backdraft123's space

Back in the saddle

Sun, 17 Aug 2008 04:01:42 GMT

That is right my friends. The ONE and ONLY BD is back in the saddle and ready to rock on XBL. Some of you may have noticed me on XBL over the past couple days, and I know you are all just dying to know whether it is true. I am here to confirm it. Actually, I was at a friends house and was able to hook up XBL and get my 1 month free trial going. I'll be moving into my dorm on the 20th and will be there for awhile. I'll look for you online in either Halo 3 or COD4. I missed a lot and have been lacking in the gaming news. As for this blog, it is still receiving upwards to 200 hits a day so its going strong. :) Im a college kid now so we'll see how much time I have to leave some entries. See you guys online!

-BD

It keeps going, and going and going...

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 05:39:37 GMT

The hiatus continues. Oh, how i miss my days of Xbox Live. Just recently I finally sent my 360 in for repairs to see if they would fix it for free. Im not covered under warranty but maybe, just maybe out of the goodness of their own hearts, the folks at Microsoft will fix it for free. My hopes are not up for that one. I've missed a lot of playing and really miss playing some H3 online and COD4. Just when i was starting to get really good at it, I cant play it anymore. Other than that, I havent been up to much. I hope you all are enjoying your time on XBL and with your 360. Hopefully i'll see you soon!

Temporary Hiatus

Sun, 03 Feb 2008 01:35:43 GMT

Well if you received my messages last week over XBL, it has finally happened. Our interne, phone, and cable have all been shut off. We still have basic cable so i have died of boredom just yet. I will be away from XBL and the general gaming world for 2-4 weeks and hope to be back soon. However with this absense from Xbox Live I can get a lot accomplished in the single player games. COD4 has finally been completed. I am now a member of the Mile High Club, and I did without a girl and a tiny ass bathroom! Apart from COD4 im going to continue to play NCAA08 and probably NCAA Basketball 2K7 as march madness nears. I think i'll also dive back into the Game of the Year; Bioshock and have another go at its achievements. So, without XBL i hope to get a lot accomplished and catch up to some of you other gamer score whores! --BD

Gamers Behind the Spaces Revisited: SUPERGHOST

Sun, 20 Jan 2008 17:10:56 GMT

In case you need reminding of who SUPERGHOST is, you can find his previous interview here. I catch up with the man they call SUPERGHOST and talk games.

Remind the viewers where you acquired the infamous "SUPERGHOST" gamer tag.

"SUPERGHOST" goes back to my Dreamcast days. Every time I tried to pick a cool login name it was taken.So, in a moment of inspiration 'SUPERGHOST' popped into my head. I like ghosts, and I am super! Been my handle for nearly 8 years!

There have been some great games on the Xbox 360 so far. Which one would you say is the most over hyped and why?

I would say Guitar Hero III, clearly it has been a huge financial and critical success but, to me it is being overshadowed in nearly every way by Rockband. I think both can co-exist, but the bar has clearly been raised! Also, GHIII is being overexposed,did we really need 2 GH's last year? And where is the DLC? Oh its on Rock Band!

Are you still gaming on your 30'' Samsung HDTV Wide screen?

Yes I am. I have tweaked the settings to the point where I am still quite satisfied with the picture, but I would be lying if I did not want to upgrade to a 1080p LCD monitor in the 37 to 42 inch range. But money is always an issue. I did upgrade my sound to the Pioneer 5.1 system licensed exclusively for the Xbox 360! It is pretty cool!

You've played quite a few games. What would you say gave you the most challenge to complete?

Each game has its moments, but I will go back to my classic Xbox and talk about Panzer Dragoon Orta. When I finally beat that game on the normal skill level, I got up and did a dance! True story.

Last time we did an interview, you said Halo 2 was your all time favorite game. Does this still hold true?

I would say no, so many great games and gaming experiences have happened since then. Gears of War, Assassin's Creed, Halo 3, Portal, Oblivion, Call of Duty 2 and 4, Bioshock, The Darkness. I could go on and on, but picking just one, I don't think I could. Just like trying to pick a game of the year in 2007. Not so easy. I would add one thing, so much is being made of PS3's Little Big Planet, but we already have Forge on Halo 3. Think about that one!

BD: "You tell 'em Ghost!

Are you a supporter of making Xbox Live free or do you believe its worth every penny? Much has been said about Sony PS3's "Home" feature and how it's supposed to rival Xbox Live, and it will also be free of charge.

Good question. On one hand free is good, on the other I do not mind paying for a service that is offering a great experience. Should PS3's service rival or surpass Live as it is today, MS had better have an excellent counter. Wether it be servers or some other top secret project. I believe competition in this case can only be a good thing for both services, and in the end, the users like ourselves.

We are 3 years into this generation of gaming. It wont be long until we start discussing the next generation consoles. What would you like to see in Microsoft's next Xbox?

Well, I hope I don't have to see anything for at least 4 more years. But, what I would like to see is Microsoft continuing with their overall connectivity mantra. I want user-created content to be available from day one, not just a good promise for the future. Also I would like to see the 360 community to continue to evolve and grow the service and truly make it our own! (and Halo 4).

What do you like to do besides gaming?

Well I have two young children so I like to spend time with them and my wife. I enjoy walking, and reading, and the occasional 'social call' with my friends. Gaming is pretty big deal for me though, I have been maintaining my Xbox blog for nearly 3 years now, before that it was Bungie.net, now I am dabbling with twitter and a space at 1UP.com. I also take insurance courses and have been working my way towards my designation in that industry.

Many thanks goes to SUPERGHOST for taking the time to answer these questions. As mentioned above you can find his Windows Live Space here, his Twitter here, and in case that isn't enough and you want to be an uber stalker, visit him on 1up.com.

