Updatery.

[kv0925]

I feel like an update is overdue, but I dunno what about, really. So let's break out the bullets.

• The Wii U has been a big hit so far! Mario Kart 8 is awesome, of course, but we've also really enjoyed Super Mario 3D World and NintendoLand, both of which were in the console bundle I got. At first the girls didn't care too much for Super Mario, but it grew on them. Amy especially loves it, for some reason--she calls it the Mario Cat Game, because one of the power-ups for the characters is a cat suit. In fact, she loves it a bit TOO much. As soon as she wakes up and as soon as I get home from work, she's asking if we can play Wii. Don't get me wrong, I dig that she likes it so much, but sheesh! I can't even play anything solo--if I try, she pops in and grabs the controller like she owns the joint. Silly kid. I also got it playing old GameCube games--that was actually even more viable on the old first-gen Wii, but for some reason I didn't do much of it. But since the ghost game in NintendoLand was such a hit, I figured they'd appreciate Luigi's Mansion too since it's more or less based on that. So far so good!

Then this week Humble Bundle did the first console-based bundle I've seen, and it happened to be Nintendo (Wii U and 3DS) so I jumped on that pretty quickly. Mostly platform-style indie games, but there looked to be some pretty neat titles, with more being added next week so I can look forward to that as well. I've only tried one (Guacamelee) so far, but it looked really good. Amy kept stealing the controller, though!

• Been having a little trouble with the pool lately. The pump has had a trickle leak for a while, which recently turned into more of a mini-geyser. Not a lot, but enough to be annoying. And it's salt water, so I really don't want it spraying all over the pump motor and other stuff over there. So I figured out one problem was a loose bolt insert, and I fixed that--but the leak persists. So I'm thinking the plastic plate that attaches and seals the motor and impeller assembly to the rest of the pump got warped at some point and isn't sealing completely. So I have a new one on the way, hopefully that will finally do the trick. With my luck, though, probably not!

• Photo session tomorrow, not entirely looking forward to it. Some clients I feel great about, some are more iffy. This one is just a tad on the iffy side. But hopefully it will all be good. I only took a half-day from work, so I'll have to come in to the office afterwards. Probably after I go home for a shower, that is--gonna be a toasty one, as usual.

Hm, I can't think of much else, so.. have a good afternoon/evening, wherever you are!

Comments

[solteronita.livejournal.com]

What kind of photo sessions do you do?

[cp.livejournal.com]

Just about everything, but mostly families--families with kids, engagements, maternity and newborn, etc. Occasionally weddings. Living in Orlando I get a decent amount of families and extended families meeting here for reunion/vacations, especially around the holidays. Tomorrow is a couple and their daughter (turning one year old) at the Magic Kingdom.

[redqueenofevil.livejournal.com]

Your reviews of the Wii U have really made me consider the idea of getting one after we sell the house. I think it may be a few months, but it would be nice to try out the latest Mario Kart, and Kidlet is interested in the other Mario games. Of course, she's only 5, but she might be outgrowing those Sesame Street games we have for the Wii.

[cp.livejournal.com]

If you already have a Wii, it's just about a no-brainer since it can use the same controllers and play the Wii games as well, so that saves some money. The big difference the Wii U introduces (besides HD graphics, finally) is the Game Pad controller, which integrates a 6-inch touchscreen. That really can and does add some neat elements to games, like when one player uses the Game Pad to control a ghost that the other players can't see on the tv screen. In the Super Mario 3D World game, it basically just duplicates the main screen on the Game Pad, but you can touch certain game elements on the touchscreen to make them do things, and sometimes you blow on the microphone to move a platform on the screen, etc. Pretty neat possibilities!

Amy has been really taken with it even though she's only 4 and can't really do the controls too well. But she's surprised me by making it through a level or two of Mario all by herself!