遊戲

Plants vs Zombies

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讀書時代我是標準的電腦遊戲迷﹐可以通宵達旦不眠打機﹐連續曉課兩星期只為求過關爆機。現在年人老了時間越來越少﹐加上家中的電腦己多年前買的古舊機﹐聽歌看戲上網還勉強可以﹐但應付不對最新遊戲的硬件需求﹐讓我早已遠離電腦遊戲的世界。想不到最近我卻沉迷上《植物大戰喪屍》這個小遊戲﹐讓我重拾當年打機打到天昏地暗的樂趣。

《植物大戰喪屍》的遊戲十分簡單﹐每關只有一個平面畫面﹐完全不需要強勁的繪圖卡﹐可是卻令我嚴重上癮。遊戲一關接一關地玩下去﹐要打完全部關數才能夠放低下來。遊戲內容一如其名﹐玩家用植物去保衛家園﹐對抗入侵的喪屍。喪屍從畫面右邊出場﹐一路向前移動﹐玩家要在屋前的花園用植物佈防﹐去消滅沿沿不絕來犯的喪屍。這是一個很傳統的策略遊戲﹐不同植物有不用攻擊或防禦能力﹐玩家必需作出適當配合﹐去抵抗各類不同喪屍。若果喪屍安全抵達家門便game over﹐遊戲會出播一聲慘叫﹐打出字幕說喪屍吃掉玩家的腦袋。

遊戲畫面

遊戲有三個場地分日與夜總共六版﹐開始時要保衛前園﹐接下來要是有游泳池的後園﹐最後是要用花盆才能種植物的屋頂。日間與晚上有不同喪屍出沒﹐關數越高喪屍能力越強﹐不過玩家殺死喪屍可以贏取金幣﹐用來購買新品種的植物增加兵力。這個遊戲十分耐玩﹐除了過關的故事模式外﹐還有很多從主遊戲變化衍生的小遊戲﹐可以贏取額外的金幣。故事模式的主遊戲不難玩﹐很王道的佈重兵以軍力取腦便萬無一失﹐被喪屍溜進屋吃掉腦袋﹐也只是自己大意不小心。有些小遊戲可很傷腦筋考智力﹐要像解謎般明白那關喪屍的特性﹐再針對其弱點挑選相剋的植物組合配搭﹐才可以順便過關。最有趣的小遊戲是角式倒轉﹐玩家要控制喪屍﹐敵人變成了植物。

經過一個多星期的努力﹐在工作外差不多所有時間供獻了給這遊戲﹐我終於打爆機完成所有關數和小遊戲。不過遊戲並不是就此完結﹐玩家還可以再次挑戰故事模式和所有小遊戲﹐電腦也會隨著局數增加喪屍的難度。其實遊戲不一定要大製作才好玩﹐有時候很簡單的遊戲也會有讓人著魔的魅力。

Daily Scribble

Chess Analysis #1

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Inspired by my friend’s blog, I joined chess.com in Facebook. I played a few blitz games with random people online. I found playing live human is more fun than playing computer because computer does not make blunder moves. My record is straight lost so far, this is the closest game that I have very a good chance to win. I lost the game from a very stupid blunder. I am playing black

[pgn]
[Event “Live Chess”]
[Site “Chess.com”]
[Date “2010.07.25”]
[White “aligray”]
[Black “hevangel”]
[Result “1-0”]
[WhiteElo “1002”]
[BlackElo “1058”]
[TimeControl “100|0”]
[Termination “aligray won by resignation”]

