Soo I may not be on Gamespot as much as I'd like for a little while, due to my laptop crashing again. (yes, the same laptop I just got back from sony).

I hope you guys had a nice, safe holiday with family and friends =)

I didnt go shopping on Black Friday, due to the fact that I really dislike crowds (and have no money). From the way the stores looked, at least from watching the news, I'm glad I didnt go out.

I dunno if you guys saw the Prince of Persia marathon on here yesterday, but it looks like a lot of fun, especially for us platformer-challenged people =P

In gaming news, my quest to 80 in WoW continues, though my more immediate goal is 60. I'd like to do a fantasy-esque journal/story kinda thing on here when I start a death knight, but I know drummer101 is doing a character story thing so I dont wanna step on anyone's toes.

I finally started Lost Odyssey and its a lot of fun, though I started over because I didnt pick up all the items I could have (I'm an item junkie in rpg's). The first boss is really hard though. I'm enjoying it so far though, the cutscenes Ive seen already have some nice elements, political intrigue, corruption, etc. The graphics are really nice too.

For those of you missing the holidays already, not to worry, there are some great holidays coming up this month. I think we might get a tree this year (I havent had a tree in awhile cause my last roomie was jewish, not that he celebrated much).

Hope you guys have a great week!

 

I remember when World of Warcraft was in beta.  The original beta, I mean.  Oh, a lot of the spells/skills didnt work, quests were bugged, some items had weird graphical glitches, and such.  Then again, it was only a shadow of the game it is now.  Even with buggy graphics, lag like a semi with eighteen flat tires, and balancing issues that would make the Chinese gymnastic team puke, I knew that the game would be a smash hit (actual quote: "This game reeks! If this thing lasts more than two weeks, it'll be a miracle..").

Okay, so maybe I didnt think it would be the massive entity that it is now.  But I definitely knew that the game was going places (actual quote: "this game is going right into the trash").  Anyway, the game launched, and heroes were born.  (We call them nerds in the real world).  Now, I'll be the first to admit, I was on the fence about picking it up ("I'm not buying that piece of crap!"). I was also engrossed in the newly released Everquest II, a game which made Everquest I look like King's Quest V.

As I had predicted, the game took off, partly due to its engrossing gameplay, its user friendly interface, and the general population's everlasting love of lawn gnomes.  The game was a treat, especially for those of us who'd played less than stellar MMO's in the past ("When I was young, all we had was Pong Online, and everyone's character was the same!").

Fast forward a couple years and the first expansion, "The Burning Crusade", was released.  Long overdue features were added, like the ability to create solid gold toe rings.  The options for creating your virtual self were expanded too, to sapphire colored demons or pinkish hued elves.  The biggest addition was for experienced players though.  Now you could battle new and more powerful enemies, in a whole new continent.

Now as the game's fourth anniversary is upon us, you could argue that the game has changed a little bit since it was first released.  Eleven million people now populate the servers (That's way more than the entire population of Guam!).  The scene now shifts to the frozen north, and the new continent of Can-err I mean Northrend.  Death Knights now lay waste to everything in their path and spells can now be enhanced with glyphs for truly terrifying effects.  Mages, who once simply turned enemies into sheep, can now turn enemies into penguins.  The horror.

You don't have to be a fan of, or even play World of Warcraft, to notice its effect on the MMO scene, and maybe even the gaming scene as a whole.  Who would have thought that Blizzard, previously known for a little played game named after Mexican wrestler "El Diablo" (take that, "El Guapo"!), would be able to create worlds that enraptured so many and caused so many sleepless nights?  Probably none of us.  Except me. :P

 

 

Hello lovely Gamespotters!

Okay, soo I dont mind admitting that today I'm the big 30, mainly because if you reverse the numbers I'm 03.  Heck, that means I'm practically just out of the womb!  With all the great games being released lately, its a great time to be 03 years old =P

I recently picked up the WoW expansion, "Wrath of the Lich King", (eBay), and it was funny because it was being sold by someone in Los Angeles, which is pretty close.  So its been like a week and I start wondering where it is.  Well last night I buzzed in a family member at the gate, or I thought it was anyway.  Turns out it was the guy I bought the game from, he came to drop it off, as the post office sent it back to him, even though it had my new address on it.  Nice of him to come by and drop it off, I thought.

I dont have too much planned for my 3rd birthday here, but hopefully I can get in some gaming time amidst the family, friends and various strangers who will undoubtedly be stopping by.

 

Hello yummy Gamespotters!

