Nine and a half days of vacation and I'm ready for more.  The cruise was awesome and I can't wait for my next one.  Still kind of calming down from everything and my body's equilibrium is messed up still.  Nothing like feeling like your house is hitting waves when you know it's not :lol:.

I'll have more from my vacation later when I'm back to normal, but on a side note I see that my first video has broken 2000 which is pretty cool.  It's pointless, but people still seem to watch it.  Makes no sense at all but whatever.

I never thought that February would be a great month.  It's winter, it's the shortest month, and there is always work.  But this year February couldn't be any better. 

It starts with the Superbowl, with the Colts winning over the Bears.  As a Packer fan, watching the Bears lose brings a big smile to my face.  Second, in about 5 days I start my vacation.  A 7 day Caribbean Cruise.  I'll be going to Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Jamaica, and Haiti.  I'll be getting back on the 19th only to have Crackdown come out one day later.  Finally, February is the beginning of the NASCAR season so racing will be back in full swing.  What a month :)

Nothing easier than making a top five list.  Simple, easy to follow, and nothing innovative.  This time I'll also go for the Top 5 most wanted games of 2007 (or is it Twenty Ought Savage?).  Of course I'll be counting down cause I like to have at least somewhat of suspense, because who really cares what number five is if you already know number one.

5. Pokemon Diamond (DS) - Ok, probably the main reason why I got a DS Lite.  I'm a sucker for the Pokemon games.  Addictive gameplay with finally some graphical improvement and the ability to trade Pokemon online could make this the best Pokemon yet.

4. Mass Effect (X360) - Something that I have always been waiting for in a video game is the ability of constant exploration.  To be able to explore different planets without even really focusing on the story sounds great.  Add on the fact that the developers will release future planets for downloadable content and this could be a very long and engaging game.  Oh and it just so happens that it is made by the same people that made Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic, but who's heard of that game?

3. Grand Theft Auto IV (X360) - Not much is known about GTA IV, but if they keep expanding on the formula and finally improve some of the nagging issues (please can we finally get some improved graphics) and this could be the next big thing in open ended games that GTA III started.

2. Halo 3 (X360) - Was the ending bad in Halo 2? Most definately.  Does that mean that I'm going to be any less excited for the third and final installment?  Hell no.  If Bungie fixes what they did wrong and makes this a huge finale then this could easily be the game of the year.

1. Spore (PC) - The evolution of my thirst for an all expanding game is basically what Spore is.  I've always wanted to play a game where I could create my own species, shape a planet, and then go and explore space.  While not actually controlling a specific character, Spore is probably the closest to the game I've been waiting for.  Truly the one game that I have so much high expectations and high anticipation for that all other games seem pointless.

So what is this list on?  Pure and simple, the 5 things I hate most about fighting games.  What made me write this?  Playing Tekken 5.  Now I just got the game so I'm still learning, but playing earlier reminded me of why I hate fighting games.

5. D-pad/Controls.  Ok, the D-pad is good for fighters that I'll admit.  But I still hate having to double tap a direction to run or dodge.  I still don't understand why they don't have full 3D movement in some games.  It would make it easier...but I guess that is what some people don't want.

4. Combos.  This is something more that I just having to learn.  Each game has new combos to learn and it is more of a time issue.  It would be better if some fighting games would have better training modes.

3. Annoying controls.  Back to this again, however with a different reason.  Some of the combos are annoying to me just because some of the button combos aren't so natural (ahem X and O on the PS2 controller is fun to do).  I guess that is why people like the fighting pads that some companies make...and I might go ahead and get one just to solve my problem.

