just the right motivation

Current Mood: productive
Current Music: "Blood Stained" by Judas Priest

I wanted to mention video games in my last post, but when I got down to listing some of the video games I was looking forward to or would like to try, I decided it warranted separate mention.

Recent video game accomplishments of note:
*Have resisted falling back to WoW over the summer
*Finished Resident Evil 4 on professional mode with the default start, and my final stats were: 25 deaths, 78% hit accuracy, 979 enemy kills, play time of 14 hours 39 minutes
*Made a clutch shot on Wii Play (target practice) at the last second, sniping a duck that was bolting across the screen for 15 points, which put me 1 point ahead of Jenny for the win

To do:
*finish PS2 Shadow of the Colossus (I borrowed it from a friend and had to give it back before beating the final boss - does anybody have a copy I can borrow?)
*complete PS2 Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (it's back with Bradley)
*get past the first level of Wii Splinter Cell: Double Agent (really. hard.)
*finish Wii Trauma Center: Second Opinion (very fun! much more challenging but less informative than this)
*medal up more on Wii Play, specifically get to level 100 on Tanks!
*grow a pair and start the GC remake of Resident Evil Zero
*get 2 more Wii remotes and 3 nunchuks for the apartment
*take Wii Play and Trauma Center pictures
*probably get an XBox 360 (see below)

Some games to consider purchasing:
-> must get

GC Resident Evil remake (any)
->Wii Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Wii Resident Evil Umbrella Chronicles
->Wii Super Paper Mario
Wii Guitar Hero III
Wii Marvel Heroes
->Wii Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
->Wii Super Smash Brothers Brawl
Wii Transformers
Wii Pokemon Stadium
Wii Madden 08
->PC Starcraft II (holy. shit.)
PC Hitman Series (any)
PC Sniper Elite
PC Left 4 Dead
PC Spore
PS2 Indigo Prophecy
->PS2 Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80's
XBox 360 Dead Rising
->->XBox 360 Rock Band

Some notes...
*many of these aren't out yet
*currently at the apartment we have Wii, GC, PS2, and an XBox
*I'll probably want some classic games to be purchased on the Wii
*prices go down for older stuff
*note that none of them are PS3, which can disappear off the face of the planet for all I care - games are meant to be affordable, damnit

And then there's a few things I'd like to mention


Gamefly
This is a Netflix-style service, where you pay a flat monthly fee to have video games shipped via US mail to your house. Depending on how much you pay, you can have a certain amount out at any given time. Now, I have not myself tried the service (so don't think this is a sales pitch), but I've known friends who have it and are reasonably satisfied with it, and others that say it's too slow and expensive. I think it sounds good for a number of reasons:
1. You can return games at your pace, which gives you that extra day to beat a game that perhaps you might not get at a rental store
2. It becomes more cost effective (on a monthly fee) to rent more games, which encourages you to try games you might not normally, or take a chance on a mediocre game you aren't 100% you'll love
3. Specialty rentals, like party games, a game for a friend, or a friend's system
4. Convenience - I don't have a car, and the nearest Blockbuster is 30 minutes across town, so mailing things and paying online is a lot easier than buying brand new games
5. Parents may be able to control (through ESRB ratings) what video games their kid rents
6. Large distribution centers may have games your small town EB doesn't, or is out of stock
7. The service could be a good gift idea

And some down sides:
8. Cost
9. Waiting for the mail
10. Games out of stock
11. No older systems!
12. Little problems can magnify when you have to mail things or call tech support

Next, we come to a small matter of, oh, about $700 to purchase an XBox 360 and Rock Band. I really really really want this. Guitar(s), drums, and a microphone all set up with the successful formula of Guitar Hero, with online play and downloadable content. This means I can rock the fuck out on XBox Live with Eric or Greg or Bradley...or all three. Yes, it's expensive, and yes, I wish it was for the Wii. But I've never owned a video game console in my life and I think this honestly may be the game to break that cycle, even if I have to sell a kidney.

Speaking of the Wii, I would like to lastly mention that I think Nintendo has done a fantastic job of being a broad fun machine. What do I mean by this? Advertising for the Wii has focused on including more than just people my age and gender into playing. I think video gamers have a sterotype about them, and even beyond that, that Nintendo consoles are thought of as kid-centric (not true- Capcom is developing a Wii-only Resident Evil 4 remake, in addition to many other "mature" titles for the Wii). Where I'm going with this is that usually I don't bond well with others playing video games unless they are my age and typically male. This isn't always out of dis-interest or malice, but sometimes skill. Not so anymore! Jenny and I are enjoying some Wii time lately. And I couldn't be happier about it. I have always tried to avoid getting so wrapped up in a game (especially 1 player games, or even moreso, MMORPGS like WoW) that I ignore the people around me, and I think the Wii makes it easier to share the fun without a steep learning curve.


"According to Natsuki Isaki, next-generation tech has allowed the team to make even more massive and devastating machines of war than before. We’re crossing our fingers for a giant flying mechanical squid that shoots lightning and devours helicopters for fuel. That would be sweet."
-Game Informer magazine


What about you? What games are you currently enjoying or waiting for?

crippling perogis

Current Mood: powerhaus
Current Music: "Thinking of June" by Slaughter

I turn 21 in a week. Am I counting the days? ...well, I kinda had to for that first sentence back there, but generally, I'm not super excited. Yes, I'm going to go out, and yeah, I'll share a few drinks that night, but this isn't -and I promise- going to unleash a torrent of alcohol into my life.

Going to a pretentious bar full of Greeks and getting plastered doesn't make you any more responsible or manly. It just makes you look like an idiot.

For nobody in particular, an incomplete birthday wish list:

Clothes:
* plaid shorts
X athletic shorts
X a new black belt that fits
X black dress socks that I can stand to wear
* more colored socks for my work outfits
* dark dressy button up shirts
X new ties (I want goofy fun ones, but I probably need classy ones)
* ski boots to match my skis
X new swim trunks

Electronics:
X flatscreen monitor (17 inches or bigger)
X nice new headphones (not earphones)
X badass computer mouse
* a printer/scanner that works
* digital photo frame
* a clapper
X a replacement cell phone (since my phone's battery is no longer produced, I can't keep the phone I have and like)
X a large-storage mp3 player (combination flash drive and player)
* computer upgrades

Other:
* Wal-Mart gift cards (for groceries)
X a nice new yo-yo (with bearings)...something like this
* some books from Sporty's that have apparently disappeared from my library
X nice music or aviation posters for my room