AlteredWeapon.com

10 Word Review: Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

2009-11-16T17:24:00.001-09:00

You don't own a PS3? Buy one. Play this game!

Gran Turismo 5: Epilogue Review*

2009-11-14T08:33:00.002-09:00

Welcome to the fast paced world of racing. This months review is for the much anticipated game Gran Turismo 5's conclusion that wasn't shipped with the game, Gran Turismo 5: Epilogue. Unlike it's 2 predecessors (GT5:Prologue and GT5) this game includes everything that wasn't included in both editions. And it's F-A-N-T-A-S-T-I-C!

Who would have thought that an incomplete racing game could be so much fun. Considering that there was only racing in GT5:Prologue, and a decent mix of racing and tuning in GT5 (The actual game), this "build your own race car out of parts you bought off of PSN" game has absolutely no racing at all. This is slightly confusing in the online multi-player, but we'll get to that later. The level of customization is like no other game I have experienced.
You start off the game in a parts store (kind of like a Cosco or a really big NAPA) with $50,000 in cash and a list of the necessary parts you are going to need to start your vehicle:

Chassis
Drivetrain
Wheels
Tires
Glass
Body Parts (all sold separately)
Engine
Everything else

"Everything else" means exactly that. You have to buy all of the parts for you vehicle. Windshield wipers don't include the motors to drive them, the drivetrain all has to be bought in every separate piece. If the car is old enough to need a carburetor, you have to buy all of the little pieces. You can even buy a manual on how to put the vehicle together. This can be a little daunting at first, but eventually it ends up completely daunting and extremely tedious. And then comes the fun part.
The fun part is assembling everything in your virtual driveway. Depending on the real time of year and your global location determines the weather in the game (sorry Northern Canada). Remember the manual that you can buy? That helps a lot when assembling your car by hand. As a matter of fact, I had to go back to the online store and buy one just so I could get started. Once I got everything assembled it was time to test it. And what a better way to test your super car than to put it on a testing machine (you thought I was going to say drive it, didn't you). The testing machine gives the user the complete stat list of their car and then compares it to other users around the world.
There isn't much to the online part of GT5: Epilogue. It mostly consists of online parts bidding and selling. You need a carburetor and don't want to assemble it? Then you can go and buy it. Don't expect it to be cheap, as a pre-assembled carburetor sells between $50 and $3000. Did I mention that the only way to get extra money in the game is to buy it? That's right, if you need $3000 for a carburetor then just give them your credit card and it'll charge three grand to it. That's only if you aren't outbid by another player in the GT5: Epilogue universe (multiplayer anyone?). Sounds like someone could make a fair amount of cash by assembling car parts and then selling them for a higher price. Wrong. You can do this but all of the money you make stays in the game. This sounds really lame, but a person gets used to it. You do get sick of it after spending $12 grand on a car that you can't drive (but that's half the fun!).

Let's wrap this up and give it a score:
Building really cool cars: 5
Having to build every piece of the car: -3
Unlimited Parts: 2
Having to pay for all of those parts: -2
Having to pay real money: -6
Cutting Edge Graphics: 2
Customizable Soundtracks: 0 (this should be in every game)
Taking customization to the next level: -2
Bleeding Gran Turismo fans of all their hard earned money by selling incomplete games before and after the real game has been released: -4

Total Score: 0
My advice: Wait until Gran Turismo 6: Epilogue comes out in ten years so all of the bugs can be worked out.

* disclaimer: This is a fake "review" and should be taken as cynicism and good plain fun.

Assassin's Creed 2 review *

2009-09-30T16:57:00.003-08:00

Remember all of the free-running, horse riding, stealth killing "fun" from the first Assassin's Creed? I do. The second addition in the franchise is fantastically...the same.The story is slightly different but all of the missions are eerily similar. So similar that you may need to check the box a few times to make sure there is actually the number 2 on it. You play an Italian nobleman named Enzio, who looks and acts like Altair from the first game (I do realize they are related, but no two people are this much alike) The setting is Italy during the Renaissance instead of Jerusalem. Although everything looks the same (this isn't surprising being as Italy has taken a lot of it's styling cues from ancient Israel) it is a "nice" change. I also think they are trying to sell more games to Canada. Ubisoft's newest ad slogan is: "Assassin's Creed 2- Run around inside a boot!"