I just got my laptop back yesterday, yay! Apparently they had to replace the motherboard and optical drive. Was nice of them to return my Spore disc too, as it was in the drive when I took it in.

Laptop Pros:

-Can play WoW with graphics nearly maxed out (everything maxed but shadows). My desktop barely runs it on low settings (at 800x600).

-I can be on GS lots more

-I can play games like Red Alert 3 (which I probably wont buy =P)

Laptop Cons:

-I can tune out family and friends much easier (this should be in the pro section)

-I can be on GS lots more

-More eBay!

In other news Ive started Fallout 3. I love the whole growing up in Vault 101 scene, especially the baby book that explains skill points. I reached the town of Megaton and did a research quest that involved scouting the nearby busted wal mart. I still havent figured out lockpicking or computer hacking, but both of those skills are pretty low. Ive been focusing on small guns, speech and medicine, though I'd like to up the repair skill, since theres a few quests I need a decent repair skill for.

Have a great week!

Hello nice lovely Gamespotters!

Its been awhile since Ive done it (like a few days), but I went to the local Gamestop and picked up some new games. Overweight guy #21 stood behind the counter, eyeing me closely, probably already picking me as his next meal, not that it would hurt him if he skipped a few here and there (not that Im against overweight guys, it just seems more of them work at Gamestop than anywhere else hehe). They had a ton of Gears of Wars 2 cases on display, some shinier than others (you know even the collectors edition guide is shiny?) I must admit, even I, a self proclaimed FPS hater, was tempted. But with the steady stream of hot new releases, it was a daunting task finding the right games, but I think I made a couple good picks, either way.

I soon came away with:

Its so hard to resist a nifty looking lunchbox like that! (and it comes with fallout 3, which is much better than a peanut butter and jelly sandwich...I guess..I think theres other stuff in it too, I havent opened it yet).

I also picked up:

I'll definitely let you guys know how its going with both of them, (you know, once I actually rip off the shrinkwrap, pass out from the new game smell, regain consciousness and begin playing!)

For those of you with new games this week as well, have a great weekend! (Oh and people without new games should have a great weekend too....I suppose =P)

Hello, my lovelies!

With all the media coverage surrounding the national election, I thought I'd give you some highlights, from the point of view of a simple observer. Keep in mind, I'm not a political science major, hobbyist, or even have a passing interest in politics, or science =P.

Ive noticed quite a bit of concerns and questions about the election recently though, many from family, friends, and people on the street who just wouldnt stop talking. Some examples of questions included the following:

Does my vote really count?

Do you have any spare change?

Are these plants safe to eat?

Why do hospital waiting rooms only have magazines like, "Women's Golf Digest", and "Ski Afficionado"?

After pondering these questions for several seconds, I decided to use the time tested method that political analysts on various networks use, from CNN to Fox News, to Animal Planet. That's right, I pulled out my Magic 8-Ball. Be warned, some of these answers may shock you.

Does my vote really count? (In perhaps a nod to the elections of 2000 and 2004, the 8 Ball replied, "Outlook Not So Good".)

When asked if voter fraud was a forseeable problem, the 8 Ball simply said, "Definitely".

Finally, when asked if it will be a close election, the 8 Ball hestitated not for a moment before replying, "Yes". If that isnt wisdom, I dont know what is.

Now, you might be thinking that my 8 Ball may be biased towards one side or the other. Well if you'd like to question the 8 Ball yourself, here's a linky!

I thought I also might give you a few updates on some of the leaders in a few of the battleground states as well.

Ohio: Primarily a Pepsi State, though polls show Coke has been gaining popularity as well. Projection: 60% Pepsi/39% Coke/1% Dr Pepper

Georgia: Coke's home state. If Coke loses this state, it will not only be embarassing, but may eventually lead to a Crystal Pepsi takeover. The horror.

New York: Pepsi's home state. Inside sources say it is surprisingly a mixture of Pepsi, Coke, and mysterious third party Mountain Dew.

Texas: Projection: Pepsi 2%/Coke 2%/Dr Pepper 94%.

Australia: Projection: Pepsi 1%/Coke 1%/Vegemite 98%.

And now some write in candidates, while they are all disqualified due to not being properly carbonated, they deserved a mention, nonetheless.

"The stripped and shapely
Maple grieves
The ghosts of her
Departed leaves.

The ground is hard,
As hard as stone.
The year is old,
The birds are flown.

