Memory Almost Full

Another great update: NCAA Football 11 patch #2 is out!

2010-08-12T00:02:00.002-05:00

Here is the blog update announcing what all was addressed:

Client Update 2

Hello again NCAA Fans!

I'm Russ Kiniry and I'd like to welcome you to Client Update 2 for NCAA Football 11. You should be able to download the update now (it will automatically download when you start the game).   Roy talked about this update coming a while back in his blog 'Thank You' and I brought it up again when we released Live Tuner Pack 1 last week.   I am happy to finally say it is here, and we've got a long list of tweaks, tunes, and fixes.   Many of these changes were requests straight from you, the fans of NCAA Football, so it was very important to us to get them in the update.   Enough words, let's get to the list!

Graphics

-          Uniform degradation has been fixed.
-          Fixed a graphical issue with TeamBuilder sideline home uniforms.
-          Fixed several camera bugs (pulled back on field goals, blurry cameras, and replays after a change of possession)
-          Fixed helmet numbers for Rice and Wake Forest

Online
-          Resolved an issue with Season Showdown, allowing us to turn it back on, so you're upload failure message every time you go in/out of game is gone!
-          Fixed a couple freezes related to lobbies
-          Fixed voice communication in Online Dynasty Hub on PS3
-          Fixed an issue that could lead to a disconnect in online play during play calling

Offense
-          Fixed an issue on a couple plays where the QB would miss a hand off and run backward
-          Reduced the chance that the ball will be knocked out when a receiver is hit at the time of the catch
-          Tuned the CPU ball carrier so that they will break to the outside more often when appropriate
-          Tuned how the CPU ball carriers utilize leans and special moves so that they won't be used in situations when they shouldn't (e.g. a HB in the open field will not put his shoulders down when running forward)
-          Tuned pass accuracy and the ability to lead a receiver
-          Tweaked sideline catch animations in the end zone so that they have a bit more room to play
-          Fixed an exploit where backwards passes could be overly effective

Defense -          Fixed defensive reaction to pump fake to be more balanced. Skilled defensive backs will not be as easily fooled by pump fakes.
-          Tuned the Aggressive Defensive Line Gameplan to have more risk of jumping offsides
-          Removed a hesitation from defensive lineman pass rush on screen plays
-          Improved flat zone and deep zone coverage
-          Tuned man coverage reaction to the run
-          Adjusted CPU pursuit angles in some specific cases where they weren't being aggressive enough

Special Teams
-          Tuned onside kicks to be less predictable
-          Fixed an issue where catching a kicked ball after hitting the goalpost would result in kicking team getting the ball back
-          Fixed an issue where the punter could line up out of place
-          Adjusted cross bar collision on field goals and extra points

Other
-          Tuned CPU clock management where they would let the clock run out in some cases they shouldn't
-          Fixed a bug with time of possession tracking
-          Adjusted substitutions to be more intelligent (previously would see some weird players in the game with lots of aggressive no huddle)
-          Fixed a couple places where the wrong custom stadium sounds would play
-          Fixed a bug that caused Road To Glory to be simulated day by day near the end of the season
-          Tuned Kick Power and Kick Accuracy of progression of kickers and punters in Dynasty Mode
-          Fixed a couple infrequent game lock-ups

Again, I want to thank you for providing us with all the feedback you have thus far, and encourage you to continue to do so. It's safe to say this is the biggest update in NCAA History. We wanted to be sure that we continue to improve your experience while playing NCAA Football 11, so this update touches almost every area of the game.   You can look forward to more Live Tuner Packs for NCAA Football 11 in the near future.

This update is for you Mr. Passionate-NCAA-Football-Gamer.

-Russ Kiniry
Designer NCAA Football

I have played some games with the patch and it works as advertised. The uniforms do indeed get dirty and the running back AI seems improved. Let me tell you folks, THIS is the way to support a game. The NCAA team has been on top of everything, has been engaged in conversations with the gaming community and has been committed to making a great game even better. My hat's off to them for creating what may be the best sports game to date. If you don't have NCAA Football 11, GET IT NOW!

Happy day! First NCAA Football 11 tuning pack available

2010-08-05T17:05:00.000-05:00

Tuning packs are mini updates (as opposed to full out patches) that can tweak game play and other issues. Here's an excerpt from the announcement that the tuning file is available:

"For gameplay you should notice that larger players cannot jump as high to swat down passes making things look and feel more authentic. In Dynasty mode, it means two things. First, the majority of the teams in Dynasty will be slightly better than before due to having access to higher rated Prospects and slightly better progression. Second, CPU teams will do a much better job of accurately filling their rosters."

And in other terrific news, a full blown patch will be available for the game in about 2 weeks. Included in the patch will be uniforms that get dirty as the game as is played, one of my pet peeves from my review. The NCAA team has really stepped up this year. Their commitment to the game and the community has been outstanding. If you are a sports gamer, you simply must get NCAA Football 11. It's the best video game representation of the sport I have ever played.

Baraka (Blu-ray)

2010-08-04T10:47:00.002-05:00

Made in 1992 and shot in 24 countries around the world, Baraka is a dialogue free, visual interpretation of man's relationship with nature, technology, spirituality, and each other. Or something like that. Its themes are explored through a series of stunning images, some beautiful and some disturbing, with frequent use of breathtaking time lapse photography. Though difficult to describe in words, it is a truly moving experience.

When people speak of reference quality Blu-ray, this is what they're talking about. I expected Baraka to look spectacular and it does, every single frame of it. From the deeply saturated colour to the ultra fine detail and spot on contrast, Baraka is a visual delight. What I hadn't expected, though, was an audio track this good. The global music and sound effects not only provide a perfect backdrop to the visuals, they are delivered in a very forceful and active surround mix. Also much appreciated is the excellent 75 min. documentary on the making of Baraka. They are no overlays on the film itself to indicate the location of each shot (though it's easy to make educated guesses), so it's nice to find out where many were taken and to get some insight into the subjects as well.

Quite simply, I cannot recommend Baraka highly enough. It is one of a small handful of films that belongs in every Blu-ray collection.

The Last Temptation of Christ (Criterion Collection DVD)

2010-07-26T18:56:00.002-05:00

It's been years since I've watched Scorsese's Last Temptation, and Joyce was keen to see firsthand what all the controversy was about. She had a very religious upbringing which extended well into her adult life and is well versed in bible stories, so it was very enlightening to have her alongside to separate "fact" from fiction for me.

The film begins with Jesus' adult life as a carpenter and follows his progression from self-realization as an unlikely messiah to death on the cross. However it's the balance between human and divine that Scorsese seemed most eager to explore and he did so by filtering the story through the interrelationships of Jesus with Mary Magdelene and Judas, brilliantly played by Willem Dafoe, Barbara Hershey and Harvey Keitel, respectively.

The story travels through several familar biblical events, all depicted with a gritty, human reality, to the inevitable, gruelling crucifixion (no whistling here, folks). But it was the subsequent coda of the last temptation that enraged Christian zealots the world over. I won't spoil it for those who have yet to see the film but, if you have any interest in Christianity, it deserves to be seen. Based on Joyce's reaction, chances are you won't be offended regardless which side of the theological fence you sit on.

The DVD ain't no Blu-ray but, as always, Criterion does a fine job, and the disc includes a very informative commentary among other features.

NCAA Football 11 review

2010-07-22T01:03:00.013-05:00

After spending a good amount of time with this game (but alas, not as much as I would like!), I am happy to report that the NCAA Football series is back in a big, big way. This version blows all others on this current generation of consoles completely out of the water. That's not to say it doesn't have a few niggling problems that will hopefully be addressed in a patch, but that game plays incredibly well as it is now, after having already been patched on release-day. Here are the major positives and negatives from the game:

Positives:

The graphics and animations in this game are off the chart. They simply must be seen to be believed. Even average, ordinary plays are filled with animations so like-like that you find yourself reviewing them over and over. The replays are wonderful as well, shown from a new Broadcast Camera (other camera views are available as well) that takes you right into the action. You can really get lost in the game and find yourself completely immersed in the world of college football. Amazing. Check out this replay of a rather ordinary play, a 16 yard pass completion:

EA Sports: NCAA Football 11 Video

Check out the animations. From the initial camera angle behind the QB, see the receiver leap for the ball, which is thrown high and slightly behind him. See how fluid his leap is, how realistic it looks? You really see him push off to get airborne. Suddenly the camera angle changes and now it is isolated on the receiver. You see him time his leap, make the catch, set his feet to run and then get swallowed up by defenders. It's a simple play, it's life-like and it's a thing of beauty. The new progressive lighting system works beautifully as well, giving some really striking settings at game time.

The running game has been significantly improved by enhancements made in the blocking AI. Now guards will pull effectively, fullbacks will hit someone on lead blocks and real holes will emerge. You can run inside or outside and the effectiveness is based on a combination of your skills as a gamer and the ratings of your players versus those of your opponent.

The passing game has been tweaked for more realism. No longer are all incomplete passes the result of balls either being dropped by receivers or batted down by defenders. Passes are now realistically under thrown, over thrown or the timing may simply be off.

The "120 ways to win" stuff works as advertised. Every teams runs it's real offense and at the real tempo. You'll see Michigan run the no-huddle spread, tiring out the defenses by not allowing time for substitutions. You'll see Nevada run their funky Pistol formation and UCLA run their pro offense. It's awesome to behold.

The atmosphere has been taken up a few notches as well. Finally there is a real college atmosphere at the games. The crowd is livelier, the bands peppier and the presentation (by ESPN) is more professional.

Dynasty mode has been much improved because recruiting is no longer the monotonous chore it used to be. EA has made it more interactive and much more engaging. I used to despise recruiting. Now I actually enjoy it, which makes Dynasty mode the most rewarding career mode in any sports game, in my opinion.

You can have an online dynasty same as last year. But new this year is the ability to manage your team online from outside the game. You can now do your recruiting from your computer or iPhone. This is a tremendous new feature that I hope EA will have in all future sports games. And what's even better is that you can have your own single player online dynasty. You can have all the features of online dynasty while still playing by yourself. Too sweet.

Teambuilder remains an absolutely addictive addition, where you can custom create your own schools and play them in any mode in the game. I have spent many, many hours on my four teams (that's my Affton Cougars in their 1st alternate uniforms in the video above) and I love seeing them in action on the field. There is a great community on the Operation Sports forums that will assist you in making the uniforms you want. Trust me when I say I have benefited greatly from their generosity. If you have the Xbox 360 version, look up my teams under my gamer tag, Quint75, and let me know what you think!

Negatives:

In a game where so much detail has been lovingly recreated, it is just plain silly that the uniforms do not get dirty. Not in the rain, not in the mud. Speculation is that this may have been sacrificed to keep the frame rate up to snuff. Whatever the reason, it's silly. But I must say it does not bother me nearly as much as I thought it would when I first heard about it in the early reviews.

The set of sliders given to help tweak game play is pretty darned generous and for once they actually seem very effective right out of the box. But why oh why does EA make everything adjustable by sliders except fumble frequency and injury frequency? They do this every year. You can adjust the frequency of interceptions, but not fumbles? Makes no sense. Never has, never will.

The blocking on kickoff returns leaves much to be desired. Neither the CPU nor myself can muster any sort of nice returns; the ball carrier is met by tacklers almost immediately.

By far my biggest complain with the game is the AI of the CPU ball carriers. There are a number of specific problems that keep them from being anywhere near as effective as they should be, which is a real shame as the blocking is done so well. Don't get me wrong, the CPU can and will get an effective ground game going against you. They will even beat you with it. But it still is not what it should be. To sum up the main problem, the CPU doesn't handle open space properly. For example, a RB will burst through the hole and have only the DBs to deal with. Rather than kicking into that extra gear, he may do a number of things that will take away what could have been a game breaking run. He may juke for no reason, slowing him down and allowing him to be caught from behind. He may keep the ball covered with both hands even though he is in the clear, which causes him to run much slower than if he was sprinting, again allowing him to be caught more easily. He may have a clear path if he would veer toward the sideline, but he doesn't; he cuts back inside. It can be really obvious at times, and frustrating for someone who sometimes likes to just do the recruiting and let the CPU play the games out on the field by itself. However, there is reason to be cautiously optimistic that this can and will be fixed with a patch. A few years ago, an NCAA game was released with this very same issue and it was improved via a patch. I can't recall if it completely fixed the problem or not, but I do remember it was much improved. Hopefully EA is getting an earful about this issue and will address it in an upcoming patch. If so, this game will simply be unreal.

As it is right now, I would say it is still the best looking, best playing football game I have had the pleasure of getting my mitts on. It has everything you could ever want: great game play, depth, superior visuals and audio (even if the play-by-play is getting beyond stale at this point, and this without Lee Corso in the booth) and the fun factor is through the roof. Right now NCAA football rates an extremely impressive 9.2 out of 10 for me. And it may get better yet.

In the meantime, here are 2 more videos to keep you satisfied, both of which once again show off the Broadcast replay cam. The first shows a nice QB animation as he completes a pass on a rollout. Notice how fluid his throwing motion is and how he seems to actually put force behind the throw. And I love how he subtly uses his arms to regain his balance after making the throw.

In the 2nd video, notice the QB starts off with a fake hand-off in play action. The camera then shifts to the safety, again at the start of the play, and you see him bite on the fake and then get beaten for the TD. Beautiful!

EA Sports: NCAA Football 11 Video

The Fly (Blu-ray)

2010-07-21T10:11:00.002-05:00

Another horror classic from the '80's, this one a re-imagining of the original through the twisted mind of David Cronenberg. Actually, that's probably not a fair comment in this case since, at its core, The Fly is perhaps the most humanistic of all his films. The relationship between Jeff Goldblum's obsessed scientist/inventor and Geena Davis' ambitious journalist is the thread that ties the film together from beginning to end, even after things begin to go horribly awry. In some ways, it may not even be fair to label The Fly a horror film (science fiction may be more apt), though the grotesque special effects may leave you thinking otherwise. But in spite of it all, it's Goldblum and Davis who create the emotional resonance that makes The Fly so special.

Like The Shining, The Fly is given a very nice treatment on Blu-ray. Visually, it doesn't have quite the wow factor of The Shining but, make no mistake, this is still a very, very good transfer. And the audio track is surprisingly powerful, especially for a 25 year old film. A highly recommended upgrade or addition to your library.

The Shining (Blu-ray)

2010-07-17T12:10:00.003-05:00

Stanley Kubrick's adapation of The Shining was initially greeted with extreme disappointment by fans of the novel, but in the 30 years since its release, has become appreciated as a classic of the horror genre. Without the advantage of modern CGI technology, it was through camera and character that Kubrick created the isolation and claustrophobia that lead to the terror of Jack Torrance's descent into madness.

At this point, I think I've owned just about every home video version of The Shining that's been released and in all aspect ratios (4:3, 1.66:1, 1.85:1). I thought the Kubrick Collection DVD was extremely well done and, to be honest, didn't expect the Blu-ray release to be much of an improvement. Wrong. The visual presentation, while not quite reference quality, easily exceeds that of many current films. Kubrick's primary colour palette is brought to eye-popping life with remarkable detail throughout. Unfortunately, there's only so much you can do with a 30 year soundtrack. It's thin and weak but cranking the volume fills things out to acceptable levels. All things considered, this is an absolute must-own for fans of the film.

True Blood Season 2 (Blu-ray)

2010-07-15T14:12:00.003-05:00

Back following a too long hiatus with the first in a series of recaps of some films we've watched over the last six weeks or so...

In preparation for the Season 3 premiere back in June, we burned through the Season 2 the week beforehand. While I enjoyed the second season the first time around, it ultimately failed to expand on the promise of Season 1. The first season centered in and around the town of Bon Temps, and there was a certain voodoo mystique and sense of discovery that wasn't sustained throughout Season 2. Instead, the elements of the story veered into camp and, while great fun, ultimately over-reached itself.

On second viewing, however, I came away with a much greater appreciation for Season 2. Sure, the Mary-Anne storyline was taken past the point of no return, but Jason's foray into the Fellowship of the Sun was hilariously entertaining, as was his unlikely alliance and friendship with Andy Bellefleur. But there was also much more visceral excitement and dramatic depth to Season 2 than I'd remembered, most notably the story around Eric's maker, Goderich. Season 2 also serves to establish several plot point that have proven important to the story as it unfolds in Season 3 (which has been fabulous through four episodes).

The Blu-ray presentation of True Blood is an absolute treat. As terrific as the show looks in HD, the Blu-ray is a noticeable cut above. Most scenes look jaw-droppingly good, with a few exhibiting noticeable grain that gives the picture a film-like appearance rather than detracting from it. The visuals are ably supported by a surprisingly powerful and active surround mix. The package is topped offer with a bevy of bonus materials including several entertaining commentary tracks, and an hour and fifteen minute panel discussion featuring series creator Alan Ball and all of the regular cast. A very impressive box set on every level.

Spain reigns supreme at World Cup

2010-07-11T21:06:00.001-05:00

Congratulations to Spain, the 2010 World Cup champs. I was pulling mighty hard for Holland, but Spain was clearly the better side. They were the aggressors the entire match and really controlled play all day, especially at midfield. Even so, Holland had 2 golden opportunities to steal the game in the second half, but winger Arjen Robben, who had an otherwise magnificent tournament, couldn't quite finish on 2 glorious chances. Holland played aggressive defense that included a lot of physicality and fouls. Nigel de Jong planted a foot right into the chest of Spain's Xabi Alonso and by all rights should have been sent off with a red card.

Spain continued to press, even late in the game when many teams would have been content to try their luck in a penalty kick shootout. It turned out to be a very wise decision, as the late goal in extra time gave them their first World Cup. It also saved us the pain of seeing another World Cup decided by penalty kicks, so major kudos to Spain for that as well. By the time the winning goal came, Netherlands was playing shorthanded, having lost John Heitinga (deservedly) after he picked up his second yellow card. It was only a matter of time before Netherlands was going to have to play shorthanded; the way they attacked Spain physically was going to cost them in due time.

So congrats again to Spain, deserving World Cup champs!

Operation Sports NCAA Football 11 review

2010-07-09T15:03:00.000-05:00

A very positive and thorough review. Essential reading for any sports gamer. It seems as though EA has finally hit pay dirt on the current generation of consoles with the NCAA series and I could not be more excited. I'll have to wait until Tuesday for my copy and my anticipation is at a fever pitch.

Random thoughts

2010-07-06T21:23:00.002-05:00

- Netherlands defeated Uruguay 3-2 today to advance to the World Cup final. I have been rooting for them all along (they have long been my favorite international team) and now they are just one step away. My 2nd favorite team, Germany, plays Spain for the other spot in the final. Germany is playing brilliant soccer right now and if they get by Spain they will be favored to win the Cup. Netherlands was quite sloppy with the ball today, especially late in the first half through midway in the second half. That will not get the job done against either Germany or a very talented Spain. I am hoping the boys can tighten things up a bit before the final. As for my other 2 favorite teams, England and the United States, well, the less said the better.

-NCAA Football 11 is one week away from release. I am totally amped up for this game and have very high hopes for it. I have my 4 custom teams all ready to go (go to username Quint75 on the Xbox 360 version of Team Builder to find them) and of course the Maize and Blue of Michigan will get a thorough workout as well. It will be a little while before the community rosters are finished being named and adjusted, but once that starts it will be Dynasty Mode city. Especially nice is the ability to do all of your Dynasty Mode stuff online now, including over your iPhone. Hot tamale!

-My wife and I have started a new 4th of July tradition which I am embarrassed to say should have started about 25 years ago: we will now watch Jaws every July 4th. After all, a great deal of it takes part over the July 4th holiday. Plus it's been my favorite movie since I was 9 years old. I give full credit to Barb for the idea of making this a tradition. And I smack myself in the head because I did not think of it first. As a certified Jaws fanatic, I hang my head in shame.

-Watched a few more movies in the last couple of days. Here are some quick ratings, on a scale of 1-10:

Jaws - 10 (duh!)
Cobb - 6.5
Session 9 - 7.0
Zombieland - 7.5 (but quite entertaining)
The 50 Worst Movies Ever Made - 5.0 (ironic, huh?)
Tales From The Script - 7.0

That's it for now. Go Germany tomorrow and Go Netherlands on Sunday!

Rating some recently seen movies

2010-06-26T17:08:00.002-05:00

I have been in movie watching mode for a while, so I thought I'd just rate what I have seen on a scale of 1-10. No comments, just ratings.

Zulu: 8.5

The Machinist: 8.0

Streets Of Laredo: 8.0

The Wolfman (2010): 7.0

Capturing The Friedman's: 8.5

The Red Baron: 6.0

Harvard Beats Yale 29-29: 8.5

Sense and Sensibility: 9.0

Suspect Zero: 6.5

Right At Your Door: 8.0

The China Syndrome: 8.5

NCAA 11 improvements from demo to retail version

2010-06-22T06:56:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Pastapadre for listing these on his site, which we are happy to link to from Memory Almost Full. The list of improvements that will be implemented for the retail version is stunning. If these changes are delivered as promised to what is already a terrific playing demo version of the game, we are in for a real treat with NCAA Football this year. Hopefully the sliders will also work fully so we can configure the game to our personal tastes.

Anyway, here is a link to the list. Be sure to check it out.

Quick gaming thoughts

2010-06-18T15:16:00.003-05:00

I finished Red Dead Redemption a while back and loved every second of it. A serious, serious contender for Game Of The Year that will be hard to knock from the top spot. Once you finish you can keep playing (but with a twist that I must admit is a bit disappointing to me) so I plan to put more and more time in just because of the sheer fun of it. This is one game that will be fun to pop in and play when nothing else seems compelling.
I have put quite a bit of time into UFC 2010 Undisputed. It is quite enjoyable, especially the career mode. I finally got my fighter the welterweight championship belt, but this is on easy mode so it's hardly an accomplishment. The controls become pretty natural once you invest some time into the game. I may start a new career on the next higher difficulty level pretty soon, but we'll see. It's still fun to play with the real fighters and see their different strengths and weaknesses. While solid, I can't see this game being considered for GotY.
I returned to my 2009 GotY, Borderlands, to check out the expansion DLC The Secret Armory Of General Knoxx. What I had read about it holds true; it is insanely difficult. I am definitely out of practice so that may have had something to do with it, but I died multiple times at the same spot, before I really got very deep into the action. My character is at the highest possible level (pre-DLC) so it shouldn't be this crazy, but it is. I'll give it a shot again later, but I was very frustrated to keep running into such problems so early in the episode.
Other than NCAA Football 11, the only other game on my radar now is Mafia 2, which looks a whole lot like Red Dead Redemption set in the late 1940's/early 1950's. With a release date set for August, this is a must-buy for me.

