Looking to the Future

Games I am considering to buy:

Name	Date	System	Status
Body Count	8/23/2011	Xbox360	Played Demo. I didn't like the bounce. I'll only get if friends recommend it.
Madden NFL 12	8/30/2011	Xbox360	Played Demo. Buy Used just for the Browns cover
Rock of Ages	8/31/2011	Xbox360
Dead Island	9/6/2011	Xbox360
Resistance 3	9/6/2011	PS3	Plan on getting the Move version for ElMico
Crimson Alliance	9/7/2011	Xbox360	Just like Gauntlet (for Ellen)
The Ico & Shadow of the Colossus Collection	9/27/2011	PS3
Batman: Arkham City	10/18/2011	Xbox360	Preordered
Ratchet and Clank: All 4 One	10/18/2011	PS3
Battlefront 3	10/25/2011	Xbox360	Preordered
Uncharted 3: Drakes Deception	11/1/2011	PS3
Call of Duty: Modern Warefare 3	11/8/2011	Xbox360	Preordered
Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim	11/11/2011	Xbox360
Assassins Creed: Revelations	11/15/2011	Xbox360
Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary	11/15/2011	Xbox360
Twisted Metal	2/14/2012	PS3
Journey	3/2/2012	PS3
Dead Space 2		Xbox360	Need to get soon: USED
Killzone 3		PS3
Socom 4		PS3
Stacked		Xbox360	Waiting for XBL sale
Super Meat Boy		Xbox360	Waiting for XBL sale

Two Copies | seipoC owT

I just realized something: I have two copies of the following games:

• Red Dead Redemption
• COD: Black Ops
• COD: World at War
• COD: Modern Warfare 2
• Assassin’s Creed 2
• Portal 2

One copy works on Xbox360, the other on PS3. Most of these are multiplayer games – I have different friends on both networks. With Portal 2, things get interesting. I originally bought the PS3 version which comes with the PC version. ElMico and I can play co-op in the same house: I’m on the PS3 and he is on the PC. It is a lot of fun.

Imagine if that were possible across all consoles – then the publishers would only need to sell me one copy. (Hmmmm, that’s not going to happen anytime soon.)

Sniper Ghost Warrior

I knew the reviews were bad before playing, and for the most part, they were accurate. The good: joy comes with popping a guy in the head – oh what joy! The bad: forced to use an assault rifle. The ugly: the story and the voice acting. I finished on April 15, 2011 after 6 hours of play (and I went slowly in the stealth parts!). I only got 13 of 24 achievements. The majority of the rest of the achievements are for multiplayer, which I didn’t even try.

Alan, Wake up

I enjoyed my adventure with Alan Wake. It has some flaws – I did not like the supernatural element of the story set in a very natural setting. I didn’t believe the story. The engine felt old – it’s hard to explain – the characters did not look/fell real. I like that the cut-scenes were in-game, but it did not have the polished feel of a standard cinematic scene. The story/mystery was engaging enough to keep me interested. I liked that it was divided into episodes – it gave a great place to stop and save. “I’m going to play Episode 3 tonight.” And I did. The Noir voiceover was disturbing – it was used as a tool to direct the user on what to do or why something would not work. It took me out of the story. I am worried about La Noir now. The best part was the flashlight. With dark shadows all around, the flashlight reveals the bright colors of what is really there. The metaphor of truth and light come to life. I finished on April 12th, 2011 with only half of the achievements completed. I have no desire to play it again or try the DLCs.

Assassin's Creed II

I played Assassin’s Creed on PS3 – played but did not finish. It was too repetitious.

I played and FINISHED Assassin’s Creed 2 on Xbox360. It was NOT repetitious.

The evolving gameplay and a fast-paced story kept my interest making this a game I recommend. I finished on March 26, 2011 with 41/50 achievements (82%).

