Help Julford pull an all-nighter!

[Julford Hajime]

Ok NPF, here's the thing: I just woke up, like, ten minutes ago. It's currently 2:45 PM. Now, I have no job nor other social commitments, so this is fine for the time being. However, classes start back up in two weeks, and I have an early morning class, so I absolutely MUST fix my sleep schedule. Unfortunately, the people in my life are jackasses who keep me up until 6 AM because that's when THEY go to bed. Like, they use the TV in my room to play games and yell at me when I try to kick them out.

The plan: I'm gonna pull an all-nighter, then go to bed at a decent hour so that I get up around 6-7 am and just try to maintain that schedule until classes start. I'll also be removing the video games from my room and placing them somewhere else so that there is no reason for anyone to disturb my sleep.

The problem: I am TERRIBLE about pulling all-nighters. Usually I lose any resolve I have around 7:30 or 8 AM, and just go to bed then. If I try to watch something to keep myself awake, I'll fall asleep during that movie. The only times I've successfully managed to stay up was when I had a game that I became so engrossed in, I managed to completely lose track of time. If I can just stay up until around 10 AM, I can head out to breakfast or something with friends and stay awake for the rest of the day.

Which is where you come in, NPF! Recommend me something to play that will keep me so enamored for AT LEAST five hours, that I will stay awake through the most boring chunk of the night! Any game for any system will do, whether it's a recent game or was made in the 80s. Hell, if you know a way to spice up the game let me in on that, too! I'll give a couple examples of games that I've pulled all-nighters with before:

Fire Emblem 7 (aka Fire Emblem): My first Fire Emblem, and still one of my favorites. The time I pulled an all-nighter I was doing a "Lords Only" run because the game is too easy with a dozen buffed-up units.

Fire Emblem 9 (aka Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance): Twice with this one, actually. Both times starting a game from scratch, once Ike only and the other doing some sort of theme game (Axes only? I forget).

Final Fantasy 4: Kain/Rydia only run. Interesting, though how it kept me busy for five hours I don't know >.>

Final Fantasy Tactics: More times than I can count. I've beaten this game so many times in so many ways that I've accidently pulled all-nighters when I didn't mean to. Sadly I just beat the game again recently, and don't have the desire to pick it up right now.

Halo 2: Twice, once on 1-player Legendary campaign and the other on the co-op Legendary campaign.

So uh, yeah. As you can see I like sRPGs, though I've been playing pretty much nothing but them recently so it's hard to convince me to play one for five hours straight at this point >.> Any suggestions?

[Yrcrazypa]

Planescape: Torment will keep you engrossed for more than five hours easily. I seriously can't recommend this game enough.

[bluestarultor]

I think you just need to get better at kicking people out of your room. That's VERY inconsiderate of them. Your room is your space.


That said, you could always go to Cracked or TV Tropes. Not games, but you'll definitely never know where the time went.

[A Zarkin' Frood]

You might want to try Demon's Crest for the SNES if you haven't. It's a game I like to recommend any chance I get. Basically it's a Metroidvania game from before that term existed. It isn't so big, but still got multiple endings. For the best one you basically have to find every item in the game (not TOO hard to find, though) Help me find out if it's only the Nostalgia that makes me think it's good.

Another Nostalgia game would be Guardian Legend for the NES. It mixes top-down exploration with vertically scrolling shmup action. It's fairly long for an action based game of the NES era

I once pulled an all-nighter trying to get a Platinum award on the final challenge missions inTimeSplitters 2 and 3. I did after innumerable tries.

You could also play Silent Hill 2. You will not be able to sleep as long as this game haunts you.

EDIT: Another time I pulled an all-nighter playing Condemned. Good times. That was at a gamer meeting some friends and I had at my place.

[The Artist Formerly Known as Hawk]

I concur with Blues on the Cracked/TVtropes ideas and also suggest going and reading the entire Badass of the Week list and watching the entire series of Yu Gi Oh; Abridged, Red vs Blue, Zero Punctuation and Unskippable.