2. Weak controllers.  Yes, the controllers again.  This is more of something that I find when frustration sets in.  Plastic controllers just don't hold up to well under constant stress when someone clenches it in anger.  Maybe they should start making them out of controllers, for both tossers and clenchers. :lol:

1. Insane bosses/Cheap attacks.  I was going through the story mode in Tekken 5 decently (had some problems) and finally got to the boss fight.  Now the boss in Tekken 5 is Jinpachi and I was going against him with Xiaoyu.  Not the most fair looking fight, but holy crap is the final battle tough.  I know I may get hazed and all that, but for pete sakes I could barely hit the guy the first couple of times.  I can beat him now at least once, but not twice to beat him.  The thing that pisses me off the most is that he knocks you down and never lets you back up, which is the thing I hate most about fighting games.  When someone can just know you down once and KO you without you even being able to get back up is just cheap.  I know it is the norm in fighting games, but it's still freakin lame.  Oh and another thing...I hate projectile attacks in fighting games.  So lame.

...a Halo 3 Legendary Edition preorder.  Ok, so it's just a slip of paper, but it's still pretty cool.  I could have just preordered the regular or special edition version of the game, but heck I want the whole thing.  I got Halo 2 Limited Collectors Edition just for the heck of it, and if I can get a even bigger collection of stuff I'm all for it.  Thing that sucked was that the preorder was $25...but the Legendary Edition is going to run about $100 so at least I'm a quarter of the way there.  Oh and for those that don't know what you get below is the supposed picture of the contents and the link to the Gamestop listing.

http://www.gamestop.com/product.asp?product%5Fid=200242

For those of you that are members of the Gamespot Live Union, you'll know these questions and title from a video series that Aaron Thomas does.  I liked the questions so I wrote them down and since I don't have a web cam to record my own answers (probably a blessing in disguise) I'll just write them in my blog.

First video game system...Well my first video game system that I played was the Atari 2600.  It was my dad's and I was around 4 when he first let me play it.  My parents also had an Intelivision that I played.  The first video game system that was bought for the entire family was the NES, shortly followed by the Sega Genesis. 

Played against anyone famous...Possibly.  I play CoD2 and Battlefield 2 online so you never know who you are actually playing against.  Bought no one that I know of.

Lost to a girl playing a video game...Well, like I said I play CoD2 online and am in a clan with some girls in it and they kill me in game.  And I'm sure I've lost to my mom in some games when I was young.

Do I cheat when playing video games...Online, definately no.  I hate cheaters in online games and I don't see the purpose of it.  So you can kill a lot of people, but it's not skill.  In games like GTA and other console games, I use cheats from time to time (especially console games).  I try to play through the games the first time without cheating, but after that I'll use cheats just to mess around.  I do use FAQ's a lot though to help me through tough parts of games.

Am I a controller tosser...Not so much anymore.  The last time I tossed anything it was my mouse and thankfully it was a wired mouse.  Only problem is that it probably lead to the ultimate death of the mouse as about a month later it died on me.  Now I mainly just swear a lot or hit things.

Best person that I know at video games (I know in person)...thankfully I can take that title.  Some of my friends may be good at a certain game, but overall I'm the best out of all of them and well my I can beat my parents (mainly dad) without much effort.

How many achievement points do I have...Currently I am at 1940.  It would be more if it was actually my 360 that was in my room, but it isn't.  Hopefully I'll get to 2000 soon as Marel Ultimate Alliance is easy to get points in, and I've been meaning to finish NFS: Most Wanted.

Currently playing...Well CoD2 mostly.  I have Bully and Guitar Hero 2 that I've been going in between on my PS2.  There are other games I've been wanting to get to, but no time.

Guilty pleasure game...Well the logical one is Pokemon.  I'm 20 and still enjoy Pokemon games.  A lot of people do, but I guess it is still something that isn't normal since it is supposed to be a "kids" game.  Oh well.  But I guess I would have to say the Harvest Moon series.  Kind of a niche game series, but it freakin rules.  Such a relaxing game to play and calm down after a long day.

Is your desk messy...Both are.  My computer desk has games and paper all over it.  Can't find anything if I tried.  My other desk is also pretty cluttered, but that is mainly just for displaying stuff on anyways and is never used for what it is supposed to be.

Coolest thing on your desk...Probably my Jeff Gordon 1:24 scale diecast car from the 1998 Brickyard 400.  He won it on my birthday when we were driving to the camping trip we were going on, great way to spend a birthday.  After the rally was done we went to the Brickyard and did a tour and picked up the diecast car that was made for his victory.

