Also: Space

Today is the 40th anniversary of the Moon landing. Am I the only one who thinks that's cool?

I really hope we see a resurgence of the space program both here in the US and abroad in the near future. Obama has said that he wants to go to the Moon again soon but I don't see it happening any time soon since they are halting the shuttle missions for 10 years or some-such.

I think the next big step (or giant leap, whatever you want) for mankind will be establishing a permanent settlement on the lunar surface. Hopefully I'll see it in my lifetime.

That's OK, I'll walk

You know, I was going to write a post complaining about Battlefield 2 Modern Combat, and then I saw this.

I don't think I can put it any better with words. And yes I know they are talking about Battlefield 1942 but it's the same thing.

Elite

It only took me eight months but I have finally reached the Elite rank in Rainbow Six Vegas 2. Yay me.

The Tenuous Veil

ARG! Why isn't Marvel vs. Capcom 2 out yet?! Not even a demo! ARG!

Sigh. I'm at work as I write this. My job allows a certain about of down time between tasks. Usually I spend this time surfing the net and reading about games. Recently though I've reached a saturation point were everything I care to read about has been read. Digested, regurgitated, consumed again. It feels very bovine. But my pasture has turned sour and the sweet veil of this distraction has been lifted. What it reveals is the harsh reality that I am at work, and as such I am not playing video games. I need to find some other sort of mind candy to suckle so I don't have to spend the next 9 hours facing this reality. To form an analogy (because I like analogies), I am like a small child being made to sit quietly through some long, gray, adult ritual, and I need some freaking crayons.

Wikipedia to the rescue.

Funny Man

I've recently discovered a new tasty treat and it's name is Zero Punctuation. Now I know what you're thinking, you're thinking "How in the hell are you only now finding out about this?" I know, I know. It's been around for a while. BUT NOT A LONG WHILE!!! So I'm OK.

Anyway if you don't know what ZP is I will explain it like this. Imagine you are a tourist taking a tour of something that most people like yourself find fascinating and somewhat sacred (let's say the White House). On this tour your guide is an underpaid, bitter, jaded little man who hates his job, the White House, the president, the country, you, dogs, Halloween, carnivals, flowers, Kobe Bryant, and his brown bag lunch, and feels the need to share his opinions in an endless stream of vile commentary. Now imagine that every bit of what he says is riotously funny and more than a bit true. It's like that, only about video games.

The guy's name is Ben “Yahtzee” Croshaw, and he reviews games. The reviews are these animated videos that enhance his rapid fire criticism which plays as the soundtrack. This guy really puts the "critic" in game critic. Most of his reviews are scathing attacks, usually on games that receive high scores from more established reviewers. I love every second of it.

He gets a lot of venom from the fan community claiming he doesn't understand the game or is being overly harsh. But I think what he does is very important. It's easy to get sucked into believing that games are better than they are because you have fond memories of their prequels or because the magazines told you to. But it is dangerous to hold these things up on an untouchable pedestal. Maybe you love a game and maybe is really is a good game but to someone else it may not be enjoyable at all. It's helpful to have a reviewer who points out the shortcomings of even the best games so we can better know what we are buying (and so we can laugh at them). Despite the name of the show, what Croshaw really does is "punctuate" the never ending steam of media hype and nonsense designed to open our wallets. He pokes holes in the wall of noise and lets the light shine through. And he makes me cry sweet tears of laughter in the process.

I've added the link in the "Sites I Enjoy" section in the side bar. (Or whatever it is I called it)

OVER 5000!!!!!! (WHAT?! 5000?!)

Attention readers:

I have achieved a gamerscore of 5000! Like all nerd pastimes, the many hours required to reach such a level of awesomeness are a testament to not-getting-laid. I'd like to thank my thumbs, my electric company, and my low self esteem. That is all.