With the first week of November nearly in the bag, I have to say its been quite the up and down rollercoater for myself, personally and publicaly. In the realms of society I have witnessed a many great things; like the hotly anticaped sequel Gears of War 2 live up to high expectations and an American man of cultiral variety was selected by the masses to lead a fragile country. WOW!! Can it get any better than that... of course it can, every moment I breath the adventure continues!! To highlight a few positives, I'll try to focus on this passing week alone...

No More Sleep
With so many games sitting idle on used shelves at game stores and new goodies constantly pouring in every week, I'm not sure how I can manage my money or time without making some seriously foolish sacrifices. No doubt, I always preach about videogames being so great due to their external and digital essence being like no other and always there for entertainment pleasures now or 10 years from now... yet I can't help but wonder how I will manage my way thru Fable2 and Dead Space without feeling slighlty eager to reach the ending credits.
Shameful thing to admit no doubt, especially since my finances would punch me in the gut if it had motivated fists to throw my way. Nothing drastic has occured during this unbelievable craving to play great new games, and I'm pretty sure the desire for food and more fitting clothing for the season will dominate all reason. Which is good, since I live in Minnesota... home of the happiest snow flakes

Why So Bitter?
Come January, there will be a totally new dude in the president's esteemed Oval Office. The White House and whatever America is associated with will play host to the most interesting reality show for the next 4 years... insert Barack Obama.
In The Dakota's area, I hear they have like 4 feet of snow. In Minne-snowta, were welcomed the privilege of a 6 am rain/light snowfall that has been going constant till this (9am) hour which is looking to be about 2 inches thick so far. Chicago had pretty nice weather when Obama gave his acceptance speech on the 4th, so I wonder what things will look like in the next few days for our windy-city neighbors... even more curious, what will things look like in Washington on the East Coast when Obama and family settle into the politics capital of the world. Only time will tell.

A message I've been sharing since Obama's landslide of a victory... give it time.

I'm very happy to see the USA rejoice over its resounding decision; a piece of unity you don't see much now a days, and I'm very anxious to see what Obama and his staff can do within 4 years for America and its various people. Being the info nerd that I am: I've exposed myself to numerous papers, online articles and blogs, news reports, radio shows, opinions in various fashions and my personal favorite... unbiased - uninteruptered one-on-one conversation. You would be fascinated how much you learn about yer fellow man or woman simply allowing them to speak without hesitation or doubt... very powerful stuff, especially during this monumental moment in America.
Overall, the masses not only spoke volumes in their votes, but even other countries are estatic for the new American president. Globally, 83% favored Obama lasted I checked. Imagine that... when is the last time you ever seen someone other than stiff suits on CNN get excited about presidential voting in Iraq or Russia?? It fuels quite the international chuckle for me

No Messing Around!
Work and money have been an ongoing battle for me lately. And like many other American's and possibly any person on this planet that has ever worked to earn their keep, I'm torn between tough life altering decisions. Feeling shafted at your current job sucks, especially if you truly believe in deserving more for your efforts is not oh-so terrible. Truth is, I sometimes feel like I'm stuck or even worse... going backwards! Once sitting tall on the high horse making good pay and doing respectable work, I felt properly positioned in life.
Now, I'm working in undesirable conditons, making enough money to get by month to month, and I swell with guilt and shame when I actually spend my hard earned money on things I WANT. Quite petty, I know... but understand how it could feel for a kid who grew up with just enough here and there and one day was told "grow up and make due for yoursel!"

Its a freaking mentality trap!!

Spend all your life being told and convinced that just enough is literally enough, and you begin to feel a little sour. Compared to children and others around the world who have it much worse, I'm not totally crying wolf, I'm just feeling a bit fed up wtih not having enough to bust free from the mundane. I don't even think winning the lotto could solve this deep down - dark feeling.
No worries though! I have a plan... one that actually requires me to follow my own advice... taking my time + using it wisely. Investing in more healthy foods and gorging less on junk and beer should really help uplift my spirits and allow me to fit back into some 34's. Focusing back on MY art inspirations rather than relishing in other created worlds like videogames and such should really help rebuild my salesman confidence and ability to show off personal creations to the public. And continuing to make leaps and bounds in my relationship with my partner beyond the reaches of childish arguements and silly disputes not only empowers my soul, but seriously reinforces the feeling that I'm becoming a better man every day.

Worthy Mentions...
Michael Crichton was a great writer and a massive man in the entertainment world, 6 foot 9 to be exact. He passed away this week at the age of 66 due to cancer... which really sucks!

Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers face off this Sunday in my town and I really wish I could have afforded some tickets to such an important home game. 4-4 is a lame record, but for both teams its a chance to prove who's more deserving.

Thanksgiving is right around the corner and December even closer. Which is the ultimate time of the year for me, being my month of birth and all... so I'll try something different this year; actually get stuff for other people rather than splurge on myself

Did I mention there is a minority in the White House who goes by the name of "Mr. President"

Seriously, Sauza tequila is no joke... drink cautiously!