There are added bonuses, like being able to kill your horse when you are tired of it and the authorities being alerted when you ride slower than a standstill. The graphics are amazing and very assassiny. Ubisoft has outdone themselves with this one. They showed in demos that everything is "better": killing, hiding, swimming (you can do that now, which makes it better), free-running and even walking. The fact that you are still wearing a robe is mind blowingly stupid. It's been a few hundred years, you think they would have invented pants by that time. It's really confusing, are you killing people because you want to go to sleep or are you doing it because they woke you up? And why are you so tired? Could it be because you are out at all hours of the day killing people for keeping you awake? It's an endless circle. Pants would solve the situation and let the Enzio get to his real mission of doing things like wine tasting and pretending to like girls.
You also have a secret relationship with Leonardo Da Vinci, who makes you things for some reason. Not sure what it is, but it is highly suspicious.

With every "great" assassin story there is always a reason for the assassin to kill . Enzio kills to get revenge on the people that killed his banker father. There are a few problems with this.

Rich kids hate their fathers.
Rich kids usually couldn't kill anyone except for the occassional prostitute (and that is usually covered up by their fathers)
Bad guys usually kill the children and family of the rich father (this is a good plot line, UBISOFT!)
Rich kids that wear robes all day usually stay at home and watch TV and harass the help.
NOBODY CARES ABOUT THE STORY! (the last point is the truest of all the points)

Is killing people the best way for one to use his talents? Think about it. If I had amazing knife skills I would go into show business, or open a Benihana (Where dinner is the show). Flipping knives around and chopping food at lightning speed while throwing seasoning and chunks of food at customers is highly entertaining, the epitomy of fun. Enzio is really missing his calling here, and so is Ubisoft. This game should be a chef game called "Cooking Assassin". That would be a great seller, a number one across the boards in all console and handheld markets. (I should really pitch these ideas to developers)
Enzio is the good guy, right? It makes sense considering he kills all kinds of people in specialized ways, most of the time with knives. Wait a minute...no it doesn't. It makes sense if he's a serial killer! Great, now we're idolizing serial killers. First Dexter, now Enzio. Think about it: He kills in secret. He has no real friends of his own. He's really quiet and reserved. His mother thinks he's great. He uses knives to cut people up and continues to do it on a daily, if not hourly, basis. That should add some extra points for review scores.

Let's sum it up and give some review points:

Same game, different story: 1 point
Assassiny graphics: 2 points
Swimming included in this sequel: 1 point
Robe: -1 point
Leonardo DaVinci: no points
Father issues: 1 point
Unrealistic story: 2 points
Having a story line: -3 points
Benihana: 2 points
Ubisoft not making "Cooking Assassin": -2 points
Serial killer in a game: 3 points
Ubisoft lying about Enzio being a serial killer: -2 points
Reviews having a point system: -4 points

Grand total: 0

My advice: Pick this one up if you want to make up your own mind and really want to play Assassin's Creed 2. If not, rent it at least one time. I know I might not.

* disclaimer: This is a fake "review" and should be taken as cynicism and good plain fun. Viva La Clancysoft!

Hot or Cold?

2009-03-02T18:42:00.002-09:00

Here's one for you: Would you rather be hot or cold? I'm not talking about anything religious, just temperature. Sunburn is probably better to get than frostbite, and burned food is better to eat than freezer burned food. We also refer to overly attractive people as "hot" and when someone does something underhanded it's considered "cold". And being "hot blooded" (romance) is better than "cold blooded" (murder). When you are cold, everything freezes and hurts. You get slower and need to warm up. You also have to cover up and stay insulated from the cold. Being cold kind of sucks. We also associate vacations with hot beaches and not the arctic.

On the other hand, being cold does have some advantages. When you are cold, you can warm up rather easy. Being hot requires that you have someplace cool to go and if you are sweating then that could lead to bad things if you become overly chilled. I also would rather hang out with people I consider "cool" than people I consider "hot". Having a nice cool glass of water is always better that an nice hot glass of water (gross). When you are cold you get to snuggle up in your blankets and get a nice sense of security. When it's hot, sleeping becomes unbearable and is hard to cool down. Also, freezing to death is considered a lot better than burning to death (not that doing anything to death is a good thing).

I guess if I had to choose, the choice would be cold. I like ice water even when it's cold out and enjoy snuggling in my blankets when I'm sleeping. Even at work (the North Slope) I prefer the winter to the summer, and like working outside a little better than inside. I also like the song "Ice, Ice, Baby" better than "Hot, Hot, Hot" (sorry, Poindexter). Be cool everyone.

Helper Dogs Steal Jobs.

