Diablo 3 - What a Tease

If you haven't watched the gameplay video. Do it now here.

And then if you're like me, start playing Diablo 2 again, to bring back the old days.
And if you're hardcore, start from the beginning, untwinked.
Though I'm only on the 2nd Act, it's giving me just enough of a taste to tide me over until D3.

I'm on the fence right now as to whether I want them to hurry up and finish the game, or patiently wait to make sure they make it as good as all the rest of their releases.

Of course knowing Blizzard, it'll be 2010 before it's released.
As per an interview with lead designer Jay Wilson here, "Development started on Diablo III in 2005 but it has since then undergone some major redesign. Currently, most of Act 1 is complete in terms of art and design, and the team has mostly moved on to Act 2. Four of the five classes are operational and at various levels of playability."

In my opinion, the major redesign is solely due to the success of World of Warcraft, which is why the gameplay video has such a bright look, with the icons looking 'oddly' familiar.
Being a WoW fan myself, not playing only because it's such a timesink, (and the monthly fee), I think Diablo 3 will be perfect for me.
It'll immerse me just under the level that WoW did, so that real life isn't affected too much. =P

Hurry up and release D3, but not until it's done...

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Current Fav Games: Diablo 2, Halo 3

Vegas - My Video Poker Triumph

[Disclaimer] - Super old news, but I just haven't found the time (and motivation) to post anything until today.

I dunno what it is about Vegas...
Well I guess I do know. Liquor, gambling, silicone, clubbing, buffets... The finer things in life =P

My Video Poker Vegas story begins with my gf and I ready to hit up the club, Tryst.
All pimped out as we enter the Wynn, I'm looking around for something to pass the time while we wait for some friends to arrive.
Then, the Video Poker machine catches my attention.
This should give me the 2 minutes of enjoyment that I need before they arrive.
After inserting money, 20 credits appear on the screen.
Time to get down to business.

My friends watch intently as I go on a big run.
Obviously it's a little fixed, but I'm using all my odds knowledge to my advantage.
"It's simple math," I say as I decide to try for 2 chances of Jacks or Better instead of the 2 outer for a low 3 of a kind.

All of a sudden, the hand hits me...
3 of a kind Jacks in the hole.
Obviously I'll keep the 3 of you.
Blam! Another Jack comes! I've hit my 1 outer for the win.
The wonderful midi sounds floods my ears as it double my credits.

I cash out, with a big grin on my face, ready to hit a club with double my Video Poker riches.


It definitely sounds great when I put it that way...
Here's the full story...


Hmmm there must be something cheap I can do to pass the time...
Then I see it.
Oooo, they actually have $0.05 Video Poker at the Wynn?! I was happily surprised. I can afford that. That'll give my 20 credits on my dollar! What value! =)

I go into my pocket to fish out a dollar.
Oh crap, I only have $20's on me.
I turn to my friend, and say, "Can you spot me a dollar? I'll even pay you back if I lose..."
Obviously he doesn't care about the dollar as he hands it to me.

The 4 of a kind was still true...
But I felt like such a noob walking over the cash-out machine, putting in my ticket, and waiting intently while it reads, "Paying out $2.00."
It was definitely perfect timing to have a guy watching behind me as I collect my huge winnings!
I look at the man, and muster a, "Yes, I can finally retire!" He smiles... and I take my $2 and walk away.

Obviously many people in the world disagree, but it's the thrill of the competition that gets me going, not the amount of money on the line.

After getting a text from the friends saying that she'll be a little late, I play a little more.
My friend and I are both playing now, cause I was able to give him back his dollar, and I have a new dollar. =)
I end up upping my stack 50% in the second session before it's time to go, and my friend broke even.

So that night I could say I officially beat the Casino.
Of course it was only $1.50, and I spent much more than that at the club... Oh well... Was still fun.

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Favorite Vegas Games: Poker, then Blackjack, then Video Poker

White Water Rafting 2008

Boat 32 at around 4:50 seconds into the video (I'm second back on the right)

On July 5th eleven friends and I went White Water Rafting on the Ottawa River through Wilderness Tours. It was an experience that everyone should try.

This was my first time going and I'll admit I was skeptical.
First off, I didn't expect anything hardcore. Some of them aren't really "outdoorsy" (no offense) so I thought that it might just be a nice little paddling ride with some little waves.
Secondly, a few of them who went last year were playing down the experience. They said that there was too much paddling through open stretches, the water was cold, and the overcast skies made for an experience where you didn't want to get wet at all.

We arrive late (around 10pm), and have to set up our tents in the dark, which isn't the easiest experience. By 11:30pm we walk over to check out the main facility (called Rafters). The music was already going, though it wasn't my cup of tea, and there we're a lot of drunk people doing their thing on the dance floor.

Looking out over the deck you find 3 beach volleyball nets, a basketball court, an outdoor hockey area and plenty of field if you want to play football, ultimate frisbee, etc.



There was also a giant chessboard (which I found sick!), swimming pool, and hot tub. I was pleasantly surprised, and couldn't wait to play something.