Besides starting off like a booze head, I just have to say something... GO VIKES!! Now rocking a .500 record of 4-4, this may be the start of a much needed rally. I really felt that we should have done better against Chicago a few weeks ago, yet I was surprised how well both teams played and that kinda soothed the loss some what.
Going into the bi-week with an L, controversy with top players using illegal drugs, injuries galor, and a mighty tough schedule for the next few weeks... I'd have to say the Vikings just stepped onto the proving ground for real!!

Barely beating the Houston Texans today (which is bothersome) leads to the extremely tough teams that all hunger for better records... and even as a hardcore fan, I'm not so sure how my Vikes will fare...

Nov 9 - Green Bay Packers - lost the 1st game... really need to make a statement in the 2nd
Nov 16 - Tampa Bay Bucs - playing at their house, this game could be a nail biter...
Nov 23 - Jacksonville Jaguars - losing close games, they are gonna be hungry for blood
Nov 30 - Chicago Bears - if we can beat the Packs at home, we can beat da Bears!!
Dec 7 - Detroit Lions - not sure where this team will be next month... but we need this one!
Dec 14 - Arizona Cardinals - birthday weekend for me, hopefully they fight for this one...
Dec 21 - Atlanta Falcons - pass heavy team, secondary needs to earn their checks in this one
Dec 28 - New York Giants - ouch...

I still have faith in making the playoffs, but we might be at 9-7 by seasons end... and thats me being gentle with words...

On the gaming front, life is good right now. Ofcourse I wish there was more money to my name and time to spare for gaming goodness, yet I'm doing pretty well without COD4. My cousin was tired of Halo3 (which is totally understandble) and I was tired of throwing grenades and head shotting foo's (which is hard to believe) so I let him borrow the game. Since then, I've been a little jittery and tense which is usually excised thru my shooting games... but I'm finding different games to relieve my stresses. For instance, Fable2... What a relaxing game! There is gun play, but something about sword and magic attacks really please the demon. I've put in a handful of hours doing a whole lot of nothing, which is okay for me... I'm not so worried about story and progress. I just want to explore and hang out with my dog

I got a few arcade titles on XBL and some demo's which should hold me down until something like Last Remnant comes out later this month. Mirror's Edge is coming out this month and I have to say this is ANOTHER EA game that really has my attention *SHOCK*
I'm gonna give the demo a shot and see how well the FP elements are handled. Some games are real good at making you feel like the person on the screen, while others are just nausating and terrible. Got the Tomb Raider demo also, which is a special treat for a fan like myself... hopefully the controls and gameplay stay true to the winning formula thats been working the last few years.
Speaking of EA, I finally started the Dead Space adventure. And man O man did I do it right! Watched the online comics, enjoyed the animated movie, and finally started the game. Intaking media in the "proper sense" is really cool. And EA has made it pretty rewarding offering all sorts of approaches to the Dead Space story. Kudos to them, and lucky for us EA hater's

Looking at that empty bottle of Sauza, I just realized my cell phone is nowhere to be seen... oh dear...

A massive deep-space mining ship goes dark after unvieling a strange artifact on a distant planet. Engineer Isaac Clarke embarks on the repair mission, only to uncover a nightmarish bloodbath -- the ship's crew horribly slaughtered and infected by an alien scourage. Now Isaac is cut off, trapped, and engaged in a desperate fight for survival.

At least thats how it reads on the back of the box

After checking out the Max Payne movie yesterday, which was a very questionable 6 dollars spent, I had to flush myself of the strange videogame based film... so I stopped by the videogame store. The one near my place is kind of small and the selection is mostly junk, so if I ever feel like treating myself to a wider array of goodies, this is the spot for me.
I could continue to blame the lack-luster movie for my desperate splurging, but deep down inside I knew such items would have been purchase soon rather than later. Like pulling a tooth, cut the bs and just yank it already

Finally got a new controller for my 360, which will now tally in as the 5th one since late 2005.

Seems like every system I've ever owned, controllers are the 2nd highest money-gobbler on my wish list. It use to be for company, for fighting games and such, then that excuse wore out when I really started embracing RPG's. Then sports games started to have more enticing franchises and season modes, so thats 10 or so controllers down the shoot. Now its the next-gen systems and the problem is even worse with companies allowing for retro aracade downloads and cl@ssic titles from older systems. Seriously! Is it bad enough I trashed my controllers playing older games that now I trash my new stuff playing the same old titles... jeez!!

Its all good tho... the easiest solution to all my woes is discipline. Thats not hard to understand, especially when money is being spent. Its just worth mentioning that I came from the days of Genesis and SNES, controllers were built to go thru freaking lava back then... now... I'm not so sure...

As for Dead Space, being the sucker I am for survival-horror adventures, I ended up getting it much sooner than I was expecting. It was pay day, I had a few drinks in my system, a nasty taste from a so-so movie, and a appetite for something good from the EA camp (good and EA in the same sentence... maybe I'm still buzzing...) The last few games from their company have been pretty decent to say the least... sports is picking up the momentum (even tho Madden still blows), shooting games are fairing nicely, and the no-namers are doing mighty well to introduce new ip's and such to the ever needy gaming public.