That's it for now!

NCAA Football '11 demo out

2010-06-15T15:16:00.001-05:00

I downloaded the demo yesterday and played a few games last night. At first glance, this game seems much improved. The new locomotion system makes a huge difference; players move much more life-like and you have better control over them. They don't seem as stiff and seem to react better to the input you give them. Bravo to EA for that.

Also, the much ballyhooed improved run-blocking AI is indeed a great addition. Pulling guards actually carry out their assignment and all blockers look for someone to hit. It makes the running game seem much more realistic and enjoyable. This was another sorely needed update.

The myriad gameplay improvements are there to be seen. I was impressed with the sideline catches made by receivers, the overturned plays as a result of replay, the much more realistic passing (throwing on the run is no longer so accurate), etc. I was able to get a decent pass rush going against the CPU as well, which is a big deal.

The game also looks terrific. The presentation has been amped up quite a bit. The graphics and animations are improved and the crowd seems more into the game. It all adds up to what looks to be a terrific package. I did have one bug rear it's ugly head when I picked off a pass and returned it for a TD. The audio dropped out during the return and after the player celebrated the score the game froze. I quit the demo and restarted and still had no audio. I had to reboot the XBox in order to get the demo back to normal.

If the AI sliders work correctly when the full game is released then we are looking at a revolutionary game in the NCAA series. This series, once my absolute favorite, has grown stale over recent years, especially on the new generation of consoles. Of course no game will be perfect and I am sure this game will have some small nagging problems somewhere; they all do. But I am as excited about NCAA '11 as I have been about any game in a long while. That took a lot of doing by EA, but so far they seem to have answered the challenge.

Our Airman Zach

2010-06-08T20:40:00.000-05:00

Here is Zach snapping his family a salute before we had to leave the base for the last time. He is now in Biloxi, Mississippi getting training for his job. We won't see him again until late September/early October. We could not be prouder of the way he came through basic training. Way to go Zach!

Back from San Antonio, Texas

2010-06-07T15:14:00.003-05:00

To quote Lindsey Buckingham: Never going back again.

Will have an update on Zach later. He's doing very well and looks terrific.

Zach & Jess

2010-05-28T20:50:00.004-05:00

I didn't know how best to get this to you guys, but here's a great photo of Zach and Jess (and Brody) from May '04 in St. Louis. It deserves to be seen.

Pete

UFC 2010 Undisputed

2010-05-25T19:58:00.000-05:00

As a change of pace, I thought I'd give this game a whirl. I have been slowly getting into the UFC world thanks to my neighbor Jason, who gets all of the Pay Per View events. It's a brutal sport, but no more so than boxing, which I have always had an appreciation for. I am really new to UFC so I don't know a lot about the fighters or the lingo, but it's entertaining and the first UFC game, Undisputed 2009, had a huge fan base.

I have only played around with UFC 2010 for about an hour or so. I did the tutorials, or most of them anyway, and dived into an exhibition fight on Beginners mode. Using one of the few fighters I know, Georges St. Pierre from good old Canada, I took the fight to another welterweight and had a blast. I ended up winning by TKO 37 seconds into the 2nd round and the fight was action-packed all the way. I won't lie, the controls seem really daunting at first blush. They are quite complex but everyone I know says that after a couple of hours they feel like 2nd nature. I know that I had a good enough handle on them to throw punches where I wanted them to land, block punches thrown my way, I threw my opponent to the mat and tried a submission hold on him. Not bad after so little time spent learning the controls.

As I said, the fight itself was terrific. I have a lot to learn, but I am looking forward to it. There are tons of fighters available and plenty of modes to play, including a career mode where you create your own fighter and move him up the ranks. Along the way you pick up fans, give interviews and so on. I am sure that this game, along with Red Dead Redemption, will keep me plenty busy until NCAA Football is released in mid-July.

Blu-ray Round-up

2010-05-25T16:35:00.010-05:00

With hockey season winding down, we found time to squeeze in a few movies over the past couple of weeks.

There Will Be Blood

This one has sat on the shelf for far too long waiting for the right opportunity to watch it. A big fan of the rest of P.T. Anderson’s work I was anxious to finally check out TWBB. I’m pretty patient when it comes to film, and like to be challenged (hey, I loved Magnolia and am a big fan of David Lynch), but I never did fully come to grips with the pedantic pace of Anderson’s latest. I kept waiting for something, anything to happen that would energize the story. It never came, in spite of the inevitable, darkly comedic finale. Daniel Day Lewis, in a fine performance, may have walked away with the Oscar, but it was Paul Dano’s turn as the obsessive preacher with an ulterior motive, Eli Sunday, that brought much needed energy to every scene he was in. Lovely cinematography too, but I’d rather revisit Days of Heaven than watch TWBB again. There Will be Blood isn’t a bad film by any estimation, but it’s not worthy of a place in my permanent collection either.

My feelings about the Blu-ray presentation mirror that of the film itself. In a word, lacklustre. As always, bright scenes look best with decent detail, but shadow detail is lacking in the numerous dark scenes that populate the film. And while the film is obviously no audio showcase, the track included here is simply missing the dynamics and fidelity that you’d expect of a current release. Disappointing.

Ratatouille

From one end of the spectrum to the other, next up is Ratatouille. If you’re a fan of Pixar and/or have any of their other Blu-ray releases in your library, you know exactly what to expect here. Ratatouille may not resonate with very young children to the same degree that many other Pixar films do (A Bug's Life, Finding Nemo, Toy Story 1&2, Cars), but it's a hoot and a half for we adults in the crowd, chock full of the clever wit and charm that we've come to expect from Pixar.

The transfer is top-notch with incredible detail, vividly saturated colours and an overall look that's almost film-like (which seems strange to say about an animated film). The lively soundtrack is punchy and dynamic with a very active surround mix and surprisingly forceful .1 track. Very highly recommended on all levels.

Boogie Nights

The disappointment of There Will Be Blood provided the urge to revisit Boogie Nights. Joyce had never seen it and was surprisingly game, and I was due for a repeat viewing. Perhaps not P.T. Anderson's most creative endeavour (that would be Magnolia, IMHO), but easily his most entertaining and the film that put him on the map as one of the hottest up and coming young directors in the business (along with the likes of David Fincher, and that other Anderson kid, Wes). Populated by a great ensemble cast, fantastic soundtrack and plenty of P.T.'s trademark long tracking shots, it's clear that this style of film is his comfort zone and where he operates best. Boogie Nights is a tour de force and absolute delight from beginning to end.

I had very high expectations for this Blu-ray release and have to admit that I came away somewhat disappointed. I'm willing to cut it some slack due to the film's age, but it's not that old and I've seen films older than BN look better than this. That being said, it's still a pretty good looking picture overall. The Audio track is more of the same, good but not great. We found that we needed to crank the volume much higher than normal to catch all of the dialogue, and the cool tunes don't pump out with quite as much authority as you'd wish they did. Even though it doesn't have quite the wow factor I'd hoped for, the Blu-ray is an easy recommendation for fans of the film. I'd just be inclined to wait out a price drop before shelling out.

From the ashes of Swart rises a Gretsch

2010-05-20T17:19:00.003-05:00

The Swart AST Pro reviewed earlier on these pages, while quite a cool amp in its own right, ultimately proved unworthy of long term investment, so I swapped it for this 1957 Reissue Gretsch Duo Jet. It's a guitar that should look very familiar to any Beatles fanatics in the crowd (this one's for you, Jim!).

I've now had a couple of opportunities to spend some time with the Duo Jet since it arrived on Tuesday, including a lengthy session last night. Tonally, the Duo falls somewhere in the middle of a triangle formed by a Telecaster, Rickenbacker and Danelectroo. It's a bright guitar, but not exceedingly so. The high end doesn't overwhelm like a Tele or Dano can, especially through a bright amp (like my Tone King Meteor). I don't get the Les Paul comparisons aside from the general body shape, but the '57RI is equipped with Dynasonics (single coils) as opposed to Filtertrons (humbuckers) so maybe that has something to do with it.

The Dyna's are pretty low output p/u's, too much so for my taste as currently set up. I like to work the volume control a lot and find that I need some sort of boost engaged when rolling back to maintain output. I've done a little research online and it seems the pole pieces on mine might be set a little high. Apparently, Dyna's actually sound fuller and richer with the pole pieces set quite low. I may also slap a set of manly .011's on the guitar for a little more oomph, and that should also raise the action a tad which is slightly on the low side of what I prefer as is. Speaking of strings, the guitar was shipped with way too much slack in the existing set. As a result, I've had a devil of a time getting, and keeping, the guitar in tune.

Those niggles aside, the Jet plays like a dream. The neck is comfy, and the guitar is very light and well balanced so it feels really good hanging around your shoulder. The Bigsby is super smooth and sounds great, however you have to be careful where you leave the bar because it can really get in the way of the volume and tone controls. It's an odd design choice, but I guess ergonomics weren't of primary concern in 1957. The Duo is also equipped with a master volume control situated on the lower horn, while the other controls are on the lower bout. Master aside, V/V/T is my favorite control config, it's just too bad it all wasn't more easily accessible but it's slowly becoming more familiar.

There are great tones to be found in all three pickup positions but, like a Ric or Dano, the middle really seems to be where it's at. Clean tones are borderline spectacular (higher output would take it the rest of the way) with plenty of that characteristic Gretsch twang - perfect for snappy Southern Culture on the Skids licks. Dirty tones take a little more effort to dial in, but the Jet is certainly capable. Though I'm most comfortable in alt.country boots, I was able to cop some very credible Kills and Black Keys tones with the right pedals engaged.

At this early stage, the Duo Jet shows promise, but the jury remains out. If I can squeeze a little more output from the Dyna's, it could well slide into the #2 position behind my Bluesboy - a slot I've been looking to fill for some time. It's light, toneful, plays great, and looks drop dead cool - perfectly suited to the ethos of the music I play.

Saddle up! Red Dead Redemption has arrived

2010-05-19T15:06:00.005-05:00

Rockstar Games, makers of the fabled Grand Theft Auto series of video games has a new title out, sort of a GTA in the sagebrush entitled Red Dead Redemption. I have only spent about 5 hours with the game but I can already say that this has Game Of The Year written all over it. It's that fun and it's that good.

I won't get too much into the details here as I don't want to spoil anything. It's a free roam game like GTA where you can advance the main story by doing missions, make money and create more fame (or infamy) for yourself by doing side missions, or just ride around the countryside and do whatever the heck you feel like doing. So far I have helped a nice lady with her farm, defended it from prowlers, learned how to herd cattle, played horseshoes, lost $50 at poker, bought a room above the local saloon and hunted all sorts of wild game. I have also had to kill quite a few people, including 2 in duels. The game controls wonderfully and the amount of freedom you have is awesome. You are tossed right into the game and the story unfolds slowly as you advance through the missions. You can go forward at your own pace. Random events pop up from time to time and you can quickly take action, or choose not to if you'd like. For example, as I was minding my own business and riding along in the wilderness, a crazed man came upon me and said a lynch party was about to hang his buddy and he hadn't done anything wrong. I raced to the scene and took out the bad guys as soon as I could. Unfortunately, I didn't save his buddy. After thinking about it for a second, it hit me: rather than shooting the bad guys first, I should have shot the rope the innocent man was dangling from as he struggled to free himself. Awesome. Sad to say I also arrived too late to save a prostitute who was being manhandled outside a saloon by a vengeful patron. One of these days I will get this hero stuff down.

Of course, you don't have to play the hero. You can rob banks, kill innocents, steal whatever you want, etc. Your wanted level will go up and you will be hunted by the law and posses. Like Butch and Sundance, you may find yourself wondering, "Who are those guys?" because from what I hear they are relentless in tracking you down.

The game is absolutely dripping with atmosphere. The graphics are top-notch, the music is spaghetti-western perfect and the voice acting is some of the best I have heard. If you like westerns or simply action games with terrific production qualities, run - don't walk - to your nearest game store and pick up Red Dead Redemption. Or better yet, find a wild horse, break it, and gallop to the store. Yeah, that's in the game too. The horse-breaking, not the video game store.

BTW, I went with the 360 version but the PS3 has some extra content included for free. Had I know, I would have picked that version. If you have the choice, go that route, even though the video resolution is a little lesser. From what I have read, you won't notice the difference in graphics.

Survivor 20 - Season Finale

2010-05-17T16:24:00.003-05:00

Season 20 of Survivor drew to a close last night and saw Sandra walk away with $1M and the title of Sole Survivor. Once again, the jury voted for the player they liked the best as opposed to the one who played the best. I guess feelings are hurt more easily than they used to be in the game of Survivor, because more and more it's turning into a popularity contest. Nobody seems able to admit that someone else outwitted, outplayed and outlasted them, least of all this latest collection of all-star egos.

No disrespect to Sandra. She's a fine player and now two time winner. But she didn't deserve to win this game. That, IMO, would have been Parvati (also a previous winner, who placed 2nd this time). She played a much more active strategic and physical game, and pretty good social game too, all things considered. Of course the main thing to consider was one Russell Hanz, the uber villain who was participating in his second consecutive Survivor, with whom Parvati was allied throughout the game.

Arguably the best strategist and master manipulator to ever play the game, Russell has zero concept of the social aspect of Survivor that's part and parcel of winning. You'd think he would have learned from his experience last season when he finished as runner up to the charming, but otherwise pretty much useless, Natalie. He played the same bull in a china shop game this time around and once again landed himself in the final three. But this time he was unable to garner a single voted as Sandra outpolled Parvati 6 votes to 3 for the mil.

I'm usually lukewarm to "all-star" Survivor seasons, but this season was nothing short of astonishing by any estimation with shocking developments throughout. Let's hope next season is every bit as entertaining. Four months to go...

Ottawa Senators Season Post-Mortem - Part 3 - The Playoffs

2010-05-14T16:50:00.003-05:00

Ideally, a team likes to hit the playoffs fully healthy and firing on all cylinders. The 09/10 Senators did neither. They struggled down the stretch, dropping games to the league's weak sisters. Then, in the penultimate game of the regular schedule, Alex Kovalev suffered a season ending torn ACL. Already without D Filip Kuba for the balance of the year, and with F Milan Michalek still recovering from a serious knee injury, the loss of Kovalev was a huge blow. The guy may be a regular season enigma, but he's money in the post-season. So with a first round playoff series with the defending champion Penguins looming, the Senators were without two key top six forwards who had been relied on to provide secondary scoring depth in the absence of Dany Heatley, and their top minute eating, highest scoring defenseman. Not good.

Michalek returned for Game 1 of the series, but re-injured his knee and was lost for good. Regardless, the Senators came out with a great effort and surprised the Pens 5-4. When Peter Regin whipped a wrister past M-A Fleury just 18 seconds into Game 2, it looked like the Sens might just be able to pull out of Pittsburgh with a pair of road wins. But the champs had other ideas and, thanks to the late game offensive and defensive heroics of Sidney Crosby, evened the series at ones with a 2-1 victory. Though Ottawa went on to lose the next two games at home, it could be argued that Game 2 (not Jason Spezza's much discussed turnover in Game 4) was truly the turning point in the series. The Senators had an opportunity to seize control of the series, and instead played not to lose.

Game 3 in Ottawa was a more closely matched affair than the 4-2 score would indicate. But rookie coach Corey Clouston stubbornly insisted on playing strength on strength with the Spezza line against Sidney Crosby, and Crosby continued to eat the Senators alive. Concerns were also mounting over the performance of second year goaltender, Brian Elliott.

In Game 4, the Senators completely unravelled. The series had been extremely physical to that point, a deliberate strategy by the Senators. It failed miserably. The Pens matched them hit for vicious hit, and it was they who got under the collective skin of the Senators. Emotions boiled and, more often than not, it was a Sen that was left sitting in the box after an undisciplined penalty. It all came to a head in Game 4 with the Senators falling behind 4-0 before rallying somewhat and eventually losing 7-4. Brian Elliott was pulled following the 4th goal, and didn't play again in the series.

Down 3-1 in the series and with the much maligned Pascal Leclaire starting in Game 5 in Pittsburgh, execution at the hands of the Pens seemed inevitable. However, the Sens came out strong and grabbed a 2-0 lead on goals a minute apart in the 1st period, but the Penguins came back to tie with a goal late in the 2nd. The Pens carried all the momentum into the 3rd, eventually taking a 3-2 lead midway in the period. The Senators appeared all but done. But only a minute and a half later, Peter Regin continued his remarkable playoff performance by knotting the score, ultimately sending the game to overtime. In the most exciting Senators playoff game I've ever witnessed, the unlikeliest of heroes, Matt Carkner, netted the winner at 7:06 of the 3rd overtime period, and Pascal Leclaire made a remarkable 59 saves.

The Senators gritty performance in Game 5 won back the disgruntled fan base, and provided a sense of optimism as the team headed back to Ottawa for Game 6. But it wasn't to be. After staking themselves to a dominant 3-0 second period lead, they allowed the Penguins to strike for a goal only a minute later to draw within two. Mike Fisher's goal a little later in the period appeared to be the icing on the cake for the Senators but, after an exceedingly long video review, it was disallowed. The long delay sucked the life out of the crowd and, seemingly, the players as well. The Pens thoroughly dominated the game from that point forward, scoring two goals in the third to tie the game 3-3 and send it to overtime. Pascal Dupuis scored midway through the first overtime to end the Senators season.

As disappointing as it was to bow out in the first round, there's never any shame in losing to the defending champs. The fans ultimately appreciated the scrappy effort of the undermanned Sens. It's the sort of performance that fans here have been crying for since the days of (ex coach) Jacques Martin. Most encouraging was the play of rookies Erik Karlsson, Peter Regin and hard nosed Zack Smith. Karlsson scored at a point per game clip over the six games, not bad for a 19 year old rookie defenseman. And the series was Peter Regin's coming out party. Thrust into a first line role with Jason Spezza due to the Senator's depleted forward corps, Regin scored three goals and turned plenty of heads over the course of the series. Those two youngsters, in particular, are the silver lining in what was a disappointing end to the season.

CODA - Looking Forward

With the season now over and the off-season ahead, the Senators have lots to look forward to, and more than a couple of question marks. The play of Karlsson and Regin, and hopeful maturation of both over the summer and throughout next season, has Sens fans extremely excited. This is the first time in recent memory that the Senators have had two rookies showing so much promise - especially Karlsson who, if he grows out of his elfin frame, will be an absolute stud…probably even if he doesn't.

Once again, goaltending will be a major question mark. Which Brian Elliott will show up next year - the one who backstopped the team to a team record 11 game winning streak, or the one who flamed out against the Pens? And what about Pascal Leclaire? Can he stay healthy for an entire season and , if he does, can we expect the form he flashed against Pittsburgh, or the bottom tier goaltending he came up with during the regular season?

Then there's "l'Artiste" as Habs fans affectionately refer to Alex Kovalev. At 37 years old, will he be able to rehab from such a serious knee injury over the offseason and, if so, will he be effective when he returns in the fall? A large contingent of Sens fans, fed up with Kovalev's seemingly disinterested play, would argue that he isn't effective at full health, and would like to see the last year of his $5M/yr. contract off the books. They may get their wish if he doesn't recover and the Sens can get him onto LTIR.

Finally, and inevitably, there's Jason Spezza. Ottawa's favourite whipping boy has a NTC in his $7M/yr. contract that kicks in on July 1st. Many Sens fans would love nothing more than for GM Bryan Murray to ship Spezza out of town before he's locked in for the duration. I get that Spez can be a frustrating player at times, but there's no questioning his skill and, at 26 years old (27 next month), presumably he's still on the upswing of his development. Furthermore, if you trade your #1 center, how do you replace him? It took years for the Senators to develop the one they have, and those guys don't exactly grow on trees.

It's going to be a very interesting week in Sens Land between the entry draft on June 26th and the opening of free agency on July 1st. Can't wait!!!

P.S. After reading this epic, aren't you glad the Senators got knocked out in the first round?

Happy Birthday John!!!

2010-05-14T08:07:00.000-05:00

My son turns 2 years old today. It was quite the commotion when he was born and it has been quite the commotion ever since. He's a rambunctious little thing but he's also a sweetheart and funny as all get-out. We are so blessed to have him in our lives. We love you John!!!

Surrounded by sound

2010-05-11T13:47:00.006-05:00

I finally got a surround sound system! I have wanted one for ages but it just was really never a good time for it. There were always other priorities that made much better sense. But this year Barb set aside money for one for my birthday. After a lot of research, I settled on a moderately priced Onkyo system that included a 7.1 receiver and speakers. It wasn't released yet, so I had to wait a couple of weeks until it became available. Once it arrived, I enlisted the aid of my brother Doug to help me run the wiring. My man-cave is in the basement and I have a drop ceiling, so running the wires the length of the room wasn't the problem. It was going through the insulation in the walls to run the speaker wire vertically that was the real bear. Luckily my brother has the patience of Job and he got that done for me. A couple of late nights later and I was all hooked up and had the system set up to my liking.

First on my DVD list was Saving Private Ryan (my brother's suggestion). I watched the opening half hour and was amazed by the surround sound audio with bullets whizzing by on one side and cannon shells going off on the other. Next was Talking Heads' terrific concert film Stop Making Sense. I watched a handful of my favorite performances, including Thank You For Sending Me An Angel, Found A Job, Slippery People, Life During Wartime and Making Flippy Floppy. Absolutely awesome stuff.

Then, of course, I had to try out Jaws. I watched the opening scene (the attack on Chrissie), the attack in the estuary, the scene where the shark makes his first appearance off of the stern of the Orca and the final showdown. No matter how many times I see this (and I am guessing it is well over 200+ since 1975), it still gives me a tingle. It's my favorite movie and also a great childhood remembrance. Can't get better than that.

As a celebration for my new toy, Barb got me a Blu Ray copy of Avatar. I was not ready for how awesome it looked and sounded. Simply unreal. Though I have had my PS3 for ages, I only have 2 Blu Ray discs. I have always bought regular DVDs so I can share them with my friends that don't have Blu Ray. I may have to become more selfish now. Stunning is the only way to describe the audio and visual delights of the Avatar Blue Ray.

I played an hour or so of Just Cause 2 (still an absolute blast to play) and was stunned by the sound effects, especially explosions. I can't wait to hear the bands and crowds in NCAA Football 11. And last night I made time to pop in The Beatles: Rock Band. I played a 19 song set, which was really longer than that because it included the Abbey Road side 2 medley. What a blast. A totally different (and markedly better) experience than playing it through the TV speakers.

So I am in heaven with the new surround sound system. Barb helped me spruce the room up very nicely. My brother helped make the installation look professional. Jess handed out the tape (don't ask, but she did a fine job of it). It was a team effort and now I am really in business when it comes to my entertainment system. Thanks everyone!

