For lack of another word, amazement.

I thought I would go around and see what the people's opinion was on the absence of Madden '09 on the PC this year. Apart from the obvious amazement and the why and what fors. I came across a post which said he or she thought a possible reason why EA didn't publish Madden for the PC was the fact they had to incorporate tricky keyboard and mouse controls. He/she was very happy to play with a controller.

Hold on, the PC works just fine with a keyboard and mouse. I never had any difficulty with any of the games playing with a mouse and keyboard. I grew up using one, made myself quite familiar with using 10 fingers, and in fact I can make each finger do something different than the 9 others. Simultaneously! I don't want any other controller than perhaps a joystick, I do NOT want to hold a XBOX 360 Advanced controller with pretty green lights. I am not sure how much more clear I can be, I own a PC, I am well versed in the use of a combination of keys and a mouse. In dire circumstances I can use a joystick, but judging by the complexity of movements to make something 'special' happen, using a joystick will be just short of a waking nightmare.

The control of Madden '06 was actually quite good, easy to learn, easy to use. I missed it when I switched to 2007. In fact, I LOVE the system of control on Madden '06. Still I prefer the Madden '06 version over Madden '07, but I would have like the option of switching to Madden '09. Having said that, I much much rather have a perfectly working, well designed PC NFL game for the PC than a (poor) rip from any console.

Another thing that I never thought of, EA holds the exclusive rights to publish NFL games, so there will be no alternative. I haven't discovered until what year they hold these rights, I hope it is until 2010. Perhaps mr. Moore of EA was told by people that they should stop trying to convince PC players that they were playing a true PC version of Madden. They were actually playing a console game on their systems, and to play it as it was meant to be played on a console, with a console controller.

One last time then, because I just can't resist. I don't want a controller, I don't want a console, I don't want games on the PC that are only playable with a console controller. I know this may shock developers, but I can do pretty amazing things with a keyboard, heck, I can even type at a reasonable speed, try that with a controller!!

I will be the first to admit, I am not really keeping up to date with developments in gaming. Nowadays, developers are more intersted in the growing console world, than in the stagnant PC. Too many variables, too much pirating, too little money. I don't know how, why or when, but any or all of these reasons are causing developers to abandon the PC market and concentrate on the consoles.

And so, after playing with Madden '06 for a while, today I went online to see if I should go and get Madden '09. I just discovered I will be looking for a long time then. There will be no new Madden for the PC this year. Commercial reasons, or any of the reasons I stated in the previous paragraph. Seems to me like they have been converting console versions to the PC for a while now, but apparently this year there was too little room to convert one. I am hiding my bitterness poorly. Quite frankly I wasn't surprised. The magazines I used to read on PC gaming, are now covering console games, which I personally don't care much for. I don't have one, don't want one.

Perhaps over the last 20 years, I have become too picky in my choice of games. Perhaps I haven't spend enough money on games. My collection of 33 on Gamespot is ridiculous, I can't even fit them in my bookcase I have that many. I feel betrayed by modern consumerism, sensible profit/loss projections. I want my PC to reign supreme in games land. I am old.

So, it's Madden '07 or '08. I have Madden '07 and apparently '08 isn't an improvement. Although, now I think about it, perhaps if buy a few of the 2008 version, EA will consider converting the 2010 version to the PC. Or if I buy a lot, really a lot, make EA consider thinking a little longer on the PC version and bring out one that suits a typical PC gamer.

That's it, I have to go now back to my land of dreams and hopes, I have been out of the looney bin for long enough today.

For the Europeans football season started last week, for the Americans, football season started this weekend. Sitting down with a hamburger on a plate on my lap, I was ready for the Jets playing the Dolphins. I just couldn't help myself, I had to play myself too. Back to Madden '06, a new game.

Franchise or superstar? I already had an old franchise running and going back to that felt like going back to last season, so I didn't do that, a new franchise then? It would take a bit of time to set this up properly, so a new superstar was born. Madden '06 plays nicely with QB's, so my new superstar would become one. Drafted by the Oakland Raiders was alright, at least it gave me an opportunity to play some of the games, hopefully an injury would make it possible to let my superstar play a couple of games.

I'm all excited, football on TV, football on my monitor, it just doesn't get better. But wait, it does, in about a month the hockey season starts as well. I better start figuring out what hockey team to play, I have NHL waiting, or shall I start a new Eastside Hockey Manager 07 career.

Ahhh, playing games is so much more fun in wintertime. Can't wait for the Christmas holidays.

I went back to the store a couple of days ago and was given a replacement. No questions asked, although when I gave them an explanation for wanting a replacement, it was quite obvious the employee hadn't an idea what I was talking about.

Upon arriving home I retried installing, another failure. However the laptop of my wife didn't seem to find anything wrong with the DVD and installed it without any difficulties. The game is alright, I played Virtua Tennis 3 for the rest of that evening, with her make shift controller, horror!! Now, 3 days later, my thumb is still aching, controllers are not for my delicate fingers. In fact, since sustaining that awful injury, I haven't played a single game. That is 2 days of not gaming whatsoever. I don't think I will go back to playing the tennis game. It's just not leisurely enough for my liking. I am giving this game 5.5 / 10. It is not what I expected from it, and I was even warned that it wouldn't by reading the reviews of the game.

