Metal Gear Solid DLC for LittleBigPlanet (PS3)

I read about the MGS downloadable level pack for LittleBigPlanet a few weeks ago. It's going to be $5.99 for the level pack and an additional $5.99 if you want the costumes. Given that it adds a new set of levels to the game, a ton of new items, as well as the paint gun. . .this really is a must have!It will be cool to see the levels the community creates with the gun mechanic & new items.

I wasn't going to get the costumes, but after seeing this trailer, I might reconsider. . .

AVGN - A Christmas Carol: Part 1

The Korean Cuisine EXPERIENCE

Some work-mates and I recently went to New York to enjoy some good Korean food. . .here is the result! Be sure to see watch until the part where the food starts moving.

October Sailing

October Sailing, originally uploaded by grandreaganx.

It was a beautiful day, however I realized later that it was only 55 degrees outside. No wonder why my feet were getting so cold! At the end of it, I had to jump into waist deep water in order to pull the boat onto the beach. The water was warmer than the air so it felt nice as I plunged in.

maJIK

This is a test of the Emergency Broadcast System.

This is the Wartime Broadcasting Service. This country has been attacked with nuclear weapons. Communications have been severely disrupted, and the number of casualties and the extent of the damage are not yet known. We shall bring you further information as soon as possible. Meanwhile, stay tuned to this wavelength, stay calm and stay in your own homes.

Remember there is nothing to be gained by trying to get away. By leaving your homes you could be exposing yourselves to greater danger.

If you leave, you may find yourself without food, without water, without accommodation and without protection. Radioactive fall-out, which follows a nuclear explosion, is many times more dangerous if you are directly exposed to it in the open. Roofs and walls offer substantial protection. The safest place is indoors.

Make sure gas and other fuel supplies are turned off and that all fires are extinguished. If mains water is available, this can be used for fire-fighting. You should also refill all your containers for drinking water after the fires have been put out, because the mains water supply may not be available for very long.

Water must not be used for flushing lavatories: until you are told that lavatories may be used again, other toilet arrangements must be made. Use your water only for essential drinking and cooking purposes. Water means life. Don't waste it.

Make your food stocks last: ration your supply, because it may have to last for 14 days or more. If you have fresh food in the house, use this first to avoid wasting it: food in tins will keep.

If you live in an area where a fall-out warning has been given, stay in your fall-out room until you are told it is safe to come out. When the immediate danger has passed the sirens will sound a steady note. The "all clear" message will also be given on this wavelength. If you leave the fall-out room to go to the lavatory or replenish food or water supplies, do not remain outside the room for a minute longer than is necessary.

Do not, in any circumstances, go outside the house. Radioactive fall-out can kill. You cannot see it or feel it, but it is there. If you go outside, you will bring danger to your family and you may die. Stay in your fall-out room until you are told it is safe to come out or you hear the "all clear" on the sirens.

-The Management

DOWNSIZER

to face the truth were banished from /
a history of then is wrong /
defend the wrong / incite the thing / to bring it down

Angry Videogame Nerd: Batman (part 1) - NSFW

Okie Dokie

What'cha Been Playing? Very Special Diatribe Edition

What a difference a week makes in terms of attitude. Over the past few editions, I have been down on a few titles that this week are seeing redemption: namely Penny Arcade Adventures (360) and Final Fantasy IV (DS). It's a lesson to us all: persistence sometimes pays off. There's another lesson in here as well: the opinions of game critics and other bohemians cannot be relied on.

While the general population and critics agree on the top and bottom percentile of games, you'll notice huge spreads either to the positive or negative for most others. Critics love it? General perception can be 10 points lower. Critics pan it, e.g., most JRPGs? Users can be 10 points higher. "Critical" opinions contain a lot of information to help determine if a game is worth your time. Though outside of a truly flawed experience, someone that gets their games for free and powers through the experience, likely isn't the best source of information on what's enjoyable and what's not. Enthusiast press INDEED!

I generally look at games for their entertainment value vs. price, as well as whether I'm into the genre and subject matter. For me, a game is worth its price if I play it enough to nullify the money I spent. 20 hours spent on a $60 game is a whooping $3 / hour, i.e., a single ice cream cone from The Flavor King truck when he stops by my neighborhood. I think I can swing the money, but do I have 20 hours to spend on a game? Not generally, that's why I'm so interested in deals -- money is not as much the issue, but time is!

Another way to look at gaming quality is "coolness factor". Does a game offer an enjoyable experience? Does it have ideas or a style that you want to be a part of? Games can be very much like good books, art, movies and music -- all rolled into one. Investment into such things is a personal affair -- much of which appeals only to specific crowds, transcends gameplay mechanics and perhaps won't have universal appeal. Shin Megmi Tensei anyone? What about Shenmue? A hallmark of these titles is a lower rating from critics and a higher rating from actual players.

Many gaming outlets are simplifying their review scores: 1UP / EGM went to the familiar letter score made popular by high schools everywhere, Giant Bomb has a five star scale and at one point Computer Gaming World did away with the score all together (I liked this model, may they rest in peace). While I've been known to cut a review in the past, I now only give impressions. My scale is as follows:

• Highly Recommended - Every gamer should try it.
• Recommended - Everyone who likes this type of game should try it.
• Not Recommended - I thought I would like it but was wrong. Perhaps you will learn from my mistake?

