Monday notes
- More clearance deals to be found. Picked up PGR 4 for $14.98 at Target today. Sadly NCAA Football 08 was still $19.98 for the PS3. I'm waiting for $10 for that. I could go broke on all of these clearance games.
- So, Netflix has been added to my list. They will now be charging more to subscribers who rent Blu-Ray discs. Thanks a-holes.
- Picked up River City Ransom tonight. Not a bad NES brawler. I can see what people liked about this... it kind of reminds me of Dead Rising a bit, as it seems you can die and keep your abilities. Holy crap are the passwords long though. I've never been more glad for the VC save state feature.
- Big shock, Guitar Hero will start to feature other instruments. I'm actually glad that they're heading in that direction. Competition is always good.
- I mentioned that Artie Lange walked out on the Stern show a week and a half ago, and he resigned during that episode. Guess who was back on the show today.... If you resign on the air, and your supervisor accepts.. you're done in my book. The whole thing just smacks of an idiotic stunt now, which isn't all that shocking, I guess. I'm done with the show now. If it was a stunt, it wasn't a good one as someone almost got hurt. If it wasn't, it's pathetic that they keep giving 2nd, 3rd, and 4th chances to a self-destructive individual that doesn't deserve it.
Can you tell I had a crappy day today? The podcast recording should be a treat...
Wow, Konami blows
So I used my Metal Gear Solid Beta key and got everything ready to go. Signed up for the stupid, stupid KONAMI ID and of course the GAME ID, because hey let's make it as annoying as a friend code. And then it doesn't work. Konami didn't expect this volume. Obviously "Stupid" doesn't begin to describe them.
Really, they had no idea that they had 3 million preorders or that IGN gave away all their codes in like 20 seconds, this is a shock? Really?
Just brilliant!
Sunday night notes
- With Dan still on the mend, we're going to postpone the podcast for a day. We'll try to give it a go tomorrow night.
- More clearance deals to be found. I went to Best Buy today and picked up the Guitar Hero II bundle for the Xbox 360 for $31.99. Considering the fact that I traded in my set when GHIII came out, I figured it was a good price to pick the game up again. The guy at the counter was pretty shocked when he saw the price. From reading some forums, it's a YMMV deal. Just have them check the price in the gaming area and you should be all good.
Also, Toys R Us is running a deal where if you buy any Wii, 360 or PS3 game priced $10 or more, you get $10 off the next title you buy. I was able to re-buy Godfather for the Wii and Blazing Angels 2 for $8 bucks less than I did 3 days ago. I can live with that.
- Brewers lost their first extra innings game today. Gagne gave up 3 in the bottom of the 10th after the Crew got 2 in the top of the inning. I don't really blame Gagne though, as this was the 4th day in a row that he pitched. Ned Yost is starting to get on my nerves again though. Yesterday he pulls Suppan in the bottom of the 7th, with 2 outs, because he allowed a bloop hit. He brings in, the overworked, Brian Shouse, who gives up a 2 run homer to tie the game.
Add that to the fact that he alters his lineup whenever the players complain about where they are in the order, and the team is carrying 14 pitchers. Ugh. It's absolutely shocking that they're 11-7. Absolutely crazy.
- Thanks to loyal reader, and Howard Stern show participant, Jonah Falcon, we see that there is a new sequel for Blitz: The League on the way. Right now they only have a teaser page and a link to forums that doesn't work, but it's something. Due out in Fall 2008... maybe by then Dan and I will have played an online game of the first effort.
Back from the dead…well, at least at 68.4% back
I've had better weeks. I'm still having issues which are probably related to my ear and the 23 medications or so that I'm taking to feel better (ironic, isn't it).
But I'm alive enough to type. So first off, yes the Orioles have done well but they had an identical record last year (thanks Roch from the Baltimore Sun), and then went to hell, losing a bunch in a row. Hopefully it won't be the same as last year, but they lost today...so....
I'd like to thank the asshats at ADP for their Easypay system to be down all weekend. Makes entering payroll easy! Not.
I haven't really played much this week due to the lovely whatever the hell I have. Seriously it's been that bad. Blech. However, one game I need to buy is this one. As always it is from our friends at National Console Support, the official import gaming store of the Blog. Looking forward to this one. 
Let me save you the trouble of finding tomorrow's Virtual Console games: It's River City Ransom and Phantasy Star III. Next week we'll see the NES version of Double Dragon. Get your Wii points ready. Or not. .
