The Blog for the Sports Gamer

Well, Sony could become the next Sega. First this whole PSP thing (is it coming, and how much..we’re still waiting) and now, there’s no online play for Gran Turismo 4.

Okay, they have a ways to go before they are the next Sega, but seroiusly, how far behind is the 32X?

This makes a huge (and I mean *HUGE*) opening for Microsoft’s Forza Motorsport. Of course, GameStop now shows it as a post-holiday release (1/4/05, yeah right). So maybe it’s not as wide open.

GT4 is supposed to be released with 10 days to go before Xmas. Should be an interesting holiday.

Oh yeah, TGIF. What a frickin week. I seem to be finally winning the battle against the terrorists inside my nose. That Zicam stuff is pretty darn awesome. I don’t think I’ve ever won a battle in 4 days. I can breathe again and I can taste again!!

Interestingly enough, while I was not checking email, or regular mail, only 23423 games showed up for review, most of which are embargoed. I will be doing some reviews for GameRankings again, even though it pays as much as this site does (that’s zero for you keeping track at home), it’s still great to be back in the reviewing area. Yes, yes I know, you’re saying, I would kill just to review something and get the game for free. I was like that too when I started up with Craig and Operation Sports. However, once you start getting paid, it’s kinda/sorta like a drug, it’s very difficult to do something gratis when you got paid, say hundreds of dollars for one review. How many reviews have you seen in a magazine or online and thought, “wow that guy got paid $250 or $300 for that turd?” Well, there’s also editors who can wreck havoc with your work over and over again. When I was the lead editor at GamePen, I corrected spelling and grammar errors, but I let the author’s work speak for itself. Even Jonah. I sure got plenty of hate mail, but I believe in allowing the author to express his/her opinion, even if it could be contrarian with everyone else. As long as they can defend it that is. I mean I can’t play every single game as lead editor — so when say someone does a review and complains about the bad multiplayer when there is no multiplayer, I had to rely on someone else to tip me off. Hey, it’s not like we’re CBS News and have a whole factchecking department, you know. Anyway, I digress.

Although there is an embargo on Outrun 2 and I can’t review it until it comes out, I can tell you to look for my review at GameRankings. I can also tell you that included with the game is the original Outrun and Daytona USA.

** Warning : May contain political like content **

Apologies to all who kindly noted I didn’t warn you where I had content yesterday. I will blame it on the drugs I was taking for my nose. That and it’s wasn’t as much a political rant that it was a hilarious quip (ie I’m a big fan of his music, but he’s a terrorist).

This is a political rant. Hey, speaking of flip floppers here’s an interesting article. Every time I see this guy with that s*(t-eating grin, my temper flares. At a local chamber of commerce meeting, I spoke with a gentleman who is very pro-Republican. He kept saying “I just don’t understand how somone hates our President so much.” Of course, you know me. I kept it very diplomatic, but it’s very difficult to like someone who is such a total liar and only cares about people who make 3 billion a year, at least in my opinion.

** end of political rant **

Have a good weekend. I look forward to whipping Miami in our league.

So, Cat Stevens is a terrorist. Good to know. I always thought the guy behind “Peace Train” had alterior motives. You know what’s funny? Tom Ridge, the director of Homeland Security stands up, says that he was on a watch list and shouldn’t be allowed in this country, but he’s a big fan of his music. Uh……whatever.

I’m really looking forward to our league now. Watch out Miami heh heh….

I did have an opportunity to play Tiger 2005 on PC. Initial gameplay doesn’t seem much different than last years — but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Jury is still out. I see a lot of new gimmicks that I’m not a huge fan of–I haven’t tried them yet, but it doesn’t seem a huge upgrade graphics & gameplay wise over last year.

Everyone has now signed up and the schedule has been made. Everyone now has 7 days to get their game in for Week 1. If you were in the old league, the schedule appears to be the same as before. Good luck!

FYI you can view the league page from the My Leagues screen or directly, here. I will be getting that picture of Owens off the front page ASAP.

Through the magic of ICQ, Bill has sent me his illness. Now I have the head that’s full of crap and the fever. Thanks Bill. I will be afk for today, that’s for sure!

Well, it should be by tonight. We’re waiting on the new Arizona owner to sign in and then I’ll create the schedule and we can start. Finally.

