The Queue: “Hope” is the thing with feathers

If a poem is quoted in a video game, it’s on topic, right? Subnautica: Below Zero wasn’t as in-depth or as completely nerveshattering as the original, but it did have some bright points, including the narrative. In terms of immersion (pun not intended) I really liked how the original’s story was told, but the story itself (and the subtext on the human condition and what makes us human) in BZ hit for me — though of course I appreciate the overarching subtext through the franchise that big corporations are the true predator we should be afraid of.

This is The Queue, our daily column where you ask us questions and cut us a little slack today okay bud?

I’m going to be honest — WoW updates and timing has always escaped me as being completely unpredictable. Sure, SoO was over a decade ago at this point so it’s not really the indicator to point to, but that year just made me throw up my hands in perpetuity at the idea of estimating WoW dates. They did release a pre-TWW roadmap which was immensely helpful and spot-on. But Blizzard’s other titles at this point are fairly clockwork, and that’s thrown me off even further. Diablo 2 ladder resets, Hearthstone expansion, Overwatch battle passes, all come out at prescribed, precise times, come hell or high water. WoW has always been far more loosey-goosey about it all. And since the other titles are like, 9 weeks without fail, or in the case of Hearthstone three specific months for expansions and then one month later Battlegrounds rotation, it’s really thrown a spotlight on how unpredictable the WoW cycles can be.

So, all that to say, sure, 11.0.7 before Christmas. If you told me, like, March, I’d be on board with that. Why not. August is a bit of a stretch, but, maybe.

You know, all the writing about the promos tend to include a “specially labeled” verbiage, but the promo is through their existing points system, so you should (should) be able to just plug in any ol code, as long as the package dates from when the overall points were a thing. They also have promos for Elder Scrolls Online active, for instance. If you happen to have a Dorito bag from like, 2014, it probably won’t work, and also you should probably really clean out whereever you found that.

However, even looking toward the back, all the items in my local store were labelled, so I wasn’t able to purchase any For Science, and can’t say with absolute certainty that unlabelled packages will work.

I’d say if you have a choice between an unlabeled Mountain Dew and Dr Pepper and you like both equally, may as well try it. But if you like Dr Pepper way more — and who doesn’t — go with the Doctor.

It was kind of an odd one, since my daughter is getting to the age where she’s way too cool and over it, but also kinda thinks it’s a little fun and secretly wants to do it. We did all go trick-or-treating, but it took some cajoling, and I think it was her last year. If you’ll recall, I missed trick-or-treating last year when my doctor ordered me to all-caps IMMEDIATELY go to the emergency room, so I’m glad I got one last year.

I did wind up going door to door as Ms Frizzle because that’s a bit more recognizable.

Ahem,

With both Halloween and Christmas I have a bright line of, okay, I love this holiday but it’s over now, so let’s put it up and move on. Though, to be fair, for Christmas the packing up day is Three Kings Day or Twelfth Night, which is a bit late for some. And the same goes for my in-game decor.

Now that Halloween is over I’m going for a base of warm white and black, with fall-feeling browns and plums and pink accents. I’ll probably use this — or something like it, I frequently shuffle a couple elements around after I finish my pomodoros for the morning — until after Thanksgiving, even though the upcoming update happens November 20.

Oddly, the one exception is my Garrison in WoW. It’s always simultaneously both Hallow’s End and Winter Veil all year.

That’s The Queue for today. Now if you’ll excuse me I need to go buy some alcohol and Pringles and leftover discount Halloween candy.