So. . .this is all great stuff. What have I been playing this week??? Let's explore:

• Penny Arcade Adventures: Episode 1 (360) - In the past I lauded this game's play mechanics but bemoaned its blah story and high price ($20 on Xbox Live). I've since changed my mind: I've nearly completed the game, and my son completed it and is on a second play through. The battles are a lot of fun and while the puzzles are easy, they end up being engaging. My new complaint about the game is there is really no reason that it HAD to be rated Mature. I believe its mainly for the cursing, which could easily have been cleaned up for a Teen rating with no impact to story or humor. Why do I care? I let my son play the game -- mind you, this game is no GTA, it's mainly loaded with potty humor and some cursing. With all hope the boy won't be scarred by the foul language. Recommended.
  
• Final Fantasy IV (DS) - Last week I was moaning about the game being too hard and I complained about its lack-luster graphics. Fortunately I pressed on and found another member of my party -- difficulty has ramped down considerably with this new guy in tow. I'm now stuck on a boss battle, but I'm confident I can beat it. FF4 is a good remake and is worth your time if you're into such things. Recommended.

What have you been playing?!

Weekly Deal Round-up for 8/17

It was a great week for deals, but a horrible week for getting the word out. Twitter removed my ability to send tweets via Gamedeals, so this Round-up is currently the only venue for communicating deals for now.

I'll be honest, I'm pretty peeved about this nasty turn of events. Twitter is such a fantastic delivery mechanism for little bits of information -- I really feel Deal Tweets make great use of their service! Since Twitter's availability issues are pretty well publicized -- I'm guessing accounts like Gamedeals with 100s (many others have 1000s) of followers fall outside of their operating assumptions and are a large contributer to the problems they have with their infrastructure.

I hope Twitter can resolve their issues in a way that allows my service to continue; or better, how bout they just fix my account? As they say, necessity is the mother of invention. I am exploring other options and I'm sure the Public Onion will prevail!!

On to this week's deals:

• SALE: Draglade (DS) now $10 reg $30 - A rhythm/action fighting game by Atlus; Metacritic User Score: 80
  
• PRICE DROP: Devil May Cry 4 (Xbox 360 / PS3) now $40 was $60- DMC4 was released only a little over a month ago, is a AAA title and should need little introduction -- 100% ACTION; Metacritic User Score: 9.2
• SALE: Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker (DS) now $17 reg $30 - A RPG by Square/Enix - The original Rocket Slime was unappreciated but highly recommended; Metacritic User Score: 8.9
• PRICE DROP: Blast Works: Build, Fuse & Destroy (Wii) now $20 was $40 - Katamari meets side-scrolling shooter; Metacritic User Score: 8.8
• PRICE DROP: Half Life: The Orange Box (PS3 / PC / 360) now $30 was $40 - One of the best games is 2007 and a steal at $60, let alone $30. Metacritic User Score: 8.9
• PRICE DROP: Stranglehold (PS3 / 360) now $20 was $30 - 3rd person action; Metacritic User Score: 7.6
• SALE: Xbox 360 Wireless Controller (Dark Blue) now $38 SHIPPED was $50
• PRICE DROP: Final Fantasy III (DS) now $20 was $30 - The famous RPG remade for DS! Metacritic User Score: 7.9
• PRICE DROP: Army of Two (PS3 / 360) now $50 was $60
• PRICE DROP: Baroque (Wii / PS2) now $30 was $40 - An RPG the critics hated, but the users loved; Metacritic User Score: 8.1
• SALE: Sandisk Sansa e250 2GB MP3 player now $30 was $100 - I picked up the 4GB version for my son, well worth the money.
• SALE: Asus eee PC 900 micro-notebook w/ 20G SSD $415 after rebate, reg $550 - I'm composing this blog entry on an eeePC 701. . .I love it.
• Don't Forget: No More Heros (Wii) $30 SHIPPED with coupon code SAVER - A great game that few people played. Quit complaining there're no good games on the Wii and spend the $30.
• SALE: Condemned 2: Bloodshot USED for 360 now $18 was $35- the price on this game seems to go down all the time; Metacritic User Score: 8.9
• SALE: Death by Degrees (PS2) now $6.66 was $20
• SALE: Dark Sector (360 / PS3) now $20 reg $40

LittleBigPlanet Pre-Order Deal ROUND-UP

As announced on Sony's Official Playstation Blog: there will be an assortment of kitschy LBP items available to entice you to pre-order the game:

• The Official Creator Guide by Brady Games -- Do you need a jumpstart with LBP's creation tools? I'm not terribly excited by this one. I remember pre-ordering Shenmue 2 for the Xbox because of the free guide; it turned out to be a pamphlet that gave me no more information than playing the game provided. Also, don't get me started on the Shenmue DVD that summarized the first game's story. GAhH! Thank god they haven't announced a LittleBigPlanet "The Demos" DVD or somesuch. . .
  
• LBP Sticker Book -- Now things are getting more interesting! From the gameplay videos I've seen, stickers are a big part of customizing objects. Perhaps this book would be useful if I were to start up my own LBP LARPing club?
• LittleBigPouch -- Yes yes! I could use this. Sony suggests that one use it to protect the game. I'd imagine its packaging does a fair job at that. I'm sure the pouch will be useful for other things. Is it time to retire the IstanbulPouch??? NAH, I'll keep thinking about it.
• Exclusive Nariko Sackgirl / Kratos SackBoy (Heavenly Sword / God of War) - I'm not too hip on getting a code as a gift. Maybe I'm old fashioned, but this ploy feels a bit cheap to me. I'm partial to real-world items like pouches, t-shirts and hats. The good news is these Sacks look pretty cool and certainly add some sass to the games! Don't go thinking you're in some kind of exclusive club though. . .
  

