It’s the last weekend of November 2021, and the No-Spend personal finance challenge is coming to an end. That means it’s time to put my cards on the table for internet accountability points™.
No-Spend November 2021: The First Half
We’re well past the midpoint of No-Spend November — a personal finance challenge I started earlier this month. On paper, the rules are simple: Limit or restrict your discretionary spending for thirty days. But in practice, things aren’t so easy. Spending urges are ever-present, and temptations reside in every corner of the internet. So how…
The Bygone Age of Gratuitous Blood Decals in Video Games
Over the years, various video game trends have waxed and waned. Sometimes, the medium adopts objective improvements, such as higher frame rates and polygon counts. Other times, these trends are stylistic. Case in point: Video game blood. When I was younger, many games — such as Unreal Tournament and Halo — accompanied their carnage with…
SWTOR’s Filler Problem
Earlier last month, I had a strange, implacable itch for Star Wars stories. To get my fix, I turned to Star Wars: The Old Republic (SWTOR), an MMORPG revered for its story content. While I had played SWTOR back in 2011, I recognized that I hadn’t given the game a fair shot. So, I created…
The Dawn of No-Spend November 2021
It’s Hallow’s Eve. But beyond desiccated crypt denizens and flying broom-straddling females, a truly terrifying prospect lies ahead. A whole month without spending a dime on discretionary purchases. This terrifying tradition is known by some as No-Spend November.
SWTOR: The Power of Microtransactions Compels You
Here’s something interesting about the MMORPG Star Wars: The Old Republic (SWTOR): If the game had stuck with its original $15/month subscription model, it probably would’ve died a long time ago. Thankfully, Electronic Arts (EA) — the game’s publisher — saw the writing on the wall as early as 2012, a year after the game’s…
A Return to Star Wars: The Old Republic, Nearly Ten Years Later
January 1st, 2012 was most likely a dreary, overcast winter day — and like the skies outside my window, a dense haze clouded my mind. I had most likely overdosed on cannabis at a New Year’s Eve party the night before. The drugs left me dazed and disoriented. Reluctantly, I emerged from bed and parked…
Am I Thankful to Be Alive?
It’s Thanksgiving weekend in Canada, so I thought I’d take some time to reflect on thankfulness. The topic feels especially pertinent this year: Six months ago, I nearly succeeded at taking my own life. But thanks to the combined efforts of rescue, emergency, and health professionals, I’ve more or less resumed life where I last…
17 Years Later, Naughty Dog Has Yet to Top Jak and Daxter
Uncharted took gamers on a series of thrilling, worldly expeditions. The Last of Us married brutal survivalist combat with emotionally charged storytelling. Both franchises are the latest proof of game developer Naughty Dog’s evolving talent. But despite their innovations, neither franchise is anywhere near as fun or as visually interesting as the studio’s preceding trilogy, Jak…
No-Spend Challenge 2021: The First 7 Days
Earlier this month, I replaced a pair of broken headphones, paid for a $238 dentist visit, and backed a Kickstarter. Afterwards, I was feeling pretty tapped-out financially. It’s not that I didn’t have the money for these things: I’ve earned more this month with two broken legs than I did earlier in the year with…