I was sure that I could hold off on Dead Space till at least late October, but that notion was for naught once I saw the reviews. I didn't read them or watch the videos. I simply let the numbers convince my weak desire to be in the loop... which is not always a bad thing dammit!!
I haven't played the game yet, because its my last attempt to hold off until the animation film nears release. Which is the 28th I believe and thats not gonna go well once I complete Bourne Conspiracy. Which will likely be today I do have the DS comics downloaded and thats a nice treat no doubt to enjoy on the big screen. Something about digital comics seems very appealing to a old school comics kid like me. Especially when they are produced with serious intent rather than lazy fade-ins/outs and left/right pans. If you like the Microsoft marketplace, go shopping for them, its worth checking out.

Hopefully all this typing sways my urge to check out the start screen of DS. I won't press start, but I'm always thrilled to see how every game presents itself in that moment of pre-gaming action. Kind of like the feeling I get when starting up a kick ass car... the sounds and visuals set off some serious addreline that shouldn't be compared to vids, but the nerd does as he pleases!

With all my bills payed off for the month and tons of goodies at my finger tips, all thats left is preparing for NFL Sunday. I might fix some sloppy-joes, they always hit the spot in the afternoon on chilly days. Hopefully my Vikes can manage a win in Chi-town, because this is a season changing game against an opponent who shares our division. And I got a couple of bets in motion, so anything my favor would be mighty nice. Oh yea, you heard it here first... upset game of the week... 49ers win in NY against the Giants

Yes, Thanksgiving and the wonderful gift-filled day of Christmas linger just a few months away. So prepare your bellies and wallets, because its quite the feast ahead!

At least for me its gonna be a splurg-fest

Tons of games are on the way, and I do mean tons of games worth mentioning. Seems like years ago when I found myself starting up my 1st 360 thinking... "What will I play..." And now I'm sitting here in mid-October of 2008 wondering how the hell will I have enough time to play and enjoy anything! No doubt, I could easily play a little bit of this and that and say I touched everything thats considred hot... but I find that to be wasteful. Not only to the games that require a weekend of playtime to fairly judge, but also to the gamer who I say no matter how "LEET" they claim to be, its only right to enjoy one game at a time.

All my grandma fussing aside, it feels good to get ready for the cold season properly. Being a kid from the northern hemisphere, we get that thing called snow... which in entails really cold days. The last few years have been pretty forgiving compared to past years of Minnesota winters. So to say the big storm might finally be coming would some what of a understatement. Expect the worse, rejoice in the best I always say

Back to the games! How about the line-up for October alone...

NBA 2K9 - Oct 7
I really want to have a solid sports game to play, but something about basketball during the football season just doesn't feel right.

Fracture - Oct 7
Haven't played the demo yet, but that will likely be the deciding factor in whether or not to rent this interesting shooter.

Golden Axe - Oct 14
Its entire title has something to do with beast riding, so its got a gimmick in place. Hopefully the game does the old school Sega gem justice.

Dead Space - Oct 14
If I was gonna fork over some cash for any EA product this year, this would be the game! Call it a silly hunch, but something lurking tells me this game has too much potential to horribly flop. I would love to be wrong...

Saints Row 2 - Oct 14
The first game was hillarious fun, and I really hope the next one follows suit. If not, I'll save the tears for something that actually takes itself serious.

Fable 2 - Oct 21
This one is a sure-fire purchase! No matter what the masses criticized about the original, I had some great times with Fable, and to think that another free spirited RPG is nearly within grasp is too much. But I'll take it!

Fallout 3 - Oct 28
Another must own game. I really wanted to enjoy Elders Scroll, but I'm honestly all tuckered out on the medevil barrel searching. Maybe a change of setting is what I need and want. Post-apocolyptic city barrel searching sounds soooo much better!

And don't forget Gears or War 2 rolling in early November *joy*

Yea, that may be a lot of one-tracked gaming in the 360's favor, but I feel that its only right I push the machine since its my 3rd one now This way, if all else fails I can maintain the warranty and save money if the little junker keels over again. I don't hope for such madness, I'm simply expect the worse and rejoice in the best.

Quick little life note, my girlfriend of 2 years is having her birthday tomorrow. I still have time to enjoy my Vikings game at noon till 3pm. She'll be out shopping with her mom most likely, so big props to momma bear for being a trooper and spending the big bucks on the lil whiner. Instead of revealing to her that I gave up my home team tickets for money, I'll buy her something nice like a cake... funny thing is tho, I don't know what kind she likes

That there be John David Booty of last years USC, who now plays as 3rd string QB for my Minnesota Vikings. 23 years old, 6'3 and 210+ pounds. He's a pretty solid player from his college days for what I got to see; in his final 10 starts for USC last year, he completed 215 of 340 passes (63.2%) for over 2,300 yards raking in 23 TDs with 10 interceptions. After paying witness to the most shameful loss in my 20+ years of watching the Vikings, I'm stuck sitting here wondering why I'm even interested in Booty...