This combination will easily keep you awake for as long as you require.

[Julford Hajime]

I think you just need to get better at kicking people out of your room. That's VERY inconsiderate of them. Your room is your space.

You don't know my family. My room does not belong to me, and any attempts to even close my door to get some privacy are met with shouting matches. It's part of why I tend to not have a problem with stay up late and sleeping in while they are up and about >.>

I concur with Blues on the Cracked/TVtropes ideas and also suggest going and reading the entire Badass of the Week list and watching the entire series of Yu Gi Oh; Abridged, Red vs Blue, Zero Punctuation and Unskippable.

This combination will easily keep you awake for as long as you require.

I was considering Cracked, but as for the others I've read all I care for on TVTropes (After about a month of flipping through pages while bored I've seen just about every article worth linking), and I tend to watch YGOTAS and RvB when I'm tired and want to sleep (It's a comfort thing; I have a hard time sleeping without some level of noise in the background, and if it's something I've watched several times before I know I'm not missing anything new and easily fall asleep).

Plus I've seen all of the ZP videos, and I don't care for Unskippable, sadly.

You might want to try Demon's Crest for the SNES if you haven't. It's a game I like to recommend any chance I get. Basically it's a Metroidvania game from before that term existed. It isn't so big, but still got multiple endings. For the best one you basically have to find every item in the game (not TOO hard to find, though) Help me find out if it's only the Nostalgia that makes me think it's good.

Another Nostalgia game would be Guardian Legend for the NES. It mixes top-down exploration with vertically scrolling shmup action. It's fairly long for an action based game of the NES era

I once pulled an all-nighter trying to get a Platinum award on the final challenge missions inTimeSplitters 2 and 3. I did after innumerable tries.

You could also play Silent Hill 2. You will not be able to sleep as long as this game haunts you.

EDIT: Another time I pulled an all-nighter playing Condemned. Good times. That was at a gamer meeting some friends and I had at my place.
I'll definately check those out. I like to watch TAS's, and just recently heard about Guardian Legend from that; it looked interesting, to say the least. Sadly I already have all the medals for TS 2 and 3, but I've heard of Demon's Crest yet never checked it out before. I'll look into it.

Though I'll probably never touched Condemned or the Silent Hill series, though. Anything that even REMOTELY sounds like it's designed to scare me I tend to give a wide berth.

[bluestarultor]

You don't know my family. My room does not belong to me, and any attempts to even close my door to get some privacy are met with shouting matches. It's part of why I tend to not have a problem with stay up late and sleeping in while they are up and about >.>

My family was the same way in high school. Eventually I got smart and started hiding their games and stuff and made it clear that I was the keeper of the keys. If they couldn't respect my space, they couldn't play whatever game was the last offender. I didn't just limit it to hiding things in my room, either. For one game, I hid it in my brother's room and totally forgot about it. He didn't find it until years later, after he'd forgotten he'd ever had it.

Yeah, there was a lot of conflict at first, but when you hold the keys and are good at it, they learn eventually.

It also helps to have periods when you can move freely and a good eye for spots to put things.

[The Artist Formerly Known as Hawk]

I think you just need to learn to tell people to fuck off out of your room so you can get some fucking sleep! Or go and sleep in their rooms.

[bluestarultor]

I think you just need to learn to tell people to fuck off out of your room so you can get some fucking sleep! Or go and sleep in their rooms.

Trust me, it's easier said than done, or else I wouldn't have resorted to hiding my brother's games in his own room after I started running out of places in mine. When people don't respect your space, you don't have a right to kick them out in their minds.

[Julford Hajime]

My brother and I normally get along fine, but since I have the biggest TV in the house (Because I bought it with my money) I don't have a right to complain when somebody else wants to use it. Add onto this that my parents are the biggest offenders during the daylight hours, and yeah I absolutely LOVE dorm life because my sense of self-worth isn't shattered every time I ask for a little privacy. Also, not allowed in other peoples' rooms without their permission beforehand, so I can't even sleep in my brothers room while they keep the light on in mine while loudly bitching about their latest Halo 3 death.

tl;dr My family is full of people who pretty obviously hate my guts and step on me with every opportunity. Hence, my sleep issues.

