Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 1 is like eating Chinese food. You may seem full, but 20 minutes later hunger sets in! Part 1 of an epic 2 part finale to this pop culture phenomenon was fantastic! The movie ends with the same feeling as your favorite television show cuts to commercial during a cliffhanging moment! If this is your introduction to the Harry Potter series you will be disappointed. Fans of the books and movies have developed a relationship with these characters over the years and have followed their progress religiously. The plot line follows closely to the book, and the visuals custom to the other Potter films will not disappoint! I was on the edge of my seat from beginning to end dreading the wait until July for closure! Ron, Hermoine, and Harry are as close as ever and for the first time do not return to Hogwarts. Harry is on a final mission to destroy the remaining Horcruxes in preparation for his final showdown with Voldemort. In addition we finally get the back story on Harry’s cloak of invisibility! Alan Rickman is wonderful as Professor Snape, and Ralph Fiennes is Lord Voldemort! The only bad thing about seeing this film is realizing the series is at its conclusion. Except for DVD, this is the last time you will hear Expecto Patronum!
Friday, December 3, 2010
Confessions Of A Video Game Addict
I love video games; there is no denying that fact. They help escape reality, and allow the gamer to do things otherwise impossible in the real world. Video games are no doubt the lazy man’s way of reading. They enable someone to become a character in a fantasy world created by technology. Funny thing is I can’t think of an instance when a relationship was lost, meals were skipped, hygiene ignored, and work was lost over a book.
Games like World Of Warcraft and Ever Quest are huge online games and not designed for a busy person. I hate to single one game out, but unfortunately it is a necessity to make my point. I started playing World Of Warcraft roughly 5 years ago. I was introduced to the game by a friend. At the time the level cap (maximum level of a character) was 70. It took me months of solid gaming to achieve this level; half the time invested the other half because I had no idea what I was doing. I then joined a guild of other players which had scheduled events 3-4 nights per week. The excitement of Warcraft consumed my thoughts and coursed through my veins 24/7. I dedicated all of my free time to the game. My social life began to dwindle. I stayed home Friday and Saturday nights to play mainly due to fear of missing out on items, achievements, or opportunities. I turned down dates, skipped meals, and cut myself off from the world. Summer in Michigan is a precious 3 months but I didn’t care. I made little money, but as long as my internet was paid for I was happy! I obviously couldn’t hold a steady relationship, and in hind sight what woman would want to be with me? I even had a woman leave my apartment in frustration because I couldn’t leave the game for a few hours! Warcraft was life.
After years invested in the game I decided to walk away. Retire, if you will. How can you retire from a video game? You know the story of Barry Sanders. I was the Barry Sanders of World Of Warcraft. I walked away with one of the best characters on my server and never looked back. It wasn’t easy. I loved the game. I still play video games on a consistent basis, but not like World Of Warcraft. I am able to set the controller down, eat a good meal, take a shower, and even socialize with friends. I still get asked to come back, but I just won’t do it. Warcraft is like any vice, once addicted it’s hard to put down. Do I regret all the time invested in that game? Yes. I wasted years of my life on a video game with no real reward. You see Warcraft is an unbeatable game. Once the end is reached, more new content is added, so you never feel satisfied. It’s like running on a hamster wheel. My advice, stick with Tetris!
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Gran Turismo 5: Review
It has been 5 years since the release of Gran Turismo 4. Released in 2005, by Polyphony Digital GT 4 featured over 700 cars, 51 tracks, and was one of only two titles capable of 1080i for the Playstation 2.
Drooling race fans can now dry their mouths as the long awaited GT5 hit shelves this past Wednesday! If you are loaded, or have a “sugar mama” the GT5 collector’s edition is available for $100. Here’s what you get for your hard earned loot!
Alright, let’s get to the good, the bad, and the ugly!
The Good:
The graphics are fantastic; racing doesn’t get any more realistic, unless you are literally driving the cars! Polyphony Digital added roughly 300 more cars upping the total to 1000! There is finally an online feature which includes 16-player support, Open Lobby, Text / Voice Chat, Private rooms, Online Photo Album, Online Replay Album, YouTube replay output. Yes! You can now race friends for bragging rights!
The Bad:
The courses seem oddly familiar. Oh wait! They are basically the same from GT4, with some slight modifications. Modifications, meaning the idea of a different course is you drive the same one but in a different direction. When attempting to get a license to unlock new races you can’t hit a wall or bump another racer or you will be immediately disqualified! That doesn’t seem like realistic racing! So instead of racing to earn money, and experience you’ll be stuck on the final stage of acquiring a license or making a trip to the store for a new controller.