--BD

Review: Mass Effect

Thu, 17 Jan 2008 21:30:05 GMT

In my previous entry you can see that I have been enjoying my dose of Mass Effect. Oblivion being my last RPG played, I found that Mass Effect was a breath of fresh air from the normal games I play. A little slow to start, but once when the ball got rolling, it didn't stop.

The storyline of Mass Effect takes you on a wild ride through many planets and systems that will leave you wondering where you will be heading next. Of course the highly touted dialogue system was very interactive and innovative in many ways. Sometimes I found myself handling situations in the game how I would in real life. I tried my best to think of what I would say in certain scenarios and how it would effect the outcome of the game. I picked the closest answer and hoped that the dispute didn't lead to me being shot.

Since the game is pretty open ended and doesn't force you to follow any beaten path, you can be as adventurous as you'd like. Hundreds of side missions kept me very busy and helped me level up my character from a level 1 to level 41. On my first time around playing, I pretty much ignored these and just played through the game. The 2nd time I didn't make that same mistake.I thought it would be best if I explored the worlds a bit and completed some of the more odd missions out there, which then helped me become a better player in the game and create a more dynamic group of allies.

I actually didn't realize just how MASSIVE Mass Effect really is. As you get missions you open up new planets and clusters for you to explore. Which would then lead to more missions on different planets and so on. After getting bored with that, I would just continue the main plot and see where that took me. The fun factor of it all was a pretty steady ride of being excellent, with small dull moments in between which acted as a break from the intense game play.

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion has a lot of armors and weapons for you to collect. Mass Effect really reminded me of that and my treasure seeking tendencies that I would sometimes have. Although, you normally have a mission to do in Mass Effect when you go hunting for those things, you will almost always come across something you don't already have. New armors, new ammo upgrades, new armor upgrades, weapons, medi-gel, grenades, and much more. The major problem I had with this is that I would normally only keep the best and turn the rest into omni-gel. Sometimes I'd find very valuable things and sometimes I'd just get ammo upgrades.

What is a storyline without a great environment? Useless, in my opinion. A game such as this needs to make you feel like your truly there in the game. The dialogue system already makes this "your game" but the environment is what adds to the effect of realism. It has very wide range of different habitats that you'll think your playing a different game. You will notice that each planet has it's own unique environment and terrain. I came across a snow covered planet and then moved to a very dry and dusty planet in a matter of minutes. Luckily you have your clunky Mako to carry you around and defend you against enemies.

However,I did find it upsetting that the storyline just ended when you completed the main story. No going back and doing side quests. You can start the campaign all over again with the same character, but it's sort of upsetting that you cant pick up where you left off in your side missions. Oblivion did a good job of this, allowing you to continue to play and make it pretty much a never ending game.

Mass Effect is truly a great game. It might take some time for the more casual player to really get into it, but overall it's a game you'll want to have in your collection.

Pros

Great storyline and side missions
Game play functions are very linear and fun to play with
Character customization is very solid

Cons

Minor hiccups in the graphics
Game play ends when the main plot is finished.
Can the Mako be any harder to control?

Overall Score

9.0/10

-BD

MASSively EFFECTive

Sat, 05 Jan 2008 23:25:16 GMT

First appearances are not everything. Speculation around the net told me that Mass Effect was one of the best games for the Xbox 360. Of course, this is all speculation and other people's opinions. I began playing and wondered what the hype was all about. Creating my character was fun, choosing my class and all that jazz reminded me a lot of Oblivion. And if it even was half the fun as Oblivion was/is I'd be pleased.

I start the game and wonder to myself "Why is my screen all grainy?" Thinking there is something wrong with the game itself, I restart only for it to do the same thing. Just deal with it, I tell myself. So I continue and complete the first part of the mission. After playing about 2 hours of the game itself, i wondered what the hype was all about. It has a grainy screen, slow game play, and my characters have to level up? Maybe I missed something here, but I thought i was supposed to be playing a GOOD game.

As i said before, first appearances are not everything. It appeared to me that everyone on the interweb was wrong. It appeared to me that I would be taking this game back for something else. I finally figured out how to turn off the film grain effect which i so kindly slapped myself in the forehead, as that was dumb of me to not think of it before. However, i still had a major beef with the game. It wasn't all that fun. The graphics take some time to load in some areas and I've come to ignore that and just get over it. After playing and completing a couple missions, I really just got bored with it. Which also could mean that Call of Duty 4 was slowly sucking my soul away.

Now I'm back to playing it again, and amazingly, I'm addicted. After such a slow start i got the ball rolling and started to figure things out. I have to come appreciate the dialogue system and the fighting system. The latter part, isn't where it shines though. Nonetheless, it's effective. The infamous romance plot was rather interesting and I think I'll try and continue it further to see where it goes. Obviously Mass Effect isn't a game where you dive right in and run straight into action. You need to have some type of tactic and plan to carry on through the game.

So, to anyone that is still on the fence about this game, I say to rent it. You NEED to put time into the game in order to fully understand it's capabilities and the level of fun it can achieve.

--BD

It's About to Get Ugly

Sun, 23 Dec 2007 15:54:27 GMT

Lately, I've been answering questions on Yahoo! Answers in the Xbox section. Many questions are asked that I can answer easily without having to look up a lot of info. But a reoccurring question, that seems to bug me every time. "Which is better? Xbox 360 or PS3?" I've read through countless answers debating which one is best and which one is not. And I've come to the conclusion that the Xbox 360 is still the best console on the market today. Ok, let's keep in mind that I've NEVER touched a PS3 in my life and I'm a hardcore Xbox 360 fan, but I'm going still going to state what is wrong with the 360 and what is right with the PS3.