Anywho, forgot to mention a game earlier that I've done an all-nighter with: Suikoden 2. First time I played through the game I ended up playing for something like 16 hours straight without sleeping. Though it was an accident, it totally counts >.>

[The Artist Formerly Known as Hawk]

This is really just all the more reason to tell them to fuck off and give you your fucking right to privacy. If need be remove the very thing they require from your room, disconnect the tv/xbox, hide or cut off the cables, take the batteries out of the remote/controllers and hide the things, whatever it takes. It is YOUR room, MAKE them fuck off out of it. Seriously.

[phil_]

Maybe you could take advantage of having multiple night owls and play Dokapon Kingdom. I had a guy come over and play it for the first time this spring. He came over every day for the next four days after that to play, like, eight hour sessions. That game will eat your time so, so badly.

[bluestarultor]

This is really just all the more reason to tell them to fuck off and give you your fucking right to privacy. If need be remove the very thing they require from your room, disconnect the tv/xbox, hide or cut off the cables, take the batteries out of the remote/controllers and hide the things, whatever it takes. It is YOUR room, MAKE them fuck off out of it. Seriously.

You may have missed it, but his parents are in on it. Although hiding cables is a great idea for the sibs, chances are it's not going to work for the parents unless they use it to watch movies. Cutting cables is not recommended, because then they can claim the moral high ground in that he destroyed something and that somehow gives them the right to do what they want as punishment, as well as make him replace them.

As much as it hurts you as much as them, Julford, I think the solution is to disconnect the TV and put it in storage, or at least your closet. Then every time they barge into your room, they have to put it back up for themselves. It's enough hassle that they'll eventually get the hint, even though it's work on your part.

Fully behind the cables idea, though. If there's a gang jack, that's even better, because you can hide that, too, and reduce their damage to two slots' worth of electronics.

As a note, when you're hiding cords, put them in different places. Great spots are at the bottoms of clothes drawers, behind the dresser, under the mattress at the head end of your bed, the back corners of closets with stuff in front of them, inside loose heat registers, and on shelves behind books if you can get them flat enough.

[phil_]

As a note, when you're hiding cords, put them in different places. Great spots are at the bottoms of clothes drawers, behind the dresser, under the mattress at the head end of your bed, the back corners of closets with stuff in front of them, inside loose heat registers, and on shelves behind books if you can get them flat enough.And now we know where our Christmas presents from blues are. Also, probably porn.

[bluestarultor]

And now we know where our Christmas presents from blues are. Also, probably porn.

Who needs paper porn? I have wireless. :dance:

Christmas presents don't get bought until there's a tree to put them under. Sorry.

[The Artist Formerly Known as Hawk]

How exactly do parents force anyone to buy new cables to replace destroyed ones? What are they gona do, drag him by the hair to the shop, grip him by the wrists and force the cash out of his hand? I think thet might get noticed by just about everyone and could be considered abuse by any legal courts.

Hell even if that's too much just take the tv and have a friend look after it for a bit until they get the damn picture that it's not their tv and they have no fucking right to it. And if that doesn't work, sell the damn thing if the problem is that bad. It's his goddamn tv, not theirs, he can do whatever the hell he wants with it.


There is no fucking excuse for this shit, and plenty of ways to fuck them over so they get the picture. Honestly if you're old enough to buy your own tv you should be old enough to tell your parents/siblings to fuck off out of your room and give you back your own private fucking space I mean jesus fuck!

[bluestarultor]

How exactly do parents force anyone to buy new cables to replace destroyed ones? What are they gona do, drag him by the hair to the shop, grip him by the wrists and force the cash out of his hand? I think thet might get noticed by just about everyone and could be considered abuse by any legal courts.

Hell even if that's too much just take the tv and have a friend look after it for a bit until they get the damn picture that it's not their tv and they have no fucking right to it. And if that doesn't work, sell the damn thing if the problem is that bad. It's his goddamn tv, not theirs, he can do whatever the hell he wants with it.


