Pokemon Y review

After playing Pokemon Y for two months, I am giving a short review on what I like and dislike about the game.

Likes

• Improved graphics - Gone are the days were we can only see the trainer from one angle. 
• Easier gameplay - I am not sure whether majority of the hardcore gamers will like this but now you don't have to go through so much grinding just to train one Pokemon. Exp share and roller blades are obtained very early in the game. First time in my Pokemon gaming life I have at least 10 Pokemon above level 70.
• World wide community - Well, this isn't a new feature but this is my first time being able to battle and trade with people all around the world. I got all currently obtainable legendary Pokemon just by trading Vivillion! I am very new in competitive battling and my current win-lose ratio is 1:6. I often got bullied by Japanese.
• My in-game rival - First time I actually like a Pokemon game character. She is so pretty. xD

Dislikes

• Limited post gameplay value - There is nothing much to do after completing the game storyline. Mostly spend time breeding or competitive battling.
• Only 3 new legendary Pokemon - If I am not mistaken, this is the fewest legendary Pokemon for a generation. 

I hope there will be a future patch that increase post game story to obtain more legendary Pokemon. Well, with the release of Pokebank soon, I can aim to get all gen starters and trade to get all my favourite Pokemon. I believe there are still more to come from this game. Gamefreak, don't disappoint me please.

My other 3DS games wishlist:

Hope to get it this month

Releasing in February 2014

No official release date yet

11 years later upgrade

I had been a big fan of Pokemon ever since I started not sure playing the game or watching the anime. I had never missed playing Pokemon game since Generation 1. I played Pokemon Red, Yellow, Gold, Emerald, Diamond and Black. Then Generation 6, Pokemon X and Y was recently released in October 12. Had been following that game updates since the announcement. Unfortunately, I need a new console to play the game and there is no emulator for it. To me the changes in the game is just too good to miss. So, I eventually decided to buy a new console for it. With the Nintendo 3DS XL being over my budget, I had to settle for the downscale version of it, Nintendo 2DS. Thankfully, I had a part time job during my previous semester break and therefore had some money to spend on it. Its been almost 2 weeks since I bought my console and started playing the game and until now I have no regrets of it. I can finally utilise the full functionality of a Pokemon game! Currently, I only completed 4 gyms due to my academic workloads, my game progress is very slow.

The last time I got a console was 11 years ago. My parent bought me a Gameboy Advance and PlayStation 1 simultaneously. Was such a happy kid that time :D. If I am not mistaken my Gameboy cost RM280 and my 2DS cost almost double the price. Shouldn't technology be cheaper? Just look at the PC market! I hope there will be more good games for the Nintendo handheld console. With the games being pricey, I can only afford to buy one or two games per year.

A New Hobby

It all started with me window shopping through ebay for anime figure looking at Nendoroids. I just like the look of them being so cute and adorable. Then I found a Nendoroid of my favourite character, Rin from the anime Fate/Stay Night. It cost about RM30 including shipping from Japan. I was like, "What the heck, just get it!".

As I being to do a little research on the figures, I found out there are different ranges of figures. Rin was a Nendoroid Petite which is the cheapest among the figures range and a subset of a Nendoroid. Nendoroid on the other hand are bigger, comes with accessories and interchangeable parts and faces. It is more pose-able then its mini counter part. Little did I know I will fall for this hobby. So it begins, my desire to have more. I then try to find if I could get these figures from Malaysia instead of buying them overseas. So I searched for a Saber Nendoroid also from the same anime. Managed to find one in Lowyat forum for a very good price.

This is an old released an was long sold out and discontinued.  

There was a Facebook page that sells these figures and they have a weekly 'Like, Share and Win' contest. Had been taking part in it for few weeks but never won. One day they posted this:

It is Asuna from the anime Sword Art Online. Another of my favourite anime character. This is a scale figure and it is the most expensive in the figure range. One figure cost at least RM300. I literally prayed for to win this. A week later:

BOOM!

I was ecstatic when I see this! I won with the probability of 1/400. God answered my prayers! Sadly, this pages hasn't been posting a new contest for quite some time.

After I received my salary for my part time job during the sem break, I went for another figure hunt. I was aiming to get an Asuna Nendoroid or a Figma. I ended up deciding to buy a Figma. Getting this also wasn't easy. I did not placed a pre-order for it and most of the sites that sell it for an reasonable price are all sold out. The remaining sites that sell it are all way too expensive. Apparently Asuna figures are very high demand.  After some deep and thorough searching, I finally found a site that sells it for a reasonable price. There is a lesson learnt from this: Pre-order a figure I really want.

