Anyone else afraid of zombies??

Just the concept alone is bone-chilling to me. Indeed, such ghoulish creatures who return from death hungry for blood and flesh is not real, which is a major plus, but why even pose such an unrealitic question. Lets just say I'm overly cautious...

Seems that I've been interested in such wild morrib lore since I was a child, recalling some my first nightmares revolving around the walking dead. In a strange way, its one of those nightmares that ranks very high on worst possible scenarios coming true... definently much higher than free-falling to my doom, only to wake up to falling off my couch. Point is, I had to say something to someone about the recent happenings of the Swine Flu and this book I just finished reading. Max Brooks, this writer who obsesses over zombies just as much as any doomsday fanatic (like myself) published a story titled, World War Z, back in 2007. His past works from what I know mostly relate to zombie fiction; yet, his real winning uppercut comes in the form of how he wonderfully constructs such detailed and concise imaginary information and happenings solely based off "how would I feel" writing.
In WWZ (which is a work of fiction), he explores the world as himself (a niche writer), who desires to document a unfiltered global view of the zombie apocolypse that nearly destroyed the human race. Kind of cheesy and cliche, but the way he writes such detailed experiences for people all across the globe, farmers and soldiers alike, its memorable and frightening all in one.

The contents page reads like this: Introduction, Warnings, Blame, The Great Panic, Turning The Tide, Home Front USA, Around The World And Above, Total War, Good-Byes, and then Acknowledgments. That doesn't really mean anything in particular, but it does lead to why I even mention the terrible Swine Flu craze that seems to be the new "fear of the month". Just that little smart-@ss comment of mine perfectly summerizes an entire chapter of WWZ. Ignorance! Its more than a American thing... we as humans seem to feel invincible until the very thing we were warned about bites us on the hand. All zombie puns aside.
Flip on the news and I'm sure you'll hear something about this Swine Flu or the pandemic potential its building up. Even Jay Leno made a funny about the spreading madness, and I don't how to take that being the paranoid madman that I am. No doubt, wearing a doctor mask and avoiding the general public would constitute me as a full-fledged doomsday believer; but looking around at how the fear is secretly swelling up in people (even in MN, smack dap between NY and MEX), I'm even beginning to hear people openingly conversate about this stuff... then they brush it off...

Just like in WWZ!! :|

I'm not here to tell everyone to be more afraid than they could already be. Simply because this unknown leads to that unknown and you might be better off preparing unknowingly and such and such doesn't sound very fun... live life, be healthy, and don't depend on others to keep you completely safe and sane. I really hope this Swine Flu stuff gets under control in the next few months, because summer time is right around the corner, and we don't need a nation wide Summer of Sam type of scenario playing out. People are already crazy... having them sick AND crazy is too scary of a thought for a nut-job like myself. On a positive note, I look forward to hearing what everyone thinks of the new Wolverine movie coming out this weekend. I'll reserve my criticism for a later rant, in the mean time, the game is the ultimate salvation for this comic-book debacal in my eyes. All is well none the less... the month of May altogether is bound for some good times in entertainment, so I'll definitely be rattling on about that in the coming days ahead ;)

For anyone who may not know, I adore the Simpsons show... damn near more than Star Wars and Star Trek COMBINED. Besides watching the yellow colored family nearly half my life, I'm also a big fan of Futurama. Another one of those shows that to my great surprise not many people like. Oh well... to each their own...

My girl ended up tending to some unexpected family business late last week, which meant she would be traveling out of town and not returning until later this week. I do hope all is well, and it does kind of bum me out that I can't assist on the matter... but... having the place to myself is GREAT! 8) Its me and the cat, so I'm not completely alone, which is really cool when watching movies. I've had some friends over and we got down on some RE5. Everyone was pretty surprised by how action-oriented the game is now. Being that the series started off as THE survival horror game, its now breaking into new territory with motorcycle zombies and online interaction. If you ever played the Ourbreak spin-offs, this online stuff is not completely new, but its definitely refined.
The co-op experience in RE5 is a must play! You could rag on the anicient controls and the extreme neglect for ignoring the original themes that made RE, but in all respects the game is so polished you can't help but enjoy yourself. Throw in a friend online, or even better, someone in the same room and things get really exciting. Maybe we had a few too many beers, but we were laughing at silly mistakes and cheering eachother on during tense moments. As always, my neighbors love it :P I have to admit... even without all the creepy locations and c|assic zombies appeal, RE5 offers some great thrills.

I've finished the game alone, which blows, but the excitement in replaying with others is worth mentioning. Navigating the game with the computer partner is tough from start to finish, but when you join up with a human player the overall experience becomes a whole new ball park. Yes, the environments are a bit constricting, but with the game difficulty turned up and a decent partner you can be sure all that "RE is meant to be suspense and horror, not action" nonsense goes right out the window.
In truth, thats not nonsense... I never mean to offend fellow gamers and fans who spend just as much money as I do on the goodies that keep us all entertained. But honestly, do you believe Resident Evil would have been worth playing if it remained on the stagnant path of old mansions and slow zombies? Think about that. I love me some zombies, and the lore has been some what "tainted" with all these new approaches the last few years that portray them as infected flesh eaters or track runners. I was a bit turned off at first too... but the more I thought about it... the more scared I became. Every creature, even the undead deserve a chance to evolve, and the few that excute such a daughting task deserve some props also. Overall, RE5 is a worth-while experience for hardcore fans and action fiends alike... hopefully I can get my little review up sometime soon here.

