Some time ago, Microsoft offered Xbox 360 owners free Live Arcade games if you bought a console between August 8th 2006 and September 15th of this year. I signed up a while back and today received the email with my codes to redeem the games. Turns out the games are Joust and Robotron. I already have Robotron from buying the Vision Camera. They aren’t the greatest games, but they’re free. I was hoping for Frogger and Defender. I think you can still sign up for this.
I finished Bioshock today. I really loved it. I don’t know if I would ever play it again though, it’s one of those things that are just an amazing first experience. Plus it’s scary, the story and atmosphere kept me in the game to finish it the first time. I got the good ending for saving all the girls, I am really curious about the bad ending though. I might go back so I can finish collecting stuff.
Started playing Bioshock. Got it a bit earlier than most people through my usual means. It has been getting reviews through the roof. Several 10′s and most others above 9 scores. And it’s well deserved, the game is amazing at creating a creepy and atmospheric environment, a believable world, and incredible design in visuals as well as sound. It has a very engaging story and unique style. I’m not too far into it yet, but I can’t wait to play some more.
It’s been almost a month and I still haven’t finished reading Harry Potter yet. I keep getting sidetracked into doing other things on my recreational time. My friend started playing Rainbow 6 Vegas online, and it was an addiction for a couple weeks. Then I saw Transformers, Harry Potter twice, The Simpsons movie, Bourne Ultimatum, and Stardust. Gonna take a break from the movie theater for a while.
I started playing Forza Motorsport 2 on Xbox 360 recently. It doesn’t look as good as Gran Turismo HD on PS3, but it’s fun. What’s best about it is the level of customization you can do to your car. People have created elaborate custom paint jobs. All you have to work with are basic shapes that you can manipulate and layer over each other. It’s amazing what some people have done. The best I did so far is this.
I saw Ocean’s 13 over the weekend. It was fun, I enjoyed it. I also watched a download of DOA: Dead or Alive. It wasn’t great or anything but it was watchable to some degree. Certainly better than anything Uwe Boll put out. I think. The trailer for I Am Legend peaked my interest. Found out it’s a book about vampires, so I ordered it and plan to read it sometime this year (the movie comes out in December). I still have a stack of other books to read until then, including Harry Potter next month, which will have first priority.
Ok, so originally when the Nintendo DS came out, I called it a gimmick. Then as I see it further develop and then the sexier Lite version come out, I wanted one. So one I got.
I also got the thing so I can load roms onto it. I’m cheap that way 
. It was a big investment, but I’m gonna call it my graduation gift to myself. Had to buy the console, the passkey device that allows me to boot DS code from the GBA slot, the cartridge that goes into the GBA slot, and a miniSD card that goes into that cartridge. I also bought a copy of Mario Kart because I needed at least one game to make the passkey work. Normally you need the big ugly passkey inserted to boot the other cartridge, but if you flash the firmware you can do without it. Which is what I did. It was a little scary thinking I can screw it up, but it went ok. My girlfriend saw it and wanted one herself, so I got one for her and flashed it as well. Her cartridge and miniSD are on the way. For now she has Brain Age which I bought used.
15 Minute trailer is like …. woah
Yeah MGS4 looks awesome. In other news:
Super Smash Bros. Brawl announced for Wii, new characters include Pit (Kid Icarus), Zero Suit Samus, Some metal guy from Kirby, Wario, and…. omgwtf Solid Snake!
I was knocking the Wii for awhile, but the recent trailers make it look really fun. Of note: Red Steel and Zelda. Not to mention Wario Ware hilarity.
I don’t think I will be going to E3 this year. I’ve gone the last three years, and it was fun and all, but all the hassle of driving, parking, standing in lines, shuffling through crowds, isn’t really worth it to me anymore. Besides, coverage of this event is easily accessible online. Only thing I will miss out on is the free stuff and being able to play the games.
I will pay close attention to the online media this week to catch all the news and media. Here’s the news for today:
Playstation 3 official release date in the US is November 17. Price is going ot be $499 for 20 gb version, and $599 for the 60 gb version.
20 gb version of the PS3 will lack HDMI output, as well as memory stick and other flash card readers, and Wifi will be absent. Guess I’m getting the 60 gb.
Playstation 3 ‘boomerang’ controller is gone, official PS3 controller looks alot like the current PS2 controller. L2 and R2 buttons are more analog like Xbox 360. There is a center PS3 button much like the 360′s. It will also have gyroscoping features like the Wii controller. Of course it will be wireless with a USB port for wired use. And it will lose the rumble feature.
Microsoft confirms a HD-DVD addon for the Xbox 360.
So Nintendo’s next console formerly code-named the Revolution has been given an official name. Wii. Pronounced “we”. Except with i’s. Honestly, I don’t like it. It’s kinda cheesy and subject to much ridicule. “Wanna come and play with my Wii Wii?” It even sounds awkward saying it normally. “Do you have the new Zelda for the Wii?” I really want to know the names they rejected to come to this conclusion. I really wonder if their strategy will work this time around. Not pushing hardware specs much, re-simplifying gameplay, banking on the nostalgia factor with emulated old school games, and now a cutesy name. One thing is for sure, they aren’t going to be a threat to Playstation, I can guarantee that much.
Ok, so 30 hours later I’m pretty sure I’m addicted to this game. It’s been a long time since a game has engaged me this much. I’m pretty glad I got curious and tried it out. It’s pretty much all I’ve been doing when I’m home. The graphics are amazing though my computer can’t push it all the way. I got it playing at 1024×768 with HDR on. The game is designed very well. Many quests exist that you may do at your choosing. You can finish the game under 20 hours by just doing the main story points or it can go beyond 200 hours doing other side stuff. The way you level up isn’t by how many enemies you defeat like typical role playing games, but rather how you use your main skills. The battle simple is pretty simple but fun. Left click swings your weapon and right click blocks, but the way you control your evasion and blocking makes if feel like you’re in total control of your fight. And the awesome sound effects help too.
Finally my copy of Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistencearrived. I got the 3-disc Limited Edition as well as the pre-order bonus DVD. I’m about to open them up and get cracking.
Spent the day driving down to Torrance to pick up the girlfriend and take her to Santa Monica for a treatment. Caught up on some reading Angels & Demons while waiting. Afterwards, got stuffed eating Shabu Shabu in Little Tokyo.
One full day of use and my mouse has 2/3 bars left on the battery. So far no problems at all. In contrast, my girlfriend’s Microsoft wireless mouse always has problems clicking. She said it was perfect before too, and gradually starts to suck. We’ll see.
