Step aside, I'm Batman

So last night I started Batman: Arkham City. I can tell this is going to absorb a lot of my gaming time. So I need to make a list of what is in process, so I can finish it later:

Dead Space 2 – I’m almost done; I’m in the middle of the last chapter. I should be able to finish it in my next sitting – but, of course, it must be at night. Plus I would like to try the multiplayer.

Homefront – there are one or two achievements I would like to try and get, nothing too difficult. Then I want to play multiplayer. Nick said he has this, so hopefully it will be with him.

Portal 2 – I just started the DLC.

Portal: Still Alive - I just have to complete the very last challenge level. It’s tough.

KillZone 3 - I REALLY like the multiplayer. I’ve done the local-bot thing, I want to finish all the maps and get online. and I don’t have a solution yet.

Heavy Rain – I started – just started. I’m not interested, but I will push myself through it.

BioShock 2: Minerva’s Den DLC.

Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light - I’m almost done with the single player campaign, then I hope to find a partner.

LittleBigPlanet 2 - I am on the last level of the story campaign. T

Brutal Legend - I saw Jerr playing this yesterday. I’d like to finish, but I lost interest half way through.

Waiting unplayed:

• Resistance 3
• Gears of War 2 GotY
• Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood

Anguissette in Asia

While here in Singapore, I had the awesome privilege of having dinner in a coworker’s home. I enjoyed a wonderful ‘Northern Chinese’ meal. And my coworker’s wife, Linda, was a pleasant hostess and a beautifully charming woman.But why am I telling you this in my PS3 blog? They also own a PlayStation3. It had been over 17 days since I last played my PS3 (no, that’s not 100% true: I played briefly at a duty free shop in Sydney airport). My fingers were itching to get back to the action. First let me tell you about a difference I found. The actions of the X and O buttons were switched – most notably in the XMB. This drove me nuts because I had to think rather than zip through choices by instinct. It also appeared in all the in-game menus – Select and Back were swapped. It must be a difference between the USA and Asian builds of the software. I began playing Little Big Planet. I introduced another co-worker to video games – she claimed to have never played them before. Starting with a cute game like LBP was the right move; very soon she was in full control and navigating through the beginning levels. Thank you ShuYun for letting me introduce you to the joys of gaming. Everyone in the room was laughing at the antics and actions of Sack Boy and Sack Girl. We made it through 2 ½ continents before switching to the more mature Call of Duty: World at War. My co-worker – who is farther than me in story mode – had never played multi-player online. I only played two games of DeathMatch to introduce him to the concept; then we moved to split screen co-operative mode. The violence, foul language, and subject matter did not have the same crowd-pleasing effect that LBP had. (LOL) We quickly switched to passing the controller around while playing some arcade classics. What a fabulous evening of food, fun, and friendship. After laying siege to North America, “Anguissette” has gone multinational from Singapore. Gamers are the same wherever you find them – except for that X and O swap.

LittleBETAPlanet

I was not going to do the LBP beta – I’ve had enough ‘fun’ with the SOCOM beta and I have two other games I need to finish. But my good friends at PlayStation Underground sent me a promotion code – unsolicited – and I thought I would give it a try. In my household is a cute little girl of 10 years old. She watched as I played the first two story levels. LBP is a great game and is a lot of fun, but let me tell you: it’s a lot more enjoyable with a giggly little girl next to you. She loved Sackgirl (of course we made it a girl) and all her expressions – and the concept of ‘stickers’ is always exciting to a 4th grader. And jumping around a cartoon garden is so much ‘safer’ then the Shooters I normally play. I have no idea how Big the LittlePlanet is: creating levels, sharing games, and on-line collaborations – but I am looking forward to simply going through Story Mode with the help of bright eyed, carefree princess. Side note: I have pre-ordered LBP from Best Buy and I will pick it up the day it arrives (but not at Midnight - I think). I will download the Nariko outfit soon after. Oh, one more thing: I have an extra Beta Code from the good people at USA today. If you would like it, leave your request in the comment section.