Besides being an acheivement monger with RE5--which is not so difficult when you have time to spare and no female distraction--I've been sampling a few other titles.

Star Ocean:Last Hope
Still grinding away, but I don't really need to emphasize it as if its some mysterious struggle. I'm at the end of the game, more than 100 hours logged in, and there is still plenty of nicks-knacks to find and other side quest to complete. Being another JRPG, this one actually entertains me more than it bothers me. Since I don't really talk about story and such when I review games, I might as well state it here... the game has an immensely disgusting amount of friendship themes :? If you can stomach the childish nonsense that Japanese developers feed by the buckets, there is a good game here worth playing.

Genesis Collection
Why... why would someone who praised Sega and all their efforts, even the failed attempts, actually purchase a collection of games he mostly owns on the original console?! Its a good question, and there is no logical answer... simply file this one between achievement hunting and impulse purchase :oops:

Conan
Since I'm not online, and most of my friends and family have lives that don't revolve around keeping me happily entertained, I felt this was a worthy rental. I look forward to posting a review, but I kind of feel silly since most of the text will consist of, God of War and a dude with hair. Pretty decent game for under 20 bucks, but there a few rough spots that keep it in the rental only camp... I'll explain more later.

The Simpsons
Before returning my last rental, I was a bit strap for cash and didn't know what I was gonna do to keep myself occupied while the misses was away. She doesn't mind me gaming, especially since I do it mostly when she's away, but I wanted something fun and worth-while to hold me over for a weekend. With high hopes, I approached the Simpsons game as a big fan of the show and a strong desire to wear as little clothes as possible. Nearing the end, I can happily say that plenty of fun is being extracted... but not much worth. The game is cheap, so I can't really complain. But in all respects, if you ARE a gamer, the refferences and borrowed gameplay with inserted Simpsons characters really rides a thin line. On one half, its easy to jump right in and play the game and be very familiar with whatever they throw at you. The other half is mostly the frustration in working with the unpolished mechanics.

Well... the apartment is clean, the cat is fed and comfortable, I've watched my fair share of anime, bills are lined up and ready for payment, and my weekend gaming splurge is coming to an end... *sigh*

All is well. I went shopping at the 24 hour grocery store the other night when I couldn't sleep and got some goodies to make pasta tonight. Being a meat-a-terian, I've been trying all sorts of different methods to keep my health tip top without sacrificing my joy for flavor. No doubt, fruit and veggies are getting their regular due, but something about turkey is rocking my little world. It works great in most of my pasta dishes, its one of my favorite lunch meats when making sandwiches, and doesn't feel as heavy as most other meats once in my system. Beef patties still hold the burger title though... I doubt that will ever change :lol:

Read a book, play outside, talk on the phone, embrace a hobby other than gaming for a little bit. All pretty good suggestions, but I say dim the lights and grab your favorite snack and enjoy a good movie!

Next to gaming, something about watching a film for a few hours takes me to a whole other delightful place. Even if the flick is total garbage, I can't help but totally embrace that world at face value and happily revert back to my own once the credits roll. Its like a mental vacation I take every so often... and since everything cost something now a days... saving money is a huge bonus when put into such context.
For awhile now, I've become one of the biggest supporters of a service that has me actually trafficing to McDonalds with a major reduction in shame - RedBox. Basically, you bring whatever debit/credit card you have to the nearest location that has one of these huge red movie vending machines and hit up the touch screen looking through about 30-50 titles. Depending on how much is available, you can easily spot new releases and now old favorites that can be seen playing in droves on networks like TBS and TNT, all for $1.

Compared to places like Blockbuster and Hollywood Video, this is a steal in my eyes. Even with services like Net Flix constantly expanding, this Redbox thing has me hooked. Whats really sweet is if I ever play it up lazy and decide to hang onto a movie longer than one evening -- just another dollar. Which is pretty affordable and convient for someone silly like me who loses track of time when gaming after a good film :oops:

Just a few gems worth mentioning...

Punisher: Warzone
What a great departure from the PG-13 junk that was the first film! I'm telling you, anytime a movie in the first 10 minutes grabs you by the ghoolies and doesn't let go except for a few choice "moments", its A-okay in my book. For any true fan of Punisher, this is the best big screen adaption yet. For any fan of extreme use with weapons and death dealing, give this one a shot... I'm even tempted to scrape together some money so I can eventually own this bad boy with my other comic films.

Role Models
I really thought highly of this movie in preview form, and the concept is especially meaningful since I've done Big Brother type stuff before. Sadly, the comedy is limited to only a few chuckles and the plot kind of banks on a running joke against a nerdy kid and his obsession with medevil fantasy. Not being a huge fan of such jokes, plus smiling more than I was out loud laughing all kind of ruined this one for me.

Transporter 3
Something about this partially bald dude with a look of grimace is edgy and cool, but the other half is macho Bruce Willis BS through the roof. And thats not all really a bad thing... I still like Bruce Willis. As for the movie, if you've been following the character you likely know of the main dude being super capable in his slick Audi car and kicking major arse with ease when outside of it. Beyond that, there is a terribly generic love interest and a fair share of erractic camera action... which really blew my cinema high.