So, those are the items, but where can they be found?? What pre-order outlets are offering each gift? So far, here's what I've found:

• Amazon offer's the mini-guide
• Gamestop is offering the in-game Kratos Sackboy (code)
• (UPDATE) Game Crazy is offering the LittleBigPouch, though it doesn't appear online. At this time, you'll have to walk into a store to get it.
  

Well, that list was more of a letdown than I had intended. More is sure to be revealed as time marches on. LBP is scheduled for release on October 21st. . .who will get the pouch?! Time will tell.

Have any additional info?? Pass it along!!

Zero Punctuation Wednesday: Prince of Persia

Find out why Prince of Persia: Sands of Time falls just short of one of the best games EVER! I've not played it, so I'll have to take Yahtzee's word for it. . .

• Prince of Persia: Sands of Time (PS2 / GC / XBox) - from $6.60
• Prince of Persia 2: Warrior Within (PS2 / GC / Xbox) - from $13.69
• Prince of Persia 3: The Two Thrones (PS2 / GC / Xbox) - from $28.72

Angry Videogame Nerd: Indiana Jones - NSFW

Far away in the land of 1982, I was the proud owner of a truly remarkable game: Indiana Jones for the 2600. It pointed the way to what an adventure game could be and is likely responsible, in some part, for my love of the genre. Is that too much to heap on a game that is widely considered to be horrible? Perhaps, though at the time I really did love it.

Watching The Angry Videogame Nerd try and play this game, I have no idea how I figured some of that stuff out. I did, however, ultimately beat the game! Indiana Jones for the 2600 has to be one of the most excessively arcane games ever made. The design decisions made here are probably the only ones that could make a game with four screens takes weeks of playtime to solve. Enjoy!

Sleepwalking Away

tears that drip from my eyes
help soak this silky disguise
pull back my mask and watch me die

What'cha Been Playing?! A Week of DLC

I've heard many people say it, but I feel it bears repeating: downloadable content, specifically downloadable games have finally begun to fulfill their initial promises. Each service has their bright spots, and each is positioned very differently.

Until recently Xbox Live Arcade has been a junk-bin -- it had a few shining stars (Geometry Wars), but I gave up looking for good titles here around about the time Marble Blast Ultra hit the scene. Releases on XBL were slow in coming, rehashes of old games (usually badly emulated), or just plain over-priced. It'll be cool to see what the XNA Creator's Club will do!

PSN started slow as well. Sony appears to be more focused on quality and innovation, as they're actively seeking games that push the boundaries. Larger games, like Tekken: Dark Resurrection have a home on PSN, as do smaller unique titles like Everyday Shooter and the Pixel Junk series -- all good stuff!!

I have also been a fan of the Wii's Virtual Console -- without it, we'd rarely ever use our Wii. With all hope, WiiWare will begin to pick up the momentum Xbox Live and PSN have finally begun to exhibit. At this point, the professional eating games aren't cutting it.

It's very cool to see that these services are beginning to come into their own. So what have I been playing?? Let me see. . . .

• Pixel Junk Eden (PS3) - The Pixel Junk series has gotten better and better. Monsters did not hook me, but Eden is a no-brainer. I've heard mixed reactions across many podcasts, from elation to WTF. I can't speak to what the WTF crowd is thinking -- Eden is an enjoyable game. It's addictive, somewhat relaxing and I even got a trophy. Download the demo and check it out, I feel it's highly recommended.
• Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 (Xbox 360) - The original must-buy Xbox Live Arcade title finally has a sequal. Retro Evolved 2 adds all kinds of new modes, which really freshens things up, as does the sped up gameplay. This game is one of the best "twin stick shooters" out there. . .get it -- highly recommended.
• Penny Arcade Adventures: Episode 1 (Xbox 360) - Yes, I've picked this game back up and I've nearly finished it. It's a good game, however I still question the high price. As one progresses through the game, the depth of the combat system reveals itself and it's really quite fun! Recommended (but it should be less expensive).
• Final Fantasy IV (DS) - I don't get it. The reviews were positive, the hippy-themed Gamestop guy was raving about it, so why-oh-why does it seem like this game sucks?? Final Fantasy III for DS was hard but enjoyable. IV is frustrating, and the graphics seem like a step down. . .I have to be missing something. This game also adds insult to injury by ramping up the difficulty as your characters level-up -- you can't even grind your way out of a tough spot! Had I known, I wouldn't have gone near this game at its $40 price tag. So far. . .Not recommended.

Honorable Mentions & Look Ahead:

• Siren: Blood Curse (PS3) -- Like horror? Have a PS3? Get this game - it is awesome! The demo really doesn't do it any justice. I love the game's vibe and pacing. . .Its releases like this that set PSN apart. Highly Recommended!
• Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People (Wii / PC) -- I will be downloading this one as soon as I am able. Who doesn't love Strong Bad?!
  

So, what have you been playing?

GAMEDEALS: Weekly Deal Roundup

Follow GAMEDEALS on Twitter to get posts as they happen!