After playing some billiards and drinking a bit, we called it a night cause we had the 9:45am trip the next day.

The night was horrible for some, especially if you're a light sleeper. We apparently had booked our trip during the College Pro booking. They had 72 people in their group. So obviously the college students were loud, rowdy, and up for a long while. Luckily for me I sleep like a log so I didn't sleep too poorly. =P

The rafting day was beautiful. Sun was blazing, water was refreshing, perfect for getting wet.
Our guide told us that it was his favorite time to go rafting because the water levels were very high. I was totally getting hyped for the excursion.

The first few rapids were great warm-ups. I could get a sense of how it is a lot of fun. Battling the currents, forcing yourself to paddle through the rapids, it was all invigorating. I also had a few opportunities to jump into the water and chill beside the raft.

The college students who were on our trip were rowdy. They would jump into each others' boats, throw people into the water, and have splash fights. It definitely added to the enjoyment.

At around 12ish we prepped for the biggest rapids of the day. We docked a few hundred meters beside it, and walked over to take a look. Called the "Greyhound Bus Eater," the endless wave stood a few meters high, and was definitely a sight. There was only a few meters of space which the raft had to hit in order to make it over. Too much to the left or right ensured that the boat would flip.

I was telling my friend before we went, "I hope we flip."
He said, "Well why don't you ask him, he can do it on purpose."
I replied, "I don't want him to flip us on purpose. If we flip I want it to be through luck!"

There were 12 boats in our trip, and only 2 flipped...
Our boat hits the rapids, weaves its way towards the Bus Eater.
Water toppling over us endlessly.
I'm yelling, "Yeah! Let's do this!"
We enter the dip right before the big wave.
Oh sh*t! The wall of white water is huge. There's no way we're going to make it.
Blam! We are too much to the right... Our boat hits the wall, we turn parallel to the wave and I turn and do my best rendition of a Superman into the water.

As I'm in the water, I fight the urge to flail, and I curl myself into a ball and let the lifejacket do the rest. Suddenly I'm on the surface, and I take a deep breath before another wave crashes on me. I swim over to the power boat and it picks me up and brings me to the side.

It was an awesome experience, and luckily no one was hurt.
I totally think the experience wouldn't have been the same if we hadn't flipped.

I suggest that everyone try it out sometime.
I definitely intend to go again...

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Fav Rafting Experiences: Flipping on the Bus Eater, Making it through Coley East

Bringing Cards to Your Workplace

Do you like cards as much as I do? Well you can do what I did and bring card games to the lunchroom at work.

It can be a very delicate operation because it may be frowned upon by the higher-ups, but if you introduce it correctly, it can be the most enjoyable part of the day. =P

1. Never play any games for money.

I don’t have to tell you that gambling is illegal in the workplace (except for lottery tickets or if you work in a casino) so don’t do it.

In the past we were playing poker daily, so you could hear chips being thrown around. On numerous occasions higher-ups would come up to us and ask, “Are you guys playing for money?” This is not a time to be sarcastic. Just say no!

2. Don’t be too loud

We’ve had our rowdy moments. As long as you try to keep it to an “acceptable level,” you shouldn’t have any problems.

3. Invite other People in the Lunch Room

The most flack you’ll get would be from the regulars in the lunchroom that feel like you’re invading their personal lunchtime. Make attempts to invite them to join, then they won’t feel left out, and you could make some work friends on top of that. If they decline, at least they’ll get a sense of acceptance that you’re sharing the space with them.

4. Have Fun

What’s the point of playing if you aren’t enjoying yourself? We have a group of 11 of us that play whenever we have the chance, so we always have at least 7 people to throw friendly jabs at while we eat and play. =P

We’ve primarily played Texas Hold’em in the past, with stints of President, Euchre, and Hearts. Currently we’ve been playing this game called Redbeard. Never heard of it? Well I’m not even sure if that’s the real name for the game… More on that next time…
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Current Fav Card Games: Redbeard, Texas Hold’Em, Omaha Hi/Lo

Killer Games - Puzzle Quest

This past weekend during White Water Rafting, I got a chance to play Puzzle Quest again.
I remember how much fun it was and how many countless hours I spent the year before at the Cottage on the dock playing...

So I decided to pick up the game for PC... And it's everything I remember, with better graphics!

There's two prerequisites in order to enjoy this game:
1. You enjoy RPG games.
2. You enjoy Puzzle games.

Did you like Tetris? Did you like Final Fantasy? Well I pretty much guarantee you'll enjoy this game...


Fight in the puzzle portion, level up your character, gain new skills to "attack" your opponent, train mounts, gain castles... It's the most enjoyable puzzle RPG (and only one that I know of).
You can even battle your friends with your toons...

There's been many great reviews on the game, and it's out on lots of systems including the DS, PSP, Xbox 360, Wii, and PC.

I'm a little late on picking up the game, since the sequel has already been announced, but the enjoyment is just the same.

It looks like practicing the guitar will have to wait again... =P

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Current Fav Games: Puzzle Quest!