2009-02-21T16:44:00.001-09:00

That's right, I said it: Helper Dogs take jobs. Think about it. Dogs are trained to see for the blind, help them walk, keep them out of danger, and other things. Things that could be done by hard working Americans. Helper dogs are invading our workforce and doing these jobs for less than the daily minimum wage that a normal American would. I say we need to stand up to the pro-helper dog advocates and let our voices be heard.

My new one week diet.

2009-02-02T21:00:00.002-09:00

I'm trying to lose weight. I'm down to about 210 lbs. from 220 lbs. and am trying to lose ten more pounds. Apart from exercising (I did 3 miles on the treadmill followed by a decent lat and bicep workout), I've changed my diet. I've gone almost meatless. The reason that I say almost is because I still need my sausage and egg bagel for breakfast. Other than that it's vegetables, grains, pasta and fruit. I think I'm feeling better and kind of enjoy the challenge of finding foods to eat at work. I have another ten days to go and am excited to see the results. Ice cream isn't part of any meat group, is it?

Phobia Zombirus

2009-01-31T19:08:00.001-09:00

I have an odd thing to admit. I'm afraid of Zombies (re-animated dead guys, and gals). I don't know what it is about the dead coming alive to eat my brains that scares the willies (I did use that word) out of me. Every time I watch a zombie movie, whether it be watching Shaun of the Dead (a love story) or playing Left 4 Dead (a deeper love story) on my Xbox 360 or even reading the Marvel: Zombies comic books, I stay up late into the night deep in thought on the dangers of zombies.

I think this comes from the realization that zombies tend to be more of a viral anomaly rather than beings of magic or mythology. Whether it be from space or from a lab, reanimated dead people are generally a product of pathology and evil. The fact that zombie-ism is basically the most deadly form of rabies (28 Days Later, not 28 Days with Sandra Bullock. Both scary movies in their own right) seems very frightening to me. I often wonder if all of my doors and windows will hold up to my just-dead neighbors, when it does happen (see what I did there). What would I use to defend myself? I'm sure a shovel will do just fine, but what happens when there are hundreds of them (luckily, I don't live in a metropolis.)?

I'm sure I'm just being paranoid, but how can I be sure?

The Law of Averages.

2009-01-15T21:24:00.004-09:00

Some people are blessed with good luck (or fortune) and some with bad luck (to a point) and some have a pretty even life. I think I fall under the good and bad mix, and I also think that most people do. It seems that everything good that happens (ie: found $10, got a new TV really cheap, had a great week, etc.) the opposite also seems to find it's way in. I would like to say that I'm the only one, but I know a few people that this happens to also. The economy is a good example of the law of averages, sure it's bad right now, but it's been good for the past couple of years and was good before it went down after 9/11. It will go back up, we just have to be patient.

I'm thinking that maybe instead of focusing on the negatives that happen, maybe I should deal with it and move on. Maybe those who have nothing but good luck are just good at shrugging the bad off and learn from it and use that to create their luck. I should try that.

And I'm back?

2008-04-03T11:55:00.002-08:00

After a year long hiatus, and many life changing experiences, I'm back (I'm hoping it will be for good this time, but you never know). I'm hoping to go in a different direction from gaming news (considering the flooding of the gaming blog market and the lack of sufficient funds to buy and review every game imaginable) and give some insight into my brain and life experiences. I may throw some video game "stuff" in there with it (maybe a lot if deemed necessary).

I think that the main thing is for me to keep writing and develop a personality that people can relate to. If not, then maybe you can laugh at me and make fun of the things I write (making the world a better place, through insults and humiliation of me.) So, I'll see you tomorrow and maybe have something to say. Maybe a recipe, or a game recommendation, or a story, or just the alphabet (or something else).

The Writer's Strike and Me.

2008-01-21T14:07:00.000-09:00

If you've been out of the universe for the past few months you may not know that Hollywood Writers are on strike. You may also have noticed that TV really sucks lately. I wrote an article over at MarriedGamer.com about the strike increasing DVD viewing and Video Game playing. What I didn't mention was what I thought about it. So here goes.

I started out thinking that it was unfair that writers didn't get a cut of the digital download sales on the things that they write about. Realistically, if you worked on it you should get paid for it (unless you are God, or a blog writer with a passion and a few loyal readers). I still think that, to a point. Unfortunately, I'm tired of nothing being on during the winter season. The only good thing that has come out of this is that the wife and I now watch TV together because of the lack of disagreements (rarrrrrrr!) on what we want to watch.