The failure rate of the Xbox 360 is probably the biggest and strongest argument that these guys have. Every other person I know is either on their 2nd or 3rd console and getting frustrated more and more every time they have to put their 360 in a coffin and wait nearly a month for the return process. No Red Ring of Death for me as of yet. It's been rumored that it's up to nearly 35%, but Microsoft has only mentioned 5% a long time ago. Wow, 35% huh? That's rather high for such an infamous company known for its great technology. But I wonder, just where are these figures coming from? Retailers. I dug around and found that many of those statements were made by retailers around the world, which is rather high. They are not taking into consideration that many people don't bother with taking their console back, rather just calling 1-800-4my-Xbox and sending it away to MS. So if one retailer sells 50 consoles and 25 are returned that's 50% return rate at one store. Let's say another store sells 500 of the 360 and only 100 are returned that's only 20%. Some store might have a higher number than that, some might have lower. Heck, they could sell 1 360 console and have it returned making it a 100% return rate. I'm saying that these numbers are not reliable and doe's not take into consideration the number of people that a.) did not have a problem, and b.) did not take their console back to the store for a return. Can Microsoft be trusted? Well no and yes. Ever since they mentioned that it's only at 5% return rate, they have been mum about it ever since. Why is that? Because their a business, and dishing out figures like these is less than appealing to any consumer.

I'll acknowledge that the PS3 hasn't had any major issues yet and that its return rate is significantly lower than the 360's. However, they have a $500 console, so I hope that they were able to put a decent cooling unit in there to cool down the insides.

This next issue gets me all the time. When people compare they like to throw in added things such as wireless networking adapters, wireless controllers, HD-DVD players, and so on. In order for the 360 to even compare to the PS3 of course you'd have to add those in there. But here's the thing. None of these accessories are required to play an Xbox 360. I don't have a wireless network adapter and play perfectly fine on my 360. Heck, i even have Media Center set-up on it. I might not have a generic six-axis controller that allows me to control movement but I do have a wireless controller that allows me to shoot people in the face, throw a winning touchdown, or score the winning basket. The HD-DVD player is an add on and I'm not courting one of those either, but i still play regular DVD's perfectly fine. Ok, so the PS3 has the six-axis controller, along with Wi-Fi and a Blue Ray player but again, look at its price. "The PS3 has free online! And HOME is coming!" Are you talking about the online play that ANYONE can hook up too? Including those loners with dial-up? Though, if you can afford a half a 1k console you should be able to afford at least DSL, right? From what i hear the PSN is nothing special. Lag seems to be the biggest issue, and though i haven't experienced it myself on a PS3, i cant say any other problems. But hey it's free. Xbox Live has more than 6 million users. the Xbox Live Marketplace has thousands upon thousands of content downloaded everyday with the press of a button. It's $50 a month, but its worth every freaking penny.

Moving into the graphics category, there is no doubt that the PS3 is a beast. On paper, it's better than the 360 in almost every division, but on the games you can't tell. Let's run a little test here. You go out and buy a game for the PS3 that is known to have great graphics. You think "awesome! This will look good on my 62'' HDTV!" Take it home, pop it in and your stunned. Then you start to play. It's Barbie Horse Adventures, and though it has amazing graphics, your still playing a ridiculously retarded game with horrible game play. The point being made here is that it is not about graphics. It's about game play. You can only be "wowed" for so long when looking at graphics before you start to think "heh, this game blows. There's nothing to do here!" If the PS3 wants to get into a fist fight with the Xbox 360 and debate who has the better games, the fight wont get out of the first round. Clearly the 360 has some of the best games out as of right now. Some are multi-platformed games, others are exclusives. Bioshock, Halo 3, Gears of War, and Mass Effect. What does the PS3 have? Kill Zone 2 and Metal Gear Solid and it's amazing ability to have more CGI pumped into it then a freaking Pixar movie. One day, the PS3 fans will finally realize that their library of games in the future will never stack up to what the Xbox 360 has done and what it is doing now. So, please continue to argue that the Xbox 360 is more expensive in the long run, or that it cant survive an entire year before tanking. But KNOW one thing. It's about the games, and as of right now, the Xbox 360 has better games now than what the PS3 will ever have.

--BD

BD's Best of 2007

Wed, 12 Dec 2007 22:12:06 GMT

Another year is coming to a close. This might just be one of the best years to be a gamer with releases of Guitar Hero II & III, Forza 2, Bioshock, Halo 3, The Orange Box, Call of Duty 4, Mass Effect, and Assassins Creed. Blockbuster titles on one great console. I managed to pull in some of these titles along with others not mentioned above. So without further ado, here is BD's Best of 2007.

Games nominated for rewards:

Bioshock
Call of Duty 4
Crackdown
Fight Night Round 3
Forza 2
Guitar Hero II
Halo 3
Madden 08
NCAA 08

Best Sports Game

NCAA 08 Football

With 3 games competing in this category, it was certainly a tough decision. This year, they improved on a lot of areas that they missed in NCAA 07. Though the gameplay feels more real on Madden than it does in NCAA, the depth and overall fun factor is what sold it for me.

Best Shooter

Call of Duty 4

This category is certainly not lacking depth. Bioshock, COD4, Crackdown, and Halo 3 all competing for the title, it was hard to come up with a winner. The online play is solid, and the single player campaign is what really locked down this pick. Never a dull moment and certainly full of action, COD4 took this game above and beyond it's opponents.

Best Multi-player Online

Halo 3

Finally, Halo 3 has won an award. It's the best online game you'll find out there today. You cant compete with their ranking system, matchmaking, and 4 player co-op. This was an easy decision for me, and anyone that has spent more than 20 hours online, can more than likely agree. If not, prove me wrong. Bungie has packed more stuff online than any of the others COMBINED.