Ever dressed as a video game character...No.  But I did dress as a Power Ranger and Ninja Turtle when I was real young.  Technically they have made games about them so I guess you could say I have, but I haven't dressed as a video game character as an adult.

Guest appearance in a game...It would be cool to be in a shooter or something.  Either that or be in a GTA game as one of the weird NPC characters.  That would be pretty cool.

Well I got my Wii online for the first time. Downloaded the internet browser for the fun of it. First site I went to was Gamespot so I decided to make this post from my Wii. Now I'm going to shut down my wireless since I couldn't get my Wii to connect with it passworded.

*******************************************

What is typed aboved is actually from my Wii.  It was slow typing, but thankfully as you type it shows words that go along with what you are typing so you can just click them and save some time.  The sites are really small and since I shut down my wireless the only time I may actually use it once I get the Wii LAN adapter so I can just plug in my wired internet into it, which is so much easier than dealing with wireless crap. :lol:

No, this isn't about sex, so get your mind out of the gutter.  I just finished up my second year of college, semester wise, and am enjoying a needed break.  I had more school work to do this year, but they were still not too difficult since they were all online classes.  To make things even tougher I had to deal with my new job, which I just got about 4 days before I started this semester.  Not the best time to have to learn new things when you're also having to worry about doing school work.  But things turned out good. 

How good you may ask?  Real good.  So good that for the first time since I first started school, I got my first 4.0 GPA.  It wouldn't be as good if they were just easy classes like easy math or something.  I had Abnoraml Psych, Developmental Psych, Sociology, and Marketing.  I wasn't interested in any of the classes so doing the work was a pain in the arse.  I'm just happy I'm a good writer as all the work was writing.  Makes things a lot easier to pass.  Funny thing is that the only class that I ever did any real work in was Sociology and that was reading the chapters that needed to be read.  Other than that I never did any studing for any of the classes.  So, 4 A's without too much effort is a good trade off for me :)

Ah yes, another year is coming to a close and what a year it was.  I could talk about the war in Iraq, the democrats retaking congress, TomKat, etc...but who the heck cares about that crap.  We're here for games and that is what I'm going to talk about.  But not gaming news, cause even that gets boring and ridiculous.  So, I'll talk about my year in gaming and what a year it has been.

The year started slowly with my biggest addiction being Guitar Hero.  No more air guitar for me, now I was able to play a fake guitar in a video game...my dream come true.  Not much happened until May when I decided to send my PSP back and get my $250 back and get a DS instead.  Is the DS better than the PSP, to me yes...but I don't even play my DS much.

After that happened things started to pick up as I was able to convince my dad in June to get a XBOX 360.  It wasn't mine, but at least it is in the house and I can use it.  I've played some good games on it so far including Gears of War and Burnout 3.  I'm still looking forward to more larger games to come out, but I'll have to wait till 2007 for those.

That held me over till the Nintendo Wii launch.  An annoying set of events happened, but I was a lucky one and got my Wii on launch day.  Haven't played it much recently, but Dragonball Z Budokai Tenkaichi took over my attention span.  Nothing like beating the crap out of a bunch of anime characters.

Most recently I picked up F.E.A.R. and Unreal Tournament 2004.  Playing Call of Duty 2 in a realism clan when you are a natural run and gunner causes the urge to just run around shooting to build up and F.E.A.R. has somewhat quenched that urge.  I just got UT 2004 today and was really looking forward to playing it, but got a stupid error near the end of the install process.  Hopefully I can get it up and running as I really need to just run around blowing crap up.

There are things that I am missing and I know that.  If I can remember things I'll update my blog and there are still a couple of weeks left of 2006 so who knows what will happen in that time span.  Hopefully, something interesting and exciting, but with the way things go for me I highly doubt it. :lol:

Thanks to the people that spent many many hours working hard to make the site that I've been hoping for, for a long time.  You've made me a very happy person :)

For those that haven't heard you can check out the site at http://www.filmspot.com/  or you can go and check out Adam B's profile and check out some of his blogs.