at the time (this was when McNabb had no receivers to throw to).

I'd take McCoy over Westbrook at this point. Westbrook has always been a human tinker toy in that it just doesn't take much to break him. Not that it matters since Andy Reid is allergic to the running game anyways. The Eagles had a combined 23 rushing attempts in those two games against the Cowboys, four of which were by NcNabb when he was running for his life because the offensive line couldn't block the Cowboys (a combined 8 sacks and 14 QB hits, plus 8 tackles for a loss).
Big Blak

@ Nightshade

Nice stats I completely forgot McNabb missed two games.
N8R

@ NFL (sorta)

The judge in Georgia is announcing whether or not they will press charges against Big Ben on Monday (fingers crossed).
RRODisHere

@Smartguy

McNabb's numbers are well above average. McNabb is a very good QB and I think it's stupid to get rid of a good QB for an unproven one. Don't be surprised if the Eagles go 6-10 this year and now that McNabb is gone who will they blame it on this time. As bad as Favre chokes every year no one would ever dream of getting rid of him. I don't understand why McNabb is the only good QB that gets crucified for the team not winning a Super Bowl. Phillip Rivers, Carson Palmer, and Tony Romo are all good QBs who have never gotten to a Super Bowl or as many conference championships as McNabb yet no one blames them and want to see them gone.
RRODisHere

@N8R

I'm sorry but even if Ben gets off Scott free from the law Roger Goddell still has to suspend him. This is the second time in about a year that he's been accused of sexual misconduct so something is definitely wrong.
Nightshade386

@RRoD: Having lived in Eagles country, I'm positive that they are the worst sports fans in the world. These people relentlessly booed Mike Schmidt when he was at the top of his game, but they relate to a thug like Allen Iverson. They Booed McNabb the day he was drafted and ran him out of town after 5 trips to the NFC championship game and a close Super Bowl loss to the Patriots.
RRODisHere

@Nightshade

So true. Some people don't know what they had until it's gone and then it's too late. I just can't see Kolb playing as good as McNabb did.
Big Blak

@N8fitz

Been Rapingburger
thundercracker

that one girl ben "alledgedly" raped was a waitress

so, on that note…i prefer

"ben rapethisserver"
Iceman

LOL!

-M
Big Blak

LMAO!!!!! @ #42
thundercracker

and as far as mcnabb goes, i like him, hes very talented…but he can go straight to hell

he didnt wanna come to buffalo, but he went to washington??

if we sign jason campbell, i may become a texans fan or something…ive been a bills fan since 88'
smartguy

Right now I play battlefield or look at some sites……

More often than not though I’ll drop a few dollars on iTunes and listen to my purchases on the couch with my earbuds in and fall asleep.
Big Blak

@ Thunder

Since 88'? Man I'm sorry lol.
smartguy

@RROD and Nightshade

we have to agree to disagree. I don't like touting stats as defense but Brees threw for over 5k yards season before last because he had to. Stats are deceptive. Philly runs a system that makes qbs look good. Didn't Feely and Detmer win games (more than 1) and don't forget about Jeff Garcia. McNabb was at his best a few years ago when he could run and take a hit. Now that it's over in that area for him, he's an average at best pocket qb.

@RROD specifically

Favre > McChoke. Washington won't be in the NFCCG nor will McNabb be an MVP candidate.

@Big Blak

between Brees, Allen and Wayne.
N8R

@ Smartguy

Hit me up on AIM sometime when you’re on your home computer. I’ll hook you up with tons of music. Just about anything you can think of.

AIM screename = n8fitz

@ anyone else

Feel free to do the same.
tokz_21

Well usually on my trips i bring my gf so i don’t have many sleepless nights. When i’m not with her i just watch tv or just head off to the hotel’s gym if it’s 24 hours and run for a bit.

@jim carrey
I’m surprised that he did break up with her. Oh well he can find some younger piece i bet.

@red sox v yankees
I don’t really mind games taking awhile but the thing that made me laugh was the umpire complaining about the games taking so long.
tokz_21

I smell a bet brewing between Smartguy and RROD.
Iceman

McNabb is the new Culpepper, in my humble opinion. Best to go out on top then suffer a prolonged, agonizing decline to QB mediocrity.

-M
N8R

I found a pretty cool YouTube video regarding the destruction of NYC by classic video game characters:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcXtT3rZcqg
Nightshade386

Jeff Garcia is actually a pretty good QB who has played most of his career in a west coast system, so throwing his success w/ Philly out there as a way to deflate McNabb doesn't make a lot of sense. Fact of the matter is, Philly has gotten by with average QB play against lesser opponents when McNabb has gotten hurt, but they never won in the playoffs without him. Despite a lack of offensive weapons for most of his career, they always had a very stout defense up until last year.

In fact, if you look at AJ Feely's stint with Philly in '02 when he started 5 games late in the season, it's not exactly stellar. He beat the 7-9 Rams, beat the 7-9 Shehawks, threw 5 INTs in a win over 7-9 Redskins, beat the 5-11 Cowboys, and lost to the 10-6 Giants, the only team with a winning record he faced. When McNabb came back for the post season, he led them to the NFC title game.

And if you can look at his career stats and tell me where the drop off is, I don't see it. In fact, he's been a better QB as far as completion % and QB rating the last few years than he was earlier in his career when he ran a lot….primairly because he finally has some weapons around him. I swear DeSean Jackson can't be stopped unless you've got a sniper in the upper deck.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/stats?playe…
smartguy

@nightshade

it's a system that makes qbs look better than they actually are. Like Denver used to make all RBs look like studs.

I'd rather Rivers or Romo over McNabb.
smartguy

@N8R
will do. Awesome.
smartguy

@N8R
will do. Awesome. I’m “revolvermaster”
smartguy

Last night I was rather restless so I bought a GnR album I didn’t own.
bsukenyan

@N8R

I loved the part where the tetris blocks started taking out the buildings! I just started thinking about how I could have done it quicker or better. lol
N8R

@ Body Slam

The Tetris bit was the part that made me chuckle as well.

@ Smartguy

I pretty much always have iChat up. As long as I’m home, I’ll hook you up. I got just over 100 GB’s of music now. I also have all the GNR albums. Appetite is without a doubt my favorite though.
bsukenyan

@N8R

It’s such a great game. I have been playing tetris a lot lately, trying to get my skills up to beat the game in under 20 minutes for the achievement…So far no luck, I’ve plateaued at about 25-26 minutes.

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Coffee Talk #124: Gamer vs. Jet Lag

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