No games for 2 days for whatever reason is a rare occurance for me. Perhaps I have finally had enough. That does indeed sound unlikely.

September 1st

There is now a scorched hole in my pocket and the money has fallen through. Although I managed to restrain myself and didn't spend all on games.

I saw a copy of the movie Dune on DVD at a bargain, so I got that one.

Now on to the games. Did some research, made some notes, compared prices and finally had made my choice, nicely priced games, Defcon and Virtua Tennis 3.

First Defcon, interesting I must say. I saw Wargames years ago, and global thermonuclear war does have a ring to it. Installation was a doddle, done in 60 seconds. Looks nice too, simple graphics, but to the point and perfect for what it is trying to depict. Gameplay is confusing, I went through the 7 tutorials without any problems. Pretty straightforward, send warships to attack warships, guide your submarines to the coast and shoot. When the screen showed all the deaths, I did get an uneasy feeling, very cold and calculated, 75 million dead. Facing the computer was a different cup of tea. I thought I had won, but the scoresheet told me differently, dead last. A work in progress I think, but although it sounds interesting, I doubt whether this will keep my interest for very long. I think I rather play Axis and Allies.

The other game, Virtua Tennis 3. I wish I could say it installed nicely, played nicely and looks interesting. But I can't. It wouldn't install, CRC errors, computer telling me that the CAB file is different from the original. Yes? And? I didn't change the DVD in mid-flight. Ignore, retry, no avail. So that's going back to the store, I want a refund and will never get another game of theirs again. Quite frankly I enjoyed my tosti with tea more. I hate these things, makes me apprehensive about buying those €50,00+ games.

All in all, two more games that were more or less disappointing.

August 29th

Amazing, I have some money to burn and naturally this going to be spent on one or more games. Depending on how much they want from me.

As I wrote earlier, I am very picky when it comes to buying games. I've seen and played most types at least twice and sometimes a lot more. I used to buy every other installment of EA's NHL series, but after playing the 06 version I couldn't see myself buying new versions. The same goes for the Madden Football series. I played and still do occasionally, Madden 06, but when the 2007 version was available at reduced price I got that as wel, tried it, and went back to the 2006 version. I have a PC, a keyboard and a joystick, but no XBOX, PS3, DS or whatever controller. I don't feel comfortable with one, I can't play with one, I don't want to play with one. I rather fly with my nimble old fingers over the keyboard. Fiddling a miniature version of the old Atari joystick with my thumb isn't my cup of tea, at all.

So, with money to spend and no idea what I might get, and I will be getting something, it is time to scour the Internet, scour Gamespot, for games that might just run on my computer, run without extensive thumb training, run with me enjoying the gaming experience. I wonder if I can find any that meet all those requirements. Madden 08 after the to me disappointment of 07 is out of the question, the same goes for all sport games. I know that they will all be primarily written for consoles, which I don't have or want, and are therefore perfectly suited to be played with one of those controllers, which I also don't have or want.

Bearing in mind that I want the game to last me at least until Christmas, this is going to be a monumental task. A task I need completed by tonight, that gives me only 9 hours to save my gaming experience.

August 26th

August is finally almost over, the temperature is dropping, it's time to get back behind the computer. What am I saying, I haven't left. Even during these scorching summer months, I have been playing games. Just for my own sake, and the sake of writing, and for the sake of leaving a mark, I'm starting this blog. I will see how long I keep it up, if nothing else, it shows me which games I have been playing.

Played Civilization IV, expanded with both Warlords and Beyond the Sword and the 3rd party MOD: Rise of Mankind 2.2. I finally managed to keep myself from cheating, just to see how the game was meant to be played. I don't like the competition, I play games for the entertainment value of it. If I want to be challenged I will go out and find a sport or something. If the computer gets the upper hand, I will alter the rules. Afteral, I am the user, not the computer so my sensation of fun is more important.

The MOD seems to make life a whole lot easier, taking the lead in the world (on the lowest level naturally, I still enjoy leisurely games) isn't that hard. Raging barbarians and little civilizations are no match for my oversized elephants. Quite a shock to see an elephant the size of the entire city, but hey, they won, so who cares. It sure takes forever to progress in the game, before I knew it, it was midnight and time to go to bed. They expect me to be alert during office hours. They don't know anything about immersive gaming experiences. Neither does my wife, but at least she has a point.

Tonight, it is back to my Russian civilization, I really want to hit the world's oceans with submarines and see what else the makers of the MOD have thought of. I usually stop when the Industrial revolution sets in. Not out of boredom, but because my poor computer can't keep up with all the movements in the game. I scaled down the quality of the game, at least it runs smoothly now and I can keep playing without getting annoyed with the slow pace.

No new games for me to buy. I have become quite picky, have seen most concept at least twice. There were some interesting titles I will keep track of. Nothing that rocks my boat enough to take out a loan. The last game I bought must have been Eastside Hockey Manager 2007. Haven't played that in months, although when I got it, it kept me busy for a while.