Way Back Play Back - Jones

Boy does this game ever bring back memories...
It was one of those games that my cousins and I would play, all huddled around the computer.

Jones in the Fast Lane is Sierra's take on the game of Life.
For up to 4 players, your goal was to make your character successful before everyone else.
You start off looking for a job at the Employment Office, (usually at Monolith Burgers),
then you need to work.
You can apply at Hi-Tech U in order to get degrees.
Don't forget to eat every week (usually Fries at Monolith Burgers).




You have to pay your rent every month, buy new clothes when they get old, and make sure you work enough each week.

As you progress, you can buy stuff for your house, like a Color TV, Stereo, and Fridge.
If you're unlucky, random bad events can occur, like getting robbed, getting a pay cut because of an economic downturn, or even losing your job.

You can find the game online by searching for abandonware.
It's definitely a fun, quick game to play with your friends.

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Current Fav Old School Games: Jones, Colonization, Balloon Fight

Paintball: The Aftermath

A few days after paintball and we're still talking about it.

Some are talking about the amount of mosquito bites they got.

Some are doing a play-by-play of their favorite moments.

Some spent all weekend looking for paintball guns online.

Most are talking about how much fun it was...

It was definitely a great time, but as a first-person shooter addict, there are a two things that I wish could happen with paintball.

For one, I wish they didn't have to jack up the price of paintballs by so much. Online a box of 2000 paintballs would cost you $56 while it'll cost you $140 at the paintball place. Obviously this is where they make their money, and it could be deadly if people were allowed to bring their own "paintballs," but it sucks that it has to break the bank in order to play at full potential, I.e. Not conserving bullets because they're expensive.



Secondly, I wish everyone was forced to use the exact same gun. It doesn't seem fair to me that if you're willing to pony up the dough, you can have a big edge over everyone else. You can have a semi or fully automatic gun that shoots uber straight up to 250 yards. You can add a scope to the gun. You can add paintball clips so that you don't have to refill the canister in battle. And you can even buy a fan to add to your mask so that it doesn't fog up. I guess like everything in life, you get what you pay for.

But in the end, its a great game, and I would definitely do it again. We're planning to go again in August. =)

And with that, here's an email thread that I found hilarious. (I asked him before posting)

(friend 1) yo yo wasup rainbox six squad!

(friend 2) Theres six on this thread. coincidence? lol

(friend 1) LOL...ya man...next time for sure...it'd be sick if we were all geared up.

(friend 2) like this?

The moral of the story is, bring repellent...

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Fav Moment: When I took down 3 opponents in a game of defend the base

Halo 3: Why we're STILL playing

You could call me a "long-term relationship" gamer. Once I find a game I like I'll stick with it.
It happened with Tetris, DDR, Quake 2, Halo 2 and especially with Everquest and World of Warcraft.

Now 8 months after its release, I'm sitting here with my brother, about to start another game of Halo 3, (at 3am) and I'm wondering why the heck is this game so good that it keeps me coming back for more?

Something in science class is coming to mind... Something about neuro-receptors or neurons associating pleasure with the game. I'm sure in Halo 3, every time we kick another teams ass, some endorphins are released.

And considering I've been playing video games since I was 2 years old, (with Pac-Man on the Atari 2600) my brain must be fully hardwired to thinking that video games = enjoyment.
Since my brother also enjoys the same games, it's our family time. =)

Multi-player online games are what REALLY got me hooked.
Artificial Intelligence has vastly improved over the years, but to this day it doesn't compare to playing against live competition.
We can verbally strategize. Yell commands at each other. And thrill in the last minute heroics of getting the last key headshot that won us the game! (you should see my brother's reaction to getting teabagged)

We also love some of the little things about Halo 3.
1. Trying to decipher the names that people are using.
Most notably, "Watch out for S...Omega...S..."
"That's not S...Omega...S... That's Some...GaS"
2. Listening to little kids taunt us on the mic. It's amazing how many racist comments we hear on the mic, just because they're speaking online. (similar to comments Michael Richards made)
3. Or when we imagine the cancellation call with Microsoft:
"Hi I'd like to cancel my subscription. My tagname is Always High 123."

All in all, Halo 3 is one of those games that will keep me addicted for a long time... At least until Starcraft 2 or Diablo 3 comes out. =)

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Current Fav Games: Halo 3, Online Poker, Trailers of Diablo 3

Paintball: Great fun, but how can you get good?

Outdoor paintball is something that everyone should try. It's intense, it's a great workout, and it's great fun! But how can you get good? It's not as easy as it seems...

This was the first time that I've tried paintball outdoors (indoors sucks in comparison btw) and it's definitely the way paintball should be played. The terrain adds so much to the game. You hide in the grass, run up muddy hills, and jump through ravines in order to find your opponents.

There were 12 different fields to choose from, all with different sizes, obstacles, terrain, and possible objectives. Objectives included normal last team standing, defend the base, bombing run, escort the president, capture the flag, attack the base, and others.

So much variety! It was never boring, and even more fun with friends (to team up with, or to shoot at).