Deal summary for week ending 8/10/2008:

• SALE: Sandisk Sansa e260 4GB MP3 player - now $40, reg $150 - plays mp3, video, AM/FM tuner, and voice recorder. I felt compelled to take advantage of this offer. Many people prefer the Sansa over the iPod -- this is not a cheap knock-off.
• Price Drop: Clive Barker's Jericho (Xbox 360 / PS3) now $30 was $40 - horror themed squad-based shooter that I paid $60 for.
• PRE-ORDER BONUS: Get a Runner's Bag with purchase of Mirror's Edge - 1st person parkour? I'm in. That bag will come in handy once I'm inspired to hit the streets. . .release date is 11/11.
• PRICE DROP: Burnout Paradise (PS3 / Xbox 360) now $30 was $60 - This is a must-buy. Metacritic score 88. Free DLC continues to be released for this game which has extended its shelf-life considerably. Get!
• Price Drop: $10 off on all versions of Guitar Hero: Aerosmith (Wii / PS2 / PS3 / Xbox 360) - Rumor has it that this game isn't meeting Activision's sales expectations. Perhaps this price cut will address it? Perhaps not. . .where's my Rock Band 2?
• BONUS ITEM: Pre-order Mercenaries 2: World in Flames and get a M2 themed beanie along with a collector's edition book. You will look great in this M2: FiF beanie -- there is no question. Release date is coming: 8/31
• PRICE DROP: Resistance: Fall of Man (PS3) now $30 was $60 - If there was a time, now apparently is it.
  
• SALE: Xbox 360 Intelligent Remote now $7 was $20
• SALE: Xbox 360 Wireless Controller now $40 reg $50 - I could not resist this offer. I'll finally have a second controller to use with Geometry Wars 2.
• SALE: Xbox 360 Play & Charge kit now $13.99 was $19.99 - The whole kit is now almost the same price as the battery alone.
• Overlord (Xbox 360) $19.99 - I had never heard of this RPG for the 360. By the looks of the reviews its a lot of fun and the price is right at $20.
• Buy.com DoTW: 2GB Memory Stick PRO Duo (PSP) $15 reg $35

Sheila Liked The Rodeo

Krista quoted Castenada / She munched her cactus raw
The mescal worm would turn to mecca
And squirm towards the door
And one day she swilled the pill that pinned her to the floor
She spaced out in the closet / I adore her
She is perfectly preserved

Katamari Damacy (PS2)

Katamari Blockacy (PS2), originally uploaded by skinny coder.

The look on the Lego-people's faces here are priceless -- this is a true work of art. The complete gallery contains scenes from other classics such as Contra, Metal Gear, and Shadow of the Colossus. GO!

Angry Videogame Nerd: Superman 64 - NSFW

AVGN reviews Superman 64. . .PLUS SPECIAL BONUS!

Hey Joe

Zero Punctuation. . .A day later.

This week Yahtzee takes a look at Age of Conan and laments that he could not attend E3 this year.

Rush plays Tom Sawyer on Rock Band. . .and fails.

"They hate us!"
"We suck."

Mountain Song

What'cha Been Playing?? Summer Doldrums Edition

It's summertime, and as it was in childhood for me, this summer in particular has a timeless quality. What games have I been playing on these busy yet strangely lazy days? Ones that afford a person a great deal of leaway if they happen to have a short attention span! These games all can be played while you're also grilling ribs in the backyard:

• Penny Arcade Adventures (Xbox 360) -- As I've mentioned before, this is a straight forward RPG made by people who love the genre and get paid to be funny. So far the game play is a bit repetitive and the missions have been following the following template: get told to investigate area X, walk through the area from left-to-right or right-to-left, fight random monsters of a limited variety, find clue at end of area. Sound fun? This game is for you. To be fair, I'm not nearly done with it -- I'll report back when / if I finish. Supposedly this one is short. So far? Not Recommended.
  
• Rock Band (PS3 / Xbox 360 / PS2 / Wii) -- A few new Rush songs were released as DLC so I had to get back in. I ended up passing on the master track version of Working Man, as I already have the cover version, but Closer to The Heart was a great edition to my DLC library. I have to say, if one doesn't work on keeping their mad skillz sharpened, they sure lose their edge. . .must. . .try. . .harder. One last note: I have to cast my vote on a critical issue; I much prefer Rock Band to Guitar Hero. Who wants to play a plastic guitar while looking rejects of the television show Spitting Image? Not me. Rock Band is Highly Recommended.
  
• Space Invaders Extreme (PSP / DS) -- I'm going to make this nice and sparkeling clear: for one year following my family's purchase of our Atari 2600 circa 1981, my dad only bought one game to play in addition to Combat, and that was Space Invaders. Though initially I enjoyed the game, it wasn't long before it became BORING. Space Invaders was no Space Shuttle! Anyway, fast-forward to now and we have Space Invaders Extreme -- a budget priced modern reimaging of a title you'd remember fondly if you happen to wear rose colored glasses(TM) all the time. I heard a lot of good things about this game, but really, it was the price that grabbed me -- how could I go wrong? Apparently I couldn't. . .this really is a great game and the price makes it a sweet deal. If you're into music-based shooters that have psycodelic graphics and puzzle elements, this one is for you. I can't speak for the DS version, but it's great on the PSP. Highly Recommended.
  

What have you been playing??

GAMEDEALS: This Week's Deal Summary

Follow GAMEDEALS on Twitter to get posts as they happen!

Tweet Summary for Week ending 7/19:

• Space Invaders Extreme (PSP / DS) - $20 - Released at a bargain price, this tweaked out version of Space Invaders ROCKS!
• Price Drop: Beyond Good and Evil (PS2 / GC or Wii) $6!! One of the best games no-one played of the last-gen. Zelda mechanics with an original cast of characers and a compelling story. Play it on your Wii or PS3. . .$6?? GO!
  