1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 d6 4.d4 e5 5.d5 Ne7 6.Nb5 Bd7 7.Be3 c6 8.Nxa7 cxd5 9.Ng5 d4 10.Bc4 Be6
11.Bb5+ Bd7 12.Bd2 Bxb5 13.Nxb5 h6 14.Nf3 Nxe4 15.Qe2 Nxd2 16.Qxd2 Qa5 17.Qxa5 Rxa5 18.Nc7+ Kd7 19.b4 Ra8 20.Nb5 Nc6
21.a3 Be7 22.O-O f5 23.Rad1 Bf6 24.c3 g5 25.g3 g4 26.Nh4 Bxh4 27.gxh4 Rhg8 28.c4 f4 29.c5 dxc5 30.bxc5 g3
31.f3 Ke6 32.Nc7+ Kf5 33.Nxa8 Rxa8 34.Ra1 Re8 35.a4 e4 36.a5 e3 37.a6 Na7 38.axb7 e2 39.Rfb1 Nc6 40.Ra8 Rxa8
41.bxa8=Q
[/pgn]

1.e4 Nc6
I did not use the standard response to king pawn opening. Just want to try something new.

2.Nf3 Nf6
White did not push queen pawn as expected. I made a bad move. Knight is exposed to the pawn in f6. If the white pawn push to f5, it will be protected by the Knight

3.Nc3 d6
White develop the other Knight. I moved the queen pawn to clear the way for the bishop

4.d4 e5
White push queen pawn. I push king pawn to invite a gambit.

5.d5 Ne7
White pushed the queen pawn and eying at my Knight. I lost a tempo by retreat the Knight.

6.Nb5 Bd7
White push a lone Knight. I move the Bishop to chase it

7.Be3 c6
White push bishop to target a1. I move pawn to c6 targeting d5. Actually moving b6 to protect against bishop is a better idea

8.Nxa7 cxd5
White take a1 with Knight. I would be in more trouble if he take c6 first or take a1 with a Bishop. His blunder allow me to exchanged a side pawn with a center pawn and his Knight is trapped by my Queen.

9.Ng5 d4
I wonder white try attack with the other Knight or merely put the Knight there to protect the e4 pawn. I should have move Knight to c6 and the white Knight is dead. Instead, I push my center pawn to pressure the white bishop and estimate the center. I think I opened more front line than I can handle.

10.Bc4 Be6
White Bishop attach f7, I protect it with a Bishop

11.Bb5+ Bd7
White Bishop check, I moved the Bishop to defense.

12.Bd2 Bxb5
White retreat the the e2 Bishop, I exchanged a Bishop with a Bishop. I should have exchange the Knights instead and move the side pawn to center.

13.Nxb5 h6
White Knight take my bishop and escaped. I moved h pawn to chase the other Knight away.

14.Nf3 Nxe4
White Knight retreat. I took the unprotected pawn in the middle with my Knight. Looks like I controlled the center board.

15.Qe2 Nxd2
White Queen chase my Knight. I exchanged the Knight with the Bishop.

16.Qxd2 Qa5
White finished the exchange, I initiated Queenexchange

17.Qxa5 Rxa5
White finished the exchange and my Rook is chasing the Knight.

18.Nc7+ Kd7
Knight check. My King moved away.

19.b4 Ra8
White push the Pawn to chase my Rook. I made a Blunder by moving the Rook to a8

20.Nb5 Nc6
White didn’t see my blunder and draw back the Knight. I have leave the Knight wandering around for too long. I should have plan about end game after the Queen exchange. I moved the Knight to threaten the unprotected b pawn.

21.a3 Be7
White move a pawn to protect b pawn. I moved Bishop to bring it to front line.

22.O-O f5
White castled. I moved the f pawn, but I should have moved the bishop to gain tempo.

23.Rad1 Bf6
Fire power is building up at d4

24.c3 g5
White moved the pawn to put more fire power at d4. I can’t exchange the c3 pawn or the Rook will have a check. I tried to match the other pawn to push forward

25.g3 g4
White can’t move away any firepower on d4, so he match the other pawn. I should have move away the King or invite a pawn exchange. But I try to chase away his Knight for no reason. In end game, the leading side should initiate exchange to widen the leadership.

26.Nh4 Bxh4
White seems to make a suicide move and I exchanged a Bishop for a Knight.

27.gxh4 Rhg8
White’s King defense is broken. Looks like I am going to win and I become careless. I wasted a move to use the Rook to pin the white King. I should have moved my King away from White’s Rook pin.