Controller throwing moment of the year

Madden NFL 08

Not exactly an award that they should be proud of, mainly because I'm blaming it on their A.I. I have a huge rant built up inside me that is wanting to be released, but for the sake of younger viewers and everyone else who doesn't want to hear it, I'll keep it locked down. Madden did the impossible by sticking with some of the dumbest teammates one could ask for. When your trying your best on All-Madden and actually make some progress, your teammates are there to let you down. Whether they miss a block, or just don't feel like catching the ball, they try their best to lose the game. Maybe I'm being harsh, but I'm starting to wonder if the Xbox 360 controller isn't made out of rubber. None of mine have broken yet from the infamous "controller throw".

Best Storyline

Bioshock

One of the most unique games I have ever played would be Bioshock. It's amazing detail in graphics and overall gameplay along with the deep storyline made it one of the best games of '07. The game has it's twist and turns and just when you think you have it figured out and your anticipating the ending, it takes another twist and the story continues. With multiple endings and choices that you have to make throughout the game, Bioshock's storyline sealed it as the best of 2007.

Best Gameplay

Bioshock

This isn't the same first person shooter that you'd expect from any other game. No, this game is something special. I've never had to morph my own DNA mid game and switch different tonics in order to succeed either. But somehow this unique style of playing managed to lure me in for 20 hours of play that never left me bored or agitated.

Best Graphics

Bioshock

This is such a tough decision for me, that I almost want to call it a tie. In one corner you have Call of Duty 4 with it's lush outdoor environments, in another corner you have Fight Night Round 4 with very realistic gameplay, Bioshock also comes to mind, and even Halo 3 can be mentioned. Only one can be chosen, and I went with Bioshock. What can I say? This game blew my mind more than any other game and made me love it more and more every time I played.

Biggest Surprise of 2007

Bioshock

As of you've read so far, I love this game but don't ever play it. So do I love it? It was a nice surprise to actually play through it and be completely surprised at the very end. I'm having fond memories of playing it for a week straight and then dropping it like a bad habit. Great gameplay, graphics, and unique storyline makes it one of the best games I've ever played.

Biggest Disappointment of 2007

Mountain Dew Game Fuel

I love mountain dew, I love the Halo series. Combine them both together and what do you get? A cotton candy mixed with cough syrup soda drink. I bought a couple of these thinking, that maybe I just have to get used too it and I never came around. Mountain Dew Game Fuel will fuel you just well. It'll give you the energy to puke it back up and lay in bed wondering why you spent that $1.50 on a drink like that.

Game of the Year

Nominees:
Bioshock
Call of Duty 4
Halo 3

Very few games go above and beyond my expectations. Very few times, I am left astonished and heartbroken at the same time when a game ends. All three games made me feel that way. All three games deserve to each be the Game of the Year, but I just can't roll like that. Halo 3, truly one of the most hyped up and talked about games of the year. Bioshock, one of the best games shown at E3 proved to be a truly remarkable game for anyone who decided to buy it. Let's not forget Call of Duty 4 either. Infinity Ward took a gamble walking away from it's WWII FPS franchise, instead dropping us into Modern Warfare that never leaves you bored.

Now, for my Game of the Year. This game had a mediocre campaign, but remarkable online. It's the most played game on Xbox Live to date, and simply because of it's high replay value and enjoyment that it brings many people, it is BD's Best of 2007

Halo 3 -- Bungie Studios

The runner up goes to Call of Duty 4, and Bioshock finishing in third. Bioshock is a truly remarkable game that will forever have a place in my collection. But it's low replay value is what really decided this for me. Halo 3 and Call of Duty 4 both deliver a fun online experience along with a solid campaign. I'm excited for the wrap up of 2007 and the beginning of 2008. Next Gen games will continue to push the Xbox 360 into greatness and seal it's fate as the best console still on the market today.

--BD

On This Date in 2005

Thu, 22 Nov 2007 06:49:06 GMT

I was the 2nd person in line at a local Circuit City waiting for my Xbox 360. It was a night very much like this one. Cold and sprinkles of water, typical for Indiana. I just actually realized that it has been 2 years since I got my beloved 360, and haven't had a problem with it yet. So, since it is Thanksgiving, that is what I am thankful for. Hopefully everyone had a safe and great Thanksgiving. Enjoy the family, friends, and if you have time, gaming.

-BD

Gamers Behind the Spaces REVISITED: TormentX

Sun, 11 Nov 2007 17:10:55 GMT

Welcome Torment to GBtS...you've been on the hot seat before. How has your 360 been to you since our last interview?

Its been great so far even though I've owned about 3 of them , I wouldn't have it any other way.

Out of ALL of the Xbox 360 games that are out today, which would you say is the best?

That's a tough one..wow...uh...I'll say as of right now, my best experience has been with Bioshock.

And your least favorite game you've played?

Teen Age Mutant Ninja Turtles...haha.

BD: "Totally dude?"

3 Choices: Pamela Anderson in Her prime, Jessica Alba, or Salma Hayeck

Jessica Alba. I like the brunettes.

Summer movies?

Transformers. It was effin awesome.

A free punch at any celebrity, who would it be?

Me and Jack Thompson in the Octagon!

Favorite Video Game Character?

Kasumi from the Dead or Alive series.

What about your worst travel experience?

When I was dating my wife, she went to college in upstate New York, which is about 4 hours away.. 3 hours into the trip there wasn't a flake of snow on the ground. That last hour of the trip took about 2 and a half hours due to the foot and a half of snow. It was awful, I was doing 10 miles an hour. 18 wheelers were flying past me pretty much pushing through it.

BD: "That's when you need the Scorpion tank. Then you'll arrive in fashion!"

Your favorite hero growing up as a kid?

I'm going to be really gay about this, Luke Skywalker.

You've got 1 wish, what will be? World peace isn't a option.

If it cant be world peace, money. money. money.