• Price Drop: Rock Band Special Edition (PS2) $99 at Amazon - Deals can be had on other platforms as well.
• Price Drop: Assassin's Creed (PS3 / Xbox 360) $24 NEW at Amazon - This was one of last holiday season's stand-out hits. It sold a TON, so maybe you already have it -- if not, now is your chance.
• Gamestop in-store special: 20% any used game or accessory. Print the coupon and go on the retail adventure of your life! Gamestop deals generally can be stacked, so a smart shopper can make out like a bandit.
• Nights: Jouney into Dreams (Wii) PRE-PLAYED 1/2 off - $14 -- GameFly has a 100% Guaranteed on used games and their prices are up to half off of other retailers. Members get free shipping as well!
• Devil May Cry 4 (360 / PS3) PRE-PLAYED - $20
• Shockwave Wireless Controller for Nintendo Wii / Gamecube - $15 -- Works just as well as the Wavebird but is a fraction of the price. Great for Smash Bros. or raiding the Gamecube back catalog. . .GO!
  

Gamestop: 20% any used game or accessory

Gamestop is having an in-store special this week. 20% off any used game or accessory. Combine this with your Edge card for MASSIVE DAMAGE.

Offer expires Thursday, July 24th -- CLIP & GO!

Zero Punctuation Wednesday

This week, Yahtzee takes on Along in the Dark. . .I'm not far enough along in the game to have a proper opinion, but I like it so far. Apparently it takes quite a turn for the worst!

Tin Omen

My wife was in Tiananmen Square during its moment in the sun, circa 1989. She wisely decided to clear out before night fell and the tanks rolled -- what a head-trip indeed.

The Update MEGAPOST

Few understand the mysterious forces at work behind where I focus my time and energy. One thing is certain: I disappeared from view for quite some time, with barely even a tweet to announce my on-line presence. What have I been up to? Let's break it down:

Life

Now that school is out we're living full-time in our shoreline home. That means lots of kayaking, playing on sand bars, sailing, and a dark dark tan. At work, people believe I'm visiting remote tropical islands. My boys are very tan as well, and my wife believes giant pink jungle hats will somehow shield her from the sun's effect on human skin -- I'm not sure if its working.

The Fourth was a big highlight and had a small party to celebrate. We were all totally blown away by how seriously this neighborhood practices their Fourth of July rituals. Parties, bands, great food and a HUGE neighborhood fireworks display were all in full force. The kids also participated in a neighborhood parade -- I'll be posting those pictures shortly for friends and family to see. Next year we plan on hosting a larger event here.

Repairs, Maintenance and Upgrades

There's been plenty of work to do. Areas of focus:

• Battle of the Weeds -- my backyard is infested with violets. I now feel confident I will win this war, though I'm glad we have city water! Any idea of the impact Weed-Be-Gone has on drinking water?
  
• Mending Fences -- I finally fixed my backyard fence. While my neighbors complete major operation after major operation (with the help of heavy machinery), the gaping maw exposed by my broken fence has remained open. I have finally had the time and will to close the gap! While some of my neighbors may outshine me with mechanize industriousness, at least I'm not like the guy with small trees growing in his gutter!
• Fixin' the boat -- Oh how a small chip in the gelcoat can grow. I think I have it repaired now, time will tell.
• The Shed -- I put some vents in, but I know much larger repair are looming.
• Home Network -- my eeePC is doing triple duty as a highly portable laptop, a capable (if overclocked) desktop machine and now a media server (thank you TVersity). Watching movies on my PS3 has never been better.
  

Work

Summer can be slow with all the vacations, but that doesn't mean that there's hasn't been a lot to do. I recently got back from a trip to San Diego. We gave a talk on our approach to SOA and got a lot of great feedback. The reaction at home to the write-ups have been positive as well -- it's been a very nice week.

Gaming

I have been enjoying both my PS3 and Xbox 360 (among others) down here at the shore, though I haven't spent a lot of time playing games. I've been leaving the actual playing to my boys. :) I now have broadband here with a nice wifi router and thus you will see that I'm back on PSN and Xbox Live -- downloadable content here I come!

Playing:

• Uncharted Drake's Fortune (PS3) -- I'm pretty far along in this. . .gotta keep going.
• Lego Indiana Jones (All consoles) -- The kids love it!
  
• Metal Gear Solid 4 (PS3) -- wow, great game! It's tough for me to play during the day because it scares the kids.
• Final Fantasy III (DS) -- I bought this game when it came out and promptly put it on my game shelf. Recently I picked it up and I love it. If you like JRPGs, this is one to check out. A Final Fantasy IV remake is also on the way to DS, I'll have to check that out as well.
• Alone in the Dark (Xbox 360) -- Reviews haven't been stellar, but I'm having a lot of fun with this. I took advantage of a pre-order deal and I'm now the proud owner of a black "Alone in the Dark" t-shirt as well. Too cool.
  
• Penny Arcade Adventures (Xbox 360) -- I'm not a huge Penny Arcade fan, but I'm familiar with their comics. It's an RPG made by people who love the genre as well as pen-and-paper gaming. Lots of humor here, though I'm not sure if I'm being penalized for not reading the comic on a daily basis.
  

Looking forward to:

• Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People (Wii) - An episodic WiiWare title by Telltale Games (Sam & Max) featuring the cast of Homestar Runner? Sign me UP!
• RezHD (Xbox 360) -- I love the game, but should I buy this version when I can play it on my Dreamcast?
• More Rockband (PS3 / Xbox 360) -- I left Rockband behind, but I really should bring it here. Truthfully, more time with Guitar Hero III hasn't made me a fan. . .and new Rockband DLC is calling me. New Rush Tracks?? YEAH!
  