What Just Happend
So not only do I adore Bruce Willis, but Robert DeNiro is pretty awesome too. Type cast these dudes all you want and hate; whenever there is a film made from the ground up with the sole purpose of poking fun at the very industry they slave for, my shoes are off and you have my attention. A few really good laughs and some other dark moments of self reflection really make this a strange pick... yet I'm sure if you enjoy Hollywood drama or heaven forbid, TMZ, check this one out with other fellow movie lovers.

Body of Lies
I'm really conflicted on this one. I really do like both actors, DiCaprio and Crowe; but this movie is so high strung then coldy calm I had a hard time fully enjoying all the spy and espinoge stuff. Its no Bond, but its a good film for U.S. government haters and fans of intense dialogue exchanges.

Quarantine
I remember when I first seen previews of this one I thought, "more Blair Witch shakey cam". In all respects, BW could learn something from the people that worked on this one. Amazing technical work, really interesting story even with tons of gaps, and the overall experience reminds me of a thrill ride more than anything. If you own a big screen TV and don't mind being creeped out with some blood and gore, this one is a must watch in the evening.

Blindness
I can't say enough how disappointed I am by this film. The concept had me right away -- an entire city suffers from some unknown spreading contaigen that causes blindness and one lady who is sectioned off with the infected bunch is immune to the mystery. So basically you get to watch 2 hours of this lady helping ignorant, irrational, disgruntled, ametuer blind people. The story kind of bounces around with nonsense and ends on a sour note... which made it pretty hard for me to understand where this movie could have ever went right.

Nick & Norah
Talk about feel-good tingles turned up full crank. A love story based in NY that takes place in one night where 2 music loving kids stumble across each others paths and eventually fully embrace. Not real hard to peg this one, but you can gurantee a few brownie points with the lover by sitting back and enjoying this light comedy.

Lakeview Terrace
I saw this movie before Watchmen, but now I know who NightOwl is. If you ever feared purchasing a home, this movie will greatly escalate that notion. My guy Jackson really plays a good douche-bag, and suprisingly the rest of the cast offers plenty of twist and turns to keep you from focusing on just one aspect of the film. Its not worth owning, but the movie serves as a great attention grabber with any audience.

Pride and Glory
Honestly, who doesn't like Edward Norton? He plays a pretty good range of roles, even though his look never really dramatically changes. Then his counter part, Farrel, turns on the goon juice and really captures the essence of a character most actors I feel struggle with. Pretty predictable cop drama, yet I say fans of Law and Order entertainment will surely enjoy this as an evening delight.

A Guide To Your Saints
I really didn't know what to expect from this semi-artsy true story of a kid who desperately tries to find himself. It was really engaging in some areas and others were just... boring. It was cool seeing the all-star cast bring a little spice to each role, but the ending leaves you hanging and the credits roll with no real closure. If you like coming of age stories about nobodies, maybe you'll enjoy what little it has to offer.

So yea... the RedBox. Why rag on a few movies even though I was the main person who choose them -- because it was a dollar well spent! ;) Tell me thats not awesome!!

So I went to the theater last weekend to check out Watchmen. And honestly, being a long time comic-fan and never paying attention to this story until now… I was pleasantly surprised! Even though Spider-Man and crew wouldn't translate so well in a rated-R setting, audience appeal and what not, its something I've been advocating since comic films became a big venue for creative cash-in's.
Blade did pretty well, and not because of Wesley Snipes amazing screen presence, but mostly because it was a gritty R-rated comic film. Ghost Rider, the horrible shame that it was totally flopped in theaters and sold miserably on DVD; blame Nicky Cage or see the obvious correlation I'm making with how powerful mature content can help a film/story cemented in semi-real worlds.

With Watchmen, I didn't know what to expect. I've read and enjoyed comics most of my life, but the whole bright colored tights agenda really wore thin over the years. In comics, I continued to search out stories with more than simple gratuitous "mature" violence; I wanted these make believe worlds and characters to be portrayed as realistic as possible, and sadly, Batman was the last of the Mohicans.
On a warm Saturday afternoon I made my way to suburbia, where everything is oh so clean and pristine, and treated myself to affordable popcorn and soda. Due to the previous night of heavy drinking at the bowling alley, the body was demanding some sort of supplement. The seats were comfy, the screen was impressive, audio was crisp, the audience was well mannered, and then the show was over…

As I took in the experience and let my brain sift through the story, I briefly reminisced why I love theaters in suburbia so much and then realized – no matter how much praise Watchmen might have won from me just now, this is a film I'll never watch again :|

Nothing shoddy against the movie or fans of the story; I really did enjoy the film from start to finish and felt that it encompassed a lot of what I expect from a tale of costumed heroes meant for adults.
Truth is, I've read plenty of fiction and mowed through tons of graphic novels with a similar ending, and I never tire of them. With that little tid-bit for anyone who has seen the film or read the story, I don't think my overall enjoyment would have been the same if I knew what to expect. Even the well made Batman movies suffer in my mind due to this already knowing, just waiting to see perception. On the way home from the show I chatted with my passengers about the story and the characters and we all seemed to really be pleased. Then it was quiet, and I felt everyone was bug-eyeing me… and supposedly I'm the "critic" who never likes anything anymore. Just because I openly addressed the obvious failures of Spider-Man 3 to all my fellow comic friends, they all label me as tainted and bitter from years of lame art college.

