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ros3ybabe · 8 months

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Current Japanese Study Routine + Resources 🎀

As you all may know, I am currently self studying Japanese and Spanish, though I am putting Spanish on the back burner for now so I can focus more on Japanese as that is where my passion lies at the moment. Lucky for me, there is a Japanese language and culture club on my university campus that I am (hopefully) going to join next week or the week after, given how busy my schedule ends up being. I thought I’d make a little post about my current routine that I use to study and what resources I am currently using and am planning on purchasing to use in order to build my proficiency in this beautiful language!

Current Resources 🩷

Apps - I am currently playing around with several apps to see which ones work for me, so here is all the apps I currently have downloaded to my iPad/phone

Duolingo - this has been a go to for all language I’ve ever tried to learn, it’s useful for me as a basic introduction to vocabulary, sentence structure, some grammar, and I just like how it involves typing, speaking, listening, and reading.

Drops - this one is just a fun little 5 minutes gamified way to learn vocabulary for me, it’s definitely a go to on my lazier language learning days

Bunpo - I like this for learning the kana but I didn’t realize it costs money to use fully so I am debating purchasing a subscription to the paid version

Write Japanese - this one I’m using to learn the correct stroke order for the kana and I like it for the most part

Renshuu - I just signed in to use this one last night and it looks interesting. I’ve seen it recommended by several blogs and even when google searching language learning and watching YouTube videos so I’m excited to try it out!

NHK for School - I saw someone recommend this on their blog and I remember using the website version in the past so I know this will be helpful when it comes to reading

Jisho - this is a dictionary app that I’ve seen recommended on so many platforms and I’m always open to a good dictionary!

Japanese - this one was recommended on a blog post and it allows you to add vocabulary and interesting phrases so I thought it’d be useful once I start on learning sentence structure and grammar

Italki - this one is the one I’m most excited to use. It connects you to people who speak and teach your target language for a set timed lesson, and it does cost money but you pay by lesson, not on a subscription basis. So if you do one lesson the first week and then another lesson in three weeks or something, you only pay for those two lessons. I’m really looking forward to trying this one out in the future once I get more comfortable with speaking.

Anki - a flash card app I am using to currently learn hiragana and will soon use for katakana and eventually kanji and phrases. I was gonna use Quizlet but I ended up liking this one better for my current needs.

LingoDeer, Memrise, Babbel, HiNative, HelloTalk, Hey Japan, Busuu, Kanji, Kana, Sensei - apps that I have and have not tried yet. I really like the ones I’ve already tried so I’m not sure if I’m going to use these ones soon but if I get bored of current apps than I at least have alternatives to turn to to continue learning

Textbooks/Workbooks/Materials - I currently own two workbooks but will include the resource I am planning on buying, as well as any stationery material I am also using!

Japanese for Busy People I - This was the workbook we had for the Japanese class I took at my university while in high school. My dad ended up buying it for me if I promised not to take Japanese classes once I went to college. (My parents don’t believe it is useful to know and they are helping pay for my education so I didn’t have a choice.) I haven’t started reusing it yet but once I am comfortable with the kana then I will resume using it.

Let’s Learn Katakana - this is a katakana writing book my older brother bought for me (he is supportive of everything I have an interest in even if he doesn’t understand it himself) and it is really useful for learning and practicing writing katakana. However I am still focusing on relearning hiragana so I will return to this workbook after I solidify my hiragana knowledge.

Genki I and Genki II textbook/workbook + answer key bundle - I am planning to buy this off of Amazon as I have heard from most people who are learning Japanese on their own that this set is really useful for self studying so of course I am going to invest in it once I get paid next week.

I am also looking for a hiragana, katakana, and kanji writing workbook to practice those skills.

Free Online Resources -

YouTube!

Anime!

Music

Manga

Anything free I can find online when google searching resources

Stationary Supplies -

Kokuyo Campus Smart Ring Binder in pink

Tombow Fudenosuke Brush Pens in black

Index cards

Pilot g-2 fashion pens

Zebra mild liner highlighter/markers

Papermate Mechanical Pencils

Mini notebook to carry around for vocabulary

My iPad + Apple Pencil + Goodnotes 5

My Chromebook

A lot of resources but I am trying to stick with this for the long term. A few years ago, I self studied Japanese everyday for about 2 years and gained a good understanding but fell off from studying Japanese when I went to university.

My Current Study Routine* 🎀

*when I have more than 30 minutes to study, if I only have 30 minutes or less I just mess around on my language apps

I currently do not use any workbooks or textbooks as I am trying to re familiarize myself with the language. Here’s my current study routine!

Practice Anki flashcards 3 times or until I get 85-90% correct

Practice hiragana writing in Write Japanese app (~10min)

Duolingo lessons for 10 minutes

1 Japanese language Drops lesson

Use Renshuu until I get bored (~10-15min)

Watch an episode of anime as a reward (Japanese audio with English subtitles)

I will switch this up to a more structured way of studying once I start using my textbooks and workbooks, but for now this relaxed style of learning is working for me time wise and attention wise (ADHD brain right here).

I also listen to Japanese music throughout the day and try to recall hiragana characters correctly in my head when I have the time. I also sneak in some practice when at work on my apps and whatnot. I mentioned in my last daily check in some of my favorite Japanese artists, and I also love Japanese versions of K-pop songs too! I’m currently watching Bungou Stray Dogs on crunchyroll right now, and I’m open to any recommendations for what to watch next!

If anyone has any language learning tips or resources they’d want to share, feel free to comment! It would be greatly appreciated!

Til next time my lovelies 🩷🤍

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maculategiraffe · 26 days

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Hi hi! In the past you've mentioned using an app to help keep track of tasks, right? Was it one that gamifies it? I've been on the lookout for something that will help me gamify the improvements I need to work on, like taking my pills and brushing my teeth and using my CPAP machine, haha.

Thanks!