Story of the year

2010-05-04T08:37:00.000-05:00

Meet Electron Boy. If this story doesn't touch you, you ain't human.

Local boy with cancer turns into a superhero for a day

Erik Martin, who is living with liver cancer, has always wanted to be a superhero. On Thursday, the regional chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation granted him that wish with an elaborate event that involved hundreds of volunteers in Bellevue and Seattle.

Please read the entire story by clicking on the link. You won't believe it. Your day will be much, much better for it. And it may restore your faith in humanity.

God bless Electron Boy.

Ottawa Senators Season Post-Mortem - Part 2 - The Regular Season

2010-05-03T17:34:00.005-05:00

With the Heatley ordeal finally behind them, the Senators broke training camp with an overhauled roster and a sense of renewed optimism. Previously labelled a one line team, the Sens now boasted secondary scoring depth in the form of Alex Kovalev, Milan Michalek and former 56 goal scorer Jonathan Cheechoo. The acquisition of injured goaltender Pascal Leclaire at the trade deadline in exchange for Antoine Vermette promised to provide the best goaltending the Senators have had this side of Dominik Hasek. 2008 first round draft pick, diminutive offensive defensemen Erik Karlsson, made the team. And in the feel good story of the year, so did hulking 28 year old rookie defenseman Matt Carkner who had spent his entire career to that point in the AHL.

The season began well enough – after dropping their opener against the Rangers, the Sens responded with three straight wins. But, in a sign of things to come, the team lost D Filip Kuba and F Ryan Shannon to injury in the second game of the season. By the end of the year, all of Alfredsson, Spezza, Michalek, Kovalev, Neil, Foligno, Kuba, Volchenkov and Leclaire had sustained serious injuries, some of them (Michalek, Foligno, Kuba, Leclaire) multiple times, the most bizarre of which was the broken cheekbone suffered by Pascal Leclaire while sitting on the bench as the back-up. In the meantime, Mike Fisher and newcomer Milan Michalek jockeyed for the team goal scoring lead, while linemates Alex Kovalev and Jason Spezza (respectively) couldn’t buy one. Spezza went an incredible 17 games before finally potting his first.

Erik Karlsson, while showing flashes of the offensive skill that made him the 15th overall pick in the draft, proved unable to handle the load in the defensive zone and was dispatched to the AHL at the end of Oct. Most observers expected it to be a season long assignment, with Karlsson perhaps returning to the roster for the playoffs should the Sens make it. But EK had other ideas. After scoring at a PPG clip in the minors, Karlsson was recalled to the big club one month to the day after being sent down. Nobody could have predicted how quickly he was able to transform his game. He learned how to use his quickness on defense to compensate for a lack size, and his confidence in rushing the puck and controlling it in the offensive zone became a key cog in the Senator’s attack from that point forward.

But as the injuries mounted, so did their toll on the team. In the absence of Alfredsson, Spezza and Michalek, Alex Kovalev finally awoke from his season long slumber and (along with the emergence of rookie Peter Regin) carried the team, culminating in a four goal performance against the Flyers. But there was only so far he could take them. Following a five game losing streak in Jan., the team had gradually sunk to 10th place in the Eastern Conference, roughly where most pre-season prognosticators predicted they would finish.

By then, second year goalie Brian Elliott had assumed the mantle of #1 from the perpetually injured Leclaire. In what was looming as a 6th consecutive loss, a tilt against the Rangers at MSG, Elliott came down with the flu. With Leclaire already on the shelf, the team made a game day call to its AHL affiliate in Binghamton NY summoning journeyman netminder Mike Brodeur to NYC. Brodeur not only made it in time to start, he pitched a 2-0 shutout to end the losing streak, with Alex Kovalev once again keying the offense. The return of captain Daniel Alfredsson (1G, 2A) in the next game sparked the Sens to a 4-2 win over the Habs in Montreal, with Mike Brodeur once again solid in relief of the still ailing Elliott. One by one, the injured returned to the lineup – Alfredsson, Michalek, Spezza, Nick Foligno – and propelled the Sens to a team record 11 game winning streak as the Olympic break approached. And they didn’t feast on bottom feeders either, knocking off a who’s who of the league’s best (Chi, NJ, Pit, Buf, Van).

The Senators suddenly found themselves sitting in 5th place with a realistic shot at catching the NE division leading Sabres for 3rd. With the playoffs now looking like a near certainty, GM Bryan Murray didn’t take long to act, shipping underachieving D Alex Picard and a 2nd round pick to Carolina for F Matt Cullen, and assigning struggling winger Jonathan Cheechoo to the minors to create a roster spot. Cullen struggled to find his groove as a Senator while the team cooled off towards the Olympic break with a mediocre 3-2 record. Worst of all was that they lost Nick Foligno (broken leg) and Erik Karlsson (separated shoulder) in the process. In that respect, the break couldn’t have come at a better time but, as it turned out, the Sens lost their mojo.

Despite adding bruising 6’6” 245 lb. defenseman Andy Sutton at the trade deadline, the Sens struggled mightily post Olympics, dropping eight of their first nine games including their last five in a row. Their once comfortable lead in the middle of the Eastern Conference pack had all but evaporated, and the playoffs were again in potential jeopardy. But in what was becoming typical Senators fashion, they followed the five game losing streak by reeling off six wins in a row. That solidified their position in the standings and they proceeded to sputter their way down the stretch towards the playoffs, ultimately finishing 5th – good enough for a first round playoff date with the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins.

NCAA 11 preview from Operation Sports

2010-05-01T16:05:00.002-05:00

Operation Sports has an excellent in-depth preview of NCAA Football 11 up on their site.

Boy, it sounds like they have really taken all of the criticism to heart and amped up the quality this year. Once again I find myself dying to play an NCAA Football game. Let's hope they hype is worthy this time.

Rams' rookie camp begins today

2010-04-30T13:48:00.002-05:00

Sam Bradford looks good in horns, does he not?

Photo courtesy of Stltoday.com.

Ottawa Senators Season Post-Mortem - Part 1 - The Heatley Saga

2010-04-29T18:07:00.001-05:00

What a long, strange season it’s been…

The Ottawa Senators 2009/10 campaign came to a sudden halt on Saturday night when Pascal Dupuis whipped a one-timer past Pascale Leclaire at 10:04 of OT, giving the defending champion Penguins a six game series win over a scrappy and undermanned Senators squad.

The season story began to take form in auspicious fashion during the off-season with star winger Dany Heatley’s demand to be traded. The circumstances that motivated his request remain a mystery, but the fact that the demand was made public coupled with Heatley’s no trade clause left Sens GM Bryan Murray in a completely untenable position in seeking an equitable return for Heatley.

Murray’s objective was to move Heatley by the time the free agency signing period opened on July 1st, ideally at the entry draft in June. His reasoning was twofold. Firstly, it would allow him to immediately pursue a replacement when free agency opened and, secondly, Heatley was due a $4M advance on his 09/10 salary at midnight on July 1st. There was much speculation that Heatley would be traded on draft day, but it wasn’t to be. As the clock struck noon on July 1st and the free agent frenzy began, Heatley remained a Sen while other teams snapped up the prized FA’s.

As the day wore on, word broke that the Sens had a deal in place with the Oilers. The trade, announced by several media outlets (complete with player names), was pending Heatley’s approval. At literally the 11th hour, he decided to sleep on it, stating that it wouldn’t be fair for his new team to absorb the $4M “bonus” he was owed from the Senators. So from that point on, the Senators were on the hook for half of his salary for the coming season.

Of course, Heatley never did waive his NTC for Edmonton. Bryan Murray was informed that the expectation had been that Heatley would be offered several options and would choose the one that suited him best. Rumours ran rampant over the course of the summer, but Heatley remained a Sen. With the free agent pool thinned considerably, Murray and owner Eugene Melnyk finally entered the fray, inking uber skilled but enigmatic Russian winger Alex Kovalev to a two year $10M deal. In the meantime, Heatley had become persona non grata not only in Ottawa, but with fanbases throughout the NHL. The heavy handed tactics of he and his agents culminated in Heatley being booed at the Team Canada Olympic orientation camp held in his hometown of Calgary in August.

With the off-season drawing to a close, and still no deal in place, Heatley was obligated to report to training camp in Sept. It proved to be a short-lived stay. Following a heated meeting with Bryan Murray, Heatley was shipped to the San Jose Sharks the next day in exchange for forwards Milan Michalek, Jonathan Cheechoo, and a 2nd round draft pick. It was far from the return that Sens fans had dreamed of all summer, but the team was finally in a position to structure its roster for the long season that lay ahead.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BARB!!!

2010-04-27T06:12:00.000-05:00

My lovely wife turns 40 today and I want to wish her the happiest of birthdays. Barb, you make my life so much better, so much more meaningful and so much more complete. Here's to many more birthdays together. I love you!!!

Sam The Ram

2010-04-23T21:36:00.003-05:00

A good night with the NFL draft

2010-04-22T22:41:00.003-05:00

The Rams did what everyone expected and selected Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford with the first overall pick. This is the player I wanted the Rams to pick so I am happy. Best of all I got to spend the evening with my brother Doug, who is also a draftnik. We had a great time predicting and analyzing the picks and trying to figure out who may be there for the Rams next selection. Since he runs his own business we don't see a lot of each other, so it was really nice to get to spend the evening with him. Now it's on to rounds 2 & 3 tomorrow. The Rams may do a little dealing down with their first pick in order to stockpile some more, which is a good strategy as long as they still will be able to get one of the players they have targeted in round 2. We'll see tomorrow.

Kroenke breaks his silence: Rams would remain in St. Louis

2010-04-21T13:33:00.000-05:00

Bernie Miklasz is the finest sports reporter in St. Louis. He is a columnist for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and I shudder to think what the sports coverage in the area would be like without him. He digs deep and is relentless in breaking the big stories that matter to the St. Louis sports fan. If you have been a reader of Memory Almost Full for a while, you may recall that Miklasz was the first to break the story that the Rams had hired Steve Spagnuolo as their new head coach, despite the fact that no one else thought it was happening and that several other "sources" had already reported that Dallas assistant Jason Garrett had the job.

I mention this because Miklasz has done it again. At a time when virtually every Rams' fan in St. Louis was in a serious panic over the silence of Stan Kroenke and what that might mean to the future of the Rams in St. Louis, Miklasz was the one who was able to get "Silent" Stan to open up and put our worries to rest. Trust me when I say this was no easy feat; Kroenke is notorious for remaining in the shadows and staying out of the spotlight. The fact that he had not mentioned St. Louis at all in his press release announcing that he intended to to become the majority owner of the Rams created high anxiety all over the region and his subsequent silence during the following week had people virtually certain he was plotting a Rams' move to Los Angeles. With the draft coming Thursday and the Rams owning the 1st pick overall, it was all a huge rain cloud on what should have been a time when Rams' fans were gearing up for a fresh start and a new era. With the help of Mr. Miklasz, that cloud has been lifted.

The following is an excerpt from Miklasz's column. Click anywhere on the excerpt to be taken to the full article:

If Stan Kroenke gains NFL approval in his quest to purchase the Rams, he vows to do everything he can to secure the team's long-term future in St. Louis.

In his first interview since announcing that he'd exercised an option to match businessman Shahid Khan's bid for the available 60 percent of the team, Kroenke broke his customary silence in an attempt to reassure Rams fans of his positive intentions.

"I'm going to attempt to do everything that I can to keep the Rams in St. Louis," Kroenke said in a phone interview Tuesday night. "Just as I did everything that I could to bring the team to St. Louis in 1995. I believe my actions speak for themselves."

Kroenke said, "I'll do my damnedest," to secure the Rams' future in St. Louis.

During our interview, Kroenke's passion was striking. Kroenke doesn't speak out often — but in this instance, his words carried weight.

Been a little busy...

2010-04-14T21:15:00.000-05:00

Sorry the blogging has flagged as of late. I have had my hands full with stuff at home both mundane and meaningful. As I posted earlier, we got our son Zach off to basic training in the Air Force. He has called a couple of times but just to relay that he arrived and to leave his address. It is very strange knowing he is there and wondering what he is going through. He is on our minds constantly. We are really looking forward to attending his graduation when that arrives sometime in June. In the meantime, he is in our thoughts and prayers and we hope this is a good path that he has chosen.

I would also like to thank Barb and Jess for all they have done lately. They threw me one heck of a birthday party and they have just been terrific. Barb has earned major kudos at work. She is doing an exceptional job and that has been recognized. I am tremendously proud of her for everything she does, here and at work. You're the best, Sweetie!

I am in the midst of deciding on a home theater surround sound system. I have been doing a lot of searching and I have settled upon what I want. It's just that it is not available yet and may not be until mid June. In the meantime there is almost an identical system available that I seriously tempted with. Both support HDMI 1.4 so if that becomes the new standard with 3D TVs and such I will be all set. The yet-to-arrive-model is a 7.1 system while the other is 5.1. Honestly, 5.1 would be fine by me. Even if I get the 7.1 system, I may only set it up as 5.1 given the size of my theater room. The real reason I am holding out (so far) is that the system that is already available has only 3 HDMI inputs while the other has 4. Currently I only need 3 (Xbox 360, PS3 and Digital HD cable TV) but I'd like to have an extra just in case the need would ever arise. Maybe I am being silly there, I don't know. The The yet-to-be-released set also comes with an iPod dock that works with iPhones, so that's cool as well. We'll see how long I can hold out waiting for the other system to become available.

Gaming-wise I haven't been playing much. When I do get time I have been playing Just Cause 2, which is too fun for words, and MLB 10: The Show. Just Cause 2 is the ultimate sandbox game. You can lay waste to anything and everything and then deal with the consequences. It is by no means perfect but I am having more fun with this game than I ever had with a Grand Theft Auto title. There is so much to do it is unreal. In The Show meantime, little John Schmaltz is tearing it up in AA ball for the Red Sox affiliate. He could get a call up to AAA at any time. Once again, The Show is where it's at as far as baseball is concerned.

Lastly I have spent far too much time worrying about the St. Louis Rams. Anyone that knows me know that I am a complete draft-aholic and I have been keeping up with all that as usual. But just when it seemed as though the team was going to be sold to Shahid Khan, who is very keen on making things work in St. Louis, minority owner Stan Kroenke has decided to try to break NFL rules and buy the team outright. The rules state that since Kroenke owns 2 other sports teams (the Denver Nuggets and the Colorado Avalanche) in a city with an NFL team, he cannot own those 2 teams and and NFL team at the same time. The thought is that he would be competing for the sports dollars in Denver against a fellow NFL owner. It's a convoluted rule, but it has been in place for a while and there seemed no chance it was going to be lifted for Kroenke. But he made the play anyway, so he must have something up his sleeve.

First of all, I feel very bad for Khan, who stepped up when this city needed him to. Secondly, despite Kroenke owning 40% of the team since their arrival in St. Louis, there is no guarantee that he is committed to keeping the team here. The stadium lease deal will likely be voided in 2014 (a long story) and Kroenke can do whatever he wants with the team. When he announced he had matched the offer to buy the Rams, he made not a single mention of the city of St. Louis. He is from Missouri, but he is a billionaire business man with homes all over the place, including Malibu, California. Who says the city of Los Angeles doesn't get their massive stadium built and Kroenke is free to go wherever he wants after 2014, which would be right around the time the stadium is completed. Sound crazy? Perhaps, but even the local media is wary.

I am just sick to death of uncertain ownership issues (which couldn't have come at a worse time, right before the draft) and having to worry about whether this team will remain in St. Louis for the long haul. There shouldn't be this sort of anxiety and uncertainty year in and year out for a team that has been welcomed here with open arms. At the very least, Khan was hoping to be approved in May. Now with this latest development, we won't know what's going to happen for a much longer time. More uncertainty. And even if Kroenke gets the team, the future may not be in St. Louis.

As someone who has been a die-hard Rams' fan since they arrived in St. Louis, I am just about fed up. This is the most dysfunctional sports team I have ever seen, and I lived through the Blues era when they were thought to be moving to Saskatoon. This team never gets anything right. Other than a glorious 5 year run from 1999-2003, this has been the very worst NFL team in the league. The last 3 years have set a new league record in futility with a 6-42 record. Not only do we have to endure record-setting bad football, but all under the threat that the team could pick up and leave if that's what the owner wishes.

Rant off and good night!

Happy Birthday Jim!!!

2010-04-14T16:10:00.003-05:00

For those of his loyal readers (either of you) not in the know, today is Jim’s birthday! I won’t reveal his age, but let’s just say he’s no longer in his “early” 40’s – roughly 6.3 dog years for the mathematicians in the crowd.

I don’t know what it is about Jim’s birth date that I find so difficult to remember. And it’s not like I don’t have a memory for numbers either – I can remember my dentist’s phone number for cryin’ out loud! Ever helpful, Jim once told me the easiest way to remember his birthday is that it’s the same date the Titanic sank and Lincoln was assassinated (though, as it turns out, those events occurred in completely different years). Perfect! Now that’s something I could remember. The next year when I couldn’t remember his birthday, I simply googled Titanic, only to learn that while it struck the iceberg on April 14th, it didn’t actually sink until the early hours of the 15th. Undaunted, I cross-referenced with Lincoln’s assassination and, you guessed it, dude was shot on the 14th and didn’t expire until the 15th. How freakin’ weird is that?! Apparently there’s a third indicator, but I couldn’t remember it then, and still can’t. Anyhow, I was a day late with Jim’s birthday wishes that year. I obviously finally have it straight (thanks to the birthday calendar hanging in our bathroom), but it was waaaay more complicated than it needed to be.

Jim would have you believe that my dysfunctional memory is a by-product of being kicked in the head by a mule at birth...in a manger no less. But since today isn’t about me, I’ll neither confirm nor deny. I prefer to deal in fact as opposed to rank speculation and/or outright fabrication anyway, so here’s a little tidbit that provides a glimpse into Jim’s “development”. In his younger days, Jim was an inquisitive lad, always eager to learn or try something new. One day, he wondered what would happen if he stuck his head in a bucket of swimming pool chlorine and inhaled deeply. It knocked him cold. He was only 36 years old at the time. Three years later, he emerged from the coma a changed man – the man we all know and love today. Happy Birthday, buddy!

Glory (Blu-ray)

2010-04-13T16:14:00.001-05:00

Glory is one of those films that I consider a sentimental favourite. It doesn’t rank in the upper echelon of my all-time faves, but it’s a film that I like to revisit from time to time and enjoy thoroughly every time I watch it. Sure it treads perilously close to melodrama at times, aided and abetted by James Horner’s soaring score, but this is rare case where I allow myself to succumb to the emotional manipulations of the story, and it chokes me up every time. Highlighted by stellar performances from Denzel Washington and Morgan Freeman, exquisite cinematography, and the stirring story of the Civil War’s first all black regiment, Glory is essential viewing for any film lover.

I was really excited to discover that Glory was now available on Blu-ray and anxious about how great it might look and sound. Unfortunately, the news is not all good. The video transfer is generally quite good, but doesn’t come close to approaching the best the format has to offer. Bright scenes exhibit well saturated colour and fine detail. However, in many mid to lower lit sequences there is abundant grain, colours are sometimes washed out, and shadow detail is severely lacking. Fortunately, none of these issues infiltrate the climactic and spectacularly filmed assault on Ft. Wagner, much of which takes place at night, the action illuminated by flares and cannon fire.

The 5.1 HD Audio track is a similarly mixed bag. Glory is a surprisingly dialogue intensive war film, and the center channel track is much thinner and weaker than it should be. Things wake up a little as the mains and surrounds kick in, but the overall presentation lacks the clarity and separation that I’ve become accustomed to with BD’s. The three battle scenes are suitably cacophonic with immersive surround activity, though bass response is not nearly as solid or extended as I expected it to be, and that ranks as a real disappointment given all the cannon fire involved.

It’s easy to recommend Glory as a film, but much harder to recommend this Blu-ray release. It stands as a worthwhile upgrade for the dedicated fan, but not nearly as good as it could have been.

Swart AST Pro - First Impressions

2010-04-05T17:10:00.005-05:00

Well, my Swart AST Pro has arrived. Picked it up in NY yesterday AM and spent the afternoon playing it in tandem with the Tone King Meteor.

It's pretty much as advertised - good reverb and trem, not much headroom, a base tone that's woody/smokey, very much in the Fender tweed camp.

I started by replacing the stock tubes with NOS across the board. Stuck with a 5AR4 rectifier and 6V6GT's. It wasn't long before I pulled the 6V6's for a pair of NOS Tung Sol 5881's (lower power 6L6's). That added a little more headroom but still not too much, and I dialed it in from there, fussing with settings and inputs as I went along.

You really have to work to get nice clean tones at any kind of volume. My go to pedal combo to emulate Blackface cleans is the Keeley Java Boost -> Catalinbread Silver Kiss, and it usually works incredibly well, but less so here. This little amp just wants to overdrive, and I quickly discovered that it's best to just let it go, that's where the real magic is.

The Swart really excels when it comes to crunchy rhythms and soaring leads. The sustain is effortless, it's just a matter of getting the high end dialed in just right, which I'm finding a little tricky at times (some interactivity going on here, I think). It responds well to all three pickup positions of my G&L Bluesboy, and every pedal I threw at it (the Greer Ghetto Stomp is an especially good match). It's a ton of fun to play when you're rocking out.

The sound is surprisingly big for a 1x12 in such a small enclosure, but the overall tonality is still a little boxy (one of the main knocks against the original AST). It's not so much noticable on its own, but became quite evident when I switched over to the Meteor sitting beside it. It's simply no contest - the Meteor sounds huge and far more open in comparison. Likewise, the much heralded Swart reverb doesn't hold a candle to the TK, though the trem fares much better head to head.

Comparisons aside, these two amps sound fantastic together, either seperately for rhythm and lead, or together. Running the Meteor clean or with just a bit of grit with the Swart overdriiving beside it sounds glorious, especially for edge of break up rhythm stuff.

Those are just first impressions based on a couple hours of play time, and there's lots of experimenting left to do. I'd like to try the 6V6's again, but this time matched with a 5Y3 rectifier (the traditional Tweed Deluxe setup). I have a 5751 sitting in V1, and may try another in V2 to see if that provides more headroom and open things up a little more. I also want to try the amp up off the floor where it has more room to breathe, and upstairs where there are more reflective surfaces to see how it sounds in that environment (I'm hoping to use it at kitchen and deck parties, which may also require a Swart Night Light attenuator).

The idea behind getting the Swart was as a very portable grab and go with onboard reverb and trem, and as a lead amp to complement the TK. It will certainly fill the bill as the latter, and I'm pretty sure that it will be well suited to the former as well.

