There's no need to pretend, simply do what you can.

• 16Jan 11

  First hi from London!

  Can't believe it's almost half a year I last blogged, and 4 months since I've been in London. I've been quite active with GS, just not too much with the blogging aspect (and with commenting others, apparently). Hope everyone is leading a good life!

  Well, London is a great city. I mean there is the terrible weather, crazy crowd, obnoxious people and all that, but in all consideration, this is a world-cIass city with plenty to do. Career wise, I am sure my experience here will be useful moving forward. I still prefer home though, after all that's where I belong and where my friends and family are. I'd be here for 3 years, so better make the best of my time here.

  One of my greatest passion beside gaming, and just generally staying at home and do nothing, is travelling. Just came back from an awesome 3 weeks holiday in Spain last week. Backpacked alone with no fixed itinerary and was just moving from city to city, at times without a bed! I thought it was the most adventurous thing I've done (having no Spanish skills, and obviously being alone), but it was by far my best travel experience yet. I am going to do the same thing this October probably. I'm thinking France. So time to save up and learn some language skill!

  Games have been surprisingly affordable here in the UK. I've bought 3 games since I've arrived: FF 4 Heroes (DS), FF 13 (PS3), and Valkyrie Chronicles (PS3). May need to add that I currently don't have a PS3, or a TV at home, for that matter! Other notable purchase: Ipod nano 6th Generation (to replace my lost ipod in Spain ), and an amazon kindle. The latter was an extremely impulse buy, but I figured I need to start reading soon!

  A single game has kept me busy: Dragon Quest IX. I think it's a step down from the brilliant DQ VIII, but this is an amazing game on its own light. Will probably write a review on it once I'm done with it. On that note, I've been stripped off my GS review emblem. Time to work I think!

  Don't really have anything else to say. Until next time then!

  • Posted Jan 16, 2011 10:29 am GMT
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• 19Jul 10

  It's nearly 5 months since I last...oh forget it!

  Life

  Granted, I am still very active with the boards. I am sure someone can attest to that!

  A lot of things have happened since my last post. Haven't bought a whole lot of game as I was saving for a PS3. I could have well afford it (and purchase all the titles that I wanted) had not been for a little inconvenience...

  

  I am moving to the U.K.

  For 3 years (work).

  And I am back (about) to being poor. The British Pounds is at its weakest now, which will aid me in settling there for the first few months. But I will be earning in Pounds too, which makes conversion back to my home currency that much less appealing. But well, it's Europe and I ought to lay my feet there at some point of my life I reckon!

  Should be leaving in September if no major problems with my Visa pops up.

  Games

  

  I am currently playing FF IX on my psp. It's largely enjoyable if not for one thing- why is it so damn slow? It's incredible how with 4 characters (as opposed to 3 in VII and VIII) battles have been slowed down so tremendously. I could understand why people think it's the best, and I would easily give it a 8.5- 9.0 myself, but it's just not my favourite. And the battle music is horrendous- there you go, I said it!

  The DS and PSP would be my friends when I am in London (unless I can afford a PS3), so the next 2 games that I will be purchasing are DQ IX and Persona 3 Portable, the former I have already laid down an order.

  Movies

  

  Not nearly enough can be said about Inception. It's just so damn good. Saying anything more would do the film a major disfavour. Please watch it when you can.

  Hope everyone is doing good!

  • Posted Jul 19, 2010 6:54 am GMT
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• 15Feb 10

  It's just been 4 months since I last blogged

  Yay to continuity. Well, life as usual have been pretty busy. Since it's the Chinese New Year week (and as such, a lot more free time), I thought I will share some updates on what has been going on in my life.

  Work
  I've just returned from my first business trip to Jakarta. I thought I enjoyed the life of being an expatriate- the self importance and all. The good times was, however, short-lived as we are in the midst of the audit peak period. For the entire of last week, I started my day at 9am, ending only close to 11pm. Insane working hours aside, things have been surprisingly good. I try to give my best at work each day.

  Japanese
  Finally got my butt off to learning the language proper. So far the lesson's been extremely fun, and it helps that the Japanese sensei are so adorable. My hope is to be good in the language enough to play Japanese games without a translator.

  iPhone
  Through some rather fortunate means, I got my hand on an iPhone. iPad jokes aside, Apple is amazing in what it does. Go get it.

  Recently purchased
  My 4 months worth of loot:

  

  It's funny as some of these items I can't even recall I bought! Items are either purchased as a discounted item from PlayAsia or used. Not in picture: FF VIII (PSN), Wild Arms 2 (PSN), Vandal Hearts: Flames of Judgment (Xbox) and Suikoden Tiekries (ordered).

  Recently completed

  

  Level-5 did an excellent job in story telling and compelling puzzle solving, although I did managed to solve the mystery way before Professor Layton. Some of the puzzles may get a little repetitive but the overall package is solid with little to criticise. I'll recommend anyone who enjoys puzzle/ adventure games to give it a try. [9.0]

  

  For some reasons I managed to get hold of the strategy guide of this game. My second time with it was a little better but overall it was still a disappointment. The battle system was good, but the nonsensical story line and repetitive graphics (regurgitated from FFX) still meant that it's a 5.5 to 6.0 game to me. Give it a miss.

  

  The third game I beat in 2010 is a sequel to one of my favourite games of all time. I think the game deserves a better score than the one Gamespot credits it for (5.3), but not by much. Wild arms 2 started off well enough, but the story never picked up and the extremely bad dialogues make you hard to care for the characters. A game worth playing, but by no means a must.

  Now Playing

  I'm currently playing Vandal Hearts: Flames of Judgment. It's a pretty solid SRPG but I've a feeling it's really short. I'm about 5-6 hours in it and I've completed Act 2. Some may find it hard to justify the dollars for such a short game, but if you are into SRPGs, this is a decent title to try.

  • Posted Feb 15, 2010 6:34 am GMT
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