Yes! For several years I used Habitica, and right now I'm using Finch. Habitica is an 8-bit adventure game style thing where you play a warrior or mage or whatnot and Fight to Vanquish your Tasks and receive rewards. Finch is structured around caring for a cute little cartoon bird that you nurture and help grow by accomplishing your tasks. Both are very fun and highly customizable and you can play both for free, although they both also have a paid tier where you can access extra fun little outfits and decorations and such. Habitica has more of a co-op element where you can join adventuring parties and your efforts / accomplished tasks actually help the group with group goals. But you can also add Tree Friends in Finch and send them Good Vibes and Encouragement.

#finch the app #asks

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evan-is-screaming · 26 days

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There's this little game I play called Habitica it's a app that helps gamify life I guess? Anyway is fun. It gives you in game stuff for doing daily tasks (some of mine include the meds I take and doing the dishes) but I also have habits I keep track of. Mostly creative things and reminders to eat food

Anyway it's April fools and all the pets have turned to mushrooms so LOOK AT MY MUSHY DRAGON!!!!!

Join habitica here

#evan is screaming #habitica #habiticaaprilfools #habitica april fools #not sponsored #just what helps me

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tetley1173-igb220-blog · 9 months

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What is this blog about?

By Shannon Tetley

I'm creating this blog to document my journey learning game design and it will be submitted as part of my assessment for the class IGB-220 taught at the Queensland University of Technology. It's my aim to create an interesting record of my learning and to share what I learn with others in an informal yet professional manner.

Why am I studying game design?

Well, I'm actually studying for a bachelor in IT believe it or not. My major and passion is in computer science and I'm studying minors in mobile/cloud applications and user experience. I'm learning game design for the purpose of gamifying mobile apps but that's just the academic reasoning. I've loved video games from a young age and have dreamed of making them for a living since I was a teenager. I chose to study computer science for job security and only discovered my passion for it after beginning my studies. Studying game design for my user experience minor was a happy accident but due to my interest I have embraced it enthusiastically.

How did I become obsessed with video games?

I became interested in them by watching other people play them from a young age. I've always had an active imagination and a lust for adventure. I enjoyed playing make believe and video games are a natural extension of that for me. There's nothing more fun to me than to be immersed in a fictional world were you can explore and act out fantasies.

I don't remember the first game that I ever payed but I do remember being frustrated when I had to stop playing other peoples games when I had to go home from a friend or families house. Eight year old me was determined to get hold of my own games, so when my parents gave me the option of pocket money or a PlayStation for Christmas I gave up the pocket money 😂.

Army Men: Air Attack developed by The 3DO Company

My first game was Army Men: Air Attack published by 3DO. I loved this game because I got to play with army men that could actually shoot! I loved the light-hearted and comical story of this game but it was all about the action for me. From that point, I collected games over the years and even swapped consoles with friends, including an N64 which introduced me to the world of Nintendo. In Lecture 1; Fundamentals of Game Design (Conroy), we discussed how culture naturally forms around games and play. This resonated with me, given my own experiences, sharing and playing video games with friends. My friends and I have incidentally formed a unique culture of our own which stemmed from our mutual ownership and playing of games throughout our lives.

What kind of gamer am I?

While studying in my first week of game design I came across a concept I found interesting written by Richard A. Bartle (Bateman, Step 4). Professor Bartle talks about the four main types of player, from the point of view of a game designer.

My interpretation of the four gamer types are:

Achiever - That friend who brags about getting 100% in every game they get their hands on.

Explorer - They love to learn the lore of the world and discover all the cool things in the game world.

Socialiser - Plays the game to hang out with friends or to meet new people. Often found hanging out at the grand exchange in their favourite MMO.

Killer - They're those SOBs that hang out on your ship spawn killing you in Sea of Thieves! Yes I'm still salty about that 😠, they didn't even take my loot 😂.

Metroid Prime developed by Retro Studios

I can safely say that I'm an explorer. The first game I ever got truly obsessed with was Metroid Prime developed by Retro Studios. To me, Metroid was about exploring an abandoned and corrupted alien world. I got hooked on finding all the lore walls to piece together the story about why the world was corrupted and to find out what happened to the mysterious Chozo who left behind such beautiful and intriguing ruins.

What do I hope to get out of game design?

My dream is to write backend code for games and to have the skills to turn boring old phone apps into more enjoyable experiences. Even if that dream doesn’t pan-out, this class will be a valuable opportunity to learn design practices which I wouldn’t normally learn in my more technical computer science degree.

Gaming has always been an integral part of my life. I’ve always been subconsciously aware of the culture my friends and I formed and I internally knew what kind of gamer I was – I just never had the vocabulary to describe it. Just one lecture of Fundamentals of Game Design, has prompted me to critically reflect on why my experiences playing games have been positive ones and making these links has shown me how I can tie academia to my game design.

So far, the theoretical concepts I’ve been introduced to have been very insightful and have inspired me to apply these theories to my own game design. I hope this class will continue to open my eyes to the concepts which make good games so enjoyable.

References:

Conroy, David. “Fundamentals of Game Design Lecture 1.” IGB-220 Fundamentals of Game Design, 25/7/2023, Queensland University of Technology, Online. Lecture.

Bateman, Chris. Beyond Game Design : Nine Steps Towards Creating Better Videogames, Course Technology, 2009. ProQuest Ebook Central, https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/qut/detail.action?docID=3136230.

#about #first post #description #blog description #QUT #Queensland University of Technology #Beyond Game Design #IGB-220 #IGB220

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maryellencarter · 1 year

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so sleep is refusing to happen, which is very annoying. i took my night meds and wore my blindfold and everything. my right leg has also decided it is stabbing pains time, which might be associated with the first thing. so while i wait for some ibuprofen to kick in, i figured i would start to explain my latest effort in the ongoing saga of getting myself to actually go to work.

so i was talking to logan about it, as one does. i haven't even explained logan for the sherlock holmes people, have i? call him my imaginary friend, close enough. he's a version of wolverine from the x-men (comics version circa 1983 if you want to get specific -- hugh jackman is a foot too tall and looks oddly like peter lorre to my prosopagnosic ass), he's my big brother via my teenage mary sue (that's a whole other post, but my little sister maintained this au where we all got to pick our own fictional or invented parents and relatives, which says exactly the things about our irl family situation that you'd think), he's been with me for nearly twenty years now, saved my life multiple times, got me out of some truly horrendous situations. these days he mainly shows up when things are Very Bad. and right now, because i'm struggling to get myself to go to or stay at work by any damn motivation whatsoever, things are pretty damn bad.

so i was talking to logan about it, which i've been doing for a bit while, but this time we were talking about the delayed gratification aspect of a paycheck. how if i skip work and go do a fun thing, i get to have fun immediately, but if i sit at work being mildly bored and intermittently annoyed, then i get money 1-3 weeks later, which might as well be the heat death of the universe as far as actually making an emotional connection between action and reward is concerned.

