|
Post by fatty on Aug 15, 2007 12:22:09 GMT -5
I figured this could be a thread to tell others what you've been up to and other random thoughts you may have. Say as little or much as you want. I've sometimes been curious to what you guys (and gals) have been up to lately.
I've been trying to finish Zelda TP and Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, but I've really been hooked on PC gaming lately. Yeah, I'll still boot up the Wii and PS3 from time to time but I figured I better start playing some of these PC games that I've had sitting on my shelf.
I think what started it was the announcement of Starcraft 2. The game is almost ten years old but is still so fun. Then I install Civ IV. Talk about a time sink. I ended up playing for around 9 hours on Sunday.
Besides that I've been catching up on a lot of my Tivo stuff before the football season starts. Besides starting to watch the first season of 24 and reruns of Las Vegas, Hell's Kitchen has been pretty fun, too. (You can't cook, you &$(*@ donkey!!)
|
|
vado
Gamer
360 > Wii > 360 > Wii > 36...
Posts: 1,564
|
Post by vado on Aug 15, 2007 13:29:48 GMT -5
been mostly doing R6 with a group of friends online; havent even touched the single-player (can't imagine its as fun trying to control the Teammates as it is running through with friends), Guitar Hero gatherings on weekends; and yesterday i ran through the BioShock demo again. watching? reading? eh? ? wait, no, i did just a couple days ago go out and pick up the Watchmen since i've heard so much yunk about it. and i learned that apparently 3 of my coworkers were addicted to the original starcraft - so if i'm still here when it releases....look out productivity!!
|
|
|
Post by Jincman on Aug 15, 2007 17:15:24 GMT -5
I've been listening to tons of eighties music lately. It's fun to go back and buy all those albums you couldn't afford to get as a kid/teen. It helps also that I work in a place where I can play music all day long if I choose to.
I've been finishing up a number of DS games . . . including New Super Mario, Yoshi's Island 2, etc . . . going to 100 percent completion on a few.
I've been play SSX, Brainage Academy, Mario Soccer, the marble game on the Wii. I even had a chance to take Mario Striker online for a bit . . . much fun was had.
I tend to use my 360 as the HD-DVD player as of late. I know I should go back to some of those games soon.
Other then that . . .
I watch a few podcasts, do the Netflix thing, play with the dog, etc.
|
|
|
Post by reaper on Aug 15, 2007 19:42:02 GMT -5
I just finished reading the book Mass Effect. It was a fun, light summer read. I just finished Rainbow Six Vegas on Realistic. Great game! I am almost done with some renderings I am doing for Dennis Erskine. I think these are the best renderings ever done by my company Render Reality. Check them out. I have to show you all this one: You can click here for other views: img174.imageshack.us/img174/5698/saxenapass7wood0004lj7.jpgimg174.imageshack.us/img174/191/saxenapass7wood0002wb9.jpgimg174.imageshack.us/img174/2294/saxenapass7wood0003ea9.jpgI am growing my hair long. It's been about 0.5->1" long for the last decade or so. Now it is approaching my eyes. I have converted to Mac recently and am loving it. And the rest of my time is spent at work checking power related issues on integrated circuits or at home with the family. My son started kindergarten today. Yay for him! He loved it. We also just had a 2 week 2500 mile vacation. That was tiring but some of it was fun. That's about it for me.
|
|
|
Post by dschroll on Aug 15, 2007 20:03:04 GMT -5
Man, where to begin. Well, I've been playing some games. Just finished Castlevania Potrait of Ruin on the DS. Working on Starfox Command on the DS now. Just started playing Oblivion on the 360 as I recently finished Kameo. On the Wii I'm playing Marble Mania and some Waverace 64 and next week I plan to start up with Super Metroid and soon after Metroid Prime 3.
I've been reading a number of graphic novels as of late. I just finished a fantastic Thor book called Thor Disassembled. I'm not a huge Thor fan, but that book was great and teaches you a little Norse mythology as well. I just recently finished reading Iron Man: The Iron Age which is a retelling of the Iron Man origin story somewhat. I also read Identity Crisis which is a DC comic book on someone killing all the different loved ones of the different superheroes because their secret identities were known. I also read a comic called Batman Hush which was well done and drawn by Jim Lee who is a fantastic artist. Lastly, I've also been reading the new Buffy the Vampire Slayer comics as I'm a big Buffy/Angel fan and am anxious to see where Joss Wheadon takes the story.
