...Where the Hell is everyone? What happened to the Community Contributions Union? Why is everything so much more laggy now? o_O

Er...well, if there's anyone still out there, I guess there's some catching up to do. I'm back after a lengthy hiatus from Gamespot. I suppose I never really checked here regularly during my stint with the CCU, but still. My old computer finally kicked the bucket, and now I've got a handy laptop to use. I finally graduated with my BA in English, and I'm currently working full time at my old job. I miss college already. =/

I'm still reviewing, though. I'm so, so close to Review #500 right now. Only a few more games (which will receive just as much attention as #500 will) until I hit that milestone. Hopefully, I'll also take the rank of the 2nd highest when it comes to the amount of KB worth of reviews on Gamefaqs. My latest review is for Persona 4, which Atlus graciously sent me two weeks in advance of the American release. It's a great game, so pick it up if you still play RPGs on your PS2. Here's the review:

http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/ps2/review/R130373.html

On a related note, I have a question: what does it take to become part of Gamespot's reviewing staff? I've got more than enough experience s a reviewer, and I've got a degree to back me up. Who should I talk to, if anyone? I'd really be interested in writing for the site and actually getting paid for doing something I honestly love. So if you know, give me the head up, okay?

http://kotaku.com/gaming/kane-%26-lynch/kane--lynch-site-fibbing-about-reviews-scores-329529.php
http://kotaku.com/gaming/eidos/did-we-give-kane--lynch-5-stars-329539.php

Wow. Just, wow.

If the rumored circumstances behind Jeff Gerstmann's firing are indeed true, I have little interest in supporting Gamespot with my contributions any longer. It's not like it'll be much of an impact (even if I do rank highly among the amatuer reviewers); my stuff here is user-submitted and only a fraction of my collection is represented here. I can't do much as a user, but I can leave. This is not meant to disparage the Community Contributions Union in any way; you're all aces in my book, but I cannot condone what has happened today. And to think I was aspiring to be part of Gamespot's staff...It's a shame. I'm probably in the minority overall, but I've held this site's reviews in a far better regard than most other gaming sites. I sincerely hope that there's more to Jeff's departure than a less than favorable score. Otherwise, I'll likely not use Gamespot anymore.

The only reason I haven't acted yet is because the details and circumstances of Jeff's firing haven't beenfully explained. It's clear that the review was the catalyst to his departure, but there must be more to this than just a low score. There had better be, if Gamespot has any hope of reclaiming its respectability as a reliable gaming source.

So, I'll wait until the circumstances of Jeff's firing are fully explained before I make my decision. In the meantime, to any of you that reguarly read my work, I apologize. You already know where to find me.

I'm baaaaaaaack...Did you all miss me?*Crickets chirp* Right. >.>

Anyways, just checking in. I'm back in school now, finishing up my degree. All I've got left are Greek Drama and Shakespeare. Talk about saving the best for last...I've slowed down reviewing pace a bit due to scheduling, but that's all right. I topped 400 review on Gamefaqs a month or so ago, but I seem to be taking my time with the next milestone. By the way, is thrtr somethign wrong with the submissions window here on Gamespot? Whenever I try to submit a review, it comes out in this huge chunk instead of sectioned paragraphs. I've tried everything to fix it, but it still shows up incorrectly. =/ Anyways, I'll try to give this place a bit more attention and get some entries in for Reviewspotting.

See you around!

Whoa, it's been over a month since I last posted here. Time for an update:

My aunt survived her ordeal and is on her way back to her full ass-kicking capacity. After spending nearly a month in the ICU, she eventually got well enough to be taken home. She now stays with my grandmother (who thankfully lives next door) as essentially stuck into a giant easychair for most of the day. She can't exert much energy yet, however; she gets tired out with about an hour of physical activity. Her pneumonia and infections are gone, but the diabetes are still wreaking havoc on her. I have a new appreciation for people that count their calories/carbs/etc; for my aunt, her blood sugar levels make the difference between her recovery and landing right back into the ICU with another coma. I've been spending a lot of my free time helping to nurse her back to health and keeping my grandma's spirit's up.

In the meantime, the Srping Quarter has started again. I'm facing graduation soon. If the damned school wasn't so damned bureaucratic, at least. All I needed to take was Senior Seminar and Chaucer, but the latter was dumped due to teacher shortages and a lack of student turnout. Way to go, people. Now I'm going to be stuck doing summer ****s. I love school, but I want my degree and move on, dammit.

