CSI: It’s not just a series.

You know that Series that’s all kinds of crazy popular and has all those spin-offs? No, not Law & Order! I am talking about CSI. Here’s a fun fact for you. I have never watched an episode of this series, and only a couple episodes of one of it’s spin-offs. CSI:NY, and only that because it featured an online game I play called Secondlife. The episode was pretty lame, and I hope to god they aren’t all that bad!

That being said, while I have not watched the series, I have played most of the games. I love the games as a matter of fact! Though I’m not sure what genre of game they would fit into, I am guesing either adventure or hidden object games?  Either way, the games are fun as hell, and puts you in the role of a rookie CSI. The only problem I have with the games, is that they are short. Incredibly short! Though, they are quite fun!

Now, the games I played weren’t the PC releases. I played the versions that were released on various consoles, PS2, Xbox and Xbox 360. So, I sat today thinking, I would like to try some of the other game versions that are out on the PC. Like CSI: NY – The Game, and CSI: Miami – The Game, however they are older titles, and I don’t know if they will run on a Vista O/S. Which is a shame because I *REALLY* want to try these games out!

PS2 still in the running? WTF?

I have just found out that games for the Playstation 2 are being produced! This actually comes as a huge shock to me, as I assumed that they quit making Playstation 2 games years ago! I know they quit making Xbox titles soon after the 360 came out, and I just assumed the same happened with the PS2. This however is NOT the case, they are still making games for the PS2! Not just crappy games either, Top titles! For instance Marvel Ultimate Alliance? One of the hottest Role playing titles to come out within the last few months? It was also released on the PS2!

This has entirely changed my opinion on Sony and their Playstation gaming systems. They actually seem to CARE about their customer base, and realise not all their customers can afford a PS3(Or may not want to, since their PS3 slim wont allow them to play Everquest adventurers). Taking that into consideration they contnued to produce games for this last gen gaming system, and you know what? the games don’t look half bad! In fact, the newer PS2 titles could be compared to their next gen counterparts.

I’ve even unhooked my xbox 360, and started playing my PS2 again. Even considering buying a PS3 now, due to this newfound respect that I have for Sony. If their systems still allowed you to play PS2 games? I would buy a PS3 tomorrow without a second thought. As it is, the idea of a PS3 is tempting.

Wii on the other hand? I laugh in your general direction!

Twittering on Xbox

Ok, so I am participating in the Xbox LIVE update Preview, and I must say I am loving it! It’s so incredible. Your Xbox console becomes three times more useful than it already was, and considering I think the Xbox and the Xbox LIVE service is incredibly useful, that says a lot! It adds Last FM to your console so you can just sit back and listen to some great tunes. It adds Zune to the Xbox, which I prefer to the standard Xbox Video market place. It also adds Twitter to your Xbox Live features! So, you can add or recieve tweets while yer on your Xbox gaming console! Pretty snazzy huh? If that wasn’t enough you can also use your Xbox to hook up to your facebook account and post your current status, or check your friends status..even browse their photos right from the comfort of your Xbox 360 Console.

Incredible? I agree! All it needs now is a built in Pizza ordering program so you can order pizza without stepping away from your Xbox, and then I could just plant myself in front of my TV and Xbox, and just live there!

There are some options I wish Xbox had of course, like it bugs me that you still cant talk to someone on your MSN contact list through Voice while on Xbox live. It limits you to just text messages which gets annoying after awhile, especially if you are trying to watch a video or play a game. I would also LOVE to see a built in Email reader. If Microsoft blended Hotmail into their service I would switch from Gmail back to hotmail without a second thought.

Also, of course an internet browser would be ULTRA cool, that’s one of the only thing that makes me envy PS3 owners. It’s not the few exclusive titles, in fact I think the exclusive titles pretty much suck on the PS3 and those kind of make me feel sorry for them. It’s not even the Blu-Ray! While that’s KIND of cool, it’s not a big deal. I am fine with DVD, hell I would be fine with VHS…If it’s a movie and it plays, im cool with it! Format doesn’t matter to me.