Right Where it Belongs. . .

Zero Punctuation Wednesday

Oblivion!

Blue Dragon (Xbox 360) now $19.99 at Amazon.com

Blue Dragon (Xbox 360) -- $19.99

Developed by the original creatures of Final Fantasy, this game is priced to move! Metacritic score: 79

Price Drop: House of The Dead 2 & 3 Returns (Wii) $19.99 at Gamestop

Great deal on this recent Wii release. House of The Dead 2 & 3 are both great on-rails shooters. . .one of the best game of this type. I particularly LOVE House of The Dead 2's delivery. . .it's cheesy dialog is legendary and never gets old. $19.99? Must GET IT!

Uncharted: Drake's Fortune (PS3) $39.99 at Amazon

Amazon has a doozy of a deal today: Uncharted: Drake's Fortune is a AAA title for the PS3 from the holiday season. Reviews for this game were overwhelmingly positive, and its a steal for $40. GET IT!

High-Def Week at Amazon June 2-6

Amazon will be running Goldbox deals on electronics, movies and videogames all week. Today's assortment of items was weak, but hey, it's only the first day! CHECK IT OUT.

Price Drop: Monter Hunter Freedom 2 (PSP) $19.99 at Gamestop SHIPPED

Monter Hunter Freedom 2 (PSP) is the reason why the PSP is the top selling console in Japan. Currently sales of the PSP outstrip both the DS and the Wii -- it's quite a remarkable feat! I've spent a good amount of time with this game and I highly recommend it to anyone with a PSP that likes ADVENTURE. GET IT!

Remember: User coupon code SAVER for free shipping!

Siamese Twins

Price Drop: Skate (Xbox 360) is now $39.99 at Gamestop

Skate (Xbox 360) is now available for $39.99 at Gamestop. . .This price drop is not reflected at other retailers, so this appears to be the only place to go for this deal. Also, they do not have a listing for the PS3 version, so this one is limited to the Xbox crowd.

I picked this game up at launch and found it to be a hell of a lot better than the Tony Hawk series. . .GET IT.

Salt Island Voyage: RESULT

Sallt Island Voyage: RESULT, originally uploaded by grandreaganx.

What a wonderful day for sailing! The wind was strong and steady, the waves were high and the sun was warm. At times the waves and wind concerned me, but I'm impressed with how well my little boat handles it all. Navigating under those conditions is tough, as handling the rudder and holding the sheet while selecting waypoints on the GPS is no small feat.

I fell quite short of my goal to make landfall on Salt Island, but that just leaves me with a goal for next time. :) I ended up turning back, because heading into the wind and against the tide made for an arduous journey. Perhaps if I had some company I would have a greater appetite for these long trips.

Why do my boys always drop off the crew roster at the last minute??

Mario Lunchbox w/random DS Lite Accessories $11.99 at Amazon

A Mario Lunch box packed with DS Lite accessories is the Videogame Deal of The Day at Amazon this Sunday. My boy finished New Super Mario Bros for the DS, not once, but across three different saves this weekend. What a fitting prize! For $12, you'll get:

• A spiffy Mario lunch box (must have)
• Flat system wrap(??)
• headphones
• car adapter (could be useful)
• 2 silicone game cases
• 2 screen protectors
• Collectible pen

OK, so its mostly junk, but the lunch box and the car adapter are well worth the deal price.

GET IT!

This Week's Game Purchases

Another week, a few more games in the ol' collection. What did I pick up? Read on, read on. . .

Perfect Dark Zero (Xbox 360) - My renewed interest in the Xbox 360 has led me to raid the system's back catalog. I've had the 360 since its lauch, but very few titles have compelled me to purchase them -- particularly at the NexGen price of $59.99. PDZ didn't interest me at $59, it became attractive at $29, but at $9.99 it became a must buy! I enjoyed Perfect Dark on the N64, who doesn't like the high-tech spy stuff? If it holds my attention for a few sittings the wait will be worth it. . .I'll let ya know.

Super Smash Bros. BRAWL (Wii) - I had not intended to purchase Brawl, as I believe it's really not much different than the GameCube's Smash Bros. Melee (or the N64 version for that matter). Unfortunately, my opinion was overruled by my two demanding sons -- they just could not be convinced the version we already own is just as good as the new one. Full price for a retread -- it hurts, it hurts. . .maybe it'll surprise me.

What'cha been playing?! Not a Whole Heck of a Lot Edition

Whew! Between the short week, the Lost season finale, and plain ol' being tired, I put very little time into gaming this time around. I did, however, listen to a variety of videogame podcasts! Apparently a big Microsoft event happened recently and one lucky podcaster attended a talk by designer Peter Molyneux on Fable 2. The talk must have been pretty good, because the excitement ended up rubbing off on me! With Fable 2 a ways off from playable, the only thing I can do was turn to next best thing:

Fable: The Lost Chapters(Xbox) -- So how well does Fable stand the test of time? Pretty well! The visuals are top notch, and the story progresses pretty well. . .my only complaint is that the tutorial section of the game is a little too long. Thankfully I'm past that and beginning to enjoy some quests. Overall the experience is sound, and if you haven't played it, it's well worth picking it up. . .especially since a used copy costs around $6 used at your local Gamestop.