Saturday notes
Work has kept me running quite a bit and I'm celebrating my youngest daughters 1st birthday (4 weeks late) with my family today... so things are pretty crazy.
- With Dan being sick, I'm hoping that we can get the podcast done at some point today, but he hasn't been online too much. He might be in full recovery mode...we'll see if he'll be able to do the show.
- The Brewers have finally been hitting a bit and have won their last two (up 3-1 over the Reds at the moment.) Of course, Ben Sheets has tightness in his pitching arm and had to be removed from the game last night as a result of it. It's not April if Ben Sheets isn't pulled from a start because of an injury. Seriously though, I think that every injury he has make him easier to bring back to the Crew next year.
- I don't know if you've seen this video for Backbreaker, but the Euphoria engine certainly looks like it could make an incredibly good football game.
- I finally got my credit from Amazon for buying two HD DVD players from them. Now, I have to decide what to do with the $100 bucks. I'm leaning towards buying Wii Fit, Mario Kart Wii, and GTAIV. The only question I have on GTA is which platform to buy it on. It seems that the only reason to get the 360 version is for the DLC, but since we have absolutely no idea what the DLC is or what it will cost... I might just pick up the PS3 version... as that is the system that I play more than any other right now.
- I heard about this on Wednesday night and still can't believe that Avery would have gone to this extreme in a game. The guy is a serious a-hole. I'm amazed that Brodeur didn't just whack him with the stick a few times.
More Friday Notes
If you're looking for my This Week In Downloads column, I regret to tell you that we have decided to discontinue the column. It was a mutual decision as it was quite a bit of work and it definitely wasn't getting the return we would have liked to see in terms of traffic. I'm only half bummed -- I liked doing the round up but it was a lot of work and the work probably was more than what's it's worth .
Speaking of downloads, I finally got the GT5 patch and played my first online game. BTW, if you need credits, play online...even finishing 10th gets you some serious credits. In my first game I moved from 11th and finished 2nd. In my 2nd game, I sucked. It's pretty fun I have to say.
Scoring Summary
| Top of 22nd | ||
| - Tulowitzki doubled to center, Taveras scored. | ||
Wow. Kind of a long game, eh?
In other news, sorry for the lack of posting. I have been nasty ill the past two weeks. It all started with an ear infection. The doctor gave me antibiotics for it and I seemed to improve. Then, earlier this week, I started having pain in my ear again. This wasn't the normal "i have an ear infection" pain; instead it felt like my ear was popping nonstop. I broke down and went back to the doctor yesterday and found out 1) the ear infection hadn't gone away and 2) now I guess the lining of my ear was infected -- so now I have to use antibiotic eardrops as well as the super amoxicillin (aka augmentin). Good times!
Following that, I had to go down to Dana Farber for a family member who's dealing with cancer. I can't tell you how amazing it is to be this close to one of the most amazing cancer centers in the USA. It makes you appreciate the Jimmy Fund and all they do down there so much. Turns out the chemo and radiation did work, so they can operate and do a lobeectomy, which is a good thing from what I understand.
On the way home last night, I was flipping around my XM between the Orioles (who were losing), the Red Sox (who were winning) but settled on the Bruins and boy did they whoop the Canadiens. In the words of Daughtry, It's Not over. Then the Orioles come back from a 5-2 deficit to win in the 10th inning, even giving up their DH for the 10th becuase of their use of PH in the 9th..thankfully the pitcher didn't have to bat...great night for the Orioles .
Thursday notes
- Really busy week, but I finally have a chance to play some games tonight. I'm hoping to play through a bit of PYS5 tonight.
I also have the first translation information for the Stardom mode, so I'll start working on getting that posted in the next day or so.
- Has anyone bought the Warhawk addons for the PS3? I'm really curious about picking them up, but I just don't know how much I'd play them.
- Jalapeño Cheetos are incredibly good.... when you're drinking beer. Dangerous though, as you can have 1 or 2 more than you intended.
More on Gran Turismo 5 — WTF
Well after the scintillating 15 minute install from BD for GT5, I get ready to play...it loads..and Oh look! There's an update available for the game. Now It has to downoad the update before I can play. I've never had to wait so f'n long to play one racing game...well unless you count the F1 Championship Edition 1.30 update that took years to get this morning. That was pretty bad too (but I'll give them some slack the PS Store just came back)...
Oh and while you're at it might as well grab the MGSO game before it launches next week. The Konami ID system is already broken and after you download teh MGSO beta -- you have to download a patch! OMG! This is killing me.