There is no fucking excuse for this shit, and plenty of ways to fuck them over so they get the picture.



I was going to suggest the selling or giving it to a friend to hold onto, but then selling it means he doesn't have it and won't get his money out of it, and if it's nice enough his family is trampling him over it, that's going to suck.

The giving it to a friend just went by the wayside when I realized that.

I'll say totally give it to a friend to hold onto and then collect it when you move into your dorm or wherever.

[Inbred Chocobo]

Final Fantasy Tactics: More times than I can count. I've beaten this game so many times in so many ways that I've accidently pulled all-nighters when I didn't mean to. Sadly I just beat the game again recently, and don't have the desire to pick it up right now.


Disgaea. Any of them, they are on the PS2, PS3, PSP, and DS. Pick any of them, they are awesome, and blow Final Fantasy Tactics out of the water in terms of what the hell you can do.

Huge character customization, awesome (and light-hearted) story that is surprisingly good, a max level cap of 9999 (though story will only take you to 100) and is the mother of all time-sinks.

[Julford Hajime]

Disgaea. Any of them, they are on the PS2, PS3, PSP, and DS. Pick any of them, they are awesome, and blow Final Fantasy Tactics out of the water in terms of what the hell you can do.

Huge character customization, awesome (and light-hearted) story that is surprisingly good, a max level cap of 9999 (though story will only take you to 100) and is the mother of all time-sinks.

Actually, I really really REALLY hate the Disgaea series. Specifically, I hate the endless grinding that series relies on for its' fun factor. The humor is nice, yes, and I catch myself starting up the original game and playing through the main story every now and then, but the ENTIRE post-game can go fuck itself with a dozen rusted spoons.

Though besides the endless grinding, yes the game was very nice. I'd argue that the character customization isn't as big as it seems (Non-monster. non-Special classes don't gain any unique skills, instead relying on weapon proficiency levels and different base stats to differentiate themselves), but I've had my fun with it.

Also, I liked Tactics because the math was VERY simple. Stat X*Weapon/Skill Y*Compatiability Z, occasionally factoring in for the Brave or Faith levels of characters; I just summarized a good 95% of the attacks in the game for you :P

As for the family thing: I'm trying my best to be quiet and stay out of their way, so standing up for myself and causing a ruckus right now isn't in my best interest. Partially because I let people walk all over me, and partially because it's honestly not worth it to get riled up over them. They're all pretty goddamn terrible people, and once I'm done with them here I'm cutting them off from me until I no longer have to rely on them any more. They take advantage of my kind nature to no end, and have made it clear that any attempts to stand my ground would see me removed from their house because "I am just a waste of resources right now" (Their words, not mine).

[bluestarultor]

In that case, fuck those guys. Family's supposed to be the people you go home to. You deserve better than that.

Seriously, I can't even imagine that. :mad:

[tacticslion]

As for the family thing: I'm trying my best to be quiet and stay out of their way, so standing up for myself and causing a ruckus right now isn't in my best interest. Partially because I let people walk all over me, and partially because it's honestly not worth it to get riled up over them. They're all pretty goddamn terrible people, and once I'm done with them here I'm cutting them off from me until I no longer have to rely on them any more. They take advantage of my kind nature to no end, and have made it clear that any attempts to stand my ground would see me removed from their house because "I am just a waste of resources right now" (Their words, not mine).

This? This is awful and very, very wrong. I'm so sorry, as no one should have to endure that kind of garbage, verbally, least of all from their family.

It may be high time simply to move (preferably taking your tv and other stuff with you). See if you could move in with a friend or something - verbal abuse is simply abuse in a different form and calling you a waste of resources shouldn't be tolerated by anyone: it's not right. Just be sure the friend you choose to move in with isn't a jerk and isn't living with jerks.