I also want to know why the writer's union can give the okay for their members to write for The Grammy Awards, yet not agree to write for America's favorite shows. How hard is it to write for a music awards show? "And presenting the award for greatest hard-core-country-metal newcomer singer/songwriter of the year is...(insert famous person here)." That seems hard.

What I really am trying to say is: I want to watch syndicated TV again. I want new episodes of shows, like LOST or even Grey's Anatomy (for the wife, of course.) I want to not live again! I want my warm soft couch to caress my backside while I slide into a near comatose state for a few hours. Please give me that back, Writer's Guild of America, please!

I Likes Me Some Super Mario Bros.

2008-01-08T13:50:00.000-09:00

If you haven't been able to tell, I've been on hiatus for the last few weeks. For starters my wife, son and I decided to go and visit relatives in Washington (the state) for the Christmas season, and do a lot of shopping (and I mean a LOT!). And then I had a lot to do when I came back to work. And then I got lazy. And then I got my wife pregnant (which actually happened before we went on vacation).

Before we left I picked up Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 (Gameboy game) for my DS Lite. After so 17 years this game is still really fun to play, a fantastic find in the Fred Meyer bargain bin. I don't know how many times I have died in my pursuit to finish this game (or how many times I have thrown my DS in frustration). For all of you Super Mario Bros. fans out there: I know that you can use the warp whistle to beat the game quicker, I wanted to do it on my own merit (and I haven't figured out how to successfully use it).

Super Mario 3 is a timeless classic. Running and jumping on things never gets old, not to mention flying and swimming like a frog. SM3 is everything I remembered from the olden days, plus a little more. The beautiful coloring and graphics still hold up today. Turtles are still non-scary enemies, but flying ships with flame throwers scare the crap out of me. It is still fun to find treasures in the air or after sliding down a pipe. I also love the different worlds: Air world, Ice world, Desert world, Big world, Forest world, Normal world, Waterworld (Kevin Coster is the man!), and Fire World. (Have you ever noticed that the word "WORLD" doesn't seem like it's spelled correctly?)

I think the only thing that gets on my nerves (in this game), is that the little mosses and big bosses are always the same. Sure, some of them fly, but is that really a challenge? (some say "no") I guess, being the "fly" person that I am (more jive, really), I still love it. But it could have used more originality when it came to the bosses. I think I'll fire up my time machine and go talk to the developers about this. I might rethink that plan since I'm still in the process of inventing the time machine and haven't gotten all of the bugs worked out (I also want to apologize to my family for the missing animals).

In conclusion (why does everyone need closure?), I recommend that you go out and buy this game immediately! If you don't own a Nintendo DS or Gameboy Advance, I would recommend that you go out and buy one of those. If you are an executive for Nintendo and want to send advertising dollars to me for the glowing review of your products, please email me: alteredweapon@gmail.com

I hope everyone is having a Happy New Year and will continue to read (unless you have stopped) or become a new reader. Bless you all!

Slow gaming week, or just laziness?

2007-12-13T14:26:00.000-09:00

I thought I would write something for all of my fan out there (thanks for reading, Dave).

This weeks been kind of a lull in gaming for me. I'm not sure why, but I lose interest every once in a while. Maybe it's the cold weather, wanting to spend more time with the family, or stress at work (or the mafia members sent over by certain game companies to make sure I don't say something stupid). Whatever it is, I've been taking a break from gaming. Not a complete break (Uncharted has been played a couple of times this week), but as close as a gamer can get.

I have been watching Planet Earth, a documentary from the Discovery Channel, on Blu-Ray, with my wife and son. I've been blown away by this hi definition documentary. The crystal clear camera shots combined with the locations make this a must watch for any Blu-Ray owner. It's got a boatload of nature and no human beings that are visible (except on the Yellow River in China). Breathtaking scenery and good writing make this a reason to get a Blu-Ray player. I am so impressed, I wish I could show everyone. Two words: WOW!!

Xbox Customer Support and my dead 360...

2007-12-04T12:06:00.000-09:00

I was going to have a long explanation on how my 360's disk drive died, but I've decided to get to the point. It happened on Monday night while I was preparing to play Call of Duty 4. My first 360 died almost a year ago and I though I was a few weeks out of warranty on the refurbished unit that I had received. So I called Xbox customer support, fully expecting to argue with someone on the other line.

