Ugh.  Sony does not make my decisions easy.  If the PSP Go came out for like $150 then DONE.
 
But now I have to decide whether another portable is even usable for me.  I mean, I don't travel that much... though I do have two trips coming up.  One to Chicago, where I will probably take the Amtrak which is 5 hours each way.  And another to Atlanta where I will be flying, but still the airport has a lot of dead time.
 
Other than that, though, it's not like I take a subway to work (or that my city even has even the first step to a serviceable public system).  And if I go somewhere, I probably am driving myself.  With plenty of games on the PS3 and PC, why even bother?  
 
You know what.. maybe I shouldn't bother.  I can catch up on books and other junk that I put off by trying to squeeze in yet another piece of plastic electronics that will end up broke, with a bad battery, or collecting dust.  I haven't touched my DS for a game in a LONG while.  Maybe I should just finish those games.
 
Gaming as consumption is not a good thing.  I learned that a while ago, but it's really hard to maintain that mindset and keep yourself from collecting too many (especially once you get out a get a job, or are good at burning DVDs).  If I wait and buy just a few games a year, I can guarantee I will enjoy each of them more than a stack of games that I never reach.
 
I sometimes forget how much better PC gaming is, too.  A mediocre game on PC is still quite high quality, and very often much more fun than a console, to me.  Fat Princess was cool for a couple days, but it's nothing compared to Team Fortress 2.  And they cost about the same.  Those $60 shooters on console look better, play better, and are $50 on PC.  The prices go down much faster with digital distribution, too.  Unlike Sony's platform, where things hardly go on sale or lower in price.  Price parity sucks.
 
So where should I put the $200, which I decided I *could* budget out if I want?  Well I could get the Gran Turismo PSP pack.  Game and system for a "meh" price.  I could ask for the PSP Go for xmas... and get only that one thing.  I may upgrade my PS3 to the slim, but I don't need that right away, probably wait until next year.  
 
Upgrade the PC?  Not a bad option.  I bought my PC with the intent to upgrade the CPU in a year.. and now it's already two years since I built it.  I've been waiting for a CPU price drop, but it hasn't happened yet!  Maybe some Newegg sale will get me on black Friday.  Or save my money?  Well I do have to pay off my college.  We'll see what happens.  I've got yet another exam coming up at the end of Oct and will find results before xmas time.  If I pass, you can bet there will be frivolous spending of an exam bonus!
 
P.S. I made a list of games that I might look at getting for the rest of the year.  Sadly, it is only three games.  But there aren't ever that many games I'm looking forward to at any given time, so that's not a strange thing.

 

 
Well I did skip Wii Sports Resort, but what else has there been this year on the Wii?  A few interesting games like Madworld, but nothing so much that it would make me add a game to my plate.  PS3 has been too good to me.  Lots of downloadable games - Wipeout HD Fury, Fat Princess, some PSOne Classic releases, RE5, and many Rock Band DLC releases.  (And no... I am not getting Beatles Rock Band)
 
Then there comes Muramasa.  Totally under my radar until I saw the Quick Look.  But it's even better than the Quick Look.  It seems like Ryan isn't really feeling the game or cares too much about learning how to get good at the fighting.  It is difficult.  And I certainly don't blame him for not being super enthusiastic about every single game.  I dunno maybe he was tired that day, who cares.  But the depth of this game is very refreshing for a 2D game.  Another good thing about the graphics is that 2D almost never looks bad.  I mean, these days if you're not totally f'ing up a game, it's going to be clean and serviceable at worst.
 
The sword play is a beat-em-up, but reminds me a bit of Devil May Cry .  The health and items are like an RPG.  The sword forging is like a strategy game's tech tree.  I'd say the story is quite unique.  The art style, just amazing.  And of course, I love the native Japanese audio track (no dubs even on the disc).  FWIW, I can understand about 75% of the dialogue so far.
 
Check it out!
 

Sorry I've been doing nothing on GB.  A good reason though: I've been on vacation!   Just staying within Michigan this time.  It may be my last chance to do so.  You never know when I'm gonna get a new spiffy job in some other state :)
 
Tomorrow I will be catching up on a bunch of podcasts that I missed, two weeks worth of endurance runs, going through my pictures, and readying my fantasy football strategy.
 
It was nice to have a break from the computer screen... both at work and at home.  Though I stayed in touch via the phone.  But no gaming in the last two weeks for me.  I'll be re-strategizing my money situation to see where I am and how soon I can get the new PSP.  I hope to get one at launch, but there are some guitar effects I'd like to buy too.  Though my mind might change if the screen is not fixed over the PSP 3000 model.
 
I've been talking with someone from work about both getting the Madden 10 and starting an online league.  But I don't really expect that to happen.  I think fantasy will be enough for me.

Gets my seal of approval.  Especially after the patch today, which helped some framerate issues.  I will write about it later, or maybe write a review.  But it's like 2am, so I'm not going to make a long post now.

I still think something is messed up with the sound, though.  The ship engine sounds seem way too loud on the new maps.  Strange...

iPhone Bomb!
http://www.giantbomb.com/news/giant-bomb-on-your-iphone-the-time-is-now/1523/

This video alone is worth $1.99

Also..
Lucas Arts is coming to steam!  The Dig confirmed!!!  I loved this point-n-click adventure despite the horrible reviews.