That picture is very good to describe my feelings about this week. In my last post I did hope that my week would be better than my last week. But in the end this week has been pretty annoying, stresfull and lots of anger. One reason is because it has been very busy at work. Lots of stuff is going on and everything isn't going like it should go. I don't know when all is normal but it will be lots of stuff in coming weeks.

I also have had couple other things to take care of so all this has "eaten" my time :( :x

Because all the things going on I haven't had any time to play games :( This evening I did manage to play couple matches in COD4 online (+ couple arcade levels) :) But that is all what I have managed to play this week. I have free weekend so I'm trying to relax! Take my thoughts off at work+other things... I'm not planning anything special but of course some gaming is my do list :P:) I'm planning on playing Burnout Paradise, DMC4, DiRT and maybe Conan... And I'm sorry for not commenting on your blogs! But I hope that you all understand why. (*Lots of cursing*) I have been thinking some good ideas for my blog (like More Serious Blog Post Than Normal) I have some ideas and I will make them when I have the chance!

But then lets talk little bit more about games :) I ordered Army Of Two game and It will come next week... (maybe Tuesday/Wednesday). There is also GT5 Prologue and FF Crystal coming this month :P But they are coming at the end of the month so I have lots of time(I hope!) to play my other games.

But tell me what have you been doing? :) Send PM if you have time and I will answer when I have the time :)

My last couple days has been big pain in the ass. It has been very busy at work and somethings has gone very wrong... I fixed my computer... I did have to re-install my XP. Virus didn't go away and it corrupted something and so on... I haven't installed all the thing which I did have but I put everything back in order in time.

I do have good news also :) I have managed to get back to Burnout Paradise :) I have played it this morning and it has been lots of fun :) I have B licence at this moment... about 15 races to A licence. I also did buy new bike! :) Yay! :D I love biking! (Have I told?) I have had my old bike about... 8-10years... And I have been fixing non stop past year. It broke down (again) couple months ago and I it has been like that ever since. But yesterday I saw couple bikes which were great looking, good for city/road and forest roads. And of course I did get this one pretty cheap :) 299euros (normal it was over 450 or something) And the bike which I did choose is this:

It is "Renault Kilka" :D:P Now when all the snow/ice ect melts I can get back to biking :) I have also new helmet :) I'm feeling better now and I'm relaxed. I have to see what kind of week is coming... I hope that not very bad!

"Live Your Life Like You Want To" :)

Somehow some damn "bug" did get past my firewall and now my computer is a mess! At first nothing did work, but luckily now it is littlebit better. But I may have to re-install my XP...:x :? Luckily my girlfriend has a laptop so I can use Internet :) I really hope that I don't have to re-install my XP...!

I finally did get Burnout Paradise! (PS3) :):D I have played burnout serie before and I have loved it. I didn't buy this one sooner partly because I was worried how this open city is affected to the gameplay. "Do i find any races?", "How this can work?!" etc. I thought. But I did buy it and I have to say that I'm surprised (in a good way!). I have been collecting extra stuff ("Gates": 200/400, Boards or something: 20/50 etc) Of course I have been completing some races. :P Game is lots of fun and I have to get back to Paradise city when I have the chance.

Lots of stuff again happening everywhere... I have some problems with my relatives (they are mad at me... Some stupid stuff!), I have lots of new things at work... Part of the company where I'm working is expanding, so we have to hire some new people, and because I'm second in command(:P), I have lots of responsibility. Some new guy who we did hire didn't show at work (His FIRST day!) and doesn't answer when we try to contact him... (He will be fired!) LOTS of stuff to do... and some other things as well...

But I hope that you are feeling fine and you are all healthly! Keep on gaming and don't worry too much :) (I try too!)

It's again time for another Monthly Blog! Yay! :D

Gamespot Progress

lvl 23 - - 41,86% -> lvl 24 -- 51,57= 1,0971%

Gamespot Emblems

This award was given if you did watch 11th annual interactive achievement awards 2008.

