Yo!
.......Well, things are still kinda chaotic in the educational field, I'm noticing.... Something like at least a dozen colleges have received anonymous threats in the past week or so....
Sigh... A life is a terrible thing to waste. Geez, I gotta move the crap on. This is about to turn into a one-topic blog, like this month was about to be with video games before the Virginia Tech fiasco took over all the news airwaves. Changing topic....
IGN broke this bit of news Friday, declaring a new three-dimensional cinema technology currently known as Real-D, "as ubiquitous as colour or sound." Apparently, 3-D is the new HD. Theaters across the country are steadily adapting to this new Real-D film experience, which I hear is done surprisingly good, and with nary a pair of red-and-blue glasses or subsequent headaches in sight. The whole deal with this thing involves TWO cameras, a super-expensive projector, polarized light, and what looks like some specially made Buddy Holly glasses.
The way it works is, the aforementioned super-projector sends out the left and right eye images simultaneously onto a silver screen (some things never change) which bounce back through the glasses which decode the polarized images and sends it out the other side of the lens, through your eyeballs and into your brain which is where the depolarized images are merged into one super-image your brain recognizes as possessing depth, and then somehow exposure to this makes you forget your phone number or it does something brain-related eventually. Oops, sorry, I've been getting earfuls and eyefuls lately of how everything electronic, large or small, puts out harmful radiation which can cause major medical complications. Not that I'm saying this projector technology, which I'm sure is totally devoid of anything harmful at all, is dangerous. Because I can't. Don't need lawsuits. Part of me had to express that concern.
This does, however, strike me as interesting since this is seriously being adopted not just by certain theaters, but major studios. Dreamworks has said they're going 3-D by 2009, which means we'll be seeing more of Shrek than most children under 12 probably should, what with the fourth film coming out around that time. Also, Mr. Disprove-Ascension-of-Christ himself, James Cameron, is helming the first ever live-action Real-D film, to be released in '09 as well. So the next question is, since 3-D is starting to emerge as a respected film type, thanks in no small part to the sky falling back in '05, when is this stuff, or can this stuff come to consumers' homes to replace the now-almost-obsolete $3,000 HDTV you just bought during that new year's sale at Best Buy because you HAD to see Super Bowl XLI look that realistic?
Well anyway, the Bottom Line is, 2009 is going to be one insane year for movie-going. And hopefully not for forgetting phone numbers. That's it. What, I can't just say a brief bottom line and let that be that? That's all i got right now. I just hope this Real-D stuff isn't this expensive once it finds its way into our living rooms somehow.
...But that's just me.
Later.
-D.
P.S. Found this CNBC clip on YouTube. It's relevant, so it's gonna get embedded:
Monday, April 30, 2007
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Entry 53: "Aftermath."
Yo...
Holy crap, I'm late this week. Complicatedly long story, but the Cliff's Notes version is, this time had nothing to do with forgetting to set an alarm (for this, anyway). I need a way to publish posts remotely through a mobile browser or something, since my PSP browser doesn't support this posting very well..... But then, I wouldn't want to get carpal tunnel in my thumbs or something typing out a long-as-crap entry like this every week on my cell phone by hitting 9-9-9, 6-6-6, 1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1, Down-Down... Etcetera...
Moving on, one correction. Harris and Klebold! Those were the guys I meant to mention when I said last week that "[Cho Seung-Hui, the Virginia Tech gunman] out-Timothy McVeigh'ed Timothy McVeigh." A certain friend of mine from my workplace kindly reminded me of this confusion with Eric and Dylan, the Columbine incident shooters, the anniversary of which was also last week, so now there's no need for you all to post any reader comments questioning my topic accuracy by asking what, exactly, did the Bloodbath in Blacksburg have to do with Oklahoma City? I will point out, though, that Cho seriously did outdo those guys, at least in the eyes of USA Today, which ran a front page story on the guy last Thursday, bestowing the title "America's Deadliest Gunman." Traditionally, congratulations would be in order for being the best at something, if it weren't for the fact that this is usually the least-desired thing to be the best at EVER, next to getting a lot of attention on America's Most Wanted and winning a lot of Razzie awards. So instead, I'll copy-and-paste this...
...and if I had the chance, I'd say this:
Ahem...