No doubt, college and the pro's are both playing the same sport, yet the momentum and play calling is so much more different. For instance, college kids are more about agility and boldness. The pro's share similar qualitites, but since they weigh 70 to 100 more pounds, deception and tanasity is excuted in a way more PRO like fashion.
This could be chalked up to football-fan speculation or simply personal perception, either way, the facts are in my favor when I say most guys from college don't exactly glimmer their rookie year in the NFL. All the more reason why I wanna focus on thr rookie element. Some fans and professional coaches and the such believe that starting a rookie fresh from college can be a BAD idea. In some cases i can totally agree with that. In the instance of my Vikings, they were pretty lucky in scooping up a guy named Adrian Peterson; last year in the running back position he blew up in nothing but good ways, even with injuries! Thats kind of rare now a days, especially in such an focused position.

With lots of valuable acquisitions during the off-season, a poor pre-season, and tons of hurt players missing the last 4 weeks of the 2008 season... the Vikings are quietly falling out of high praise around the league. I doubt they had many fans to start with, but thats the nature of the beast.

I'll do my best not to comment on the terrible penalties and very bad reffing we've been suffering

Back to Booty. He's a rookie, someone who played a little bit during the pre-season and in all honesty... the dude sucked @ss! Out of 4 games (1 actual start) 22 of 41 passes (53.7%) for barely 203 yards. The real kick to the googilies comes in the form of 0 touchdowns, 3 interceptions, 5 sacks, and 1 fumble. Yuck!!
Bottom line is, we don't have a lot of faith in the QB position around here. Tarvaris Jackson was okay last year, so he was considered the "starter", until the home crowd welcomed him to constant boo's which is tragic in more ways than one. Gus Frerotte is considered the bench warming veteran who stepped in for Jackson recently, which is kind of funny, because old man Gus has been shipped around to numerous teams showing very little promise besides being deemed a "veteran" after 15 years in the NFL.
With a team that is known for its defense (even tho our secondary is seriously lacking) and packs two well-rounded RB's in the backfield... running the offense should be some what easy. Right?! If you are Minnesota head coach, Brad Childress, apparently NOT! He started the season publicly voicing faith in Jackson, who struggled to find a rythme. I say the play calling was only making it look worse, then the boo's came, so now he sits on the bench. Frerotte is put in the spot light and looks considerably better than Jackson, yet the timid play calling and spineless O-line push leaves one wondering whats going wrong in Minnesota.

After the painful loss against Tennessee on Sunday, even the lengthy injuries list doesn't explain why Minnesota punted the ball back to Tennessee with over 2 minutes left in the 4th quater. Who stole the coaches manhood?!

INJURIES
Off - A.Hicks - Guard - essential veteran to the running game and protecting the passer.
Off - S.Rice - Reciever - lanky and fast, capable when given the chance to shine.
Off - C.Taylor - Halfback - a solid #2 who has minor bumps but plenty of heart.
Off - A.Peterson - Halfback - the #1 option when it comes to the run, banged up as usual.
Def - R.Edwards - Linemen - badly needed in the pass russ, but questionable day to day.
Def - M.Williams - Safety - hasn't played all year, still badly needed in the secondary.
Def - V.Ciurciu - Linebacker - helpful backup and special teams player, out for the season.

Still no excuse why we ran for less than 20 carries with two reliable halfbacks and forced our so-so QB to throw more than 40 times.

Its really tough for me and likely all Viking fans to see a team with awesome potential on paper go out on the field and stumble over their own shoe laces. Teams that got A-holes like T.Owens who does nothing but stir up drama are still producing numbers! Why can't our coaching staff see that playing safe is played out!
Being cut throat doesn't always equal recklessnes. Does that mean another quaterback change will help, I doubt it. I just feel that maybe, just maybe someone needs to watch some college football footage or even that Miami game against the Patriots and see what its like to play with a manly sack. Bad reffing and questionable penalties can be a constant remindered, but no team should play that bad where such factors hurt so much. All in all, I'm willing to be a fan of the Booty if given the chance. Week 5 is right around the corner and thats gonna be 1/3 of the season in the bag... talk about NEEDING a victory when you're 1-3.

Welcome to September fellow gamers! The Q3-Q4 season is coming into full swing with tons of hot games flooding the gates and if anyone is excited beyond word description that would be ME. Sadly, I'm stuck sitting here looking at UPS.com wondering how long it will take my 2nd Xbox360 to be "repaired". Technically, that lil noisy heat prone monster wasn't even my original baby from late 2005... I some how ended up with a refurbished console that did its job no doubt, but now sits back at Microsoft waiting to be replaced with possibly another refurbished piece of junk.

After spending tons of money on Microsoft product over the years and enjoying every penny, its hard to say these hurdles can be easily ignored.