Games Bought

- Devil May Cry 4 (PS3)
- Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter 2 (PS3)
- Conan (PS3)

Pre-ordered Games

- Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring Of Fates

Manga Bought

- Ragnarök, vol. 1
- Vampire Hunter D, vol. 1
- Fullmetal Alchemist, vol. 12 & 13
- Naruto, vol. 1
- War Angels, vol. 1

I have tried to find Ragnarök vol. 1 for very long time and now I did find it! :) Vampire Hunter D was very interesting and I'm waiting more of that. Fullmetal alchemist is great as always :) This month I did start couple new series: "Naruto" and "War Angels" :) I haven't had the time to start to read those two but I will tell my opinion someday…

DVD:s Bought

- Rentun Ruusu (The Rose of the Rascal)
- Kivenpyörittäjän Kylä (The Last Wedding)
- Mr. Bean, 10 Year Anniversary, vol. 1,2,3

Every movie is great! I have been trying to buy Finnish movies/TV-series because there is lots of good series. Especially because you can find lots of good movies very cheap! (3.99€-5.99€) "Rentun Ruusu" and "Kivenpyörittäjän Kylä" are great movies! I don't think that foreign person will like these two movies… They are very Finnish movies :P (I got English names in www.imdb.com)

Magazines Bought

- Pelit
- Pelaaja

Game Of The Month

Devil May Cry 4 (9/10)

This one wasn't hard to quess? ;) I was waiting this game for some time and now I have played it couple times over and I have to say that this is great game :) It was still little disappointing… I'm not sure why but something… Main characters are great but Dante is the best! Soundtrack did include some good songs but it got pretty same almost at the beginning. Boss fights are great and I like when bosses are BIG! Best boss fight is against big fiery demon! I did install some files to ps3 hard drive when I put game disc in… capcom says that it will reduce loading times greatly. They say that loading a game will be almost instant… yeah right…. But nonetheless great game and worth bying!

Anime Watched

- Dragonball
- Devil May Cry
- One Piece
- Yakitate Japan

Most of my time did go on watching Dragonball. Goku is great by the way :P Devil May Cry anime was great! If you haven't watched it, go and watch it if you have the chance! Yakitate Japan is weird anime. It tells about this 16yo boy who wants to make bread :D:P But still it is great! :P When I'm done with Yakitate Japan I will start something new… I do have unfinished animes but I have couple pretty interesting ones :)

Question Of The Month

What is your number one most emotional video game experience ever or/and latest?

This question was asked one time in a PS3 forum. My latest most emotional game experience was in Call Of Duty 4. Why? COD4 has big and intensive fights. Music is very well designed for the game and of course graphics are amazing. Put this all together and that's it. Story isn't nothing new but all other things did make some fights just… amazing! Sometimes it almost felt that I'm really on the battlefield fighting against enemy fighters. I should play this game trough again…

Games Played

- Race07 demo (PC)
- GTR2 demo (PC)
- rFactor demo (PC)
- Conan (PS3)
- Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter 2 (PS3)
- Gran Turismo HD (PS3)
- Colin McRae DiRT (PS3)
- Resistance: Fall Of Man(Co-Op) (PS3)
- Devil May Cry 4 (PS3)
- Guitar Hero 3: Legends Of Rock (PS3)
- Motorstorm (PS3)
- The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion GOTY (PS3)
- Fight Night Round 3 (PS3)
- Pokemon Diamond (DS)

Lots of games played this month :) (Like always :P) I am playing Oblivion again. :) I did have this vampire disease bug thingy and I was forced to start over. I have played some matches in Fight Night Round 3. I have had couple very tough matches and won barely. But win is a win :)

Games Completed

- Devil May Cry 4
- Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter 2

Picture Of The Month

Video Of The Month

[video=cXdlwzLw5bwLszTf]

Song Of The Month

Song of the month is this time: "Nature" and it is song presented by "Captain Cougar" Go check song here

Moment Of The Month

When my girlfriend did found some old ps1 game (Kula world or something…) She suddenly said that she wants to play it on my PS3! I was like… oookkkaaayyyy…. :P :D I have noticed that she is starting to take more interest on my gaming little bit more:)

Friends Monthly Blogs

flav333
6h05tly
phoenyx9
5_LD_5
jesus_knight
Le-Beave
zxv33

Visit Monthly Blog Union here and Join!

Again I will write something game related but this time subject is little bit more serious. First subject is game addiction. There is fine line if you are playing games for fun and playing games because you are addicted. Most people will say when asked that they aren't addicted to videogames. But many are and they don't even know this. But what is being addicted gamer or just being a "normal" gamer. If you play every day 2 hours, are you addicted? If you play Monday 10 hours straight and then you keep couple days off, are you addicted? I say "No". Most over the top things which I have heard has happened in Asia. Some has stopped to eat and drink because they want to play games without interruption. Some parents has leaved theirs small childs without any to watch over the child. These people are addicted to videogames and have big problem. But what is the "cure" for this kind of people? Is it to stop playing games? Or just some games? This one is tricky and I don't know 100% right answer for this one.

Question Part 1 & 2: Do you have any suggestion how you could help someone who is addicted for videogames? Are you addicted playing games?

