Empire: Total War has been reviewed at IGN.com.  They gave it a 95/100.  5 reviews are currently up on metacritic and none have a score below 9/10.  This wait is going to kill me!

Read the IGN review here.

Well, long time no blog.  I'm no longer going to promise any sort of regular update to this thing.  Sometimes I just get the inspiration to write a blog (mostly in times of boredom such as now), but 95% of the time I view it as a chore and therefore they don't get done haha.

I'm really looking forward to Empire: Total War next week.  I bought it on Steam, so it will be unlocked during my ROTC leadership lab on Wednesday.  That lab is going to be the longest lab of the year for me.  I'm going to be sitting there watching the minutes tick by, praying for the clock to just reach 1700 so I can go play Empire haha. 

Today I bought Lost Planet: Extreme Condition on Steam.  The game always semi-intrigued me, but because of the mostly mediocre reviews I avoided it.  Today, however, I saw it on Steam for $4.99 and couldn't resist.  I'll let you guys know what I think of it in my next blog (whenever that occurs).

Lately I've been playing a lot of Rome: Total War and Medieval 2: Total War to get ready for Empires.  Those games never get old.  In Rome: TW, I was on the verge of installing the Roma Surrectum mod, but when I realized it took away your ability to play vanilla Rome: TW I quit.  I play Medieval 2: TW with the Stainless Steel mod.  It is one of the best mods for any game I've ever played.  Adds a lot more factions and gameplay enhancements.  I highly reccomend it.  I've also been playing a lot of TQ: Immortal Throne lately.  One of my friends from high school recently got it and after talking about it with him I got one of those urges to play a bit.  That urge has lasted for the past week and hasn't quite died yet.  TQ is one of those games like Diablo; you just want to keep going to get that next awesome item.

That's all I got for now.  For other college students on the quarter system, good luck on finals!  They're coming up sooner than we realize....unfortunately.

Ok, so no video blog for this, but just going to share with you guys the present that were given to me for Christmas and what I gave out.

I gave:

• Dad - Stanley 8oz flask, "A Christmas Story" 25th anniversary edition
• Mom - College license plate holder that says UCSB Mom, Western Europe travel guide
• Uncle - Shaving sample kit from "The Art of Shaving," Stanley 8oz flask
• Sister - Sex and the City DVD, some special shower soap thing

We do a Kris Kringle b/w the adults in my family, so we don't have to buy presents for everyone (big family, would cost a ton of $$ for everyone).

I received:

• Some "dress" clothing for semi-formal occassions (like a cashmere sweater)
• Tropic Thunder DVD
• Mel Brooks Complete DVD Collection
• PBS Empires DVD Collection
• Spira Genesis running shoes
• Italy 2009 Calendar
• $400 and a $75 gift certificate to the Sports Basement

And finally, today I bought myself:

• NHL 09 (X360)
• Left 4 Dead (PC via Steam)
• Grey sweatpants
• A dozen Krispy Kreme donuts

In all, I had a great Christmas.  I'm definitely watching the ads as they come in for the after Christmas sales.  Best time to buy clothes is now! 

I hope everyone had a great Christmas or whichever holiday you celebrate.

Merry Christmas everyone.  Hope you all have a safe and happy day (and get everything you wanted!).