Cho, I didn't watch your videos when they were shown on the news because I didn't want to acknowledge your little pre-planned 15 minutes of fame, which the news-media was all too gracious to supply, or watch the analysts make their spins on just why and how out-to-lunch your mind was that day to want to wipe out as many innocent people as you did. Even now, as I write this, nobody really knows your motive, but there's nothing I can say to convey the complete, apparently indescribable disgust I have for what you did. Honestly, I frankly do not care about the reason, because to say 'no justification' is as understatement as it gets. Sure, the pain you've caused may make some flags go half-mast for a few weeks, but unlike Betsy Ross' famous sewing project, the suffering of the friends and families of the departed 27 students and five teachers will never be lifted. Quick, cowardly suicide was far too easy a demise for you, and whatever your mental instability may have been in this life, I hope you fail to move on from your actions in the next. You have shamed your family beyond belief, annihilated lives forever, and tarnished a 130-year-old college with blood. May you never rest in peace.
..............(*deep breath) I'm sorry, readers, I kinda had to get a little emotional with that. Again, my sincerest condolences to those Hokie families, and okay, even Cho's family, since they did lose someone in this too. A despicable murderer, but a relative nonetheless. It's humbling, the impact this tragedy has had suddenly. Since Tuesday, I have yet to drive somewhere without noticing a restaurant building poster/marquee, roadside sign, bumper sticker, or pedestrian wearing almost unseasonable amounts of maroon and orange, what with dark colors and summer heat being oil-and-water. Hokies, continue to stay strong, and may we always remember 4-16-07.
.....But that's just me.
Oh! Before I go, I found this gem of a news piece on QuickJump.net:
"Now that evidence shows that Cho Seung Hui didn't own a single video game at the time of the Tragic shooting, a new article over at MSNBC questions Jack Thompson's fervent accusations. This is in light of his recent interview wherein he responded to IGDA criticism."
Well, at least a tiny bit of good can come from so much horror. A step in the direction of no more debates on how virtual violence contributes to real-world eruptions..... Not much, but it's something.....
See ya Monday.
-D.
Holy crap, I'm late this week. Complicatedly long story, but the Cliff's Notes version is, this time had nothing to do with forgetting to set an alarm (for this, anyway). I need a way to publish posts remotely through a mobile browser or something, since my PSP browser doesn't support this posting very well..... But then, I wouldn't want to get carpal tunnel in my thumbs or something typing out a long-as-crap entry like this every week on my cell phone by hitting 9-9-9, 6-6-6, 1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1, Down-Down... Etcetera...
Moving on, one correction. Harris and Klebold! Those were the guys I meant to mention when I said last week that "[Cho Seung-Hui, the Virginia Tech gunman] out-Timothy McVeigh'ed Timothy McVeigh." A certain friend of mine from my workplace kindly reminded me of this confusion with Eric and Dylan, the Columbine incident shooters, the anniversary of which was also last week, so now there's no need for you all to post any reader comments questioning my topic accuracy by asking what, exactly, did the Bloodbath in Blacksburg have to do with Oklahoma City? I will point out, though, that Cho seriously did outdo those guys, at least in the eyes of USA Today, which ran a front page story on the guy last Thursday, bestowing the title "America's Deadliest Gunman." Traditionally, congratulations would be in order for being the best at something, if it weren't for the fact that this is usually the least-desired thing to be the best at EVER, next to getting a lot of attention on America's Most Wanted and winning a lot of Razzie awards. So instead, I'll copy-and-paste this...