28.c4 f4
Both side matched pawns. Again I should chase away the White Knight.

29.c5 dxc5
White initiated exchange of pawns.

30.bxc5 g3
Finish the exchange and white now has 2 isolated pawns. I pushed the g pawn.

31.f3 Ke6
White push the f pawn pass my g pawn. I should have keep marching the g pawn. The g pawn is safe since it is protected by the Rook. Instead I moving my King and let Black fork my King and Castle. The tide is turned against me.

32.Nc7+ Kf5
White capitalize my blunder. I should have exchanged that Knight a long time ago.

33.Nxa8 Rxa8
Exchange of pieces

34.Ra1 Re8
White want to march the a pawn. I should keep marching the g pawn.

35.a4 e4
Why would I march the e pawn?

36.a5 e3
Keep marching.

37.a6 Na7
I am losing the march.

38.axb7 e2 39.Rfb1 Nc6 40.Ra8 Rxa8 41.bxa8=Q
I accept my fate and resign after the White got a Queen.

電影

In Bruges 殺手沒有假期

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《殺手沒有假期》是英國獨立製作的小本電影﹐榮獲多個歐洲電影節的最佳原創劇本獎項。兩個殺手去了比利時風光如畫的小鎮Bruges渡假﹐發生一齣荒謬絕倫的黑色幽默喜劇。看慣荷里活殺手片的朋友﹐看這套另類殺手電影時﹐請先調節心情﹐不要期望激裂戰槍的動作場面。殺手只不過是主角的身份﹐因殺手時常要面對死亡﹐正好藉著他們來看生與死。電影劇本的安排十分巧妙﹐下文會透露劇情﹐未看而打算看的朋友﹐為免影響欣賞電影時的驚喜﹐自行決定是否讀下去。

我看電影前只看過電影簡介﹐不知道故事內容﹐劇情出人意表地展開﹐讓我欣賞時另有一番樂趣。編劇在電影中埋下的伏筆一環扣一環﹐每一件事也有前因後果。上鐘樓觀光﹐在餐廳與遊客打架﹐打盲小混混﹐與侏儒結交朋友﹐先前埋下的種子﹐在結局時把每條線收網﹐把命運巧合地串連起來。電影圍繞三個殺手的恩怨情仇。一老一少兩個殺手因為任務中誤殺小男孩要著草。說每句話也要爆粗的殺手大佬﹐在執行家法處決執行任務失敗的年輕殺手之前﹐希望給他死前留下美好的回憶﹐送他們到比利時小鎮渡假。

電影中很多讓人仔細咀嚼的場面﹐片中人在面對生與死的嚴肅問題﹐可是觀眾看到卻有想笑的感覺。兩個殺手參觀博物館﹐看見中世紀描述地獄情景的名畫﹐說著他們以殺人為業與會否死後下地獄﹐還事有剎介很認真地為自己找理由開脫。老殺手接到任務要幹掉年輕殺手﹐在當準備開槍的那一刻﹐卻看見少輕殺手因為心靈受責準備自殺﹐結果很諷刺的殺人變救人。殺手大佬見老殺手狠不下心殺掉拍檔﹐唯有親自出馬﹐結果殺人變自殺﹐怎樣想也想不到電影會有這個結局。殺手大佬除了狂爆粗外﹐也不似一般殺手電影的壞人角色﹐看他搶白那個被年輕殺手打盲小混混﹐不惜自殺也要言出必行的高尚品格﹐倒讓我不禁佩服他是個人物。

