Another game-related update, as well as other things:
 
1.  I've been playing Psychonauts on the PC some, since that Steam update came out.  It's still good, and holds up.  I did hit a MASSIVE problem though.  I was in the wrestler world, fighting the 3rd mini-boss (the vulture/crow wrestler), when the game crashed.  "No biggie" I thought, PC games can be a bit unstable, so I restarted my computer, and tried again....
 
...to discover my Steam process/installation was completely corrupted.  I would start Steam up, it would try to update for about 10 seconds, then hard-lock my computer, freezing it entirely.  I re-installed it, rebooted, got the same problem (only when you re-install Steam, it auto-sets to start when Windows does, so it was freezing Windows whenever I turned it on).
 
I was able to boot Steam and "update" it (so it said) in Windows safe mode, but when I tried again in normal mode, insta-freeze like before.  This forced me to eventually completely reformat my hard drive, reinstall Windows (it fixed the issue, lol), and begin anew.  Always a fun process.  Still wish I knew how exactly Psychonauts completely fucked my Steam install though.
 
2.  Bought the Winter DLC for Costume Quest (more of the same, but still good), and got some DLC guitar for Brutal Legend from Tim Schafer.  So, that's alright.
 
3.  My pre-order of Batman 2 should come on Tuesday.  I got the Walmart bundle, so I got Batman 1 with it for free (not bad).  With the additional 10$ credit, I got a used copy of Infinite Undiscovery for around 3.56.  We'll see how that goes.
 
4.  I beat the Witcher 2 a few days ago.  Due to my little reformatting adventure, I'd backed up my save.  When I reloaded it, Geralt didn't have any hands, or legs (but had feet).  This was apparently a problem with the DLC items.  Looked very creepy.  Letho was a joke, but that Dragon was annoying.
 
5.  Re-installed Bioshock 1 for PC.  Trying to get that game to run on Windows 7 isn't fun.  You have to disable parts of your sound card, and do some trouble-shooting.  Still a good game.  I wish I enjoyed Bioshock 2 more, but I HATED that it didn't have controller support for PC.
 
6.  Played Fable 3 (on 360) with my friend Candace a few nights ago, and had fun.  Got a lot of the stupid multiplayer achievements (married, kids, business, etc.) done.  ALSO playing Fable 3 on PC and having a LOT more fun with it.  I cheated in it, so I got about 9,000 guild seals, and around 11,000,000 gold.  The gold is easy to get in the game (sure), but I disliked guild seals.  Combat/quests is one thing, but I disliked the social aspects in the game plenty.  It felt like you could never max your character out UNLESS you were social with people, and that's not fun.  Ah well, I'm blowing through it now.
 
7.  Got NBA Jam download, for the 360.  It's....fine?  Some stuff isn't well explained, but it's easy to cheese that game hard, once you know what to do.
 
8.  Tried Devil May Cry 4 for PC, and hit a weird bug.  I ran the bench-mark feature and got like 120 fps, lowering to 100 fps during big scenes, but it was crystal smooth.  Tried the game, the first cut-scene was fine, during the 2nd, the speed dropped by about 70%, heading into the game.  Got to the menu, tried the benchmark again, and it was showing 20 fps.  I restarted, and it was normal again (I skipped that cut-scene), and the game  was fine.  Odd thing.  I dunno if I like that game at all, the revving-sword is SUPER weird, but it looks pretty decent.
 
9.  I did do the stupid Sonic 2 achievement, with my friend Frank.  IT SUCKED.  The game doesn't tell you how many you've done, and the cave zone was a nightmare.  Also, because I was the host, there was a 2 second delay on Frank's controls.  If he was 3,000 miles away, that's one thing, but we're in the same state, only about 150 miles apart.  Not cool.
 
10.  Re-installed my Pinball emulator, and after some trouble-shooting got it working to about what it was before.  I use the Visual Pinball/Pinmame stuff.  I think I got like 100 tables for it, and around 80 work great.  10 work but have issues, and the other 10 don'tt work, due to missing Rom files, or some weird stuff.  I like it, I realize it's a semi-nebulous area (legally) for emulating stuff, but really, it's a moot point to me.  I (and most people who bother to read this), will never have a free 1,200$+ to spare on a pinball machine.  Also, it's just ONE machine, eventually you get bored (unless it's one of the new custom ones).  Also, it's not like there's a huge market for new Pinball machines out now, if you wanted the Doctor Who pin, or Adams Family, it's buying used, and that's it.  That's my common argument with console piracy in general actually (but that's a different matter).  In any event, Scared Stiff is still a good pin, and Elvira moaning "I'm having multiple jackpots" is still funny to me.
 
