Yes, as I am writing this, I am officially out of school for the year and I have nothing but free time and fresh air ahead of me. Of course not all of it will be free if I actually manage to land a job and if the last few days are of any precident, the air I will be breathing wont really be very fresh. It'll be that warm, stale air you get from being cooped up in a room, scented with the unmistakable smell of sweat of my own producing. Right, moving on.

Im generally pretty enthusiastic about various forms of entertainment as I am somewhat of a video game and movie buff. But that doesn't mean it's been easy for me to enjoy those endevors. Somehow, I can't quite force my self to sit down and enjoy the things I love most. There are tons of movies I still need to play, and there are even more dudes in video games for me to shoot in the face, as they say. Well, consider my summer resolution to buckle down, and make my self take the time, and sift through all the great entertainment I've collected throughout the year but didn't have time go through. But, as this is a video game website, I'll keep this entry on the video game side of things. on my list of "to play" list are:

• Oblivion - I can't say I liked it quite as much as I'd hoped, but it still deserves to at least have me rush through the main quest once.
• S.T.A.L.K.E.R. - Okay, there is probably not a single game that I've been waiting for more than this one. Just ask my friends. Yes, because it is made by Ukrainians, about Ukrainians and Ukraine, and did I mention that's where I'm from? YEAH!
• Fallout 2 - Okay so Fallout 3 is going to come out, so I figured It's time I experienced the classic finally. Well, so far all I can say is, the opening cinematic is really freakin' good!
• Flyff - What's this, a Korean MMORPG on my to play list? Well, I guess we've all got to start somewhere, right? Might as well be a free game I have no expectations for.
• Chaos Theory - I liked the first game in the series. I ought to like this one too then, right?

• Jade Empire - Can't say I care very much for the game, but there is a chance I'll come around when I actually start playing it. Maybe it'll be KOTOR all over again. Probably not...

I'm sure more will make it in there. Gosh, being aware of games sure is a chore. I'm actually playing Call of Juarez right now, and I have to say I am rather enjoying my self. It kind of reminds me of Oblivion with it's graphics and setting, but the tight gameply really keeps things interesting, without letting me wonder off and do other menial tasks. One of the coolest touches is reading bible verses while having a gun fight. I think everyone's been waiting for the ability to do that in a game ever since Pulp Fiction came out, except we just didn't know it yet.

I guess I'll also include a rant here, about what else -- the new review format of Gamespot. Right off the bat, I have to say I think its great. Clearly it adresses several issues people have been having with the reviews, and it makes it easier for me, as the consumer to find out many of the things that really matter to me about a game. Like the bad camera emblem, the top gore emblem and my current favorite, the "Oh, snap" emblem. That's all I wanted to know, which games would make me freak out during parts of it? Thats the kind of emblem that could differentiate to me a good game like call of juarez, from an awesome game like Max Payne or its excellent sequel. And what about the score? While I admit, it was pretty interesting for me as a big fan of Gamespot's content to look at the exact scores given, and decide weather or not I agree with them to the point. But, scores are a very subjective thing and It's difficult for any exact number to be given and have it be seen as fair, across the board. Now, we more or less get a ball park of the score of the game's quality, and the emblems, which we can use to tilt the score using our own judgement. It may remove the fun of actually trying to somehow fit your oppinion of the game in a very precise number, but the reviews took a step in being more usefull in their intended purpose -- you know, they're just there to help us make informed choices when we go out to buy games.

Oh by the way, is it just me or is it actually more interesting to read the reviews with the emblems in place? I thought they were a neat idea for the user's profiles, but now in the reviews they actually have a purpose. Hmm, yeah, I'd say I'm a fan. Great Job Gamespot.