The Ugly:
Riddle me this…If you are lucky enough to have some of the free cars to start the game why is it mandatory to spend 20 grand on a car? I guess you could sell the car immediately, but you won’t recoup your initial 20,000 credits. Also, where is the real-time damage Polyphony spoke of? I have hit the wall countless times yet my vehicle is always intact. Guys that is not realistic at all, indestructible vehicles? I have yet to see anything fly off my car from smacking a wall or hitting another racer. With a 5 year wait and an initial PS3 launch why can’t you design a car? I think it would be great to have a design feature. Just saying…
Overall, GT5 is the best racing game available, but for a company of perfectionists there are still plenty of flaws. If you invest the 100 hours it will take to unlock, purchase, and win everything the replay value will be extremely low. My advice, take your time it will probably be 6 more years before another GT release.
Score: 8
Key Game Features
Drooling race fans can now dry their mouths as the long awaited GT5 hit shelves this past Wednesday! If you are loaded, or have a “sugar mama” the GT5 collector’s edition is available for $100. Here’s what you get for your hard earned loot!
- Gran Turismo 5 game
- Exclusive limited edition Kyosho designed 1:43 scale die cast 2009 Nissan GT-R Spec V
- In-depth 300-page car-lover’s guide written by the experts at Polyphony Digital
- Custom etched Gran Turismo key chain
- Voucher for 5 downloadable exclusive high-end cars with custom delivery and performance upgrades
- Numbered certificate of authenticity
- Custom collector's packaging
Alright, let’s get to the good, the bad, and the ugly!
The Good:
The graphics are fantastic; racing doesn’t get any more realistic, unless you are literally driving the cars! Polyphony Digital added roughly 300 more cars upping the total to 1000! There is finally an online feature which includes 16-player support, Open Lobby, Text / Voice Chat, Private rooms, Online Photo Album, Online Replay Album, YouTube replay output. Yes! You can now race friends for bragging rights!
The Bad:
The courses seem oddly familiar. Oh wait! They are basically the same from GT4, with some slight modifications. Modifications, meaning the idea of a different course is you drive the same one but in a different direction. When attempting to get a license to unlock new races you can’t hit a wall or bump another racer or you will be immediately disqualified! That doesn’t seem like realistic racing! So instead of racing to earn money, and experience you’ll be stuck on the final stage of acquiring a license or making a trip to the store for a new controller.
The Ugly:
Riddle me this…If you are lucky enough to have some of the free cars to start the game why is it mandatory to spend 20 grand on a car? I guess you could sell the car immediately, but you won’t recoup your initial 20,000 credits. Also, where is the real-time damage Polyphony spoke of? I have hit the wall countless times yet my vehicle is always intact. Guys that is not realistic at all, indestructible vehicles? I have yet to see anything fly off my car from smacking a wall or hitting another racer. With a 5 year wait and an initial PS3 launch why can’t you design a car? I think it would be great to have a design feature. Just saying…
Overall, GT5 is the best racing game available, but for a company of perfectionists there are still plenty of flaws. If you invest the 100 hours it will take to unlock, purchase, and win everything the replay value will be extremely low. My advice, take your time it will probably be 6 more years before another GT release.
Score: 8
Key Game Features
- 1,000 Vehicles - 170 Premium new models, including hybrids and EVs, and 830 kinds of standard models similar to those seen in previous games
- Plenty of Courses - Rip it up in more than 20 courses, more than 60 layouts
- New Physics - The in-game physics system simulation is brand new to the series, and allows for greater realism and damage
- Arcade Mode - Allows for single race functionality and 2-player battle
- GT Mode Features - World Map, My Garage, Car Dealer, Tuning Shop, Car Washes/Oil Change, Race Championship (Series system, point system), License Test
- Online Features - 16-player support, Open Lobby, Text / Voice Chat, Private rooms, Online Photo Album, Online Replay Album, YouTube replay output
- Photo Mode - Photo Drive and Photo stage
- Gran Turismo TV - Video output to a PSP or PSP Go, Progressive Download, Improved user interface, continuous play for videos
- Sound Features - Custom soundtracks pulled from your PS3 hard-drive; Dolby Digital 5.1 and 7.1
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