Nate

I can't stop watching Smooth McGroove a capella videos. Thanks for that, Patrick. Dude is AMAZING.

XCOM: Enemy Unknown is poised to go on sale this Monday on Amazon for 66 percent off. That's 17 bucks, I think. Killer deal, no? I could be wrong, but I think that's the lowest it has been.

This is all hinging on this silly vote over on Amazon's facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/AmazonVideoGames?v=app_153839431317646&rest=1

You have until Sunday to vote. So far, XCOM is beating Civ V by A LOT. Not surprising.

My good friend ordered End Game yesterday for PC. He ordered it stand alone - $15, and is not a premium member. He has Back to Karkand but no other DLC. He is currently playing End Game even though it's not supposed to unlock for non premium members until March 26. Anyone else have this experience? Kinda interested in scooping it up. 2 weeks shouldn't make a huge difference, but I'm just curious.

@damisterchief: I hear you loud and clear on that. I can totally relate. I guess the difference is I fight that tendency in me. Not trying to get too preachy here, and I certainly don't blame you for thinking the way you do if you don't share my convictions. But I guess I think of delving too deeply into any hobby or habit a bit like this:

“It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”

C.S. Lewis

It's not that video games are the equivalent of "playing in the mud". Rather, sacrificing community, family, or the giving of oneself in service to others causes us to miss out on great things that God has for us. Again, don't expect you to share that conviction. Just wanted to say I can relate to your feeling, but am not comfortable with that in my own life.

@triple07 I feel the exact same way on both points.

@believer258 Actually, it's not just Catholics that observe Lent. A lot of mainline protestant churches are reclaiming lost traditions such as this. I know Lutherans are pretty into observance of the church calendar, but a lot of non-denom and other protestant churches are heading that way too. Anyway, thanks for your comment.

@fredchuckdave: I gotta admit. I haven't played Torchlight 2. I haven't played Diablo 3. I played a bit of Torchlight and it just didn't grab me. Based on what I've read about it and seen I can see how someone would prefer Torchlight 2 over POE, but ultimately I think you are comparing apples to oranges. Saying that the graphics are better in Torchlight 2 is like saying Led Zepellin is better than the Beatles. We all have our tastes, but they are very different bands. I can clearly tell the games are very different in a number of ways. Better just doesn't seem to cut it for either one. Anyway, as I haven't even played Torchlight 2, I should probably stop now :) *ducks behind desk*

@snail: yeah, they do Beta QL's pretty often actually. I counted two in the past month. Plus, I think this game's open beta is pretty much it's release. At some arbitrary point they'll decide they've made enough progress to drop that label, but games like this are never really finished.

@zombiepie: Thanks! Definitely looking for feedback and trying to take my writing a little more seriously.

@fredchuckdave: I'm not sure I agree with the assessment that Torchlight 2 is a better product. I'm not a huge fan of either, but personally I'd rather play POE. Maybe better is not the right word because although these games appear very similar in lots of ways, I'd argue they are quite different. POE is really going for that hardcore audience who will play and replay this game online for the next 10 years (that's GGG's plan and goal anyway). I think they'll manage that. I highly doubt people will be playing much of Torchlight 2 in five years, even. Anyway, I think the F2P model is right for this kind of game. I think they'd do much worse if they charged 5 or 10 bucks.

Are you insane? You're on Giantbomb, which I assume means you play vidjuh games. So, ask for gift credit to wherever you buy games. I assume there are some games you want coming out in the next few months or year. Or just money. Problem solved.

Wow, that's real cool. Thanks for sharing that. So, you back in the U.S. now? For good?