Favorite thing to do, when your not gaming?

When I'm not gaming...um, BUYING GAMES!

BD:"Great answer. HAHA"

Are you a trash talker or a mute?

I'm vocally spoken. If that makes any sense..

Hardest Achievement Earned, since you didn't give me a straight answer last time I asked?

I'm still going for 5 stars on Guitar Hero II...let's not mention that I'm doing it on easy.

Any last words?

Thanks for having me back BD, it's been a real blast doing this again.

-BD

Want an interview? Get in line...your number just might be next.

More Info: TormentX is a Windows Live Blogger original. His blog has been up since before the launch of the Xbox 360. He's a happily married gamer hailing from New York with 2 sons. He contributes to the Married Gamers website writing articles for them. For more information visit his gaming blog at http://tormentxatz.spaces.live.com/.

Product Review: Pelican HD System Selector

Sat, 10 Nov 2007 17:36:34 GMT

Many people around the nation upgrade their entertainment centers to HDTV's and 5.1 Surround Sound. They might also have an Xbox 360, PS3, HD-DVD, or Blue-Ray player. Maybe an HD Cable Box or Satellite. With High Definition taking over the world one home at a time, you might find yourself to be in a bit of a cable mess trying to figure out how to get the best quality picture out of every component.

Newer HDTV's today have 2 sets of component inputs. I believe the theory is, the smaller the TV the less inputs for you to have. Some might come with more, some just might come with 1 set and an HDMI port. I have 2 things that I want to run in HD and figuring this out was a bit tricky until I finally remembered what I used when I had two consoles and a DVD player hooked up to my holder TV. A system selector. Not familiar with these? Well, besides it being butt ugly it is probably the most useful thing you could have around. It normally doubles your inputs for video and audio by adding on 4 extra sets of inputs. Which can be good if you ever to decide to purchase another HD component.

After brain storming for awhile to figure out my wire mess and how to get HD for both my Xbox 360 and Comcast HD Cable Box, I finally realized this is what I needed. I got to my nearest Best Buy after doing some research on the Internet to see what they had. I found one that wasn't specifically for gaming, which was around $60. After searching around the store and getting no luck finding one, one the associates showed me one for gaming that would work for basically anything, and it was only $19.99. SCORE!

This is how it works. The Pelican HD System Selector comes with the Selector, 1 set of component cables, and some more labels so you can properly label what component is in what port. I basically only needed it to hook up my Xbox 360, and in the future maybe something else like a stand alone HD-DVD player. After getting it all hooked up and ready to go, I couldn't be more happy with this device. I haven't lost any quality out of my picture, and it's easy to use. Just select what system you want (in my case, Cable or Xbox 360) and you ready to go.

Though it's not the flashiest looking thing you'll have, it does it's job and works well. I'd recommend the Pelican HD System Selector for anyone who has ran into the problem of having too many cables and not enough ports.

Revisiting the College Days

Fri, 09 Nov 2007 03:01:47 GMT

While I'm waiting on my letters from some local colleges here in Indiana, I've had this temptation to play NCAA Football 08. It's been since July that it's been played, but I decided to give it a whirl tonight. I still have that ability to pop and play any game and somehow remember the game controls without much difficulty, but I was mainly focusing on why the sound on the field didn't sound that good.

It was hard to distinguish whether I really laid a hit on a guy by the pop of the pads. I checked how the Volume was setup in the game and noticed everything was how it was supposed to be. After turning my speakers up and not resolving the issue I figured that's just how it is. The game plays pretty well, the guys still don't look like college athletes however. Some look finely tuned machines, others look like regular Joe's you see out on the street. I keep in mind this is EA we are talking about and if they ever give us a sports game worth $60, they might just have to close the factory. I could go on a deep rant about my disgust with the quality of EA Sports games, but I wont. Not right now at least. I'm in a content mood and I wont let some crappy game ruin that.

EA Sports has slowly declined from being a good sports franchise from being mediocre. It's not fair for me to say that all their sports games are like that, but Madden and NCAA have been my main areas of interest and I'm quickly learning that they might not be making an appearance in my collection next Fall.

Home of THE Ohio State Buckeyes: Ohio Stadium (The Horseshoe)

-BD

So many games, so little money

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 00:19:01 GMT

With Christmas time right around the corner (yes its November!), I should be happy that I don't have to go out and purchase in hopes that I receive them for Christmas. Instead, I'm upset at the fact that I cant go out and get GHIII or COD4, and hell even Orange Box. Assassins Creed and Mass Effect are coming and I'm stuck with Halo 3! By the time 2008 is here hopefully all those games will be in my collection, but right now I've got to continue to wait until I get a job.

Needless to say, BD is a SAD PANDA...

Have fun with the games.

-BD

teh update

Fri, 02 Nov 2007 16:17:34 GMT

I'm trying to figure out why I never update anymore. I remember the good ol' days of blogging every other day and then it went to once or twice a week, now its down to monthly. It's kind of sad in a way, but over the near 2 years that i've had this it's been a joy to have around. Page views are minimal, but thats not what im all about. I'd love to get back into writing about games and my view on them, but the truth is that gaming blogs are everywhere. It's hard to stand out from all of them. No, this isnt a goodbye, but rather a.....crap, i dont really know what it is. Just a remembrance of how it used to be.

Well i've been on a mission lately in Guitar Hero II. I see everyone playing the third installment and I have to try and fit in, so i play Guitar Hero II instead. Im trying to get 5 stars on all songs on medium. I've gotten through all of them except the bottom half which i know are the tougher songs. I usually flip flop between Halo 3 multiplayer and Madden 08. Though Madden has taken a bit of a rest, mainly because im irritated beyond belief with that game. So many mistakes and A.I. errors cost me the game almost every time. You can only go so long playing Halo 3 until its just old, and you need something new. If i see some friends on that play matchmaking then i'll get on and play, but when im by myself, i like to stick to GHII or Madden.