There's more stuff, but this is already a bit long.  Ah well, catch everyone later.

As usual, this'll be a bit of a  free-form expression of some of the games I've been playing.  I've been too scatter-shot (as always) to really focus on any one thing.
 
1.  Bayonetta  --  kind of dumb, but pretty decent.  It's interesting how sexualized the character appears to be, but none of that actually occurs in the game (so far, anyway.  I'm on Chapter 9)  I did some of the "farming 1,000,000 Halo's" trick on the Chapter 7 boss, but I'm not great at it, only getting around 600,000 per try.  I bought everything I could via the normal store, but now I'm gonna hit chapter 2 up, and buy everything else via the secret telephone shop.  For as crazy as the game appears, it's very....docile, in a way.  I expected like huge action set pieces, non-stop battles, etc.  You don't really get that, everything is kind of linear, and you never get overwhelmed or anything.
 
2.  Forza 3  --  still great.  I hit a temporary block by picking the wrong race type (one of those 3 heat races).  I might just simulate that, to get by it.  I'm somewhere in the 5th year I think.  I'd like to finish that game (or beat 6th year, reach level 50) before Forza 4 comes out, just so I can import more theoretical crap into it.
 
3.  I beat Eternal Sonata like 4 weeks ago.  Yeah, I liked it a lot.  It's a trifle too easy (even though I did the optional hard dungeon), but the battle system was fun all the way through.  I had started work on going through a New Game +, and trying to 100%, but didn't get too far.  I'll probably go back to it, once I settle down some.
 
4.  Won a THQ/Space Marine Avatar item.  The floating tech-skull thing.  So...neat?
 
5.  Been playing a few Wii games lately.  Mario Galaxy is FANTASTIC.  I like Mario Sunshine (or at least don't hate it as much as others), but man, Galaxy blows it out of the water.
 
6.  Smash Bros Brawl is also interesting.  I love that I can use a GameCube controller for it.  Some characters seem dumb (ROB, Game & Watch), but some of the others are fun still, Fox, Pit, Marth.
 
7.  Bulletstorm is really....REALLY goddamn stupid.  It's not good, or bad either way, just really dumb.  I hit chapter 5 tonight, and I'm mainly playing it now, just to finish it, so I can finally un-install it from my computer.
 
8.  Gonna game that stupid Sonic 2 "Win 10 matches on Xbox Live" with a friend in a few days.  I hate multiplayer achievements.
 
9.  I still can't get into Deus Ex: HR.  I hit the television station, and just have this resounding feeling of "who cares?"  Also, like Jeff said, the ammo system in the game is retarded.  I've done this test:  I've stealth-killed a guy, and he was carrying 7 bullets for the machine pistol.  I reloaded, and then alerted him to my presence, and killed him, and he was still carrying 7 bullets (despite him firing 20 shots at me)  It's just a terrible ammo system, that makes the game harder than it needs to be.  Also, I feel as I never have enough energy to do what I want.  I wish more of your bars refilled, instead of only one of them.
 
10.  I really wanna try the new Fallout: New Vegas DLC.  I expect it'll be busted to shit like the other one (Old World Blues), but I just want the Fallout saga to stop.
 
11.  And finally, I might be buying a cheap (25$) copy of Halo: Reach soon.  I know that's the price on Amazon, but this is one of those Games on Demand codes.  I like the idea of those a lot, and I'll snatch it up.
 
Oh also, I plan on buying Forza 4 next month, and possibly Mortal Kombat.  The month after that, Assassin Creed: Revelation, and maybe Batman.  We'll see I guess.  
 
In any event, catch everyone later.

