Infinity Ward is perhaps my favourite developer in the world. They might screw up every now and again, but as far as I'm concerned they have built up a sizable safety net by producing several years of awesome Call Of Duty games. Modern Warfare 2, politics aside, is going to be fucking incredible.
 
I have, I like to think, a relatively simple life. My pleasures are straightforward. I like good music, books, and computer games. I also like drinking, and flashing lights. Like I said, relatively simple. Modern Warfare 2 is... well. It's a lot of money. Money is something I lack, being a student and all. In order to purchase Modern Warfare 2 I had to make money exist where it had previously not existed. So, in order to free up some bones, I decided to quit smoking.
 
I'm not too sure about replacing one addiction with another, but i'm fairly sure Modern Warfare 2 will kill me a lot more slowly than Cigarettes will. I feel almost... healthy?
 
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Love Sweep
 

EDIT:

 The list of things I have had to quit in the name of Modern Warfare 2 grows longer:

• Cigarettes
• Alcohol for 2 weeks
• No going out this weekend
• No buying music on iTunes for 2 weeks
  
• Can't buy the new Terry Pratchett book (this is killing me)

 
And it's not even out yet :(

In the age-old crusade for perfection

the best we can hope for in a game is that it's positive aspects outweigh its faults. My own personal threshold for what passes as acceptable has been known to variate. While a games review score may be of little consequence, the review itself is often extremely insightful as to the direction of my future purchasing decisions. There are some games that I just know I wouldn't enjoy. Similarly, the opinions of the people that surround me on a daily basis carry a certain weight, sometimes to the extent that I would take a risk on a title that I had otherwise dismissed.

Exhibit A:

 People keep telling me to go and buy Borderlands.  

Borderlands looks awesome.

But it doesn't look perfect. If I had money to spare, I would no doubt already own a copy, but this would be taking a risk. My lack of funds dictates which games I buy. I honestly can't afford to take a chance on a game that I don't know if I would enjoy, especially when there are games like Modern Warfare 2 and Left 4 Dead 2 on the horizon which are sure-fire crowd-pleaser's. This is a rather underwhelming course to take, a cowards way of refusing to leave the safety of the familiar. The games I will buy this Q4 will no doubt be great, but I'm unsure as to which will be actually be fresh and interesting. I take solace from knowing that my entertainment is guaranteed upon purchase. I don't think I could ever get tired of shooting zombies. But I will also slowly become Jack's complete lack of surprise when these titles turn out to be exactly what I was expecting. It's just... dull.
 
A games design can often be mistaken for fault, and indeed it's bizarre how some bad games can simply be tolerated. No doubt there are dozens of games which I have dismissed based on the argument of another, which I would have ultimately enjoyed. My own tolerance will of course vary from that of my peers, and it's a complete mystery to me as to where that tolerance will be applied. If I have one regret it's lacking in opportunity to distinguish which games are good for myself. The games I play have usually been mapped out as a long term strategy, confirmed or dismissed by reviews, and it's rare that I will spontaneously purchase a random title like Arkedo Series - 01 Jump. Taking risks can be incredibly rewarding, though few are afforded the financial luxury of being able to do so.
 
So I guess this is a rather depressing blog post where I lament my lack of availability to explore the gaming planet. I would like to stray from the beaten track, and one day I shall. But today is not that day. Sorry Borderlands. Sad face.
 
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Love Sweep

Is because

 I have spent most of the week playing the Left 4 Dead 2 demo. There's only 2 chapters for fuck's sake, but i'm totally addicted all over again. Super stoked for the full game. The hunting rifle has been rediscovered and it blows minds all over the floor. I was actually working on a video blog, but Fraps doesn't want to co-operate with Windows Movie Maker. Stay tuned for more on that.
 Apart from that I continue to play Company Of Heroes. I totally suck at RTS games, i'm not going to lie, but I love the look and feel of the game so I can't stop playing it. Unfortunately my loss-streak is getting to the point where other players don't want to be on my team. Sad times.
 
My weekend has been totally unhealthy, Halloween was... interesting. I was a skeleton. If I get tagged in any pictures I will stick them up but considering I was just wandering round crashing houseparties I doubt anyone actually knew who I was. I would honour you with tales of my drunken prowess but I think the tolerance threshold for my drunken stories was passed long ago. I can see Jayge and End_Boss rolling their eyes already.
 
