Finally had a chance to play this yesterday.  I haven't had an opportunity to play this in single player but played some multiplayer for while.  We played a map done up by a friend of ours.  It was a lot of fun.  We played two game modes.  The first mode we played was predator.  We played three rounds but I never got to be the predator.  Not that it would have mattered.  Let's just say I need a lot of practice. 

 

The next game mode we played was a base control mode.  It reminded me of domination from Unreal Tournament except the bases spawned in different locations after a team scored a point.  One thing I liked about it was that if you controlled the base and the clock started to countdown and for some reason you were knocked away from the base (i.e. you died), the clock stops where you left it as opposed to starting over.  The found the controls to be fairly easy to learn.  As I never played the game before last night, I was learning on the fly.  Luckily for me I played with some very patient people.  Although I was on the winning team for one of the base dominations.

 

I found the graphics to be much better than an original xbox game.  Granted they may not be "next gen" but I was still impressed none the less.  The water effects seem to be the main focus of the developers.  I'm going to try and build a map over the weekend.  Have to wait and see how that goes. 

 

The other game I picked up yesterday was Top Spin 2.  I never played the original Top Spin but I picked this one up on a whim plus I need a new sports game since hockey is more or less over (well at least for us Leafs fans).  I must say I really enjoyed what I played last night.  The controls took some getting used to.  I have the basic controls more or less down now I need to learn how to do advanced shots and risk shots.  Those could take a lot of practice.  Again, the graphics in this game are not next gen but for the price ($20 less than a regular 360 game) I am not not going to complain. 

 

In summary, I would highly recommend these games to anyone.

I recently read an article from an issue of Newsweek magazine online (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12015261/site/newsweek/) about the level of violence in horror movies today.  While I generally agree that today's horror movies not only push the envelope on violence but chew it up and then spit it out, I am one of the people who goes to see these movies and I do enjoy them.  Could I enjoy them if they did not have the level of violence they do, sure.  To me there is more to a horror movie than rampant blood.  To me a movie is scarier if it casues you to use your imagination.  What made the Texas Chainsaw Massacre so terrifying was not the violence they showed but the violence they didn't show.  When Leatherface puts one of the teenagers on a meathook, the fact that they didn't show you the hook going in her back but instead let you think about it was what made the scene. 

 

What got me the most in the article though was that one of the people remarking about the violence of today's horror movies and how sadistic they are is from someone from one of the companies that produced the Passion of the Christ.  Last time I checked, the Passion had one of the most violent and sadistic torture scenes I have ever scene in a movie. I realize that this movie is about Jesus and some people will say that this justifies the violence because it shows you what he went through (provided you beleive in him of course).  While I agree this may be what Jesus went through, I think they could have gotten the point across with out showing everyone the flesh literally being ripped from his bones.  Again this is just my opinion about the movie and not my opinion about religion.

Today I think I will just jot down a few observations of things that have made me laugh, think or annoyed the hell out of me.

 

I'll start off with something that annoys me.  It is people on their cell phones on my train rides to and from work.  I'm not talking about people who quietly talk into their phone.  That doesn't bug because I do it too.  The people I am talking are the ones think it is necessary to talk into their cell phone like they are yelling to that person across the city.  Do they really think everyone on the train cares about who they don't like at work or who they think is a slut in the office.  I know I sure as hell don't. 

 

Then there's the people with the blackberries or the palm pilots.  I realize we all live in a stressful, highpaced world with lots of pressures from work.  But is it really necessary to fiddle with these things while walking down the street or, worse yet, driving your car.  People have enough trouble drivig with a cell phone but using a blackberry with two hands while driving is just plain reckless.  As far as the people who are walking is concerned, they are so concentrated on their toy that they don't watch where they are going or they walk at a snail's pace.  This goes for people who read while walking too.  Put the paper down people and just walk.  Trust me, the article is not going to change in the time it takes to walk from the station to your workplace.

 

The thing that made me laugh is the recent Ebay commercial where they talk about getting "it" on ebay.  "It" being the object of your desire be it a camera, tv or an engagement ring (?!?!?!?!?).  It looks to me in the commercial that some shmuck has bought his girlfriend an engagement ring off of Ebay.  This just seems rather cheap to me.  I mean chances are that ring is from another relationship that is more than likely no more now.  Personally, I would rather spend the money and get the woman I plan on marrying a new ring that I could personalize myself.  I just think that when you are making the biggest decision of your life (or one of them anyways) you should got the longest yard to do everything right.

 

The last thing I want to touch on is something I read in ICandees latest blog (link at the right) that made me think.  She touched upon how lucky she is to have great friends.  This made me think about all of the new gaming friends I've made over the last couple of months since joining Tehbias (link at the right) and what a great group of people everyone is over there.  I know I may never get to meet any of them in person, though I would like to,  that is what makes the internet so great.  You can meet all of these great people that 20 years ago you never would have.  Playing games with them, whether it be fighting rebels in GRAW or tearing up the streets in Burnout or even playing some cards, has really helped me through a tough time in my life right now (as anyone who has visited my blog recently knows about).  They probably don't realize it because I'm not one to to just come out and admit these things or talk about my feelings but to any of them who read this, thank you. 