Saying goodbye to Zach

2010-04-05T15:13:00.001-05:00

Our oldest son Zach came by today for a belated Easter lunch. My parents came over as well and we did the Easter egg hunt for the little kids. Most important, it was the last time we will see Zach for quite a while. He leaves today at 6 PM for a trip downtown where he will be sworn in as an Air Force recruit for the 2nd time. He will spend the night in a hotel, then leave at 4:30 AM for boot camp in Texas. Typically boot camp lasts 8 and 1/2 weeks, so we will not see him until he graduates at that time. It was very hard saying goodbye. Tears were shed not only for ourselves, but also for little John, who doesn't understand that his "Coco" is not going to be around anymore.

There is no doubt that Zach is doing the right thing for himself. He is on his way to becoming a man and seeing what real life is all about. We are very, very proud of him and will miss him very much. I am looking so forward to his graduation and hearing stories about boot camp and his job training.

We love you with all of our hearts, Zach. Make us proud, but more importantly, do yourself proud.

Love,
Dad, Mom, Jessica, Laurel & John

Barb Kicks Ass

2010-03-29T14:26:00.001-05:00

Barb kicked total ass this past weekend. There's just no other way to say it. She took the bull by the horns and decided it was time to get the basement completed the way we wanted it. So she (with some help from Zach) got the new theater area painted, got everything moved, arranged, hung and accounted for and now the basement is fabulous. The kids have the run of 70% of it. It's a huge play area where they can do what they want, have tons of toys at their disposal and a TV and DVD player as well. It's very kid-friendly, decorated very cutely and just perfect for what we need.

And the theater area turned out way better than I ever expected. It's perfect for movies, sports, gaming or visiting with friends. Barb got all of my movie posters up and all of my gaming stuff stored neatly. I got everything all hooked up and working so it's a go. We could not have done all of this without Jessica either, so a big thanks to her as well.

But Barb was the worker. She was the (wo)MAN. She kicks ass!

Vacation Time!!!

2010-03-27T11:37:00.002-05:00

It's been a long haul since Jan. 4th, but today marks the start of a much needed 10 day break. It actually started yesterday at noon. I took the afternoon off and drove down to Ogdensburg NY to pick up an amp that I had shipped to the UPS Store there.

The amp is an original Tone King Meteor, a 40W 1x12 combo with reverb and tremolo. It has two footswitchable channels, one based on a Fender Deluxe Reverb and the other on tones that range from Fender Tweed Duluxe into early Marshall territory. A half power switch allows you to run the second channel at 20W. Very handy! I haven't played much at all since returning to work in July, but the itch is coming back in a big way. There's nothing like a new amp to fuel that urge, and I have a killer Slacker Radio mix set up and ready to roll for backing tracks. Yee-Haw!!!

Tonight we're off to the Sens game courtesy of tickets I won in a raffle about a month ago. Our seats are 12 rows behind the Senators net, so it might be a good night for some photo opps. Looking forward to the game and hitting our favorite arena restaurant for beer and burgers beforehand.

My main "project" for the week is to get our taxes done. Up until now it's been a very straightforward affair, but that's all changed since I became self-employed last year. Lots of receipts to compile and expenses to calculate. I'm not looking forward to it, nor am I looking forward to the trip I need to make to the licence bureau to cancel the registration on my old car sometime next week.

I'm not sure how much time I'll have for gaming, but whatever there is will probably put towards a second play through Heavy Rain. Joyce was actually asking about it last night (gotta love that!). She'd like to see how differently it might play out the second time through. So would I?

Joyce is working through Wed., then on Thurs. AM we hit the road for a few days in Ithaca NY. Why Ithaca, you ask? Well, it came highly recommended by a server at our favorite eatery in NH. It's primarily a college town (Cornell U, Ithaca College) with lots of pubs, restaurants, live music, etc. Were booked into an historic inn on the edge of Ithaca Commons - the hub of activity downtown. It's apparently a lovely town and area, and also wine country. Neither of us have ever been to a winery and, though it's no doubt out of season, we'll definitely be seeking one out. We're also planning a day trip up to Waterloo about an hour to the north. There's a huge oulet mall there that we're anxious to check out. In the meantime, I've been busy compiling tuneage for the tour (fighting iTunes every step of the way). Really looking forward to the trip and getting the Mazda on the road for it's first serious run (notwithstanding my round-tripper to Ogdensburg yesterday).

Finished God Of War III

2010-03-26T03:05:00.000-05:00

Awesome. Just absolutely awesome. This would have been a serious Game Of The Year contender last year. I am sure it will make the finalists for 2010. If you have a PS3 you shouldn't miss this game. Just the sheer spectacle itself is worth the price of admission. And the gameplay is dead-on as has always been the case with this series.

Now it's time to see what all this fuss is about with Just Cause 2.

Quick gaming thoughts

2010-03-23T08:24:00.000-05:00

I am about 3 hours into God Of War III and - no surprise here - it's awesome. The graphics are phenomenal, the cut scenes tremendous, the voice acting superb and of course the gameplay is 2nd to none. Dave from Were Not Here claims that this is the best video game series of all time and if it's not, it's gotta be in the running. Simply stellar.

I also will be getting Just Cause 2 today. I pre-ordered it yesterday, trading in Dragon Age: Origins. I could just never get into that game and I tried with 2 different characters. I wish I hadn't waited so long, I could have gotten more credit for it. Anyway, Just Cause 2 looks fun; it's a huge sandbox type of game where stuff blows up real good. :-) I won't be playing it until GOW3 is finished but I will give impressions when I do.

What's on your iPhone?

2010-03-19T15:36:00.009-05:00

Here’s how mine is loaded at the moment…

Facebook – iPhone and Facebook, they were made for each other

Dragon Dictation – a ‘gee whiz’ app – converts speech to text with surprising accuracy

AppBox – a plethora of useful little apps, including a great unit converter

Around Me – like the POI function of a GPS – I haven’t had occasion to use it yet, so can’t vouch for accuracy

Mixology – cocktail recipes at your fingertips – can even suggest recipes based on your bar and mix inventory – bottoms up!

Bump! - bump iPhones to transfer contact info. - nifty!

TSN Mobile – The Sports Network – good for news, not so much for boxscores

Sportsnet – easy access to boxscores, but meh for news

Sportacular – for broader and more in-depth results tracking

Slacker Radio – create your own radio stations – love it! - I’m going to subscribe

Flycast – somewhat like Slacker, but provides access to real radio stations from across the U.S.

Shazam – another ‘gee whiz’ app – point the iPhone at a music source and Shazam will tell you what’s playing – amaze your friends!

Gibson – yeah, THAT Gibson – comes with a built in guitar tuner which should prove very handy

IMDB – gotta have access to movie and TV info.

IGN – have seldom referenced this – reviews seem to lag behind the main site

Bejeweled 2 – a fave from Xbox 360 Arcade – one of the very few apps I’ve purchased

Peggle – see Bejeweled 2 – another great Pop Cap title worth shelling out for

Words with Friends – if I could only have one app, this would probably be it – mobile Scrabble is big fun and a great way to stay connected

FloodIt 2 – highly addictive – Joyce has been playing the life out of it on FB

Slingshot Plus – a silly little time waster where you take out cows and gophers with a slingshot

Fingerzilla – another time waster - devastation and destruction literally at your fingertips – try it!

Gold Miner – for the platform gamer in all of us

Hatch! – crack the egg and out pops a cute little animal – two year old grandson Koen loves it

Zombie Farm – a surprisingly “deep” sim for a handheld – just getting into this one

Web Pages – fave sites accessible from my home page…Hockey’s Future Boards, SensChirp, The Gear Page, We’re Not Here and, of course, Memory Almost Full

So what’s on your iPhone?

P.S. Barb, this would be the perfect opportunity for you to step out from behind the shadow of anonymity and post your very first blog.

R.I.P. Alex Chilton

2010-03-18T07:17:00.004-05:00

I was very saddened to read that rock music cult icon Alex Chilton passed away suddenly on March 17th. Chilton was the lead man behind Big Star, an early 70's band that was extremely influential despite poor record sales. Big Star is often referred to as the pioneers of Power Pop, a genre that includes such bands as Cheap Trick, REM, The Replacements and The Posies. After years away from the music scene, Big Star reformed with members of The Posies rounding out the band. They had been active until his death and I am seriously bummed that I never got a chance to see them live.

As mentioned, Big Star never sold a lot of records. They put out 3 albums in the early 70's and each one was highly acclaimed and they are now all considered classics. When Rolling Stone magazine released their list of the 500 greatest rock albums of all time, all 3 original Big Star records made the list. In 1987 The Replacements released their excellent Pleased To Meet Me album. The 2nd track on the album? A rocker entitled "Alex Chilton."

Chilton's biggest hit was as a 16 year old singer in the band The Box Tops. The band hit #1 with their classic The Letter. It was after his success with The Box Tops that Chilton formed Big Star in Memphis. Chilton's solo work away from Big Star has divided many critics, some who love it and others who think it is a far cry from his best work. But that seems to matter little at this time. The man's music and legacy will live on mostly through his work with Big Star. If you have not heard Big Star, I recommend checking out all 3 of the early albums: #1 Record, Radio City and Sister Lover/Third. It definitely has that 70's vibe but to this day it still sounds fresh and exciting.

There have been recent rumors about a Big Star movie in the works, though whether it would be a documentary or a drama I am not sure. Another early member, Chris Bell, died in an automobile accident after he had left the band. Bell was extremely talented in his own right and was a tragic figure with some inner demons that he may never have conquered. Now Alex Chilton is gone too. Rest in peace, fellas. The music world is a much better place for having had you.

God Of War III has arrived

2010-03-17T19:05:00.002-05:00

I only got to play around with it for 20 minutes or so, but my goodness, what a grand opening! I had heard that the scale of the game has been increased considerably, that some of the settings and foes were almost too huge to describe, and that is obvious even in the short amount of time I have played. The gameplay seems largely unchanged from the first 2 games (that's a good thing) and the control is once again spot-on. I won't be able to really get my hands grubby with this game until next week, but I am really looking forward to it.

I also ordered the strategy guide and it is awesome as well. If you have seen the guides for either of the 1st two games, you know what to expect: not only a complete walkthrough and locations for all the treasures, but also background on all of the Greek mythology that is in the game. It's really like a very palatable history lesson and its worth shelling out the bucks just for that alone.

They say that this is the last game in the series but I am finding that really hard to believe. These games are massive sellers and are universally acclaimed. Walking away from this series would be a very bold thing indeed and I am not sure Sony wants to see such an obvious cash cow just disappear. We'll see.

Heavy Rain - The Full Report

2010-03-16T16:33:00.006-05:00

Billed as an interactive drama, Heavy Rain is just that - not so much a game that you 'play' in the traditional sense, but a movie you participate in. It's exceptionally well constructed with high production values from top to bottom. The game 'looks' like the movie it's striving to be with great art direction, lighting and camera work, solid character design, animation and voice acting, some effective use of split screen, and a fantastic script and musical score. However, as well executed as it is, you'll never be fooled into thinking you're watching and controlling anything other than video game characters. I think we're still probably a couple of generations from that point. It's a minor gripe in any event because it's all about the story, and they don't get much more compelling than this.

Without giving anything away, Heavy Rain is a psychological thriller that at various times echoes films like Se7en, Mystic River and The Cell. It follows four principal characters involved in the investigation and hunt for a serial killer who has been murdering young boys. It's a highly emotional story and the characters, whom you play in turn, are so well drawn that you form a deep attachment to each of them. You genuinely care about their plight and physical and mental well being because it's ultimately 'your' choices and actions that determine their fate and that of those around them. And Quantic Dreams didn't stop with the lead characters. The secondary and bit players are fully formed as well, and it all melds together into an extremely believable whole.

I've never played a game that was based, in whole or part, on Quick Time Events. In fact, I'd never even heard of QTE's until I started reading up on Heavy Rain. With the exception of character movement, HR is entirely QTE based. Rather than dictating the action yourself, the action is dictated to you in the form of screen prompts, and your response and choices impact what unfolds within the story itself. If that sounds boring, well, it certainly can be at times. But it can also be thoroughly engrossing and exhilarating. Much has been made about how Heavy Rain drags at the beginning. While I found that true to a point, it wasn't long before I was fully engaged in the story. The preliminary scenes are used primarily to familiarize the control system and set the stage for what's to come. This involves some pretty mundane tasks which allow you to become accustomed to how the controller is used to direct events as the game progresses (and HR makes use of the WHOLE controller).

The control scheme is generally well implemented and results in the most realistic action sequences I’ve ever experienced, but it’s not without faults. While the prologue serves as a good tutorial, not every control is fully explained – there’s a certain amount of trial and error involved. That’s all fine and dandy when a character is brushing his teeth or shaving, but becomes more problematic at critical junctures later in the game when quick and decisive action can make the difference between life and death. I’m all for puzzles in video games, but when figuring out the control is one of them, it just feels cheap.

Heavy Rain also makes fairly extensive use of wireless motion control and, for the most part, it works well too. However, there are moments where it doesn’t react as you expect (could have to do with my seating position), and that can be very frustrating if not fatal.Finally, character movement is quite unorthodox, using the left stick to look/turn and the R2 trigger to move. There’s also a second camera that allows you to alter perspective. The relative lack of perspective and extremely limited field of vision (you can’t look up or down, for example) are guaranteed to have you yearning for a more traditional control mechanic at times. I don’t want to make ‘too’ much of the control issues because they’re largely sporadic. But when they do occur, it totally removes you from the sense of immersion that the game works so hard to create.

It’s worth noting that the game offers three difficulty levels based on familiarity with the controller. Even nicer is that it can be adjusted in game. I played through on the middle of the three settings and, even then, there were sections I found very difficult to navigate. There are only so many buttons these old fingers can press and hold at once!

HR relies heavily on presentation to create the illusion that you’re actively participating in a movie. It’s essentially an extended series of cut scenes, some of which involve you and some don’t, which are edited together in film like fashion. Load times between scenes are generally brief, providing a fairly seamless quality to the presentation, but a few scenes are simply too short and tend to disrupt the flow. Major sections, when you shift from one character to the next, require slightly longer loads, but I was usually ready for a pause by those points anyway.

The script is built on the foundation of a really good story and once it grabs you, it doesn’t let go. It’s all pretty tightly knit but, depending on how things develop, it can loosen up towards the end leaving you with unexplained character motivations and unresolved events. I suppose that’s part of the price to pay for a branching narrative that accommodates multiple outcomes. Through most of the game, though, the branching works spectacularly well. You will repeatedly question how a scene may have played out had you chosen or acted differently, especially if it results in the death of another. The game actually allows you to do just that by selecting individual scenes from the Chapter List, like a DVD. You can even save the new result if you prefer, though I can’t imagine why you’d do that as opposed to playing through the entire game a second time. And while I’m thinking about it, DO NOT watch the end credits if you plan to play again. There may be spoilers lurking in there depending on how the story evolved for you.

If you’re considering a purchase or rental of Heavy Rain, be warned that it can be a very passive experience. This is clearly not a game for the hardcore, action-oriented gamer, though the action sequences alone are almost worth the price of admission. There’s a lot of watching involved here, either in the form of true cut scenes or menial tasks that you’re presented (hitting a few golf balls, making a plate of eggs) to bide time while events and dialogue unfold around you. The game is also quite short so, unless you foresee multiple plays, a rental is definitely the way to go. In my case, there’s no question I’ll be playing through at least once more, and I’d like to explore the branching intelligence by playing some individual scenes beyond that.

In the end, it’s hard to rate a game like Heavy Rain. Its brevity, extraneous content and periodic control issues conspire to hold it back from greatness. However when it all comes together, which it often does, it feels truly groundbreaking to me. I’ve never played anything quite like it, and I want more. I hope this is a genre that finds its niche so developers will continue to nurture and expand it. The imagination runs wild at the possibilities as video game technology continues to mature and allows the likes of Quantic Dreams to bring the full scope of their ideas to life.

Finished God Of War II

2010-03-15T05:53:00.001-05:00

After a marathon night of gaming, I finally finished GOW2, just in time for Tuesday's release of GOW3. GOW2 was all it was hyped up to be, an epic action game with great production values and a terrific story entwined with Greek mythology. I had a blast getting through this game. I think at some point I will go back and replay the original GOW just because it was so epic as well.

I still have yet to play the latest Borderlands DLC and am anxious to do so. Still, it may have to wait it's turn behind GOW3. And with Pete saying very good things about Heavy Rain, I am intrigued about that as well, especially since I could play that one with Barb. There are some really good games coming out soon, so I will be anxious for the reviews to begin trickling in.

Heavy Rain - First Take

2010-03-14T10:48:00.002-05:00

My copy of Heavy Rain arrived late last week, and I've logged several hours of gameplay over the last couple of days. Rather than posting detailed impressions, I'm going to hold off in favour of a complete review when I finish the game. I'm about halfway done at this point and am so engrossed in the story that I don't want it to end. Another play through is already a given, probably immediately following this one. Joyce has been watching as though it's a movie (which it pretty much is) and the story has her hooked as well.

Heavy Rain is certainly not without its faults, but it more than makes up for it with a riveting story, and moments of sheer excitement and emotional impact. If you've read the reviews and are intrigued, then you shouldn't hesitate in picking it up. Just be aware that there's a lot of watching involved and the gameplay can be very passive, amounting to nothing more than filler or a button press or two to advance from one scene to the next. If you're a hard core, action oriented gamer, then Heavy Rain probably won't be your cup o' tea (though the action sequences are extremely well executed). It's also reputedly quite short, clocking in at 8-10 hours, so it would make a perfect rental if the prospect of multiple plays isn't of interest.

I was in the mood for something different, and Heavy Rain is filling the bill to a tee. More later...

A little update

2010-03-11T17:21:00.000-06:00

-I got my daughter Jess out for her first driving lesson today. We went to a big parking lot and she learned the basics. She did an excellent job with the steering, accelerating and braking. I was really impressed with her confidence and her attitude. Well done, Jess!!!

-Barb and I finished season 4 of Dexter last night so we are all caught up. We are both still recovering from what was an absolute shocker of an ending. Neither of us saw it coming and it really has stuck with us both all day. Stunning is all I can say. I'm still not sure if I am mad about it or not. I guess the writers did their job well.

-God Or War III comes out next week. I have it pre-ordered from Amazon (with free release date delivery) along with the strategy guide. I got $10 off the game for having pre-ordered Bioshock 2 from Amazon earlier. It's a great way to get your games and save money. Now I am feverishly trying to finish God Of War II before GOWIII arrives. God Of War II such an excellent game in it's own right, I am trying not to rush too much so that I can savor it's quality as well. BTW, the reviews are coming in for GOWIII and as expected, they have been universal in their praise.

That's all for now. Enjoying the heck out of my iPhone and playing Words With Friends. I am down 2 games to none to Pete. I have buzzard's luck against him, but he is an excellent player as well. I'm not giving up, Pete!

Gaming Update

2010-03-11T17:08:00.003-06:00

I finally returned to Borderlands the other day after a long break that dates back to the start of the Olympics. It's been a blast so far, but I have to admit that I find the gameplay is becoming a little tedious the further I get into it (currently Level 18). I hate to bail on it now but, at a minimum, I'm ready for a break. After a steady diet of Fallout and Borderlands over the last three months, it's time for something completely different (Python reference intended).

Enter Heavy Rain. This one arrived today, and I can't wait to dive into it over the weekend. I'm not entirely sure what to expect, but I really like what I've heard. And it's supposedly quite short, which would suit me just fine right now. Sounds like the kind of thing Joyce might get into watching - always a bonus.

I'm not sure what will follow HR, possibly a long awaited return to Bioshock, or maybe Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 (another short one!) first. Then there's MLB '10. I cracked the seal on that one the other day and spent a considerable amount of time creating my custom player in RTTS, only to somehow lose everything I'd done! Grrrr. I'd also like get back and spend some more time with NFS Shift. Maybe there's a Mazda 3 in there somewhere... In any case, I'm ready for a little variety in my gaming life.

The 2010 NFL Draft: QB or not QB?

2010-03-07T18:37:00.003-06:00

That is the question if you are the St. Louis Rams and finished an NFL-worst 1-15 (ouch!) in 2009. In fact, the Rams have won just 6 of their last 48 games, setting an NFL record for futility. Last year's rookie head coach (Steve Spagnuolo) and rookie GM (Billy Devaney) got a pass for having to deal with an old, underachieving roster that was basically bereft of talent, especially once injuries had their way with the team. This is the 2nd season for Spags and Devaney and probably will be the first under new ownership, if the team sale to Shahid Khan goes through as anticipated. The fan base is restless, to say the least, and wants to start seeing some results. But the task is daunting; turning around a 1-15 nightmare will require a massive roster turnover and will take time. And time is something that Spags and Devaney may not have a whole lot of.

After the college conference championship games this season, one man became the consensus "best player in the country." That man is Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. He had a lights-out senior season and is dominant on the front line, stout against the run and one heck of a pass rusher as well. As time has gone on, some have declared Oklahoma's Gerald McCoy to be his equal or even better, mostly based on how his game projects to the NFL. Still, the majority think Suh is the man. And with the Rams awful against the run last year and unable to muster any sort of consistent pass rush, he should be the no-brainer pick at #1, right?

Maybe not. Enter Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford, the 2008 Heisman Trophy winner. Bradford surprised many people when he decided to come back to Oklahoma in 2009; the thought was that if he had turned pro he more than likely would have been the first overall pick in the 2009 draft. But he returned to Oklahoma for a chance to win the national title. His hopes were quickly dashed when he injured his throwing shoulder not once, but twice during the season. After the second injury he shut down for the rest of the year to focus on rehab and announced he would enter the 2010 draft. Now his status is basically unknown. If he hadn't been injured, he would automatically be one of the top 5 players in the draft. His surgery went well, he is ahead of schedule in rehab and is throwing the ball 20-40 yards 100 times every other day. He will have his pro day workout in late March where he will be put through the ringer to see just how ready he is. And this is where the Rams are in the toughest of tough spots.

If Bradford throws well at the pro day workout and gets a clean bill of health from the doctors, what should the Rams do? Because as bad as the defense was last year, the offense was worse. And not only that, it was b-o-r-i-n-g. It was painful to watch and many fans simply chose not to as the year wore on. And while the old axiom may be that defense wins championships (and that's oversimplifying things, but that's a whole other blog), offense puts fans in the seats. A team can be mediocre as long as they are still somewhat fun to watch. But when they are dreadful, no one wants to pay any attention.