When talking about limits, everyone's should know their own limits. I know my own limit and when limit is reached I stop playing. Very good sign to me stop playing is when I get frustrated. I usually notice this myself pretty quickly but sometimes my girlfriend says when I'm going over the top. So when the time comes, I quit the game and turn off the console. I do something else which aren't any game related for a while and then return to play the game again. I'm again very calm and I'm in full controll. This suits me the best :)

Question Part 3: What is your limit when you stop playing games?

Being a gamer is easy now days because lots of people play games. Or is it? In my case lots of people don't understand when 22yo man is playing games. More surprising is that most who are amazed are in fact 18-25yo!!! Like I did say, being gamer is easy and to play games is very common now days, but still there is people who think playing games is child's play. Yes, lots of young people/Children are playing games but there is lots of over 30yo gamers. They just don't keep so much noise. I don't shame and hide that I'm a gamer. I'm proud to be a gamer at this age! "Old look" when gamers were these nerdy guys is over. Athletes, politicians, parents, grandfathers, mothers, police, firemans and more, play games!

Question Part 4: Do your friends ever say to you that it is little bit odd that you play games?

Wii, Sony and Microsoft have shown games which interest all kinds of people. There are games which are for small children, there are games for teenagers and there are games for adults. I think age rating is good for games. But there are lots of people who don't understand the whole age rating system. My opinion is that if game is people over 18+ then gamer who is 12yo shouldn't play the game. But if someone who is 16yo and he/she knows the difference of the real world and the game world, then he/she could play games which are for mature people. Unfortunately most parents don't know about the age ratings and child can easily acquire games that aren't intended for Childs. So we should teach parents that they could make some decisions when buying games for their children.

Question Part 5: What do you think about the age rating system?

I have played since I was 5 or 6yo. My interest on games has grown all the time and I enjoy more and more when playing games. I'm not addicted and I know my limits. I am average player (maybe just little bit over average…) who wants only have fun when I play games. Games help us reach our dreams, games make us dream for better things, games help us learn new things, games makes us happy, sad and scared. Games awake emotions. What more would you want?

Question Part 6: What more can games do for us?

I hope that you did enjoy this little blog post(?) :)

If you want to know more about age ratings go here and here.

In here Finland is this TV program called "Tilt.tv". It's a game show and it has been around over 10years but in two-three years ago it's original host quit the show. It got another host and she was ok... but then again another change! Now show has some 20yo girl and she is so f*!%* annoying! I don't mind if some good looking 20yo wants to tell me about games ;):P But she is like a teenage girl (you all know how 13-15yo girls talk? Well this just over 20yo talks like that) and doesn't know anything about games. I haven't watched this show for long time because of this...

and then other matters :) When I was driving home with my girlfriend couple weeks ago I heard at the radio this one song and I was like. "Damn, this is good!" I didn't hear the band or the name of the song. I searched this one long time and then found it little while ago. Bands name is "Captain Cougar". It's a Finnish band. I don't usually listen this kind of music but this bands singer is just... great! Captain Cougar has great songs and if you want to go and listen, go here. Remember to listen all the songs! :) Tell me if you did like the band (or if you didn't).

If you want to know more go here :D

Okay... last time I wrote it was about my G25 Racing wheel. I've been playing games like usually I do :D I'am also trying to find good games to play... I want so bad good games on my DS but nothing good isn't on sight... okay there is couple but I don't know should I wait to next month when Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles (DS) is coming and I could try to finish pokemon at last... well see... I completed GRAW2 (PS3) and continued on playing Conan (PS3) some Fight Night also :)

I also did stumble on some kind of "shocking" news. You can check it here and here. Is format war really over? well see... I think both (HD-DVD/Blu-Ray) are good formats but because xbox360 isn't using HD-DVD:s on games (xbox360 uses normal DVD:s if you didn't know this already...) it's probably one reason why it is losing this fight. xbox360 has HD-DVD player but it isn't internal... why o why microsoft you did that...?

I won't be buying any Blu-Ray or HD-DVD movies until format war is officially over. I don't care who will win, I only care that I want to move to the next generation of movies! :) So coming months will be interesting... yes? No? I say Yes.

If you want to comment it's okay like always :) But I don't want to hear any fanboy talk! Remember that games (and movies) is all about fun! :)

...And I made small list of the Nintendo DS games that I want :):P

1. Mario Kart DS
2. Advance Wars: Days Of Ruins
3. Elite Beat Agents
4. Super Mario 64DS
5. Castlevania: Dawn Of Sorrow & Portrait Of Ruin
6. Lunar Knights

Coming DS Games
- Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings
- Final Fantasy Chrystal Chronicles
- 2 Dragon Quest games
- Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword

I know that I'm forgetting some games on this list...