If anyone from Microsoft Customer Support is reading this, please get a different voice for your automated system. Automated Dave's voice is not soothing or helpful to people who are going through a video game crisis. Luckily, I got through the automated portion pretty quickly (after Auto Dave hung up on me once), and got to talk to a very nice lady named Keisha. I don't know if it's my phone voice or just luck, but I'm quite impressed with this lady's customer service skills. She didn't treat me like an idiot, was very easy to understand and didn't leave me on hold for a long time when looking up information. I am now waiting for the "coffin" to send my box into be repaired/replaced.

This doesn't mean that I'm not upset about having to send my 360 in for the 2nd time, I am. Playing on Friday nights with my friends is the stress reliever I need to get through the next week. I'm really going to miss the gaming. Keisha really helped with my anger and I hope she gets promoted or at least a hefty pay raise (I know it's her job, but she did it well and she should be thanked). This experience also allows me to invest some much needed time into my other console.

So I'm going to need some games to play on my PS3. The day after my box died I decided to cheer myself up by purchasing 2 PS3 games. I bought Uncharted: Drake's Fortune (which I loved when I rented it) and Warhawk (for my multiplayer needs). I played Warhawk a couple of times yesterday and really see the potential in this multiplayer only game. My first reaction to this game isn't favorable, but I'm willing to play more and get better at playing. I've also learned that I can play with friends on the same TV and online at the same time (which is great!) . It's a well thought out , multiplayer only, 3rd person shooter with vehicles and weapons galore. Hopefully I can play with some of the people on my friends list this weekend and get more proficient at it.

Hopefully I can become more Playstation friendly and be happy with the repair wait all at the same time. I'm still a big fan of the Xbox 360 and will try to think positive in this time of need. Again, Thank you to customer support expert Keisha and I hope you have a happy holiday season.

I need some advice...

2007-12-01T10:44:00.000-09:00

Here's the deal: I have $60 to spend on a game, it's been there for a couple of weeks now. I've rented numerous games and have enjoyed quite a bit of them, but only one has jumped out at me (but none of them have killed me in my sleep either, that's a plus). That game is Uncharted: Drake's Fortune. I've had more fun playing this amazing single player adventure game than any other single player game during the last few months. I will own this game, eventually.

I also want to buy Warhawk for the PS3 and try out the awesomeness that it's supposed to be. And I get a Bluetooth headset, which is awesomeness in itself (and I'll get to insult people and pretend I'm talking on my cell phone). There is also Resistance: Fall of Man, which is, in theory, a good game also.

Maybe I should save my money and buy Rockband for the 360 (which is what most people will recommend), but I don't know. It'll be a lot of fun to rock out with friends and family, online and off. It is a possibility, yet expensive, yet fun, yet spendy, yet exciting, yet a lot of money. And then there is Scene It! Lights, Camera, Action for the 360 also. I love trivia games and really dug this at PAX. I don't have enough offline friends to play this on a regular basis, and that could be a problem.

So, what should I do? What should I buy? Should I eat a tube of toothpaste today? (probably not) Do farm animals secretly know how to talk when we're not around? (I say yes. Or was that a cartoon I saw?) I really don't know, and I need your help. Please comment with your suggestions. They'll be taken into considerations and a game will be bought in accordance with your advice (hopefully).

Thank You.

2007-11-30T10:22:00.001-09:00

I just read my post counter for the first time in two weeks. I'm at 1200 hits, so far, and just want to say "Thank You" to everyone who has visited so far. It's important to me that you, the reader, enjoy the stuff I write. If you have any suggestions or see anything that is even slightly baseless and untrue, feel free to comment. I will publish all comments unless they are vulgar or racist. If there is something you would like to know about or read my opinion about, please email me alteredweapon@gmail.com
I've been really trying to publish something more than once a week. Works kind of busy and with gaming and family, I don't have a lot of time. I do promise to write once a week, though, and more as time goes on. If you are interested in writing an article, please email me. Again, "ThankYou".

Rental Review: MASS EFFECT

2007-11-23T14:59:00.000-09:00

I've come to the conclusion that I don't wish to become someone else in a video game. Mass Effect from developer Bioware and published by Microsoft Game Studios, is a role playing game that has been anticipated since the 360 came into existence. I rented this two days ago and decided that I'm not a role player at all. That doesn't mean that I won't keep playing until the rental is up, and I'll probably buy it when the price comes down in a few months (unless Bioware wants to send me a copy, or a relative wants to purchase it at full price).

