The infamous Fallout 3 freeze.

This is my first encounter with this strange glitch.
I have now seen that many people have experienced the
same issue across all platforms, and I have tried to come up
with a solution to the problem, and I have found out some facts.
Please note, thats these facts are actually my opinion, due to personal
tinkering with the game itself.

1) I have first encountered this freezeglitch at the Shalebridge anthill.
Upon entering the anthill, I can leave and re-enter with no problem. HOWEVER,
upon traveling deeper into the anthill, I notice several actions within the game that
will trigger freezing. They are as follow. A) Two invader ants fighting with the docile ants.
B) There is an ant researcher that seems to fall into a radioactive puddle. C) A blotch of
red animated blood appears. It is in mid-air, and repeats its animation, over and over.

With that being seen, I left the cave and re-entered. Upon re-entering the game will freeze
while loading. It would seem that the problem is within the game itself. IT IS NOT A DISC PROBLEM.
IT IS NOT A HARD-DRIVE ISSUE. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH CLEARING THE CACHE. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE HARDWARE AT ALL.
It simply has to do
with the game not being scoped out completely for bugs. Thus, some bugs remained. This is
my personal opinion, and honestly I think that others will come to the same conclusion.
I would have to say that there are many other bugs like this within the game, at several
locations. How the bugs occurs is unknown at this moment.

Resident Evil 5 (Xbox 360)

One of the greatest co-op experiences in the current gen of consoles.

Resident Evil 5 sees you take the role as Chris Redfield, as he investigates reports of bioweapons in Africa. There he meets up with Sheva Alomar, and they become partners.

You can choose to play with the CPU as your partner, but it really is a great experience to hook up on Xbox live, and go at it with a friend. You can also grab another controller, and fight in splitscreen. It's a blast. Any fan of co-op has to pick up this title.

The graphics are incredible. They take advantage of the current gen of consoles. Expect alot of eye-candy.

The sound is fanastic. Expect nothing less.

Gameplay is top-notch. You'll have alot of fun, and there's alot of replay value.

Quite possibly, the best title of this current gen. Pick it up, if your going online, my personal advice is that you use Xbox Live. Have fun!

Fable 3 (Xbox 360)

After the stunning success that Fable 2 has enjoyed with the RPG community...it would not be a surprise if Fable 3 is announced at E3 2009.


Although Lionhead studios has expressed an interest in creating Fable 3, 4, and 5...nothing has officially been announced by Lionhead.

...and what of the "secret" project? Personally, it should be B.C. or perhaps a Black and White sequel. I know nothing about Dimitri, and maybe that project should be on hold.


That is just my opinion.

N3 II Ninety Nine Nights 2 (Xbox 360)

Although the original title recieved mixed reviews...ninety nine nights was easy to pick up, and play.

The characters are also cool. In the process it gained a following, and ultimately this could have lead to the announcement of its sequel.

There are alot of things that needs work on this title, but Phantagram has the advantage of working closely with Microsoft.

If everything falls into place...who knows? We may have a top-notch title on our hands.

A call to co-op!

I picked up a game called Dead rising, and I realized how great it would of been if it was co-op.

Why is it that some companies refuse to admit that co-op rocks?

Atleast Resident Evil 5 is co-op...

Maybe Capcom will make it that way with Dead Rising 2?


We will see.

Monster Hunter Freedom 2 (PSP)

This game was originally launched in Japan, and later in North America to a small audience.
Although, that may be changing, it is actually quite deserving of attention for many reasons.

Gameplay: The gameplay in itself consists of several factors, such as gathering, slaying, and most importantly hunting. Although some might find the controls on the psp to be cumbersome, to me it is genius. Considering that there are limited buttons to work with on the psp. Gathering will have the player running about the gorgeous locations in search of resources. In example: honey, bones, and hides. Such items can the be used to make, armor, swords, bow, guns, and even its ammunition.


Slaying consists of the player battling a number of enemies.

Hunting is the real agenda of this game. Usually, players must not only bring their item for these quests, but also their skills, in order to defeat massive boss characters, such as Yian-kut-ku, Khezu, and the feared Tigrex. Hunting will test the skill of any gamer, and may go on to the very last minutes. (You are given a set amount of time to complet missions, usually fifty minutes.) This can lead to climactic battles of epic proportions.


