Non-Academic Interests
Absolutely no math here whatsoever I promise
...actually maybe a little math sorry
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Chess
Last time I checked, I'm at a rating of around 1650. It's probably lower now since I don't play competitively anymore, but I still dabble in chess-things from time to time.
Here is my favorite chess puzzle. White to play and win.
Logic Puzzles
I enjoy solving and setting Japanese logic puzzles. Nowadays I only make a logic puzzle if I have a really interesting idea. Here are my best works.
Crosswords
I really like crosswords! I'm certainly not among the best, but I once solved a NYT Saturday crossword clean. I've also dabbled in making crosswords, and I particulary love crosswords with gimmicks. Here are all the (good) crosswords I've made.
Standard Sized:
Mini Sized:
Letter-Shaped:
- "A" (I started this challenge because the letter shapes constrain me to small, awkward but interesting grids for filling. I hope to eventually fill the entire alphabet. Enjoy!)
- "B"
- "C"
- "D"
- "E"
- "F"
- "G"
Videogames
Here is an unordered list of my favorite games:
- Titanfall 2: A breath of fresh air that actually comes up with the most novel and intriguing ideas I've ever seen in an FPS.
- Celeste: A very well thought out platformer. I've spent a lot of time playing the modded maps that people in the community have made. I think my latest accomplishment essentially makes me a "Celeste Grandmaster", though that's not exactly a percise term anyhow.
- Chrono Trigger: This game is older than me, but this RPG has the most unique combat system that I've ever seen. Combined with top-tier music and a riveting story, this game is a testament to the masterful game design of a bygone era.
- Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory: The core mechanic of "shadows are really really dark" is as silly as ever, but regardless it is a masterclass in stealth and easily the best in the series.
- Tetris: I won't say how many games of Tetris I've played, but I'll let you guess by linking this video.
- Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess: Probably the most "serious" Zelda game. It's certainly aged, but I think it still holds up as a great game.
- Minecraft: I think this is not a surprise.
- Genshin Impact: The ever-expanding open world is breathtaking. Also it is incredibly addicting and consequently this is the one game on this list that I cannot recommend since it will eat up 110% of your free time.
Here is an unordered list of my favorite puzzle games:
- Baba is You: At first I thought the game would be lame, since it's about time someone would make a game about changing the rules of the game. It is very fortunate that this idea came into the right hands! Hempuli bends and twists the mechanics in so many crazy ways, and each level is truly special in its own way. Nothing ever really felt like filler. And the game gets crazy hard too. And... uh, I really can't say much.
In stark contrast...
- Outer wilds: You can make puzzle levels as convoluted and clever in their construction as you want, but I will always appreciate purity and a sort of non-contrivedness in design. The puzzles in the world of Outer Wilds feel really believable and intuitive. It difficult to describe... it's like the difference between "these boxes are in this arrangement for no other reason than to serve as a puzzle" and "the puzzle in this room is a consequence of a series of reasonable events, and you can solve it to progress".
Also, the worldbuilding is incredible, in both senses of the word.
- Return of the Obra Dinn: A ship arrives at a harbor. Everyone on it is dead. Your mission: Figure out what happened. It's a brilliant concept and I wish I could play it for the first time again.
- Snakebird: This gets a spot because it's on mobile.
- The Witness: Creator politics and questionable philosophy aside, this game has some really fun and unique ideas that make it memorable.
Music
I play the violin. Some pieces I like to play:
- Saint-Saens Concero No. 3 in B Minor, 1st Movement
- Bruch Concerto No. 1 in G Minor, 1st Movement
Cooking
I really like food.