(it might be relevant to explain what i even do, huh? text chat tech support for a major cell phone company, basically. it's the sort of job where the elevator pitch is like "living the dream", because i get to sit around at home in whatever state of dress i prefer, doing anything i want as long as i keep an eye on my workstation and drop everything when a message from a customer comes in. on slow days it can be a good 15-20 minutes between customers. on busy days, i can be typing nonstop for hours, but those are rarer. however, when faced with a basic choice between "i can't practically play certain video games or do complicated crafts on the clock, because they're too space consuming or not pauseable enough, and I definitely can't go to any events or meet people" versus "if I'm not on the clock I can do whatever I want", it's hard to prioritize Getting Money At Some Future Point.)

so anyway what logan suggested was -- because i know how to calculate my own payroll taxes and often do it for fun (in fact, it probably indicates just how badly off i've been emotionally that i hadn't even downloaded the 2023 irs schedule 15-t for payroll tax brackets until yesterday), i have the ability to figure out, down to the minute if necessary, exactly how much my take-home pay will be based on time worked so far. because logan is inside my head, he also knows that i used to really enjoy being the banker for monopoly, organizing all the play money and making change and keeping track of Amounts and what-all.

so he suggested getting some play money and paying myself in realtime -- basically creating a physical representation of how my paycheck is accruing. i have sat at work for so many minutes, pay myself a dollar. like gamifying shit, but instead of getting a little token in an app that doesn't directly relate to anything irl, i'm getting tokens that very directly represent the exact benefit i am getting by sitting around being annoyed that i don't have room for my gaming laptop next to my workstation.

at this point it becomes relevant that the game of monopoly no longer comes with play money. the company that sells it decided, some years back, that declining sales were due to cash being insufficiently hip with the kids and making change being an absolute turn-off, rather than... you know, literally nobody anymore having the free time for an all-day game that causes intergenerational feuds. so they replaced the paper money with play debit cards and a digital voice-activated top hat that does all the math for you. so now you don't even get any practical life skills with your intergenerational feuds!

so, after a couple of shopping adventures, i have procured construction paper and a silver sharpie (and a working black one because mine was dead) and a clear jar so i can see all the colorful play moneys when i pay myself. i have adapted the rupee color system from breath of the wild, because i'm already familiar with it, to fit the colors of construction paper i have, so ones are green, fives are blue, and so forth.

i tried this method at work yesterday, and so far i'm very excited about it. it takes me about six hours of work to cover my healthcare deductions for a two-week pay period, and after that (until federal tax brackets kick in after a few days' earnings) i basically earn a dollar every four minutes after tax, which means roughly every time i start to get bored, i've earned another dollar and i get to fidget with my little pieces of construction paper again.

i'm also definitely going to have to confront the thing where it feels wrong and unrealistic that i make this much money. because in an eight hour workday near the beginning of the pay period, my take home pay is about $120, and that just feels like a silly amount that doesn't apply to me. but, well, i earned this dollar, and also that one, and the other one over there... which one didn't i earn? it is a conundrum.

i don't know if i'm just excited because everything is shiny and new, but i definitely am very excited that this might actually Help, because it's making being at work *feel* different in a way that hasn't happened before. have a couple of pictures.

#money tw #budget tw #i feel like this probably needs some other warning tags but i'm not sure what #eletelephony

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coxsacki · 7 months

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i think it’s fun how every three months my friends & i redownload our dating apps and commodify ourselves & objectify others and then delete the apps and then do it all over again bc we crave human connection but these apps aren’t looking to connect us with other people, they’re gamifying “dating” and competing for our attention to mine our data and sell it to other companies so they can learn how to more effectively sell other shit to us

anyways. who wants me to hook up my phone to the big screen so we can play hot or not with single people ages 22-26 in a 13 mile radius?

#i can’t keep doing this #and by this i mean redownloading bumble every three months

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mi6014alisijalitavora · 1 year

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While conducting self-directed research, I have gained valuable insights and experiences that have shaped my understanding of the topic.

I have found academic articles and online resources to gather a comprehensive understanding of the topic. During my research, I have delved into the various aspects of Duolingo Math, understanding its mission to make math accessible and enjoyable for learners of all ages. I have explored the features and benefits of the Duolingo Math app, such as its gamified approach and bite-sized lessons. One critical insight is that children's engagement and interest in mathematics are vital to their overall academic development. I have discovered that children are naturally curious and enjoy hands-on learning experiences. They respond well to gamified approaches that make learning fun. My research has highlighted the significance of incorporating Lego into the learning process. Children can actively participate and manipulate concepts, promoting hands-on exploration and problem-solving skills development. It provides a practical learning experience. I have found that parents play a crucial role in supporting their children's learning journey. They value educational resources aligned with their child's academic needs at the developing stage.

I realised the potential of Duolingo Math and Lego partnering. The collaboration between these two brands provides a unique approach to math education.

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charliepipedesigner · 1 year

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Secondary Research into the Cinema Industry - Major Project

During the first COVID-19 lockdown, cinemas suffered a lot financially because of the social restrictions that were put in place in order to reduce the spread of the virus, which ultimately resulted in the closure of public cinemas. This article was written in October, 2020, about an open letter from three major film industry organisations who were concerned that cinema could lose the "social, economic and cultural value theatres provide”. Major films were delayed after the announcement of the lockdown; such as the James Bond movie 'No Time to Die', and Marvel Studio's anticipated 'Black Widow' movie.