Graphics: The graphics in this game are easily the best that are seen on the psp. I have yet to see better than this on the psp. Not only that, but the locations in which the player will traverse are just beautiful to look at.

Sound: The sound in this game is ambient. Such as birds chirping, a noisy forest, or the deep rumblings within a volcano. It is nicely done, and one should listen to a great battle occurring within a cave, it will give you an idea of how good the sound is.

If you own a psp, then this is a must have title for the handheld, and is yet to be beat by any other.


Gameplay: 10 out of 10
Graphics: 10 out of 10
Sound: 10 out of 10

LG Rumor2 (Sprint)

Pros: The new design is cooler. Changeable backplates, now has Bluetooth stereo, 4x more memory cap, and comes in two trims.

Cons: The front key pad is cramped. Camera is plainly for on the spot moments.

Summary: I think the CNET article is wrong when it says that there were no improvements. There were many. The first is the improved QWERTY keypad. It now has an extra row for numbers, a directional pad and a quick emoticon key, that I find I use much more than I should.

It also has Bluetooth Stereo (I have a bluetooth stereo headphones and speakers) so that is well needed.

It also has 16 GB max mem capacity, which means I can store alot more songs....when I upgrade my mem card.

It has threaded SMS, a good Sprint navigator (which got me around LA) that doesn't require EVDO and I find it to be a good messaging device. I don't websurf or use alot of multimedia features, so why would I need EVDO?

I'm sure LG was looking for a lower cost device in these times to fight the higher spec'd SS Rant. The good thing about this phone is that is has a better feel and look than the cheap looking Rant. And the writer is wrong. LG does have a QWERTY device with EVDO and better camera.......it's called the LG LOTUS, a much better device.

Battle Vixens Volume 2 (paperback)

Hakufu runs into Ryomou, one of the most powerful Toushi at her school, with disastrous results. Girl-on-girl action has never been so vicious! Hakufu is a fighter who won’t ever back down from a challenge—but clearly no match for Ryomou, she takes quite a pounding. Will her stubbornness mean the end of her fighting career...and her life? Or will she be able to turn it around and come out on top?

 

Playstation Portable 2 (PSP2)

Many a people believe that the next sony handheld will ship in 2010. The original started strong, but is severly lacking in third-party support. Where are the big publishers? This must be the first priority with their next handheld. If not then it could spell certain doom for their handheld sector.

Specs (?)
15 Gigabyte mini blu-ray UMD
1.5 GHz core
Built-in flashdrive
Two-analog sticks
HD-screen

These specs are not 100 percent confirmed, and are likely to change.

Command and Conquer 3: Kanes Wrath (Xbox 360)

A follow up, and spin off of command and conquer 3 tiberium wars. The game offers several new units, and features.


Gameplay: Those who have played Tiberium wars will find some new units, such as the reckoner, and titan. New factions have been addded, in example, the steel talons, amrked of kane, and traveler-59. The biggest change to the game is the radial interface, and the ability to make super units such as the redeemer, and m.a.r.v. The radial interface is the greatest improvement, and will make things alot less complicated on the 360's controller.

Graphics: In terms of graphics, it offers nothing that we have already seen.

Sound: Not bad, but not good either. Player will often remember what the units have to say, but not the music.

Gameplay:8 out of 10
Graphics:8 out of 10
Sound:8 out of 10

Appleseed (manga)

This manga follows the story of two world war survivors. Created by Shirow Masamune, this manga is actually quite good. I won't get into spoiler, but I suggest that any manga fan pick it up.

Deunan, and her partner Briaros are recruited into an organization called "Olympus." Let's just say that all is not what it seems...

A great read!

DSi review

I know most of you guys and gals are going to get it anyway, so I'll keep it simple.

The Dsi has several improvements over its earlier brethren. Such as an, SD slot, dedicated memory slot, two cameras, better design, audio player, recorder, and its Wi-fi ready.

