Mario Snow Art

It was snowing and these kids were smokin tweeds. Enough said.

Wanna Look Really Cool?

Wear this hat. Not only is it super badass in the style department, but you'll be the envy of all who stand in your presence. You can get it HERE, only from the land of the rising sun. If any of you do get this, please post some pics of yourself toting this bad boy on your head.

Mariosoft

Could it be?



No, it's a photoshop, but cool nonetheless.

PS3 Woes

I just got PS3 and had to return it days later because the unit was defective, all games freeze at the menu. Have to send it back to the manufacturer for replacement. It's the $600 system too... go figure. That's all I have to say about that... Gaaawsh!! Friggin' Idiot!!

Wii Are In Business

Finally! My household has a Nintendo Wii. It only took 10 weeks to finally get one, but it's under control now. I did not get to spend a whole lot of time with this little bugger, only about an hour's time. In that hour I quickly realized what all the hype was about -- yet, that all the media's concerns with the unit seemed shockingly true as well.

My very first impression was, "Shit, that's tiny!" Then, I got my hands on the Wii-mote and it all began. I'll admit it takes some getting used to, but the more you play with it the more you realized just how great it really is. I quickly tested my hands (and body!) by cruising through Wii Sports, which I must say is great for what it is. My girlfriend said the graphics sucked on Wii. Suck on this. While trying to explain that it's not to be known as a graphical powerhouse, I realized I was wasting my time and decided to keep playing Wii Sports. Tennis... fun, Baseball... fun, Bowling... eeeh, they were all pretty good really. I was pleased, and tired at the same time. I under estimated the physical aspect of this type of gaming. Good stuff really.

After playing Wii Sports I took a shot at the new Zelda game -- frickin' sweet, let me tell you. My impressions here were in line with every other Zelda game I've put my hands on in the last eight years -- just loved it. The controls again took getting used to, but are considerably familiar and easy to be accustomed to. Graphics - meh, in line with what my girlfriend was saying earlier while playing Wii Sports, less than impressive, but not horrible. It's a step up from GameCube, and a whole hell of a lot of fun to play. More on that as I actually get some time with it.

Speaking of time, good to note Wii is a great console for EVERYONE. I would say yesterday may have been the first time in the last, well, ever that I can recall being in one room with all three of my brothers (10, 15, and 24) and all having a good time together. The age gap separates the family sometimes, but having Wii and being able to enjoy it's offerings as a group was really key. Nintendo hit something very special with this one, and I think that's true for all.

2007: The Year of the Discriminating Gamer

Hope everyone’s Christmas was great and your New Year has kicked off to a good start. Mine turned out to be exceptionally satisfying and exhausting for more reasons that I thought apparent at the time. But with the New Year also brings along with it New Year deals from local retailers looking to unload merchandise at slightly cheaper prices than from the year before.

This fact led me to EB Games (where else, right?) where for a short time they offered double for what they usually give for those looking to trade in their original Xbox consoles. Frankly, my Xbox hadn’t been used in quite some time (made quite apparent by the amount of dust collected) and I wasn’t sure if another deal like this would ever show itself (regularly, EB Games/GameStop gives about $40 for Xbox consoles). So throwing away all better judgment I decided to plunge myself into the realm of Microsoft’s 360 machine, wondering if I was over saturating my media library with superfluous entertainment. What I’ve experienced in the days afterward has been something of a gaming anomaly.

I quickly realized that if I was going to drop serious money on a console, why not go all out? It already came with a free game (Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter) so I decided to pick up another, Gears of War. Gears of War led me to pick up an Xbox Live membership just to see what the online aspect was all about (the ‘Pro’ set does come with a headset, after all) and my likeness for the first person shooter produced the thought that I might not be so letdown from spending so much. Well…yes and no.

Let’s get the negative out of the way. The first time I put Gears of War in the 360 the game acted up. I was unable to start a new game in any of the modes available and doing so only led me to a loading screen that immediately jumped back to the story select screen. Inspecting the disc for any damage, I saw noticeable circular scratches that I’m quite sure I didn’t etch on the surface. Nonetheless, I felt supremely let down. A new Xbox console and already a game had malfunctioned. Nintendo and Sony had never let me down in such a way and already an hour into Microsoft's console I had experienced problems.