I've been doing the Netflix thing renting movies. Mostly HD DVD as of late. Watched 300, Hot Fuzz, Letters from Iwo Jima, Flags of Our Fathers, Bourne Identity, and this weekend I'll be watching Shaun of the Dead and Blood Diamond.
TV viewing comprises of Psych, Monk, Top Chef, and a few others I probably can't think of.
Work has been extremely busy as the group I'm in is very understaffed, so that means I have to do extra work to compensate. Been doing some work in the evenings lately.
Spend time with the wife and dog whenever possible. Wife and I are planning a 2 week vacation in Ireland this October, so trying to make the necessary arrangements for that. I'll also be travelling to Toronto and Boston for my job soon, so trying to set those schedules up as well.
Finally I plan to sign up for a gym this week as I need to start working out more and a gym just opened up down the street from where I live, so my wife and I are planning to do more working out than the usual sitting on the couch eating pizza type.
Oh, and I'm studying to get my MBA and school is starting up again in September, so that will be consuming a lot of my time in the fall.
|
|
|
Post by oldskoolboarder on Aug 15, 2007 23:15:59 GMT -5
FInally got all moved into my new house and got most of the HT reassembled. Only missing my rear surrounds right now. W/ a bigger house I was able to use my extra equipment to create a separate analog system in my living room. Von Schweikert VR1's, Sophia Baby Tube Amp, Rotel 1070 pre amp, Denon 2200 DVD/CD player, iPhone (as an iPod) and Project Debut turntable. I've been listening to some vinyl (Julia Fordham, George Benson, Grover Washington Jr, Cuban Jazz, etc), Rodrigo y Gabriela (EXCELLENT acoustic guitar), and some other stuff from iTunes. My wife is shocked when I listen to music, wondering what happened to the guy who lives on Tivo.
Wii: Have been playing WarioWare. Wow, I REALLY like the game and the graphics just fit this platform. Well done Nintendo. Looking forward to playing some RE4 and Mario Strikers soon.
DS: WarioWare of course. Started a bit of Picross and hope to get back to finishing up Hotel Dusk.
TV: I'm on vacation so I've been using my Slingbox HD and it's been FANTASTIC. Great to be able to clear out my Tivo when I'm not even home. I've been catching up on Monk, Psych, and almost done w/ the latest season of BSG in HD. Cool to see someone else hear watches Psych. It's not the "greatest" show but I do love the 80's references. Monk is good but also getting a bit old.
On vacation, I've also had a bit of time to do random web surfing and my next toy will be a Chumby. That thing looks WAY too cool. I'd love to have that as my alarm clock. Then all I need is an iTunes widget and Slingbox widget and that thing won't leave my side when I'm at home.
Reaper, good to hear you've been enjoying your conversion. Make sure to checkout Versiontracker.com and tuaw.com for good Mac updates and software. I have to admit, my PowerPC Mac Mini is starting to feel slow, even more so w/ the new iMacs that just came out....
|
|
|
Post by reaper on Aug 16, 2007 9:24:00 GMT -5
Fatty, You're a big football fan? Do you buy the Madden games? Every year? I'm from Indianapolis. Even though I am not a big fan, it was cool to see my home team go all the way last year. Vado, I didn't know you were playing RB6 so much. I usually see you playing some arcade game or something. I guess that must be the time with the baby. Well, if I ever see you playing RB6, I might join. I presume no one else on this forum has the game? Jay, You're still enjoying SSX eh? My wife bought that game for me and I played it for a while but the excitement quickly wore off. I am considering selling it. Dave, What's a graphic novel? Is it a book length comic book? I've also been trying to get back into the gym. I am paying for a membership that I am not currently using . Need to stop doing those renders... oldskool, Wow, you sound like a veritable audiophile. I had no idea. I like acounstic guitar. Do you recommend this album? www.amazon.com/Rodrigo-y-Gabriela-Bonus-DVD/dp/B000HKDEE2/ref=sr_1_1/105-6158122-6938830?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1187273904&sr=1-1Another BSG fan, eh? Man, I am so anxious for the release of the most recent season on DVD or HD-DVD. I haven't seen any of it yet and am dieing for some good sci-fi. I am also jealous of your iPhone-iPod. I REALLY want an iPod but I want one with a ton of memory. So, I am forcing myself to wait until the release a new iPod that looks like the iPhone but has a 80GB or 120GB hd. Thanks for the heads up on the websites. I'll look into them. I am currently reading through Mac OSX Tiger for Dummies. Never read those books but the work library had one. So, I thought I'd peruse to see if I came up with anything interesting. I have to go read what a chumby is now. Joe
|
|
|
Post by fatty on Aug 16, 2007 16:03:06 GMT -5
Vado, I can’t wait till Starcraft 2 comes out. It’s the reason I’m using to justify my purchase of a new PC. We need to get some games going on when it comes out.