Three years after the pandemic took place, the broader perspective of cinemas and theatres has changed, but mostly in relation to the financial aspects. It's a lot more expensive to buy tickets now to go watch a movie and to buy food and beverages. Before the pandemic the average price for an adult ticket would be £10, but now they cost a minimum of £14 per person. Finance plays a significant roll for younger audiences because there are streaming services that makes watching movies effortless, rather than travelling to a cinema to pay more for one movie. On the other hand, film is still a useful art form to speak for the messages and societal values of the narrative in a cinematic manner. Audiences appreciate film if it has been executed properly for the intended purposes, especially if they're able to witness the heart-felt performances, the cinematographic techniques, or the realistic diegetic sounds. For example, I watched Avatar: The Way of Water at my local ODEON cinema in December, 2022, and afterwards I was satisfied with the cinematic landscape of the movie. Technologically speaking, Avatar was head and shoulders above anything I had ever seen before, and therefore felt satisfying to watch on a bigger screen to fully experience the visual presentation of the awe-inspiring scenes.

In relation to my project this articles helps argue the importance of inspiring the next generation of filmmakers with an educational app about film and cinema because it can portray the values of the subject area through the technological aspects that are required to make a good movie for the cinema. Additionally, the cinematic techniques that are also used to film each scene is carefully considered in order to give off the right tone for the characters, the setting/location where the scene takes place, and the general landscape of the movie. I believe that my app could home-in on the aesthetic appeal of film and cinema, as well as providing a gamified service that makes the process fun and enjoyable.

Conclusion

Ultimately, I believe that the broader perspective on cinema as an industry has changed because of the impact of the pandemic in regards to finance. However, the value for film is still present amongst the entertainment industry. Therefore it feels necessary to design an educational app that highlights the key assets of film that can be made by the user.

#AUB #VIS COM #FMP

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longproduction · 2 years

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Gamer headset for girls

#GAMER HEADSET FOR GIRLS PC#

Lancehead TE Quartz and Invicta Quartz Mousepad.

BlackWidow Tournament Chroma V2 Quartz Edition Review.

Razer Quartz Edition – All-Pink Gaming Gear.

They also offer solid sound quality to improve the gaming experience. People love their performance just as much as their look. I love these headphones and will be buying all the matching Razer products. If you're super girly or just want to make your gaming/computer station girly, I suggest getting the kitten ears that attach to the top of the headphones. My husband keeps trying to talk to me while I have them on and I can't hear a word he is saying, haha. They're super cute, girly, and cancel out all background noise. Especially Amazon sells it for less than their MSRP, it's a steal." However, this headset is comfy and functional. I can't say the same for some of their other headsets, which have terrible reviews. Just take it from Alex: "I can confirm that this headset DOES live up to the hype and it's not just a brand that ships out crappy equipment for high prices. #razerkraken #razerkrakenkitty #razerkrakenheadset #razerquartz #pink #pinkaesthetic #gamer #gamergirl #korilakkuma #pikachu #evee Dearly Beloved (Kingdom Hearts) - Coffee Date & Gamechops The pink kitty ears fit the gamer girl aesthetic to a tee.Ī post shared by Viera photography & art they're awesome. This unboxing video gives some helpful ideas for cute gaming setups. This headset also comes in black, and several other designs without ears. Gamer girls don't have to like pink, and gamer boys are totally welcome to. Gamer girl headsets don’t have to be pink, of course. Pick your favorite color to show off your gamer girl style. Gamer girls need headphones as fun as the games they're playing.Ĭustomizable lighting might seem gimmicky, but it's pretty fun. The Razer Kraken headset has gel ear cushions that keep your ears cool and comfortable. Hours of gaming while wearing a headset can make your ears sore if the ear cups are too firm or tight. Serious gamers deserve serious comfort, and these gel ear cushions deliver. They have active noise cancellation to enable clear audio streaming with minimal background noise. Muddy microphone quality puts a damper on the gaming experience, and the mic on the Razer Kraken gaming headset offers a solution. Whether you're streaming games on Twitch or playing a multiplayer game that requires interacting with your teammates, it won't be easy if no one can hear you. The noise cancelling microphone makes streaming so much easier. It works with the Razer Streamer Companion app to gamify even more of the video gaming experience. These awesome gamer girl headphones have stream-responsive lighting on the logo and ears to make it possible to react to your audience in the middle of streaming gameplay. The Razer gaming headset has tons of premium features that gamers love.

#GAMER HEADSET FOR GIRLS PC#

It's even PC Mecca's top choice for pink gaming headphones. This gamer girl headset by Razer Kraken is one of the most popular gaming products on Amazon, and there's so much to love about it. You can't stream your favorite games on a laggy PC, and trying to coordinate your strategy is impossible if your microphone makes you sound underwater. When it comes to gaming, tech is important. Top Gamer Girl Headset Has Pink Kitty Ears and Over 25K Fans on Amazon For gamers who love the anime aesthetic, these headphones can't be beat.

#Gamer headset for girls

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translation-and-slavic · 2 years

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Diary 13: Back on the Bird

So, I'm back on Duolingo: I have my beginner Korean going with the intention of actually learning, my beginner German back up with the intention of messing around, my advanced French with the intention of making myself feel better when I fail at the Korean. I know Duolingo has it's shortcomings, many people don't like that it gamifies learning a language. But it's my favourite game, so there you go (and I am not under the assumption that I can learn a whole ass language just by playing on Duo).

I love the process of learning grammar of a language. I enjoy learning rules, it feels like an insight into the mindset of the culture (see: the work of Lera Boroditsky). This has come to the point where I now like guessing rules, which is now a past-time of mine when I watch Kdramas and listen to the patterns that come up when people speak.

The thing that I find so intriguing (and fun) about learning through Duolingo is app gives no grammar lessons. They are just plonk sentences in front of you with the English translation. You're not learning bit by bit, putting the puzzle pieces together, you're learning in translation.