Quit Yo' Complainin'!

Wed, 10 Oct 2007 04:06:18 GMT

Halo 3 & Madden 08. My gaming combination that has frequented my Xbox 360 these past couple months. Halo 3 with the online play that I so dearly love, and Madden 08 with the franchise mode that has sucked me in ever since I got it. I do have a few niches with both games, and since I'm so good at recognizing the flaws in a game, due to the simple fact that I have very little of a life and spend countless hours playing these games, I am going to share them with you all.

If I still have your attention, I think I'll keep it by complaining about the almighty Halo 3. Greatest game ever, not even close. Worthy of the hype...eh, not so much. How can a game such as Halo 3 still feel rushed with a lot of little details in the game miss. OBVIOUS things, not just hidden things that took forever for me to find. Such as, your in a party with a buddy and your not in control of the party. Unlike Halo 2, where you could see what you was going to play or whatever the party leader selected, you cant see that in Halo 3. Again, its a minor detail that i don't care about, but if they missed this what else could they have slipped up on?

Meleeing in the game reminds me a lot like Halo 2. Its a hit or miss theme, and the majority of the time you're getting the bad end of the deal. I read recently about how your health has a lot to do whether you kill someone or not. Of course i don't believe this one bit. For instance, we shoot each other at the same time and melee at the same time, who dies? Do we both die? No, there's a split second where i may have swung first or the enemy swings first. It still feels lackluster and awkward trying to kill someone with a melee.

Like the blue team player, Halo 3 might feel like a hit or miss.

The power weapons seemed dumb down, but for a good reason. It actually takes an ounce of skill to play the game and be good at it. The sword might be my biggest complaint simply because it takes forever to take out and kill a person. I do however like the idea of their being an energy level on it and not just infinite energy, but why take 8 seconds to pull it out and swing? It's not like Master Chief is assembling it before he kills someone.

I've played enough of the game to know what maps i like and what maps i don't like. Of course there are different playing styles that we play with, but Guardian seems to be the new Lockout. I still think Lockout might be the greatest map of all time simply because of the way its structured and the strategic weapon placement. The other maps in H3 really seem flat to me, not really interesting and weapon placement seems like someone just took a random guess as to where to put each one. Yes, i know it takes time for the community to play a game and decide where each weapon should go, but I sometimes think Bungie is relying a lot on what their community wants and there for it almost seems like an obligation to tell them. Surprise me, please. I appreciate the gesture of listening to the communities complaints, but make it seem like you ACTUALLY tried to make the maps well rounded and versatile.

Is EA falling from the throne?

WHEW! Ok, onto Madden. I'll make this short. I really dislike EA's laziness. I want a real football game that actually seems real. We're in year 3 of Madden on the 360 and we still don't have the chain gang on the sidelines?? W-T-F! Am I the only person that notices, that they're are no nets behind the goal posts, like in MOST NFL stadiums to stop the ball from going into the stands. Announcer is retarded, ally A.I. is about as useful as Britney Spears at a daycare, and the opponent A.I. has more juice in them than Barry Bonds. Throw in the fact that you cant edit your created team yet you can edit your created player. How about the idea that Marshal Faulk wont STFU when your trying to end the game and he wants to sit there and have a freaking tea-party with you. C'mon EA!! This is shameful. Your the most widely known brand in the gaming industry and you reward your loyal fans with half-assed garbage that your community has been complaining about for YEARS. The day EA Sports makes a good quality football game, is the day that EA has earned my respect. Until then, I'll continue to shell out $63 for another sorry attempt at making an NFL game with the latest roster update.

--backdraft123

Review: Halo 3

Fri, 28 Sep 2007 13:47:07 GMT

At 11:30 PM on Monday September 24th, 2007 I waited in line for what is the most anticipated game of the year. Wal-Mart was playing Halo 3 videos on every TV screen they had on the showroom. While I stood there, I thought to myself "if this game is less than amazing, I'm going to regret this." Four days later, I have a review ready for the world to read. My opinion may be disputed over by every fanboy from every corner of the globe. Halo 3 didn't meet up to the hype, but it did meet my expectations.

Bungie has laid the game plan down for any developer looking to create a great online experience. Xbox Live is great, but lets not shy away from our roots. Single player campaign is what I'm interested in. I want to learn about a game and a storyline, almost like reading a book. More games are focusing so much on multiplayer its almost depressing to see the campaigns that are out there today. Games like Bioshock and Oblivion that were built around single player action are blockbusters. Gears of War shines in both departments showing off single player, co-op, and Xbox Live multiplayer. The Halo 3 campaign is a long and confusing one for me. I can understand the general idea of the game, but I feel like without doing proper research or reading the books I'm missing the rest of the story.

It's not a very long campaign but in the time it will take you to beat it, you'll look back and realize that they crammed more action into a 10 hour campaign than you can shake a stick at. You really never find yourself in a dull moment while playing, but rather it seems like your being stringed along until the end. Typically you'll have one or two small battles, a medium sized battle, and then a "boss" towards the end of the mission. Repetitive, yes. Maybe I'm being harsh but I felt more obligated to complete the missions than interested in them. I never wanted Bioshock to end. Such a great storyline and a creative one at that. Like I said before, the game was built around that, Halo 3 wasn't.

Introducing four player co-op over Xbox Live or just 4 of your buddies on one screen is what actually made this interesting. If it wasn't for that, I don't really think I would even waste time going through it. I can't really say this is a "ground breaking" feature in the game since it has been placed in games before. Still, it's a great feature and with multiplayer scoring turned on it's still competitive instead of you and a buddy running through killing anything that moves, including your allies.