The Figma range is similar to Nendoroid. It has accessories, interchangeable body parts (mostly the face and wrist). The difference is, it has movable body joints and the body size is more proportional.

This pretty up sums up my current collection. This hobby isn't cheap and I currently do not have enough budget to buy a figue often. Nendoroid Petite is 500 Yen (around RM17 but cost more than RM30 after shipping) but Nendoroid Petite figures aren't many, Nendoroid and Figma cost more than RM100 and as mentioned scale figure is at least RM300 with really nice one costing around RM400 and above. I shall grow my collection more when I start working. At the mean time, I shall control myself to not buy anymore unless there is a nice, cool or pretty Nendoroid or Figma of Erza from Fairy Tail that is within my budget XD.

---Update---

I failed to control myself. These are what I collected as of 2014 (Asuna scale figure isn't in this picture).

Lumia 925 review

I had been using my Lumia 925 for more than a week. Will write a short review on what I like and don't like about it.

Likes:

• The sleek and lightweight design
• The camera apps
• The brand itself (I am a Nokia fanboy)
• Unique user interface
• The ability of arrange my homescreen tiles and size.

Dislikes:

• Whatsapps group message participants name are all the same colour
• The Hotmail and FB sync. Why must Windows Phone import every contacts!?

Wishlist:

• Customising different tiles with different colours

Conclusion: I LOVE this phone despite the downfall of the Windows Phone ecosystem and not having hardware of the current market. I am not a heavy app user therefore I have no problem. Heck, I even used a Symbian phone for 2 and a half years without any problem. That was a good phone too. The question I am pondering about is will this be my last phone with a Nokia name?

Updates

1. I had being my final year degree journey. Started my first part of the FYP this semester. Will be doing an Android app. I am not good in programming, hope can manage to do it. I have make it this far. This subject must not be failed!
2. My beloved aunt got me a phone as a birthday gift. Lumia 925 baby!

     3. Attended Yoong Ying's convocation today. First time attending one. 

It shall be my turn in the robe in 1 year time!

Delivery boy experience

I had been working for my mum's cousin (cousin uncle) for the last 2 weeks during my semester break. He runs a hamper and gift company and apparently during festive seasons, they get REALLY BUSY and are in desperate need of part time staff. Since I am having sem break and have nothing better to do, why not spend half of my break earning some money?

My main job is delivery boy. I follow a driver around and help to deliver stuff ordered by customers. I got to explore Klang Valley so much more and got to visit different offices and houses. I had to make at least 40 delivery a days. There were also delivery in Nilai and I got to discover Nilai A LOT MORE! Overall it was a fun job and a great experience. However, working for an average of 11 hours per day, 7 days a week is a bit tiring. My previous jobs wasn't as energy demanding as this. This time my sweat and energy was literally paid off. I had more workout within this two weeks than I usually have in a year :P


P.S: Selamat Hari Raya to all Muslims!

Quiz: Who am I to myself?

Its been a while since I posted a psychology quiz result and this one is almost 100% true.

You Take Yourself Seriously

You see yourself as a thoughtful and introspective person. You are very intelligent. You think other people see you as kind, gentle, and cooperative. You try to be helpful. You want to see yourself as independent and free wheeling. You'd like to do your own thing more often. You identify as a compassionate and accepting person. You pride yourself on being forgiving.

Who Are You to Yourself?

Blogthings: A Fine Line Between Insight and Stupidity

diminishing hope

Got my last semester's results recently. Did worse than I expected. I honestly thought I did quite well for the exam and was confident with it. Unfortunately, my result says otherwise. My current CGPA has dropped below first class. My hopes of getting a first class degree is diminishing as the remaining subjects is not easy to score A. Will try my best to rescue my CGPA...

sem break updates

My final short semester had begun this week. While I am still free, I will update on my 3 weeks sem break.

Last sem break was one of my most productive sem break. I had 3 to-do lists to be completed and I managed to complete all of it. :)

To-do lists:

1. Finish a book - Bought a story book recently entitled 'Paladin Prophecy' and I finished that book. Now waiting for book 2 which will release early next year. A good sci-fi/fantasy light reading book.
2. Finish reading one of my NCLA coursebook - I had registered to take Novell Certified Linux Administrator (NCLA) exam and I am planning to take the exam in August. Was given two books for self study. Hope I can finish the other book before my current semesters end.
3. Pass Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) exam - I was longing to take this course for a very long time. Finally got a change to take this thanks to MDec who provides full reimbursement if I pass the exam on first trial. Managed to pass the exam last Friday after attending a 4 and half day training. Got my first professional certificate!