My dad is a sailor, he used to go all around the world in a big boat and deliver various foods to different countries. In maritime college they had to learn English, as that is the main language that is used globally for trade. To speed learn English, I remember him telling me, they would just learn whole phrases and that they meant. When you have a job to do, it doesn't matter how or why the sentence is structured that way - that's just what you say when you need X.

Duolingo is great for learning vocab, but the grammar aspect is almost like ... like you're being taught how you would translate a sentence into English, not what the sentence is truly saying or what it's made up of.

I'm very tired right now and still hit with covid fatigue, so I'm not totally sure where I'm going with this. I guess I can't decide whether Duolingo teaches language through an already established translation, or whether it is devoid of translation as it doesn't share the essence of a phrase.

But then, learning a language without any aspect of translation at all is impossible ...

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nanowrimo · 3 years

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The Best Writing Tools to Win NaNoWriMo

Five-time WriMo-Winner Jenna Plute won her first NaNoWriMo in 8th grade and hasn’t looked back since. She’s here to tell us about some of the unusual apps she’s test-driven to help a wide range of writers navigate their way to the finish line!

The goal of National Novel Writing Month is to write fifty thousand words. That's it. Sounds simple, right? You could copy-paste the word "purple" fifty-thousand times, and you would win. Unfortunately, it's not that easy. Your inner-editor steps in, and no words seem good enough to put to paper. And maybe this is good if you have years to write your magnum opus. Each turn of phrase can be molded, each comma artfully placed, each setting fully fleshed out. But when you're writing a novel in a month, overthinking is the enemy of success. To avoid this, nothing has helped me as much as programs that force you to write continuously. With these programs, I can bash out 1,667 words in 45 minutes. Are they good words? No. But will I win NaNoWriMo and have a first draft? Yes. And that's the goal.

Fighter's Block:

Fighter's Block is a RPG-style writing program. You are the protagonist seeking to defeat some monster, whose XP bar corresponds to your word goal. Each time you type a word, you decrease the monster's XP while raising your own. The catch is that the monster also attacks you. You can set the speed of the attack in the settings based on how fast you type. The goal is to write faster and reach your goal before the monster can defeat you.

Pros: This gamifies writing and makes it seem less intimidating. You just have to type to win, and the settings are adjustable. The concept is cute, especially if you love fantasy. There is also a local save that can hold all of your writing, so you don't NEED to save it in another document.

Cons: It is easy to delete your local save and lose thousands of words with a single click. For added security, you really need a secondary save.

750 Words:

750 Words is inspired by the concept of "morning pages", which is the habit of writing a few pages every morning to put your thoughts to paper. It's a repository to hold all of your daily pages in a private area and will give you feedback on how much you pause or get distracted while writing. You can also see automated summaries that display the general emotions, themes, and ideas of your work.

Pros: This is a great way to create a writing habit and gives you a secure platform to hold all of your work. You can also gain insight into the mood and emotion of your story (or life, if you want to use this for journaling).

Cons: Though this helps motivate you with a simple goal, it does not force you to write. It gives you the information to analyze your patterns, but that still puts the onus on you to stay focused.

Written Kitten:

Written Kitten is for those motivated by praise as opposed to punishment. Each time you write a hundred words (you can change this amount), you receive a cute picture of a kitten, puppy, or bunny. The more you write, the more cute pictures of animals you can see!

Pros: This program is less stressful which can allow a more leisurely writing session. The animals are all certainly cute, and it does exactly what it promises.

Cons: The local storage isn't reliable, so you have to transfer your work to a separate document every so often. The less stressful nature of this program also works against it in maximizing word count in a short amount of time.

Write or Die:

Write or Die's operation is encapsulated in the name. While the website won't actually kill you, it will kill your words in the method you choose. If you aren't typing fast enough (at a rate you choose), the site will begin deleting your remaining words, turn your screen bright red, or play an explosion sound effect.

Pros: This program is extremely effective in making you want to type. There's also a huge amount of customization available, especially if you're willing to pay for the full version. With the full version, it will also save your work.

Cons: Even with adjustment, the consequences are too harsh for me. It's just annoying to see the screen flash red or your words be deleted. Failing multiple times was just disheartening and made me want to quit NaNoWriMo out of anger.

My personal conclusion is that Fighter's Block is the best. I've used it for the past three years (and past three wins) and have remained impressed. The format is intuitive and it's not difficult to transfer to Google Docs. The level of consequence also fits me the best. 750 Words and Written Kitten are too soft, but Write or Die is too stressful.

In the end, choosing which software all comes back to what NaNoWriMo stands for: a fun challenge that generates a first draft. Winning is word count. If these focuses sound like you, try one of these programs and see if it helps.

Good luck and happy writing!

Jenna Plute is a five-time NaNoWriMo winner originally from Colorado. When she's not reading or writing, you can find her studying math or drawing. Though she hasn't yet published a book, she hopes to before she dies.

Top photo by Dan Barrett on Unsplash.

#nanowrimo #writing #amwriting #writing apps #writing resources #writing tools #by nano guest #jenna plute #camp nanowrimo

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woosh-floosh · 2 years

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have you played pikmin bloom yet?

Hi I played a little bit of it the past two days, it's basically a gamified pedometer which I think is good and fun. It's very constrained focus on just walking and making memories each day I think can be good for creating good mental health habits. And I can close the app and it will still count my steps all day so I don't have to look at my phone all the time like pokemon go. :)

Based on the trailer I was worried it was just going be pikmin go, but it's not! Pokemon go only really seems good in an urban setting, if you're in an rural or suburban setting there's really no where to go or see. Pikmin bloom does still seem to encourage exploration and walking to new places, but also seems like you still get a full experience if you just use it to walk up and down your street each day.

Only gripes so far is it's still pretty buggy and, ya know, microtranscations. It also doesn't feel very pikmin-y? The reason I liked pikmin three so much was due to fun of exploring lush environments, seeing new creatures, and the puzzle of planning each day. Pikmin are just kinda here in pikmin bloom and I don't think they have the apply or variety of pokemon to make them that exciting just on their own.