Moving on from the campaign mode, you'll find yourself a little curious about what's going on Live. This is where the game shines and introduces some great features that pave the way for any game looking to be "the next great online game." Forge, Bungie's rendition of a map editor, the theatre where you can view, edit, and store game clips, game types, and maps, co-op online which was already discussed, custom games, and of course matchmaking. Lots and lots of goodies can be found here. Though, I believe the ranking system is a little hard to understand at times. Unlike Halo 2 where you ranked up according to how many wins you had and not experience. The number next to your name may change after two or three wins in a row but the rank class only goes up after a certain experience point (exp) mark is reached.

Forge and theatre go together like peanut butter and jelly. Everyone from Halo 2 talked about what they would change about certain maps in the game and now they have their chance to do that in Halo 3. I don't believe enough playing time has been put into the game to jump in and change things right at this moment, but down the road people will eventually get bored with playing the same map and will look to spice things up. Even creating custom games is even more customizable now. Huge bonus! The theatre is really something that grabbed my interest after getting my share of campaign and matchmaking. It will store up to your last 25 games in its library and at anytime you can go in, view the game find what your looking for and edit it. Take a hi-res screenshot and post it on Bungie or take a 10 second clip of you no scoping a guy. Find your file share location and upload them to your network. Everyone who views your file sharing network can now see that sick dome rocker you had the game twelve games ago. Great little feature that I think a lot of people will have fun with.

We'll wrap this up with graphics. I think I'm sort of torn between saying that the game looks great and it looks mediocre. Gameplay rules over graphics, but I believe graphics can make or break a game. The standards now are set ridiculously high that anything less than Oblivion-esque, is considered horrible looking. At times the game really looks great and at other times you might wonder if your playing the same game. It's really back and forth but for the most part, I would say the game looks okay. Gears of War and Bioshock look better, but with the way Halo 3 plays it doesn't really matter.

After its all said and done, Halo 3 met my expectations. It might run away with Game of the Year this year for many people, but it's still in a race with the rest of the great games that launched this year. Thankfully, multiplayer and all of its components will keep this game fresh and not so repetitive for two or three years. I Finished the Fight and now I'm ready to start it all over again. It's been a great journey and a great way to end the series.

Pros

Multiplayer is better than ever before.
Co-op campaign with campaign scoring is fun.
Forge and the theatre are two components that will fuel this game for awhile.

Cons

Short campaign
Game modes in matchmaking need some toning
No Clan Support

Overall Score

9.5/10
--backdraft123

It's Halo 3

Fri, 14 Sep 2007 04:00:47 GMT

The countdown is currently under two weeks. The world is in a frenzy. Gamers everywhere are fasting themselves on Game Fuel and Doritos. Master Chief, He stares me in the eye as I take a swig from my 20 OZ bottle. He's coming back for one more go around and Microsoft wants the whole world to know.

Halo 3. In Italy they say Guidacarta 3. In Japan It's, ハロー3. No matter where you are, no matter what country your from. It's Halo 3. This isn't going to be your typical all meat and no potatoes type of game. A well rounded arsenal of single player, 4 player co-op, LAN, AND Xbox Live Multiplayer. Taking a page out of Halo 1's book and creating a seemingly flawless campaign and multiple pages out of Halo 2's book and introducing the mind blowing multiplayer. Fact is, after I played Halo 2 online, everything else seemed wrong.

Just exactly how much is riding on the line for Bungie and Microsoft? The most anticipated game of all time is a mere week and some change away, and the gaming community is growing with excitement each passing day. Even fans of other consoles are interested to see how this game will play out. If it receives anything less than 9/10 I might just be disappointed.

As I close this entry, I want to leave you with the 3 words that flashed across the screen of the E3 trailer I saw a year ago. Three words that will be uttered until the task is complete.

Finish the Fight.

--backdraft123

First Impressions: COD4 Multiplayer Beta

Wed, 29 Aug 2007 17:51:45 GMT

Much like the Halo 3 multiplayer Beta, the COD4 beta features 3 maps to take the war onto. With gameplay that reminds me a lot like EA's Battlefield 2: Modern Combat, it will have anyone instantly hooked and playing for a long time. For some strange reason though, it felt like I had played the game before. Perhaps its because Infinity Ward, and their game controls still feel like they are based off their WWII FPS, Call of Duty 2 & 3.

At first, I fumbled around with the controls. Mainly because Bioshock was the last shooter I played, apart from Halo 2, and I still have my hands trained to play that. But after awhile, I got the hang of it and started playing a lot better and figuring out strategies for each map. The controls still remind me of COD2, but they are revised so they can house some of the new features in their 4th installment. I've seen the ability to stab people when you are a certain class, or go for a last ditch kill when your laying on the ground nearly dead. Some of these features and weapons are only available after you get your experience up, but for the most part you can still get kills just fine starting out.

Visually, it's not to bad to look at. Of course your running around mowing down enemies so who has time to take in the visuals? Maybe if your camping out and using that sniper you'll get some free time to check out the grass or the dirt, or stuff like that. But so far, I haven't seen anything that just makes me say "WOW", or "that is incredible". It's a great looking game, but its no Bioshock or Gears of War.

If you happen to get into the Beta, this may actually remind you of a mix of the Ghost Recon series along the Battlefield 2: Modern Combat. It has the chance to be a squad based game but your also playing with 12 other people, so that's there the Battlefield 2 aspect comes in at. Your not really sneaking around or hiding behind boxes pulling off tactical moves like you would in GRAW. The weapons and different classes to choose from bring back old memories from BF2 and GRAW.

For a Beta it's pretty good. Gameplay styles that strongly remind me of other games doesn't make it really stand out in my mind. The maps seem to be well balanced with plenty of cover on each side and if you play long enough I'm sure strategies will develop in the process. With the game expected to be released sometime of Fall 2007, look for it to compete with Halo 3 as the premier online shooter this year.