There is no doubt that QB is the premier position in the NFL. If you have no viable option at QB and have a chance to draft a player that you feel is a potential franchise QB, you do it. If Bradford had not been injured, I think the Rams would take him without a doubt. As it is now, I still think they are seriously considering making him the pick. If his pro day goes well, I have little doubt the Rams can convince themselves that Bradford is their guy. Devaney has already gone on record as saying that if a QB grades out close to the top, you take the QB even if he's not quite at the top. But passing on Suh is a risky proposition as well. Many Rams' fans are convinced he is the best player in the draft and that if you have the first pick then you must take the best player. Many are wary of Bradford not only because of his injury history but also because they feel he will have little impact on the team this year, especially with little talent around him. Meanwhile the thought is that Suh could instantly make the DL better by occupying 2 blockers and freeing up defensive end Chris Long.

I myself am on the fence. I lean a bit towards Bradford, simply because there is more value in a QB and I thought he was an elite QB before the injury. If he checks out okay, then I think it is worth the gamble. At the very least his work ethic, character and leadership are unquestioned. He is a very accurate passer and has above-average arm strength. He interviewed very well at the combine and is seen as very intelligent. It is true that drafting QBs early is a risky business, but if you look back at past drafts, picking DTs early is no picnic either; many early picks have turned out to be duds. As good as Suh is, and make no mistake he is very good, there is no such thing as a sure thing in the NFL draft. Rams' fans will be in an uproar if the pick is Bradford and he is mediocre or especially if he hurts that shoulder again and Suh goes on to be a dominant presence. You can make a case for either player. The problem for the Rams is that they have to get this one right.

Mazda 3 Sport GT - First Impressions

2010-03-06T18:15:00.003-06:00

I took delivery of my new Mazda 3 on Thursday, and bid a fond farewell to my faithful Subaru Legacy (much to the delight of Joyce's daughter, Heather). Mixed emotions to be sure, but at least I didn't have to leave the old girl on a dealer lot while I drove away.

As is often the case with a new vehicle, excitement is balanced with a certain period of adjustment. The Mazda is a class below the Subaru size-wise, and that became immediately apparent. The cabin space is more compressed (though not claustrophobically so) and the main cargo area isn't large enough to fit a guitar without dropping one of the rear seats back. You gain some of that space back in height by the ability to stack cargo. There's obviously also some compromise in rear leg room in a smaller car. On the plus side, the shorter length fits more comfortably in the garage.

The other major adjustment is shifting (pardon the pun) from a manual to automatic transmission. The '3' comes equipped with a 5 speed "Sport Mode" automatic which, in real terms, provides the ability to control the shift points of the transmission. The concept sounds great in principle, but I was underwhelmed with it when I drove the 6-7km home from the dealership. It wasn't until last night that I realized the shift points on the Mazda were one gear below those on the Subaru. At that point, everything clicked. It's still like some weird hybrid of manual and automatic but, man, is it fun! The HP and torque are essentially the same as the Legacy, but the car is much lighter. That results in a whole lot of zippedty-do-dah.

One of the deciding factors in choosing the Mazda over a Subaru Impreza was the feature set. Buying a Mazda is like ordering cable TV - every group of options has another set that's a prerequisite. In my case, I really wanted Bluetooth, GPS and a premium sound system because I didn't want to deal with after-market upgrades (though I'm sure it would have been much less expensive that way). Of course those options only come with the highest options package, so you end up with a fully tricked out vehicle, which is both a blessing and a curse. Lots of features means lots of controls (including those mounted on the steering wheel), and you have to be able to see them all in the dark, right? At night, this thing lights up like the Griswald's on Christmas Eve. It's simultaneously impressive, and garish. And speaking of night driving, not only are the headlights auto leveling, they're really freakin' bright! I swear they'd restore sight to a blind man.

I'm pretty impressed with the tech capabilities so far. The on-board GPS is nice, if a little small, and the sound system has good clarity and wallop. Bluetooth setup is pretty straightforward, and voice recognition is a welcome touch. I had little difficulty pairing my iPhone or Joyce's LG mobile, and I actually had Slacker Radio streaming from my iPhone through the Mazda's sound system this afternoon. Cool! I haven't activated the six month free subscription to Sirius radio yet, but I'm looking forward to that, too.

The GT-E also comes with automatic keyless entry and start. For the uninitiated, like me, this means that your car "keys" remain in your pocket (or purse as the case may be). Pardon me, but that's just fookin' weird. The keyless entry is actually pretty cool, as is the way the power driver's seat auto adjusts on entry, but the push button start is just plain foreign. There's something about inserting the key and turning on the ignition that's intrinsically part of the driving experience. And shutting down the car and walking away all with the key in my pocket still feels odd, not necessarily in a good way.

It's only been 48 hours, but I'm really excited by this little car so far. And "little" truly is the operative word, especially compared to what I'm used to. The Mazda 3 is a great little runabout, and the 2.5L engine will handle highway driving with aplomb. But as an only vehicle it's a little on the small side, even for a "single'" couple like us. We're already starting to think about replacing Joyce's 2005 Kia Spectra with a small SUV in a couple of years. It would be a perfect complement to the '3'.

MLB 10: The Show

2010-03-02T17:00:00.000-06:00

I picked this up today for the PS3, trading in the '09 version in the process. I pre-ordered it because you get 6 classic stadiums for no additional cost, though it appears as though they won't be available until May. Early impressions from others say that it plays a lot like last year's game but with improvements, such as better ball physics and a refined Road To The Show mode. I won't be getting too much playing time any time soon, but will give impressions when I can.

The Almighty iPhone

2010-02-28T10:23:00.003-06:00

Okay, maybe "almighty" is something of an overstatement, but I sure am digging this little piece of technology. I'll be the first to admit that the iPhone was purely an impulse purchase for me, a toy. Joyce's daughter, Shannon, got one and was showing it off to me at a Sens game a couple of weeks ago. I already had a 2004 model Samsung camera phone that I rarely used as I simply have little need for a mobile phone. Being self-employed now, I rationalized the purchase based on being more accessible at work, pretty weak justification at best.

Anyway, one week to the day after buying the thing, I feel like I could hardly live without it. It's never far from my side, and I've only made/received a couple of phone calls so far. And therein lies the beauty. The iPhone is a prime example of how technology is converging. It's a phone, a camera, a video recorder, an internet access and email tool, a GPS, a music and video player, and much more. Does it replace the need for dedicated devices for those purposes? Of course not. But it does put a whole lot of functionality in your shirt pocket.

As might be expected from Apple, the interface is very intuitive, so you're up and running in no time. And if you have trouble figuring something out on your own, help is only a couple of taps away. The only thing I haven't quite sorted out yet is responding to forwarded emails, but I suspect that has something to do with SMTP settings. I also should have been a little more aware when synching, as I inadvertently sucked down over six years worth of email contacts. Yikes! Battery life is a concern for some (Dave), but so far so good for me. Mine is set to enter sleep mode after 1 min. of inactivity, and I think that probably helps. I suspect the display probably drains a fair bit of juice while active.

I wouldn't have expected going in that I'd be interested in many apps, but I've been very pleasantly surprised by what's available. Many of them are free, and most others are very inexpensive. Not only that but they're tiny so they don't take up much memory space, and download lickety-split. I debated about springing the extra $100 for the 32GB model but, for now, I'm glad I stuck with the 16GB. My music collection is larger than 32GB anyway, and that's what the iPod is for (though I have no love for iTunes, but that's another blog).

And speaking of music, a shout-out to Slacker Radio. Jim's sister, Beth, recommended this dynamite little app that allows you to create personalized radio stations. I know there are similar PC based programs, but this is my first experience with one. Just pick an artist, and Slacker Radio creates a very intelligent playlist around it. I had the iPhone running through the stereo for several hours yesterday, flipping from one custom station to the next. Joyce loved it (she was bouncing around the kitchen!), and I discovered a few cool bands in the process. Apparently, the free subscription to Slacker Radio is only good for 30 days in Canada (no such limitation in the U.S.). Unfortunate as that is, the app is so good that I'll glady pony up the $4 per month to continue it when the time comes.

I'm still undecided over whether the iPhone is a productivity enhancer or a productivity waster. The truth probably falls somewhere in between. Either way, it freakin' rocks!

IGN loves The Secret Armory of General Knoxx

2010-02-25T22:04:00.001-06:00

IGN scores the latest Borderlands DLC an 8.8:

"If you enjoyed Borderlands and still wanted more, then definitely download The Secret Armory of General Knoxx. The main story line is still a blast even if you go it alone and some of the side quests will challenge the most hardened team of Boarderlands veterans. This is by far the best of the three add-ons for the core game, and the most fun I had since I completed the main game last year."

It's gonna be a while before I dive into this with God Of War II on my plate right now, but it sounds terrific.

It's a new car!!!

2010-02-25T16:36:00.001-06:00

The time has finally come for me to bid adieu to my faithful and much loved 1999 Subaru Legacy GT. Jim may remember the day I got that car. It was Sept. 10th 1999, the day we first met face to face. I picked it up on the way to meet him at the airport. We’ve been through a lot together these last 10 ½ years and it’s going to be tough to let her go. But there should be plenty of life left in her yet, and at least she’s going to a good home…Joyce’s younger daughter Heather and her family, who are VERY excited about finally having wheels.

I’ve been thinking about a replacement vehicle for about a year now, and it was an extremely tough decision. The obvious choice was another Subaru, in this case the Impreza 5 door, but I also really liked the Mazda 3 Sport (I owned a Mazda prior to the Subaru, and loved it). I deliberated between those two models right up until the end. The big attraction of the Subaru was sticking with AWD and a brand that had proven extremely reliable for me. OTOH, I preferred the styling of the Mazda (though the Impreza is no slouch in that dept. either), and found the bells and whistles a little more alluring. In the end, sex appeal won out over utilitarianism, and I opted for a Mazda 3 Sport GT-E. I’m a little apprehensive in moving from a manual to automatic transmission (so Joyce can drive it), but curious about the 5 speed sport mode automatic.

While I’m pretty excited about taking delivery of the Mazda, it’s tempered somewhat by having to say goodbye to the Subaru. At least the old gal is staying in the family.

God Of War Collection = masterpiece

2010-02-24T23:53:00.001-06:00

The original God Of War games (GOW and GOW2) were available exclusively on the Playstation 2. They were quickly hailed as some of the finest action games ever created on any console. I finished the original GOW and made it about halfway through GOW2 (loving every minute of it) when some other big releases came out and got me sidetracked. Sadly I never returned to it. But with Sony releasing both games as the God Of War Collection on the PS3, I have the chance to play both games again and to complete GOW2, this time in HD. The game still has a bit of that old PS2 look; the graphics have simply been updated a bit to HD but they are certainly not an eyesore in the least. The only time the graphics really look sub-par is during the cut scenes. The audio is terrific and most importantly, the spot-on gameplay remains.

I am about a quarter way through GOW2 and it is every bit as wonderful as I remembered. The scope of the game is amazing. Some of the sets are bigger and better than anything Hollywood has dreamed up. The story is epic, with Greek mythology coursing through it's veins. I have the strategy guide and it's terrific as well. Not only does it tell you all the little secrets of the game, it gives you full details on all of the Gods and creatures you encounter throughout. It is really well made and adds a lot to the game.

If you have never experienced the God Of War games, I urge you to do so. The GOW collection is a great value, 2 excellent complete games, and long ones at that, at one reduced price. And with God Of War III on the way in March, you may want to find out what the fuss is all about before that game owns your soul.

(Please be advised that these games are purely intended for mature audiences.)

New Borderlands DLC out today!

2010-02-23T17:05:00.001-06:00

Shacknews.com was the first to report (that I saw, anyway) that the new DLC for Borderlands, The Secret Armory of General Knoxx, would be available today for download for the Xbox 360 (Playstation Network will get the DLC on the 25th). Awesome news! Priced at a reasonable $10, the new DLC is by far the biggest yet. From the press release:

Almost twice the size of The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned
A brand new class of ultra-rare/kick-ass weapons
New vehicles including one that allows for four players to drive and inflict damage and deal out death
An exciting story line that picks-up where the original game left off
Almost 30 new villain types
A level cap increase to 61
More difficult villains and smarter AI

Count me in! I am in the midst of God Of War II, an old game that I played about halfway through a while back but never finished. I am going to complete it in anticipation of God Of War III which is due to be released for the PS3 in March. Not sure if I will finish GOW2 or pick up Borderlands again first. But I will give an opinion about The Secret Armory of General Knoxx as soon as I play enough to have an informed one.

I bought a raffle ticket...

2010-02-22T16:36:00.001-06:00

...and just won Club Level seats to a Senators game!!!

Potpourri for $200, Alex!

2010-02-21T12:58:00.004-06:00

Life has gotten in the way of blogging over the last few weeks, so it's time for a long overdue update...

We've been trying to catch as much of the Olympics as possible since they started last wekend. It's a real thrill that the're being held in Canada (despite the non winter-like Vancouver weather), and very cool that the entire country is abuzz with pride and excitement over the Games and the performance of our athletes. In the end, and rather unfortunately, it will all come down to the success or failure of the men's hockey team. After an opening game 8-0 romp over Norway, they struggled mightly against a fiesty and determined Swiss team, backstopped by an amazing performance by Jonas Hiller in goal. It will all come down to whether Team Canada's star-studded lineup can develop the chemistry required over the course of a short tournament. They face a very tough test against the U.S. later this afternoon.

In gaming news, Hustle Kings and Borderlands have occupied virtually all of my limited gaming time. I'm over halfway through Borderlands at this point and still enjoying the heck out of it. I'd probably be finished had Hustle Kings not snuck up and stolen so much of my time. I'd like to make a concerted push to complete Borderlands, hopefully after the Olympics.

I also took a sneak peek at Mass Effect 2 last weekend. The visuals are stunning (especially the cut scenes), but the gameplay didn't immediately hook me. Granted, this is only based on about 1.5 hours of play, and I'm not about to render any sort of judgement until I've delved into it much deeper.

We've checked out a bunch of blu-rays over the last few weeks as well. Here's a round-up...

Braveheart

I've always felt that Braveheart is vastly overrated by a certain demographic of film fans. However, it is an exceptionally well crafted piece of work, and hugely entertaining. The DVD video transfer of Braveheart left a lasting impression on me after seeing it several years ago. As good as it was, the blu-ray transfer is simply off the charts in comparison, easily among the most impressive I've seen. The level of detail so apparent in the DVD release is taken to new heights here, and the audio track is no slouch either. If Braveheart sits as part of your permananent film collection, the new Sapphire Series blu-ray is an absolute must-own.

Kung Fu Hustle

A hidden gem of a film. Part traditional Kung Fu, part 30's gangster flick, and part Looney Tunes, Stephen Chow's Kung Fu Hustle must be seen to be believed. The blu-ray improves on the already great DVD release on all counts, but not to the degree that some other titles do. While the picture looks terrific, it falls just short of reference quality. The audio, OTOH, is reference quality. The DTS track on the original DVD was fantastic, but I've never heard side surround imaging as strong and precise as on this very active blu-ray mix. This is surround sound as it's meant to be, folks. I'll be anxiously awaiting the blu-ray release of Shaolin Soccer (which I've yet to see). In the meantime, do yourself a favor and see this film!

Fight Club

Another film whose reputation exceeds itself to some degree. Don't get me wrong, I love me some Fight Club and will always own the latest and greatest version (hence the upgrade to blu-ray). I was expecting to be truly wowed by this BD, and simply wasn't. I can't point to any particular reason why, as both video and sound are solid. Perhaps it's more a case of the special edition DVD being so good in the first place, though I haven't bothered to take the time to compare them directly. Either way, it's tough to to give this one a hearty recommendation as an upgrade.

Leon: The Professional

Luc Besson's Leon, while not a great film, has established itself as a personal favorite. How can you not not love Jean Reno's turn in the title role and the interplay between he and Natalie Portman's Mathilda? I wasn't sure what to expect from this blu-ray going in, but came away very pleasantly surprised. This is a great looking transfer and the audio kicks into high gear when called upon, most notably during the action-packed finale. As a bonus, the disc includes both the theatrical and extended cuts of the film. Highly recommended if you love the film. And if you've never seen it, what are you waiting for?

Kingdom of Heaven

See Braveheart, above. Most of the same comments apply here. KoH certainly has it's detractors, but I'm not one of them. Love it or hate it, there's no denying that blu-ray and Ridley Scott were made for each other. The format is the perfect match for his visual trickery, and this transfer is just about as good as it gets, save for the fact that darker scenes tend to be a little compressed. No complaints about the audio either, it's every bit as powerful as you'd hope. If you're a fan of the film, this one's a no-brainer purchase.

What I've been watching

2010-02-20T14:40:00.000-06:00

Barb and I have really gotten into the Showtime series Dexter. I had always heard really good things about it and have wanted to check it out for a while. Since we joined Netflix and can get stuff instantly through our membership, we started Dexter a couple of weeks ago. We finished season 1 earlier this week and have already gotten more than halfway through season 2. We love it!

Season 1 was a beautifully self-contained story that explained everything perfectly and had some real surprises towards the end. Season 2 is expanding Dexter as a character, giving him much more depth. The acting is terrific (Michael C. Hall is perfect as Dexter) and the writing, while stretching credibility at times, is clever and sets a perfect tone for the series. We're looking very forward to seeing where the series goes from here.

I had also heard good things about a small independent film called Big Fan starring comedian Patton Oswalt. It's not really a comedy but a look at a loser named Paul that is a "big fan" of the New York Giants football team, completely obsessed with them at the expense of everything else. He lives at home with his mother, can't afford to actually attend the games and lives for making late night calls to an a sports radio station in New York where he has a running battle going on with a Philadelphia Eagles fan. One night he and his friend see their favorite player out on the town and decide to follow him to a club. Things don't go as planned and Paul's hero ends up viciously assaulting him. The player is suspended and the Giants' fortunes begin to suffer. Paul's family wants him to sue the player while the cops want to put the guy away. Paul wants the whole thing to blow over so that the Giants can start winning again. And the Philadelphia Eagles' fan on the radio finds out about the incident and begins taunting Paul about it over the air. It's a perfect storm gathering in this little guy's life. What will happen when it all becomes too much?

I thought the movie was pretty good, maybe a 7 on a 10 scale, but make no mistake, it's a minor movie. Oswalt was absolutely perfect in a serious role. I have always thought the guy was talented and had something like this in him; it's nice to see him get a chance to let it show. The supporting cast was splendid as well. I would not recommend actively seeking this movie out, but if you come across it someday, it may be worth paying attention to.

Finally, with a little extra time on my hands last night, I was flipping through Netflix for something to watch and I came across an iconic movie from the 70's that I had heard a lot about but had never actually seen before. I am talking about Eraserhead, baby! So I decided to go ahead and experience it for myself, knowing that this was something that Barb would probably not get into. It met my expectations, which is to say it didn't make much sense but was full of great visuals and was sufficiently freaky that I felt sorry for all those folks who watched it while tripping on acid in the 70's. I wonder if most of them ever recovered.

I'll tell the story as much as I can but I won't try to explain it, because to try to make sense of it would a waste of time. Let's just say there's this strange guy that works as a printer. He is on vacation. He apparently lives in an industrial city that is nearly abandoned, because we hardly ever see anyone outside on the streets; there are no incidental characters. Now this guy, Henry Spencer, has a girlfriend that he has apparently gotten pregnant, though he seems to be unaware of that. He is invited to her house for dinner where he meets her incredibly strange family and is told by the mother (after she licks his face in a fit of passion) about the baby. He then is told he must marry the girlfriend (Mary) and move her and the baby into his apartment.

Let's cut the to chase and say that the baby is some sort of mutant. It doesn't resemble a human at all. It's head looks like a cross between a horse and some kind of dinosaur and it's body is long and thin. Still, it is oddly endearing. Whoever did the special effects did a bang-up job because the way the eyes and mouth move make the creature seem alive. Anyway, the "baby" cries all the time, which makes the already insane Mary even more crazy. She leaves to go back to her parents. Now Henry is left alone to cope with the baby. When the baby gets sicks, he tries to nurse it back to health but it doesn't seem to work. Henry is trapped in his grotesque room with nothing to do but hallucinate and/or go insane. He sees a tiny woman behind his radiator who sings and dances and tells him of better days to come. He dreams of an affair with his neighbor across the hall. He sees all sort of appalling visions, such as sperm-like creatures that writhe across the floor. Then he wakes up. And he kills his baby. Or does he?

Eraserhead got director David Lynch established and well on his way to a career built on movies like this, focusing on the surreal where real life and dreams and insanity constantly blend. Back when it was made it was known as a "mindblowing" experience and if you can let yourself go a bit, it is still a compelling ride. Strange, twisted, and at time repulsive, but compelling all the same.

Bioshock 2 - final thoughts

2010-02-16T16:27:00.003-06:00

I finished up Bioshock 2 the other night and I must say that my initial impressions held throughout the rest of the game. In the end, Bioshock 2 simply had no chance to have the same sort of impact as the original. The first Bioshock was video gaming as an art form, creating an atmosphere unlike any other game before it. Once that sense of wonder and awe was uncovered, there was no way a 2nd act could have the same sort of impact. Bioshock's game play was very solid and the sequel builds on that and even improves it in some ways. The story is well told and makes you care about the outcome. The graphics and voice acting are superb. I have not a single complaint about the quality level of this game. It's just that in the end, it is basically Bioshock redux without the sense of awe. And that definitely matters.

On a scale of 1-10, I'd rate Bioshock 2 around an 8.8. Definitely worth playing, just don't expect to have that same sort of original Bioshock experience all over again.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!

2010-02-14T17:04:00.004-06:00

Happy Valentine's Day to my beautiful wife Barb and my lovely daughters Jessica and Laurel. And, of course, my Mom and sister Beth.

I love you with all of my heart!

Guys, be good to your ladies today and every day.

Bioshock 2 impressions

2010-02-14T16:57:00.004-06:00

I have put 6-7 hours into Bioshock 2 and have played enough to have a definite take on the the game thus far. My initial, first impression is that it was overly familiar. It didn't seem different enough from the original Bioshock. It seemed more like Bioshock 1.5. Now in my opinion, the original Bioshock is one of the all time great games, so that's not exactly a rip-job when I say it is familiar to the first game. But part of the charm of the first game was the wonder and awe of seeing Rapture for the 1st time. It was a mind-blowing experience to see the undersea world, along with the 50's era decor and the terrific soundtrack. The atmosphere in the game was something that was staggering and also staggeringly new. Bioshock 2 has the same terrific atmosphere, but alas, it is no longer new. Rapture is still a glory to behold; the new areas are spectacular and you even get to go outside for some oceanic exploration. But the initial jolt you felt from the first game, that freshness, is gone no matter how brilliantly this game recreates Rapture.