Well... I got my brains to work again somehow and wrote this G25 review :) So lets get started. First I want to say that G25 is the best racing wheel which I have ever driven! It isn't perfect but damn close it gets!

I did pay 219 euros for G25 but almost everywhere price goes to 230-300 euros. So G25 is very expensive racing wheel but totally worth it if you like racing games.

Wheel:

Wheel is stainless steel and covered with hand-stitched leather(black) and feels great when driving. Wheel is 27,94cm (11 inch) and this is pretty good size. It doesn't feel too big or too small like some wheels feel/are. G25 has two different kind of holding mechanism. Plastic screws or bolting it down to the table. Both are good and keeps the wheel stable. Wheel also has 2 buttons which you can program. G25 also has two paddle shifters if you want to keep your hands on the wheel when driving. G25 also has Dual-motor force feedback transmission. Is pretty quiet and powerful! Like the official text (here) says you wheel every bump, bank and curb. It really feels like you are really driving a car. G25 has 900 degree wheel rotation. This isn't anything special or necessary to my opinion but I don't complain. Great feature nonetheless.

Score: 10/10

Pedals:

The base unit where the pedals are attached is pretty big but solid. G25 has of course gas and brake pedals which every racing wheel has but there is more! G25 also has a clutch(!) pedal. Pedals are great to use and offer pretty realistic resistance making them easier and more accurate to use in a game. So realistic feel means that it isn't too light like most other pedals are. Gas is little bit lighter, brake pedal is heavier etc. like in a real car. Pedals are of course stainless steel like the wheel is. Like the wheel, there is also 2 kinds of ways to attach pedals. One is to bolt it down somewhere(Like I did :D) or use "carpet holder" both are efficient but or course bolting it down is best choice.

Score: 10/10

"Gearbox":

G25 comes with Six-speed stick shift!. You can quickly select between six forward gears or switch to sequential shifting mode. Both works great but Six-speed stick shifter has little problem and this is the only problem G25 has! When changing gears 2->3 or 5->4 you pretty easily change to the wrong gear. This is because gear slots are too close to each other. 5-10mm more and it would be much better. Luckily when you play games you pretty quickly learn the right way to use the stick shift correctly and you don't have to worry going to wrong gear. Sequential shifter works great and I dont' have any problems with that. "Gearbox" has also 8 buttons which you can program. Like wheel you can bolt this thing to the table or use plastic screws. Both are good and stable. "Gearbox" has also little led lights which tell you is the power on and which shift mode you are using.

Score: 9/10

G25 PC Program:

Program that comes with the G25 racing wheel is very easy to use. You install it to your computer and then open the program where you can put different kind of button combinations on specific game. And all this is done very easily. You have a picture of the wheel, "gearbox" and the pedals. Then you only click the specific part of the image and then choose what you want it to do.

Score: 9/10

Games Tested:

PC:

Race07
Live For Speed
rFactor
GTR2

PS3:

Colin McRae DiRT
Gran Turismo HD

These games works great on G25. All The PC games that I tried fully support G25 (Clutch, six-speed shifter ect). PS3 games has normal support. DiRT this is ok because rally car doesn't have six speed shifter and you really feel that you are driving real rally car because wheel brings out all the things at the road. Gran Turismo HD would be great with the clutch and everything, but luckily Gran Turismo 5 Prologue is coming soon so no problems. Lots of PS2 games support also G25 racing wheel.(Gran Turismo 4, NFS serie etc.)

Total:

+ Wheel and other parts are stainless steel
+ Clutch and six-speed stick shift
+ Bolting and plastic screws works great
+ USB and Power cable have enough lenght
+ Supports PS2, PS3 and PC Games
+ Programmable buttons

- Gear slots are too close to each other
- Doesn't work on xbox360
- Only few games fully support G25 and all games that fully support G25 are PC games.

Total Score: 9.8/10

I wrote this review pretty quickly and it isn't the best but I hope that you did get somekind of "feel" what kind G25 is. Now back to surf to the wonders of internet :P

I have been wanting to write some kind of review at my G25 but I've been busy playing games and I also have been concentrating little bit also on my girlfriend. Yes I still have a girlfriend :P:D Oh and I have been spending time with DMC4 :) I did beat it once already and started to play it second time trough :P I promise to write better blog post soonish!

Be nice and have fun ;)