Students
- Ross Abdallah Alameddine
Hometown: Saugus, Massachusetts
Sophomore, University Studies
Student since fall 2005 - Brian Roy Bluhm
Hometown: Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Master's student, Civil Engineering
Student since spring 2005 - Ryan Christopher Clark
Hometown: Martinez, Georgia
Senior, Psychology
Student since fall 2002 - Austin Michelle Cloyd
Hometown: Blacksburg, Virginia
Sophomore, Honors Program, International Studies
Student since fall 2006 - Matthew Gregory Gwaltney
Hometown: Chesterfield, Virginia
Master’s student, Environmental Engineering
Student since fall 2001 - Caitlin Millar Hammaren
Hometown: Westtown, New York
Sophomore, International Studies
Student since fall 2005 - Jeremy Michael Herbstritt
Hometown: Blacksburg, Virginia
Master's student, Civil Engineering
Student since fall 2006 - Rachael Elizabeth Hill
- Emily Jane Hilscher
Hometown: Woodville, Virginia
Freshman, Animal and Poultry Sciences
Student since fall 2006 - Jarrett Lee Lane
Hometown: Narrows, Virginia
Senior, Civil Engineering
Student since fall 2003 - Matthew Joseph La Porte
Hometown: Dumont, New Jersey
Sophomore, University Studies
Student since fall 2005 - Henry J. Lee
Hometown: Roanoke, Virginia
Sophomore, Computer Engineering
Student since fall 2006 - Partahi Mamora Halomoan Lumbantoruan
Hometown: Blacksburg, Virginia (originally from Indonesia)
Ph.D. student, Civil Engineering
Student since fall 2003 - Lauren Ashley McCain
Hometown: Hampton, Virginia
Freshman, International Studies
Student since fall 2006 - Daniel Patrick O'Neil
Hometown: Lincoln, Rhode Island
Master's student, Environmental Engineering
Student since fall 2006 - Juan Ramon Ortiz-Ortiz
Hometown: Blacksburg, Virginia
Master’s student, Civil Engineering
Student since fall 2006 - Minal Hiralal Panchal
Hometown: Mumbai, India
Master’s student, Architecture
Student since fall 2006 - Daniel Alejandro Perez-Cueva
Hometown: Woodbridge, Virginia
Sophomore, International Studies
Student since summer 2006 - Erin Nicole Peterson
Hometown: Centreville, Virginia
Freshman, International Studies
Student since fall 2006 - Michael Steven Pohle, Jr.
Hometown: Flemington, New Jersey
Senior, Biological Sciences
Student since fall 2002 - Julia Kathleen Pryde
Hometown: Blacksburg, Virginia
Master's student, Biological Systems Engineering
Student since fall 2001 - Mary Karen Read
Hometown: Annandale, Virginia
Freshman, Interdisciplinary Studies
Student since fall 2006 - Reema Joseph Samaha
Hometown: Centreville, Virginia
Freshman, University Studies
Student since fall 2006 - Waleed Mohamed Shaalan
Hometown: Blacksburg, Virginia (originally from Egypt)
Ph.D. student, Civil Engineering
Student since fall 2006 - Leslie Geraldine Sherman
Hometown: Springfield, Virginia
Junior, Honors Program, History
Student since fall 2005 - Maxine Shelly Turner
Hometown: Vienna, Virginia
Senior, Honors Program, Chemical Engineering
Student since fall 2003 - Nicole White
Hometown: Smithfield, Virginia
Sophomore, International Studies
Student since fall 2004
Faculty
- Christopher James Bishop
Instructor, Foreign Languages
Residence in Blacksburg
Joined Virginia Tech on August 10, 2005 - Jocelyne Couture-Nowak
Adjunct Professor, Foreign Languages
Residence in Blacksburg
Joined Virginia Tech on August 10, 2001 - Kevin P. Granata
Professor, Engineering Science and Mechanics
Residence in Blacksburg
Joined Virginia Tech on January 10, 2003 - Liviu Librescu
Professor, Engineering Science and Mechanics
Residence in Blacksburg
Joined Virginia Tech on September 1, 1985 - G.V. Loganathan
Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Residence in Blacksburg
Joined Virginia Tech on December 16, 1981
Ahem...
Cho, I didn't watch your videos when they were shown on the news because I didn't want to acknowledge your little pre-planned 15 minutes of fame, which the news-media was all too gracious to supply, or watch the analysts make their spins on just why and how out-to-lunch your mind was that day to want to wipe out as many innocent people as you did. Even now, as I write this, nobody really knows your motive, but there's nothing I can say to convey the complete, apparently indescribable disgust I have for what you did. Honestly, I frankly do not care about the reason, because to say 'no justification' is as understatement as it gets. Sure, the pain you've caused may make some flags go half-mast for a few weeks, but unlike Betsy Ross' famous sewing project, the suffering of the friends and families of the departed 27 students and five teachers will never be lifted. Quick, cowardly suicide was far too easy a demise for you, and whatever your mental instability may have been in this life, I hope you fail to move on from your actions in the next. You have shamed your family beyond belief, annihilated lives forever, and tarnished a 130-year-old college with blood. May you never rest in peace.
