Bioshock Demo!!
So many know that I am a total fanboy for System Shock 2. I think it is probably one of the best games in history and I couldn’t be more giddy today when I started downloading the spiritual successor to System Shock 2, Bioshock. The game takes place underwater as you crash and find yourself in this Ayn Rand influenced world called Rapture about the pursuit of human perfection through any means and without restriction. The architecture is striking and bold going with a highly themed art deco look, something you just would never see in major video games. Since the city is underwater, Irrational 2k Boston has taken a great deal of time making the water look and act correctly, and their work really shows. The water is striking and really adds a sense of claustrophobic feel to the game world. Now to the demo, it is absolutely amazing in every way. The presentation is some of the best work I have ever seen. Every event and player interaction has a sense of detail you just don’t see in many games these days. The story progresses without you feeling forced. Returning from System Shock 2 are the voice recordings which provide the player with more detail into the end of Rapture. As in System Shock 2, it really brings the world to life hearing someone talk about their life in the game and seeing how things fall apart. The demo is modified in giving the player a little more weapons and powers earlier in the game. The player gets two plasmids, which modify your body and give you amazing abilities such as the ability to shoot electricity out of your hand. You can use the environment as well, if you find an AI walking in water you can shock them which will electrocute all the AIs that are in the water as well. Some very interesting game dynamics can occur from just this mechanic, but Bioshock holds so much more. I was excited about getting Bioshock later this month, but not I am even more excited!!
Busted Thumb!!
So over the weekend I was moving the television and one of my Polk speakers fell right on my thumb. I haven’t had pain like that in ages. It hurt so bad I forgot to swear. So I put some ice on it and thought everything would be fine, but I woke up this morning with my thumb hard as a rock and the nail totally black. I decided to go to the doctor, and after various appointments and x-rays they think I broke the tip, meaning they can’t puncture the nail to release the blood. So I am now in a thumb splint, and it hurts like crazy. Check out the photo of the splint.
Free Download Manager Rules
So I do a lot of downloading and there is nothing worse then downloading something at slow speeds and losing a connection and having to resume from scratch. I have used all types of download managers and none have been better then Free Download Manager. It just does what it says and for free. How can you beat free? Well I guess they could pay you, but that isn’t going to happen. So if you need to download something, perhaps one of my videos, you should use FDM.
Just finished The Illusionist
I just recently watched the Illusionist, the other magic movie (the other being The Prestige), and I have to say it was a well crafted movie. The tricks were often foreseen, but entertaining. Edward Norton was did an excellent job as Eisenheim, as did Paul Giamatti as Inspector Uhl. I mostly noticed the terrific editing job on the film with a very soft look and interesting fades on cuts. The film had its slower moments, but was still well worth watching. So place it on your NetFlix or Blockbuster list.
Playing MLB ’07: The Show on PS3
So I decided to try the Playstation3 this weekend taking it home. I went to a local Blockbuster and looked at all the games to rent, and was kinda shocked of how limited the selection was. I have already played a fair amount of Resistance at work, and played the Motorstorm Demo a fair amount as well. The only game I was really interested in was MLB ’07: The Show. I am a sucker for baseball games, and I enjoyed last years version of The Show on Playstation 2. I got the machine setup at home and was surprised how much it weighed. It is one hell of a paper weight. But got the system booted and started playing some MLB. Controls were pretty spot on and I had a pretty good time. Wish games could go a little faster. I wish the development team would have stolen a feature out of MVP Baseball from EA where you can simulate games but then interrupt them if you want to play. It took a little bit to get used to the hitting system, but after a couple games I am doing alright. Lack of rumble is kinda lame, especially pitching which was nice in World Series Baseball on Xbox 360.
So I am not really sure what else I am going to play on this Playstation 3 while I have it. Does anyone have any recommendations?
Lost Season Finale
Warning Spoilers Ahead! Holy Shit is all I have to say. What a way to mess with my mind until Febuary when season four starts!! FEBUARY!!! The episode was intense, with all types of things going on. I am going to miss Charlie, but he went out unexpectedly. The Jack flashforward parts were really a twist, but well played. I just need to think about it, let it all sink in, and then watch it again in a couple days.
Heroes Season Finale
Lame. What a lame season finale.
You should stop reading now if you don’t want to read spoilers.
The entire episode was lame. The final fight with Sylar. Peter is the bomb. Nathan coming to save the day. Talk about cliche after cliche. Uggg. Highly disappointing after such a great ride this season. I really think NBC had no idea the show would turn into a ratings megaton and really overhyped certain episodes, such as the ‘Save the Cheerleader’ campaign earlier in the season. It was a let down.
Hopefully the season finale of Lost can save the day…
Niko & Scout Sleeping
So we recently got a puppy who we named Scout and we were a little worried that our cat Niko wouldn’t get a long with him since Niko has really never been around animals since we have had her. Well we brought home Scout and they became best of friends, most like brother and sister. Scout runs around chasing Niko, and Niko will tackle Scout. They even ended up sleep next to each other hours later. Here are some photos.
I’m so happy that they get along! I do have to say the first night having Scout home was rough. Lots of whining when we put him in his crate for the night. He just wouldn’t shut up. I think I got three or four hours of sleep. He seems to be doing a lot better tonight, hopefully it stays that way the rest of the night.
Check out Zodiac
So I got to check out the movie Zodiac by David Fincher this weekend at The Crest a local second run theater in Seattle. The movie is about the Zodiac Killer who terrorized the San Fransisco Bay area through the late 60′s to mid 70′s. The movie really breaks into two sections, with the first act being about the actual crimes and the media publicity and the second half is about the obsession of Robert Graysmith, the comic artist at the San Fransisco Chronicle at the time of the killings, and his attempts to figure out who the Zodiac Killer true identity.
The film is a great departure from David Fincher previous body of work. This was just a crime drama, and not the mind twist that Fincher has previously done with The Game and Seven. The attention to detail in the time period is striking and really has a excellent visual style to it without even noticing it. Many aspects are subtle but greatly effective in making the movie quite tense at moments.
The movie also had an excellent cast including Jake Gyllenhaal as Graysmith, Robert Downey Jr. as Paul Avery the crime reporter at the SF Chronicle, and Mark Ruffalo as Inspector David Toschi. All of them give great performances especially Downey Jr, as he always does. Gyllenhall really plays the part of this noble naive eagle scout perfectly. At times you can see the boyhood curiosity in his eyes through the film, which then turns into a downward spiral of obsession losing everything including his marriage and children.
Probably the one major problem with the movie is the length, at almost 2 hours and 40 minutes. It keeps going and going. While it is full of some amazing insight and information and some great story telling through film, it does drag for about the last 30 minutes. There are some spots that really could have fallen on the editing room floor.
Overall it was a great true crime movies. If you are interested in shows like Dominick Dunne’s Power Privliege and Justice, L.A. Confidential, The Black Dahlia, or Summer of Sam, you might want to check out Zodiac when it comes out on DVD in a couple months.
Explosions in the Sky on Conan
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So Explosions in the Sky were on Conan a couple weeks ago. Check it out.