Graphically this game is pretty decent. The character face models bring out a certain humanity that most games don't have at the moment. The different locations are beautifully laid out and do a convincing job of creating the mood necessary to the story. The character speech isn't completely in sync with the mouth, and the eyes of most of the human characters creep me out a little. The alien species are typical sci-fi characters, but don't always follow a humanoid form (nice touch, even though Kirk probably wouldn't mate with them).

Gameplay is divided into a few different segments (possibly more, but since it's taken me a week to write this I have might have missed something).
1: 3rd Person Shooter. This part is fun and full of action, but a little hard to control. You can take cover and order your team to do various tactical moves. This generally ends up in them dying. 2: Quests. Doing things like helping to analyze an alien species to mediating an argument between two species. I personally don't consider this fun, but it could be with enough incentive (like money).
3: Walking around. I don't even like walking in real life, so I don't like it in virtual life.
4: Dialog wheel. Bioware has a way for the player to speak to others the way that they want. You just select your response and your character interacts
And last, but not least, 5: Cutscenes. Probably the best part of the game for me. I really enjoy watching the story in most games, especially if they are good. Mass Effect has a good story line for the soldier campaign, and I enjoyed all of the cutscenes immensely. I'm hoping to explore the other campaigns when I actually buy this game.

Mass Effect isn't the end-all and be-all of RPG-action games. If it were I would have bought 6 dozen copies and distributed them to everyone that I come in contact with. It is very well done for the genre and the Xbox 360 console. I have heard from people in the gaming community that there is a good amount of re-playability in this game.

Bottom line: Mass Effect should be bought instead of rented because there is not enough time on a rental to play this game in it's entirety.

Games I have been Playing.

2007-11-18T11:16:00.000-09:00

The last few weeks have been pretty busy. With work, family and the plethora of games coming out, I have not had time to do much else. I'm not complaining, I have really been enjoying most of it, and the overtime helps me buy more games. I figured I would give my impressions of the games I have played lately.

First off is Halo 3 from Bungie and Microsoft Game Studios. Great game, and a lot of fun online. This game kept me busy for a long time. The only thing lacking in Halo 3 is the single player mission was a little lacking in new gameplay, but it is still pretty good.

Next up is Call of Duty 4: Modern Combat from Infinity Ward and published by Activision. So far this is my favorite game of the year. I'm not the type of person who will play a game for multiple hours on end. CoD4 breaks that personally trait into a million pieces. The single player campaign has a great story, fantastic graphics and free ice cream. (okay, i lied about the ice cream, but a list of three always sounds better.) The missions play like Call of Duty 2, but improved upon. I really like the leveling system, it rewards those who play well and complete challenges but doesn't punish those who are new. I'll be playing this game for months or years to come.

I bought Kane and Lynch: Dead Men for the 360 which is developed by IO Studios and published by Eidos (The makers of the Hitman series). This game plays like an action, bank heist movie. I really enjoy the story and although the game mechanics need slight tweaking, it still works well. The biggest problem that I have with this game is it lacks graphically and the multiplayer experience is non-existent for myself (I can never join a match!). Online co-op isn't an option either, but I don't think this is the type of game that would be loads of fun in that area. I'm really looking forward to playing this with a buddy and having a few good laughs.

I mentioned that I had rented Ratchet and Clank Future last week as the inaugural game for the PS3. That game is crack on a disk (alteredweapon.com does not condone smoking crack on a disk or any other apparatus) I was a little sad when I returned it, but will be asking for it for Christmas from the wife (I Love You). Published by Sony Computer Entertainment and developed by Insomniac Games, this game will not disappoint. I really enjoyed everything about this game and wish there were more hours in the day to enjoy it.

My PS3 came with Motorstorm, developed by Evolution Studios and published by Sony Computer Entertainment. I've only played this game for about an hour, but really like racing in a multiple class, multiple path track. Good pack in game. I don't like the lack of split screen multi-player, that should have been in this game.

I rented Assassin's Creed for the PS3 this week, Developed by Eidos and published by Ubisoft. I'm not sure what I think. I really love the graphics and being able to climb buildings. The story is a bit confusing, but good. I guess I'm not a huge fan of riding a horse or walking for miles in a game traveling to my destination, that just bores me. I also have a problem with stealth killing not being a huge factor in a game where you are an assassin. Eidos should have asked for help from Ubisoft Montreal, developers of the Splinter Cell series, to get the stealth gameplay right.I will be getting this for Christmas also and will return it today and wait until then. I also might rent it for the 360 to make a comparison.