It's cool… I don't offend easily :roll:

When I tried to relate a feeling I get from some films being good only as one-time viewings, my comic comrades rolled their eyes. Like video games, you might be reluctant to purchase or rent, but once you do, the commitment has been declared. The least you can do is endure… and with the mountains of crap I've exposed myself to, there is a lot of negatives! Yet there are a few worthwhile mentions here and there that can't be denied. Which in turn leads to THAT feeling… the one that says, "My experience could have been more rewarding, but at least I now have first-hand knowledge of this film, game, book, location, etc, etc… and I will never have to tread that path again."

Maybe its muah being cynical or just outright rude, but not everything needs to be owned or plastered in gold. I've understood this since DVD's became the main video source; when collecting video games, books, music, comics, action figures, fortune cookie messages and old holey shoes. Not everything is meant to be acquired and locked away. In some strange way, I kind of prefer the actual memory more than the object now a days… and this is something after 20+ years of compulsive collecting I finally feel okay saying out loud. Then again, in a car full of hardcore comic and video game guys who love them some McFarlane collectibles, I once again unknowingly mark myself as the ugly duckling.

BRILLIANT!! :lol:

Seems that life has its unique moments of reminding everyone in some form or fashion that money doesn't always equate to happiness. It helps, that's true, but never the ultimate solution. With my recent personal adventures away from ever-enjoyable video games, overall financials have been quite the rollercoaster to say the least. One glance around and some random conversations can easily summarize the public opinion… EVERYONE is having a rough time! I'm almost tempted to even joke that "rich folk" are pinching pennies… or maybe quarters is a better fit analogy for them :roll:

Either way, times are tough all-around and things could always be worse. My usual optimistic mantra.

Besides relishing in melodrama, I'm in high spirits today. Even with so much causing tension in my world, I couldn't help but take part in something that always tends to ease the madness – the act of sharing personal thoughts. I'm never sure if someone is listening or even cares, but most conversations in person ride on that same 50/50 ratio, so why not express with abandon.
On the real, I just came back from an intense group engagement at the video game store, and being someone who hails from the "poor folk" camp, reality for each person ranges so dramatically it never ceases to amaze me.

Besides reminiscing about my reserve on the new Star Ocean that's releasing on the Xbox360 tomorrow, I was in a minor spat with the store clerk and a few gamers about how most Japanese made RPG's for the 360 really suck. Sadly, I was the only one who truly felt this way. So in turn, all these anime nuts who thought I was crazy for spewing such blasphemy mobbed me.
Apparently an RPG adventure with stale production values and mundane game play is excusable as long as bright-eyed pointy chinned characters frolic about with child-like interaction. I didn't go as far as to address my fellow gamers in such a degrading manner, but I did make it clear that a majority of titles available were sub-par. It's not like my M-rated or nothing mindset is justified, but I reasoned with them that Star Ocean (which fits the cutesy anime mold all too well) could change my perception. They were pretty sure if I didn't like the recent selection of Japanese RPG's on the 360, I'd likely speak ill of this soon-to-be purchase also.
Obviously these boys don't know me well, because I game for curiosity, not expectations. If that were the case, then I would play it safe by approaching every game expecting the worse… which usually works in my favor. If the game turns out being a gem, I rejoice in complete surprise and spread the good word. If the game sucks, I can always reference my sour first hand experience and educate the unknowing masses. Once again, the 50/50 ratio works for some while others declare nay.

Feeling a bit like I was secretly being labeled as the foolish hypocrite, I tried to salvage my place in the group debate by questioning what these gamers expected from their purchases. One of them was bold enough to say right away they ONLY played RPG's. A few others offered some food for thought; story driven adventures with complementing cast, distinct visuals and favorable graphics, innovative game play mechanics, top notch music paired with crisp voice work, and an affordable price.

Concealing my shock was difficult at first, but I focused my attention on the dude who voted RPG's his preferred genre, and I couldn't help but inquire… "Does a 40+ hour sub-par adventure really validate a full price purchase?"

One of the gamers asked what I was hinting at.

Being the overly excited wacko, I started grabbing used 360 games off the shelf. With a smirk, I suggested a few: Dead Rising, Ninja Gaiden 2, Assassins Creed, Burnout Paradise, Godfather, Saints Row, The Darkness, Overlord, Lost Planet, Bioshock, even the Command & Conquer games for the 360. All really well made titles near or under 20 bucks!

I suggested these games because I feel they offer a little bit of everything and for such affordable prices, couldn't hurt anyone's curious wallet. A few of the gamers actually started reading the back cover's while others prepared for their departure. As the store cleared out, the clerk made 2 sales from my recommendations and shot a timid nod in my direction. Working in sales for a few years, this is nothing new to me, but apparently the store clerk thought it was magical. I simply assumed it as lacking gamer etiquette on both ends.

To dismiss the vast selection of used and unknown games is heart breaking, especially now with the gaming community suffering tons of lay-offs. Its not breaking news, but it blows my mind that so many gamers refuse to explore the depths of an industry they supposedly adore and cherish. Instead, some rather top shelf one experience and base every interaction around that… which in my opinion leads to Final Fantasy fanatics, FPS elitist, and overall genre stifling… its scary stuff! :?