Fable plays well on the Xbox 360 as well. There is some slight sound glitching, but it's not something that detracts from the game. GET IT! This game is recommended.

Remembering Tom Vu

You may not know this, but I'm a huge proponent of Tom Vu's techniques. I've never actually gone to his seminar, but I did get to go to a Tom Vu rally in New Haven some time around 1990 when his infomercials were at their peak of popularity. Tom Vu emits such a powerful aura of success; I believe being near him for that short time has had a lasting impact on my life to this day.

Is it no wonder that my life today so closely mirrors Tom's cira 1989? Perhaps I should start up a seminar series as well. I now understand the social obligation Tom was answering when he began sharing his secrets. See for yourself:

"Do you think these girls like me? NO, they like my money!"

Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core (PSP) $25.99 at Amazon

Now this is a great Deal of The Day from Amazon. Crisis Core for $25.99! Metacritic score 83. This is one of the best possible games to get for your PSP. . .I dare say it's almost worth buying a PSP for (your tastes may differ) . GET IT!

Zero Punctuation Wednesday

This week Yahtzee tackles The World Ends With You. . .a RPG for the DS that "does things different." Being a JRPG fan of sorts, his final comments leave me hopeful that its a good game. Perhaps I'll pick it up at some point, or then again, maybe I'll just curl up in the corner.

What'cha Been Playing? All Mixed Up Edition

Despite the holiday weekend, there's always time for some game playin'. This week I've been mixing it up old skool. . .well, these games certainly aren't TOO old, but they're far from the recent releases that are the usual fare elsewhere. This crop of games marks a clean break from what I had previously been playing - no GTA, no Mystery Dungeon, etc. Why is that? Who knows. My games playin' muse doesn't reveal her secrets too easily.

Yakuza (PS2) - Set in modern day Tokyo, you play the role of a misunderstood mobster. This game is a keeper -- I've been playing it on and off for a long time and I keep coming back. Fun game play, great story and just the right difficulty. If you've ever wanted to visit Tokyo, you can do worse than buying his game; the developers really nailed the feel of Tokyo. If you've spent any time in the city, you'll feel right at home minus all the thugs that always want to beat you up. Who knew there were so many tough-guys in the big-city waiting around to pick fights?? This game is highly recommended. Must play. . .

Civilization III (PC) - A ways back, I was a big Civ2 geek. I picked up Civ3 a few years ago and never really spent much time with it - UNTIL NOW. What is it about Civilization that makes one stay up to 3am?? My civilization has been in decline from the start, yet it keeps hanging on. . .turn after turn I grow a bit and then shrink back down almost to nothing. I'm at the brink of extinction now. . .perhaps I should start a new game??? If you've been itching to find out what it's like to rule the world (or at least your little corner of it) look no further. Civilization's the real deal. . .Recommended.

Beautiful Katamari (Xbox 360) - I have to say it: If you've never played a Katamari game, pick one up for whatever system you own. One version or another has been released for PS2, PSP and now Xbox 360. Many people complained about the 360 version because it looks like the developers didn't do much to up the ante on the game play or graphics. Others complained about the price. . .I believe it was released as a full-priced game, whereas the original (PS2) debuted for a mere $20. Well. . .PROBLEM SOLVED! You can pick up a brand new copy of this game for $20 at this point. Regarding the graphics: think of them as remarkably crisp and clear on your new 1080p HDTV. Highly recommended.

Saints Row (Xbox 360) - No offense, but whoever said Saints Row was a GTA killer, or how it forced Rockstar to evolve and innovate their gameplay mechanics, has been smoking something. Now, understand, I didn't spend more than a hour with this game - mostly because I was compelled to turn it off after the first few missions - but I really don't see how Saints Row competes with the last-gen GTAs let alone what's possible with the current crop of consoles. Needless to say, the game didn't convert me into a fan. I will give it another shot, but even for the $20 I paid for it, I don't think this game is worth it. Not recommended.

What have you been playing?

Ninja Gaiden II (Xbox 360) $53.99 at Buy.com SHIPPED

Just picked this up off the wire: Buy.com is having a sale on Ninja Gaiden II which is slated for release on 6/2/08. Pre-order it now for $53.99 and get free shipping. A fantastic deal!

Fade into You

I look to you and I see nothing / I look to you to see the truth

Zero Punctuation Wednesday: Painkiller

Yahtzee takes Painkiller on. . .and likes it.

Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock Bundle (Wii / Xbox 360 / PS3) $59.99 at Amazon

Amazon's reduced the price of the Guitar Hero III by $30 across all consoles for today only. . .Get it while its still in stock!

UPDATE: On top of the Guitar Hero bundle, Amazon is have rhythm game deals all day in the Gold Box. CHECK IT OUT.

Alone in The Dark (Xbox 360) $10 off + Bonus with Pre-order at Gamestop.com

Gamestop.com is offering $10 off ($49.99) on the new Alone in The Dark game for the 360. To sweeten the deal, they're also throwing in a soundtrack CD and an Gamestop exclusive T-Shirt. Nothing will be cooler than showing up to a party 10 years from now wearing this shirt. Take it from me. . .The other day, a Walmart dude told me my EB Games exclusive Dreamcast shirt was cool -- its THAT easy! 9/9/99 - BELIEVE.

I've been hearing about Alone in The Dark for a while and its getting a lot of positive press. I loved the original, but got burned on a version I bought for my Saturn. It sounds like this one could be a winner. If you like your games all horrorshow like, CHECK IT OUT!


Don't forget coupon code SAVER for free shipping!