So that was my sem break to-do lists. I think I am addicted in obtaining professional certificates. Next target is NCLA and also planning to get CCNA routing and switches, CCNA security, perhaps AIX and ECSA. If only the prices for these certs are cheaper. :( 

On the other hand, my term as ICF treasurer had ended. It was a great learning experience. That was the most easy going committees I had ever work with. Not sure is that a good thing? Managed to get to know some of them better. I thank God for giving me the chance to serve Him in INTI.

This sem is going to be intense for me. 20 hours classes per week and to be completed in 7 weeks time. I really have to prepare myself mentally and physically for this sem especially for Routing Protocols and Concepts. That subject is going to be pushing. Hope to update soon.

just complaining

A short update for this almost dying blog...

Currently it is exam week and I have 3 papers remaining. Intelligent System, Computer Communications and Mobile Operating Systems. Honestly, I am very worried about Intelligent System! Why? BECAUSE THAT SUBJECT CONSIST OF 70% FINAL. I seriously don't understand why we have a paper with 70% final when other subjects are just 40%. Besides, this is not an easy subject. As an IT subject, I don't know why they want to focus so much on final? I even doubt we will apply our theory knowledge in our work next time. We need more practical stuff; practice our skills. How to be competitive in the world when all we know are facts?

Had been studying on this subject for the pass few days and is difficult for me to memorise it. Those terms, keywords and explanations are difficult to relate. Is a paper which I feel failing is very possible. First time in my uni life I am just aiming for a pass. Really can't afford to fail. Failing might cause me to delay one semester and a suspension in scholarship. :( Will be extremely satisfied if it is a B but I hope to just pass this paper. Need to score at least 41/100. Wish me luck! Having this paper tomorrow and Computer Communication. Really not in the mood to study anymore. Brain overload with these two subjects.


**********************************************
Compared with pass years' paper, this time the exam was easier than I expected. The whole burden of the subject and the fear of failing is now gone!

Into adulthood

I just celebrated my 21st birthday almost 2 weeks ago. Celebrated it on two occasions. A day before with my high school friends and the real day with my family.

finding my passion

Alright, time for some update on my academic side. 

Currently i am in the middle of my 5th semester and apparently my course has now changed to Bachelor of Computer Science specialise in Network and Mobile Computing (with dual certificate from Conventry University). Originally it was with Bradford University. Due to some UK MQA problem, we had to change partner uni. The consequences? There was an increased in Year 1 subjects (general IT subjects). Even next semester I still have Year 1 subject when it is my final semester for Year 2. Thank God the study plan wasn't delayed and I am expected to complete my studies the same time as before the conversion.

Since I am getting closer to my final year, I began to start thinking about my future on which IT field I should build my career on. So here are the lists on the possible field I can go into and my decision on it:

1. Programming - Ok with C and C++ but do not like Java and not very good in programming. Therefore, a programmer is out!
2. Database - Don't find database interesting. Database admin is out!
3. Website - Don't fancy designing and did not take scripting subjects. Related with database too. Anything to do with website out!
4. Mobile computing - What I studied is only the theory part of mobile operating system and developing app needs programming. So app developer out!
5. Network - This semester only starting to go into the technical part about network. So far I am enjoying the subject and I planned to get CCNA. Therefore, a career in this field seems plausible. I hope I can find my passion in this field and will pray about it. Pray for me too :)

If it is God's will, I will build my career in network field and just hope and pray for the best. 

On my extra curricular side, this is my last semester as an ICF committee. Currently getting busy with Easter Night and having a hard time on who should be the next committee. After this, I am free from club responsibilities! However, still need to be involved in at least one event per semester.

That is all for now. 

P.S: I WANT THIS PHONE!!!

Lumia 920

 

2012 Recapped

I hope it is not too late, Happy New Year 2013!
As usual, I will have a small recapped on things I experienced or did in the pass year.

• Hiked my first hill which is Broga Hill  during Leadership Training Camp
• Went for Russell Peters 
• Got elected as treasurer for INTI CF
• Went snorkeling and paintball for the first time
• Went for Star Cruise Virgo (my second cruise trip, first was Gemini)
• Joined Orang Asli Camp for the third year
• Went to Universal Studios Singapore (by far the best theme park i have been too)
• Survived doomsday :P
• Faced my toughest semester yet (semester 4) and thank God i passed it

So it had been a great year. Class starting again on Monday for semester 5.