Anyways, none of this really means anything if I don't stick with the game so I'll see if I forget about it in a week or two

#thanks for the question!!#pikmin bloom #ask #anon #I will not be giving out my freind code because I don't want people to knwo where I live #soggy :(

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werebearish · 3 years

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NaNoWriMo 2020 tag meme

Okay so I saw this video on youtube and decided to answer these questions here.

1. What are you working on for NaNoWriMo this year?

It’s NaNoAMO again! I’m working on continuing my WIP longfic amo (amas, amamus. I’d like to say “finish” but imho it’s more important that I’m working consistently and making progress at all, so we’ll just say “continue” for now.

2. What apps do you use to help you write and stay motivated?

Apps and sites that are helpful for me with writing, either directly or indirectly:

Google docs and Scrivener apps — processing the words, yup yup.

Calm app — a meditation app. This helps me settle my racing brain.

Atmosphere — a simple ambient sound app that I really like. It has a nice basic interface and you can make mixes of five or six sounds; it’s simple enough that I can throw them together on the fly, and you can also save them.

Ambient Mixer — an app (and site) that is less simple, but can be fun to explore and find or find-and-tweak or create some good mixes. I do NOT do this one on the fly — it’s too easy to get sucked in.

Music playlist — great for signaling my brain that it’s time to work on the thing. Sometimes I have to turn it off after a while because I need more quiet, but that’s okay.

Basic timer app — I don’t have a particular one I prefer, usually just my phone one. Sometimes I might mix it up by using an hourglass. I find that if I set it for more than 20 minutes I often lose focus, so I usually stick with that. I also try to make myself take five minute breaks every 2 or 3 sprints, which is hard to do, but usually helpful.

4thewords.com — this is a gamified writing site, and I do have a lot of fun with the smaller wordcount monsters. It isn’t free, but I enjoy it a lot and use it every day.

I will also mention Fighter’s Block — https://cerey.github.io/fighters-block/ — which is a very very simple version of racing/fighting a monster via wordcount, but this one is free. (I’m not sure if this plays well with mobile right now, and you might have to poke around to get it to work. Be sure to copy and paste your words into your preferred program after you write them!!)

3. Where do you like to write and what’s your favorite writing spot?

Sometimes I like to write lying down in bed with my tablet, but honestly it’s not usually very productive. Even if it weren’t coronatime, I don’t live near any coffee shops or anything. There’s the library (well, normally), but then I get distracted by the books. Occasionally I will mix it up by curling up on the couch with a notebook and pen, but honestly, for me, my desk is best. I have a good chair, which is way better for my back and neck. I also have a little space heater, which is motivating on cold days.

4. What are your writing space must-haves? (i.e. candles, pillows, fave notebook, etc)

Right now on my desk (besides some cluttery nonsense), I have:

Folder with notes, timeline and calendars

Bee balm lotion/ointment — I love it

Lip balm

Post it notes — essential, mostly for noting “what to start with tomorrow”

Process notebook and scratch paper notebook

Beeswax candles — a pillar that has been STRUGGLING, and the votive that I just got out because I was tired of wrestling with the pillar

A basket of AMO-related treasures, including: Simon and Baz plushies that I made, Red plush dragon, Watford scarf, star scarf, Lavender honey lotion, Chocolate mints, Baz candle, Snowbaz art cards, Printout of the comic of the first chapter

5. What are your favorite drinks and snacks to have when writing?

I like to have water and/or Snowbaz tea available. I’m not much for snacks during, but this time I DO have some thematically appropriate Andes chocolate mints. (Simon and Baz actually like mint Aeros, but those are large and hard to find around here, and I like Andes better, so.) I usually have one right at the beginning of a writing session, and maybe one at the end, if it’s been a couple hours.

6. What are your favorite writing distractions? (i.e. pets, tv shows, etc)

I like to take breaks to play harp or kalimba. Naps?

7. What are your favorite ways to get back on track?

Making tea, taking some breaths or doing a meditation in my favorite app, possibly doing some stretching with a tai chi app that I have. Starting my playlist or focusing on a candle is helpful, too. And sometimes I really do just have to take a break for a bit, and then come back later.

8. What are your writing rewards and milestones?

I’m doing a modified version of NaNo, since I’m working on an ongoing project instead of starting something new. I’m counting ALL the words I write (notes and freewriting as well as actual prose) and putting them into the NaNo site, but more importantly I made myself a tracker in my bullet journal with my own definitions of “success” to check off on a daily basis. (Prominently featuring: did you show up for at least 20 minutes? and Did you make a note for what to start with next time? If so then YOU HAVE WON!!)

9. Tag 3 friends to do this tag!

If you want to do it, please consider yourself tagged. :)

#quizzes and memes #assorted memery #nanowrimo #my writing #amo #progress reports