I've played a few demos, and just rented Mass Effect. Rock Band is on my list of wants, but price and lack of friends available to play with are holding me back. I've had so much fun with the games that I've played so far that I'm worried about next year. Hopefully neither console disappoints.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Welcome to the Sony-dome!

2007-11-13T08:58:00.000-09:00

I bought a Playstation 3 this weekend, 80 gig limited edition. The thing looks pretty sweet! It seems that Sony was looking toward the future and betting on longevity for this installment of the Playstation console series. The reason I say that is because this console looks like a piece of furniture, both in size and sleekness, almost art like. The Xbox 360 looks fine, but not like a piece of the entertainment system.

I would compare it to real (PS3) and plastic (360) flowers. Sure the plastic ones look good, but up close you can tell it's just plastic and kind of cheap. The upside is that everyone can enjoy the plastic flowers all year long. Real flowers look nicer and garner appreciation for every time they are presented. The down side is that real flowers wilt and take one dedicated person to take care of them.

I guess what I'm saying is I love both my consoles equally. I enjoy the single player experiences I've gotten so far with the PS3 (Ratchet and Clank: Future is awesome!), and will always cherish the multiplayer game nights on Xbox Live (The only real way to play Call of Duty 4: Modern Combat). I think my biggest dilemma is: What system do I buy Assassin's Creed for?

Are people fleeing California?

2007-11-11T15:28:00.000-09:00

I'm seeing quite a few of these commercials on TV lately, and am wondering if California is having trouble getting people to come visit. I don't think anyone ever says to themselves "I think I want to visit South Central Los Angeles next spring." and then books their flight and hotel.

Apparently, they are amping up their tourism advertising because of the recent fires. Not a bad move, if you ask me. Not that anybody does. These ads also sound like they need more people to move to California. Do they really need more people? Maybe they need more tax revenue. I think that is a bad move.

Could this spell disaster for Take 2? (Um...no)

2007-11-07T19:59:00.000-09:00

From gamesindustry.biz

Take 2 refuses to pinpoint GTA IV release

Matt Martin 11:36 (BST) 07/11/2007

Missing the upcoming Christmas season wasn't crucial, says Zelnick

Strauss Zelnick, chairman of Take 2, has refused to narrow down a release period for Grand Theft Auto IV, saying the publisher won't commit until it's "utterly convinced" the game is ready.

Most recently the publisher has said the title will be released in Q1 of 2008 – between February 1 and April 30 – following a delay that saw the game moved from its initial release of October 2007.

"It's a fair question given that we weren't able to stick to our firm date the last time. We're going to give a firm date when we are utterly convinced that we have it and that isn't right now," said Zelnick during a BMO Capital Markets conference yesterday.

"We know it's highly anticipated. Right now our view is to put out a high quality title and we're not in the business of disappointing investors."

Zelnick said that any concerns that the initial delay had caused it to miss the Christmas sales period have been alleviated, as GTA IV is a "must-have" title, able to take advantage of a bigger installed base of consoles in the New Year.

(follow the link for the rest of the article) LINK

I think the question is: Will Take 2/Rockstar sell more games during a packed Holiday season or during the spring when few great games are released? Of couse they're going to go with the time of year with less competition. It also gives them more time for hype and advertising through controversy. I'm pretty sure that Jack Thompson has his own problems right now and can't focus a whole lot on suing Take 2 over the content of Grand Theft Auto 4. Good move by this game company. Of course I wish that other companies would take a note and release their big titles during a shopping lull instead of this time of year. Bad move for my wallet.

Quicker Update

2007-11-07T11:51:00.000-09:00

Now everyone can comment to the posts. I didn't know that you had to register to comment and if that was true, I am sorry.

Technical stuff.

2007-11-06T11:56:00.000-09:00

I'm trying to make this all look and feel a little better. The only problem that I have is:

I have no idea what I'm doing!

Also, if you have any suggestions or would like to see something please comment. I think it can be anonymous, if you would like it to be. I'm open to suggestions for everything, including layout, format, content, anything. I enjoy this, but would like to make it look and feel better. Thank you for reading so far, I really appreciate it.

More Later...

Non-Gaming Observation (no picture today)

2007-11-01T21:11:00.000-08:00

I just saw a Subway commercial tonight that made me think. It's the one with Jared and Reggie Bush. The commercial compares the two men's lifestyles. One scene shows Jared cleaning out a big plastic pool and then it cuts to Reggie lounging by the pool of his multi-million dollar house. The rest of the commercial shows the two in other situation where Jared is poor, and Reggie is (obviously) rich.