I was really disappointed to hear that you played as a "Big Daddy" in the sequel, but I am happy to announce that the control is almost the exact same as in the 1st game. You don't feel like a huge lumbering giant as you make your way through the game, you basically have the same movement as in the original Bioshock. Except now you have a huge drill on the end of your right hand. And it's nasty on the enemies.

Speaking of the enemies, the splicers are back in full force. They are a little tougher and smarter this time around and there are a few new variations. But the real bad-asses are the Big Sisters, who stalks you when you save little sisters. The Big Sisters are very formidable. They are as tough (or tougher) than a Big Daddy but are also lightning fast. And once one sets upon you, it will not stop until one of you is dead. I have yet to decide if these parts of the game are thrilling or a pain in the ass. Maybe a bit of both.

You still get to use Plasmids and upgrade weapons as in the first game. The weapons have some new additions, such as a rivet gun and a spear gun. There are new Plasmids to choose from as well and deciding which ones to use and which ones to ignore is one of the more intriguing aspects of the game. Decision making becomes very important as you make your way through the game and the enemies get harder and harder.

The story is (so far) intriguing and well-told. Once again you discover recordings throughout the game which fill you in on the details of what has happened in Rapture. I am eager to see what the future has in store for me and the little sisters.

Bioshock 2 is extremely well made. What it suffers for in lack of originality it works very hard to make up for in production values. They are first-rate all the way. I'll have final thoughts on Bioshock 2 as well as a tentative grade for it when I complete the game.

Sens Land Cullen

2010-02-13T13:31:00.002-06:00

The Senators acquired C Matt Cullen from the Carolina Hurricanes yesterday in exchange for D Alex Picard and their 2nd round draft pick this year. They also placed F Jonathan Cheechoo on waivers. He cleared today and was assigned to the Binghamton Senators of the AHL.

Cullen's 40 points in 60 games will provide a huge upgrade on Cheechoo's 5 goal 9 assist output, and add to the Senators already deep forward corps. He brings speed, versatility and scoring touch, and should provide a healthy boost to the team's 30th ranked PP. By all accounts, Cheechoo is a class guy and great teammate, but it's clear his best days are long behind him. He also carries a hefty $3.0M price tag this year and next. The additional cap space offsets Cullen's salary this year, and can be used towards re-upping UFA D Anton Volchenkov next year.

Alex Picard will not be missed. He has decent raw ability but seems to lack the hockey IQ to go with it. His roster spot will easily be filled by former first rounder Brian Lee for the next couple of games until Erik Karlsson returns from injury after the Olympic break.

I'm marginally surprised that Bryan Murray is loading up for the playoffs, but it's hard to argue as the Sens have won 13 of their last 14 and knocked off all of the top dogs in the Eastern Conference along the way (including a crazy 6-5 regulation win over the Caps on Thurs. night). If the team is serious about taking a run, Murray will probably look to add a top 4 D by the Mar. 3rd trade deadline. The way Cory Clouston has this team playing, they could make some noise in the playoffs provided they continue to get solid goaltending from Brian Elliott (or Pascal Leclaire). However, that could prove to be a pretty big 'if'.

Finished Darksiders

2010-02-12T15:51:00.002-06:00

A solid action title with some fiendish puzzles. Some RPG-lite elements included in the game, including decisions on what power-ups to emphasize as you proceed through the game. I must confess I would have never been able to figure out some of the puzzles without the use of an FAQ. The game was quite lengthy for an action title, a good 18-20 hours altogether.

So all in all, it was a fun game that gives you plenty of bang for your buck. The game is nothing revolutionary by any means, but it delivers solid action. If I was to rate Darksiders on a scale of 1-10, it would be somewhere around an 8.

Now on to Bioshock 2...

New owner for the St. Louis Rams?

2010-02-11T14:55:00.000-06:00

According the the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Rosenbloom family, current owners of the St. Louis Rams, have reached an agreement to sell the team to Illinois businessmen Shahid Khan. Mr. Khan has agreed to buy the Rosenbloom's 60% share of the team and, if need be, the remaining 40% of the team from minority owner from Stan Kroenke. All that remains is for the sale to be finalized and for Mr. Khan to be approved by 75% of the NFL owners. Mr. Khan has made his money in the auto parts manufacturing business and his company is reported to have revenue of over $2 billion annually.

This is potentially wonderful news as Mr. Khan is said to be a Rams fan who has attended quite a few games and, more importantly, is committed to keeping the team in St. Louis. There remains the issue of the stadium; the Rams' dome is becoming more outdated by the minute, even though it is only 15 years old. There is an escape clause in the lease that says the lease can be voided if the stadium is not among the top 25% of the NFL's stadiums in 2015. It is already in the bottom half of the stadiums and it is doubtful any sort of face lift could improve it enough. But it is thought that the Rosenblooms have received assurances from Mr. Khan that he is willing to work through the issue. The Rosenblooms were emphatic that they wanted to sell to an owner that was intent on keeping the team in St. Louis for the long haul and it looks like they were true to their word. St. Louis fans should be very grateful to them and, it appears, to Mr. Khan.

Post-Dispatch columnist Bernie Miklasz, one of the best sports columnists in the country, has been following this story for a long time and he broke the news today. For more of his thoughts, check out his blog here. Serious kudos to Mr. Miklasz for his fine work.

Bioshock 2 - delay of game

2010-02-10T15:35:00.001-06:00

I have decided that before I dive into Bioshock 2 that I am going to finish Darksiders, otherwise I may never get back to it. I want to give Bioshock 2 uninterrupted attention and I want to be able to not have any unfinished business that might make me rush through it a bit. With Dante's Inferno getting such mediocre reviews, Darksiders will fill my action-game needs for the time being. I have already gone back and gotten past the part where my last game was stuck. I must issue a mea culpa here; it appears as though the game itself did not have any sort of glitch. My brain, however, apparently did. After a bit of a layoff, I was confused on what I had and had not completed. I went back and replayed the entire area again and did some things I missed before.

I have no idea how much further I have to go but it shouldn't be too much longer. Then Bioshock 2 will get the attention it deserves. After that I will either re-attempt to get into Dragon Age: Origins (Mass Effect 2 has convinced me to try it again) or perhaps the latest DLC for Borderlands will be available.

Our darling Jessica

2010-02-09T01:43:00.001-06:00

Happy sweet 16, Jessica! It's true, our lovely Jess has turned 16 as of today. No reason to worry; she is not on the road quite yet! I kid, I kid...

Jessica, we are so proud of the young lady you have become. It has been a true pleasure watching your grow and mature. Your sweet nature always shines through. We are so blessed to have you as our daughter and of course you are such a wonderful big sister! Many more happy, happy birthdays Sweetheart!

Cool Pool

2010-02-08T16:35:00.003-06:00

I’ve always had a place in my gaming library for arcade titles, puzzlers, bowling and pinball games, and so on – “small” games that are nothing fancy but deliver solid and engrossing gameplay. So with that in mind, I took a flyer and downloaded Hustle Kings, the latest pool offering for the PS3. There wasn’t much to be found online about HK, but what was there sounded good. I couldn’t be more pleased that I took the plunge.

The first thing that grabs you about Hustle Kings is that it is surprisingly deep in terms of gameplay options. For starters, there are several variations of pool on tap including 8 Ball, 9 Ball, Cutthroat and Black Ball (but, sadly, no Snooker). The basics are supplemented by “bonus games” like Clear the Table, Beat the Clock, and a variety of Trick Shots. The meat of the game, which can be played on or offline, lies in the Career and Tournament modes (though there are others). “Career” mode in the context of HK is a bit of a misnomer though and would more appropriately be labeled “Challenge”. Starting at Rookie level and progressing through the ranks, you’re presented with a series of about 10 events. Completing an event (e.g. winning a game of 8 Ball) unlocks other events in the same or higher class, along with other perks. The disappointing aspect of Career mode is that there are no player rankings, and no progression aside from moving up from one level to the next. Tournament mode is just as the name implies – choose your game in a single knockout event against up to 15 opponents. Again, it’s too bad that the tournaments weren’t linked to some form of true career progression. In all modes, money is earned for completing shots and events, and winning tournaments. Your winnings can be used to buy goodies, or wagered in certain events and against online opponents.

While Hustle Kings provides lots to keep you busy, it wouldn’t matter a lick if the gameplay weren’t up to snuff. Luckily, this is where HK really shines. The game features a very good training mode that will have you up and running in no time, but improvement requires a little time and effort. And this is a good thing, IMO, as there’s no breezing through difficulty levels, even Rookie. I’ll never be mistaken for a pool shark but I did spend many an hour shooting stick during my misspent youth, and HK is about as accurate a simulation as you’re ever likely to find. The control mechanics are intuitive but also deep enough to reward players that have a good understanding of the game of pool. Ball physics are dead on and everything can be adjusted. Aim, cue angle, ball spin, and shot power all make a difference, and each variable has to be taken into consideration for consistent shot making. Even drawing back and following through with the cue needs to be smooth or you’ll hear that annoying clack that signals an imprecise shot, just like the real deal. It’s important to keep your cue well chalked too, which is accomplished by shaking the controller. The only niggle I have gameplay-wise is that the fine tune control used to help line up shots should be far less sensitive. Oh yeah, and WTF is up with having to purchase special attribute chalk from the Playstation Store??? That’s the kind of thing you should be able to buy with in game currency.

Graphically, HK is a treat. The environments are extremely nice, but it’s the balls and tables that are the real stars of the show. Rendered in high definition with superb lighting effects, the oft overused ‘photo-realistic’ truly applies here. But beyond anything else, Hustle Kings is stupidly addictive. It has that “just one more” quality in spades, as evidenced by the fact that it has kept me away from Borderlands and my unopened copy of Mass Effect 2 since I downloaded it 48 hours ago. The entertainment value that HK brings to the table far exceeds its modest $9.99 price tag, making it a must purchase for anyone with even a passing fancy for pool. Rack ‘em and pass the chalk!

Bioshock 2, Dante's Inferno reviews coming in

2010-02-08T15:15:00.001-06:00

Bioshock 2 reviews have been making their way online for the last couple of days. I have already read reviews from Official Xbox Magazine (9.5 out of 10) and Playstation Magazine (5 out of 5 stars). The online reviews have had nearly universal high scores as well. This is very reassuring as I myself was a bit skeptical that 2K Games could pull off a successful sequel. It appears as though they have done so, even if the scores aren't quite what they were for the splendid original game. IGN gave the game a 9.1 and you can read the review here. They also have a video review, but I have been avoiding such reviews in order to stay away from spoilers. Weather permitting, Bioshock 2 is due to be delivered to my doorstep sometime tomorrow. I'll have initial impressions once I can spend some time with it.

Another game I have been looking forward to is Dante's Inferno. While some reviews have said that it is an enjoyable God Of War clone, others have not been so kind. GameSpot really blasted it, causing me to seriously reconsider picking it up. A couple of gamers I know are currently playing it so I am going to wait for their thoughts as well. At this point, I can't see Dante's Inferno being any more than a rental.

Super Bowl thoughts

2010-02-07T21:38:00.001-06:00

Very happy to be wrong in my prediction. When the Colts took a 10-0 lead I was afraid the Saints, in their 1st Super Bowl, might wilt under the pressure. Instead, they took a cue from their head coach Sean Payton and raised the intensity. Payton called a very aggressive game plan, including a terrific onside kick call to open the 2nd half and the Saints seemed to gain confidence. They outscored the Colts 31-7 after falling behind by 10 to win their first Super Bowl championship.

Drew Brees was sensational in winning the MVP honors. On the other hand, I can't imagine how devastated Peyton Manning is after throwing a game breaking interception with just over 2 minutes to play. He is one of the most intense competitors around and I am sure he is just sick. I definitely sensed an enormous amount of confidence in the Colts heading into the game but perhaps they were overconfident.

I am very happy for the city of New Orleans and for long suffering Saints fans. I became a low-key fan of the Saints myself when Jim Mora became their coach back in the mid 80's. They played a conservative game of football on offense but their defense was tremendous with a terrific set of undersized linebackers. Even after Mora left I have always had a soft spot for the perennial doormats of the league. Now they are on top and I can't imagine the party they are having in New Orleans right now. Congrats, New Orleans!

Edit - It also bears mentioning that in the post season, the Saints had to beat 3 quarterbacks - Kurt Warner, Brett Favre and Peyton Manning - who will all end up in the Hall Of Fame. That's a heck of an accomplishment. No easy games there.

Super Bowl prediction

2010-02-07T14:58:00.000-06:00

Everyone else is giving it a go, so why not me?

I'll say Colts 38, Saints 24. But I am hoping that the Saints can pull it off.

Mass Effect 2 review

2010-02-06T15:56:00.001-06:00

After a marathon session last night (and early this morning), I somewhat surprisingly finished Mass Effect 2. I say surprisingly because I did not realize how close I was to the end of the game. I would almost say that the game is too short unless you are like me and try to tackle every single mission. If you do that, then the length is fine. I won't get too much into the plot of the game or the game play. What I will do is address what I liked and what I didn't like so much about the game.

As with the first Mass Effect game, the characters are top-notch. They really are the highlight of the game. Getting to meet your ship mates, recruiting others for your mission and assisting them in personal matters is where the game really shines. Only a couple of characters from the first game return for duty here, though there are some nice cameos throughout. The conversations to be had with your ship mates can be quite revealing as well as compelling. As in the first game, your character has a chance at romance with several of your team members. In the first game I found myself shunning the attractive human woman because it turned out she was quite xenophobic. I had a sweet romance with a female alien instead. In Mass Effect 2, I surprised myself with the direction my heart took me once again.

The real-time battles in ME2 are fantastic. You can use conventional weapons as well as tech weapons and "bio" weapons. Some of the characters you recruit are really strong at different weapon types and it pays to mix things up. When you go in to battle, you select 2 ship mates to join you, so choose wisely! I myself liked to take someone who was good with conventional weapons and someone good with bio weapons. As far as molding your own character, you can choose which weapon system to focus on as well. I am old fashioned and I love conventional weapons, especially the sniper rifle. But it is very possible to go through the game as a techie or a bio fighter. With all of these possibilities, combat is usually pretty varied throughout.

Research is a vital component of the game. If you want better weapons, armor, ship components, etc., you must find the data and have your scientist do research. Actually producing the items or upgrades requires resources which are located on planets throughout the system and can also be found in small quantities during mission. This brings me to the first negative part of ME2. To find large amounts of these resources, you must scan planets for them and launch mining pods when you locate the resources. This becomes quite tedious very quickly. It can easily take up to an hour if you really want to go out and find a lot of material. It's just not fun and it seems like a waste of time. Even after you get an upgrade to speed up the process, it is still too slow in my opinion.

The game can also feel repetitive when recruiting characters. Now, this is the best part of the game, so let me explain what I mean. After you recruit enough characters to complete the mission, you can continue the main mission. DON'T! There are still more characters to recruit. Get them all, as they are all terrific and worth having on your team. What I mean by repetition is this: after you successfully recruit a character, he/she will come to you a little while later with a personal mission they would like to carry out. You don't have to do these, but completing them makes the characters loyal to you so they are worth while. And the missions themselves are great. It's here where you really learn in-depth about your squad mates. It's just that you know you are going to end up doing this for every one of your recruits if you wanna play the game to it's fullest. So there's definitely an "Okay, I have 3 more of these character missions left" feeling after a while. Still, it's well worth it and extends your game time.

During the final parts of ME2 you will make life-or-death decisions. What I loved about this was that it wasn't obvious what you were choosing. In the original Mass Effect, you had to choose between 2 characters, which would live and which would die. There is nothing so obviously black and white like that here. You make choices and there are consequences one way or another. I was very happy with the way mine turned out; in fact it couldn't have worked out any better in my opinion. I'll be happy to share what happened with anyone who has completed the game. Otherwise it would be spoiler city.

There is already some downloadable content for the game. I got it free for pre-ordering the game but I will tell you that it is worth it alone just for the character of Zaeed Massani, a ruthless assassin that will join your team if you help him complete a mission. He's a terrific character, straight out of a grade A Hollywood movie and I used him quite a bit. Highly recommended.

So Mass Effect is a very successful Sci-Fi space opera RPG. The characters are superb; I must make special mention of the voice acting which is outstanding in every regard. The story is well told although it is very tech heavy and will make a lot more sense to those who have played the first Mass Effect game. There are a few negatives here and there, so it's not perfect by any means. But it is one hell of a ride, a fantastic story and a rip-roaring adventure.

And if you see Jack, please tell her I said hi.

Gaming Update

2010-02-01T16:09:00.001-06:00

Back in December, I posted that I was going to make a determined effort to finally get a handle on first person shooters and third person action games, so I thought I’d provide a little update on how that’s been working out for me. I’m pleased to report that I’ve played virtually nothing else for the last 6 weeks or so. The bulk of my time has been spent with Fallout 3 and Borderlands, and the occasional level of inFamous, Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2, Bioshock, Assassin’s Creed, Left 4 Dead 2, Metal Gear Solid 4 and Batman Arkham Asylum for variety.

I started out with inFamous and should have gone ahead and completed it but, alas, I made the mistake of cracking the seal on Fallout 3. That game consumed me for about three weeks (40+ hours) before I found myself ready for a little respite, and Borderlands has occupied my time ever since. I’m about halfway through Borderlands now, and starting to get the itch to return to Fallout 3. I doubt I’ll be able to resist taking a peek at Mass Effect 2 when it arrives in the next day or two, so I may just resign myself to rotating through a few games for the next while. It may be a less than ideal approach, but I’m having blast and, in the end, that’s what it’s all about.

Indecision and incomplete games aside, the time I’ve invested in these titles has paid off in a big way. I’ve become comfortable with the control and gameplay mechanics typical of the genres to the point where it’s become second nature. It has opened up a whole new world of gaming, and I’m now enjoying the heck out of games that previously seemed inaccessible. It leaves me wondering what took me so long!

Number Nine, Number Nine...

2010-01-31T13:59:00.005-06:00

Sorry, Jim, this isn't Beatles related.

As a die-hard Ottawa Senators fan, I've learned not to allow expectations to get the better of me. Years of great regular seasons followed by playoff disappointment will do that to a guy. But the home team deserves major props for recording a club record 9th consecutive victory yesterday with a 3-2 OT victory against the Habs on Hockey Day in Canada. Yeah, I know, every day is hockey day in Canada, but whatever.

This was easily the toughest game of the streak as the Canadiens erased a 2-0 deficit with a pair of PP goals, the second coming with less than four minutes left in regulation. Jason Spezza drew a penalty at the tail end of an end to end rush in OT, but the ensuing 4 on 3 PP was short-lived as Spezza took a penalty of his own. That set up a rare 3 on 3, with Mike Fisher blowing around Andrei Markov to pot the winner on Jaroslav Halak.

The Senators have been full value for all nine of these wins. Remarkably, this is the first of the string that has gone into extra time. They haven't fed on the weak sisters of the league either, dispatching the likes of the Black Hawks, Devils and Penguins in convincing fashion. Their success has been based on a tenacious and disciplined team game the likes of which fans in this city have longed to see for years.

The Sens now find themselves sitting 5th in the Eastern Conference. Not bad considering this run came on the heels of a five game losing streak. Not to take anything away from the players, but the MVP of the season so far has to be coach Cory Clouston (and his staff). Here's a guy who came from obscurity last year to take the reins on an interim basis following Craig Hartsburg's dismissal midway through the season. Even Senators fans weren't familiar with him despite the fact he was head coach of the team's AHL affiliate in Binghampton, NY. The difference in the team was immediately apparent, and has continued throughout this season, despite a rash of long term injuries to key players (Jason Spezza, Daniel Alfredsson, Milan Michalek, Anton Volchenkov, Filip Kuba, Pascal Leclaire, Nick Foligno).

Lastly, I have to gush a little about 19 year old rookie defenseman Erik Karlsson. The Senators traded up to select him 15th overall in the 2008 entry draft, and he made the team out of training camp this year. However, the transition wasn't a smooth one for him. He lacked confidence and wasn't positionally sound on defense. The team assigned him to Binghampton at the end of Oct., and most Sens fans didn't expect to see him back this season. So it came as something of a shock when he was recalled exactly one month later after posting 12 points in 11 games in the AHL. His progress since then has been nothing short of astounding. It's literally evident on a game to game basis. I've never seen a player in a Sens jersey develop so quickly. He's playing with a confidence and poise that belies his age. At only 5'11", 175 lbs. (soaking wet) he's way under-sized by NHL standards, but compensates with exceptional skating ability, soft hands, great vision and hockey sense. His ability to win puck battles along the defensive boards and quickly transition the offense has had a lot to do with the team's turnaround. If he continues on this trajectory, EK could become a pretty special player in this league. Check out this play yesterday to set up Mike Fisher for the OT winner...

http://www.sportsnet.ca/video/latest/NHL-MTL--OTT/page/

Mass Effect 2 - initial impressions

2010-01-30T23:16:00.005-06:00

HOLY. EFFING. CRAP.

More thoughts later...

When gaming goes wrong

2010-01-29T19:21:00.001-06:00

As I noted earlier, I have been dying to play Mass Effect 2, but wanted to finish Darksiders first. I had already put close to 15 hours into Darksiders, I had enjoyed it, and I wanted to see it through. Last night I had some time set aside so I figured I would finally finish the game. Uh, not so fast.

Imagine my disappointment when I realized that a lot of the progress I had made in the game was no longer recognized. To make a long story short, you have to redirect a bunch of light beams into different rooms. It is a long, drawn out affair and I had accomplished most of it. Then I had saved the game and quit. When I resumed the game, the lights were no longer lit and I could not backtrack to turn them on again. For some reason (perhaps the new patch that I downloaded just prior to playing last night), all of that progress was gone. And the only way to get back to that point again was to load a prior saved game, which would erase nearly 5 hours of time I had put into the game.

I spent 2 hours trying to figure out a better way to do this, but to no avail. Finally, disgusted with the situation and the waste of my time, I pulled the game out of the 360 and started Mass Effect 2. I just didn't have the time or patience to go back through so much of what I had just done so recently. I hope some day I will will myself to finish Darksiders, but right now I just don't know.

And for the record, Mass Effect 2 kicks major ass.

Bond? James Bond?

2010-01-29T15:21:00.002-06:00

I’ve been a James Bond fan literally since I was a kid. I’m dating myself here, but I saw all of the Connery Bond movies, from Goldfinger onward, at the theatre. I had all the paraphernalia too, from trading cards to a gold Aston Martin Dinky toy with retractable machine guns and bulletproof shield. I even had a 007 attaché case that fired plastic bullets and came equipped with a built in camera that actually worked. I was obsessed with all things Bond.
My interest began to wane when Roger Moore took over from Sean Connery. I was never able to come to terms with Moore in the role and, to this day, Connery defines Bond for me. It didn’t help that most of those films were mediocre at best, especially when held up against the first four of the series (Dr. No, From Russia With Love, Goldfinger, and Thunderball), which are my personal faves.