Boy was it also tiring. I was totally sweating buckets after every game, partially cause you want to be fully covered so it won't hurt as much when you're hit.

It's a lot of fun, but how can you get good? Well that's the only problem. Why? You need to be ballin' (have lots of money) to play this game regularly.

$45 per bag of 500 paintballs. (which can go by super quick, and no you can't bring your own paintballs)
$20 per visit including rentals. ($10 without)
Want your own equipment?
$300+ for a decent gun.
$100+ for camoflauge gear
$50 for gloves
$100 for a helmet

If I was ballin' I would totally play paintball all the time. Unfortunately I'm not. =P
I can live with playing once or twice is year...

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Current Fav Paintball Games:
Attack the Base and Escort the President

Finger Roll: Thoughts on the Jermaine O'Neal trade

"Get out the salami and cheese mama this ballgame is ova!"

The first thing I wanna say is that Bryan Colangelo is a freakin' genius! The moves that he's made since coming aboard have turned a team going downhill into a contender.

Jermaine O'Neal is a great player. He's an all-star who can still be a threat on both sides of the floor, and just needs a decent team around him in order to show his true skills.

The Raptors are a perfect fit for him. We have great 3 point scorers that will help spread the floor for him to operate. We have Bosh (also an All-Star) who will be able to move to his more natural 4 spot. We're gonna be a force under the basket!

Now I know they aren't the Twin Towers, but it'll be entertaining to see some of the weaker teams in the East handle us when both of them are on the floor.

And in exchange we lost TJ Ford. I'll admit he's a great scorer, but since two years ago I've thought that Calderon was the better player. Now we don't have to worry about splitting up playing time as Calderon will be the go-to starter. Calderon is a true-point guard who is deceptively quick, has an amazing assist to turnover ratio, and has an excellent shot.

In terms of health, TJ and Jermaine are both players notorious with injuries. So to me it's a wash...

I've always believed that the team that wins the trade is the team that gets the best player. I would take a healthy Jermaine O'Neal any day of the week over a healthy TJ Ford. So in terms of that, "Raptors win, raptors win, raptors win!"

We probably need 1 or 2 more pieces to win a championship, but I have faith that Colangelo will pull another magic act if we're in serious contention.

Now we just gotta figure out how to beat Boston...

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Current Fav Ball Players: Jermaine O'Neal, and NOT Kobe Bryant

Pokerstars Freerolls

I've always thought of poker freerolls as crapshoots. Normally 5000 entrants or more, and only 50 some odd people will make the next round. And then you have to make the cut twice more...

Obviously there's "some" skill involved... Cause Chris Moneymaker was able to win the World Series. (Moneymaker is another topic completely) But all the stars in the sky have to align just right in order to win it all.

So another day, another freeroll entry. This time it's to win a $17000 package to Vegas to meet Daniel Negreanu and get a learning session from him, and $2000 in spending cash.
This one's for Canadians only. Check it here.

I couldn't resist cause only 1586 people entered the tournament and 1000 people get a ticket to the semi-final round.
Knowing the online poker player syndrome (loose, loose and more loose), I just had to bide my time, and play big hands only.

The tourney started at 8:15pm... Ended at 8:49pm...
I played 10 hands out of only 37 hands total lol.
I won 4 of those hands I played.

I wish all freerolls were this easy. =P

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Current Fav Games: Online Poker, Wii Fit

Dragon Boating 2008

13 Practices...
4 Races...
1 Medal...

This year's dragon boat races were intense as usual.

I've been involved in this sport since 1996, and I can't believe I've been doing it for this long. But there's something about the competition that keeps me coming back for more. It's one of the fastest growing sports, and I've seen it grow exponentially over the years.

If you don't know what it's about, here's a video from last year.
This particular race is held yearly at Centre Island in Toronto Canada.
We're in lane 6 and I'm the coxswain (steersperson):


It's been the second year since joining Smokin' Tuna, and they've been very welcoming.
A friend of mine had a few extra spots last year, and I expressed interest in steering the boat. (previously I've solely paddled) So I was lucky enough to join their team as a rookie steersman.

They were very patient with me, and despite the few times that I forced the boat to stop cause I was about to lead them into a wall, or the beach, I've done a pretty good job.

It's a tough job, cause you won't hear much in terms of recognition if you're doing well. But if you steer poorly, you'll have 20 people in the boat angry at you. =P
Honestly though, it was a lot of fun!
I totally lost my voice from all the yelling. "GO! GO! GO! FINISH! EVERYTHING!" is what I was yelling when we were finishing the race. I could barely speak the next day at work...

We were favored to win our division in the final race. And despite a great start, unfortunately we finished 3rd.
You can't win them all. But we still got a medal.

It was a great ride this year.
Perhaps I'll go back to paddling next year... =)

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Games played at Dragon Boating: Hacky Sack, Poker, Frisbee Golf

Free Money from Poker?

Could it be true?
Apparently yes!