So, I got my Wii in a few days ago. I got it in, during my surgery, which is decent. I actually primarily got it, as a rehab tool. Since I'm going to be laid up, even more than normal, I'm hoping it can keep my arms at least a little more active. Anyways, here are pictures (to be jealous of)

Console and sensor bar (angled):

Closer on the console and bar:

Even closer on the console:

GC ports/memory card:

Top of the console:

And bottom of console:

Put some more pictures up. Will take a few more, when I'm feeling better.

So, I won a game in Vito's (user: Vito_Raliffe) game raffle on GB, in the form of DBZ: Burst Limit.  I'm actually kind of happy to have won it, despite DBZ being a dumb franchise.
 
There's a place for super flashy, shallow fighters out there.  DBZ isn't exactly complicated (as a narrative, or characters, etc.), but it's still weirdly enjoyable.  Plus, while reviews for Burst Limit have been average (notably a 3/5 from Vinny), it's at least a 2D fighter, compared to Budokai 3 in some respects.  
 
It at least doesn't look like the epic befuddling disasters known as Dragon Ball Z: Raging 1 or 2, so that's good.
 
So, thanks again to Vito_Raliffe for having the raffle, and picking me.  
 
And yo, any game where you can get your power level over 9000 is ok in my book.

I tend to blog better at night, for some reason.  Anyway, here's a few things going on, gaming-related:
 
1.  Beat Assassin's Creed Brotherhood.  I really enjoyed the end, where you're basically jumping around in Tron-land.  I didn't 100% the game or anything crazy like that, I  think I got somewhere around 65% done.  I didn't like it as much as AC2, despite recognizing it's a better game.  The economy is loads better, combat is swifter (especially with kill streaks), the parachute is fun, and the crossbow is extremely cheap and useful.  I mainly just didn't like Rome that much, it felt like a small place.  I liked AC2's world a lot more, because you had 4 or 5 (I think even more) locations to visit at your whim.  But, that's just me.
 
2.  I'm nearing the end of my first Eternal Sonata playthough.  I just got to the optional dungeon (Mysterious Unison), and haven't explored much of it.  I really like that game, which is a bit surprising.  The only thing I don't really like is how Polka looks like a reject from a Disney-made anime.  She's just too cutesy and JRPG-looking for her own good.  I love, LOVE Salsa though, and she is frankly adorable.  The economy in the game is very odd, because the money you get from photography pretty much breaks the game.  I also think the battle system is fairly fun, if a bit on the easy side at times.  I hope to finish it soon, and begin my 2nd (and achievement fulfilling) playthrough.
 
3.  I fired up Two Worlds 2 and....yeah, that game is janky as all hell.  It just feels kind of sloppy, controlling your character, like something is oily, or slippery about him.  I do really admire the game though for it's open-ended nature, and customization it allows.  You can do a LOT of interesting stuff with magic, if you dig deep into it.  There's two interesting things about it.  One, the game lets you straight up  buy items/materials/spells from the Xbox Live marketplace.  It's an interesting approach, because it's not super-expensive (160 points, per item), and I wish more games did it.  The second thing is, the game has console commands in it.  In a CONSOLE game.  This is unheard of (to me, at least), that a console game has this.  PC games sure, and console games do have stuff like that, but it requires a bit of hacking to do.  This is just "press a few buttons, open the console, and type stuff", which is odd.
 
4.  I think it was two weekends ago when the Fallout DLC went on sale?  I grabbed "Old World Blues" for New Vegas (partially based on reviews), and beat it that day.  The game crashed 16 times.  Nice to see that game is as stable as ever.  It would mainly occur  when I was trying to fast-travel in the big MT.  Oh, also, the boss (the giant Robo-scorpion) didn't load.  Well, it loaded, but the model didn't.  It flashed in twice, and that was it (then I killed it).  Again, stability is key.
 
5.  I got Toy Soldiers: Cold War a few weeks ago (from the generosity of Justin Calvert).  I don't really like Tower Defense, at all, but this one is ok.  Mainly because it lets you have manual control over your guys.  I ended up doing a survival mode with a friend, getting up to wave 14, which was a lot of fun.
 
6.  Was able to get Deus Ex: HR also (by a generous gift by Johnny V, and over-drafting my bank card....don't ask).  Yeah, it seems ok.  The guns don't feel right to me, for some reason.  I don't like it when you're in cover, and you have a targeting reticule.  When you lean up to shoot, the reticule goes away, so it's luck if you're aiming for the guy you want to or not.  We'll have to see if I can get into it, because it's not super-grabbing me at this point.  It makes me feel a LOT like playing Vampire The Masquerade: Bloodlines, for some reason.
 