Reaper, at first glance of your renderings, I thought “Wow, his basement has really come a long way.”
But yeah, I’m a huge pro football and college basketball fan. I’ve finally started to purchase football games again. Back during the Genesis/Super Nes days I used to play Madden all the time but the switch to 3D saw a lot less play time from me.
I don’t know if it was me getting older or playing the games in their new 3D environments, but the flaws in the game became much more noticeable. Mindless defenders not covering their receiver, 70 point games on 5 minute quarters and other problems turned me off to the game. That and having to pay $50 for basically roster upgrades and some offseason mode that I didn’t care about definitely made my decision easier to put my money elsewhere. I want gameplay fixes, not new franchise modes.
I’ll still play them, but they will be friends’ copies or ones that I pick up really cheap or on clearance. I actually started to play them more again when NFL2k5 came out but the more I played it (along with Madden) I could see how a lot of my same concerns still weren’t addressed.
Last years Madden for the Wii was the first football game I payed full price in I don’t know how long. It still had its shortcomings but in short bursts and because of the new control method I found it fun.
This year the AI is supposed to be fixed. Fundamental things like blocking are supposed to work like intended. I hope so. It will be nice to see my guard actually pull out and block who he is supposed to on a screen pass. I might actually purchase Madden again this year but I want to read more reviews and maybe rent a copy first. It has just ticked me off in the past how they’ve made minimal improvements yet still charge $50 every year for it.
Sorry for all the rambling as I know you weren’t expecting such a long answer but I just had to get on my soap box. (I’ll save everyone from having to hear my rant about EA’s exclusive deal with the NFL)
Slingbox HD? Didn’t know they had a HD version. I don’t travel as much with the new job but I would be all over a Slingbox if I did. Wonderful device, it ticks me off how networks were trying to stop its use because it interferes with viewing programming in different markets.
|
|
|
Post by oldskoolboarder on Aug 16, 2007 17:18:41 GMT -5
Reaper, that's a great deal on a great album. I'd recommend it. You can also give a quick listen on the iTunes store. They've got 30 sec clips of most of that album too.
Yeah, wait on the new iPods. My iPhone is a GREAT personal phone, OK business phone. It is NOT a blackberry for sure. Hands down, the best iPhone features are the video iPod (stunning screen, much better than a PSP) and the iPhoto viewer. The 8GB is limiting, so I have to swap videos just for space.
For the Mac, iAlertU and MacSaber are pretty funny, just to show off your Macbook.
Fatty, I caught a deal on Slingbox HD for $180 w/ the HD/component adapter, saving about $100. Lucky timing. They're supposed to come out w/ a new version that doesn't need the adapter, I saw it on Engadget HD. I think Verizon is the only one so far that has the Slingbox restriction, though I do agree, it's stupid. I don't travel much either, but my wife wanted a way to watch tivo in the kitchen. I couldn't run a coax because they way our house is constructed. So I got a Slingbox HD and she can watch it in the kitchen w/ the Slingplayer client on her Macbook. I run 802.11n at 5GHz so the speed is pretty healthy at home.
I'm hoping the Chumby has a Sling client so I can carry that everywhere in the house. C'mon open source...
|
|
|
Post by dschroll on Aug 16, 2007 18:19:34 GMT -5
What's a Chumby?
|
|
|
Post by reaper on Aug 16, 2007 18:30:17 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by reaper on Aug 16, 2007 18:33:45 GMT -5
iAlertU is HILARIOUS! Love it! Thanks for the feedback on the rendering .
|
|
|
Post by dschroll on Aug 17, 2007 23:07:57 GMT -5
BTW, reaper, a graphic novel is just a bound version of several comic books worth of material. Rather than buying individual issues of comic books, I prefer graphic novels which bind a good chunk of material into one book. However, there are some stories that aren't released on individual comic books and just come out as a bound book. These types of stories tend to be independent and self contained.