And yet the world,
In its distress,
Displays a certain
Loveliness" -John Updike

November Flower: Chrysanthemum

The name chrysanthemum comes from two Greek words chrysos, which means gold, and anthos, which means flower. The reference to gold comes from the fact that in the Mediterranean the Chrysanthemum coronarium was a golden-yellow flower used in garlands intended to deter demons. Perhaps because a raised eyebrow indicates displeasure the flower was also known as Dios ophrya, which means God's eyebrow. Perhaps they hoped that the reference to God's eyebrow would scare away the demons.

Another common chrysanthemum is the European flower variously known as feverfew, featherfew or tansie. Historically, the tansy was used to reduce fevers in those who were ill. The Latin name for the tansy is Chrysanthemum parthenium.

Several flowers that are often referred to as daisies are categorically, mums. They are the ox-eye daisy, painted daisy, and shasta daisy.

The oldest variety of chrysanthemum is the Chinese chrysanthemum, which was a daisy-like plant in China. It was cultivated for nearly 2,500 years before it made its way to Europe.

In China, the chrysanthemum was often used to symbolize a scholar in retirement because the poet T'ao Yuan-Ming retired to his mum garden rather than accept a position from the Emperor. He said he preferred "to pick chrysanthemums from the hedges, entertain his friends, and get drunk" (Wells, 41).

The Chinese also felt that the chrysanthemum promoted longevity and made wines and medicine from infusions of its leaves and petals. The dew collected from mums was supposed to be particularly effective in increasing the lifespan of those who ingested it. As a result, the mum was also considered one of the four noble plants in China along with bamboo, plum, and orchid.

The Japanese were first introduced to the chrysanthemum in 400 A.D. by Zen Buddhist monks. It became a symbol of the Mikado and was displayed as a sixteen petaled mum made to look like the Rising Sun.

In Italy, the mum is a funeral flower and is associated with the dead.

November Birthstones: Citrine/Topaz

November's gemstone, Citrine, is as warm as a Van Gogh painting of sunflowers. The name Citrine comes from an old French word, "citrin", meaning lemon. One of the more rare forms of quartz, this gemstone ranges in color from the palest yellow to a dark amber named Madeira because of its resemblance to the red wine.

Perhaps because of its scarcity, there is little mention of Citrine used as a gemstone prior to the first century B.C. The Romans were thought to be the first to wear the yellow quartz, crafting it into cabochon, or highly polished but unfaceted cuts of stone set into jewelry. Citrine became more popular during the Romantic Period, when artisans often favored these warm colored gems to enhance gold jewelry. Citrine, like all forms of quartz, was believed to have magical powers and was worn as a talisman against evil thoughts and snake venom. It was also considered to have medicinal properties and was commonly used as a remedy for urinary and kidney ailments.

Sister stone to the purple quartz known as Amethyst, Citrine crystals are found in igneous metamorphic and sedimentary rocks. It is believed that some Citrine may have actually begun as Amethyst, but heat from nearby molten rock changed it to the yellow form of quartz. Citrine is known to change color when subjected to heat and is routinely heated in the jewelry-making process to intensify its color. For this same reason, though, this gemstone should not be left in direct sunlight for a long time because it will permanently alter the color. Most Citrine is mined in Brazil, but other sources of the quartz are Bolivia and Madagascar.

A gift of Citrine is symbolic for hope and strength. With its sunny brightness, this gemstone is ideal for helping anyone to get through the tough times in life!

Alternate Birthstone
Yellow Topaz is an alternate gemstone for those born in November. It's golden color was believed by the Egyptians to be the glow cast by the sun god Ra. Yellow Topaz ranges in color from a peachy blush to a deep cognac. A gift of this gemstone is said to symbolizefriendship and to strengthen one's capacity to give and receive love.

November Special Days:

Nov 1st: All Saint's Day

Nov 2nd: Daniel Boone's Birthday (born 1734 in Pennsylvania)

Nov 8th: (The day the X Ray was discovered in 1895).

Nov 10th: (Sesame Street debuted in 1969). US Marine Corps Established (1775).

Nov 11th: Veteran's Day

Nov 13th: Walt Disney's Fantasia Released (1940).

Nov 18th: Mickey Mouse's Birthday (Created in 1928.)

Nov 19th: Gettysburg Address Delivered by Lincoln in 1863.

Nov 20th: Alli's Birthday (eek!)

Nov 26th: Charles Schultz Birthday ("Peanuts" creator, born 1922).

Nov 27th: Turkey Day! (Dont fill up on stuffing! =P)

Nov 28th: Mark Twain's Birthday (Born in 1835).