7.  I also didn't do the Fable 3/Witcher 2 comparison blog, and I'm debating whether or not to.  Considering I got about 30+ comments basically amounting to "Fable 3 is shit, Witcher 2 is good!" which is kind of missing the point.  "YES", Witcher 2 is better game, on almost every level, and "YES" Fable 3 has a few problems (but not as many as other Lionhead games).  That wasn't the point.  My point was just to compare/contrast the two in most of their facets, and see how the designers approached things.
 
8.  I hit a brick wall (metaphorically speaking) in Dirt 3, with the Gymkhana events.  I can drift, circle the pillar, crash through stuff, and jump fine.  But I can't do a doughnut to save my life, and it just really frustrated me.
 
9.  Stopped playing WoW again.  Thank god.
 
Ah well, that's about it for now.  Hopefully I'll finish up Eternal Sonata soon.  I also got surgery in a few weeks on my ankle.  So, hopefully I can get it repaired, and start walking again like a normal person.  It's ONLY been....20 months so far.  ugh, not cool.

In a few days, I'm probably going to blog about the Witcher 2 vs. Fable 3, in terms of story, gameplay, audio, graphics, intent, etc. I think the two are actually fairly similar, but have completely different ways of going about stuff, and the end-all goal. For some completely odd reason, people compare the Witcher 2 to Dragon Age: Origin (or 2), and it's weird to me. I haven't played 2, but Origin basically felt like a busted version of WoW to me (in terms of combat & such) So...yeah, this'll happen soon, probably when I finish up the Witcher 2. I'm somewhere in Chapter 3, getting my ass kicked by about 20 guards. I did beat Fable 3, or at least the "main" quest, and was the only person (besides Babs) to enjoy it. So, I'll update this in a few days or so.

A few of my favorite games, in no real order (might come back to this later)
 
EDIT:  Put up some thoughts on each game.

1. Planescape Torment -- For having a masterful story, an intriguing protagonist/plot, and for having an epic feel.

2. Space Rangers 2: Reloaded -- For letting me play however I want, and for being completely bonkers.  The "Reloaded" stuff is also pretty good.

3. Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines  -- If I could run it in Win7 *grumble*, but having good characters, interesting play mechanics, and making me care about some stupid haunted building.

4. Suikoden 2  -- Again, has a wonderful story, a great  cast of characters, turn-based combat at it's best, and still being the best PS1 rpg to date.

5. Suikoden 5  -- Not as great as Suikoden 2, but still better than 98% of the stuff Square shits out on a yearly basis.  The  camera is problematic at times, but it does have a unique story, with women in actual power (and not just being dumbass pop-stars)

6. Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne (obviously) -- For introducing me to the Megami universe, for having Dante in it, and for the epic feeling that the world has ended.

7. Vagrant Story -- A great battle system, an item/weapon system that is insane, and for starting a huge argument with an ex-friend of mine.

8. Parasite Eve -- The "Kyrie" song is great, lovely graphics, and a unique storyline.  Also, running around in combat was fun.

9. Castlevania: SOTN -- For being the best "Metroidvania" of them all.  Plus, the Crissaegrim TOTALLY breaks the game, in a lot of fun ways.

10. Deathrow (Xbox game)  -- For being the only sport game I give a shit about.  If Deathrow was real, I'd be WAY into it.

11. Super Mario World -- Still a classic, still fun, and the feather totally kicks the flower in the ass.

12. Mario RPG -- Yo, Geno & the Axem Rangers.  'Nuff said.

13. Okami -- For being the best Zelda game ever.  The art style  is still gorgeous to look at.

14. Rom Check Fail -- For being completely insane (and free), and a huge mashup of different characters and gameplays.  The only way it could be better, is adding more stuff into it.

15. Audiosurf  -- A unique game, very colorful, but challenging.  I only use Eraser mode though.

16. Darksiders  --  For being the 2nd best Zelda game, for having Mark Hamill as evil-Navi, and because Death's Scythe is huge.