I've been mellowing out with my Wii, though. Metal Slug Anthology makes for a great (if not kinda morbid) way to vent frustrations. The same cannot be said with Sonic and the Secret Rings; Venter and I see eye to eye on another Wii title, but I sure as hell won't give the new Sonic an 8/10. But hey, I've got an unopened copy of Super Paper Mario on my desk right now. I need a break from cursing at Sega's mascot. >.>

Anyway, I put my Wii Code along with my AIM in my HG profile if any of you folks feel like bugging me sometime.

http://www.gamefaqs.com/portable/ds/review/R110606.html

I was so ticked off that I went a bit overboard on the word count. >.>

Hot off the presses:

Sonic Blast: http://www.gamefaqs.com/portable/gamegear/review/R109685.html

Sonic Chaos: http://www.gamefaqs.com/portable/gamegear/review/R109686.html

Sonic Labyrinth: http://www.gamefaqs.com/portable/gamegear/review/R109687.html

Sonic Spinball: http://www.gamefaqs.com/portable/gamegear/review/R109688.html

Sonic the Hedgehog: http://www.gamefaqs.com/portable/gamegear/review/R109689.html

Sonic the Hedgehog 2: http://www.gamefaqs.com/portable/gamegear/review/R109690.html

Sonic Triple Trouble: http://www.gamefaqs.com/portable/gamegear/review/R109691.html

Have a good week, folks.

Even RPG haters like me. Here's why:

http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/ps2/review/R109574.html

Now I can give my Gamecube a proper sendoff before focusing on the Wii...

On another note, here are my latest reviews, fresh off the presses:

Knights of the Round : http://www.gamefaqs.com/coinop/arcade/review/R109439.html

Sonic R: http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/saturn/review/R109459.html

Sonic CD: http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/segacd/review/R109460.html

Geometry Wars: http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/xbox360/review/R109470.html

Enjoy. ^_^

****ing drunk dumbass tried to merge into my lane without even bothering to look if there was anyone next to him. I was mere inches away from getting rammed, but I just accelerated and changed lanes as fast as I could. Bleh.

Anyways, the reviews of 2006:

Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time
Snowboard Kids DS
Boktai: Solar Boy Django
Spider Fighter
Grand Prix
The Ninja Kids
Megamania
Enduro
The Activision Decathlon
Moonsweeper
Devil May Cry 3: Special Edition
Bust-A-Move DS
Killer7
Pitfall!
Resident Evil 4
Rumble Roses
Chaos Field
Jump Superstars
Electroplankton
Guilty Gear Isuka
Dragon ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi
Croket! DS: Tenkuu no Yuusha tachi
Bouken-Ou Beet
Private Eye
Yu Yu Hakusho: Dark Tournament
Street Fighter EX3
DOA2: Hardcore
Tekken Tag Tournament
Virtua Fighter 4 Evolution (Review #250!)
Children of Mana
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
Battalion Wars
Tenchu: Dark Secret
Bleach DS
Iron Feather
Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children
New Super Mario Bros.
God of War
Tetris DS
King of Fighters: Maximum Impact
From Russia With Love
Lost Magic
Tekken 5
Big Sky Trooper
Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories
Castlevania: Curse of Darkness
Guilty Gear Dust Strikers
Thunder Fox
Guilty Gear X
Street Fighter Alpha
Street Fighter Alpha 2
Street Fighter Alpha 3
Street Fighter II
Street Fighter II Turbo
Super Street Fighter II
Street Fighter Alpha Anthology
Street Fighter III: Third Strike
Soul Blade
Pocket Fighter
Tekken 4
Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence
Tekken
Tekken 2
Tekken 3
Final Fight
Bionic Commando
Space Gun
Break 'Em All
Summon Night: Swordcraft Story
Castle Shikigami 2
Street Fighter II: Champion Edition
Vectorman
Star Fox Command
Yanya Caballista
Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories
Rez
Oregon Trail (Review #300!)
Mega Man X2
Mega Man X3
Mega Man X4
Mega Man X5
Mega Man X6
Mega Man X7
Mega Man X8
Mega Man ZX
Okami
Mechassault: Phantom War
Shadow of the Collosus
The King of Fighters 2006
God Hand
Magical Starsign
Scurge: Hive
Phoenix Wright 2: Ace Attorney Justice For All
Elite Beat Agents
Contact
Jump! Ultimate Stars
Eco Fighters
Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin
Odama
Victorious Boxers 2: Fighting Spirit
Super Street Fighter II Turbo (sitting in the queue right now)
Street Fighter (sitting in the queue right now)
Captain Commando (sitting in the queue right now)

That's 104 reviews, folks. Not too bad. ^_^