Well check this post out on the Xbox forum. Look for the ones by DarylWelsh. There’s a post half way down on the page that basically says:

1. Microsoft killed all new downloadable content for Links 2004 and there aren’t going to be any more courses released.

2. Another quote: “While I was one of the senior leaders at the studio, there was and will always be business decisions made at higher levels that cannot be overturned. The announcement at E3 that XSN Sports was going to take a year off really hurt the team in Salt Lake. Links was ready to deliver large with an ‘05 version and beat TW’05 to market. But as part of a larger corporation we were forced to change our plans. It comes with the game business when you are owned by your publisher”

There has been no news on Links although MS says it will be supported unlike the Baseball/Football/Basketball games.

I really enjoyed going online with Links, and I still do. I guess I’m going to check out TigerWoods, but reading the IGN review of it with the ‘new features’ being more eye candy and arcadey doesn’t sound great to me. But you never know, still worth a rental.

* Nintendo today announced the DS will be launched November 21 in the US and sell for $149. What’s interesting is that it will launch in the US first, really screwing over import shops like NCSX. Sorry guys, you still rule anyway.

* Sony is modifying the PS2. It’s now going to be the PSTwo, like the PSOne, get it. That too will launch in the US first (11/1). It is the same price as the current console. More news is expected later today, it’s assumed it’s going to be much smaller than the current PS2.

* Three people have bought the PlayStation 2 (hard drive) (40 GB) (only works with one game) (crap). Okay maybe more than that, but that’s about it.

* Anyone see Kerry on Letterman? He was on the offensive big time. Interesting tactic.

Anyone care to explain this?

Arizona State 44

Iowa 7

Iowa now ranked #24

Arizona State (3-0) now ranked..well..they aren’t ranked.

I guess it was that 37 point home field advantage. Gets ‘em every time.

Pollsters have officially gobbled up the Kool-Aid

I wrote a huge ass post, then when I clicked publish I got a not found and then lost the post. I can’t remember much of what I said, because it’s Monday. Here are quick highlights:

1. Watched the Emmys last night. Boring. Glad to see the Sopranos won. Glad to see Arrested Development won.

2. Using the PIP function, I also watched Miami take it up the butt to Cincy. I think that team needs to be put out of it’s misery (Miami).

3. The Patriots game wins the ‘quick delete from the TiVo” award. It too was a snoozer, but at least the Pats won.

4. I continue to play Burnout. That game is frustratingly addictive. I’ve gone through about 30% of the game now. It’s not getting more challenging. Now it’s the old, you take the lead but never more than a second only to crash and now you’re 6th technique. Still a fun game, but now you really gotta be perfect to win. And wreck some more cars, which is always enjoyable.

5. I got EA’s NASCAR for the PS2. I forgot how ugly the PS2 was until I played this game.

* Political Rant *

6. In a new poll recently released, W now has a lead in my battleground state. I will tell you, I know for a fact I took part in this poll. The organization behind it did it for MSNBC, but they didn’t tell you it was MSNBC. The poll called me on Thursday at 6pm. They wanted to talk to the ‘oldest adult male’ in the household. I never pick up ‘out of area’ calls, but I was expecting a call so I did, and boy was I an idiot. The poll took almost 15 minutes to do, it was taking by someone who barely spoke English and I think by the time I was done, I ended up voting for Al Sharpton.

Anyway, if this is like any of the other polls, I can tell you that polling is totally useless because since I had no idea WTF the woman was saying, I just picked stuff out of my butt.

The media continues to believe polls. I look forward to them being wrong in a big way, like W. I liken it to Jay Leno syndrome. No one actually watches Leno as he’s boring and unfunny. Everyone watches Letterman. Except when the ratings come out, Leno wins, which totally boggles the mind. Kinda like Bush winning in polls. That being said, Kerry is on Letterman tonight, which is ironic given the statement I just made. Also, here’s a funny web site.

Over the weekend the House Speaker said that the terrorists want Kerry in office, which I thought was hysterical. Unfortunately, middle America is buying it. The irony, of course, is that if the terrorists do a pre-election attack, that would pretty much solidify Bush winning (ie “No f’n way I’m not voting for Bush now, etc”).

Of course, the Republicans continue to be scared big time. With the Michael Moore movie hitting mass release in the next 2 weeks on DVD, it’s really going to be interesting how it pans out. Still have a ways to go before the election……but hey, if Bush does win with a mass of the popular vote, I can certainly respect the wishes of America.