This brings some thoughts about Jared to mind. First off: How bad is this dude with money? I can't imagine that the worlds only ex/semi-fat guy, who made a career out of eating sandwiches (take that Atkins!), could possibly be anywhere near the middle-middle class spectrum. If a person really thinks about it, Jared should be rolling in the dough. I don't mean bathing naked in burnt money, but pretty well off.

On the same note: Why isn't Reggie Bush bathing in burnt money? Does he really need to supplement his income by being the super fit guy to Jared's really odd, slightly overweight ambiguity? Is the subway commercials a court ordered thing? I was under the impression that he was a superstar. And in being a superstar, he could be doing shoe commercials and other events that didn't require him to hang out with and ex-obese guy that made money selling bootleg porn in college. Maybe Reggie is really into bootleg copies of dirty movies. That must be it.

Solid Snake must be getting bored...

2007-10-31T11:00:00.000-08:00

MGS4 Delayed (Again) to Spring 2008

From 1up.com
Arguably PS3's biggest game yet suffers another setback.
By Steve Watts, 10/31/2007 Just in time for Halloween, Konami has decided to smash our proverbial pumpkins. And by pumpkins, I mean hopes for an early 2008 release date for Snake's latest outing.

An announcement went out this morning that the hotly anticipated title Metal Gear Solid 4 would be delayed until the second quarter of 2008, following another delay announced at E3 2007. This is a push back from winter, which would have had it dropping in the first quarter. The move doesn't come as much of a surprise, given that such a marquee title would usually release in the holiday season.

Interestingly, the press release says the delay stems from attempts "to make further improvements to the quality of the game and provide even greater enjoyment for more customers worldwide."

For all of the PS3 owners out there who bought their consoles for MGS4, I am truly sorry. Congratulations, Konami, for delaying the biggest game francise for the most powerful gaming system out there. If this isn't going to be fodder for 360 fanboys, I don't know what is. Good thing Uncharted is coming out, otherwise it would be a lean holiday for action/adventure gamers out there.
Is it really that hard to program for the PS3? It better be, otherwise Konami needs to learn to use time management a little better. I can just imagine the phone call with Sony when they told them about the delay:
Sony: Hello? (customary phone greeting)
Konami: Hi, Sony, how are you doing today? (brief pause) Is the weather good over in your neck of the woods? (brief pause) How's the family?
Sony: This is about MGS4, isn't it?
Konami: Yes. It turns out that the pixelation of the inverse protaglators aren't responding well to the polyphonic testing, and we are going to have to delay the game until Quarter 2 of next year.
Sony: That explanation was just a bunch of gibberish, wasn't it?
Konami: Yes.
Sony: What's the real reason?
Konami: Bob took the graphics code home to work on it, and his wife accidentally threw it away.
Sony: Again? Isn't this the third time?
Konami: Yes. But we had a talk with Bob and he's no longer allowed to take work home.
Sony: Well, I guess we'll have to live with it.
Konami: We're working really hard on it and if it gets done sooner, we'll let you know.
Sony: Riiiight.
Konami: What was that?
Sony: Nothing. I guess we'll talk to you later inb the quarter then.
Konami: Yeah, see you later.
Sony: Bye. (hangs up phone, and turns to secretary) Could you call David Jaffe and see if he can do another Twisted Metal or God of War for the PS3?

I know delays suck, but I also know that if MGS4 isn't perfect that could really hurt Sony and Konami's credibility. Hopefully good news is on the horizon.

MAN UP AND ADMIT IT ALREADY!

2007-10-29T14:24:00.000-08:00

Men also avid players of casual video games: study

from Reuters.com folow the link for the whole article.
Mon Oct 29, 2007 2:04pm EDT

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Men are just as likely as women to play casual video games, but are less likely to admit it, according to an industry report that shatters a widely held industry belief that such games appeal mainly to women.

But women are more likely to buy casual games -- a broad term referring to games that are easy to pick and play -- than men, who are more determined to find a free version or try to thwart anti-piracy protections on games.

Those were some of the findings in the first yearly market report by the Casual Games Association, an industry group aimed at promoting a fast-growing segment that accounts for about 10 percent of the $30 billion global video game market.

Congratulations, Reuters, you now know something that every guy in the world knew for years!

I'm not going to say that I play or enjoy casual games. I might even admit the opposite. You will never know, unless you have male parts or are my wife (I Love You!).