All in all, its a great improvement, and worth the buy. Especially if you just can't get enough of the DS.

Wii Sports

A wii game that is all about fitness, you'll most likely own this game if you purchase the wii in North America. The game itself is simple, and anyone can get into it, but some people may view it as too simple. The multiplayer options are a welcome addition to the game.

My only complaint is that sometimes, the controls can get erratic. Also,the graphics aren't the greatest.

Gameplay:7 out of 10
Graphics:5 out of 10
Sound:5 out of 10

Killzone 2 (PS3)

Killzone 2 has finally arrived on the PS3, and it seems to me that it was able to live upto it's own hype.

The grapics are amazing, gameplay is top notch, sound is great, and the multiplayer aspect is well executed.

If your a fan of FPS games, then you MUST take a look at this one. It will be worth your time.

Review of tweetminster.com

TweetMinster is a web service that lets you find, follow and talk to politicians who are using Twitter, the popular micro-blogging service. Inspired by a similar site in the US, which went Twitter-mad during President Obama’s election campaign, TweetMinster aggregates all MPs’ Twitter feeds in one place.


From here you can see discover what they’re doing and saying and, provided you have a Twitter account, follow them. The site certainly offers a fresh way to engage in politics, although it’s also another means of distributing spin. Still, if you want to know what politicians are up to, TweetMinster will keep you informed.

Enchanted Arms- Xbox 360

An rpg that was released on the Xbox 360. Players follow the stories of Atsuma, Toya, Makoto, Raigar, and Yuki.


Gameplay: Enchanted Arms follows the basic turn-based style of earlier rpg's. The only difference is that players can opt to move their characters across a grid. This offers strategy, but can get dull for some. The party itself is upto four members, and if you want to, can be altered with secondary characters called "golems." They will fight on our behalf and cand be leveled up. Golems can be bought or found throughout the world map. Experience points are the main way to get your party powerful enough to defeat enemies, and boss creatures. The story is nothing too earth-shattering, but it is enough to keep you playing.

Graphics: For an xbox 360 game, it offers nothing that is visually stunning. Some areas look bland, while others are fun to look at.

Sound: Some of the sound effects are annoying. (especially in the menus) Yet, other sounds you just can't get enough of! Like some of the golem's voices are hard to forget. Also, the game has several tunes that are catchy. Like the graphics department, it's a mixed bag.

Gameplay: 7 out of 10
Graphics: 5 out of 10
Sound: 7 out of 10

Armored core 4 (Xbox 360)

What Chromehounds could have been. Don't get me wrong, loved it, played it, and to this day believed it was a game that was slept on. Put plainly, it was slooooooow. Armored Core 4 on the other hand has got the pacing down. Now this is what a mech action game should be all about... High flying, rocket-boosting love with a sprinkle of lock on multi-missle barrages and high powered canons to turn that shiny chrome evangelion finish into a trailer trash sanding job. If AC4 had the online component of Chromehounds, it would be the ultimate Mech game. That said, they're two totally different beasts and arcade shoot 'em up mech action is something I'll never complain about.

Naruto: Rise of the ninja (Xbox 360)

It’s tempting write an obligatory introduction to what exactly Naruto is, but instead of trying to condense years of the popular manga and anime into one paragraph, I’ll simply link you to the Wikipedia article and you can read up on it for yourself. And, to be honest, if you haven’t at least watched one episode of Naruto before, this game isn’t aimed at you.

If, however, you are even a tame fan of Naruto, if you know what I mean when I say “chidori” or “sexy no jutsu”, then this is the game for you. Developed by Ubisoft Montreal, the same folks behind the excellent Assassin's Creed, Naruto: Rise of a Ninja is a sandbox adventure game with fighting elements that’s a lot more enjoyable and a lot less messy then it sounds on paper.

The game takes place between the very beginning of the series and ends after the invasion of Konoha. That means you get quite a few seasons’ worth of content to play through. Everything here occurs in the same order it happened in the anime, so don’t expect anything new. There are some sub-quests, but they usually revolve around fetching and collecting and nothing more.