I tried searching message boards in an attempt to secure a solution to the problem. I quickly found other Gears of War gamers, who might not have experienced the exact same problem, but had definitely had worse things happen to their 360 consoles (the dreaded three-light syndrome seemed to pop up the most). Most who had problems contacted Microsoft directly and were met with a startling lack of response from the big M. Some were told that Microsoft was aware of the problem but could offer no short-term solutions, which inevitably led to plenty of pissed-off gamers clutching broken 360’s. I was afraid the same would surely happen to me and was already expecting the worst.

However, my problems were beginning to fade. Having saw many gamers determine a correlation between Gears of Wars malfunctioning and the Xbox Gamertag ID, I decided to sign out and see if the problem continued. It did not and I was soon enjoying Gears of War, well, about as much as I could before noticing that I could not save if I was not logged in with an ID. Yet, the next day, when I signed in and tried GoW again, the problem seemed to vanish. After the initial debacle I’ve had zero problems as I was able to create a new game and soon was playing one of the best FPS titles I had ever laid eyes on.

Despite the small setback in software, my reception of the 360 has been monstrously high. I never thought I’d ‘sell out’ to Microsoft but the 360 didn’t have to run long to win me over. The user interface is one of the friendliest aspects of the machine, with options galore to fine tune everything from the custom look of the background to playing music through an iPod…even while playing a game itself, it’s still possible to select music. Looking at all of the options available to the console itself, it certainly had me wondering if the Wii or the PS3 had any chance to keep up in the three console race for control of the market share.

I’ve tried looking at the problem objectively. Though I haven’t had the chance to play anything for the PS3, from what I’ve heard, despite free online gaming, the juggernaut of consoles has had enough setbacks to change many gamer's minds. Reports and opinions from dissatisfied gamers have seen some consoles being returned to various retailers (no doubt scratching their heads as to why). Of the user complaints I browsed, I always saw a mentioning of the lack of resources the PS3 have in comparison to the 360 (and though it probably wouldn't be fair to throw the PS2 in with this comparioson, truth be told, I've never liked the boot up screen the PS2 utilized). Should Sony see success in the coming years it might have to do with changing the user menus and trying to keep up with Microsoft’s easy-to-grasp interface.

Nintendo’s Wii, on the other hand, has an interesting quandary of its own. Having created the notion of ‘remote based gaming’, Nintendo is definitely looking at the industry as a whole and trying to change the way gamers (and developers) see and experience the titles they play. Call of Duty 3 showed tremendous promise with its ‘point and shoot’ tactics and I have a feeling Nintendo can build on CoD’s success with even more FPS titles (hopefully with much improved graphics), each fleshed out with a sense of individuality. The Wii-mote has so much promise that I’m sure Nintendo is more than up to the challenge.

Yet for all the joys that the Wii is sure to bring, I’m still not left with the same sense of awe I had with the 360 and can’t help but wonder if Nintendo is on the right path or merely creating old traps for itself. The television channel menu system has its perks but I still feel as if they’re more than a few steps behind Microsoft in terms of building a rounded console. Things like the free online browser and the Weather and News channels help to boost interest, but for me the deal breaker was getting to relive old titles through the Virtual Console. Having dealt with both the Virtual Console and the Marketplace, at the moment, I feel more inclined to buy old classic games on the 360 rather than the Wii. Surely, Nintendo will expand it’s library to include the kind of classics everyone grew up with in the ’80’s and early 90’s, but then here’s the problem: a good example can be made of Street Fighter II, which can be purchased on both the 360 and the Wii (the 360 has the ‘Hyper Fighting’ Edition while the Wii has the original SFII). However, Microsoft allows online gaming with some of the downloadable titles and have leaderboards that track every gamer who's played. Specifically for SFII, you can challenge others and be ranked accordingly. On the Wii you’re stuck to playing with another friend in the room and at which you won’t be ranked versus anyone (speaking of which, where does Nintendo’s online plans figure in Wii development?). So considering all of that, which version would you buy?