17. Zelda: Link to the Past (SNES one)  --  A few items are meaningless, but there is no better feeling when you grab the master sword.  Funny that it can still be upgraded 2 times.

18. Burnout 3  --  Obsessively trying to get 40 Road Rage crashes in a single event was maddening, but still a blast.  Also had a great soundtrack.

19. Starfox 64 -- The homosexual innuendo in the game is fabulous!  Also, I really like the gameplay, and graphics.  "Use the boost to get through!", indeed Peppy, indeed.

20. Goldeneye (N64 one)  -- Still has terrific multiplayer, and controls for a console FPS.  It's showing it's age now, but is still a classic.

21. Marvel Vs. Capcom 2  -- I love Cyclops in this game.  Also, Gambit, and Ice Man.  And I'm forever pissed they aren't in MvsC3.

22. The Witcher 2 -- Interesting branching story.  The combat is flexible but a bit hard to understand in the beginning.  Also, the crafting is fairly nuts.

23. Assassin's Creed 2 (I'll explain later)  --  This is a bit weird.  I Gamefly'd AC2 like a year ago for the 360, and hated it.  I think I got up to the point where you get the poison and sent it back.  About 2 months ago, I got it for the PC and fell in love with it.  I'm using a 360 controller, so that isn't the problem.  My tv just made AC2 look terrible, and I couldn't read anything.  But on my PC, I beat it, and quickly got Brotherhood.  Ironically, I don't like Brotherhood as much.  The story seems smaller as does the world.  Also, because you have access to the gun/crossbow at the start, it made the game really easy.

and soon, 24. Forza Motorsport 4.

Yeah, I think I'll come back to this list. There's a few more I'll add, and maybe give a few thoughts on each one. I can already explain Forza Motorsport 4: Yo, it has JEREMY CLARKSON in it. The guys making Forza 4, win at life people.

EDIT: There's NO Jeremy Clarkson page on GB. I find this to be an outrage. So, I did my duty and created one, with the standard moderation time. I'll attach this blog to it, once it gets approved.

Hoping to pick up RB3 in a few days.  It's 10$ at Toys R Us, and at one of the Blockbusters around here.  If it's new at BB, I'll get it there (it's closer).  The TRU might not work, cause I can't get there easily, but we'll see.

In the world of MMO's (and other MM type things), the idea of Microtransactions seems to be akin to the devil's penis being inserted in a newly formed orifice that every player has grown.

What the hell?

There is a good, and a bad side to microtransactions, as with everything else.

The good:

Gives non-serious/hardcore people a reasonable shot

Some unique vanity items

The bad:

Exclusionary (to poor people)

Can give an unfair advantage

Here's the thing though, I both like & dislike transactions. And I'll give a few examples of the good and the bad.

A good microtransaction: There's an item in WoW called "Ashes of Al'ar". It's a mount, the Phoenix one, that drops off a raid boss that no one is doing anymore. A good MT would be to sell it for 7$, and have at it. This example would be great. Or another is, one of the top staff's in the game currently is the "Spire of Scarlet Pain". It's a good item. Instead of going through the complete hassle of farming for it, why not just sell it for 10$? There's two riders on this idea however. 1. The Spire is a purple (epic) item. Why not make the bought version blue, or red, or something? Keep all the stats on it, just a different text color, to differentiate it from the dropped version. And 2. The way the WoW store is set up now is insane. 10$ for a pet, and 25$ for a mount is over the line. I'd say a price drop is in order, maybe 5$ for the pet, and 10$ for the mount. Possibly 15$ for the stuffed animal (with mount), because that's an actual physical item.

A bad microtransaction: The way TF2 does some stuff. Don't get me wrong, the way TF2 does items is usually fine. The more you play, the higher the odds are that an item drops. It's not super hard to comprehend, and can be fun. The issues I have are two fold, one the prices (fairly insane, like WoW's), but the other issue is the Mann-Co Supply Crate drop. So, let's say you do get a Crate drop, how do you open it? Well, you have to BUY a key to open it. There's no way to craft a key, although it can be traded from player to player. So, in order to use the item (or find out what's inside), you have to buy an item to activate it? Does this strike anyone as a bit fishy?