With so many gamers across the nation suffering from equally annoying and bothersome issues with their 360's, I can't spotlight myself as if I'm the first console'less sob story. Truth is, I put my first system thru hell, so its kind of understandable that nearly 2 years of hardcore mixing could putter any machine out.
Then comes my second machine which was NOT repaired and yanked off some dusty shelf. Rocking a manufacture date nearly as old as my first system, the play sessions revealed even more dishearting results. While operating it ran lounder than usual, even in good environments the heat that built up was very questionable. Numerous calls and emails to Microsoft could abide my building fury with faulty machines and lackluster customer service; but here I sit crossing my fingers hoping another machine arives before next week.

I can't really say all this excitement for another 360 is solely riding on fanboy fantasies or even desperation for a machine to enjoy future games on. Maybe its the opinion of a penny-pinching videogame investor such as myself... but I want to enjoy my Xbox360!
The last few machines were not really mine nor will the next one likely be a truly repaired gift. Either way, when I first scooped up the 360 back in late 2005, I was genuinely excited. I don't think I felt that way since the Dreamcast release. The argument for logical expectations vs. required functionality is a big one. One major standard most gamers don't easily overlook... so why continue to support such madness?!

Yer guess is as good as mine...

All I want is to play good games on the system I invested in back in 2005.

With games like: Star Wars Unleashed, Lego Batman, Brothers in Arms, Silent Hill and a few noable Arcade titles such as Samurai Showdown 2 and Mega Man 9 all coming this month... I don't even want to begin thinking about October without a fully functioning Xbox360.

New Vikings season, same old results...

With the NFL season finally opened up this weekend, how bout some perspective! Denver played stellar against the Raiders who had a chance to let loose their super rookies and failed. Injuries across the league plague teams that were expected easy playoff runs, leaving open big hopes for under dogs. Brett Farve made good with his new team in Jersey. Dallas looks mighty poised for another big season. Rookie QB's in Baltimore and Atlanta showed what they were made off, even though they faced loser teams. And Philadelphia plus the Steelers came out strong showing they were ready on both sides of the ball.

Then there are my Minnesota Vikings...

In simple terms, they stunk! No doubt, the running game was used well thanks to skillful Adrian Peterson; but definently not enough to leave a lasting impression on defensive coordinators. Our defense on the other hand is known for its fierce ability to lock down the run game, unfortunately there is a guy on the Packers squad named Ryan Grant who is kinda good. Don't get me started on our supposed pass defense, because thats a joke all in its self.
GreenBay no longer has their legendary QB which is some what helpful in the moral department, that is if you can maintain a decent offense. Besides the potent running game, Minnesota QB Tarvaris Jackson had a easy gameplan to follow... and some how managed terrible passes on easy routes that were usually open. He scrambled for a few yards which kept some drives alive, but when it came to converting on big plays, especially the final drive that could have won them the game... FAILURE!!

One game out of 16, no big deal! Yet the stage has been set and after much anticipation the Vikes missed a big chance to reinforce their case for going as far as the Super Bowl this year. I like to think come November the Purple People Eaters will be ready for round 2 against the Packs on home turf. Then again, come Nov I also like to believe there will be a functioning videogame system in my possession...

All dramatics aside, its been quite the journey to my current keyboard tapping position. For one, I'm on a Apple G4 laptop (which is garbage) and it does not catter very well to my online or application desires. My ol' Betty desktop finally keeled over with what I concluded as a serious hardware issue. My maintenance skills are rookie at best, and thats from a late 90's standpoint Seems that my neglect was the doom of my PC and now I'm using a hand me down laptop which was kind of useless until I finally established my online hook up. Now that I'm back in the online circle, this lil sucker seems to serve its purpose nicely.
Besides crying about PCs vs Macs, I've been in major transition moving from one place to another, again, and I have to say I've finally hit the jackpot. I'll refrain from doing any of those creepy videos where I give a tour, but I will boast a bit and say its all mine and the toliet is phenomenal!! Seriously, thats a very important factor for a gamer like myself Speaking of games, talk about being blown away from whats been bubbling in the gaming community...

Well... ummm...

If you been keeping track... then its kind of cool

I'm still soaking up some E3 goodness, but that event was so-so in my personal opinion. Something about everything thats coming out or bound to hit shelves is mostly sequels and remakes... which is not entirely a bad thing, but it has been a foot note in most of my media complaints. Yea, I know... boo hoo for the couch potato, but in all truth I can't really go bonkers over stuff with franchise names anymore. Maybe when I was younger it was exciting, but now I'm kind of turned off by that stuff. Who knows what that could be.
One game that really caught my eye was Rock Band 2. To think, I've played no more than a few hours of the first game and hardly even had a good chance to really experience the RB group experience. Not so tragic since I'm not as prolific as others at such games. But still, hell of a way to make a guy feel left out of the loop when part 2's near release and he's still fantasizing about GH solo's.