Though I'm positive the respective backlog of classic games will take a seat to latest and greatest, the deciding factor for a number of gamers (besides shortage of product) is price. Will you shell out a significant amount of cash for extra perks or spend half that for a genuine innovative gaming experience? Only now are we beginning to see the effects of the ‘HD Age’, at which Microsoft clearly welcomed with open arms and at which Nintendo has held at arms length. Having bought a new LCD TV (again with the help of the after New Year's deals) I can appreciate all the graphical perks a set of component cable (nicely included with the console, I might add) can afford. I’m still waiting to buy component cables for my Wii, but having played it on a HD set with just regular cables, the difference in graphical output is strangely depressing. I’ve never noticed the difference more. As more families begin to upgrade their entertainment centers, so too should the brands that produce such equipment. Not that graphics make the game entirely, but if you saw the difference in visuals I’m seeing now, you might feel more inclined to pick up a 360 as well.

Anyway, if it seems like I’m falling all over this machine it’s because I am. I’m too impressed with how Microsoft’s 360 has been built. However, not every family has the means to stay on top of three different systems, all of which have their own console specific games that claim to be 'must-own' titles. At the rate the industry is going now, most gamers have already chosen sides with their next-gen systems and things might only get worse because of price discrimination. Fortunately, Nintendo and Microsoft both have moderately priced consoles that will at least attempt to match every dollar spent in regards to entertainment experienced. Unfortunately, I now have a copy of Jet Set Radio from the original Xbox, currently functioning as a paperweight due to the somewhat limited backward compatibility. How many years will it be until it shows up in the Marketplace?

Super Mario Bros. Super Show Vol. 2

Remember those Nintendo-themed cartoons that were around years ago? The Legend of Zelda, Captain N: The Game Master, and, of course, The Super Mario Bros. Super Show. I watched them all as a child, so when Super Mario Bros. Super Show Volume 2 was shown to me at Circuit City while shopping for Christmas gifts, I had to get it.

The DVD set consists of four discs, each having its own slim case. Each of the cases has a different main character displayed on it, starting with Mario and Luigi and ending with Princess and King Koopa (a.k.a. Bowser). The inside of each case contain a few sketches of the respective character on the outside of the case.

Enough about the packaging though, I didn't get this for the way it looks on the outside anyways. The discs contain six episodes each, plus a "bonus" episode, for a total of 28 episodes. There are bonus features on the discs as well, but I found them to be pretty lame. It seemed like they had some extra space to kill and just threw a few random things in to complete it.

For anyone that never saw the show, it consisted of a cartoon sandwiched in between a couple of live-action segments with Captain Lou Albano and Danny Wells as Mario and Luigi, respectively. Please be aware that the dialog in both parts of the show is rather poorly done. Honestly, it's so bad that it's funny, and that's actually why I got this. Childhood memories, and laughably bad dialog. Oh, and the people they chose to do the voice-acting really didn't help either. You'll probably also want to skip the show's intro after the first time, too. A poor quality Mario Bros. rap just doesn't do it for me.

Despite the negatives of this set, though, I think it still warrants a purchase for gamers. I was able to pick it up for $19.99 at Circuit City, and I believe all Target stores started selling both volumes today for $19.99 as well. It's about 10 hours of content according to the box, so the low price is a steal if you like it and only a small loss if you end up hating it.

"Do the Mario! Swing your arms from side to side. Come on, it's time to go. Do the Mario!"

...Okay I'm done.

Waiting Until The Last Minute...

Why must parents and other family members shopping for children wait until the last couple days before Christmas to try and get the gift the child wants the most? Particularly when it's the same gift that every other child out there wants? And if that wasn't bad enough, why do they get annoyed and angry when a store is sold out of it?

I've seen way too many examples of this this week. Whether it's a game system, a particular game, an MP3 player, or a camera, too many people just don't seem to understand how a store could possibly be sold out of the item they want at this point in the holiday season. The people that have a firm grasp on reality don't almost throw a temper tantrum when they are told "No, we're sold out of the Wii and we don't know for sure when we'll have more." Of course, you can substitute that for PS3 or even the DS Lite at this point. The latter has become surprisingly difficult to find as well.