..............(*deep breath) I'm sorry, readers, I kinda had to get a little emotional with that. Again, my sincerest condolences to those Hokie families, and okay, even Cho's family, since they did lose someone in this too. A despicable murderer, but a relative nonetheless. It's humbling, the impact this tragedy has had suddenly. Since Tuesday, I have yet to drive somewhere without noticing a restaurant building poster/marquee, roadside sign, bumper sticker, or pedestrian wearing almost unseasonable amounts of maroon and orange, what with dark colors and summer heat being oil-and-water. Hokies, continue to stay strong, and may we always remember 4-16-07.
.....But that's just me.
Oh! Before I go, I found this gem of a news piece on QuickJump.net:
"Now that evidence shows that Cho Seung Hui didn't own a single video game at the time of the Tragic shooting, a new article over at MSNBC questions Jack Thompson's fervent accusations. This is in light of his recent interview wherein he responded to IGDA criticism."
Well, at least a tiny bit of good can come from so much horror. A step in the direction of no more debates on how virtual violence contributes to real-world eruptions..... Not much, but it's something.....
See ya Monday.
-D.
Monday, April 16, 2007
Entry 52: "Virginia Tech."
..........I can't parody-title this entry.
About 7A.M. this morning, the worst shooting rampage in U.S. history occurred. Somebody, whose name has yet to be released to be the public as of this typing, actually managed to out-Timothy-McVeigh Timothy McVeigh, by mercilessly slaughtering THIRTY-TWO innocent people. Thirty were killed at Norris Hall, two more at West Ambler Johnston Hall. Fifteen are currently being treated at local hospitals. Including the gunman's suicide (figures, right? No monstrous event like this ever seems to end with the perpetrator facing Earthly justice), the death toll is currently 34, and hopefully will stay that way so long as the fifteen survivors' injuries aren't mortal.
Okay, I know this is far from the first time we've heard about violence in school settings, which apparently can begin at any age, but this sets a new low. I mean, we get bombarded with news stories every day about violence in the streets, violence overseas, and I don't need to mention the over-dramatized insanity that enters our DVD players on movie-night. I suppose just having said that adds ammo to the parents and politicians who say wholeheartedly that violence on TV and in the movies and video games contributes to thinking it's okay to go postal like this. Whatever the unjustified reason, this one has to take the cake. Last I heard of this thing, motive-wise, was that the guy was romantically scorned and so he figures the best way to cope with the breakup was to try to pump as much of the student body full of lead as possible. Excuse the directness of that statement, but that was the gist of it. Normally, I'd hyperlink you readers to another website citing the specific source of that statement, but since I do not remember what news network that mentioned that theory earlier, I'm kinda at a loss there unfortunately.
Bottom Line, though, is that this is just the latest, darkest and bloodiest in a line of school-related gun violence. My thoughts and prayers are with the friends and families of the victims, and of course mainly the survivors who must now face the worst challenge one can face after something like this: Moving on.
...But that's just me.
Stay strong, Hokies.
-D.
About 7A.M. this morning, the worst shooting rampage in U.S. history occurred. Somebody, whose name has yet to be released to be the public as of this typing, actually managed to out-Timothy-McVeigh Timothy McVeigh, by mercilessly slaughtering THIRTY-TWO innocent people. Thirty were killed at Norris Hall, two more at West Ambler Johnston Hall. Fifteen are currently being treated at local hospitals. Including the gunman's suicide (figures, right? No monstrous event like this ever seems to end with the perpetrator facing Earthly justice), the death toll is currently 34, and hopefully will stay that way so long as the fifteen survivors' injuries aren't mortal.
Okay, I know this is far from the first time we've heard about violence in school settings, which apparently can begin at any age, but this sets a new low. I mean, we get bombarded with news stories every day about violence in the streets, violence overseas, and I don't need to mention the over-dramatized insanity that enters our DVD players on movie-night. I suppose just having said that adds ammo to the parents and politicians who say wholeheartedly that violence on TV and in the movies and video games contributes to thinking it's okay to go postal like this. Whatever the unjustified reason, this one has to take the cake. Last I heard of this thing, motive-wise, was that the guy was romantically scorned and so he figures the best way to cope with the breakup was to try to pump as much of the student body full of lead as possible. Excuse the directness of that statement, but that was the gist of it. Normally, I'd hyperlink you readers to another website citing the specific source of that statement, but since I do not remember what news network that mentioned that theory earlier, I'm kinda at a loss there unfortunately.
Bottom Line, though, is that this is just the latest, darkest and bloodiest in a line of school-related gun violence. My thoughts and prayers are with the friends and families of the victims, and of course mainly the survivors who must now face the worst challenge one can face after something like this: Moving on.
