I am trying to cut back on rampant video game spending now that I am living with Sarah and have to pretend to be a grown up. Having your girlfriend living in a other state or country was a wonderful excuse for pumping lots of money and time into my game collection. That said I will always be a die-hard gamer, and there are definitely some titles coming out this year that I just can’t wait for. Here’s a brief look at some of the titles on the top of my list for 2009:
Ghostbusters
This game has been a long time coming and has gone through enough cancellations and turnovers that I had given up hope that it would ever see the light of day. Essentially taking the role as the 3rd Ghostbusters movie the game will star the likenesses and voices of the entire original cast from Billy Murray all the way down to the guy who played the Mayor. The level of detail and brand appreciation going into this title is impressive, especially for a longtime fan like me. I anticipate ho-hum controls and irritating technical issues, but all things considered it’s the little 10 year-old inside of me that wins out, and has me counting down the days until I can strap on a proton-pack.
NHL 3-on-3 Hockey
Sports games don’t vary much year in, year out. Pretty much all they do is add some new feature that makes the game more realistic. This interesting little arcade download is coming out next month on the 360 and looks to be a lot of fun and a step in the right direction. As the title would suggest you get to play 3 on 3 arcade style hockey with the over the top and unrealistic controls and exaggerated characters. While most die hard hockey fans would scoff a the idea of playing a bobble-head-look-alike players and not being able to field a whole team, I am really excited about this training wheels version that look to have more of an emphasis on fun, not realism.
Banjo-Tooie XBLA
Banjo-Kazooie on the N64 is my favorite game of all time, hands down. It’s sequel, Banjo-Tooie never blew me away. Probably because of the amount of hype I built up for the title as a kid waiting for it to come out. With Kazooie getting a November release last year as an arcade download, it was only a matter of time before Tooie arrived. This port features widescreen HD graphics, achievements and the fully realized integration of Stop-n-Swop, the Banjo-Kazooie to Tooie connection that never worked out on the Nintendo 64. While the game never took the top spot away from the original, this sequel is still very much welcome and eagerly anticipated in my collection.
Street Fighter IV
Street Fighter games are a mixed bag for me. I really like playing them, and enjoy the arcadey feel of the fighter as a whole. My only issue comes along when I get my butt handed to me by a guy who as 50 different combos memorized and can play the game in his sleep for the amount of time he has sunk into mastering every character. I just want to punch some people and enjoy some pretty graphics, and it looks like IV is going to let me do just that. I have no doubt there will be the super-hardcore out there, but I think I’ll be able to keep my distance and still have a good time with this latest entry in the franchise. Plus thee is a luchadore character. Sold.
Resident Evil 5
Resident Evil 5 is going to be a really kick ass game. Take RE4, a terrific survival horror game- and up the ante in every way whilst still keeping the game play the same and you really cant go wrong. The graphics look really impressive and the added co-op mode will make this a great one for online play with friends. Hopefully the achievements aren’t too ridiculous because I think this will be the next title I choose to knuckle down and shoot for the fully 1000pts with. That is if I ever beat Prince of Persia…
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Arkham Asylum is a dream game to both comic and video game fans. Play as Batman in the twistedly appealing asylum where all of the his enemies are locked away, fighting your way through themed levels as you try to lockdown the escapees and get out with your life. The Dark Knight’s brooding dark tones have come through and have been accentuated in the art direction, and gritty, demented versions of classic Batman foes are sure to little themed levels and pose some fantastic boss fights. I really can’t wait for this title. Unless they royally screw it up, I can see this being my game of the year.
Also one the list of highly anticipated titles are Final Fantasy XIII (and Vs. XIII), Assassins Creed 2 and Uncharted 2. All of which will have me picking them up the day they hit shelves. Unfortunately its looking like they wont make it in time for 09.
Today was the first major snowfall since I’ve been back, and while not that impressive as far as inches of snow on the ground, the roads where particularly perilous around the apartment. I knew I was in for a hard time when my car couldn’t leave the apartment complex through the main entrance. The incline was too slick and the Celica was spinning out and sliding allover the place trying to get up it. I had to commit and made it to the top after taking it reeeeally slowly, but once I got to the top I turned around once I hit the main road just because it was too slick. I opted to head through the back roads which where all downhill and made it out to a road that had been plowed. However on the final decline my breaks grinded and locked up and I slid down the hill. Fortunately there was no one else on the road and I was able to slowly gain control of the car and get onto a plowed road.
It’s a horrible feeling not being in control of your vehicle and I’m really hesitant to venture out in the Celica again if the roads are going to be this bad. One of the great things about working for Avectra is that I have the flexibility of dialing in and working from home if need be. So I can wait for them to plow my street before heading in, while getting work done from the house. It’s nice to work at a place where I have that flexibility and a definite plus of working for a bigger company. We are expecting another 4 inches overnight which, if today was any indication of, will be pretty hazardous on the roads. My advice…stay home if you can. Oh and don’t drive rear-wheel sporty little cars up icy hills.