Oh yea, I'm not sure if anyone agree's with a 12 dollar movie ticket, but I recently saw My Bloody Valentine in 3D and its 2 thumbs up for any fan of the original or horror in general. Surprisingly, the 3D was well done and actually enhanced the whole movie nicely. If you like extreme gore and don't mind goofey glasses on your face during the show, check it out fellow gamers and movie-go'ers.

Everyone loves a good rumor.

Especially when it's decent and thoguhtful; which could be extremely rare in most cases when talking about rumors, but thought provoking stuff can't really be all that bad. I hop online at the library today to get my daily feed of news and info only to see a game story that was nothing more than a rumor yesterday is now officially press material today. No doubt, it's about a game sequel that I'm very excited for and can't pretend as if it's some major spoiler or surprise... yet... something gives off this uneasy feeling like the news was rushed or even worse... forced.

Why complain? What's to gripe about? You wanted it... right?

Very true. But like I stated, the story didn't come from the publisher or the developer, at least not right away, it blossomed from rumors. And there was also this secret video feed recorded behind closed doors that kind of broke this story wide open too. :|

Which brings me to the height of my silly frustrations--why is everything that's desperately kept secret so eagerly pursued to be exposed? A question I believe could easily seperate many people into various obscenity spewing groups, but that's not my purpose of the question. I just want to know why some people feel the need to claw and scrape for bits of inconsequential information that in all respects will be divulged in due time by the proper channels. Why do so many others feel privileged to information circulating in the world and yet they make no effort to seek it for themselves.
Both sides of this argument puzzles me greatly, but then I chuckle at the thought of some snotty nosed nay-sayer asking me, "why do you need answers while others are questioned?!". Is it personal prerogative, perverse righteousness, maybe lop-sided justice that works entirely in my favor. All possible truths, but far from the absolute truth... I don't need any answer.

While speaking with someone about this video game sequel, they asked me why I was so bothered about how the story unfolded and all I could provide them was a shrug of the shoulders and some grumbles about society as a whole. They were instantly sparked by this and aggresively engaged me, because they thought I was connecting dots from different pages. At that moment, I understood exactly why I was so bothered with the game story and why I would make such a bold comparison in behavior to society... it's because so many people in society from my perspective entitle themselves way more than they deserve a majority of the time!

If you take a moment, such behavior is seen in just about every aspect of life.

In entertainment, people who want action complain when they are exposed to stroy and claim selection is limited. At fast food venues, people order from the dollar menu only to complain when they are served simple ingredients and lacking restraunt quality. Politics is a popular place for complaints where people demand more from the government and their state officials, yet nobody knows who represents them or where their views stand. Even in relationships, lovers cry and argue about what they expect from the person they bunk with, unfortunately half the time they hardly know what they truly want.

Were a society of whiners...

And to come back to the gaming story without rattling too far off base, I now better understand myself and my feelings on why modern day media hounding rubs me so wrong. These people are spoiler trolls! Because your unhealthy desire to be the first to say, hear, or share with others before mass appeal strikes doesn't project a clever aura. You basically relish in spoling things! Where is the fun in exposing something on YouTube with poor video quality. The same can be said for an unpolished, misinformed news report being served up back yard wrestling sty'le. People who desire info unfiltered and right away I belive can wait and really don't mind waiting as long as they get solid facts. For others who choose to be patient and let things unfold at a certain pace, they are not deemed ignorant for actually having other issues of importance on the mind.
Maybe I'm connecting the dots in a silly way again, but anyone who preaches about information being free to the public in all instances sounds too much like those same pervs who hound after movie stars and dig through trash. Rough comparison, I know. But in all honesty, I never felt the urge to toss someone under the bus to clear my conscious or make some hollow point ring true. Seems like that kind of shadey business and unsavory activity is more popular than ever.

How about the thoughts of my fellow gamers. Where should the line be drawn in information gathering? Should there ever be a line? What areas in society behavior are clear sailing/tender territory for you? Anyone looking forward to RE5 even though its a carbon copy of RE4?

C'mon... feel free to rant with a kid disconnected from the internet... I need something to read :roll:

Barely a month into the new year and I feel like I'm grinding harder than ever to get by and enjoy the few things I can afford. In reality, there isn't many things I can afford with ease right now... which leads to the most obvious next step... process of elemination. In a softer light, you could say I'm going on a entertainment diet :roll:

Some people feel like there are certain things in life they "need", but in all respects there is always room to step back and see its a majority of things we desire or "want". Which in no way is claming some to be wrong while others sit comfortably being flat out right. Its all about perspective.
MMmmmm, perspective... something I believe every person gains over the years in due time. Either through strife and turmoil or just plain dumb luck... we get a hint of it some time or another. Looking around the grim economy, you would assume breaking free of entertainment delights is a given for someone not making 6 figures. Yet, I feel my perspective sinking in even deeper and affecting more than just my toys and trinkets.