A few months ago I received a letter and CD in the mail from mansionpoker.com offering me:
"$15 FREE CASH - NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED"

It goes on to say that there's no catch and it's an exclusive opportunity blah blah blah... I totally didn't believe it, but I left it on a chair to collect dust.

So recently I found it on the chair again, and decided to give it a go.
Now it took me a good 30 minutes after installation to find the area to put in the bonus code, but I actually got $15 for free!

I was reading up on it and saw that it's very stringent before you're allowed to pull your money from Mansion Poker. Apparently they ask for a copy of your passport or driver's license. It's talked about on numerous sites and confirmed on mansion pokers' website here

If I'm able to turn my $15 into $500 then perhaps I'll consider it. =P

Despite my brother's suggestion to make one attempt in the biggest tourney I can afford with the $15, I decided to take the "slow and steady" approach, and take on the limit tables at 5cent/10cent.

After 3 sessions I'm happy to report that I'm up to $18.92! Lol retirement here I come!

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Current Fav Games: Mansionpoker, Wii Fit

Way Back Play Back - Acrophobia

I hope you've all tried Acrophobia.
It was definitely the most addictive word game I've ever played.
Way better than Word Racer ever was...

I remember being introduced to the game and being instantly hooked.
My cousins and I have had 5 computers going in the same house playing Acrophobia against each other and the rest of the room.

I beg anyone who can, please please bring the game back.

There have been plenty of imitators, but nothing duplicated the sounds and feel of this version of the game.

Describing it doesn't do it justice, so check out this memorial site here: http://www.kabwebs.com/acrophobiashrine/

And apparently after doing some research, someone IS trying to bring it back!
http://www.originalacro.com/
It doesn't look like it's working as of yet, but here's hoping...

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Current Fav Games: Wii Fit, Halo 3

Wii Back from Repair!

I was quite surprised when I heard the good news.
My Wii is in from repair!

And it came back a week sooner than I expected!

One thing to note is that all of my game downloads and channels were gone, but upon inspection of the shopping channel, all my games are freely downloadable.
I was hoping that they'd give me my points back so that I could purchase different games, but that deal would be too good.

The second thing I noticed was that all my Mii's are no longer editable.
It definitely sucks but at least I didn't lose them all. (Yay Jordi Laforge and David Susuki Mii's)

All in all a good day... Except that I have to start over on unlocking everything in Wii Fit. (I was using my friends' Wii)
At least I have a Wii age of 24 now woot!

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Current Fav Games: Wii Fit, Online Poker

Wii Fit: First Impressions (Balance Games and Final Words)

When I look back on Wii Sports, I think about the continuous hours of fun that my friends and I could have with only a handful of games. Could Wii Fit balance games bring the same fun factor? It will be a tall task.

Soccer Heading is fun minigame. However, like a lot of the games on Wii Play, they're more for show. They don't have the lasting factor that will keep you coming for more.
On top of that, in terms of exercise, it's not really beneficial in that way either.

Ski Slalom is a great game! I completely understand why Wii Ski came out. Even though it was such a quick minigame, it was engaging, it was frustrating, it was responsive, and it felt like skiing.

Ski Jump is also very enjoyable. I found myself going back for more, trying to beat my score. My gf's calves were hurting the next day from all the ski jumping she did.

Table Tilt is my favorite game of all the balance games. Unfortunately it ended too fast...

Conclusions:
There's some Wii Play-esque type stuff here. There's some fun stuff but will I be playing them in a year? Unless I'm showing it to friends who haven't seen it, probably not.

I believe that it wouldn't be fair to base my review on only the first few hours, but probably at least a month of play.
If I am able to lose weight or get stronger, it would definitely affect my perception of the game.

So far, my feeling is that the game is not for everyone.
But if you were willing to buy a Wii in the first place, then you're willing to buy into innovative ideas.
You might like it after all...

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Current Fav Games: Wii Fit, DDR, Halo 3

Wii Fit: First Impressions (Aerobics)

Ahh... The infamous Aerobics exercises that I've heard about. (Particularly the Hula Hoop)

Two words for Hula Hoop. Fun and hilarious!
Not only is it fun to play, but just watching people play is fun!
On top of all that, it's amazing how well girls do at this game. =))

Here's the 4 million view video:


Being a fan of DDR, I didn't have much expectations for Basic Step... And boy was I right.
It's boring and feels unresponsive. The song is quite repetitive, and it was waaay too easy for me.
Hopefully the Advanced version of step has more to offer.

The Basic Run was a pleasant surprise.
Sometimes the run wasn't responsive, but the scenery brought me into it, and seeing my Mii friends running around was a nice touch. I found myself running as close as possible to the screen in order to immerse myself.
Real runners will cringe at this activity though.
Also make sure you hold on to the Wii in your pocket, cause it fell out of pocket onto the ground a few times.

2P Basic run is the same thing, but with two people.
Depending on who you play with, you'll end up racing, and rolling numerous times. =)

Conclusions:
2 fun games out of 3 ain't bad.
I wonder how the boxing game is...