In the end, I think Microtransactions can be a good thing. It's just a matter of the company doing them, not being greedy about it, and offering players who put in the time special value. Now come on Blizzard, sell me the Headless Horseman's mount.

So, with the Steam sale, in full swing, I thought I'd discuss what I've bought so far. Granted, there's a few days left, but I'm out of reasonable cash to spend, so this is likely it. So...here goes:

First day:

1. World in Conflict Complete (around 15 bucks)

2. Test Drive Unlimited 2 (10$)

3. Beat Hazard Ultra DLC (3 bucks)

(That day, 27.47$)

Second Day:

1. Zen Bound 2, 1$

2. "Super ID Software Pack" 30$

The Id pack includes the following games: Quake III Arena, Wolfenstein 3D, The Ultimate DOOM, Final DOOM, DOOM II: Hell on Earth, Quake, Quake II, Quake II: The Reckoning, Quake II: Ground Zero, Quake III: Team Arena, HeXen: Beyond Heretic, HeXen: Deathkings of the Dark Citadel, Heretic: Shadow of the Serpent Riders, Wolfenstein 3D: Spear of Destiny, Return to Castle Wolfenstein, Quake Mission Pack 2: Dissolution of Eternity, Quake Mission Pack 1: Scourge of Armagon, DOOM 3, HeXen II, DOOM 3: Resurrection of Evil, Master Levels for DOOM II, Commander Keen Complete Pack

3. Meridian 4 Complete Pack, 35$

This includes the following games: Gumboy: Crazy Adventures, Gumboy Crazy Features, RIP, RIP 2: Strike Back, RIP 3: The Last Hero, Vigil: Blood Bitterness, Alpha Prime, Space Trader: Merchant Marine, Pacific Storm, Pacific Storm: Allies, Penguins Arena: Sedna's World, Obulis, Larva Mortus, Chains, Nikopol: Secrets of the Immortals, Crash Time II, Tank Universal, Greed: Black Border, Avencast, Chrome, Chrome: Specforce, Future Wars, Grotesque Tactics: Evil Heroes, Scratches: Director's Cut, Still Life, Still Life 2, Syberia, Syberia 2, Post Apocalyptic Mayhem, Post Apocalyptic Mayhem: Death Area 8 DLC

(This day, 66$)

Third Day: Nothing (shocker, I know)

Fourth Day:

1. The Longest Journey/Dreamfall pack, around 7 bucks

2. The Mawsome Pack, 3$

3. Transformers: War on Cybertron, 7.50$

4. Greed Corp, I think 3$

5. Assassin's Creed Brotherhood Deluxe, 25$

6. Two Worlds 2, I think it was 12, or 13$?

The math doesn't add up quite right, but I ended up spending 61.20$ that day

Fifth Day:

1. Civ 5 America map, 1.50$

and 2. Beat Hazard iTunes support, 0.25$

So, only 1.75$

Sixth Day (today):

1. Jamestown, 5$

That's it, just 5$. I would've gotten the DLC for GTA4, but it's not on sale. So, "GTA 4 Complete (with DLC) is 10$, but the DLC itself is 20$. No thanks.

You'd think that'd be it...but you're wrong.

Extra copies I picked up, to give to friends, at some point:

1. Darksiders, 5$, for my friend Adam. He's away in Europe right now, and he'll hit me back for it, so it's no problem.

2. ANOTHER copy of Darksiders, for 5$. This'll be to a friend, later on.

3. Monday Night Combat, 3.50$ This'll go to a random.

4. Penny Arcade Combo Pack, 1.80$. This'll probably go to Adam, if he's interested at all.

5. Torchlight, 3$ to my friend Amanda.

6. Another Torchlight, 3$, to my friend Kaylee

7. Alpha Protocol, 5$, extra copy

8. Bully: Scholarship Edition, 3.50$, extra copy

9. Beat Hazard Complete: 3.75, extra copy.

So, I've spent about 11$ in gifts to friends. And about another 22.55$, in extra copies of games, to give to friends.
 
Small EDIT: This is just a rough figure, but I've spent about 160$ on Steam so far.  This isn't exact, but it's close enough.
 
Today's (7/7) Edit:  Bought an  extra copy of Red Alert 3 (4$), and Guardian of Light for 3.75, and the Legacy of Kain DLC for like 80 cents.