The game follows a certain pattern in regards to the gameplay. Players start off in the beautiful, cel-shaded rendition of Konoha and must run and jump their way to their objective. In this regard, the game is a lot like Assassin’s Creed. However, it lacks the reactive free-running, and Naruto doesn’t have the feeling of weight that Altaïr has, which makes controlling him difficult at times.

Once players reach their objective, they will engage in battles similar to the current Naruto fighting games. The battle system isn’t particularly deep, but it is accessible and enjoyable, with its relative simplicity keeping things feeling fast and fun. You can also engage in a mode simply based around the battles, if you want a more traditional fighting game experience with a Naruto license. It’s a good bonus, but not worth purchasing the game exclusively for.

An especially fun part of the game is the ability to execute the various jutsus by using the analogue sticks in various combinations. Executing a jutsu will then trigger quick-time events in which the action will be viewed in a dramatic fashion similar to the anime. It really does a good job of getting the adrenaline pumping. You can also execute the jutsus while exploring the city, sometimes opening up hidden areas or quests.

There isn’t a whole lot to the game outside of the main quests and the battles, but the narrative really carries the game and stops it from becoming boring and repetitive. As you gain experience, you can purchase new combos, skills, attributes, and items, but it never really escapes the fact that the adventure parts feel like a glorified map. By itself it would be boring, but with the addition of the battle system, Rise of a Ninja never feels like half a game. It’s as if there are two undercooked elements to the game, but the combination certainly makes a tasty experience.

In terms of presentation, though, the game is definitely a winner. The game looks gorgeous, with the cel-shaded graphics really capturing the feel of the mange and anime. Naruto is a charming series, and that charm is captured here with grace. It’s actually almost a shame that the low-res animations cut straight from the anime stand out so badly against the beautiful high-res graphics.

Given that this is the first Naruto game to be developed outside of Japan and has been clearly developed with a Western audience in mind, the sound is based on the English dub. This might displease purists like myself, but the English voices do a good job of replicating the Japanese originals. However, for those who really can’t stand the English dub, Ubisoft has released the original Japanese voices for download on XBL. Given that the soundtrack remains unchanged from the Japanese original, everyone wins.

There isn’t really a lot to do in Rise of a Ninja, yet it never feels that way. The charm and presentation of the game is what really saves it in the end. It is, for better or for worse, an interactive tour of the anime series. Consequentially, the game is a double-edged sword: if you don’t care about the license, there is nothing to inspire you to play Rise of a Ninja; if you are a fan of the series, you might be a bit bored at having to revisit events you know well.

Still, some people - like me - will find it blissfully refreshing to revisit the earlier events in a series that has come quite far. There is an innocence to it all that is hard to describe, as if the game comes from a time more pure and simple. Given that the narrative is as strong as it ever was, that the charm and the humor is all still intact, and that the gameplay does a pretty good job of capturing the series more dramatic moments, it’s definitely worth checking out if you’re a fan. Everyone else, however, should probably try before they buy.

Samsung Instinct: A great alternative to the iphone.

First, a look at the specs, it has a TFT lcd touch screen, two megapixel camera, built in web browser, and its bluetooth compatible. Now, the bad news...the web browser itself is a MASSIVE disappointment, the reception indicator is always bugging out, and there is no messaging client. However, it has great voice quality, excellent video playback, and did I mention that it's fun to use? Okay, so maybe it's style is somewhat boxy, but don't compare it to the samsung glyde. Sprint users, give it a try!

Aphex Twins: Genius at work.

Let me tell you about one of the greatest in the electronica business, Richard D. James. To me, ALL of his works are nothing short of master pieces. It is a progression of music that is imitated, but can't be pinned by anyone else. I especially like the uber ambient tracks. I HIGHLY suggest that everyone who is interested in electronica pick up Ambient works 1, and Polygon window. It will be worth your time, ESPECIALLY if your into electronica/techno.

Universe at war- Xbox 360

Wow, what a letdown. This is a terrible RTS. I will make this quick. The graphics aren't the greatest, the music is ok, but this game has some SERIOUS slowdown issues. Avoid this game. If your looking for an RTS worth your time, pick up Halo Wars instead.