...But that's just me.
Stay strong, Hokies.
-D.
Monday, April 9, 2007
Entry 51: "Nintega"
Yo!
I don't think this post really needs a more self-explanatory title than that. Two weeks ago, I stumbled upon the following promotional photo that this time ten years ago, the first thought upon seeing it might have been "Photoshop!":
That's right. Mario. Sonic. Competing in China's '08 Olympics.
Okay, what were the guys thinkin' this up smoking, and where can I get some?!?! Must be some really trippy stuff... man. Seriously, let's look at this thing honestly: Mario excels in swimming, but can barely outrun a Bullet Bill... Whereas, Sonic literally runs circles around most competition, but "buoyant" is hardly an appropriate adjective to use for him. Having said that, it's a good thing they titled this "Mario & Sonic," as opposed to "Mario vs. Sonic," because the fans would instantly know who would really beat whom when the 'fit' hits the 'shan,' if you know what I mean, without having to buy the game first.
Nintendo and Sega fans have been extremely divided on opinions of this game recently... Some believe this is a good thing, answering the fifteen-year-old question of who would win, once and for all. On the other hand, others actually believe that this is an affront to video games as a genre! Two of the industry's most recognizable, iconic figures sharing the same cartridge/disc (this is coming to Nintendo DS and Wii simultaneously), and especially for the sake of money-- sorry, commemorating the single biggest international sporting super-event in the world. The real world, that is. Some of you readers may remember unlocking Sonic as an extra character in Super Smash Bros. Melee for GameCube way back when, but that was a rumored feature nobody was even sure of until word finally spread that it was true. Just the fact that this quote exists...
"We are thrilled to partner with Nintendo..... on this groundbreaking title for the first time, two of the world's greatest games' characters come together to compete in the world's greatest sporting event and we couldn't be more excited."
-Hisao Oguchi, President and Chief Operating Officer, SEGA Corporation
...was enough to get message boards fired up last week. Gamers know, these guys were almost literally at each other's throat for a decade! Then, one console tanks and now it's all, "Oh, look at me! I'm Sega! Mine was the first console to support networked play when people still thought an Xbox was something you might use to download porn or something (think XXXbox)! But now that that ship has sailed, I'll just let myself and my game properties regress to up-for-bids third-party status and let bygones be bygones with my sworn enemy."
Sega, you sellout.
Sigh..... Bottom Line: Where have all the rivalries gone? It just blows me away how much things have changed in this industry in such a short span of time, but it looks like healthy competition is a thing of the past. Just like with the new consoles. You can't have all three coexist equally, one has to be the clear breadwiiner--- sorry, breadwinner. Games getting ported over more and more, true exclusives are becoming an endangered species, lesser consoles are getting weeded out, forcing developers to make content for one console... If stuff like this, keeps happening, well, again, what is this business coming to?
The Microsoft monopoly.
...But that's just me.
Later.
-D.
I don't think this post really needs a more self-explanatory title than that. Two weeks ago, I stumbled upon the following promotional photo that this time ten years ago, the first thought upon seeing it might have been "Photoshop!":
That's right. Mario. Sonic. Competing in China's '08 Olympics.
Okay, what were the guys thinkin' this up smoking, and where can I get some?!?! Must be some really trippy stuff... man. Seriously, let's look at this thing honestly: Mario excels in swimming, but can barely outrun a Bullet Bill... Whereas, Sonic literally runs circles around most competition, but "buoyant" is hardly an appropriate adjective to use for him. Having said that, it's a good thing they titled this "Mario & Sonic," as opposed to "Mario vs. Sonic," because the fans would instantly know who would really beat whom when the 'fit' hits the 'shan,' if you know what I mean, without having to buy the game first.
Nintendo and Sega fans have been extremely divided on opinions of this game recently... Some believe this is a good thing, answering the fifteen-year-old question of who would win, once and for all. On the other hand, others actually believe that this is an affront to video games as a genre! Two of the industry's most recognizable, iconic figures sharing the same cartridge/disc (this is coming to Nintendo DS and Wii simultaneously), and especially for the sake of money-- sorry, commemorating the single biggest international sporting super-event in the world. The real world, that is. Some of you readers may remember unlocking Sonic as an extra character in Super Smash Bros. Melee for GameCube way back when, but that was a rumored feature nobody was even sure of until word finally spread that it was true. Just the fact that this quote exists...