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scorrigan · 4 years

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ZR VIP

Second Post! Ok, so this one explores the fandom and the ideas StS has for their customer base. To state it upfront, I love Zombies Run, at some points it has been my fav media! First post about the nuts and bolts of the pricing change are here. When the VIP price was announced, long time fans on the private race forum went kinda apeshit. This a pretty major price increase for the races (If a runner has been playing since 2015, its now $90 up front and $32-$48 over a year vs $8 upfront and $35 twice over a year. What Six to Start expects: We’re increasing the price slightly for a third race, but you get more content! And more choice about physical merch! All story extras we used to ship to you are also included on the app! What the fans saw: $100 lump sum in literally the most uncertain time in Americans’ lives, hassle of having to order the race packs separately, cancellation of the legacy access cost in exchange for access to new races, putting Jack and Eugene behind a paywall. So lets explore why the fans are unhappy with that model. To answer that I want to think about 5 different fans under the old pricing: Fan Jody: at $35 each race is not a huge commitment; she runs them to have fun. Fan Sam is a story completionist; he loves ZR and each new purchase makes him excited just to get something new. Fan Sara is a moderate to serious competitive racer. She has set new PRs with ZR and also started entering a few local races. Fan Kefi is a serious competitive racer. The VRs are fun and affordable, and a they’re a fun way to train or to accompany a real world race; She loves collecting medals! SHe likes the story part of Zr but gets flustered that the ZR times never quite match to her watch based running app. Fan Maxine isnt a runner but loves the story; she lowers the music interval to its lowest setting goes on walks to ZR. She has listened to the first 4 seasons in 2 months! Sam and Sara will likely buy a yearly membership. Kefi might, if she can afford it after the cost of her real life races. Maxine probably would buy one yearly membership and then never again. So Jody is the real question here, the fan who buys the races at $35, but isn’t interested in competition and might balk at the higher sticker count. Jody might also not want to run three or four races a year. How many of us are Sam, and how many of us are Jody? How many of us are Kefi, and prioritize racing as a serious hobby vs Sara, a consistent but more low key hobbyist? All of the above have bought one or two races in the past, but being forced to buy three races at once might be a bit too much risk or cost. ... Six to Start has slowly morphed Zombies Run, from an app that gamifies running into one that gamifies racing. In 2017, after 2 years of Zombies Run virtual races, they expanded to a second non-zombie themed race app, Racelink. Racelink shut down in 2019 and StS slowly folded most of those races along with new content into the ‘New Adventures’ anthology in Zombies Run. Although they are committed to telling stories in the Zombies Run universe, functionally, they see more value in focusing on selling races. Now, they have put all the new races under a lump sum. Other than guarantee money up front, what does this do? My theories are:

It diverts the bulk of StS’s income race income to apple/google, and less from a credit card processor. I’m trying to figure out why this is an advantage.

It might truncate the shipping period and make the delivery timing of the race pack much less important to the customer’s enjoyment.

It allows the customer some choice as to which race packs they want.

It also removes the choice to buy only one race per year. Its all or nothing.

It also puts the race runners on recurrent billing.

On the technology side, maybe it pays for some of the server request bumps of new groups downloading free to play missions (when ZR trends on soc med. Each mission is about the same size as 4-5 songs from itunes).

Pays for staff or talent to have increased pay rates, or to increase the pool of talent with more writers/cast. (Anyone who has been working on one project for 10 years deserves increases in pay, man)

Its pretty clear that StS views the main body of the Zombies Run (350+ missions) is the built in ‘loss leader’ that gets you to subscribe to the ARC, and if you like that enough, to the VIP. And like any business, theyre looking to grow to people who haven’t been paying for the last 5 years of races. It just seems to leave the most loyal customers holding the bag.

#zombies run #virtual race #zrvr

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emilyplaysotome · 4 years

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Chapter 1 - Down the Rabbit Hole (fix)

Lately it seems that everything I write ends up never seeing the light of day so I wanted to write something fun, that might actually get read. If you guys like it I’ll continue the story.

Let me know what you think!

I woke up, eyes bleary, head pounding in a hospital bed I’d never been in, but could have sworn I’d seen before. As I rubbed my eyes, I racked my brain to try and remember how I’d gotten here, but could only come up with fragmented moments on the subway platform. It was a fair assumption to say that I’d passed out. Something like that had happened to me once before, and upon coming to had left me feeling very similar.

“It’s good to see you’re up.”

I turned to see a man standing over me, wearing a white doctor’s coat, with a pink collared shirt, and simple plaid necktie. He gently pushed his glasses up as he examined my chart, finally offering me a concerned smile.

“You were brought here yesterday after you collapsed, but we couldn’t find any identification on you.”

My eyes began to focus, and I squinted as they adjusted to the sunlight streaming in through the large windows that lined the far wall. The room was a simple hospital room, with multiple beds, all empty at the moment. Separating each bed was a seafoam curtain, and across from me were some yellow flowers that must have been left behind from another patient.

I looked at the doctor again, who leaned a bit closer.

“Can you...understand me?” he said slowly.

My eyes caught the name on his nametag. Irie.

“Yes, I understand. Sorry, I’m always a bit off when I first get up,” I joked.

His face relaxed, and he smiled at me.

“Take your time. You were out for a good 18 hours.”

Irie...Irie. Why was that name so familiar to me? I studied his face as he scribbled some notes down in my chart. He didn’t have any defining characteristic of note - dark hair and eyes, Japanese, a calm demeanor.

“Soichiro?” I muttered to myself, barely audible.

He paused and looked at me, a puzzled expression on his face.

“Do we know each other?”

I looked again at the room once more, and then back at the man standing before me. There was no way. It was impossible. I was...me and he was just a character in a game. However as crazy as it was, before I could stop myself I found myself asking, “I’m at Ebisu General, right?”

Doctor Irie nodded. I could feel my face getting hot, panic setting in. This had to be a dream. There was no other explanation but it didn’t feel like any dream I’d ever had.

“Have we met before?”

“No. Your reputation precedes you,” I lied.

In actuality, I’d spent hours with Soichiro Irie. I’d been in the man’s apartment. I watched him fall in love. I knew more about him than he probably knew about himself.

Yet here I was, unable to tell him the truth (that he was merely a character in a game) without sounding certifiably insane. Even if this was a dream, the last thing I wanted to do was be shipped off to the psychiatric ward of Ebisu General, so...I lied.

He blushed faintly at the compliment, and crossed his arms just like his sprite did, except in real life he felt closer to the published age of 40 than he ever did in the game. There were slight crow’s feet around his eyes and as he shook his head with a placid smile, I could see the wrinkles hiding behind his hair that fell across his forehead.

“Oh no. I’m sure that’s not true” he said softly.

The Japanese modestly I’d experienced in these games came through loud and clear in that one moment. It was sweet - quite different from the confident and often unwarranted conceit most American men doled out.

“Doctor Irie, I...have a bit of a strange question. I feel ok but...what language am I speaking?”

Doctor Irie cocked his head to the side, “Japanese. You’re in Tokyo after all.”

“I see. You wouldn’t happen to have a mirror...would you?”