Food... Clothing... Bills... Repairs...Transportation... and at the far end, ENETERTAINMENT

Man, it really sucks feeling unable to keep up with the ever present demands that tag along with prestige living. Then again, another glance around this economy and I hush those thoughts up real quick. All in all, its tough for everyone right now and me taking a break away from crap that cost money I can't continue to dish out seems like its for the best.
No more item collecting, no more heavy drinking, no more late night adventures, no more nonsense! I'm not joining the military or becoming a nun, I just need some space away from spoiled living so I can recover my funds and actually invest and save them wisely. Maybe even pursue some creative ideas I've had on the back burner... or even better, read a few more books :P

Even though I downplay the woes of disconneting from the world I love oh so much, there are a few treats I will try to enjoy without getting carried away. The SuperBowl for the NFL is next Sunday, and I got a good feeling the game will be a serious shoot-out on the scoreboard... unless a team slips on the defense, things could easily get lop-sided then.I got faith in the Arizona Cardinals taking the glory.
As for gaming, my XBL is expiring soon and I don't have much desire to purchase or play anything now a days. Until Bionic Commando and RE5 hits shelves, there isn't much need for XBL. SF4 would be nice on day one and online battling sounds promising... I just can't see myself happy breaking countless controllers wishing I had an arcade stick. Money, money, money!
Beyond that, I'm okay. Not many demands for what keeps me happy anymore. As long as I got a good home over my head and the financials balance out enough so that I can treat my lady well come Valentine's Day... this little break from luxury is long over due. Everything else I declare necessary for joy is bound to come -- I just need to stop being so controlling and just coast along for once.

In the mean time, best wishes to all my fellow gamers as we trudge on through 2009. I really do enjoy this community and the thoughts you all share. Hopefully the library doesn't catch wind to my ultra-mooching ways... this internet thing is kind of addictive!!

The term "bro" originates from brother, brotherly, male bond, comradery, things of that masculine such. The term "romance" is reserved strictly for matters of intimacy and passion between two people that usually ends up in love, lust, kissing, tooshy squeezing, and lots of glossy eyes. The term "Bromance" seems to be a strange mixture of some dude named Brody who lives the ultimate pretty boy life in Los Angeles and terrible MTV reality programming.

Yes, thats correct... reality TV.

Why would someone be so bothered with the onslaught of modern day television force feeding society with the worst programming ever?! Is it because people who do elect to spend their evenings in front of the TV end up watching mountains of this junk, re-runs included. Or is it the horrible fun fact that every time you think reality TV has sank to the lowest point... low is redifined with shows like this where brain fried viewers oddly gobble it up.

Am I really that surprised... no! But as always I'm very bothered by such concepts coming to fruitation. Especially when I subject myself to the madness first hand :?

The basic jist of this show called Bromance goes like this; about 9 guys rally around a fella named Brody, who by some lame standard is popular, so much that he's been given a 30 minute time slot on MTV to host a competition between these poor souls. The grand prize -- become Brody's BFF and live the high life as a lap dog.

It's hard to believe...

All terrible name-calling aside, I caught a few minutes of the show with my girlfriend who loves this crap. She first introduced me to this new wave of reality madness with a very similar show: Paris Hilton's BFF. Apparently the shows are set up by the same people on the same network, so it only makes sense to prey on the same audiences.
Either way, I could only stomach a few commercials before claiming the people box, and there really wasn't much on besides the nightly news. Sharing the TV with my girl isn't very difficult. We both spend a majority of the daytime working and running errands, silly grown-up stuff. Come night time, if I'm lucky... I have the place to the myself for a few hours which means all the lazy funky butt gaming I want without bother. Doing something about the funky butt is self-explanatory, but searching for the right game has been some what tough lately. Finances are extremely tight, which would lead to wise savings, yet sitting around counting my pennies and cutting corners is driving me mad!! Maybe I have a condition which is dangerous to my wallet; but in all respects I feel like the least I can afford every few months is a new game or maybe a handful of rentals.

On a personal note, I never really had to explain my spending habits or tendecies to anyone in life. Not even my parents... and my father despises alcohol consumption. But with my girl, its been about a year in the same place together and she gets a bit fired up when she sees a different videogame on the TV.
It's no deal-breaker between us, but it does lead to some negative vibes that usually require a bit of ironing out. If I preach about wise spending and she sees a different game every few weeks knowing the costs of such items can range between 40-60 bucks... I refuse to blame her for raising an eyebrow.
Bottom line is, we've come to a great understanding in how we value and spend/save our money. Even before the tough times of the current economy, she understands my money habits better than ever and all unwise assumptions are halted. I'm happy this hurdle was overcomed together, yet the problem in finding a decent game for myself to keep busy in the wee-hours will likely continue to plague me until 2009 :cry:

Last Remnant
A hotly anticipated action/strategy RPG from the big dogs of Square-Enix. Any game where I can level up and lose myself in a deep story really grabs my attention, but after putting in 4 hours... my interest was dwindling. And thats a red flag with RPG's in my book.

Gears of War 2
I really enjoyed the first game! After playing thru the story on every level and soaking up my fair share of co-op and multiplayer, the experience was spent. When the sequel was announced I was in a rutt that had me kind of hating on shooters... and the feeling continues. Since GW2 seems to be heavily focused on multiplayer, I'll pass for now.

Fable 2
I actually own this game, even started a character that suffers from bloated belly pie-cravings. Truth is, the combat is a bit simple and I forsee a LOT of button mashing. Genuine exploration is what I want, SNES Zelda fun, but I'm not sure I'll get it that exact way... so I'll wait for the DLC.

Fallout 3
Speaking of exploration, what better game to rely on than the same people who made Elders Scroll. But this time toss out the bows and magic, and replace it with guns and computer hacking. Sounds like the twist that would win me over, but I'll wait until a price cut and a weekend opens up for me.