I watched Zombieland and District 9 recently, and both those films are fucking awesome. I also watched Year One which is 90 minutes of Jack Black being a tool. Michael Sera continues to be awkwardly unfunny. Dick and fart jokes. Hmmm.   
  That's about it really. 

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Love Sweep

So, I pre-ordered Left 4 Dead 2 on Steam. This got me access to the L4D2 Demo (Kind of defies the point of a demo?). I played through the campaign a few times on Normal, Advanced and Expert - always online. The playable Campaign is Priory, only chapters 1 and 2. I don't know if it's because I played L4D1 on 360 and 2 on PC but the changes that have been made feel very substantial. When I dismissed Left 4 Dead 2 initially on being too soon after Left 4 Dead 1, perhaps I had forgotten just how incredible the first game really is. I don't know if it's just not having played the first game for several months or if the changes really are as dramatic as they appear but...Fuck me. This game is awesome.
 

The first thing I noticed was a real weight to the characters and weapons. Everything seems bolder somehow. The pistols are back but have an added kick and chunky demeanour. Weapons now really are randomized, meaning the gear available to you at the beginning of the level will swap every time. There are at least 3 different kinds of shotguns - in fact there are lots of variations on every weapon type, usually only with cosmetic differences. However before you roll your eyes, the Silenced SMG sounds like fucking SEX. It is, truly, a joy to kill zombies with. Personally, I have grown rather fond of the Machete and AK combo. The magnum also has a special place in my heart.
 
The levels look sharp. Everything looks sharp. All the models have been updated, the Smokers and Hunters you grew up with have been altered to suit their new habitat. The Spitter, Jockey and Charger are all included, though for the most part the AI did a rather basic job of combining their powers - most of the special infected just ran at us until we shot them, which is fine for Chargers but Boomers require a more stealthy approach. I look forward to Vs mode, I can see all sort of shit being mapped out by zombie enthusiasts. Though the Hazmat zombies are yet to make an appearance, we discovered the SWAT zombies which can only be killed by shooting them in the back. This means if one of those bastards incapacitates you, you are fucked unless a team-mate quickly comes to pick you up. Or apparently unless you have incendiary rounds, which I have not yet found in my relatively extensive exploration of the demo.
 
The zombies themselves look awesome. Really, really fucking awesome. Blowing some zombie chump's arms of with an AK is perhaps the most satisfying feeling I have ever had in a videogame. We also got to test out the new "moving Finale" type events, where you have to run to switch of the alarm - until you do so, zombies will continuously horde at you. I have to say, I got a genuine rush from seeing a horde of zombies appear at the opposite end of the street and, knowing we would have to run through them, charging them down with a Frying Pan. Again, this is going to have obvious benefits in Vs mode as a team of survivors can no longer retreat to a small room or corner and melee their way through a finale with health intact. The new more powerful weapons seem to have been balanced simply by adding more zombies. This is never, ever a bad thing.
 
It's still very obviously Left 4 Dead, no surprises there considering the turnaround - but it really does feel like the changes that have been made are justification of a new title. I feel like a bit of a twat for saying so, as I was highly sceptical of Valve, but it really is a big improvement. The changes are not in the style or thematic content of the game, but in the execution and tightening of the gameplay. Your little team of survivors still spout humble one-liners, and in time you will learn to love them all. Ellis is my character, but Coach is my hero. Clumsily thrown Molotovs and idiotic Rambo attempts are still abundant and will make players feel right at home, as will the crude scribbles and dry humour on the safe-room walls. There are a few new items such as Adrenaline, which blurs your vision and gives you a small health boost. It also makes your aiming super sensitive so you can snap your view back and forth at an alarming pace. It's like the opposite of bullet-time, and replaces the usual pills slot. Melee weapons replace pistols, which is always a difficult call as they have a half-second swing cooldown - but they never need to be reloaded and never stop working, so no Dead Rising disappearing Katana syndrome.
 
The film grain is a really awesome decision, as is the southern-inspired music. One thing that got me slightly miffed was the decision to base the level during daylight, especially considering the torches which each player used to navigate the first game. It means you get to see a lot more of your environment, definitely a good thing as the modelling is excellent, but at the cost of the spooky atmosphere in what is, after all, a survival horror game. I have been assured that only 1 of the 5 campaigns is set during daylight, so we shall have to wait and see.
 