Besides victimizing myself over silly stuff like videogames that I hardly play, how bout Madden 09!! Something must be seriously wrong with this kid because once again, I've reserved a copy of this ongoing franchise in hopes that I might just enjoy this years edition. For the last few years I have not been impressed or even motivated to play the Madden franchise and thats my prerogative, nothing more. I could go into details why, but thats a broken tune... I will say NFL 2k5, which is a handful of years old, is still one of the best sports games I've ever played. And still plenty of fun. Will I actually praise one title I already own and reluctantly scoop up another for a hefty price... most likely. I have to see how much dinero I have after my trip to the grocery store, but the chances are high. Most would assume thats a Madden faithful, but I'm actually more curious for Head Coach that is coming package with the title this year

Any fans of the actual NFL happenings??

Well then, lets just put it out there now and say the dismal pre-season start for the Minnesota Vikings should not dictate their actual 17 game season that starts in September. Alright then!

On the movies front, I had to see Batman again last night... what a treat! I love movies that keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. And something about Heath Ledger playing Joker was a bit unsettling at first, but that dude performed his @ss off! Everyone else was good too, even the chick who sub'd in for the Dawson's Creek girl.
I think the real magic touch with these Bat-movies is the tough grittiness approach that in my opinion works very well for any of these hero flicks. I understand guys like Spider-Man are setup for the catchy phases like, "your friendly neighbor" and what not... but in all honesty, I'm a hardcore fan of horror and something about seeing a guy in tights go thru brick walls and hearing Toby M. yelp like a child while being beat silly kind of permits a stronger rating in my eyes. In that case, up the adult content, let kids know its not all candy corns and raisins, carry the R rating with respect rather than show off easy booby shots.

Something a little less comic book oriented...

If you're a fan of Twilight Zone type stories, check this out. The dude on the cover is the same fella I seen in CreepShow3 (which doesn't compare to the originals) and he's a pretty decent actor, me likes him!

About that time to hit the 3rd shift, hopefully all my fellow gamers are holding up nicely this week. If not, think about all the goodies that are coming in the next few months. I know I'm keeping posted better than ever

Yea... I can't lie... I was actually rooting for the Lakers in the NBA finals Not because I'm the 12th billion Kobe fan on this sorry planet, but something entirely different. I'm a Minnesota kid. Thinking back a year from now, a certain player who goes by the catchy name of KG once played on the MN Timberwolves. OUR basketball team that failed miserably this year barely clocked in 20 victories out of a 80+ game season... The Boston Celtics... they won 50+ games in the regular season, broke/set records, stepped up in the playoffs, and finished with the biggest trophy at the end. And what bothers me most about all this?? Kevin Garnnet will now and forever be remembered as a Celtic

Seriously, I'm not spiteful or hating on the dude. I'm actually quite proud of his 10 year journey. Being "stuck" in MN for all these years and facing defeat time and time again, you begin to wonder just how much can a person take before snapping and lashing out at the ones who adore him most. I worked at the basketball stadium in MN for 4 years watching this dude up close and personal win and lose, in front of and away from the masses... KG is a good person.
If anyone deserves to finally reach that "moment" in their life, he would be on that list. I just can't shake the feeling that he's finally living it up in a whole different town. Would my happiness be any different if this all took place in my part of town, maybe. But I can't deny how awesome it feels to see deserving people get whats coming to them. Especially the bad ones All in all, the NBA season is over and NFL football is right around the corner... the games that really matter!!

I haven't been online or at least here at GS for awhile and there really isn't any major reasoning behind it. In simple terms, I'm in transition right now. Moving into a new place, working thru tough times in a 3 year relationship, finding my career niche, and simply staying afloat. The most gaming I've been doing lately is falling asleep to movies playing director commentary in my 360
Some Bourne, a little MGS4, Conan on the PC, and a few arcade titles on the 360... thats about it. Once I settle into my new abode, things should be back on track in due time. First the cable TV, because I love me some HOM channel and Sportscenter. Then some new furniture, because every man needs HIS own chair. And soon after, I'll see what I can do about the internet... with my computer down and out because of terrible hardware issues, I've been so desperate for online connection, I've found myself using the neighbors super religion friendly computer. No matter what website I visit, I'm being bombarded by Chistian dating pop-ups to the max and I can't stand it. Ironic, but bothersome none the less...

I miss hanging around my regular sites and especially GS. The player reviews, various forums, the Soapbox madness, news and my fellow gamers. Its crazy how much you end up missing something once its no longer in yer selective grasp. I felt like typing this morning and instead of idle chit chat with my church going neighbor, I simply asked to use her computer... what a trusting gal, because I'm not use to invading others space for measly pleasures such as online yammering. She must sense the sinner juice flowing within my weak soul

Hope everyone continues to have a great summer

As the sun rises, the day begins to bloom and people scuttle about. Just another week leading into a new month for many, but something of a path for me... one last journey down memory lane until the next junction of thoughts over flow. Why not share a bit with my fellow gamers...