Rise of the Argonauts
I was really hoping for a demo to be available on XBL, but so far no word on that. Basically its a hack and slash game that follows greek heroes with pretty decent graphics. The part that concerns me and keeps my wallet tightly tucked away is the lack of reviews and insight on how well the game controls/plays.

~ Honorable Mentions ~
Saints Row 2, Fracture, NFL Head Coach 09, Tomb Raider Underworld, Pure, Left 4 Dead, and a few 360 Arcade titles like Portal, Tenchu, and Castle Crashers

Like I said, not much on my gaming agenda until 2009 rolls comfortably in. At least I got NFL playoff football to keep me occupied until then... 8) GO ViKES!!

So its been a little bit since I sat down and ranted about the daily happenings of my life, which in all truth is more of a personal cleansing process rather than a passive attempt for online attention. Nothing against the masses who adore and fully relish in the experience, I just have a different approach that kind of makes it my own... so no matter how much I come off as jerk even though I'm taking part in the madness, let the little jerk have have his fun :oops:

As for gaming, I've come to a cross road that is very upsetting but some what rejuvenating... the power of trade-ins!!

No doubt, this is nothing new in the world of GameStop, who leads the videogame industry as the number one hot spot to buy and sell videogames and accessories of various kinds. Many gamers across the board will say they are the scum of the earth who do nothing more than rip people off and make mad profit. I say what is the foundation of ANY business trying to make a buck and stay afloat! All finger pointing aside, I use to be an employee of said company, but this was back in the day when they were known as EB Games, or even further back, Electronic Botique.

Those were some good days, and I'm lucky to maintain some decent contacts who are still employed by the evil company that rules all trade-in business of today. Reason why I mention all this trade-in/GameStop nonsense is I've recently come to terms with my obsession for collecting videogames and realized its not that big of a deal.
It may be a terrible comparison, but its very similar to how I felt about playing videogames like Elders Scroll. No matter how pimp I customize my character or duke hime out with gear near impossible to find, who is really gonna see or acknowledge my greatness??? And this is where I stand with my videogame collection that is a little over 400 titles. I may feel nice and tingly about seeing tons of Genesis cases stacked up to human heights, but who really cares... I barely even care. Half those games I may not even have the stomach to go back and pretend to enjoy, which is a crying shame, but its truth I say!!

All those years of thrift store shopping, garage sales, hand me downs, rare finds and pure desperate searching... all for the empty feeling I kind of have now. Not the worst trade off I would say...

In all respect to my collection of games that I do adore and proudly hold in high regard, they are going no where! And I don't mean that in the cynical sour kind of way. I have some pretty kick @ss games that after firing up in my recent late nights, I'm thrilled to say I possess... All the Shining Force games from Sega, tons of 2K sports titles, Secret of Mana, Flashback, Earthworm Jim, Herc's Adventures, Beyond Oasis, Dragon Force, Might & Magic 3, The Horde, hell... even Aladin and Lion King are still top notch games in my eyes.
My overall point is even with so much praise for something I've unknowingly dedicated myself to over the years, there is still a ton of games I could easily live without... starting with my Xbox360 collection :|

My sole reasoning behind ridding myself of unwanted games is not the obvious desire for money or new'er games... its more of a value perspective that I've kind of managed to morph in my favor. Call it as you see fit, but I say anything that cost 60 bucks and lasts me no longer than a weekend needs a reevaluation in the collective. Bottom line!
So after having a few nervous shakes and submitting to this new mind set, I realized this is the best approach for a wore out gamer like myself. I'm far from my 30's and I still have plenty of gaming left in my blood, its just amazing to see how easy it is to let go of something and step away only to see its store/trade value become a fraction of what it cost day one. Even more interesting, I can easily come back to these reduced priced items and scoop up multiples of them for damn near 60 bucks... BRILLIANT!!
Its no real science behind all this madness, and I honestly can't act like this is some poor me sob story... I just have this gut feeling that my older console games will hold true in value longer than my CD based next-gen titles. Call it a wild hunch.

Purple People Eaters per say?!

Another wild hunch is me keeping faith in my Minnesota Vikings football team, even without their core defensive players Kevin and Pat Williams. Seems the NFL has rules against certain supplements and chemicals that could possibly be steroids or products that "mask" the effects of such vile products. I don't fully support the use of steroids, but I can't help but say that if grown men who choose to bash heads for my entertainment and tons of money decide to smoke a little pot or juice up after said bashing activity, I can't really blame'em :roll:

Barely leading their NFC North division (7-5) the Vikings were recently hit with a 4 game suspension on their best defensive line players, the Williams, who are acused of using banned steroid related substances. WOW! Talk about timing... week 14 in the NFL, teams are battling for playoff spots and everyone is hurting in the depth charts simply because of injuries and numerous other reasons.
Looking at their record, you could assume the playoffs are a big stretch for a team who plays sparadically... but I say check out everyone else across the league... the Cowboys suffered a few games because of injuries and such, the Giants constantly fight off-field issues, rookie QB's are carrying broken franchises, and teams who barely made the cut last year are playing decisively this year. Pretty potent stuff!! And more than enough reasoning for me to look forward to this Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions... who are 0-12.