Anyway, I enjoy reading them because there are some really fantastic stories and artists out there. With the movie industry pretty much drawing from the comic book industry as their new well of ideas, its cool to learn about some of the characters that will be in major motion pictures in the coming years.
|
|
|
Post by UsualNoise on Aug 18, 2007 11:11:13 GMT -5
I'm currently working on finishing my basement home theater so a lot of my gaming is on hold (30" screen is is a lot less fun than 110" - I'll post pics when it's done, hopefully around the time Metroid 3 comes out). It also limits movie watching, although I've still been watching more 'family' movies on the smaller screen with the wife & daughter. (Regular DVD and Blu-Ray from Netflix. Just watched Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy on B-R and enjoyed it a lot; didn't have high expectations going in & hadn't read the book but it was pretty funny.) Anyway, here's the (long) list of my game backlog. Either games I haven't played yet or games I haven't played in a while and want to go through again (marked with a *): NES Kid Icarus (VC) Zelda: Outlands (mod of original NES Zelda) Zelda 2 (about 2/3 through) * Maniac Mansion * SNES Zelda: Parallel Worlds (mod of Link to the Past) Super Mario World (VC - about 3/4 through) * Yoshi's Island * Donkey Kong Country (VC) Illusion of Gaia Secret of Mana * Mario RPG N64 Mario 64 (VC - 118 stars, only 2 more!!) * Zelda: Majora's Mask (about 1/4 through) * Paper Mario (VC) Yoshi's Story GameCube Eternal Darkness F-Zero GX Simpsons Hit & Run (started a long time ago, no idea how far I am) Super Mario Sunshine * Zelda: 4 Swords (started, not very far) Wii Elebits (started, not very far) Sonic & Secret Rings Super Monkey Ball (nearly done) Super Paper Mario GBA None!! DS Elite Beat Agents (first 6 levels finished) Hotel Dusk Mario vs Donkey Kong 2 Yoshi's Island 2 Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time Mario Kart DS Picross DS NY Times Crosswords (man, these are way harder than I expected) PS Myst 3 PS2 Okami Kingdom Hearts (10% finished?) Burnout Revenge Burnout Dominator Futurama Final Fantasy X (probably 5% finished) PS3 Motorstorm I should be able to knock all these out in, what, a few days? Of course, Metroid 3 bumps everything when it arrives. Ah, to be a teenager with insane amounts of free time again.
|
|
|
Post by dschroll on Aug 18, 2007 11:32:06 GMT -5
Wow UsualNoise. What a backlog. Mine isn't even that bad. You should read the Hitchhikers Guide book as its way better than the movie was. Good luck on your home theater. I am eager to check it out when you're done.
Here's my current backlog:
GBA: Gunstar Super Heroes
DS: Sonic Rush (currently playing) Super Princess Peach Yoshi's Island DS Kirby and the Cursed Canvas Advance Wars Dual Strike Mario and Luigi Partners in time
PS2: Metal Gear Solid 3 Katamari Damacy We Love Katamari
GC: Mega Man Anniversary Edition Donkey Kong Jungle Beat Paper Mario and the Thousand Year Old Door Resident Evil (remake) Prince of Persia 2 Starfox Adventures Viewtiful Joe 2 Battalion Wars
Wii: Rayman Raving Rabids Resident Evil 4 Wii Edition Marble Mania (currently playing) Super Paper Mario Waverace 64 (VC) Contra 3 (VC) Starfox 64 (VC)
XBOX 360 Oblivion (currently playing)
XBOX: modded my XBOX so I have like 50 games stored in the hard drive that someday I'd like to check out, but currently am not playing.