The ONLY thing I am envious of is that they have a web browser. I’m not sure how well it works, but it’s better than the Xbox one. You know, because Xbox doesn’t have one.

Building Trees?!?

I have mentioned this a thousand times now, however I will mention it again to save people from having to rummage around in my Blog. I play this game called Second Life and in the game I run a store. Now, I used to run a fashion store, where I would design clothes for men and women to wear in this virtual world, however recently I got bored of it, and have since shut the store down.

Instead, I have decided to use my break away from fashion designing and instead open up a new in-world store brand. This new store focuses on creating Medieval creations, Everything from water wells, to thrones. Pretty much a whole variety of medieval stuff. The items are geared mainly toward Gorean Role Play but is also suitable for most any medieval style Role play setting.

Anyway, enough rambling! The main reason for my post was to mention my lastest creation. It’s a sculpted tree! I think it came out rather well considering it was my first attempt at tree making. Here, let me show you the boxart for my tree.

See? Pretty nifty huh? I call it the Forked Dogwood tree. In case you are wondering, as far as I know, there’s no such thing as a Forked Dogwood Tree. It was a name I made up for the above pictured tree.

Termination

After several weeks of Left 4 Dead gaming action, I have decided to take a break. Currently I am playing the game “Terminator: Salvation” on the xbox 360. The game is interesting. It’s not great by any stretch of the imagination. However it actually is better than I expected. It’s one of those games that play best if you adopt the “If you don’t expect too much from it, you might not be let down.” mindset. It plays sort of like a clone of Gears of War, but without the coolness of GoW. 

Also, the game has a T rating, because theres no gore from what I have seen so far. I mean, come on! You’re fighting advanced laptops with guns really. It’s not like the bleed, they just shoot out sparks and fall over. So, the fact that it’s T rated means it’s good if you are trying to shield the little ones from blood guts and gore.

As I said before, it’s a decent game. That might be appealing to some. At the very least it’s a mild amusement, and you might find yourself actually enjoying the game.

Gaming and TV watchin’?

I discovered a pretty damn keen program today called “PlayOn“! It’s easy to install, for the most part, and it will connect to your Xbox 360(or PS3 or Wii…or whatever your current generation of gaming system is) and allow you to watch Hulu on your TV through your gaming system. It will also stream YouTube, CBS, CNN, ESPN and your NetFlix view instantly video queue! Sound pretty cool right? Well, the program does cost, but there’s a free 14 day trial for you to check out to determine if this is your thing. Then, if you like it, just pay a small cost…less than the cost of a video game, and keep using it. That’s another good by the way, it’s one flat rate! It’s not subscription based like you might initially assume.

Now, some of the features are already made available through Xbox Live, such as the ability to watch your netflix view instantly queue. However many of the options are NOT available. So, it really is worth it. Definately something to check out at the very least.

Lucca Brazzi sleeps with the fishes…

Ok, as everyone who’s EVERYONE knows, I love games. It’s my weakness. I also love Zombies, but after Zombies I adore a good mafia/gangster story. As well everyone should, am I right? Well, is it any big surprise that I am currently hooked on the facebook application called Mobsters 2?

It’s a sequel obviously, hence the number 2 located at the end of the name. Now, the original started out on Myspace I believe, and quite honestly, I thought the game stunk. I still do. I don’t like the game at all, which is odd, because playwise theres not a lot of difference between the two versions. I just quite simply prefer the second one.

One difference about Mobsters 2 is that there is actually a storyline. Which makes it more gamelike. I suppose that’s probably what my main interest is. I mean, without a story its just a button clicking game, and honestly I don’t see how anyone could get any enjoyment out of sitting around just pushing a button every few minutes…I mean the survivors of oceanic flight 815 sure as hell didn’t enjoy pushing a button every little bit!

Anyway, yea I am hooked on that game, which oddly enough I am not overly popular! In fact a good number of people seem to hate me, and wish me bodily harm! :O I mean, I am my usual loving kind and caring self in there as well…whats not to love? seriously! I love me!