Ok, that's most of the big stuff. I'm going to go back and play some more. If anyone wants to get into my Zombie Survival Team my steam name is Sweep360.
 
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Love Sweep

Hello. My name is Sweep. I've been a pretty regular Giantbomb member since the creation of the website back on July 21st 2008. Back on that day, I wrote my first blog in an internet Cafe in Mexico. Since then, a lot has happened - both in my life, and in the world of video games. Thanks to Giantbomb, I had the perfect place to write it all down. For my 200th blog I would like to look back briefly over the past 462 days. 

 

462 Days. 200 Blogs.

That's 1 blog every 2.3 days for over a year.

Three blogs a week ;)

A whopping 3450 comments.

That's, on average, 17.25 comments per blog...

(And yes, I added all that shit up)
 

 My first ever Comment: Lone_Wolf

 I haven't really been on the site much today, but I haven't had that problem. Maybe it's your computer : P Hope it works out eventually!

My 1000th Comment: Brukaoru

That animation is incredible.
Great blog. It's true that only a few people will put forth creative works while most others will "copy" something else. However, I don't think it's just the fault of the creator, but most people seem to flock for things (in this case, levels) that are based on familiar properties. Instead of something completely original, most people tend to favor items that remind them of other things. Perhaps this is part of human nature, nostalgic feelings being invoked through a creative twist on something we love? I don't really know the answer, but I fully agree with you that more original works would be excellent to see.

My 2000th Comment: Benjaminvdv

 I paid 19 euro for L4D, if they make 2 really a new game instead of just a few maps, then I don't see a problem with it.

My 3000th Comment: JamesF

 most bands you know today wouldn't be around if it weren't for the beatles. 

For my 100th blog I went through all my comments and added up who had written the most ( Claude) but back then I only had 918. Fuck going through 3450 comments. You are all winners :D  
 

Greatest Hits

• The L4D2 Boycott: 20,000 and counting...
• WE MADE A PODCAST!!

• GB Site Update Screens
• The Shadow Complex Controversy
• The Jeff.gif
• Fire & Blogstone: The Mods Of Giantbomb

  

Blogs With Cats

• Cat Scab For Sale!!
• Giant Bombcats

 

Epic Fail

•  Another Drunken Blog

 

  Huge THANK YOU's go out to everyone who ever stopped and took the time to read my reflections. You made all this possible. Feeling guilty? ;)
LOVE to;    
Rowr, Phlegms, ZeroCast, Virago, Jayge, Dualreaver, snake6phw, Torb, pepsiman, albedos_shadow, LuckyWanderDude, RenegadeSaint, TheGTAvaccine, Disgaeamad, Brukaoru, Dankempster, JamesF, Coonce, Carlos, Blinck, BiggerBomb, MasterSplinter, Snide, MarioncoBretti, CrunchUK, Thordain, discorsi, Thrawn, RandomHero666, Dalai, ThomasP, Claude, Oni, Dboy, John, WallaceTheGreat, Ravey, ArtofWar420, MattFTM, Systech, Casey, JensonB, Johnny5, Hamz, TheGamerGeek, Lies, MattBodega, TokyoChicken, SuperMooseman, Kush, BoG, Sir_ragnarok, Buzz_Clik, Metal_Gear_Sunny, MaSuTa, OmegaPirate, CitizenKane, Endogene, MB, KamasamaK, Ethan, Drew, Karmum, Natetodamax, Jakob187, RHCPfan24, AjentJ, JamesF, Makari, Linkyshinks, SideScroller, Snipzor, Turbo_Toaster, JackiJinx, Dudacles, KnifeySpooney, ZombiePie, Video_Game_King, LordAndrew, End_Boss, Josseppie, Sparky_Buzzsaw, JohnnyAvacado, TrueEnglishGent, BucketDeth, GreggD, Meltbrain, Bruce, Dcpc10, Hamst3r, Ahmad_Metallic, MrCroftLover, Miniman and of course, Jeff, Brad, Vinny and Ryan. Oh and also

EVERYONE ELSE

who I can't currently remember but love equally as much.

Stay Tuned kids. Sweep's blogging adventures are far from over...

Thanks For Reading

Love Sweep