--backdraft123

Review: Bioshock

Fri, 24 Aug 2007 17:10:31 GMT

What is there to say about a game that has already been dubbed "Game of the Year"? A game that has been anticipated since its very announcement. Sure, there is Halo 3 and Mass Effect, but what about Bioshock? How does 2K's next blockbuster title stack up to the current games? It deserves the title of "Game of the Year" for now, but we'll wait till 07 is in the books to decide that one. Until then, here's a little review that only scratches the surface of this underwater sci-fi adventure.

Starting out in the game you'll take into account the visuals. Stunning, mouth watering, amazing. Water droplets that actually look like they are on your screen. Fire that almost feels like its burning you. Life like visuals that you have never seen before will keep you coming back for more. Every time you pop this game in, you'll see something that looks so real you'll question yourself if its right in front of you or if its just in the game. The movements of the characters, the way they hold their weapons or attack you with them really fits each character well.

Since BS (that's short for Bioshock..don't get the wrong idea), is lacking in the multiplayer department, which I think is a huge gamble for 2K, they really needed to introduce a great plot and storyline. You start out swimming in the Atlantic ocean after the plane crashes and there just happens to be a lighthouse out there. How ironic? Well, it adds to the story really. You don't know who you are, you don't know what your doing on the plane in the first place, and as soon as you step foot into that lighthouse its the last time you'll see the moonlight again for a very long time. It's almost as if your playing out a movie. You have a lot of questions running through your head, but at the same time your saying "this is so freaking cool". Which gets you hooked, instantly. I found myself wanting to uncover all the answers and towards the end of the game, I was just shocked at what was happening without me ever realizing it. It's a deep story, filled with mysterious characters, splicer's that are annoying as hell, and lets not forget to the mention the Big Daddy. And no, I'm not talking about the Adam Sandler movie.

It's actually weird doing a review about a game without a multiplayer. I just sort of assumed that MP is in every game now, and that option is always available. The thing with Bioshock is that after you beat it, you want to go back and see what you missed since you have the knowledge after completing the story. It was said that no two people will play the game the same way, and that is what will keep it being played over and over again. No multiplayer, no problem. It's such an immerseve game that was actually really hard to put down, it was almost calling me to come back and play again.

Continuing on about the visuals, that I didn't note before, you may notice some of the more gruesome scenes in the game. For instance, walking through Rapture's morgue with bodies riddled over the floor, people with scissors stuck into their foreheads. A saw, laying on the floor dripping with blood. It makes you say "gross" and "that's pretty freaking awesome!" At the same time. Achievement enthusiasts will go back just to beat the game and get the achievements, but real gamers, who enjoy that wonderful type of gameplay mixed in with a unique storyline will take their time to uncover the secrets of Andrew Ryan's prized city, Rapture.

Pros

+++ Remarkable game

++ Visuals are amazing. Details are great, and each scene is noteworthy.

+ Plays like a survival game mixed in with a "Hardy Boys" book. Mysteries around each corner, and betrayals!

Cons

---Could they have had something great with online play? Maybe even co-op?

--Minor hiccups in the frame rate at times.

-Hacking safes is not the easiest thing to do. Where is Sam Fisher when you need him?

Overall Score

9.5/10

--backdraft123

Dust Collector

Mon, 20 Aug 2007 16:43:53 GMT

Peering over at my book shelf that holds books, cds, and video games, I see the dust collecting. Books and cds have always collected dust, but its my game collection that worries me. Xbox games, I don't really care, but the 20 Xbox 360 games is what is getting to me. With hit titles such as Forza 2, The Darkness, NCAA 08, Madden NFL 08, and Bioshock all released between the months of June and August, it's hard not to collect dust on some of the older but still great titles. The sad thing is, I'm having trouble creating some time to get into these games. The Darkness was a quick rent that I THOUGHT I could beat in 5 days, but between working 40 hours a week and helping my significant other move out of her house and into her dorm, it was hard finding time to do that. Forza 2 is another game that I was really enjoying, but put away after I picked up NCAA Football 08 a couple weeks later.

3 great games. 1 great console. So little time.

Now that I've also added Madden 08 to my collection Forza 2, NCAA O8, & Guitar Hero II have all taken the backseat. Bioshock is out tomorrow (August 21st), and after that I see Halo 3 as my next purchase. I'll break out the Pledge and go to work on the 1 inch of dust that is building up on my shelf soon, but until then I'll continue to play what fuels my gaming need.

--backdraft123

Custom List: Featured Links

Sun, 20 Jan 2008 16:38:21 GMT

Custom List: Gamers Behind the Spaces

Sun, 11 Nov 2007 17:13:52 GMT

Gamers Behind the Spaces

TormentX Revisited!
November 10th, 2007
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April 23rd, 2007
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October 1st, 2006
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June 5th, 2006
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May 29th, 2006
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May 22nd, 2006
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May 15th, 2006
SCHUEY F1
May 1st, 2006
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April 24th, 2006
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April 17th, 2006
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April 10th, 2006
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April 4th, 2006
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March 29th, 2006
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March 23rd, 2006
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March 9th, 2006
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Custom List: Frequently Visited Blogs

Mon, 15 Oct 2007 02:59:29 GMT

Frequently Visited Blogs

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Custom List: Completed Games

Fri, 19 May 2006 16:00:17 GMT

Completed Games

Call of Duty 2
13/13 Achievements, 1000 points
Fight Night Round 3
8/8 Achievements, 1000 points
King Kong
9/9 Achievements, 1000 Points
Marble Blast Ultra
12/12 Achievements, 1000 points
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
50/50 Achievements, 1000 points