Sucks to be Gametap

Once upon a time, I used to subscribe to this online service called Gametap, and it was good. The service really had everything a gamer like myself could want. What attracted me most to this service however is the fact that they included a good number of AD&D games. The Baldur Gate series, The Icewind Dale series and even Torment(Which is an extremely difficult to find dungeons and dragons title, but is oh so good!). Like many of you already know, I am not just a game junkie, I am a Role Play junkie as well, and my main love has always been dungeons and dragons. I mean I played the pen and paper version way back in high school, so it has a lot of fond memories.

Recently however Gametap got a huge smack from…someone! Im not sure if it’s the developers, or what but whoever it was forced them to pull down all their AD&D titles! Not just that, but also a good number of other major licenses like Homeworld, Incredible machine and so fourth.

So, now there REALLY isn’t a reason to be subscribed to Gametap. They lost their hottest titles, and while they do still carry some incredible games, like the fallout series and the Space Quest titles, it’s really not worth the subscription cost, at least in my eye.

Xbox 360 Droolage

I am an Xbox 360 owner. I am not interested in owning a Wii or even a PS3(Although there are a few exclusive ps3 titles that DO look to be interesting). I am quite happy with my 360 game system. Everything from the games right down the the EXTREMELY affordable Xbox Live service.

However, there’s some things coming this way for 360 owners that has me drooling. So, I decided I would share with you the things im looking forward to most.

Twitter – Yea, Twitter is getting intergrated with the xbox live service. So, you can send and recieve twitter posts right from the comfort of your living room couch.

Facebook – Yea, apparently Facebook is getting added to the Xbox Live service too…How cool right?

Combine those with the already available netflix addon, yer pretty much good to go! The only other things I would like to see, is a Gmail addon and maybe a basic browser without java/cookies/flash kinda thang.

Splintercell: Conviction – Newest Splinter cell game! Was due out way back in ‘07 but according to the folks at ubisoft this time it REALLY will make it by this coming christmas.

Alan Wake – I don’t know a whole lot about this game, but it looks pretty damn sweet and made by the brainiacs who did Max Paine. Nuff said!

Ghostbusters – C’mon! It’s Ghostbusters! What’s not to drool about? Plus from what I hear its got the whole original cast doing the voices. if that doesn’t make you jizz in your pants, then you CLEARLY are not geek enough to hang with me.

Neverwinter :O

I have recently begun playing a computer RPG called Neverwinter Night. The original one, not Neverwinter Nights 2, although I did pick that up when i bought the first one. However, I wanted to play the original before digging into the next one. Yes, I know the second game doesnt require first game knowledge. However, it doesnt really hurt either.

Anyway, I have been playing this game and I must confess I am totally hooked on it! The game reminds me a LOT of the original Everquest game(Which oddly enough Neverwinter Nights 2 reminds me of Everquest 2. I may not be playing NWN2 first, but im not silly either I did make a character and fiddle in the tutorial section). Not just in graphics either, but also the setting. Combine that with NPC spell casters just standing around making glowing particles surround themselves. This isn’t a bad thing, I am a huge fan of the Everquest games. In fact the only thing I didnt like about EverQuest was the fact that the game wasn’t story oriented. Neverwinter Nights however obviously IS story oriented. Thus it ranks up as one of my all time favorite games EVER.

So, some of you might be wondering what made me decide to play this game after OH so many years. To be honest, I have always wanted to try this game, however the idea of having a buttload of henchmen, group-guys or whatever they are called put me off. Controlling several people in a real time combat situation did not interest me, however someone informed me, that though the battles might be realtime, you could pause the game easily and take your time finding what it is you want to use. I was also informed that I don’t exactly control the henchmen. This then got my interest in the game renewed!

I purchased the game, and now I have to force myself to quit playing. Granted, I am not very far along. I have barely finished the prelude, and quelled the prison riot. My last known location is outside the gates of a district over run with zombies. A freakin’ ZOMBIE invasion! That right there gives the game a spot in my heart. Looking forward to experiencing more of this game too!