My List: Spring 2011

Sometimes I just need to make lists to keep myself organized. Here are the games I anticipate on playing and buying in 2011: Own and Need to Play Assassins Creed 2 (xBox) I actually own two copies of this: PS3 and xBox 360. I am working through the xBox version and enjoying it very much. Little Big Planet 2 (PS3) I’ve started the story – very charming. Alan Wake (xBox) God of War II (PS3) God of War III (PS3) Infamous (PS3) Dante’s Inferno (PS3) Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (PS3) Already available: Sniper: Ghost Warrior (xBox) Not great reviews, but I love sniper games. I am waiting for GameFly to dump inventory on this one. Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood (xBox) I want to play the multi-player. HomeFront (xBox) I bought this as a gift for Jerry; he found its flaws. But I still want to experience this FPS. I’ll try to get it less than $30. Dead Space 2 (xBox) I played (and enjoyed) the original a year late. I expect the same with the sequel. Grand Theft Auto IV Complete (xBox) I doubt I will find time to get to this classic. Super Meat Boy (xBox Arcade) Stacked (xBox Arcade) Heavy Rain (PS3) Others: KillZone 3 (PS3), Mass Effect (xBox), Mass Effect 2 (xBox), Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit (xBox), Gears of War 2 (xBox), Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock (PS3), Rock Band 3 (PS3) Coming Soon: Portal 2 (April 21, 2011; PS3 and xBox) I don’t think this will be release day – depends on if I get caught in the hype. I need it on PS3 because it will be the better version (cloud, PC copy) and ElMico will want it there. Xbox because of the co-op. LA Noire (May 17, 2011; xBox) Release day purchase and birthday gift for myself. Alice: Return to Madness (June 4, 2011; xBox) I’m frightened to play this game. I hope it is different from Dante’s Inferno. Zombie Island (August 1, 2011; xBox) The trailer sold me. Batman: Arkam City (October 18, 2011; xBox) I enjoyed B:AA – I hope this will be just as fun. Call of Duty 8 (November 2011; xbox and PS3) I gotta do my duty. Resistance 3 (September 3, 2011; PS3) The Last Guardian (PS3) Also need Shadow of the Colossus and Ico. Orcs Must Die (xBox Arcade) Twisted Metal (PS3)

The Best of Times - Freeing Gersch

Last night my friends and I completed Kassimir (Kashmir) Mechanism on COD:BO Nazi Zombies Ascension map. It was so cool and so much fun; here is why:

Friends My three friends are all over the country: Alex (Florida), Jerry (Ohio), Nick (Oregon). It’s great that we can get together on-line, work together, and have great laughs. Something New I knew there was more to Ascension than just launching the rocket and getting to the Pack-a-Punch machine. “Help me… Repair the mechanism…. She is coming” was my first clue. Thankfully the internet gave me some emerging tips and clues. Knowing we were one of the first to complete this is awesome. Co-operation It took us two tries. The first time, Nick’s system disconnected before we completed the Node that requires 4 players. Our strategy, involves falling back to a lander to escape just before we are overwhelmed by the horde. Getting everyone on the lander before launch, and staying together while running, requires good communication. Which way, Alex? Movie quotes and goofs I got a monkey. I’m through. Mr. Cheeny. Excuse me while I whip this out. If I have to explain, it looses its charm. While waiting for the 2 minute clock to expire, we had a zombie crawler arrive. We were dancing around, trying to stay under the platform - Jerry was downed twice. We also tried the final step mid-round; bad mistake. How did we do it? You can search YouTube and callofduty.wikia.com for details. The only variant seems to be the equipment/guns needed to power the device at the very end. We had two Porter X2 Ray Guns, a Zeus Cannon, Skullcrusher (M16), and the Matryoshka Dolls. When the Gersch Vortex begins, shoot into it will all you have. I also used the M16’s grenade launcher. I think we tried the last step 5-6 times before getting it to work; we were at wave 20. My guess is that you need 4 upgraded weapons and the Matryoshka Dolls – maybe a grenade or rocket launcher. The internet will eventually figure it out. To me this is the joy of gaming: collaborating with your friends to beat zombies – or Samantha, or some other common foe.