殺手的工作是殺人﹐是因為工作需要﹐讓他們視人命如草芥﹐他們又會否同樣看自己的生命。如果一個殺手有有自殺傾向﹐這種對生命的態度會否令殺手特別容易自殺呢。

電影

Toy Story 3 反斗奇兵3

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從一九九五年《反斗奇兵》第一集開始﹐不知不覺間Pixar的電腦動畫﹐已經陪伴著我十五個年頭。當年在大學看第一集時﹐電腦動畫還是高科技的新奇事物﹐現在連3D也泛濫到成行成市。我可以說是Pixar的忠實擁躉﹐每次有新電腦動畫上映﹐我也必定到電影院先睹為快。對於一個早在十幾年前已習慣任何東西也上網下載的人﹐值得讓我付出真金白銀購票入場欣賞﹐無疑是我對這齣電影的肯定。

老實說《反斗奇兵》不應該開怕第三集﹐雖然電腦動畫的繪圖技術上﹐Pixar仍然是世界最頂尖﹐劇本仍然很扎實﹐有笑有淚﹐要感人有感人﹐要深度有深度﹐可是就是少了一份創意的靈氣。這集的大橋與上兩集還是一樣﹐都是Woody要回家的故事。第一集Woody和Buzz是要逃出隔鄰壞小孩的魔掌。第二集Woody給玩具收藏家擄走﹐Buzz和一眾玩具合力拯救他﹐逃過被送去日本玩具博物館的命運。第三集還是續繼逃亡﹐一眾玩具被誤捐了去幼稚園﹐全體上演一齣越獄大逃亡(The Great Escape)﹐要安全地回到Andy的家裏。

這集很多舊玩具不見了﹐只剩下第一集的原班人馬。在幼稚園遇加入很新玩具﹐最有趣是Barbie的男朋友Ken﹐還有當大奸角幼稚園惡霸的紫色抱抱熊。Buzz的西班牙模式很扺死﹐大跳拉丁熱舞還與Jessie通電。故事的最大敗筆﹐是垃圾房那一場戲﹐抱抱熊的手下忽然全部改邪歸正﹐站到Woody和Buzz的那邊。散場時老婆問我Jessie不是與Woody一對嗎﹐怎麼Buzz會犯勾二嫂的大忌呢。想了好一回才記起﹐Woody的女朋友不是Jessie﹐而是第一集那個牧羊女陶瓷公仔。在小女孩家中龍貓客串出場﹐可惜沒有對白沒有那個招牌笑容。

第一集的主題是講小朋友愛惜玩具。第二集的主題是講玩具要被小朋友玩才有人生意義。第三集的主題很黑暗﹐講玩具如何面對死亡的問題。小朋友會長大﹐有一天終會放下手上的玩具。命運好便被封箱收在閣樓不見天日﹐命運差便弄進垃圾袋送去堆填區。送給其他小朋友看似是一條出路﹐不過只是把命運重覆多一次﹐小朋友還是會長大。第二集Jessie被舊主人拋棄﹐第三集她又再經歷一次心碎。幼稚園是玩具養老的好地方﹐每年舊一批小朋友長大畢業﹐便還有新一批小朋友入學。毛毛蟲房的小孩虐待地玩﹐玩具壽命故然不會長久。但既使蝴蝶房的小朋友小心地玩﹐玩具還是有折舊破損的一天。電影很例牌的大團圓結局﹐一眾玩具暫時找到好歸宿﹐不過恐怕那些玩具最終還難逃過去焚化爐的宿命。Woody和Jessie在今集死過翻生﹐或許會羨慕起第二集的Stinky﹐在玩具博物館內不用擔驚受怕﹐可以舒舒服服安渡餘生。在玩具博物館做展品﹐為來參觀的大人小朋友帶來歡樂﹐總好過躲在閣樓裏封塵吧。

歷年來Pixar製作過十一套電影﹐沒有一套令我失望﹐《太空奇兵》可說是Pixar顛峰之作。不過現Pixar給迪士尼全面收購後﹐恐怕小公司的靈活創意難以為繼﹐退化為大企業默守成規的彊化商業規條﹐只懂得吃老本炒冷飯。繼《反斗奇兵》第三集後﹐《反斗車王》和《怪獸公司》已經決定開拍續集。連續四年內會有三套續集﹐Pixar是否已經江朗才盡﹐再也想不出新的故事去感動觀眾呢。