Next up: Balance Games

Wii Fit: First Impressions (Strength Training)

I was very excited about the strength training.
I've never been motivated to do strength training in the past. Perhaps Nintendo could motivate me.

5 activities were initially available. (probably because I unlocked it during yoga)

1. Single-leg extensions
They were easy enough. I didn't feel that much resistance though.

2. Push-ups and side plank
I was impressed with this exercise.
It recognized when I did the movements, which is important.
Also, I could see myself being motivated to do this again.
And I was actually getting into a sweat.

3. Torso Twist
Another simple exercise that doesn't have as much to do with strength as it does with balance.

4. Jackknife
This is a variation on a sit-up.
When I watched the demo, I realized that you can totally cheat on this exercise and it would think you're doing it.
You basically lie beside the balance board and place your feet on it.
To the time of the whistle, you lift your feet and do the sit-up variation.
I did them for real, and obviously I could feel my abs working.
However, if you can't get over the fact that the board has very limited use in this exercise, you'll cheat, or at the very least you won't be motivated to do it again.

5. Lunge
Great exercise.
I felt the burn with this activity.
I could see myself being motivated to do this again.

Conclusions:
You can definitely get a good workout with some of these exercises (pushups, jackknife, and lunges), as long as you can motivate yourself to do it, and NOT cheat.

Next up: Aerobics

Wii Fit: First Impressions (Yoga)

Alright Yoga time! (I guess)

I'm normally pretty open to trying new things, but I was sure that Yoga wouldn't be my favorite part of the game.
However, I've tried yoga with the gf at home once, and I'll admit that it was very relaxing, almost too relaxing... To the point of falling asleep.

When the screen loads, there's only 4 poses to start.
The first exercise, Deep Breathing, is relaxing... But in the back of my head I was thinking that this better not count as one of the 40 activities.

The real highlight of the first 4 activities for me is the tree pose.
The first time I did it, I nearly fell off the board.
Needless to say, the Tree Pose is tough for a yoga noob.

Obviously you can guess that the gf beat me on every yoga activity.

Something to note. Switching out between profiles seems like a chore.

Conclusions:
For guys: You probably won't enjoy the Yoga.
For girls: It's relaxing, and you'll probably kick guys asses at it.

Next up: Strength Training!

Wii Fit: Eventual Review

Being Smarter Than the Average Bear, I realized that some of our friends haven't touched their Nintendo Wii's in a long time. So a phone call l8r and I have a Wii until I get it mine back from repair! Woot!

When the Wii arrives, I'm totally ready... This should only take a minute to start right? Hell no...

I totally didn't realize how long it takes to set up.
First I gotta hook it up.
Then I turn the Wii on.
Then I realize I need to sync the remotes.
I sync the remotes, and the Wii Board.
Then I turn on the Wii, and it tells me I need to do a Wii System Update.

*a few grueling minutes l8r*

Ok it's go time!
I load up Wii Fit.
Omg the Wii System Time is wrong...

*another few minutes l8r*

Aw crap my Mii's aren't on this Wii.
I load it up from the saves from my remote (luckily).

*another few minutes l8r*

After several screens, verifying my birthday, and setting a password (which I realize is pretty pointless), its finally time for the Body Test.

*measuring... measuring... measuring... All done!*

My Wii Age is 37! Boo!
At least I'm in the normal BMI range (though not by much).

In a few hours, the actual review...

Trials and Tribulations of getting Wii Fit

I'm sure there are many people out there that feel really dumb not to pre-order Wii Fit.
Guess what? It's been sold out everywhere and unless you want to bay $50 more on Ebay you weren't going to get one for a while.

I've been checking the stores constantly...

I went to Best Buy a few times (always sold out) and they said that last Friday morning, they had 150 units come in.
Unfortunately they had 300 people line up that morning. So 150 people went home unhappy...
Best Buy says check on Fridays.

I went to Future Shop a few times (always sold out) and they said to come in on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. They were all very helpful though, which is nice.

I went to The Source a few times (always sold out) and they have no idea when they get their shipments.
Apparently they only received 2 copies of the game in their last shipment. (very sad)
Also, the sales reps that I spoke too seemed very annoyed (obviously by the amount of times he's been asked the question). Hopefully for the store's sake it was just that sales rep.

Despite the unlikeliness, I went to HMV, hoping it was there. Of course it wasn't, and he said that every shipment that has come in never made it to the shelves cause ppl were there waiting for the copies to come out the door.

I thought about going into the Sony Store and asking if they had Wii Fit... I chuckled and moved on.

I've been to EB Games three times.
The first two times with no success.

But the third time was the charm...
A friend and I walked in, and he asked the obvious question.
No was the reps reply... Grrr...

When are you expecting more asks my friend?
"Well lucky for you a Purolator shipment is scheduled to come in in 90 minutes."

No f 'in way!

I looked at my friend, knowing he had to leave soon, and I said "l8r man I'm sticking around!"
And I was immediately on the phone, calling a friend to head over since he wanted a copy.
Luckily for me I was the only one in the store looking for the game. (I think the release of Ninja Gaiden 2 had something to do with it)

So I stood there... And chatted it up with the rep.
What he didn't know was that I wanted a 2nd copy to give as a gift.
At the same time, my friend might not make it in time.
I had to hedge my bets and try to pick up 3 copies...
He turned out to be a really nice guy.