One final thing, if you do move: if your family consists of the kind of people that are petty enough to be possessively jealous of your tv (which it sounds like), although it's hard and ridiculously expensive (for which I'm sorry for even mentioning this) you might just want to cut your losses and go. Leave them with the thing they loved, and be left alone and free of their baseless abuse. You do get the better end of the bargain, however, as they have nothing left to pester you over. :mad:

On the all-nighter, just to let you know - you may have to pull more than one. Your bodies got some subconscious things it's gotten used to now (ex: people in your room all the time, now you go to sleep with noise on), and it may very well take more than a one time all-nighter to get you used to sleeping at the right time of day. Because you'll be exhausted, but your body'll be saying, "Nah, dude, you should be awake! Just a little longer!" and it'll be tempting to listen to it. I know this from experience - usually after summer wackiness, it takes a few days of enforced 5AM wake-ups no matter how late or long I've stayed up, for me to sleep at the appropriate times. Hoping for the best!

NON-edit!
Also, if you have access to a Game Cube or Wii (and 'Cube controllers), playing this game (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eternal_Darkness:_Sanity%27s_Requiem) is about one of the most awesome ways to all-nighter I've ever done. I generally agree with your taste in jRPGs, so far, so, although this isn't an RPG, I'd recommend giving it a shot if you never have. It's a lot of awesome, vaguely lovecraftian, and creepily fun. :D

[Yrcrazypa]

Definitely try to get out of the house ASAP, and if there is no way for you to take the TV with you, either sell it, or destroy it while they are playing/watching something. Is it petty? Sure, but they deserve it. That's only if you can't take it because they fight you for it. If you can't have something that you bought, and you can't sell it either, they shouldn't have it either from the sound of things.

[DarkDrgon]

you could always try doing what i did, and go out and get a keyed lock for your rooms door. I'm in almost the same situation as you, and its worked ok so far

as for a game suggestion, play through Dragon Quarter if you can.

[phil_]

I'm changing my answer to Eternal Darkness. That game would be even better in a sleep-deprived state.

[Julford Hajime]

Tacticslion: I mentioned earlier in the thread something about dorm life, though glancing back through I don't think I mentioned that I'm moving into a dorm shortly before classes start. Like, I move in on the 5th of September, roughly two weeks from this Sunday. I've tolerated this Asshat of a family for almost 21 years now (There was a year where I lived independently in Seattle, my God was that the best year of my life), I can take another couple weeks. The only reason I don't bolt any sooner is that I have, like, 6 dollars total between two bank accounts and 10 dollars cash. Ain't nobody that'd take me in with that kinda money, and my friends are, well... I wouldn't move in with them anyway. I'm very much "No liquor no drugs", and they're pretty much all very "Hey let's get [Julford] drunk/high it'll be funny"; it wouldn't (hasn't) end(ed) well.

For the record: The TV is only, like, 27" or so. I got it a few weeks ago at a Goodwill store for $60, it's just that my family has never bothered to get a large TV. I think the one in our living room (Largest TV besides this new one) is only 20" or so, but yeah them freaking out about me wanting to use it as I see fit is what's caused this whole argument with them. If they seriously cause a big to-do about me taking it to the dorm (Which they've hinted at), I know where the sledgehammer is in the basement, and I will not hesitate to smash the FUCK out of that TV; I've no attachment to it besides that it's more convenient for some games than my little 12" TV is.

About the "Noise while I sleep" thing: I've always had the TV/Radio/Computer on at night, since I was ten or so. It's nothing that's developed because of this recent TV thing, it's just how I've always slept. Makes dorm life a little tough because earphones leave my ears sore if I sleep on 'em wrong, but I've learned to adjust and don't intend to stop with the white noise anytime soon >.>

Oh, and about "Julford is pulling all-nighters": Thanks for all the suggestions, but I'm sitting through Tactics Ogre: LUCT right now after deciding to finally pick it up while reading through IHMN's LP of the game. I played through most of the night last night, took a nap in the middle of the day today, and am pulling another all-nighter tonight. Hanging out with friends tomorrow, then going to bed at a decent hour. I'll probably look into Eternal Darkness sometime soon, if my local Gamestop has it.