Hittin' the Ice

Yesterday I started off something with reviews on the all famous (maybe not yet) Bargain Basement Games. We're into September now, and the talk is all about NHL Training Camp. Not only is the NHL ready to strap on the skates and get back on the ice, so is the ever reliable EA Sports. The new edition of NHL for your video console system has come out with NHL 2K8. With it, they are touting all new graphics, all new moves, all new everything. I took a look at a few of the videos and it does look crisp, the perfect game for those days when there's no hockey on TV. I'm sure that NHL 2K8 will have the usual features to it, play head to head, or build your own team of players and play and entire season of hockey.

As has been the case with EA Sports and NHL 2K series, one player from the NHL is featured on the box artwork. And this year's edition is no different. Jason Spezza of the Ottawa Senators has his chance to grace the artwork this time around.

I've still got my old copy of NHL 2K3, still love playing it. Then again, I also have the early Need for Speed series. Those may just come up in a bargain games review at some point.

Until then...

Keep 'em flyin'!

Bargain Basement Games!

Okay, stop right there. I'm not selling any.

A few years ago, on another web site which will remain nameless, I tried my hand at this endeavor. A review of bargain basement games. You know, those gems you find in bargain bunks, or yard sales or even auctions that go for ten dollars or less. Over the years, I've found a few.

With the emergence of the MMO (massive multiplayer online) type of game, there is one that fits into this category that can also fit into this review. Guild Wars. Unlike other MMOs, Guild Wars manages to join huge numbers of people together in a virtual gaming world of high fantasy without the high cost of a monthly fee to play. Don't get me wrong, I love playing City of Heroes (another game from the same developer, NCSoft), but I also love money in my bank account. If you don't have a credit card, don't worry. Instead of the monthly fee, just pay for two-month game cards. Prepaid time, for about eight bucks more than it would cost if you used a credit card.

As of late, I have been looking for that MMO style of game, and something that harkens back to days of getting together with friends for some time invading a dungeon or two (smattered with discussions about work, the big game and what movies are coming out). Guild Wars gives some of that. It has a relatively easy control system to use and incredible graphics on top of that. And, most importantly, no monthly fee.

Yes, the developer is coming out with an expansion at the rate of one every six months. At 50 bucks a pop, that's about equal to paying for six months worth of online play in City of Heroes or World of Warcraft. But the really great thing is, you don't need the other expansions to play online with Guild Wars. No monthly fee after you buy the game.

The playability is quite nice. Once you start, you are always getting new quests and new areas to go to in the game, so it does have a lot of replay value. One thing as of late that I have found playing a game like City of Heroes, things tend to get boring after a while. The same content, time after time, with every character you can create. And you can create a bunch. Twelve per server in City of Heroes. Guild Wars has one server, four character slots. That might not be much, but it's enough for the casual gamer. The one who sits down for an hour or two of play before going to bed.

Visually, the game is stunningly beautiful. The nice thing is, with machines being made now, you can play this game quite well. I have a desktop machine that is a little slower than most current machines and it runs it fine. My laptop also runs the game quite well, with hardly any lag (video lag) problems at all.

Guild Wars is a relatively new game, so you might wonder why it's in a review of this type, with games for less than 10 dollars. Well, a friend of mine, Pike (who also has a blog that you can read at paperhatpirate.blogspot.com) went to an auction this past weekend (please read post at previously mentioned blog). After he got home and got in touch with me, the discussion of how the auction went began. And it was pretty much as I expected. Some games went cheap, some furniture went cheap, and three to four year old computers went for 50 bucks more than what they should have. The price for Guild Wars: 10 bucks, 20 for two copies. I love happy endings.

Until next time...

Keep 'em flyin'.

Internet People! - The Meth Minute 39

It's little things like this that make me laugh. The truly sad thing is that I think I've seen about 95% of the things in this video on the 'Net. So does that mean, that by posting this on my own blog, has suddenly made me just like Internet People. Maybe, maybe not.

Ideals and dangerous actions

I'm working on something that I hope to post in the next few months. While conducting my usual random searches across the web (which include such sites as Fark, YouTube, Google and more) certain news stories catch my eye.

The one's recently that have caught my eye have been on an organization that has existed in the world for several decades. Spearheaded by the ideas of a science fiction author, it has now become recognized as a religious following. But what churches have such jack boot tactics as what I have read about.

I consider myself a neutral opinion in the matter surrounding some of the events that have been seen and read across the web. But, you have to raise the question, how much on the web do you believe? People can post, quite literally, anything they wish. And do so with relative anonymity. In recent years, things have cleaned up a tad, as the web is populated by more than just the basement geek with a penchant for coding. Information is out there and accessable for everyone. Even ideas.

Like I said, I'm gathering information from several different areas and in a couple of months I'll be putting it all together here. The organization; Scientology. After reading, watching, listening to some of the information that I have found, perhaps I might be expecting legal action against me if I post. I'm not certain.

Keep watching and reading. Until then...

Keep 'em flyin'.

Robot Chicken Top 10 Star Wars Special Clips

Robot Chicken is a good show for a quick laugh. And finding this, the top ten moments of Star Wars on Robot Chicken was priceless.

First time since 1976!

1976 was the last time the Saskatchewan Roughriders had a record of 7-2 midway through the season. That was back when the schedule was still only 16 games, back when the 'Riders still had Ron Lancaster at quarterback, back when Mosaic Stadium was still called Taylor Field (I think the official name is Mosaic Stadium at Taylor Field), back when the price of gas was less than 30 cents a litres.

Okay, that last one is more nostalgia than anything. Speaking of nostalgia, the 'Riders announced for this game, this Labour Day Classic tilt against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, they would be using throw back uniforms. Instead of the current sleek design that they wear, they would sport the old look of the old logo, the S in a circle of wheat stalks. Back in the day, when they changed it, it did look tired and old. After all, the 'Riders had that logo for something like 30 years. Well, okay, the current logo is in it's second decade now, but it was nice to see the old logo being used.

Onto the game.

An exciting back and forth battle between the two teams played out before a sold out crowd at Mosaic Stadium. 28,800 fans watched as both teams made dramatic drives up and down the field. Charles Roberts, Winnipeg's running back, broke Leo Lewis' team record for all time rushing yards in Blue Bomber history. The Bombers have been making a lot of waves this season. Especially with Milt Stegal breaking the all time touchdown record that was held for so long by George Reed, formerly of the Saskatchewan Roughriders. And, another former 'Rider, Kevin Glenn is doing very well at the controls for the Bombers, as he is the number one ranked quarterback in the league this year.

Instead of a blow out by either side, it was a nail biter right down to the wire. I was watching the game on TSN Broadband and I was on the edge of my seat right to the end. With 12 seconds left, the 'Riders looked to be putting themselves into position for Luca Congi to split the uprights for the go ahead points. Instead, 'Rider quarterback Kerry Joseph saw a seam and cut up the middle, running 30 yards for a touchdown. Congi's point after sealed the deal for the 'Riders, and they have now won their fifth straight game.

Have to see how things turn out next week, as the 'Riders travel to Winnipeg for the now annual Banjo Bowl. Should be a good game between the best in the East and the best in the West.

Wow, that's been a long time that I've ever said best in the West in reference to the 'Riders and actually could get away with it. Ah well, here's looking to next week.

Until then...

Keep 'em flyin'.

bruce lee x chuck norris

This obviously must have been taken before all of the Chuck Norris jokes. Gotta love the set up for this one.