warp

X Wing was my obsession back in 1993.  I used to watch just the beginning of these games just for the awesome cutscenes. Especially when I got a SoundBlaster card and could actually hear everything going on in the opening cinemas. Tie Fighter was even better what with being able to play as the empire which was such a perverse and awesome idea when I was 8 years old. I even did a book report on The Stele Chronicles which was a short story packed with Tie Fighter that also acted as a manual for the game itself.
 
So I think it should go without saying that a new game in the series would be more than a little welcome.

Playing the original version is damn near painful. First gen PS1 games age horribly and that one is way hard on the eyes.  The remake expands on the mythology to make it fit into the sequels and the atmosphere is much creepier. Its also much more of a satisfying challenge what with exclusive monsters like the crimson heads. And the voice acting is LIGHT years ahead of anything in the PSN version.

I guess the only knock on the remake is that you cant make fun of it as you go like you could with the original.

It.
I had to come to terms with the content (with the kids in the sewer) that others have hinted about. When I first read it theres a scene towards the end that sticks out like a sore thumb. As I got older I learned to kinda see what the point was (ultimate connection, lost innocence). But ultimately it was King at his most batshit genius.

The Stand gets second place.

His absolute worst was The Tommyknockers. Rose Madder was pretty awful too.

Man I miss when Sci Fi wore its nerdiness like a badge of honor. Now corporate interests are trying to turn it into a catch all entertainment network with a bias towards low budget horror films. It just breaks my heart to see a channel I practically grew up with turn into a shadow of its former self. Back in 1992 I used to watch the Venus cgi screensaver that the network used as a placeholder image before the channel actually launched. And when it premiered I watched the hell out of all the stupid and low budget tv shows they had picked up like My Secret Identity and Nightmare Cafe...

Come to think of it...Sci Fi has kinda always had terrible programming. The occasional home run aside, (BSG!) the channel never had very much good on. So I guess good on SyFy for trying a different direction. It may not work but at least they broadened themselves up a bit to allow different and possibly interesting new projects. At least until that fails and we get another Spike copy cat.

Never outright cried but I did get emotional at Ico. Its interesting how thats the one emotion that games have yet to be able to universally achieve out of me. I have been outright terrified or have been able to laugh uncontrollably at a game. Even get totally lost in the narrative and feel a true connection with my character like in Bioshock. But crying just doesnt happen. And im a freaking wuss when it comes to some movies or tv shows. *shrug*

john jacob jingleheimer schmidt. it couldnt hurt to have tack some more syllables on there. or at least add some more about my relationship with said schmidt.

I am still pretty pissed about Terminator Salvation. I had really low expectations but it failed to meet even that. Piss poor writing, bad editing, and awful acting from its otherwise talented stars. The ending was fucking terrible too.

Watchmen was more an unfortunate disappointment. I appreciated the effort and do enjoy pieces of the film here and there. But mostly it felt disjointed and flat. There was nothing added that made me interested in what was going on on screen. And a bunch of little changes here and there and annoyed me when I added them up. I hope the Directors Cut changes my opinion.

Year One was just dull as shit. I couldnt believe I was watching something so unfunny considering the talent. Oliver Platt was kinda funny but that was all. However I didnt hate it...just deeply depressed by it.

Still havent seen TF 2 yet. I still kinda do. I am in the mood for something aggresively awful as opposed to just beningly bad.

I get it too sometimes. Its a general feeling of disdain for committing to an activity with arguably little return on your time investment. I usually try to go outside and do something different, even if its just a walk to the library. A feeling of accomplishment encourages gaming cause I let it feel more like a reward than just a waste of a day.

That said I am still capable of wasting 10 hours a day playing a single game. But breaking that cycle is always healthy once in a while. Keeps you from being found in a korean internet cafe slumped over your computer dead of massive heart failure.

Yes, almost always. Though usually I have like 2 games at a time, one that I am focusing on and a backup when I get frustrated/stuck/bored with the first one. I dont switch from those two until I finish one and then the alternate becomes the main game and my new game is the alternate. Its a very assembly line way of doing things but thats how I get my enjoyment from it all.

Rez
Geometry Wars 2
Braid

Honorable mention:
Banjo Kazooie
Pac Man Championship Edition