He told me that he's become desensitized by the amount of times he's heard the same question, every time there's a big release.
I suggested putting up Sold Out signs.
Apparently they've tried that... People will miss the sign completely, or will literally look at the sign, read it, and ask, "So it really IS sold out?"
That probably would piss me off even more. =P
So eventually he allowed me to take two copies.

40 minutes l8r the shipment arrives.
They were expecting 15 copies, but the shipment only had 10.
After being on the phone a final time (in front of the rep), I knew my friend wasn't going to make it in time.
I guess he was feeling awfully generous, but he allowed me to pick up a third copy (using another credit card).

Is it worth all the hype? I dunno yet... I haven't got my Wii back from repair!
But what I do know is that the gf is excited, and I'm all for any games that she wants to play as well.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Current Fav Games: DDR, Halo 3, Soon to be Wii Fit

Nintendo Wii Pixelation Void

I wish video problems didn't bother me, but this one was too obvious to miss.

I've been playing Mario Kart (as usual), and I noticed some pixelation issues.
I was getting vertical pixels, on every screen, for any game. =/

*ring ring*

(me) Hi I'm getting vertical pixelation issues on every screen.
(me) I suspect that there's something wrong with the video card
(nintendo rep) Alright can I get your Wii serial number pls?

*gives number*

(nintendo rep) Well you no longer have the system on warranty.
(nintendo rep) You can send it in for repair, but it will cost you $75.
(nintendo rep) And it could take 11-15 business days to solve the problem

Doh $75!? 11-15 days?
I decided that the $75 was a better price then buying a new one.
But now that the Wii's gone, I'm finding myself wondering what I'm going to do.

Should I start playing poker again?
Should I start practicing the guitar again?
Should I play more DDR again?
Perhaps I should start looking for Wii Fit again?

Probably a little bit of all of that.

I did some googling and found that 2% of Wii's have this problem, and would eventually degrade over time.

Here's a Youtube link of the problem:


I also suspect that leaving the Wii on standby is a BAD idea.
My gf and I recall that the Wii can get very hot when left in standby.
The fan doesn't seem to turn on when its on standby...
And that's probably why the video card has problems.

WORDS OF WISDOM: Turn your Wii completely off (power light changes to Red) every time you stop playing.
It may prevent video card degradation...

We'll see how much I can accomplish in the next few weeks...
It'll probably be as productive as when I stopped playing Everquest and World of Warcraft.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Current Fav Games: Temporarily NOT Mario Kart Wii

DDR: How to Demonstrate the Game to Noobs

DDR is old news to most of us...
But there are still people out there that haven't even heard of it.
I'm not surprised, since there's still plenty of people in the world that can't get on the internet if the E (Internet Explorer) icon isn't on the desktop.
But I don't judge... I only want to impart my enjoyment of games to others. =)

So if you have friends over and you want to introduce them to the game. What should you do?
Well its more complicated than it seems.
If you demonstrate the game in the wrong way, then they'll get turned off, frustrated, or think youre having a flailing seizure. Or worse:

So here's my patented way of weening people into the game.

Pre-Game
Make sure you're wearing outer and undergarments that will keep all your "goods" in place.
You wouldn't want your flabbage to be the cause of turning them off from the game.

Rule #1: Dont show them the most difficult level you can do...
Yes you've just passed Maxx Unlimited on heavy after a million tries.
But have you ever watched yourself look like a tard while doing it?
It should be obvious that when you're pushing yourself you usually have less body control.

I've made this mistake to a friend, who has said to this day that it was the most unattractive sight he's ever seen of me...
The first (and only) song I've shown him was Rhythm and Police (9 Foot Heavy).
I was ready... I stretched a little... I focused in...
The song starts, and I was going through the motions, kicking ass.
Finished with an A rank I believe.
Then I turn to him and he has a furrowed brow, and he's obviously thinking that I'm a freak.
That's when I realized that I single-handedly turned him off from the game in one fell swoop...

Rule #2: Pick a song that they're somewhat familiar with
I.E. don't pick RevenG Bag as the first song to show them...
Your goal is for their brain receptors to connect DDR with enjoyment.
So do yourself a favor and pick one of the popular songs that you have actually heard on the radio.
Some good suggestions are Sandstorm, Busy Child, I Like to Move it or Days Go By.

Rule #3: Try your best to make it look like youre dancing
The game IS called Dance Dance Revolution, so you may as well attempt to dance.
It's much easier if you pick the light or standard version of the song you've chosen.
Then embellish a little, bop your head, move your hands a little, don't be stiff.
If there isn't a step for a four count, you can move your foot back to the middle, cause it looks smoother

Rule #4: Have Fun
This time around, don't try to get a good cardio workout
Just enjoy the songs, and that should come across with the person you're demonstrating it to.