Last weekend was one for themed parties, least it was for us. Friday, Sarah took me as her ‘plus one’ to her company holiday party. Personally I think when Chinese New Year is the only holiday on the menu then its too late to call it a ‘holiday’ party. Happy year of the Ox by the way. It was pretty fun despite its misplaced name. A quasi-formal dinner with awkward DJ inspired dancing soon to follow. Sarah and I left after the speeches as the Electric Slide and Macarena where never our strong suits. (Though if they do the chicken dance then its ON!) Saturday we headed out to Falls Church to Mike’s house for a ‘Late 80’s Early 90’s’ theme party. I wore a ‘Keytar Hero’ t-shirt we came across in a bargain bin, and Sarah rocked the side ponytail and old school Nintendo getup. Needless to say we looked rather ridiculous, but where put to shame when Mike broke out his famous wig collection and Michael Jackson attire. Personally I think the whole thing was an orchestrated reason for Mike to get out said wigs- I’m onto you Batista. Fun weekend overall. Themes add a nice change of pace to things. Sarah and I could have themed parties only from now on. I’m thinking Nerf-Gun-Battle party, bring-your-own-darts…. No Titan you are not getting an invitation.
So I am a little tired of the condition I’m in. Somehow I manage to balance a not-so-healthy combo of skinny and lanky with lovehandly (it’s a word). This next month will be the start of a valiant-ish attempt at getting on course. I have tried various methods in the past but without being pushed I always flatter after minimal effort. Our gym offers a program called TNT which meets twice a week with trainers and a small group of 5-6 members. The trainers put you through the ringer with various exercises and make sure to keep on you about completing your sets and pushing yourself. They also do dietary monitoring and provide cardio-routines for homework on off days. Sounds a little cliché but it’s the sort of thing I need to keep up any attempt. Unless someone is there to motivate/force me I just don’t give 100%. Hopefully this will put an end to that,. It’s a three month program, so when all is said and done I should be in decent enough shape to gym without training wheels.
Sarah is a big fan of the Biggest Loser, and I’ve caught a few episodes of this season with her while waiting for Scrubs to come on each week. They are doing a Pound-for-Pound Challenge where-in people pledge an amount of weight they will loose and the show donates a pound of food for every lb. dropped. It’s a pretty good promotion I think. Save a few fatties whilst feeding a few skinnies. Win win! I pledged a whopping 5lbs, which is hardly impressive, to be lost by my birthday (end of March) but if Wii Fit is any indicator then its going to be cutting it fine.
I finally finished the canvas I have been promising Eric since before Christmas! The picture is for his condo (aka THE CITADEL) in Arlington, so I wanted to get a DC-flavor to it, especially considering the current décor in the lace has a DC slant to it. I stuck with the basics and did a traditional (for me) color wash with high contrast black and whites on top. Simple and colorful is the way I seem to like to do these things. I’m rather pleased with the way it turned out, hopefully he’ll enjoy it. I wrapped the painting around the sides of the canvas and opted to sign it on the side as well. Overall it’s a nice effect that I think I’ll continue for future canvases. I’ve already had a request for one come in so it’s fair to say that I’ll be doing another one pretty soon. Heading over tomorrow to hang it up.
Wrestling, fake? If that's so then how come this half-pint luchadore can toss a man 3 times his weight out of the ring like this?:
Man, if my girlfriend was terrified of luchadore masks I'd move to Mexico and by front row season tickets. For the record I am a recovering wrestling fan. This is the first 'match' I've watched since Wrestlemania last year. (It's a 12 step program I'm on)
Tuesday was a big deal for America especially people in the DC area. The Presidential Inauguration has closed down the city for the better part of a week, been on the lips of every radio and television reporter, and generated a buzz unlike anything has in quite some time. I didn't head down to the mall to watch in person simply because I got a taste of the craziness at a pre-president rally and didn't want to attempt to tackle it again. I would have loved to go, but logistically it just didn't make any sense. I watched the swearing in and his address on the TV at the office, so I didn't miss out. Everyone clapped after he took the oath. It was really quite moving.
I will be the first to admit that I live a fairly unremarkable life. I am not making or breaking laws, forging new paths of the future or the center of an international event. That said I cannot help but recognize how while myself might not be changing the world, the world is definitely changing around me. I live (as we all do) in a very remarkable age and through events that will fill new editions of the history books we all read in school. The idea that I am being a part of history in this way is rather satisfying to me, and puts a lot of things in perspective. I look forward to looking down at a history book and remembering where I was when a historical event happened, and being able to tell my children or grandchildren what it was like being alive during various events and times- good and bad. The idea that any given day could be the next 911 or political breakthrough; the beginning or end or the next war, or a scientific discovery. I respect all that has happened and look forward to what lays ahead.
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