The Box Co.

2011

So, we are into a New Year.

I’m looking forward to it. I am taking three courses to finish off my degree at UW: Classical Mechanics and Special Relativity, Linear Optimization, and Science Fiction.

I’ve also got an XBox 360 now with about a month of XBox Live and the following games:

  • Borderlands w/ all four expansions

  • Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood

  • Grand Theft Auto 4

  • Splinter Cell: Conviction

  • Bioshock 2

  • Batman: Arkham Asylum

  • Alan Wake

  • Forza Motorsport

  • Red Dead Redemption

It is certainly nice to have access to consistently good console games. The DS has plenty of fun Flash-like games but nothing truly epic (until Golden Sun: Dark Dawn came out recently).

The Wii has been lacklustre lately. Since I softmodded my Wii, I have the opportunity to play every game that comes out, so I’ve downloaded quite a bit and played quite a bit. Here are some quick thoughts:

Goldeneye: This remake was amazing, fun and provided a unique blend of action, stealth, and even quick time events. The modified story was excellent and the entire experience was awesome. Like I said in an earlier post, the absence of bots in the multiplayer was a problem, as the levels can be too sprawling for two or even four people. Still, an excellent game.

Metroid: Other M: Many reviewers seem to be very keen on this new style that Metroid has taken since the Metroid Prime trilogy and so I was kind of excited about the new game. I am a fan of the 2D Metroid games and thought that Other M would be of great quality as a result.

It is very disappointing. There are many times when you are locked into visor mode with no indication of what you should be looking for. The first time that this happened involved looking around in a pitch black room for some tiny creatures who were eating in the dark. You also had to focus on them for a few seconds before it even acknowledged that they were a target. Later, you are in a vast grassy plain looking for something. The something that you were supposed to see was a small patch of green blood amidst the green grass. At this point, I am playing through as a matter of obligation…bring back the Metroid Prime style games please. The boss battles were epic and the story was always engaging without being too in your face. Also, there were no Daddy issues. Samus is better when she is silent.

Epic Kirby: Jeff Cannata had this in his Top Ten of 2010. It doesn’t belong. It has a certain charm and is very stylish with the patterns and textures and whatnot, but it is so easy to play that there is no challenge. It is such a bland platformer…and with the Wii as the go-to system for platformers, that is a problem.

Donkey Kong Country Returns: Now, when it comes to platformers, this game is like an instruction manual on how to make good platformers. It brings back everything you ever loved from the previous Donkey Kong Country titles, but introduces some new mechanics and level types as well. Each type a new mechanic is introduced, you are run through an appropriate tutorial level that isn’t blatantly instructional. Later in the game, these mechanics are superbly used for very challenging levels. It was a joy to play and collecting all the KONG letters and puzzle pieces was an extremely fun challenge. Great game and it reminds us that Retro Studios is one of Nintendo’s best developers (they developed Metroid Prime too).

Resident Evil: Darkside Chronicles: On rails shooters are fun, but this game was like trying to play through the Blair Witch Project. If the screen is meant to be the eyes of the character, then the Resident Evil characters have some serious neck problems as their heads swing around wildly and are seemingly always on a slant.

Epic Mickey: I love Disney but this game is far from epic. Weak combat and the whole paint versus thinner mechanic is grossly oversold. I do love seeing old Disney properties again and all the animated Disney clips are quaint. Still, not fabulous.

Loking forward to playing 360. So far, Assassin’s Creed is amazing and the combat is loads of fun. Not entirely in favour of context sensitive buttons, but I can deal. Borderlands is so awesome. I love it.

More updates later.

Happy ‘Start of 2011’ Everyone!

Goldeneye 007 for Wii

Impressed by this faithful recreation…not impressed by the fact that they faithfully recreated the absence of bots in multiplayer.

That is all.

XBox 360 Wish List

Played Splinter Cell Conviction with Andrew recently. It made me miss the days of Friday afternoon gaming with him, Binks, and Stu. It also made me realize how unsatisfying most offerings are on the Nintendo Wii.

I’ve been planning on getting an XBox 360 for a while now, and I’m thinking by Christmas I will finally have gotten off my ass and done so.

There are so many good games that I’ve missed out on. I’ve been living a lie for all these years.

I’m hoping that my method of acquiring games for DS and PSP will lighten the financial burden, and I can focus my efforts on this new console of choice.

Next term at UW, I’m taking three courses: Introduction to Optimization (CO 250), Classical Mechanics and Special Relativity (PHYS 263), and Science Fiction (ENGL XXX). It’s going to be a term hopefully full of free time.

Fingers crossed.

P.S. I am still alive. The blog has definitely taken a hit lately, and my focus on Twitter to compensate died off as well.

Still Alive

Working at a private school now.

Just survived a ridiculously busy school term. Got some decent marks out of it though, but failed one course due to a stupid technicality, but then the grade was magically upgraded to a pass when I checked recently on Quest.

I’ve started trying to read for leisure again, but it is difficult amidst all the lesson and activity planning. I bought for titles from the Ender series at a used book store. I got Ender’s Game, Shadows of the Hegemon, Shadow Puppets, and Shadow of the Giant. Unfortunately, the latter three appear to come later in the series, and so I can’t read anything but the first. Hoping to find a copy of Ender’s Shadow soon, then I can buy up the rest of the series and fill all the gaps. I can’t believe it has taken me so long to read a series that Andrew was practically in love with and always talking about back in high school.

Just as a brief personal update, I’m currently teaching Grade 10 math and Grade 12 Data Management (barf!). I’ll soon be teaching Gr. 11 math and Gr. 11 physics, and I’m also helping to coach Jr. Boys Soccer four times a week. It is exhausting, and the dress code has required that I spend a large sum of money that I don’t have on formal attire.

My schedule sucks though. I get up at 5am to get ready and not conflict with roommates, I have to be at the school before 8 in the morning, and I usually don’t get home until 6pm. I then eat supper, lesson plan, and pass out by 10pm so I can get up and do it all over again.

How did I get on this career path if I’m so lazy and it is so exhausting? sigh

Worth a 1000th Post

An amazing game. Portugal beats North Korea 7-0, which is pretty good considering North Korea held Brazil at 2-1. This goal by Ronaldo was one of the highlights, due to the sheer lunacy of it. Watch the clip.

Really hoping Portugal can play that well for the rest of the tournament. I’m also hoping that Argentina makes it far into the tournament, as they have been playing really well, and they seem to be the team that takes the fewest (if any) dives. Plus, I think it would be hilarious if Diego Maradona actually went through with this promise to run naked through Buenos Aires if his team wins it all. Plus, as a coach (and former player), he is still pretty skilled. The man has displayed some fancy footwork on the sidelines while wearing a suit and dress shoes.

So, yeah. Go Portugal and Argentina. Unfortunately, it isn’t conceivable to have a final game between the two teams. The best I can hope for is a semifinal game (since they are in the same branch of the tournament tree – unless Portugal bests Brazil on Friday (fingers crossed)).

This is a thrilling tournament so far. I cannot wait to see who else is going to make it out of the Group Stage.

Also, this is my 1000th post. :)