As he left to find a hand mirror, I racked my brain at how implausible it was that I’d be speaking Japanese. It had to be a crazy dream, perhaps I was even in a coma, and my mind suddenly placed me in the universe of these games.

In fact, it was entirely possible that I’d been playing one when I blacked out in my world. But...I couldn’t shake the feeling that everything going was far too real to be something entirely contrived by my own brain and its memories of various games I’d played months ago.

Doctor Irie returned with a mirror that revealed that I still looked as I’d remembered. He also brought the items I’d had on me when I’d collapsed - a phone, a coat, and the stupid knit hat I’d stitched in 9th grade and kept for whatever reason. The phone booted up but all my apps were replaced by knockoffs like Skaipe, Tweeter, and Chatsnap. I shook my head, dejected upon seeing this.

I was hoping my phone would be something that would link me to the real world from which I came, but outside of that dumb knit hat, everything else was a gamified version. I sighed loudly and Doctor Irie studied my face with concern.

“So...am I able to leave now?” I asked.

“We’d prefer if you stayed until you’re better. Plus we’ll need your insurance card and -”

“I’m afraid I don’t have my wallet on me,” I quickly cut him off.

“Well, we can look your information up. What’s your name?”

I paused. There’d be no record of me in this world. I thought carefully before replying.

“Naruko...Sasaki,” I said. Or was it Sasaki Naruko? I could never get it straight but it didn’t really matter. Doctor Irie nodded and scribbled her name on my chart before writing something else on his notepad.

“Here,” he said, handing me a paper with a number on it. “If you get into trouble, or need a place to stay, or feel sick again just give me a call.”

For a moment, it crossed my mind that if I called this number, I would be entering Doctor Irie’s route in this world. I wasn’t prepared for that, not because I didn’t like him, but because I had more important things to think about than romancing a fictional doctor. I needed to get home.

I did my best to bow graciously, self-conscious the entire time, and slightly worried that someone would call me out for cultural appropriation.

“Thank you Doctor Irie.”

The first thing I did once I left Ebisu General was pray to the Wishes Gods. When none of them showed up, or even gave me an inclination that they'd heard my wish to be sent home, I formulated a new plan. I found an empty park bench that was shaded by a Revance billboard, and wrote down every single potential guy I’d ever played with the knowledge that I was in the voltage universe in order to figure out what my next best bet would be.

You’d think that being the MC in a real-life-game would be fairly exciting but I promise you, it isn’t. Instead, I found myself fairly stressed out once the realization set in that in order to survive long enough to formulate a plan to get sent home I was going to need to approach the more dangerous characters in this universe. When you’re playing from the comfort of your home it doesn’t matter that your love interest is borderline abusive, or in the mafia, or a criminal mastermind. However, when you’re in the actual game, it’s a lot more stressful than you’d think to approach one of these guys.

I knew what I had to do if I was to survive here. I jogged up to the next nondescript Person 1 and asked, “Excuse me, can you point me in the direction of the Tray Spades?”

“You mean the Tres Spades?”

“Whatever.”

The pixilated version of the hotel had looked pretty good on my iPhone as I played at home, but being there in person was something else.

I’d been lucky enough to travel and stay in some luxurious hotels in my world, but the Tres Spades was like nothing I’d ever seen in my life. It was fair to say that depending on who you asked, it was either a garish eyesore or the most opulent hotel you’d ever laid eyes on. I was still trying to decide for myself as waited in the lobby for my target.

If everything went according to plan my time at the Tres Spades would end in false papers, a temporary job (with housing if I remembered correctly), and no involvement in the auctions. But that was only if things went according to plan and I reminded myself that they rarely do.

I was still mulling it all over when I saw him, or I suppose more accurately, he saw me.

“Excuse me Miss.”

His maroon jacket was even tackier in person but I found him to be more handsome than his sprite gave him credit for. Sure his real voice was actually a bit smarmy, and his mannerisms reeked of a guy who spent far too long reading Neil Strauss’ The Game, but that was to be expected.

“Yes?”

“Are you waiting for someone? Me...perhaps?”

It was impossible for me to hold back my disgusted sigh. Baba in person was so much lamer than he ever read.

“Ahahahaha,” a young man cackled, practically doubled over. “Look at how disgusted she looks!”

“Oh no I didn’t mean...”

I desperately tried backtracking but it was no use. I’d never been good at hiding my emotions and it would seem today was no different. Unfortunately for me, if I was going to have any chance in this world, I’d need to significantly improve my acting skills.

“Don’t apologize!” He exclaimed, tears beginning to roll down his cheeks, “That was the funniest thing I’ve seen all day.”

“You don’t need to rub it in Ota,” Baba pouted.

It surprised me that I liked Ota more in person. He struck me as boyish and mischievous in a way that was far more charming than Baba’s insincere pick up artist act.

As I panicked internally, racking my brain how to get these interactions back on track, the two bantered with each other. Ota teased Baba mercilessly, who in turn desperately tried to recover from the embarrassment of Ota having witnessed him crash and burn in front of a girl.

“Please,” I grabbed the sleeve of Baba’s gaudy maroon jacket all the while putting on my best damsel in distress expression. “I’m actually looking for someone who stays at this hotel. Do you work here?”

The two stopped arguing and Baba looked at me, genuinely surprised. There was silence for a moment and then Ota burst out laughing again

“Ahahahaha! She thinks you work here!”

Collectively Baba and I shared a sigh, and then a smile. He took his hat off and gave me a little bow, then a wink, and said, “At your service.”

“This might sound...a little crazy but I’m looking for a guy, his name is…”

I pretended to rack my brain and my act seemed to be working as Baba appeared to hang on my every word.

“...Lupin?” I whispered.

Baba’s eyes widened slightly, and his cheeks flushed. Ota, still chuckling to himself gave Baba a slap on the back.

“The old man finally catches a break.”

With that, Ota strolled out through the double doors of the hotel lobby, and I found myself being offered Baba’s arm.

“Follow me.”

There was no turning back now. But if I was going to have any chance of getting myself home, taking his arm was my only option.

So I took it.

Continue reading - Part 2

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