|
|
|
Post by UsualNoise on Aug 18, 2007 19:33:17 GMT -5
GC: Donkey Kong Jungle Beat Paper Mario and the Thousand Year Old Door Aw, crap. I forgot these two, which I have as well (and haven't started). I saw Paper Mario on my N64 list and forgot there was another one for GameCube! So ... many ... games. It's kind of funny since I love to collect things more than use them. Probably something vaguely obsessive compulsive in my brain. I do the same thing with music and movies. However, with music I can at least listen to it while I drive and work so I actually get through all 1200 CDs once every 3 years or so. Movies ... about the same as games, so there's currently a long list of movies to watch. In fact ... heh heh ... here's the movie list (* are DVDs I own but haven't watched since buying and would like to) Movies 12 Monkeys * Accidental Tourist * A.I. * Amadeus * Aviator Batman 1-3 * Bond movies (1-20) Bourne Identity * Bourne Supremacy Cloak & Dagger * Clue * Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon * Deep Impact * Fantasia Fifth Element Game Over: Kasparov vs The Machine Ghost * Hitchcock movies (28) Hope Floats * Ice Age * Indiana Jones 2 & 3 * Jurassic Park 3 * King Kong (original) Kramer vs. Kramer * Lady in the Water * Last Starfighter Lord of the Rings Trilogy - extended editions (only saw theatrical cuts) Mannequin * Mars Attacks * Mary Poppins Matrix (discs 3-10 of box set) * Mission Impossible 1-3 (Blu-Ray) * Moulin Rouge * Much Ado About Nothing Mulan Muppet Movie * Great Muppet Caper * Murder on the Orient Express Napoleon Dynamite * Narnia: Lion, Witch & the Wardrobe * The Natural * Pay It Forward * Pearl Harbor * Peter Pan * Pocahontas Poseidon Adventure (original) * Pride & Prejudice Pride & Prejudice (A&E version) Reign of Fire (Blu-Ray) Robin Hood Prince of Thieves * Romeo & Juliet (original) * Romeo & Juliet (new) * Schindler's List * Shawshank Redemption * Short Circuit * Shrek 2 * Some Like it Hot * Sound of Music Spaceballs * Sphere * Star Trek 1-10 * Star Wars 3-6 * Summer School * Superman 1-5 * Terms of Endearment * Timeline * Titanic * Tootsie * Top Secret * Towering Inferno War Games * War of the Worlds (original) War of the Worlds (new) * Wayne's World * When Harry Met Sally * Wizard of Oz * X-Men 1 & 2 (Blu-Ray) * X-Men 3 (Blu-Ray) TV shows (S=Season) Alfred Hitchcock Presents S1&2 Amazing Stories S1 Bosom Buddies S1 Cheers S1-8 * CSI S1 Daily Show Indecision 2004 ER S1-3 Family Guy Vol. 2-4 * Frasier S2-9,11 Futurama S4 * Greatest American Hero S1-3 Harsh Realm * I Dream of Jeannie S1-3 Incredible Hulk S1-2 Joey S1 * Little House on the Prairie S1 Lois & Clark S1-4 Looney Tunes Vol 1-3 Lost S1-2 * Moonlighting S1-5 Monty Python Complete Series Mystery Science Theater 3000 S2-10 Muppet Show S1&2 Newsradio S1-5 * Police Squad! Pink Panther Classic Cartoon Collection Quantum Leap S1-5 * Remington Steele S1-5 Ren & Stimpy (all) Saturday Night Live S1 Seinfeld S4-8 Sesame Street Old School 1969-1974 (don't laugh!!) Simpsons S4-9 * Sliders S1-3 Smallville S1-3 Space: Above & Beyond Spongebob Squarepants S1 Star Trek TOS S1-3 Star Trek: The Next Generation S2-7 Star Trek Voyager S1-7 That 70s Show S1-5 * Twilight Zone S1-5 V The Final Battle Voyagers! Walt Disney stuff: - Celebrated Shorts 1920s-1960s - Chronological Donald Vol. 1&2 - The Complete Goofy - Mickey Mouse in Living Color Vol. 1&2 - Pluto Vol. 1&2 - Silly Symphonies vol 1,2 Whose Line Is It Anyway? S1 Vol 1 X-Files S2-9 I've joked with people before that if only I could get injured and not be able to work and stay home all day watching movies / playing games. That's probably the only way I'll ever get through that whole list. Probably not worth it though.
|
|
vado
Gamer
360 > Wii > 360 > Wii > 36...
Posts: 1,564
|
Post by vado on Aug 21, 2007 10:02:19 GMT -5
yupyupyup - SC2 is DEFINITELY cause for an upgrade, and im very open to playing with y'all.
and reap - i have a horrible horrible tendency of playing R6 btw the hours of midnight and 3 AM (cst) - but i do hop on earlier when i can.
i actually started to get rid of the games on my xbox that i just came to accept that i'll never get around to them....
|
|
|
Post by fatty on Aug 21, 2007 12:31:46 GMT -5
UsualNoise, that is quite a backlog. I'm not sure if I want to even to start putting up all the games I need to get to because it will just be depressing but I'm not doing to0 bad with the movies, definitely not as many as you have. You haven't seen Schlinder's List or Shawshank Redemption? Come on, bud.
Ha ha, Mannequin is on there. That's awesome. I don't know if there is another movie out there with a guy riding a motorcycle with a mannequin strapped to the back.
|
|
|
Post by reaper on Aug 21, 2007 12:52:41 GMT -5
Does anyone know how to deal with a customer that owes you $400 but refuses to pay? What options might I have? I know this is Waay off topic but I respect a lot of your opinions and just thought I'd toss it out there.
|
|
|
Post by reaper on Aug 21, 2007 13:37:21 GMT -5
|
|