Nov 29th: King Tut's Tomb Opened in 1922.

Here's wishing you guys a Merry Samhain, and don't eat too much candy =P

The ancient Celts divided the year into four quarters: Samhain (the winter quarter), Imbolc (the spring quarter), Beltane (the summer quarter), and Lughnasadh (the autumn quarter). Unlike the Gregorian calendar, the Celtic year began in November, with Samhain. The Celts were influenced mostly by the lunar and stellar cycles that ruled the agricultural year - which begins and ends in late autumn when the crops have been harvested and the soil is prepared for the winter.

Samhain not only marks the beginning of the Winter Quarter -it also marks the beginning of the dark half of the year.

Literally, it means "summer's end". The ancient, wandering Celts marked their ceremonies by the stars and it is believed that the Celtic "day" began at sunset, thereby reinforcing the influence the moon and stars had on the culture. Hence, the Celtic New Year celebration would begin each year on the Eve of November 1st. The atmosphere of the eve of Samhain is one of introspection and ancestral communion. The Celts believed that the doorway between this world and the otherworld was especially thin on the eve of Samhain. During this time, it was believed that fairies and the spirits of those who have died were able to come back to our realm and trick humans into getting entrapped in the fairy mounds where they would be lost forever. Sometimes people got into the spirit of things by playing tricks on each other as well.

When the Roman Empire reached Celtic lands, they added their own feast of the dead to Samhain. The Christians reassigned the meaning of Samhain to honor the saints, as All Saint's Day on November 1st. They also named October 31 as All Hollow's Eve. Although using different nomenclatures, all of these festivals and feasts are celebrating the accessibility, veneration, awe, and respect of the dead.

Many of our modern-day Halloween traditions have their roots in these ancient rituals. In order to ward off spirits, candles were placed in hollowed-out and carved turnips, the forerunner of our (pumpkin) jack-o-lanterns. The carvings were to scare away spirits that might mean you harm, while the candle's flame would invite those spirits that know you to come closer. The wearing of costumes or donning clothing of the opposite sex was a popular means of tricking the spirits as well. A few rituals have contributed to the fun of trick or treating. The custom of "soul-caking" was when children would go from door to door around the village, begging for cakes and in return would pray for the souls of the dearly departed. It was also believed that this was not a night to be alone, so villagers would go door to door collecting food for a community feast. In the center of the Celtic Otherworld is an apple tree of magical powers. Old stories tell of crossing the sea to reach the magical apple tree- this could be the origin of our Halloween tradition of bobbing for apples.

The Celts believed in a cyclical timeline, wherein the ending is also a beginning and the night of Samhain, All Hallow's Eve, exists on a point outside of normal time. Divination and superstitions are part and parcel of Samhain, with many rituals existing to tell the future. With so much mysticism shrouding the festival, Samhain - or Halloween - remains one of our magical holidays that still incorporates the ancient flavor of its origins.

Yay! I finally got Little Big Planet! I've only gone through the first little tutorial garden type level so far, but I'm already having fun. I think they sent me a code for the preorder content like a month ago, I'm gonna have to find that. ("Its the best game I've ever played and all I've done is enter my name"!). On another note, I didnt know Fallout 3 was gonna be a huge launch title. On the news, they even showed lines of people waiting outside stores at the midnight launch (though admittedly, some people just walked up and stood in line because others were doing it =P). I admit I'd like to play it, just not right away, probably more because I'm a fan of Bethesda's previous games, than a huge fan of Fallout.

Now the part you've all been waiting for, the answers to the last blog's little game! How many did you get right?

1. MARIO (Super Mario Bros)

2. DRACULA (Castlevania)

3. ALTAIR (Assassin's Creed)

4. SAMUS (Metroid)

5. CRONO (Chrono Trigger)

6. SALAMANDO (Secret of Mana)

7. YOJIMBO (Final Fantasy X)

8. BIRDO (Super Mario Bros 2)

9. DRAGONLORD (Dragon Warrior)

10, NEKU (The World Ends With You)

11. DUNNING (Hotel Dusk)

12. GHALEON (Lunar)

13.SNAKE (Metal Gear Solid)

14. CLANK (Secret Agent Clank)

15. AMATERASU (Okami)

16. TOAN (Dark Cloud)

17. TRAVIS (No More Heroes)

18. RACHEL (Ninja Gaiden Sigma)

19. IGNUS (Planescape: Torment)

20. MASTER CHIEF (Halo)