Hopefully my Vikes coordinate properly, because they face a familar teammate; Dante Caulpepper! And if I know the Pep, he's looking forward to sticking it to his old team who let him go because of the same flaws and injuries they will likely try to take full advantage of. And if they don't... I got this wild hunch the Lions could pick up their first victory of the year. Which of course I hope doesn't happen, but at least the Vikes get a great practice team with the lack of 700 pounds on the defense. Best luck to all squads come sunday and I wish the best to everyones coming holidays ;)

With the first week of November nearly in the bag, I have to say its been quite the up and down rollercoater for myself, personally and publicaly. In the realms of society I have witnessed a many great things; like the hotly anticaped sequel Gears of War 2 live up to high expectations and an American man of cultiral variety was selected by the masses to lead a fragile country. WOW!! Can it get any better than that... of course it can, every moment I breath the adventure continues!! 8) To highlight a few positives, I'll try to focus on this passing week alone...

No More Sleep
With so many games sitting idle on used shelves at game stores and new goodies constantly pouring in every week, I'm not sure how I can manage my money or time without making some seriously foolish sacrifices. No doubt, I always preach about videogames being so great due to their external and digital essence being like no other and always there for entertainment pleasures now or 10 years from now... yet I can't help but wonder how I will manage my way thru Fable2 and Dead Space without feeling slighlty eager to reach the ending credits.
Shameful thing to admit no doubt, especially since my finances would punch me in the gut if it had motivated fists to throw my way. Nothing drastic has occured during this unbelievable craving to play great new games, and I'm pretty sure the desire for food and more fitting clothing for the season will dominate all reason. Which is good, since I live in Minnesota... home of the happiest snow flakes :lol:

Why So Bitter?
Come January, there will be a totally new dude in the president's esteemed Oval Office. The White House and whatever America is associated with will play host to the most interesting reality show for the next 4 years... insert Barack Obama.
In The Dakota's area, I hear they have like 4 feet of snow. In Minne-snowta, were welcomed the privilege of a 6 am rain/light snowfall that has been going constant till this (9am) hour which is looking to be about 2 inches thick so far. Chicago had pretty nice weather when Obama gave his acceptance speech on the 4th, so I wonder what things will look like in the next few days for our windy-city neighbors... even more curious, what will things look like in Washington on the East Coast when Obama and family settle into the politics capital of the world. Only time will tell.

A message I've been sharing since Obama's landslide of a victory... give it time.

I'm very happy to see the USA rejoice over its resounding decision; a piece of unity you don't see much now a days, and I'm very anxious to see what Obama and his staff can do within 4 years for America and its various people. Being the info nerd that I am: I've exposed myself to numerous papers, online articles and blogs, news reports, radio shows, opinions in various fashions and my personal favorite... unbiased - uninteruptered one-on-one conversation. You would be fascinated how much you learn about yer fellow man or woman simply allowing them to speak without hesitation or doubt... very powerful stuff, especially during this monumental moment in America.
Overall, the masses not only spoke volumes in their votes, but even other countries are estatic for the new American president. Globally, 83% favored Obama lasted I checked. Imagine that... when is the last time you ever seen someone other than stiff suits on CNN get excited about presidential voting in Iraq or Russia?? It fuels quite the international chuckle for me :P

No Messing Around!
Work and money have been an ongoing battle for me lately. And like many other American's and possibly any person on this planet that has ever worked to earn their keep, I'm torn between tough life altering decisions. Feeling shafted at your current job sucks, especially if you truly believe in deserving more for your efforts is not oh-so terrible. Truth is, I sometimes feel like I'm stuck or even worse... going backwards! Once sitting tall on the high horse making good pay and doing respectable work, I felt properly positioned in life.
Now, I'm working in undesirable conditons, making enough money to get by month to month, and I swell with guilt and shame when I actually spend my hard earned money on things I WANT. Quite petty, I know... but understand how it could feel for a kid who grew up with just enough here and there and one day was told "grow up and make due for yoursel!"

Its a freaking mentality trap!!

Spend all your life being told and convinced that just enough is literally enough, and you begin to feel a little sour. Compared to children and others around the world who have it much worse, I'm not totally crying wolf, I'm just feeling a bit fed up wtih not having enough to bust free from the mundane. I don't even think winning the lotto could solve this deep down - dark feeling.
No worries though! I have a plan... one that actually requires me to follow my own advice... taking my time + using it wisely. Investing in more healthy foods and gorging less on junk and beer should really help uplift my spirits and allow me to fit back into some 34's. Focusing back on MY art inspirations rather than relishing in other created worlds like videogames and such should really help rebuild my salesman confidence and ability to show off personal creations to the public. And continuing to make leaps and bounds in my relationship with my partner beyond the reaches of childish arguements and silly disputes not only empowers my soul, but seriously reinforces the feeling that I'm becoming a better man every day.

Worthy Mentions...
Michael Crichton was a great writer and a massive man in the entertainment world, 6 foot 9 to be exact. He passed away this week at the age of 66 due to cancer... which really sucks!

Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers face off this Sunday in my town and I really wish I could have afforded some tickets to such an important home game. 4-4 is a lame record, but for both teams its a chance to prove who's more deserving.

Thanksgiving is right around the corner and December even closer. Which is the ultimate time of the year for me, being my month of birth and all... so I'll try something different this year; actually get stuff for other people rather than splurge on myself :oops:

Did I mention there is a minority in the White House who goes by the name of "Mr. President"