Update: I was not able to complete the GT5 patch download. Nice!
Oh Joy – yet another PS3 HDD install
Bought GT5 Prologue today and oh look it's yet another game that dumps itself to the HD. Wow, it's a good thing that the Blu Ray is included for all that storage on a disc media -- to dump it to the hard drive! WTF Sony? If I wanted to install every frickin game I bought, I'd play it on a PC. What's worse is that I'm running out of room very quickly on my PS3. I didn't think I'd be upgrading the hard drive so soon! Gah!
Don King Presents: Prizefighter trailer
I have to say that I was very skeptical when I heard about Prizefighter when it was announced earlier in the year, but after I watched today's trailer and heard that the game will support the Balance Board for the Wii, I have to say that I'm pretty excited about the game. Graphically, it looks like it will match Fight Night on the next generation systems, but if you really get to bob and weave on the balance board, combined with a better version of Wii boxing... you've got the makings of what should be a terrific exercise game.
I'm not really thrilled about how you working the speed bag on the 360 version, or how jumping rope looks like you're playing DDR, but I think you can put me down for the Wii version right now.
Glen’s shopping and notes
- Dan went shopping and so did I. I hit Toys R Us for their latest clearance sale and picked up Blazing Angels 2 and Splinter Cell: Double Agent for the 360, Jeanne D'Arc for the PSP, and Godfather for the Wii all for about $60. I think I did pretty well with that.
- Brewers looked ugly tonight. I don't understand why managers give guys a day off in the 3rd week of the season. Today the Brewers sat Ryan Braun who is, without a doubt, one of their best hitters. That's saying a lot since 4 or 5 guys in the starting lineup are hitting near or below the Mendoza line. I just don't see how a guy is tired after playing 12 games in 15 days....oh and this was after an off day. Go figure... they only scored 1 today.
Thankfully, I think this will be Dave Bush's last start for the time being.... I'm ready for him to get some time in the pen.
- Great hockey last night between the Wild and Avalanche. 3 OT games in a row to start the series. Tonight doesn't look like it's going to end that way though with Colorado up 3 after 1 period.
- I'm trying to find some impressions of the Lair patch, but I've grabbed that and the PS3 firmware update already. The new store is very nice. Very easy to find things now. Plus, I like how you can see the titles that you've bought already, as they're marked with a little red icon. Oh, and a new add-on for Super Stardust. Damn... Like I need to spend more money.
Shopping
Today was the day I had my 10% off coupon on everything at Target...so I helped myself to:
3200 MS Points ($36 wee)
4000 Wii Points ($36 wee)
They also had a bunch of games on clearance (however tehy now put the red stickers on the games in the locked cabinet. At that price, I have no idea why but whatever)...
College Hoops 2K8 360: $19
NHL 2K8 360: $19
NCAA Football 08 PS3: $19.98
Viva Pinata Party Animals 360: $7.48
The Simpsons PS3: $24.98
Lair: $29.98
F1 Championship edition: $14.98
I couldn't resist F1, Party Animals, Simpsons and NCAA 08. I had turned it in some time ago, but since Glen told me he had it for the PS3, we need to play online. Today the Lair patch is up for the PS3 and I'm downloading the firmware update now. Busy day. And then it's Mariah songs on Idol! Nothing like a guy singing high notes. Not that the competition is fixed or anything. Heh.
Monday notes
- For those of you interested in picking up some clearance games, I suggest checking out your local Target. I saw NCAA Football for the PS3 for $19.98 today. (Some stores may have this down to $9.98.) I was able to pick up Supreme Commander for the PC for $7.98 the other day, so plenty of games from last year are available.
- As I mentioned in the podcast, I was trying to work my way through GTA3, but I have given up on the effort with 2 missions to go. I've had my 360 lock up 3 times in the last day while attempting to save the game, the last time happening after completing the 2nd to last mission. The thought of having to play that mission yet another time just isn't interesting to me at this point. I'll live without completing it.
- With the Brewers off today, I'm taking in some NHL hockey. Lots of HD hockey for those of you with Versus in HD. Good stuff.
Riding the Pines – Episode 17
We're back after one week off and bringing you lovely new nuggets of sports gaming joy.
Here's what we covered this week.
- MLB
- NCAA Brackets
- What we're playing
As always you can post your questions and comments about the show here in the comments or in the forums.
Enjoy!
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