See Fork. See Browns. Take Fork. Stick into Browns.

Game Over. Hello 4-12.

What a horrid day. If you missed the carnage on TV today, the Cowboys gave Cleveland 4 turnovers and they had like 12 penalties. The Browns turned those turnovers and penalities into 4 field goals, 142 yards of offense and a Jeff Garcia QB rating of…0.0.

Seriously. 0.0.

Oh, and Courtney Brown is prolly out for the year (again) with a foot injury, Gerard Warren is out with a pect muscle injury, tackle Ryan Tucker needs an MRI on his leg, Lee Suggs is still inactive..AND Kellen Winslow Jr., reports say, broke his fibula and will miss 8-10 weeks.

He hurt himself on a meaningless play with 8 seconds left trying to recover an onside kick, which the Browns recovered, leaving them still 65 yards from the end zone. For that play, we lose Winslow for maybe the season, depending on how bad it is. We had already lost out 2nd round pick (Sean Jones, safety from Georgia) in training camp to a knee injury. So, that’s picks 1 and 2 –gone. We didn’t have a 3rd rnd pick and out 4th is a rookie QB. This draft is working wonders.

The Browns are without a doubt the most snakebit franchise in football.

Oh, and if you are wondering how you can get a 0.0 QB rating? Go 8 for 27 for 71 yards and 3 picks. That’ll do it.

You may want to send another because I accidently delated a lot of email because well, deep down I’m an idiot just posing as a normal person.

Anyway if you wanted to be added to the waitlist resend that email.

The Browns take on Dallas today and word is that Lee Suggs is again on the sideline with a weak shoulder due to the stinger he suffered before the last preseason game. I have to think that this is more precautionary because we still have Will Green. Suggs says he’s ready to play but with a weak arm, fumbles are a concern until the strength gets back. Still, I want to see Suggs and Green on the field together. Soon. 2-0 would mean SO much to this team..

Most people know me as a sports guy, which is certainly true, but I’m also a gamer. I love stratgey games, role-playing games, shooters, etc. Pretty much the only games that I won’t play are hardcore driving sims and flight sims. Just not my thing.

In college, I was a huge Warhammer fan. I guess I was that rare fellow that could talk to a sports guy man’s man about the Cover-2, the best way to beat a 2-3 Zone or why batting average is an overrated statsistic (OK, that was mainly because of the Bill James Almanac, but still..).

I could also get into a debate about which Warhammer army was better: The Empire or the Wood Elves. I could relate to sports guys and gaming geeks with equal aplomb. My roommates would sometimes get into the “Who would win between two comic books heroes” debate. Sheesh what geeks THEY were!

The point is that when it comes to games, I have a wide range of tastes and I was a complete Warhammer and Warhammer 40K freak in college. THQ is about to release Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War, which I am reviewing for CGM. I’ll be talking about the game a bit here over the next week or so as I get into it, but I will say this: Dawn of War has the best opening movie sequence EVER. If the GAME is as cool as that opening movie…wow. With the upcoming release of Kohan 2, Rome: Total War and Dawn of War, it’s a great time to be a PC strategy fan.

Oh, and we’re gonna start the ESPN Football league this week, so everyone get ready.

Another win for the opportunistic Buckeyes. 22-14 over NC State. We had 140 yards of offense. NC State suffered 5 turnovers and the Buckeye defense played lights out. Mike Nugent might be one of the most dangerous weapons in all of college football. 5 field goals. 2 from 50+ yards and 1 from 48. The guy is a machine. Bucks have the week off next Saturday as we gear up for the Big10.

I love it when Mark May and Trev are wrong…granted that seems to happen more often than not…

Just a few quick links today from me. And yes, still doing the bronchitis thing. It’s a hoot.

My Kohan 2: Kings of War review was posted tonight. Great game.

And GSpy posted the Football Feature last week, but I forgot to link it. I dunno why they have it under the PS2 section, but hey..

Ohio State faces off against NC State tomorrow at 3:30 ET. The “buzz” is that NC State will win this game, and while it wouldn’t shock me (we’re just so damn young) can you remember the last time the #7 team in the nation went on the road against an unranked team and people expected the #7 team to lose? Whacky. I dunno why NC Stats is unranked, but that’s a story for another time.