Anyone that is working retail can most likely attest to this, but with today and tomorrow being the final two shopping days until Christmas the attitudes are only bound to get worse. People will be frantically trying to find what they want and probably causing even more problems for the people working at any given store. So, for anybody on the receiving end of anger or rudeness from a customer, try not to get too upset about it and remember it's almost over.

Wii-thdrawal & Holiday Panic

It's no surprise to anyone that Wii is sold out. Personally, my humble abode is still Wii-less. I haven't managed to snag one yet, and the hopes are slim through the New Year. I had enough trouble getting a hold of a DS Lite for my little brother for Christmas, surprisingly unavailable as well, despite NOT being something that's very new. I grabbed it on EBay for about $200 with the expedited shipping. Not terrible considering.

I attempted to get Wii on EBay as well, but realized that $500 to have it now would be retarded. My older brother has actually been struggling more so to get his hands on the Wii console, waiting in lines, and striking out every time. The last report I've received from him is that he waited on an 80-person line at EB Games to discover that they only had 7 consoles available. The frustration grew and he started kicking things in the store, yelling at people. He's 25. This Wii-thdrawal is taking its toll on folks it seems. See, I told him to pre-order back in September, why no one ever listens to me I have no idea.

I've got my 360 and my PSP, and I'm going to be happy with that. You won't catch me waiting in lines for no reason. That's all for now. The search continues...

It's Just A PS3...

The battle to be the first to own a PS3 was sure daunting at times this week. Customers who made the commitment braved seasonably cold weather, with harsh winds and rain affecting line dwellers across the nation. With new technology, a substantially higher price tag and only 400,000 consoles in the U.S., the joy of owning a PS3 turned downright ugly for many gamers around the country. Robberies, shootings, stabbings and unfortunate police measures have all been witnessed within the first 18 hours of the PS3's release. Really, people...was it worth it?

For gamers in Putnam, Connecticut, a robbery situation almost turned deadly when two armed teenagers approached a line outside of a Wal-Mart, demanding cash. One customer who tried to resist was shot twice - once in the chest and in the arm. The two teens ran immediately afterward, though reportedly not succeeding in robbing a single cent. The injured customer is now in stable condition.

Elsewhere in Connecticut, five men surrounded, robbed and beat a customer walking out of a store with a PS3. As they drove off with the console, one of the guys was pushed out of the vehicle, a 17 year old, and left to take the blame for multiple crimes.

In Pennsylvania, a teenager was robbed of his system when an older man approached his car, tapping on his window with a handgun. No arrests as of yet.

Police outside of a Target store in Virginia were forced to use talcum powder balls to subdue a crowd of about 350 customers waiting for their chance to buy a system. Speaking of which, I hear the Targets around Chicago only received 4-5 consoles for each store.

Finally, in Englewood, OH, two men in ski masks barge into a GameStop after closing, wielding guns and demanding all PS3's that were in stock. They made away with all five consoles.

Of course there's bound to be more commotion around the U.S. and perhaps even Japan, which is still cooling from the release fuss they endured during the week. But is any of this senseless violence to other gamers like ourselves really worth the trouble? And for what...a quick buck on Ebay that will probably be gone by year's end. By Christmas Sony hopes to have pushed out another 500,000 or so consoles (possibly another million by end of the fiscal year) giving many gamers at least another chance to own something that will soon be plentiful in stock if gamers just give it enough time. Hopefully, the next batch of consoles that are sold are done so without any lives being threatened.

Nice License Plate

Friday night I was getting some groceries for the weekend and to make a long story short, as I was leaving the Kroger parking lot here in Columbus, OH, I spotted an interesting license plate. This dude is definitely a gamer.

I guess there's no stereotype for a gamer anymore, so I guess there also wouldn't be a stereotype for "the gamer's car." But in this case, Acura MDX and Xbox 360 make a great combination. And in Ohio! Gotta love it baby.

