I reached the 2000 battle mark last night in SC3. There was only one thing I hadn't yet unlocked by other means of the 2000 battles stuff: Valeria's Artwork. I like seeing the concept designs that go into the characters of SC3. Originally, it looked like the shop girls were going to be dressed quite similarly but in the end their costumes have been much more individualized.

2000 battles. That's a lot. And I feel that I have not even yet begun to master the game. I guess I'm spreading myself too thin over all of the characters in the game, that I'm not taking the time necessary to learn any one character in depth. With SC2, I played all the way through the story mode with Kilik, so I became quite good with him. Kilik's moves have been changed quite a bit in SC3, at least to the point where I feel I need to relearn him.

So what's next for me? Still going to unlock the Ancients for the rest of the characters. Unlocked Sophitia's and Cassandra's most recently. The fact that the Ancients don't have any special abilities is a bit of a deterrent to actually unlock them, but I guess I like having things complete.

Strange observation with Create a Character: When you create a female character and give her the "Soul of" a male character, her moves look normal (unless it's Soul of Voldo or Lizardman). I have a female barbarian who uses Soul of Astaroth, and she looks fine. But, when you give a male character the "Soul of" a female character there is a dissonance between the way they look and the way they move. For example, a male character swaying his hips while holding Tira's hoop, or doing Xianghua's victory poses. It's interesting how the movements of the female characters in this game are so marked.

That's that for now.

Starting a blog, not expecting anyone but myself to read it, but posting it online anyway, just because, just in case. I'm fascinated by what's going on on GameSpot, this online community, and want to take part in it in my own way, since I have recently moved to England and have yet to join a flesh-and-blood in the same physical space community.

Anyway. On with my blog entry.

I have been playing a single game for the past four months: SoulCalibur III (I have a PS2 and an old lappy). I've been busying myself unlocking and purchasing all the characters, jobs, weapons, armor, etc. from the game. Just this morning I finally purchased the last remaining pieces of armor, unlocking the special artwork of Lynette.

What I want to know, does anyone who play these games get that feeling of emptiness after completing something of significance in a game and then realizing that it hasn't made your life any better or changed anything at all in the physical world? I remember feeling this way when I was much younger, after completing Zelda or Mario 3. Not anymore. But I wonder how many others still have that experience.

When I play games now, I make sure that I am enjoying playing at the moment for the playing's sake, not just because I want to beat such-and-such a level or unlock such-and-such a feature. It's the playing of the game now, not the reward of what you will get at the end of it that is most satisfying.

Another experience. Most of my friends are not into games. So, when I do convince them to play me at SC3 or VF4:E or Tekken 5, one of two things happen: a) I beat them so quickly and mercilessly that they don't want to play anymore, or b) I don't play as hard in order to give them a chance to win, but then I am sinking down to below my own level of ability. What does one do in such situations? (I don't have any online games.)

Now that I have unlocked and purchased all the armor in SC3, I have set myself a few more tasks: a) purchase all the items in the items shop, b) win gold on all hard challenges (I have 4 left to win), and c) unlock the Ancienct weapon for each character (I have 18 left to unlock). I am also thinking of trying to beat the Championship Tournament mode 12 times in a row, like it challenges you to do, but it sounds like too much repetitive work. And there is no way that I am going to bother unlocking all the events in the ToS event viewer.

Oh yeah. I'm also going to create characters with all the pieces I have. I was going to use the pieces of armor to tinker with the good/evil and hyper/calm sliders at the bottom of the CAC screen. See if I can make a pure evil or pure good character and the like. Reminds me of Fable, which I have yet to play...

That's all for now. Will be amazed if anyone else ever reads this...

Aerobie