Haze (PS3) 53.99 at Buy.com SHIPPED

Buy.com is running a special on Haze pre-orders. This game is a console exclusive to the PS3 and will be released on 5/21 -- just a few days from now! $53.99 gets you the game without any pesky shipping charges. . .GET IT!

Dragon Quest Heros: Rocket Slime (DS) $14.99 at Amazon

Dragon Quest Heros: Rocketslime (DS) is a fantastic title (Metacritic score: 83). I paid the full price of admission ($29.99 I believe) and it was worth every penny. Paying $14.99 should be a no-brainer. GET IT!

We've Got a Bigger Problem Now. . .

History does repeat itself if one doesn't pay it heed.

Die on our brand new poison gas / in a desert in Afghanistan!
Making money for President Reagan / and all the friends of President Reagan!

Price Drop: Beautiful Katamari (Xbox 360) $19.99 at Amazon

My renewed interest in the 360 got me searching for some games that aren't shooters. I'm a huge fan of Katamari Damaci (PS2), though the follow-ups in the series were never as special as the original. Beautiful Katamari is the first 'nex-gen' entry in the series, and it does a fine job if you're not expecting a big leap in story, graphics or game play mechanics. $20 is a great price for this game! GET IT!

What'cha Been Playing?

After several weeks of playing the same few games, I'm finally beginning to branch out and explore new horizons. Where did I travel exactly? Let's find out!

Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaro's Treasure (Wii) - Combing through the videogame bargain bin usually ends in disappointment, but last Sunday I came across a true treasure: Zack & Wiki. Despite the hype this game got from the enthusiast press when it was released, it just didn't end up selling well. If you can find the game, you'll likely get it at deep discount -- mine was $20 at Walmart (YMMV). Zack & Wiki has very high production values, makes reasonable use of the Wii controller, and has fantastic puzzles. The game is a ton of fun, and don't let the kiddie look fool you: the difficulty ramps up pretty quick. Highly Recommended.

Grand Theft Auto IV (PS3 / Xbox360) - I'm still going strong with this one; actually my progress is sort of slow and steady. GTA 4 is really holding my attention. I'm at the second safe-house, I've been tooling around doing jobs for Brucie and helping Manny this is public access TV show -- I really do believe he sincerely wants to clean up the streets. My only gripe remains the radio stations available in Liberty City. . .much like real-life radio, there is little going on that really interests me. IMHO, San Andreas rules the roost as far as GTA sound tracks go. Who can get enough Danzig? As always, GTA is highly recommended.

Bioshock (Xbox360) - I started playing this last week and I'm still plodding along. It's a good game, but the fact that it's an FPS concerns me. I tend to lose interest in first person shooters quickly. Perhaps I'm burned out from marathon sessions of Doom 2 and Duke Nukem 3D? So far Bioshock has held my interest, and I'm thinking that the game play will continue to evolve in ways that ultimately engross me. How else could this game get such high reviews???? So far, this game is merely recommended. I'll let you know.

What have you been playing???

Sega Genesis Collection (PS2) $14.99 at Amazon

The Sega Genesis Collection (PS2) is now $14.99 at Amazon. Why pay all that money for DLC when you can buy all the games at once for a fraction of the price? Just one game from this collection costs $8 on Wii's Virtual Console. . .if its been released yet. If you have a Playstation and are interested in some of the best games ever made, this is a must buy.

This collection includes:

• Decap Attack starring Chuck D. Head
  
• Ecco the Dolphin Ecco II - The Tides of Time
  
• Ecco Jr.
  
• Kid Chameleon
  
• Flicky
  
• Gain Ground
  
• Golden Axe I
  
• Golden Axe II
  
• Golden Axe III
  
• Phantasy Star II
  
• Phantasy Star III - Generations of Doom
  
• Phantasy Star IV - The End of the Millenium
  
• Ristar
  
• Shadow Dancer - The Secret of Shinobi
  
• Shinobi III - Return of the Ninja Master
  
• Sonic the Hedgehog
  
• Sonic the Hedgehog 2
  
• Super Thunder Blade
  
• Sword of Vermilion
  
• Vectorman
  
• Vectorman 2
  
• Virtua Fighter 2

Is Shenmue 3 on its way??

I had to pass this along. It looks like the possibility that Shenmue 1 and 2 will be ported to Nintendo's Wii has resurfaced. Shenmue isn't only an underappreciated title that was beloved by most who played it, but it was also supposed to have 16 chapters.

Shenmue 1 and 2 only account for the first 6 chapers in the game. Where have the remaining 10 chapters been hiding? In rumor and speculation hell! With the demise of the Dreamcast, the cold reception of Shenmue 2 on the Xbox and the game's staggering development costs, Sega has been a little gun-shy with their Shenmue investment money.

Needless to say, it's quite jarring to finish up Shenmue 2, only to realize that there are no official plans to complete the story! Any fan worth their salt holds out hope that someday Shenmue 3 will be made. Who doesn't want to get behind the wheel of a forklift again? Now, with only a rumor that 1 and 2 will be ported, I think's more than a stretch to say that the fabled 3rd game is on the way. With that said, logic does dictate that if this port is done, and people buy it, it's a forgone conclusion that they would have to follow up with something! No???

Sega *has* begun paying attention to it's older, popular franchises. . .even beyond Sonic. Nights anyone? Yakuza, which it somehow spiritually related to Shenmue has also found success (at least in Japan). Perhaps they'll snap out of their 5+ year funk and begin making good games again. One can only dream. . .