Gone in a Flash

 A few weeks ago, I received a notice from Apple about a systems update.  As usual, I checked it out before applying it, to make sure it was legitimate and what it would do to my computer.  The update was predominately for changes to Safari, Apple's web browser.  Most of the changes looked minor.  For instance, slight changes to extensions to help them work better for more web pages.  One change took me by surprise.  Apple was doing away with the Adobe Flash service early.  Flash is, was, a program used for graphics interfacing on web pages.  The primary users were games, but any site with intensive graphics would have a use for it.  Since it was first developed, newer programs came about that worked better, especially as computers became more advanced.  So, in 2017, Adobe began to phase out the use of Flash, setting the end of 2020 as the termination date.  Apparently, Apple was setting itself up to end the use sooner than that, even before the releases of its latest operating system soon.  As of yet, I have not updated my computer, nor I am expecting to upgrade either, when the time comes.  Why you ask?  Some of the sites that still use Flash include some of my Facebook games.  Many of them are transfers from smart phones and mobile devices.  Those versions already had switched over.  The Facebook versions either did not or could not do so.  I'm not entirely sure how many of my games will go away once Flash is disabled.  The only one I know for sure is Songpop 2.  The game is quite simple.  You and an opponent listen to a music clip.  You have four choices or either artists or song titles.  The one who picks the correct answer the fastest wins the round.  After five clips, one person wins "coins" that can be used to purchase new categories, with the loser receiving just one "coin."  The faster one correctly answers, the more game points one receives.  The more correct answers one gets in a row, the more they fill out their mastery levels in the category, opening access to more clips.  This occurs even if they don't already own the category.  The more players you beat during the week, the more power-ups you get at the end of the week. The power-ups can be used to eliminate wrong answers, as well as providing bonuses in the games party mode.  In the party mode, you and four opponents try to guess ten songs.  The person who gets the most right answers in the shortest amount of time, thereby getting more points, wins.  Players spend tickets to get into these party mode games, earning more through daily bonuses or purchases. Each party mode game lasts about a day or so, with winners getting in games bonuses based on the final tallies.  I don't play the party mode that often.  I've Benn focusing on finishing out my in game achievements and category masteries.  I lack one last achievement-- playing fifty games against a single opponent in one week.  So far, the best I can do is forty-four.  It's hard finding time to play the six or seven times a day to reach fifty, especially since so many of my regular opponents aren't playing any more. I would have tried my Facebook friends, but almost none of them are being listed any more.  I should have tried going up against them when I had the chance.  The only regular opponent I can count on is the computer.  That's right.  One of my opponents is probably just a random computer pity opponent that the game uses to make sure everyone has at least one.  It took me over a year to realize the she wasn't a real person.  I could tell by the fact that her category mastery levels have never gone up from basic levels, even after getting one round with five in a row usually gets you the first level.  I'm hoping to get that last achievement before Facebook cancels the game at the end of the year.  I've already been notified.  I also am trying to master current seven categories that I am lacking in that time. I have not received any other notices about games leaving Facebook.  At least one other had used Flash, but it may have upgraded since then.  Anyway, I am so into too many of my games, that I don't dare update Safari until I absolutely have to.  Either that, or try to get an iPhone by Christmas.  Can't afford it and don't really need it, but I'll still be gaming.