 

Not too much has happened this week.  Things are getting better vis a vis the break up.  Sometimes I still get down about it but over all, it's getting easier.  We still talk and that's getting easier too but sometimes it still feels like I've been kicked in the stomach.  We're going to try and stay friends but I know that once one of us gets into a new relationship, that may be difficult.   It just seems silly to have gone out for 7.5 years and then never talk to eachother again.  I guess we'll just have to wait and see. 

 

Enough of that.  Back to something a little more positive. Can't wait until Tuesday when Far Cry comes out for the 360.  Played the original on the computer and loved it.  Never played the Xbox version and I wish I had now.  I've been told that it was a lot of fun.  Hopefully everyone will be able to tear themselves away from Oblivion (had to pass on that one due to $) and play some Far Cry with those of us who didn't get Oblivion.  Can't wait to play it.  Apparently is 360ized version of the original Xbox plus the 360 version of the expansion that is coming out for the original Xbox. 

 

Oblivion and Blazing Angels came out this week.  Had to pass on them though.  If this had been a slower games month I may have bought one or both of them but unfortunately I couldn't this month.  I guess this'll give me a chance to catch up on my other games, especially since the Leafs won't be in the playoffs this year barring a miracle.

 

I watched the original Hills have Eys yesterday.  I bought it since I liked the new one so much (see previous post).  It was very entertaining as well.  I do think the new one was scarier though and a better movie.  That could be due to a bigger budget though so better production values.  The original was nearly 30 years ago (older than me) but it was still a very cool horror movie.  I would highly recommend either of them. 

 

There's a new Simpsons tonight that sounds very interesting.  First the opening is going tbe live action and then the episode was written by and co-stars Ricky Gervais who did the original British version of the Office.  Should be quite funny. 

 

Saw this tonight.  Fantastic horror movie.  One of the best I have seen.  Alexandre Aja has improved his directing ability since High Tension, which I loved as well.  The makeup was done by Greg Nicotero who is one of my favourite horror makeup artists.  Land of the Dead is a prime example of his great work. He also did work for Sin City and Chronicles of Narnia.  Great work. The acting in this movie was fairly good as well, especially for a horror movie.  I can't watch a movie with Ted Levine without thinking of putting the lotion in the basket. The movie had typical horror cliches in it but that is what makes them so fun too watch. 

 

I bought some more video games today.  Got Tetris DS and Metroid Prime: Hunters.  I can't wait for this month to be over.  I don't know which jackoff in the video game industry decided it was a good idea to have all of the good games come out in March.  This is especially true for the 360.  No games from launch until March (except for two) and then all of a sudden everything at once.  Stupid asses.  My wallet is crying as we speak.

 

Saw this on the Imax yesterday.  OH MY GOD!!!  This was amaziing.  I left the theatre thinking it was pretty good but once I got past the changes from the book I realized that this movie was, pardon my languag, cream my pants good.  The acting, the special effects, everything was amazing.  Too bad Hugo Weaving had to hide behind the mask the whole movie.  He is a great actor.  But goddamn if Imax doesn't make everything better.

 

One other plus was discovering during the oh too short Superman preview that it will be on Imax.  I guess I know where I will be opening night. 

Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter came out this week.  Got myself a copy for the 360.  All I can say is this game is fucking awesome.  I haven't played much in the way of single player but I have played quite a bit of the online. Played the first night it came out until 12:30 or so and then played last night until 130 a.m.  The game is so much fun that time just flies while playing it.   

 

  I'm lucky that the group of guys and gal that I play with are quite understanding about my shortcomings in games like this.  One would think that I would be better than I am at considering I play lots of shooters.  However, I've never been one for Ghost Recon though.  This game is just too damn sexy looking to pass up.  I only play it on a regular tv but it has to be the best looking 360 game so far.  The controls are great as well too. 

 

There have been some problems with the online multiplayer though.  People get dropped from time to time and there has been some lag (not a lot though).  Had some trouble getting online in the first place due to my modem.  I found out that I was not alone in this problem. The modem is 7 years old but it is the only game I have had trouble like that.  Once I was able to get on though it was fantastic.

 

The demo for the Outfit was also released this week.  I really enjoyed it a lot.  I can't wait to get the full game.  We had quite a few people playing it the night it was released.  Everyone seemed to enjoy it but not everyone has decided that it is a game they want to buy.  It was just like Mercenaries, only better. The control set up, especially for buying items, was really well done.  My only real complaint is that you cannot go into the water or it is instant death.  Other than that, I think it is a great game.