"We are thrilled to partner with Nintendo..... on this groundbreaking title for the first time, two of the world's greatest games' characters come together to compete in the world's greatest sporting event and we couldn't be more excited."
-Hisao Oguchi, President and Chief Operating Officer, SEGA Corporation
...was enough to get message boards fired up last week. Gamers know, these guys were almost literally at each other's throat for a decade! Then, one console tanks and now it's all, "Oh, look at me! I'm Sega! Mine was the first console to support networked play when people still thought an Xbox was something you might use to download porn or something (think XXXbox)! But now that that ship has sailed, I'll just let myself and my game properties regress to up-for-bids third-party status and let bygones be bygones with my sworn enemy."
Sega, you sellout.
Sigh..... Bottom Line: Where have all the rivalries gone? It just blows me away how much things have changed in this industry in such a short span of time, but it looks like healthy competition is a thing of the past. Just like with the new consoles. You can't have all three coexist equally, one has to be the clear breadwiiner--- sorry, breadwinner. Games getting ported over more and more, true exclusives are becoming an endangered species, lesser consoles are getting weeded out, forcing developers to make content for one console... If stuff like this, keeps happening, well, again, what is this business coming to?
The Microsoft monopoly.
...But that's just me.
Later.
-D.
Monday, April 2, 2007
Entry 50: "IV Is The Loneliest Number That You'll Ever Do....."
Yo!
Entry fifty. Here at last. I've said this before, but I feel it's more necessary now that this event has happened and I'm somehow still getting visitors... Thanks to all my readers for putting up with my shenanigans over the past year. Stay tuned... I'm working on some very interesting site upgrades, hitting your computer screen soon..........
1998. A man named David Jones comes up with a simple thought that would create an entirely new genre of videogames:
"What if you could go anywhere? Do anything? Steal any car? ........Shoot anyone?"
Well, the answer to that question soon came to fruition with the first Grand Theft Auto game, basically creating the "open-world" game genre as we know it today. Jak II and 3, Mercenaries, Superman Returns, Saint's Row, The Getaway. All of the above owe Jones and company (read: Rockstar) for paving the way with that groundbreaking game series.
Nine years and seven sequels (plus two groovy PC expansion packs and some VERY hot coffee .....) later, Rockstar has officially unveiled their latest entry in the series, Grand Theft Auto IV (That's GTA4 for those not into the whole Roman thing happening in that title), the trailer for which premiered online last week. Observe:
So just like with the writing staff of 24 this season, it all comes back to the Russians. Same places, (I guess) same people, new guy in town. I don't have any problem at all with a Russian lead character, don't get me wrong. I am an equal opportunity software consumer, after all. I just find it interesting that they chose to go right back to basics with yet another Liberty City game.... Decidedly more New York-ish than ever before. As you can tell, this incarnation of the city will most likely put Spider-Man 2 to shame (Sorry, Activision... Impress me in May with some cool visual stuff other than black-suit Spidey in the sewers, and we'll talk), and I'd hope so. This is, after all, the first GTA game on the new next-gen consoles, after all. And for my money, Rockstar, I'd better not have to use codes or install certain mods to pull off cool stuff. Well, other than the tried-and-true infinite weapons, armor and never-fall-off-bikes and invincible cars stuff. Ah, that's some good code'n happening there. Leave those.
First footage nitpickery aside, this looks to be business as usual here... lots of stealable cars, hilarious backgrounds (GetaLife insurance company?!? *slaps knee* HA!!!!!!!) and collateral damage just waiting to occur. One look at the numerous people walking the sidewalks in this trailer and even the most casual GTA gamer can't help but think, "Oh MAN I can't wait to hit those guys with a Stinger at 90 MPH!" Expectations are sky-high for this game to go above and beyond the call of duty, and the Xbox 360 version is getting some cool expansions down the line on Marketplace (YES! Take that, Sony! Losing day-one exclusivity for this game and now you're not getting the bonus content! Nya-nya-nya-nya-nya-nya!!!!!!!) But remember, GTA isn't solely about the violence. It's all about the story and character development. Which I know is a little like saying you read Playboy for the articles.
"Just what are Ashton Kutcher's favorite DVDs, anyway? Hmm.... Page 97, Page 97, Page 97, HELLO MISS APRIL! .....................................................................................................Page 97, Page 97, Ah! I did not know that. That's some good reading right there!"
