Curse you, ripe vegetables!

[awanderingbard]

Has anyone else ever played the Nancy Drew computer games? They first came out when I was around fifteen or so and I've been playing them since. They're from Her Interactive ('For Girls Who Aren't Afraid of a Mouse', I've always liked that) and I was happy with them, because when they first came out there weren't a lot of games aimed at girls that didn't involve makeovers or boys. Anyway, they're a lot of fun and I always have to learn something to complete the game that's interesting. Like stenography or Mayan numbers or Spanish or electric circuits or French history or whatever. You can call Bess and George or the Hardy Boys, usually. In the first games you have to dial their numbers by hand every single time, but in the newer ones Nancy has speed dial on her cellphone. They let you talk things out with them, sometimes will send you information on things and will gives you hints if you ask. In one of the recent games, you could switch between playing Nancy and one of the Hardys (Frank?) as they each worked on a mystery and helped each other out. They are very interesting, cool games and even though it only takes me a few days to beat are always worth the money. I can usually never decide who the criminal is until Nancy does.

There are only two problems with the games, really. One is Nancy's voice. She sounds about forty and the actress delivers each line with such seriousness that it makes you cringe. 'How long have you worked here?' is delivered in the same tone of voice you might use to ask 'Why did you kill that puppy?', like, no not suspicious there at all, Nan. Also, her questions are so obvious it's a wonder the suspect doesn't come out and whack her right off. The other problem is that it's very easy to miss one small thing and get stuck later on, unable to go back and get it. In one game, I didn't pick up the pliers so I couldn't diffuse the bomb and I had to start my game over and play all the way through again. In the one I'm playing now, I picked unripe vegetables two days in a row (the pictures on Nancy's cellphone were no help, alright?) and now, on the third day, there's either no vegetables left or they are overripe. In either case, I get sent home. It looks like I have to start over. Over vegetables, people! I may leave it and play the other game that came in the two pack.

Vegetables!



ETA: Does anyone know what the PC term for someone from India is? Can I use Indian without people assuming I mean Natives? Is East Indian an acceptable term? PC is so hard to keep up with.

Comments

[joyfulfeather.livejournal.com]

Okay, wow. It took effort to find the link to make a comment. It wasn't right by the text of the post! Weird.

Anyway, hee. I haven't played the games, but you're not the only one on my flist who's addicted to them. I've played games that let you get stuck like that, and that's not cool! In no way should that be allowed. Very frustrating!

I'm pretty sure Indian is the correct and perfectly polite term. I think most people have made the switch to using/expecting "Native American" especially if you're talking about someone in particular. Some people will still get confused or make the wrong assumption when you use say Indian, but they'll get over it.

[spacefiend.livejournal.com]

I think most people have made the switch to using/expecting "Native American" especially if you're talking about someone in particular.

Or they use "American Indian" instead - my coworker's wife is Native American, and that's the term he uses.

[awanderingbard.livejournal.com]

We (Canadians who live around here) usually use just Native (as opposed to Native American) or Aboriginal (when referring to the the native peoples in general) or First Nations (when describing them as a political group). Or that's how it seems to me. C'est weird, ca.

[awanderingbard.livejournal.com]

We usually use just 'native' here, since Native American would imply someone from the States. Although, I suppose it could reference North America. Who knows? I had to go through a whole pilot program at my elementary school designed to eliminate prejudice of all sorts and I still don't know what's polite to use. :D I think I'll stick with Indian, though.