My father's birthday was in the beginning of this passing month. Not many people celebrate their day of birth after a certain age I noticed, but then again, being that his b-day is on April 1st, he never really gets all that excited. I would like to spring a good joke on him one day, but the dude is a bit wired and I wouldn't want to see anyone get hurt... especially me

To help sooth my gaming desires until something new tickled my fancy, I've really put a dent in games like Lost Odyssey and Call of Duty 4. One is more of a multiplayer delight than the other, yet both offer a great deal of fun for fans of either genre. Rented The Club, which is yer basic run & gun hackle-fest and it left me feeling dirty once I realized how bare the game was. No doubt, I had some fun while it lasted, but that game is hardly worth its price tag.
Checking out more stuff on the PS3 has been cool, but nothing really has blown me away quite yet... GT5 was awesome, but I kind of expect that from them. Maybe when MGS4 drops in a few months I'll be ready to consider spending another lump sum of cash on my entertainment fix... on Sony product tho.... I THINK NOT!!

I finally got to see Cloverfield on DVD. Definently not what I was expecting, but it was surely what I needed! The "character designs" were not my favorite, but thats the joy of movies like that... they don't aim to please, just entertain. It served its purpose and had some cool special features too. I sure would like to invest in one of those handy Hollywood mini cams. Those suckers are reinforced and geared for serious filming madness with great all around quality. I can only imagine what me and my guys could do with something that worked that well

For anyone who doesn't know, Tim Pawlenty, the Governor of Minnesota is a total douche bag.

I also seen AVP2 and thought it was a LOT better than the first one. You would think that having such great source material at your finger tips no wrong could be done even if it was forced... yet there are people like Uwe Boll who quickly smash such thoughts to bitter bits. If yer a fan of either movie series, check this one out for sure, PREDATOR FTW!!

I have to say... I'm extremely excited for the coming NFL season!! Seems that my guys in purple are looking to make some serious waves this year with solid picks in the free agency plus the draft. Scooping up experienced players for key positions and adding depth to the roster with some rookies that can not only learn from great guys now, but eventually make for decent starters gets me stoked. I was honestly surprised that my split even team record of last year actually came true for the Vikings, with all the ups and downs they had. But I'm super confindent in my prediction this year... 10 VICTORIES BABY!! Maybe even a good hussle thru the playoffs... watch and see fellow pigskin fans...

Did I mention I buckled and actually got GTA4?

Well, I was all puffed up about how underappreciated Saints Row was for the 360 last year and actually muttered in a few random places about how I was more excited for Saints Row 2 more than GTA4. Before you ask, I must admit SR really really scored big with me by allowing for full on character customization. Not only did that stuff intergrate well into the overall story, but it looked good too!
With a decent online component from the original game and promises of even more customization and city adventures to enjoy in SR2; I was all but sold until they ran some terrible ads with Gary Busey The game itself sounds like its on the right track for a solid 2nd outing, but in the mean time... I'll see what Rockstar has to offer in their new game.

Just think, I've owned the game a whole day now and all I've done is watch and listen to in-game music and TV... I wonder what the online is like... *resumes GTA4 radio jamming*

Seriously, being the gaming Joe that I am, I've played my fair share of garbage titles from the 80's to modern day. Would I go as far as to claim myself a professional reviewer? Never. Besides the obvious fact that I receive no money or work with any professional establishment, playing videogames is simply a hobby for me.
Coming to terms with that is no difficult hurdle, unlike the masses of XBL gamers I see rocking the "PRO" gamer title. I'm simple. So what does a normal gamer like myself do; I read, talk, gossip, purchase, exchange, and even sometimes debate everything videogames. Its my hobby, so its my thang!

From time to time, like the picky consumer that tires of sifting thru terrible content at their own dollar; I find critics to cypher thoughts from

In turn, this can at times be a serious relief to my wallet and at others a complete chore. For instance, how about the media that I've already exposed myself to...

Do I agree with GameInformers praise for such a horrid game? Not... At... All.

They are a publication that has a staff of gamers who "professionally" tweak out on titles for weeks until they run stories and share reviews that at times... others hate or truly enjoy. I don't support the feeling of hate (serious karma issues) but I definently know from experience, I dislike Dark Messiah for the 360 with a passion!

Compared to GS and other player reviews, you can easily tuck this one under the rug as a lost cause. I didn't believe them, so I applied my own money and time and found out for myself. Something I tend to do for just about anything of great interest to me. Truth be told, this can lead to a lot of hair pulling and shameful glares. I'm use to it.

Is there a reason to be so worked up by such a laughable review from a magazine that gloats about having "big pictures"? Not really, but for once I kind of understand how those review freaks feel. A game they adore recieves a 8.5 and not a perfect 10: GET THE PITCHFORKS!!
Yet... what is a gamer to do when they see something that is clearly lacking in essential material still recieve high regard. Blog of course!! And like the nerd that I am, here I sit typing away about a game that took page 91's colorful glossy spread only to gloat about how cool it is to repeatly kill dudes with year old physics never bores. That translates into a solid 8?!

Honestly... tell me where to apply, because I know I can offer more.

If you haven't heard about it by now, reading it here is a simple gut check in just how much you're missing on the daily loop. Barack Obama is known as a top notch speech crafter, a word smith some would say, who is running for President. Others look at his speaking ability as nothing more than verbal spin, which is a trait every politician possesses in oder to survive the political and public lime light.