........Anyway, the Bottom Line is: Much to Jack Thompson's dismay, Grand Theft Auto IV will be released on October 16th on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC and possibly even Wii (Hey, if Scarface and Godfather and to a severely lesser extent, FarCry, can work on the Wii.....). Possibly. Don't hold me to that rumor. Unless it turns out to be true. In which case, DBTJM BLOG NEWS SCOOP! Rockstar plans to release Grand Theft Auto IV on Wii!!!!!!! ....Sorry, had to make it sound official there. Just in case. Doesn't matter to me that much either way anyway... As you could tell from this entry's game info links, I'm oh-so-slightly in favor of Xbox myself....
........But that's just me.
Good luck, Wii owners.... See ya next week.
-D.
Entry fifty. Here at last. I've said this before, but I feel it's more necessary now that this event has happened and I'm somehow still getting visitors... Thanks to all my readers for putting up with my shenanigans over the past year. Stay tuned... I'm working on some very interesting site upgrades, hitting your computer screen soon..........
1998. A man named David Jones comes up with a simple thought that would create an entirely new genre of videogames:
"What if you could go anywhere? Do anything? Steal any car? ........Shoot anyone?"
Well, the answer to that question soon came to fruition with the first Grand Theft Auto game, basically creating the "open-world" game genre as we know it today. Jak II and 3, Mercenaries, Superman Returns, Saint's Row, The Getaway. All of the above owe Jones and company (read: Rockstar) for paving the way with that groundbreaking game series.
Nine years and seven sequels (plus two groovy PC expansion packs and some VERY hot coffee .....) later, Rockstar has officially unveiled their latest entry in the series, Grand Theft Auto IV (That's GTA4 for those not into the whole Roman thing happening in that title), the trailer for which premiered online last week. Observe:
So just like with the writing staff of 24 this season, it all comes back to the Russians. Same places, (I guess) same people, new guy in town. I don't have any problem at all with a Russian lead character, don't get me wrong. I am an equal opportunity software consumer, after all. I just find it interesting that they chose to go right back to basics with yet another Liberty City game.... Decidedly more New York-ish than ever before. As you can tell, this incarnation of the city will most likely put Spider-Man 2 to shame (Sorry, Activision... Impress me in May with some cool visual stuff other than black-suit Spidey in the sewers, and we'll talk), and I'd hope so. This is, after all, the first GTA game on the new next-gen consoles, after all. And for my money, Rockstar, I'd better not have to use codes or install certain mods to pull off cool stuff. Well, other than the tried-and-true infinite weapons, armor and never-fall-off-bikes and invincible cars stuff. Ah, that's some good code'n happening there. Leave those.
First footage nitpickery aside, this looks to be business as usual here... lots of stealable cars, hilarious backgrounds (GetaLife insurance company?!? *slaps knee* HA!!!!!!!) and collateral damage just waiting to occur. One look at the numerous people walking the sidewalks in this trailer and even the most casual GTA gamer can't help but think, "Oh MAN I can't wait to hit those guys with a Stinger at 90 MPH!" Expectations are sky-high for this game to go above and beyond the call of duty, and the Xbox 360 version is getting some cool expansions down the line on Marketplace (YES! Take that, Sony! Losing day-one exclusivity for this game and now you're not getting the bonus content! Nya-nya-nya-nya-nya-nya!!!!!!!) But remember, GTA isn't solely about the violence. It's all about the story and character development. Which I know is a little like saying you read Playboy for the articles.
"Just what are Ashton Kutcher's favorite DVDs, anyway? Hmm.... Page 97, Page 97, Page 97, HELLO MISS APRIL! .....................................................................................................Page 97, Page 97, Ah! I did not know that. That's some good reading right there!"
........Anyway, the Bottom Line is: Much to Jack Thompson's dismay, Grand Theft Auto IV will be released on October 16th on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC and possibly even Wii (Hey, if Scarface and Godfather and to a severely lesser extent, FarCry, can work on the Wii.....). Possibly. Don't hold me to that rumor. Unless it turns out to be true. In which case, DBTJM BLOG NEWS SCOOP! Rockstar plans to release Grand Theft Auto IV on Wii!!!!!!! ....Sorry, had to make it sound official there. Just in case. Doesn't matter to me that much either way anyway... As you could tell from this entry's game info links, I'm oh-so-slightly in favor of Xbox myself....
........But that's just me.
Good luck, Wii owners.... See ya next week.
-D.
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