What? I Will Smack You

I was playing Ridge Racer on my new Xbox 360 just yesterday with my younger brother (who has my old PS2, and is 13, mind you). This is the first time that I let him get his grubby, potato chip and grease filled little hands on my 360, so of course I asked the all time greatest question: "What do you think about the graphics? Is this the same as PS2 or what?" He responds, "Yeah, it's the same". Um, what?! I will smack you. I guess the mind of a minor doesn't pick up these... major differences. I guess Ridge Racer wasn't the best of games to ask this question to.

GamingFM: Free Streaming Videogame Music

I've been listening and contributing to GamingFM.com for over a year now and it seems like not many people are aware this site exists. GamingFM allows you to stream music for FREE from Winamp or any mp3 player that plays .pls files. Yes, I said FREE. They have 4 different "stations" available to stream. Classic, Modern Console, PC and Complete. Complete is a mix of all of the stations while classic plays mostly 16bit era and before music. Modern console and pc explain themselves. They have 24k and 128k streams in case you are at work and can't clog the network. They also allow you to request songs, and they have real time "what's playing now" on each channel. If you register with them you can create a personalized page which allows you to put your most liked music on one page so you can request it faster. Tune in and you too can be the nerdiest person at work!

Sausage Fest?

Usually I don't bother listening, much less write about, stupid "gamers" and their rants that are dumb - but this one was as delicious as the picture to the right, you all need to read it. The article is about a girl "gamer" (I will continue to parenthesize gamer because she's not a gamer, just a whiner who likes nothing, to be honest), who claims that the Xbox 360 is only for men, basically.

In her rant, she posts each genre and complains about them to the fullest, but of course, she backed nothing up and the funny thing is, she complains about every genre of games on 360, so honey, what the FUCK do you like?

To summarize:

She's been to Vegas and doesn't need a card game to enjoy it (so don't buy it?). She doesn't like racing because it's the same thing over and over (orly?). She doesn't like sports and can't think of anything more boring (cutey pie, your face is more boring). She hates fighting games because she has no friends to come over and play them with her (um, Xbox Live much? Obviously not). She doesn't like first person shooting because it's just "not for her" (I seem to be running in a circle, don't FUCKING buy them.) She says for flying games "I can't believe there's a category for this" (you're the one complaining about the lack of variety, silly). She doesn't care about party or puzzle games on Xbox 360 because there are Mario games or similar games on GameCube or GBA (so play those, that doesn't mean these games suck, girls can easily play them - like any game). She is discouraged by war games (turn on the TV, walk outside, holla). She's scared of horror games and hates gore (well, that would be the whole genre and if you don't like scary shit, don't play scary shit, babe). She says that action games aren't out for 360 (360 is almost all action, and stop comparing it to systems that have been out for 4+ years, it's less than a year and you're already being a whore).

I could go on, but I am too frustrated because I'm stuck in a circle of how retarded this girl really is. But I will go ahead and quote my favorite part of her rant:

"Music/Dance - I'm actually sort of sad that DDR and Guitar Hero switched to the 360. But there are so many games already for the PS2 that I already own, and my dance mat works fine on it. Not worth getting a new console for. Dance Dance Revolution Universe, Guitar Hero II."

You're all thinking what I'm thinking after reading that, so I'm not gonna bother tearing it to pieces. Go ahead and laugh it up by reading the full "article" here.

PSP Eliminates Boredom

Handheld gaming has come a long way. I started out with a chunky looking Game Boy with Super Mario Land. High pitched bleeps and blips made the best of it. Several months ago I dumped my clunky DS (I know... DS lite now exists!) for a sleek and sexy PSP. I have to mention, this little device of gaming bliss is one of the only systems I still get my hands on a weekly basis. Currently, I'm sitting in an office in corporate America with my PSP sitting in my car. Tekken Dark Resurrection lies within. I want to go grab that little fucker and start kicking some ass... right now. My trusty PSP has come in handy on many occasions to streamline the boredom process. If I'm at work and it's slow, I can sneak a play. If my girlfriend is cooking or cleaning... or whatever the hell she'll be doing sometimes... I can sneak a play. If you don't have a handheld gaming device, such as a PSP, I highly recommend you purchase one ASAP. It will rock your socks.