Much to my surprise, I quite liked the Pierce Brosnan era Bond films (Goldeneye, Tomorrow Never Dies, World is Not Enough). I never thought much of Brosnan prior to that, but he had just the right mix of qualities to pull off Bond. Those films ushered the franchise into the high tech world of the new millennium and placed it squarely in the big budget action genre. Most importantly, they remained true to the well established formula and tone of the past (including the late Desmond Llewelyn as M), while integrating new faces like Judi Dench and John Cleese who breathed some fresh air into the proceedings.

I finally got around to checking out the most recent era Bond with a viewing of Casino Royale on the weekend. This is a meaner, nastier Bond in the form of Daniel Craig. Craig is a fine actor in his own right, but I didn’t for one minute buy into him as Bond. He has the requisite suave when called upon, but the panache is missing in action. It’s probably unfair to criticize Craig, since he was probably just playing the characterization that was drawn for him. Maybe it’s the hair color, but I couldn’t help but think that Clive Owen would have made a perfect Bond. In any case, I think the script and direction, not the acting, are the main culprits. They assembled all of the traditional Bond ingredients, and sucked the fun right out of them. Part of the Bond charm is that it never took itself too seriously – there was always a nudge and a wink to the audience. The cheeky humor and double entendres have given way to outbursts of brutal violence. The torture scene towards the end of the film is a perfect example. Can you imagine Dr. No wailing away on Bond like that? I think not.

Taken on its own merits, Casino Royale is actually a decent action flick, but it could just as easily have been called Bourne Royale. It bears little resemblance to its predecessors, and I hope it doesn’t represent the beginning of the end of the innocence for 007. Either way, I won’t be bothering to find out whether the trend continued with Quantum of Solace.

Congratulations to my wife!

2010-01-28T10:38:00.000-06:00

I am both very proud and very pleased to announce that Barb passed her Boards exam (on her 1st try, natch) and is now officially a Registered Nurse! This was the last hurdle for her and now she is ready to settle into her career as an RN. I can't tell you how relived she is to get past this final step. Our family is so proud of her and her accomplishments over the last year.

We love you Barb!

Mass Effect 2

2010-01-27T19:02:00.000-06:00

Mass Effect 2 arrived yesterday and I am dying to dive in. All reviews so far say that this game is absolutely stellar and better in every way than the original Mass Effect. I am nearing completion of Darksiders and I am going to finish that before beginning ME2. Darksiders has been a lot of fun and I am afraid if I put it aside for a lengthy game like ME2 that I may end up not going back to it.

Bioshock 2, the sequel to one of my favorite games of all time, is due out February 9th, as is the very intriguing Dante's Inferno. I am a little leery that Bioshock 2 may not possibly be able to live up to the original, but hopefully it will be another A+ title.

That's all for now. I'll be back later with final thoughts on Darksiders and initial impressions of Mass Effect 2.

Review: Borderlands DLC - Mad Moxxi's Underdome Riot

2010-01-23T19:33:00.002-06:00

Being a complete Borderlands addict, it was a given that I'd be all in for the DLC. The first DLC available, The Zombie Island Of Dr. Ned, was a fantastic add-on to the Borderlands world and well worth the price of admission. The 2nd piece of DLC, Mad Moxxi's Underdome Riot, is here and it is a different kettle of fish.

Mad Moxxi's Underdome Riot is basically a series of challenges for your character to pass. Actually, it is more geared towards co-op multiplayer, as it is virtually impossible to survive the ever increasing challenges by yourself. The game play basically consists of being locked in a battle arena (there are 3 different arenas total) and being sent wave after wave of enemies. After clearing one battle, the next begins with tougher foes. Lather, rinse, repeat. In each arena, you have to clear 5 battle phases, each of which contains 5 individual battles. So that's 25 battles you must win in a row. Die once, and you start over from the beginning. And the longer you last, you are given more handicaps to hinder you. For example, your enemies may be more accurate than normal or twice as fast. So if being outnumbered 20 to 1 wasn't bad enough to begin with, you have even more hurdles in your path. As you can see, it would be a major advantage to tackles this with other players rather than go this alone. I have finished the first arena solo but I can't get far at all in either of the remaining two.

What makes Borderlands so addictive is the constant looting (grabbing new weapons and gear) and the leveling up to improve your character. You'll find neither of those things here. There are no weapon drops from slain enemies, just money. And while you can get quite rich during the battles, that's no substitute for the thrill of new weapons. There is also no lifting of the level cap in Mad Moxxi's Underdome Riot, so if your character is leveled out, that's where they will stay. There's really no incentive to play this DLC other than the sheer challenge of it.

I can only recommend Mad Moxxi's Underdome Riot to the hardest of the hardcore Borderlands players. While I had a heck of a good time making it through the first arena, it took me many attempts (which may frustrate casual players) and there was no pay off. As it looks to me now, the 2nd and 3rd arenas will only be able to be completed with others helping via co-op multiplayer.

The good news is that there will be an announcement soon for new, more conventional Borderlands DLC. And it has been noted that there will be a raising of the level cap. That is something that I am definitely gearing up for.

Senators 3 Blues 2

2010-01-22T16:16:00.005-06:00

The game was hardly a work of art, but the Senators extended their winning streak to five games with a 3-2 decision over the Blues last night. Though they lacked the focus and urgency displayed in their 4-1 triumph over the Hawks two nights earlier, the league’s 30th ranked PP struck for all three goals, including the game winner by Chris Phillips in the latter stages of the third period. It was a valiant effort by the Blues considering the quick turnaround following their OT win against the Habs a night earlier (Thanks Blues!). And Montreal is one of the last places on earth you want a young team celebrating a win after the game. Nevertheless, they were able to fight back from a 2-0 second period deficit to tie the game in the third.

It was great to get a look at my second favorite team and its bevy of young stars, like Keith Tkachuk. Too bad David Backes had to sit this one out, but David Perron was a threat every time he touched the puck, and EJ is a beast in the making (if he isn’t there already). JD & Co. have stockpiled a ton of high end talent in their system, and that’s going to pay huge dividends for the Blues in the not too distant future. In any case, as a Sens fan first, I’m pretty happy with a 5th straight win coming off a five game losing streak during which the team was missing five regulars, including their entire first line.

Fun Fact: The Blues have not defeated the Senators in Ottawa in ten years.

DLC

2010-01-21T16:25:00.001-06:00

Is it just me, or do you have mixed feelings about downloadable content for your gaming system of choice? On the one hand, there are lots of great, affordable, standalone games available for download. I’m thinking of titles like WipeOut HD/Fury, Peggle, Calling All Cars, Zuma, Shatter, Bejeweled 2, etc. Not to mention how nice it is to have game patches automatically downloaded and playable demos literally at our fingertips. However, what irks me a little is the extra cost add-ons to disc based games.

Look, I get the whole downloadable songs for Rock Band thing and, goodness knows, I’ve invested in my share of them. It’s the add-on levels/characters/tracks/etc. that rankle me. Would it have been so hard for EA to include Evander Holyfield and Sonny Liston in Fight Night Round 4 rather than bleeding an extra $1.99 a pop for them? A set of three supplementary tracks for Motorstorm Pacific Rift will set you back $5.99, and there are two sets available. Additional maps/levels for action/adventure/FPS games seem to start at $9.99 and rise from there. I liked it a lot better when goodies like these were unlockable.

Is disc storage capacity strapped to the point where some of this stuff couldn’t have been included as part an already expensive game, or even on a second disc if need be? Much as I appreciate the additional content, and the ease of accessing it, I can’t help but feel that much of the DLC available is nothing more than a cash grab by the developers and system manufacturers. Of course I can simply refuse to pay the price, but it leaves me feeling like I need to pony up in order to own the complete game. And that leaves a sour taste indeed.

Gaming update

2010-01-18T15:36:00.000-06:00

A couple of thoughts on games I have been playing recently...

-I really liked Ratchet And Clank Future: Tools Of Destruction when it came out on the PS3 a couple of years ago; in fact, I still own it. I just really got into the game and thoroughly enjoyed it, from the characters to the story and the superb animation. So it is quite a surprise to me that I have already bailed on Ratchet And Clank Future: A Crack In Time. I gave the game a solid 3-4 hours and I just couldn't get into it. Something was missing for me but I can't lay a finger on it. Maybe my tastes have changed a bit or something, I don't know. The Clank parts of the game were surprisingly frustrating involving lots of platforming that included many leaps to my death. After a while it became frustrating enough that I turned the game off, something I have not had to do in a long time. Right then and there I decided to trade the game in for store credit while I could still get a decent value for it. So I took it and Madden 10 to GameStop and traded them in for...

-Darksiders. This game is a real sleeper. Every review I have read has said it is a cross between the God Of War games and the Legend Of Zelda series. And with good reason. There is a lot of hacking and slashing and bloody mayhem ala GOW. And there are some huge dungeons to traverse and puzzles to solved like in the Zelda series. Originality is not this game's strong suit. But that doesn't damper the fun factor in the least. It's still a blast working your way through each area and deciding which ways to power up your character and/or weapons. You'll need to choose wisely because this game is no walk in the park, even on the easiest setting. But the game never seems unfair, which lessens the stress level for those times you do die.
A word of warning; this game takes a while to hit it's stride. The tutorial part of the game is at least an hour and the first dungeon doesn't arrive until the 2-3 hour mark. That's when the game takes off. If you have the patience, Darksiders can be a ton o' fun.

First Impressions - Borderlands

2010-01-17T14:34:00.002-06:00

After three weeks and 40 odd hours of Fallout 3, it was time for a little variety. As great is Fallout 3 is, and much as I've enjoyed it, the gameplay does get somewhat repetitive over the long haul. I'll definitely carry on, but I've been itching to take a sneak peek at some of the Christmas stash, and Borderlands topped the list.

From the moment the game boots up it's evident that Borderlands boasts top notch production values. Everything from the animation style to character design to music is brilliantly conceived and seamlessly integrated. If the objective was to create the illusion of stepping into the middle of a graphic novel, then mission accomplished. Borderlands simply oozes cool from every pore.

It also becomes abundantly clear from the outset that this will be no walk in the park. You are thrust into the action almost immediately, and must learn quickly how to survive, or die. Enemies are not only plentiful, they're fast, elusive and aggressive. Quite a contrast to the more measured pace of Fallout 3, and one that's required a rapid adjustment on my part.

Gameplay mechanics are great, and once you have the control sensitivity dialed in to your liking, you're well on the way to eradicating scores of baddies. The weapons, ammo, and health systems are well devised. What you're unable to loot can be purchased from vending machines with money you've looted. I'd prefer a little more control over managing health versus repeated death, but the ability to re-gen, at a price, is an admittedly clever twist. It would be nice if the corpses of your victims didn't disappear moments after you've killed them, but I guess you can't have everything.

You play as one of four characters, each possessing a different special skill and attributes. It's not hard to imagine how different the game would play out using another character, and that would add a ton of replayability for those inclined to play through multiple times. Add in split screen, dual console, and online multiplayer, and there's a whole lot of game here.

All things considered, Borderlands is a blast to play and about as addictive as they come. It kept me up way past my bedtime last night, and I can't wait to get back to it. Time to release the Bloodwing!

Pandora's Box (Criterion Collection)

2010-01-15T19:40:00.003-06:00

In 1929 famous German director G.W. Pabst released his silent masterpiece, Pandora's Box. Based on a couple of beloved plays by Frank Wedekind, it was a hugely ambitious and distinctly German project. So the German public was outraged when American actress Louise Brooks was cast as Lulu, the lead in the film. What they could not have known was that Ms. Brooks would give such a captivating performance that she would become famous worldwide and come to embody the 1920's & 1930's "flapper" girl.

Louise Brooks had co-starred in several silent pictures in the States and was on her way to becoming a leading lady when her contract expired. Rather than accept a low-ball offer from Hollywood, she took a better offer from Pabst to star in his new ambitious film, Pandora's Box. Pabst had been having trouble casting the iconic part of Lulu but had become convinced the 20 year old Brooks was perfect after seeing her on screen in one of her American roles. But he had trouble reaching her and had given up. The great Marlene Dietrich was in his office and was being offered the job (even though Pabst considered her too old for the role) when Brooks returned his call to see what he had wanted. He immediately cast her over the phone without even meeting her.

Watching Pandora's Box in it's restored glory, you realize 2 things; Pabst was a genius and Louise Brooks was as dazzling a star as the world would see for a long while. Pasbt's movie runs over 2 hours in length and it never lulls in it's storytelling, even with the very limited dialogue that is present due to it being a silent picture. It tells the story of Lulu, who has been a kept girl numerous times, always climbing up the ladder. As the movie begins she is the mistress of a rich newspaper editor and he keeps her in a beautiful apartment. He tries to break off the affair because he is getting married, but Lulu laughs him off. "Is that the reason you won't kiss me?" she asks and the affair continues. Her first sugar daddy (Carl Goetz as the repulsive Schigolch) re-enters the picture and Lulu feels indebted to him, so she is always dragging him along, trying to help him out. Lulu systematically destroys every man around her, but she does it not out of cruelty, but out of sweetness and not being able to say no. She is far from the typical femme fatale; while she knows her allure and her sexual power, she is out for nothing more than a good time. Either she is oblivious to the fact that she is toying with the emotions of those that fall under her spell or she does not comprehend the damage she does. Either way, she is the downfall of many men and eventually she is dragged down as well.

While the movie itself is wonderful, ambitious and stunningly photographed in the German expressionistic vein, by far it's most powerful virtue is Ms. Brooks herself. What a sight she must have been to audiences back in the day! Trained in dance, she had the grace of a swan and a natural beauty that was emphasized by her unusual hair style, which was often called a black helmet. She wore it very short and it made her splendid facial features stand on their own. The most accurate modern day comparison I can think of is Isabella Rosellini back in the early 80's. Brooks is absolutely luminous on the screen. You can't take your eyes off of her, especially that face with those deeply expressive eyes. You can see why an international star was born when Pandora's Box was released.

Of course back then foreign films didn't play very often in America, so Brooks remained fairly obscure in the States. She made a couple of more films in Germany and then came back to Hollywood. But she had burned some bridges when she had gone to Germany. With "talkies" now all the rage in Hollywood, the studios tried to strong arm their actors into accepting lesser contracts for fear of being replaced by voice actors. Louise Brooks was a very intelligent, independent and strong-willed woman, something rare and not tolerated in Hollywood. When she balked at the lesser contract, the studios blackballed her, putting out word that her voice was terrible on film. She worked only sporadically thereafter and only in lesser quality films. The brightest star in the galaxy had burned out amazingly fast.

Louise Brooks ended up basically becoming a hermit in her later years, an alcoholic that was bitter with the way Hollywood treated her. She would eventually rebound late in life and become an outstanding writer on film. She also gave some interviews about her amazing career and her life and times as the "It Girl." There are 2 excellent documentaries about Ms. Brooks on the Criterion Collection's edition of Pandora's Box. What an amazing life she had! She was a hedonist at heart; she had no intention of having one lover, of settling down in any one place, of being someone you could pigeonhole. She loved being out on the town, dancing the night away in nightclubs with whatever man was currently tickling her fancy. She didn't care what others thought of her and she was, as mentioned earlier, far more intelligent and independent than most men of the time could handle. She was very nearly Lulu in real life. That she brought Lulu to life for us on screen is her everlasting gift to us.

Finished Infamous

2010-01-12T23:19:00.000-06:00

Wow, what a game. As you may know, this game came out for the PS3 in the middle of 2009 but I just got to it recently. I made it through the end game last night (via the good-guy play through - I always play as a good guy) and I am mighty impressed. The graphics are top-notch. It's an open-world sandbox style of game and the environment is a living and breathing metropolis. I can't imagine the work that went into creating the world of Infamous; in that regard it reminds me a lot of Assassin's Creed II. The Gameplay is pretty easy to get into with fluid controls that rarely frustrate. Moving Cole (the protagonist) around the map is easy and fun.

The mission variety gets a little old as you dig deeper into the game: if I never have to escort prisoners to jail again it will be too soon for me. But overall the game remains interesting throughout with a solid story, good voice acting and some killer action. The different powers you learn as you make your way through the game are awesome and handed out in just the right fashion. You get to choose which powers to improve upon and which to use as your main weapon(s).

I have a lot of games left to dive into still, but I may actually play through Infamous again and see what happens when you choose the evil path. (You get different powers and of course the story plays out differently as well.) That says a lot considering the game is quite lengthy in just a single play through. It's already a tremendous value if you only play through once. And as a bonus, once you finish the game, you can keep playing in free roam mode. Gotta love that!

I am not sure where else the story could go from here but if there is a sequel you can sign me up. I wish I had played Infamous early enough to qualify for my yearly gaming awards. It would have definitely been in the running for some hardware. As it is, I would put it in a tie with Assassin's Creed II for 3rd place in my Game Of The Year awards for 2009. Lofty praise indeed.

Weekend Round-Up

2010-01-11T16:23:00.006-06:00

The Tarantino Film Fest continued this weekend with Jackie Brown. Probably the most underappreciated of QT’s films, it was considered a bit of a letdown following the raw intensity of Reservoir Dogs and inventive cool of Pulp Fiction. JB is the most character driven, and by far the least violent film Tarantino has made. For a director that had established his reputation (at least in part) on outbursts of graphic violence, JB represented a totally unexpected turn in direction. While still a crime drama, it’s a film that relies almost entirely on its story and characters to succeed, and it does so magnificently thanks to uniformly superb performances from all involved.

In a daring and inspired casting choice, former B-movie star Pam Grier hits all the right notes in the title role as a desperate, low income, airline stewardess transporting cash for a smarmy gun dealer. Likewise, Robert Forster turns in a finely nuanced and understated performance of compassion and intelligence as the aging bail bondsman who sympathizes with Jackie’s predicament and chooses to help her. Samuel L. Jackson once again delivers the goods as a hipster baddie, this time with more evil intent than his role in Pulp Fiction. Robert De Niro as the hapless ex-con with a stunted IQ, Michael Keaton in a reprise of the character he played in Out of Sight, and Bridget Fonda as chain-bonging surfer chick, Melanie, round out the perfectly cast ensemble.

The story is supported by a great script that’s tight and smartly written, peppered with plenty of Tarantino’s trademark repartee and sharp one-liners. For the most part, he wisely steps aside and lets the actors drive the story, so on the few occasions where he imposes a little directorial flair, it’s very effective. Jackie Brown is an extremely well crafted and enjoyable film. What it may lack in pizzazz, it more than makes up for in character development, solid acting and a terrific story. It features a strong and empowered female lead and virtually no on-screen violence, making it the perfect Tarantino primer for female viewers. My wife loved it, and so will yours.

Unfortunately, the two disc Collector’s Edition DVD, while a nice package, fails to do the film justice in terms of audio/visual quality. Maybe I’m turning into a Blu-ray elitist, but the DVD video transfer is a real disappointment. Shadow detail is severely lacking and edge enhancement is abundant, leaving dark scenes looking murky and brighter scenes over-processed. It’s a shame because JB is a good looking film that would be a great candidate for an updated BD transfer. The audio is also surprisingly mediocre, especially considering that it’s a DTS 5.1 mix. JB is hardly an audio showcase, but the dynamite, old school soul soundtrack lacks presence and clarity. A re-mastered, uncompressed audio track would no doubt do it justice. Here’s hoping for Blu-ray releases of both Jackie Brown and Pulp Fiction in the not too distant future.

On the gaming front, Fallout 3 continues to monopolize my time to the exclusion of everything else. I had originally planned to take a sneak peak at Ratchet and Clank yesterday, but that fell by the wayside the moment Fallout 3 found its way into the PS3. Much as I’m enjoying it, I almost wish I’d gotten hooked on something a little less expansive. At only 20-25% complete, I still have a looong way to go.

And last, but not least, we celebrated grandson Koen’s 2nd birthday on Saturday with a little get together at Joyce’s mom’s place. Here’s a taste of The Little Goomer enjoying the festivities…

Southern Culture On The Skids

2010-01-10T10:48:00.006-06:00

I've been aware of this madcap trio from NC for several years now, but only recently got around to checking them out. I picked up Mojo Box a few months ago and have been gradually adding the rest of the SCOTS catalog to the collection ever since. One part surf, one part country, two parts psychobilly and 100% pure, unadulterated rock 'n' roll fun. How can you not love a band that tosses fried chicken into the audience during their show? God Bless their mobile home, indeed.

A little Voodoo Cadillac for y'all, just because...

Kill Bill Vol. 1 & Vol. 2 (Blu-ray)

2010-01-08T16:05:00.005-06:00

Seeing Inglorious Basterds recently provided the urge to revisit the Kill Bill films. I replaced the DVD versions with Blu-rays some months ago, and they’ve been sitting unopened ever since. Joyce had never seen the KB’s, and I wasn’t sure they would be for her, particularly the first. I made her promise that if we watched Vol. 1, and she didn’t like it, she wasn’t allowed to bail on Vol. 2. With that agreement in place, we watched both films on successive nights.

It’s been a while since I’ve seen KB, and I’d forgotten how much fun the first instalment is. The set piece confrontation between The Bride and the Crazy 88’s is waaaay over the top and, IMO, detracts from the film, but I’m willing to forgive Tarantino that indulgence as his homage to the genre. However, the remainder of the film strikes a perfect balance between action, dark humour and character development that QT tried, but wasn’t quite able, to pull off in IB. Joyce really enjoyed Vol. 1 and was anxious to find out how the rest of the story unfolded in Vol. 2. She wasn’t disappointed.

Vol. 2 plays out at a far more measured pace, simultaneously filling out the backstory and advancing the narrative. But when the action arrives, it does so in explosive fashion, notably The Bride’s showdown with Elle Driver which matches the intensity of the ‘knock down drag ‘em outs’ with Vernita and Gogo the first time around. The acting also takes on greater prominence with David Carradine’s Bill and Gordon Lui (in his second of two roles) as Pei Mai being particular standouts. I recall many people expressing disappointment with Vol. 2 when it was released, complaining that it was too long and ponderous compared to the action-packed Vol. 1. But, taken as two pieces of a whole, it’s very nearly perfect.