Graphics: 4 out of 10
Music: 8 out of 10
Gameplay: 3 out of 10
Overall: 2 out of 10

Princess Mononoke

This $20 million animated adventure/fantasy quickly became the highest grossing Japanese film in Japanese film history (making $150 million in Japan during its first seven months). Set in the 14th century, the ecology-themed epic was directed by Hayao Miyazaki whose previous films were acquired by Disney for U.S. distribution plus other territories. Princess Mononoke... this depicts a mystical battle between Animal Gods of the forest and humans during Japan's Muromachi Period. Young Ashitaka receives a fatal infection after a demonic wild boar attacks his northern village. Seeking a cure, he sets out to locate the deer-like god Shishigami. Along the way, he sees the rape of the Earth by a mining village. The constant plundering by the village has brought the wrath of the Wolf God, Moro, who attacks the village along with San, a human who was raised by the wolf god. She communicates with the nature spirits -- which is why she is called Princess Mononoke ("spirits of things"). Ashitaka wants these opposing forces to co-exist, and he hopes to bring peace between San and the ironworks owner, Lady Eboshi. However, he is thwarted as higher powers, intent on killing the Shishigama, intrude, and a battle erupts over the future of all nature...Trulry a great film!!!

Virgin Mobile Shuttle

The good: The Virgin Mobile Shuttle has EV-DO, support for location-based services, a music player, and a 1.3-megapixel camera. It also has excellent call quality.

The bad: The Virgin Mobile Shuttle has quirky touch-sensitive keys that are a little too sensitive for our liking. Also, we think the Shuttle's WAP browser and slim multimedia offerings don't take full advantage of the EV-DO.

The bottom line: The Virgin Mobile Shuttle is fast, sleek, and affordable, making it one of the most attractive handsets for Virgin Mobile customers.

Soul Eater (anime)

Soul Eater was introduced to me by a friend after I found the winter season to be pretty disappointing.

Soul Eater is quite an enjoyable watch mainly for its laughs. As for its storyline... it isn't emphasized as much as I would like, but oh well. It still is satisfying, and I am a sucker for comedic series anyway!

The drawings are definitely abstract and may not cater to most people, but I definitely don't mind. Check out TTGL and FLCL for reference.

Overall the series is good in its own ways, and 10x more enjoyable than what the winter 2009 season offers, except for perhaps a few (Toradora, etc.).

I don't have time to complete a thorough review at the moment but I just wanted to point out that for potential viewers of this series, DO NOT skimp on it based on Last Exile's review. Everyone has different tastes as to which series are "enjoyable" or not, and it is quite obvious he prefers more sophisticated series. But then again, I'd love to point out that Geass R2 had its own fair share of flaws, which forces me to put the credibility of his ratings in question.

Anyways, to sum it up, definitely one of the better series of the 2008-09 year. Give it a try, you will NOT be disappointed. Too bad it is licensed... but try to get your hands on it somehow.

Playstation 3 Review

THE GOOD:
-Graphics - very sleek
-Free online play
-Looks awesome
-Wireless controller comes standard
-Easy to set up, no downloading or anything required
THE BAD:
-Joke of a game line-up at the moment
-Biggest size of console out there
-Expensive
-Old controller design (not exactly bad)
-Gets very hot
-Bad Marketing by Sony

SUMMARY:
At the moment, the PS3 is getting destroyed in sales by the Wii and 360. The reason? Simple, the PS3 has a joke of a game line-up as of early 2007. Very bad marketing plan for Sony.

The PS3 is also huge and clunky, but at the same time very attractive.

The controllers are the exact same as PS2's, but wireless. Now, this can be good or bad, whichever way you look at it. The PS2 controllers were awesome, the best out there, but if you are the man that wants to see something new, then the controllers aren't for you.

Free online play is always welcoming.

It was also very easy to set up, it was as easy as just plugging it into my TV, putting the power in and I'm done. With the Wii I had to set up my account, learn the controllers, etc.

The one of just a couple flaws I could see is the PS3 got a lot hotter than my Wii. If you touch it at a certain part on the bottom of the case, you might get a minor burn if you have light skin. Other than that, walaa!