Makes enough sense to me. I'm nothing more than a joe-schmoe and I've even been deemed savy in the way of words... no matter how off beat or riddled with nonsense they appear. Beyond the distasteful uses most politicians invoke with such speaking skills, Obama seems like the real deal when it comes to expressing thought in my personal opinion.

To the point; in a recent sermon with Obama's pastor and friend of 20+ years, Jeremiah Wright blew off some serious steam that shows nothing but spite for America. If anyone has lived over 50 years in this country as a minority, its understandable, but NOT justified. Sprinkle in a little race and a dash of affiliation, and everyone assumes this guy Obama vouches for is apart of the campaign program. In reality, he is not.
Wright is nothing more than a close friend and a priest who has something to say. Is it worth listening to, you can be the judge of that for yourself... it was all over the news and plagues YouTube as a "popular" video. With so many chalking up what this means for Obama and his beliefs in becoming the next president of America, he was put on blast in a way that usually leads to stuttering and mumbling that makes Bush look brainy.

So what does Obama do...

This dude arrives in Philadelphia, a focal point of American soil littered with history and drops one the biggest speeches I've ever seen or heard in my living life time!!

No doubt, a speech about peace and equality is nothing new to the harp of tender emotions. Strike the right cord and everything comes together revealing the speaker as a saint. Well, like the numerous Super Bowls that happen every year in the NFL, no matter how many times you see the "big play" or experience that vibe, its always genuine. And the no holds bar, honest to every walk of life speech surrounding race and resentment within modern America that Obama laid down was absolute perfection!

Obama 1 - Obama 2 - Obama 3 - Obama 4

If you have not seen or heard about this passing event, please, I urge you to visit the YouTube video links that present the speech in 4 parts unedited. I was not only extremely moved by the words he spoke with true conviction, but I viewed the online clips for a 2nd serving and can't help but feel a slight tingle... did I just witness history making events?!

Beyond the whimsical thinking of a person with different pigments becoming a first in taking the Oval Office, can Barack win the big game and show all the cynics and skeptics (including myself) there is no smoke and mirrors, change is possible... can we unite to achieve such high hopes that Obama speaks of?! America as a whole is lacking in every facet of this desperate dream our great land was built upon. Only time will tell how much of it is really hot air.

Let me know what you think fellow gamers.

Looking over the paper this morning, I came across an article that really caught my eye, especially being a major customer of...

Seems that the good people of the world's largest electronic distributor are feeling awfully generous enough to reward any poor souls who ended up with the HD-DVD package and are now feeling suckered. Without notice, the day HD-DVD was left behind to die (Feb 23rd I believe) became the day to rejoice $50 richer. That is if yer a Best Buy regular. Anyone left staring at their HD-DVD gear with remorse can now hunt down receipts and online purchase info to prove they spent the cash, now whats the catch...

Nothing really... just a few million $50 Best Buy gift cards to toss around to the devoted masses

For others who shop around and enjoy online purchases from digital unknowns, power to ya. As for folks like myself and JustPlainLucas, this may not be the largest contribution a mega corporation has made yet its definently something worth mentioning! I never even thought of getting a HD-DVD player, even when the price was dramatically cut on movies and equipment. The thought of owning anything overly expensive right now gets me chuckling. I'll stick with regular DVD's for the time being.

Something else that really got my attention and shook me silly was this liquor store in the near by area called HUM's. 612-874-1111, they deliver!!

As much as I enjoy the sinful pleasures of whiskey and beer, never once have I thought about how much to tip the person who delivers my booze Maybe if its a party occasion, I'll take in consideration on what kind of muchines to bring along, but never yell across the room "what kind of beer do you wanna order?!"... long story short, thats some lazy bum behavior if I ever seen it. The expected tips alone would be a bit ridiculous, so no matter how you justify it, slip some shoes on and earn yer stripes soldier!!

On the gaming side of things, I'm quietly creeping around playing what few titles I can and catching up on what I actually own and sadly neglect. Something about making a purchase at the moment feels oh so good and tingly, yet in due time the short lived glorious newbie finds its way to the far ends of the dreaded SHELF and its purpose dwindles as new items continue to flood in. It may be a vicious cycle to some, or even financially damaging, but I've disciplined myself to the point now where everything comes easy.
Thanks to the article posted here at GS about GameStop making bookoo cash in the passing year, I actually felt good about my recent shady ways. Its what I like to call expensive rentals Being that trade-ins happen WAY more than ever now a days, brand new games are easily found on store shelves in the used section within days of its release. Scoop it up, play it, enjoy/hate it, bring it back, no hassles, rinse and repeat. Funny how $50 can go a long way in sampling so-so games. I use to be totally against such gaming purchases, yet my flimsy finances have taught me valuable lessons... a major one being, "new or used, does it really matter?!"

Awhile back, I would laser you down with a nasty look if such a question was directed at me. Now, I only see purpose in getting the games I truly desire, which are very few and far in between.

Buying new games marked "used" for a measly few dollars less doesn't really make much sense, but then the shady Dreski strikes... once an employee o