As befits the material and mood, Tarantino paints Vol. 1 with bold, almost cartoon-like images, and the Blu-ray reproduces them in spectacular fashion. The film is chock-full of vibrant yellows, reds, blues and greens, and they positively leap off the screen. For the most part, he works with a more subdued colour palette in Vol. 2 that’s well suited to the more sombre tone and emotional depth of the latter half of the story, but it’s no less impressive. In both cases, the image is clean, detailed and razor sharp, and the B&W sequences (save for some intentional grain) rival those in the blu-ray release of Sin City (a reference quality disc, IMO). The uncompressed Dolby Digital soundtrack is every bit the equal of the stellar visuals - clear, tight and powerful.

I should note that these are the Alliance Atlantis Blu-ray releases (as is my copy of Sin City). They may be bare bones in terms of features, but the quality is outstanding and so is the very affordable price. I wish I could say the same for the Alliance release of From Dusk Til Dawn, but it doesn’t impress to nearly the same degree as the others.

Next on the Tarantino viewing agenda is Jackie Brown. Too bad that one isn’t available on Blu-ray yet.

Movie review - Avatar

2010-01-07T15:03:00.001-06:00

Barb and I took in Avatar last night amidst a snow storm in old St. Loo. We made the very wise decision to see it in 3-D, which, I have been told, is really the only way to really experience the movie. And what an experience it was! While the story may be old hat (more on that later), the effects - from the 3-D technology to the dazzling array of colors - were like sensory overload (in a good way) combined with some sort of cosmic visual orgy. Wow, that sounds weird now that I have typed it out, but I stand by it nonetheless. It was really breathtaking.

The story concerns humankind expanding into other worlds, intruding upon other species and their sacred grounds for nothing more than the almighty dollar. Yes, it's pretty obvious which side you are supposed to root for right away. It's typical James Cameron, complete with an over-the-top villain, who is played with great zeal by the always underrated Stephen Lang. As far as crazy bad guys go, Lang makes an impressive one.

Sigourney Weaver plays a scientist whose loyalties clearly lie with the indigenous people of the planet Pandora. Age seems to agree with Ms. Weaver very well; this is the 2nd performance I have seen her in recently (The Girl In The Park being the other) and both times she has been very compelling. It's nice to see talented actresses still getting work as they get a bit older, something that has not been so easy in the past.

The main role is played by Sam Worthington, someone that I was not familiar with prior to Avatar. He is quite impressive here, carrying the movie with relative ease. He plays somewhat of a dual role, that of his character in human form and his character in Avatar form. (It should be noted that Sigourney Weaver does this as well and is terrific in both forms). I found Worthington particularly believable as a human and watching his character (predictably) evolve was compelling.

Worthington's Avatar has to have a female love interest (of course) and she is embodied by Zoe Saldana. We never see her as a human (she is not human in the movie) but her character is charming; equal parts sweet, seductive and ferocious. It's a terrific performance even if the character is more than a bit reminiscent of other strong women in other Cameron movies (see Aliens, Terminator 2 and Titanic for reference).

As for the story itself, it plays out rather predictably as you would imagine. It is a typical James Cameron event film. Still, despite the familiarity and some preachy-ness, it is often quite stirring and it's all wonderfully entertaining. The battle scenes are epic and spectacular. There are definitely moments you will see coming from miles away but it really doesn't diminish how entertaining the movie is as a whole.

I heartily recommend seeking out Avatar in it's full 3-D glory. It's an experience unlike any other at the movies and it's one that will stay with me for a while.

Uh-Oh Canada!

2010-01-06T16:34:00.000-06:00

For the second time in less than a week, the Canadian Junior hockey team staged a furious third period comeback to erase a two goal deficit against the U.S. behind the remarkable heroics of Edmonton Oiler prospect Jordan Eberle. This time, however, the U.S. squad was able to stave off the onslaught, and iced the World Junior Championship win in overtime. Full marks, and congratulations, to the U.S. on a well deserved win. They could have, and probably should have, beaten the Canadians in the final round robin game on New Year’s Eve as well.

This is the second year in a row that the Canadian team flirted with disaster at the World Juniors, always seeming to pull a rabbit out of their collective asses when they needed it most. They had a cakewalk through the tourney this year, including a 16-0 opening game annihilation of Latvia, and fortuitously drawing the Swiss as their semi-final opponent. The only team of any import that they faced was the U.S. (they dodged the Swedes, Russians and Finns), and they were arguably outplayed in both games, despite the advantage of having the partisan Canadian crowd at their backs (also for a second year running). I was obviously pulling for Canada, but our teams have been so dominant at every level in recent years that the resulting confidence was bordering on arrogance. It won’t hurt Hockey Canada to munch a little humble pie between now and the Olympics next month. In fact, it looks good on them.

Gaming update

2010-01-06T00:58:00.004-06:00

I have been working nights so I have not been able to play any games for a while. I remedied that by spending some quality time with Infamous tonight. I am really enjoying this game, even more so than when I first started playing it. I have a better handle on the controls of the game and how to attack enemies. The missions are well thought out and have not proven too frustrating yet. It's a very impressive game overall and it definitely would have gotten some love in my 2009 Gaming Awards had I played it earlier.

After being almost overwhelmed with games and not knowing which way to go, I now have a definite plan. I am going to finish Infamous and then move on to Ratchet And Clank. After finishing that, Mass Effect 2 should be ready for release. Also Borderlands' 2nd DLC pack was released early and I downloaded that tonight. That will be calling my name really soon. Also downloaded tonight were 3 new songs for Rock Band 2. They come from Paul McCartney's new live CD. The songs are "Band On The Run," "Jet," and "Sing The Changes" which is off of his latest Fireman CD. Looking forward to checking those out as well.

A couple of recent games have my attention, Bayonetta and Darksiders. Bayonetta is getting universal acclaim, scoring a 9.5 at IGN and a 9.0 at GameSpot. GameSpot's video review is excellent and well worth checking out. By the way, it is definitely worth noting that every major review site is saying that the 360 version is far superior to the PS3 version, which has several technical issues such as frame rate, very long load times and washed-out colors. Take that, Pete!

Darksiders isn't quite getting the same sort of raves but it is receiving good reviews and is being compared to a cross between God Of War and the Legend Of Zelda games. For a rave review, check out this one at The Gamers' Temple.

Hope the new year is treating everyone well! Happy gaming!

A Tale of Two Plasmas

2010-01-03T08:55:00.002-06:00

As a life-long home electronics enthusiast, I’ve traditionally been an early adopter of technology. Not mega $ crazy, mind you, but I have tended to climb aboard sooner than later whether it’s been CD, surround sound, MP3 player, or the latest gaming console.

I stepped up to my first big screen TV, a 50" Hitachi, in the early 90’s. That set served me well for nine years before I got the itch to view my burgeoning collection of anamorphically enhanced DVD’s in true widescreen format. That led to the purchase of a 65" Mitsubishi HDTV, and an HD satellite receiver. HD was a pretty nascent technology at the time, and programming was scarce – the occasional movie, and major sporting events like the Super Bowl, The Masters and U.S. Open tennis. But what was available was beyond anything I could have imagined. I was hooked.

About four years ago, I got the idea that it would be nice to have a smaller HD set for the bedroom. Not wanting to break the bank, I settled for a 27" budget brand LCD which, was still costly enough. It was okay at the time, but I can’t say I was ever particularly thrilled with that TV. The blacks weren’t as deep and the colours not as saturated as I’d become accustomed to, and a 27" widescreen isn’t a very large image even in a smallish living space, especially in comparison to the monolith that was sitting in the living room downstairs. Unfair as it may have been, that TV influenced my opinion of LCD’s going forward.

Last year, I began to think about replacing the Mits. Despite having cost an arm and both legs to import from the U.S. when I bought it, it didn’t owe me a thing after eight trouble-free years. It had developed some screen burn which bothered me, but otherwise still delivered the same great picture quality as always. By then I had added a PS3 to the mix, but couldn’t fully exploit it due to the Mits’ inability to display anything beyond 1080i resolution, and lack of an HDMI input (required for DVD upconversion).

From the outset, my intent was to replace the Mitsubishi with an equivalent sized Panasonic plasma. I’m a stickler when it comes to blacks, and that’s one of the strengths of plasma. As I researched the choices available, which become quite limited at that size, I found that the Panasonic Viera (plasma) and Sharp Aquos (120hz LCD) were virtually the same price. It seemed like an easy call until I learned that the Panasonic didn’t come with a pedestal stand, which would add almost $700 to the cost! As a result, I came very close to pulling the trigger on the Sharp, but was able to source a stand for the Panasonic at reasonable cost and stuck with my initial instinct. While I’m sure I would have been very pleased with the Aquos, I’m nothing short of thrilled with the Viera.

My wife, who was very content with the old set and did not see any need to upgrade, immediately noticed the difference in picture quality. That’s a strong testament to how striking the improvement was. Colours are more saturated and vibrant, blacks are deeper, flesh tones are true, and it all looks razor sharp whether it be HDTV, Blu-Ray or games. One year later, it still amazes me every time I turn the thing on.

The plasma spoiled me so badly that the little 27" LCD in the bedroom became all but unwatchable. Try as I may, I just couldn’t dial in a picture I was happy with. There was only one solution…replace it with another plasma! Not wanting to mess with success, I stuck with Panasonic, this time a 42" which is a much more suitable size for the space – a big enough image to have impact, but not so large that it dominates the room. And, once again, it’s wife approved!

As happy as I am with my plasmas, they certainly aren’t for everyone. My slight reservations about LCD notwithstanding, I’ve seen plenty of them that look fantastic and would be a better choice for many, if not most, viewers. But in the right application, and assuming you’re willing to invest a little time dialing it in, a plasma will reward you with a picture that’s hard to equal.

Pros

· Deep blacks
· Rich, saturated color
· Natural, "film-like" image
· High contrast ratio
· Handles movement well (e.g. sports)

Cons

· Reflective screen is susceptible to front or side lighting sources (natural or artificial)
· High power consumption – generates a fair bit of heat
· Lengthy "break-in" period (100-1000 hours) recommended
· Not as bright as LCD (but ample for most tastes and environments)
· Prone to image retention (temporary) but not burn in (permanent)

500 Days Of Inglourious Human Condition

2010-01-01T07:36:00.004-06:00

Or something like that. I had a movie marathon the other night. Barb and I started the night off with (500) Days Of Summer, a lovely little relationship movie that I had been anxious to see. The movie is quite captivating, due mostly to 2 very appealing stars, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel. With her big doe-eyes, Deschanel has been a charmer for quite some time, first making an impression on me way back in 2000 in Almost Famous. She's perfectly cast here in the role of a free spirit wary of getting tied down. But it's Gordon-Levitt who carries the movie in my mind. He is a revelation here, a real leading man with depth, something that is sadly missing from many of today's top young stars. One minute he is funny and charming, the next soulful and at a loss. It's an honest performance and I think it's one of the best of 2009. (500) Days Of Summer balances a fine line between serious romance and romantic comedy. It's what I would call a quirky romance with believable characters. I really enjoyed it and so did Barb. Killer soundtrack as well and the best use of Simon & Garfunkle in a movie since The Graduate.

Next up for me was Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds. Pete already gave his take on this movie and I am pretty much in agreement with him. I enjoyed it quite a bit but I can't quite put it up there with what I consider Tarantino's best works, which in my mind are Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs and the Kill Bill saga, in that order. I liked it much more than Death Proof, which I thought was a lot of pretentious, show-off dialogue with some great car stunts thrown in.
Tarantino has said that IB is a spaghetti western set in WWII and that is really a pretty good description. It's very hard to take the film seriously at all, even when some of the acting (particularly by Christopher Waltz and the 2 female roles played by Melanie Laurent and Diane Kruger) is outstanding. It's set up more like a comic book, which is fine, but that tone hampers some of the more serious moments in the film to the point where I was thinking "This moment should be more powerful." Perhaps that was Tarantino's intent, to make the movie a jarring experience and more like a popcorn rollercoaster movie. Nothing wrong with that, it just left me more ambivalent about the fates of the characters.

Next up was part 1 of Masaki Kobayashi's 1959-1961 masterpiece, The Human Condition. I have touched on this film numerous times here in the past but for those who don't know, I'll lay out a little info. First, the film is probably not for everyone, but I wish everyone would see it. When I first saw it years ago it had a tremendous impact on me. It stayed with me for a long while and, no kidding, made me reassess what I felt was important in life. With that said, the reason I say it is not for everyone is because:

It was filmed in black & white
It's a Japanese film with english subtitles
In it's entirety, it is nearly 10 hours long

It was made in 3 separate parts, each one over 3 hours in length. Part II picks up right where part I left off and part III picks up right where part II ends. It is one long story, a remarkable, heartbreaking journey of a man through unthinkable conditions which test his sense of right and wrong as well as his will to live. It is at times terribly brutal and at other times touchingly delicate. But at all time, it is remarkably poignant.
The story takes place during WWII, with Japan at war and using and abusing the Chinese people in any number of ways. The protagonist, Kaji, is a Japanese pacifist who believes that treating people with decency and respect is the only way. He wants to avoid service in the war as it goes against every belief he holds dear. In fear that he will be called up, he refuses to marry his longtime sweetheart, Michiko. When the chance comes for him to take a laborer foreman job at a mine - a job that comes with a the bonus of being ineligible for the draft - Kaji takes it and brings Michiko with him. He is appalled to see the abuse that the laborers - Chinese slaves - must endure. He goes about changing the system and the corruption it has bred. He meets heavy resistance from everyone and soon it is a battle of wills not only for the very lives of the slaves, but for Kaji's soul as well. Part I of The Human Condition deals with Kaji at the mines. It leads up to a devastating conclusion that sets up part II.
The Human Condition is many things: a testament to the human spirit, a great treatise on humanity and one hell of a love story. The new DVD from Criterion feature a MUCH improved print that makes the viewing much more enjoyable. If you are so inclined, make it a point to see this movie at least once in your lifetime.

The Superficial Game of the Year Awards

2009-12-31T09:45:00.009-06:00

2009 represented something of a gaming renaissance for me, particularly the latter portion of the year. Spending a week with Jim S. will do that to a guy. So I thought it fitting to close out the year by assembling a list of the games that occupied most of my time.

If you're looking for insight and in-depth commentary, scroll on down to Jim's excellent GOTY pieces posted over the last month or so. You'll find none of that here. Nope, these are quick and dirty takes on the games that impressed me most, many based on limited gameplay, not all of which were released this year, but collectively consumed most of my gaming time. They're ranked in rough order of how much time I spent with each. Ground rules out of the way, herewith, The Superficial Game Of The Year Awards...

The Dominators

MLB 08 (PS3)

Yes, you read right. That’s MLB 08. Picking up right where it left off last year, this superlative game occupied all of my gaming time for the entire first half of the year. In terms of sheer number of hours played, nothing else came close.

NHL 10 (PS3)

So disappointed was I in this game that I had it posted for sale mere days after purchase. The player control is an outright abomination in terms of physics and realism. Still, we Canucks love us some puck, and after granting the game a second lease on life, I came to appreciate the fun factor lurking beneath its faux sim exterior.

Rock Band 2 (PS3)

As a guitar player, I had zero interest in the Guitar Hero and Rock Band franchises. I briefly attempted GH once with my 10 yr. old nephew (who ruled!), and failed miserably. Then, Jim insisted on dragging out RB2 while we were there. I opted for drums instead of guitar, and it wasn’t long before I was posting good scores and having a ton of fun. But it was my wife, Joyce, who liked it even more than me, suggesting that we get it for Christmas. Well, Christmas comes early in Canada, and it wasn’t long after we returned from St. Louis that The Huckleberries were born. The rest, as they say, is history. Easily the most expensive game (considering peripherals and downloads) I’ve ever owned, and the only game that the two of us play together. That alone makes it worth every penny.

Peggle (PS3 download)

I’ve been searching for an action puzzler for my wife, The Zuma Queen, to supplement, well, Zuma. Peggle is that game. I first fired it up one night after she had gone to bed. Three hours later, I had to force myself to quit. Yes, it’s that addictive. The situation was no different when she tried it out the next day. She was giggling like a schoolgirl. And that, my friends, is worth $9.99 any day of the week and twice on Sundays.

WipeOut HD/Fury (PS3 download)

An old favorite done up just right. A sprawling racer (especially with the Fury add-on), and 1080p eye candy of the very highest order. Only available as a (quite affordable) download from PSN. What are you waiting for?

Need for Speed Shift (PS3)

It’s been a while since a racing game has hooked me as quickly as Shift did. The perfect balance between sim and arcade, and even better with a wheel (a Logitech wireless force feedback in my case). A must for anyone with even a passing interest in video game racing.

Second Helpings

Fallout 3 (PS3)

A late charge nearly landed this in the upper echelon, but no matter. Jim's 2008 Game of the Year came highly recommended, and doesn't disappoint. Though I've barely scratched the surface of this massive game, the compelling mix of FPS and RPG, interesting story, and excellent combat system have already deprived me of much sleep. Fallout 3, along with inFamous and Bioshock, are like gateway drugs to the world of FPS and action games for me. I like!

inFamous (PS3)

Play through the opening segment of this game then come back and tell me you’re not hooked. I dare ya. The graphics may not be as polished as some of its contemporaries, but they perfectly complement the gritty post-apocalyptic cityscape that’s created here. The concept is fantastic, the single cell, graphic novel style cutscenes well realized and sharp as a knife, and the control while a bit touchy is more than manageable. If there’s to be an Infamous 2, you can sign me up here and now.

IL2 Sturmovik (PS3)

I am utterly useless when it comes to flight games. Always have been. They disorient me to the point where I don’t know whether I’m flying right side up or upside down. The only constant is the end result…a fiery death. So imagine my delight when I tried the demo of IL2. An air combat game where I could actually fly? Inconceivable! Great graphics and control, interesting and varied missions and aircraft, and huge fun factor combine to make me a very happy pilot.

Bioshock (PS3)

I’m obviously way late to this particular party. Another former Jim Schmaltz GOTY award winner, he was more eager to demo Bioshock for me than I was to see it. Just not going to be my cup o’ tea, I thought. Wrong. It was mere minutes before I knew that I had to own this game. I pleaded with Jim to stop the demo, preferring to preserve as much of the experience as possible for myself, but I think he was having too much fun to quit. The jaw-dropping art direction alone is worth the price of admission, but so much more awaits. I’m savoring every moment. Needless to say, the upcoming sequel will be a slam dunk, release day purchase.

Assassin’s Creed 2 (PS3)

Thanks to Jim for hipping me to another of his obsessions. I never would have thought of this one on my own. I agree that the game could do without the modern day element of the storyline, but the medieval world more than makes up for it. Great visuals, a gentle learning curve, and spot on control. It was love at first jump.

Left 4 Dead 2 (360)

What could be more fun than laying waste to hordes of zombies? Nothing, that’s what. Though I’m not into online multiplayer (which is clearly L4D2’s target audience), I couldn’t resist snatching this up when I spotted it at a heavily discounted price. The single player campaign may be short for the experienced, but I don’t fit that profile so I’m sure I’ll get my money’s worth. So far, so good. Kudos for the coolest video game TV ad in, like, maybe ever.

Batman: Arkham Asylum (PS3)

It was Jim’s son Zach, a video game deity, who demoed this one for me. Impressed as I was with the production values, I didn’t envision a purchase. That was until I played the demo. Not only do the visuals tickle the eyeballs, but the tight control makes it a pleasure to play. Beating baddies into submission has never been this much fun. A button masher’s delight.

Motor Storm Pacific Rift (PS3)

Another racer? You bet! I'm a sucker for them, all colours and stripes. I liked the original a lot, and had my eye on this one for a year waiting for the price to drop. When it finally did, I pounced. Load times are much improved (thankfully), the graphics are splendiforous, tracks are creative, challenging and plentiful, and the racing as exhilarating as ever. Still, there's a little something missing this time around, and I think it comes down to atmosphere. The rave aesthetic that suited the first game so well is replaced by lush, tropical landscapes here, and takes away some of the edge. Granted, it's a minor quibble in an otherwise fine racing package.

Fight Night Round 4 (PS3)

A longtime fan of the Knockout Kings/Fight Night franchise, I always have a spot in my game library reserved for a boxing title. Like Pacific Rift, I held out for a price reduction on this one, and Round 4 was worth the wait. This is a recent addition, and I'm only beginning Legacy mode, but for straight up rock 'em sock 'em fun, FNR4 is the best yet (despite some annoyingly slow load times on the setup screens). If boxing turns your crank, you owe it to yourself to at least check out the demo.

Batter Up!

On deck for '10...

Borderlands (PS3)
Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 (PS3)
Ratchet & Clank: A Crack in Time (PS3)
Uncharted 2 (PS3)
Halo 3 (360)
Metal Gear Solid 4 (PS3)

Impressions to follow in the weeks to come. In the meantime...

A very Happy New Year to all!!!

The Christmas haul

2009-12-29T20:00:00.003-06:00

I hope everyone had a nice Christmas (or whatever holiday you choose to celebrate). Ours was great as we got to spend time with Barb's family from out of town and my own family as well. The kids were great and Santa was very good to them as always.

Santa was also good to me. I got some outstanding gifts including sweaters from Barb and the kids, a really nice blanket and Beatles Trivia Pursuit (as if anyone is gonna play me in that) from Barb's parents. Barb also got me an outdoor fire pit so we can enjoy ourselves during the cold season with a nice fire. Awesome gift!

Of course I also scored some great movies including the new Criterion Collection release of The Human Condition (perhaps the greatest portrait of humanity on film and one of the staggering achievements in cinema history) and Downfall, which I finally got around to seeing. That's also a wonderful film, with a tremendous performance by Bruno Ganz as Adolf Hitler during his final 10 days. Highly recommended.

I also scored a couple of CDs (Norah Jones, including her latest) and of course I got some games. I got Mass Effect, which I have played through once already. I wanted to play through it again to have a saved file for when the sequel is released early in 2010. I also got a couple of PS3 games (Pete, take note), the God Of War Collection and Ratchet And Clank Future: A Crack in Time. I used a gift card I received for 2 more games (both PS3 games Pete!), InFamous and Motorstorm: Pacific Rift which was on sale for $20. I got a chance to mess around with InFamous, Motorstorm and Ratchet And Clank last night. All 3 were great fun. InFamous is really gonna draw me in, I can see that already. Motorstorm is more of the same, a lot like the original. It's not the deepest racing game around but it is gorgeous, fun and a great pick-up and play game. And I have a real soft spot for Ratchet And Clank. I loved their last PS3 game (Tools Of Destruction) and this one picks up right where that one left off. It's great fun and something with a much lighter tone than what I have been playing lately, so that is a welcome relief.

So that's about it. As you can see, someone thought I was a very good boy last year. I still have an iTunes gift card from last Christmas and I think I am gonna use that to download the latest album by Grizzly Bear. I have heard a lot of great things about it.

Hope everyone is enjoying the holidays!