I believe the PS3 at the moment is underestimated and the game line-up should be revived by late 2007, and right there and then the PS3 will be the gaming leader just like the PS2.

Monster Hunter Freedom 2 (PSP)

Monster Hunter Freedom is a strong game despite reviews. It has a large amount of customization from items, to clothes, to weapons and more, and that makes this a great game to play online with others. That is exactly where the strength lies. This game does online play perfectly, and you will end up playing for hours with your friends, unfortunately that is for ad-hoc play only, and not the much needed infrastructure mode.


When you pick up this game don't look for a story line, because there really isn't much of one besides saving a village from monsters. But pick up the game for the deep strategic elements it gives, because the best monster hunters are those that can plan, watch, and learn to beat a monster. This game does have a sharp learning curve because you don't expect there to be such a large strategic element.

To summarize this is a great game underrated game when played with friends, if you are alone and lack friends, this is still a good game but it isn't as great.

Gameplay:8 out of 10
Graphics:7 out of 10
Sound: 7 out of 10

Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium wars (Xbox 360)

Before the days of owning my 360 I played many RTS games on PC from command and conquer to Star Wars galactic battlegrounds. When I recieved my new laptop I new instantly which game I wanted because no one does an RTS like command and conquer.
I went into command and conquer 3 expecting a standard RTS you click on buildings to make dudes then move dudes to attack other dudes. However, I was taken aback when I first started playing, the first thing to strike me was how developed the story is. You get introduced into the game by some full motion video and the acting is pretty good you have lando from star wars that lovely lady doctor from house and a host of others. The game starts you with a tutorial and a bit of background information about how the world has been plagued by tiberium which seems to be poisonous yet also money and weapons and works as your resources throughout the game.
I started by playing the GDI campaign who are your classic good guys and the campaign begins with you fighting the NOD (bad guys) each level slowly introduces new units and tactics, along with more complex missions. Its a great way of getting you into the game however its when all these things are in play that the game and story really ramps up. Its not a game where you need a standard mix of different units to overthrow the enemy instead I found you need to look at the enemies strength and really build your army around them otherwise you wont stand a chance because the AI is one of the smartest I have encountered.
The campaign takes you all around the world and allows you to take some tactical decisions for example there was a bit where I could choose to take out a NOD airbase which would then allow me to have my own air units in future missions or go for a NOD vehicle factory giving me access to new units. This really gives you the feel that its all in your hands and everything you do will have an effect.


The units are all very interesting and are very well balanced I have played as all 3 races (o yeh theres a third race called the scrin who are aliens SPOILERS) however, the one critisism I have with the game is that the GDI and NOD units feel very similar. While looking completely different and under new names they are essentially the same units.
The Scrin are truly unique and stand out from the other two factions but without a tutorial you need to play a few skirmishes with them to figure out what all the units do. Skirmishes are what you expect although you can choose how balanced your opponents so you can have them as stealthy or big base builders essentially but its not quite that simple which can be a bit confusing. Multiplayer again more of what you expect and the frame rate stands up perfectly and I have experienced very little lag.



Overall I am pleased with command and conquer 3 it is a game that has really got me back into PC gaming because I have never thought you can play RTS on a console. The only thing is it seems like in the past 5 years not a lot has changed AI has improved as well as graphics but it doesnt seem like there has been any major leaps forward in this type of gameplay. That doesn't stop me from recommending this game as it is still one of the best RTS games I have ever played and the great story and brilliant visual design make CNC3 a must buy for RTS fans.


Gameplay: 8 out of 10
Graphics: 7 out of 10
Sound: 8 out of 10

Battle Vixens Volume 1 Synopsis

Hakufu Sonsaku, a young girl blessed with a large chest but a small brain, lives in the country with her mother. She is a Toushi, and as such she has a burning desire to beat people up, but her mother has forbidden it. One day at school she encounters a Toushi who wants her to join Yoshuu school, and says if she refuses her new best friend will be a hospital bed. Hearing this, she immediately refuses. After the ensuing battle, Hakufu's mother asks her to leave home and go to Tokyo, where she can develop her abilities as a Toushi, and fight to her heart's content.