Good luck!
And in the words of Body Break with Hal Johnson and Joanne McCloud: Keep Fit and Have Fun!

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Current Fav Games: Mario Kart Wii, DDR, Halo 3

Addicted to Mario Kart Wii

I've been playing Mario Kart Wii constantly for the past few weeks.
It has totally cut into my other gaming time.

I stopped playing Super Smash Brothers immediately after getting the game.
I haven't played guitar since I got the game.
I haven't been playing online poker.
I haven't been playing DDR (and am feeling much fatter)

Am I addicted to Mario Kart? Definitely.

How do I know?
Other than actual playing time, I've won every cup in the game... TWICE!
Going through the game the first time makes sense... I wanted to unlock everything.
So I did... Including unlocking Rosalina without having a Mario Galaxy save on my system. (it's possible)

Then some people come over while I'm away, play using my save (cause it has everything), lose some points in my online score (sucks), and try using a remote and nunchuck to play. (suckier)

I've always taken pride in the fact that my wheel percentage was at 100%...
I love rocking people online even though they're using a controller. (a happy 7263 rating)
Why would I wanna "cheat" by using a controller when most of the appeal of the wii installment comes from the fact that you can "drive" your vehicles now?
At least that's my philosophy...

So when I checked my stats and saw wheel percentage down to 94%, I felt like my save was tainted. =P

So being the addicted gamer I am, I decided to leave that saved game for guests, and start over with my own save...

Hopefully I'll see you online (and beat you while youre using a controller)... >)

6849 VR rating and rising

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Current Fav Games: Mario Kart Wii, Mario Kart Wii, and Halo 3 on weekends

10 Signs That You're Addicted to Games

Somewhere along the line I realized that I can't live without games.
And I'm not just talking about Video Games. I'm talking about any game. Perhaps any activity that involves competition. And I always intend to win. =P
If it weren't for working, eating and sleeping, I'd probably be playing some sort of game 24/7.

So how do you know whether you're addicted?
If you can relate to the 10 signs of an addicted gamer, then I pray that you also got game with the ladies...

1. You've made up games

Gamers will turn any situation into an opportunity to find a new, super-awesome game.
Relaxing by the water? Turn rock skipping into a clay shooting competition.
Eating breakfast out? Use the creamers as baskets to play mini basketball.
I've even made a game with a poker table top and poker chips but without playing cards. (don't ask)

2. All-You-Can-Eat = Competition

8 friends going to an all-you-can-eat restaurant spells trouble. When they split us up into two tables of 4, it means war... I have left many restaurants unable to walk, and afraid of burping.

3. You don't go easy on your girlfriend

I'm sure a lot of guys don't follow this rule, but I've always followed the adage that it is my duty to try to win if I'm playing any game. It doesn't matter who you are, I will try my best, and that includes against the girlfriend. It just happens to be that a lot of the games I play include her. But as a bonus for kicking her butt for a while, she's improved very quickly, and is now a force when we play poker! (I also can't beat her at Dr. Mario)

4. You skipped school to play the release of a video game

One of the most disappointing games of all time, but I called in sick for Mortal (Kombat) Monday. Sweat replaced glory and all (Super Nintendo version). I never made that mistake again... Until Zelda, Ocarina of Time came out. =)

5. You've waited in line over 10 hours for that gaming system

It was a really fun time. I arrived at around midnight at the nearest Best Buy. I had some friends along for the ride. We watched Heroes, and played Handball and Hacky Sack. We chatted with the rest of the gamers in line about their favorite old video games, and we came away with 2 Nintendo Wii's and 1 PS3.

6. You've participated in a tournament that wasn't Poker or a Video Game

The tournament I entered was for Magic: The Gathering, the collectible card game. Yes I felt out of place, and didn't win a match, but I wanted to see what the fuss was all about. And I'll admit, I had a great time.

7. You've played a game from sunset to sunrise

Sometimes when the planets align just right, you can find a game that will immerse you to the point of forgetting about the natural calls of life. I'm sure Halo 3, Final Fantasy 7, Metal Gear Solid have all had their close to 24 hour sessions, but I was willed to wait in line for 10 hours, not sleep for over 48 hours, and play incessantly with every friend that wanted to try it out, when the Nintendo Wii and Wii Sports came out.

8. You can play poker seriously, even when it's NOT for money

How many people out there can honestly say that they can play their best poker, even if there's no money on the line?
Oh really? I remember when you said, "Meh I call, it's not for real anyways."

9. You've lost friends over a sport

It was our weekly basketball game in the gym I rent out for invites only. I remember my brother getting fouled by this guy (friend of a friend) under the basket, and I called foul for him. It was already pretty chippy at that point, so patience was wearing thin. A few angry words later and we were shouting, ready to fight. Luckily we were pulled apart before anything happened. I haven't seen that guy again...

10. You've forced a friend to repeat a year of school from a game

This one is so far-fetched for most people... But not for me... It was a game I introduced to 4 others in Residence at university. We were all addicted to the game. It was sick. Would I take it back if I could? Hell no... More on that next time.