If you guys watched the Halo 3 Fly that Flag match on Tourney TV you can see my team The Toxic Coalition lose to team unCool. I do not think our team did to bad considering that we had not even had one practice with the full team until after our first match. In the match on Valhalla I was in charge of base defense and the other three were on offense. That was our strategy but obviously it did not work because we only came in third place. I played like crap but had fun anyway.

that is all I can say right now. I just finished Max Payne 2, and before that Max Payne 1. Both games are amazing, the story, setting and dialogue captures that 20's, 30's and 40's noir style while still preserving its own originality. Both games are not very long, but what's there is pure gold. I have not played a game with a story that good in a while. Although Max Payne 1's story was just a tad bit better than the Max Payne 2, the gameplay in "2" makes up for it by a mile. Implementing the Havok physics engine is exactly what that game needed. I caught myself at times just unloading whole clips into my foes just to see the way their body took the shots. You can trigger this cinematic slow-motion sequence called "bullet-time" where your foes are in slow motion and you just dive through the air unloading into them, it is quite satisfying. I would deffinitely reccomend this game to anyone. If you do decide to play this game and you never have before, I urge you to play it on the PC. Your experiance will be much more enjoyable. So to sum it all up..

Max Payne

Pros: Great story, good gameplay, cinematic experiance.

Cons: Short

Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne

Pros: Story, Awesome gameplay, cinematic experiance, fun physics engine.

Cons: Shorter than the original Max Payne.

*************Bioshock Spoilers************

Is an issue that constantly keeps popping up into my mind. As a gamer I often question just why are games so much fun? What makes me play them with such passion? What is about staring at a screen for hours on end that is so appealing? Of course the fact that they are a lot fun certainly plays a role, but is there anything more than that? What brings us to where we are as gamers? Also, can this industry ever be considered a serious and mature art form?

We all play games for different reasons and I believe that everyone can take a message with meaning away from just about any game. Playing a game is not just a form of entertainment put in front of your face to occupy free time; it's an art form that is experienced. This is what sets games apart they are not just looked upon and appreciated they are experienced. Games involve and engross they do not just entertain like a TV show. Games give you a world to interact with and enjoy, and more and more games give you a canvas a say "paint us a picture, do something amazing". Games such as Little Big Planet, Halo 3's forge, any PC game mods. Indy developers are taking tools like Microsoft's XNA and getting a chance to express their art in ways never before possible.

This is well and good but what are we as gamers? Are we mindless zomboids walking around craving blood and violence, or do we as gamers see that on the surface but long for more? As I mentioned earlier, you can take a message away from games. Bioshock is the perfect, but most obvious, example of this. Bioshock presents us with a world gone awry. It immerses us into this city of lost hopes and dreams. The People of Rapture dreamed of having a better life, free to do as they please but ended up with the worst scenario possible. The people of rapture became a victim to their own sword, that sword being their quest for complete freedom. These people were on a quest to live life to its very fullest and have a society completely free from any type of regulation. This was a society of people that could have had everything.

Bioshock is full of social undertones that convey a meaningful message applicable to any person that hears the story of Rapture. What did Andrew Ryan want when he started the city of Rapture, what did he hope to attain? Andrew Ryan's intentions were noble but he was ultimately taken over by a need for power. Ryan's struggle with Fontaine was an effort to preserve this so far prosperous society. But ultimately both, Ryan and Fontaine, longed for power and wealth corrupting them making both the very thing I believe they were trying to escape. Ryan and Fontaine both fulfill Aristotle's idea of virtue theory which makes for a great story. Games like Bioshock make you think. They provoke thought about the society we live in today. Are there people in our society who have seemingly noble goals, but are secretly advancing their own agenda's? Does the society we live have our very own type of plasmids? What kind of vices does our society indulge in? Do people of power use these plasmids to manipulate us to their liking just as the people of Rapture?

I think the question still remains though, are games like Bioshock mature forms of art? I believe without a doubt, yes they absolutely are. So next time someone asks you about a particular game, tell them how much fun the game play and mechanics are. Then after that tell them how you felt as though the Holy war setting of the Halo trilogy depicts a relativist view of the world in which Master Chief contrast the Covenant by fulfilling Socrates' idea of a rationalistic morality. So basically I'm saying that you should share your thoughts on what kind of message the game was trying to get across. I guarantee you will raise a brow or two. People still do not expect us as gamers to see these kinds of things in our games. All they expect us to see is sex, drugs and rock n' roll (well you know what I mean).

I realize that most of this article just consists of me asking questions, but they are all valid. We need to evaluate the why of games. We need to keep having fun with our games, but at the same time realize the art within the game. Then use that knowledge to help others realize that games are serious art form which should be protected under first amendment rights(I'm looking at you Hillary), but that is whole other rant. So what do you guys think? Am I full of BS with my 'games are art' talk? Are games mature forms of art? Let me know. Peace.

Note: I do not proof read, but by the time you have read this you have probably noticed that already.

This is my second time to be at my current level. Why you ask? Well a few months ago I got modded for being I little sarcastic, I did not say anything vulgar or derogetory it was only a joke. But some mod, whose name will go unmentioned(Yeah I know who you are), substracted 182 points from my level putting me down to the start of level 19. I personally think that is a little bit of overkill but whatever the mods feel is appropriate, right? Anyway here is to hoping that it does not happen again and also hoping you cannot have your blogs modded, because I am not sure if this mod worthy or not.

One last thing, this what I was modded for.

Thread creator ask: "Is there a easier way to kill big daddy in bioshock? I seem to die at least 6-10 times everytime I try to take him on. He can't be that hard!!"

My response: "Try not dying, see if that works."

It was just a joke but I can see how that makes me come off as a complete jerk.

So I just finished HL2: Episode 2 and it was a great game, I played from start to finish without stopping. But I cannot believe it ended the way it did, I did not even see the end coming. I was ready to jump in that Helo and go bust someone up but then... I will not mention what happens for the sake of those who have not finished the game, but if you played I think you know what I'm talking about. That was worse than Halo2. I really hope episode 3 or Half-Life 3 comes out soon.

Wow I cannot believe I found a working copy of Goldeneye 007 today for only $8. I do not know if this is a hard to find game or not but I do know it is time for me to bust out my N64 and start playing some Goldeneye. I wonder how an N64 will display on an HD TV?

I have been playing Timeshift, I rented it for an easy 300 points and what I found is that the game is not that bad. I would definitely recommend any FPS fan to rent this one. I say rent because as fun as it is, it's not worth 60$. One great thing I think everyone who plays this game will love is its autosave system. Tmeshift auto saves quite often. So if you like achievements, FPS's, and have the time give Timeshift a try.

In other news I have been obsessing like mad about the new XBLA game Schizoid that game looks freakin' sweet. One of the things that has me hyped up about Schizoid is the game type that allows you to control your orange ship with the left analog stick and the silver ship with your right analog stick. That is going to be intensely mind bending. Also now that I am on the subject of arcade games, what the F ever happed to Castle Crashers? That game has been delayed time after time after time, if you have any inside info about that game you could share please do so.

One more thing before I get back to watching LaDainian Tomlinson tear up the Broncos. If you have not been to Jeff Gerstmann's new website you should do so, I will link for you. Jeff G

Note: I do not proof read, but by the time you have read this you have probably noticed that already.