Thoughts on the Mortal Kombat Demo

Finally got my new PS3 from Sony and she runs like a dream as if just off the line of a PS3 factory in heaven. I just found out yesterday that the new Mortal Kombat demo was free to download on PSN so as I set up my new system today the first thing I did was download the MK and Crysis 2 demos and had at it. The demo didn't  offer a huge amount in terms of content after all twas only a demo however what it did offer was a very good glimpse of what can be expected when the full game is launched on April 19th. I picked Scorpion as my character during my short play of the demo because, well, he's a badass. The first thing I noticed when I started my first match, which was against myself, was that the game looks AMAZING. It might just be me and the fact that i haven't actually played an MK game in years but I was taken by surprise by the beauty of the game, it reminded me of the first time I saw God Of War 3 in HD for myself. Once I got into the actual fighting of the game I was disappointed, disappointed that it hadnt been like this from the start! The controls are responsive and the animations are super silky smooth and the game feels quicker, getting closer to a street fighter with the ability to string together long combos for max damage. I was able to start a combo with a flying kick and before i hit the ground transition into a teleport twice ( this sequence reminds me of the time Matt Lease bounced in between the floor and roof of a car while trying to exit, ahhh classic Lease, good times, good times. ) and then land and follow up with a few punches a leg sweep and upercut to end it all. This little combo took just about half the life bar of my opponet it was sweet. I can only imagine the super combos people will come up with in the full version with the tag team mode. From what I've seen in the short demo available this game looks like a winner. From the nice responsive controls to the super smooth animations and from the sweet combos and suberb graphics this could be the best MK of them all.

How Come?

I was wondering why no game has ever made you fight yourself. By this I don't mean like a shadow version of yourself or an evil version but your actual self. Here is an example; you spend the entire game playing as the main character. You put in the time and effort to make this character a boss. Then at the end of the game you find out that the main character you have been playing as is actually the villain of the game, so you take control of a supporting character and have to fight and kill the main character. I think this could be an interesting story arch. But the main reason that I think people don't do this is because it would just piss them off. The closest example I can think of is the first two Def Jam fighting games. In the first Def Jam you spend the entire game trying to beat D-Mob, then in the second game you get a new character and now you work for D-Mob and you have to help him rebuild his empire. At first I was pissed off at this, but as the story progressed I became a fan and thoroughly enjoyed both games.

I must give a shout out to Ross, because he put this idea into my head. Ross's exact words: "Dude! What if in God of War 4 you take control of Kratos's brother and have to kill Kratos?"

I was like FUCK THAT! But after thinking about it, I think it would make an interesting story.


P.S. I haven't put in the time or research to see if any game has made you fight the main character at the end of the game. I'm only going off of my own gaming experiences and as far as I can remember I haven't encountered it, yet.

Are Games Art?

R.A. Salvatore voices his opinion on whether games are art or not.

"I agree with Roger Ebert when he said video games aren't art, but....."

Full article after the jump.

http://www.gamerzines.com/pc/news/salvatore-games-arent-art-yet.html

Credit to Andy Griffiths at gamerzines.com

POKEMON

Ok, so my PS3 died. I know, super sad face :'''''''( , anyway since the PS3 was my entire entertainment system. My PS2, my DVD player, my Blu-Ray player, and of course my PS3 gaming console I'm fucked. I have almost nothing to do. Sure I could watch TV but unfortunately I have super shitty cable so It's all shit. No Discovery Channel, no History Channel, no Disney, no Nick, no Cartoon network and especially no G4TV not that I would watch G4 that much anyway. The point being that I have nothing to do now that my Black Beast has gone to tech heaven except for one thing, Pokemon Fire Red for Gameboy Advanced Sp. I started on Monday and have been playing for a few hours a day. I play on my way to work, for about half my lunch break at work and then I get home and play until bedtime. Pokemon has been around for what seems since the beginning of time. I say that because I honestly can't remember a time before Pokemon. It's been around forever, I remember collecting the cards and trading with friends some 11-12 years ago now and yet here I am playing a Pokemon game almost 21 and loving it. Even though it's an aged series it's still relevant, and what i mean by that is that it has kept its most basic elements while changing a few details and adding features and in the end it turns out to be a solid RPG. You start off with your one Pokemon and as you travel the land you capture more and become stronger as you defeat enemy after enemy. As your Pokemon level up they gain abilities and in most cases evolve into bigger more powerful forms. The story is straightforward as well, you want to become the very best like no one ever was, to catch them is your real test to train them is your cause. In order to gain fame you need to defeat the leaders of 8 Gym Leaders, each using a certain Pokemon type and technique. Each time you defeat a leader you get a badge, some make Pokemon up to a certain level obey some allow you to teach your Pokemon special moves that allow you to travel through the world easily. Apart from defeating the Gym Leaders you also face off against the evil Team Rocket and have to essentially save the world while becoming the greatest trainer in existence. It's been the same since the games first came out and its still a good formula today. Hours of fun and hundreds of hours of training, collecting and trading Pokemon makes this a great series. I just wish someone would make a damn console game for PS3, it could be totally epic. The PS3's graphical power, the awesome formula of a Pokemon game, a 3D realm, throw in some online battling systems and maybe some Co-op and you've got yourself a fucking game I tell you hwhat! Hell maybe you could even choose if you wanted to be a member of Team Rocket or not and you could just go around battling other players just for the hell of it, now that would be sweet. Someone call Sony and tell em to buy the rights to a Pokemon game and get crackin' I wanna see this shit happen!

Favorite songs at the moment.

The Shins - New Slang

Off their first album Oh, Inverted World this song when you first hear it'll linger, but after a few more plays it will be stuck in your head for weeks.
Every time I listen to it, I wanna watch Garden State again.








Motion City Soundtrack - A Lifeless Ordinary (Need a Little Help)

Motion City Soundtrack's latest single but I loved it way before they made it their single.
Off their fourth album My Dinosaur Life, it hasn't gotten a lot of press it was rather under the radar for last years albums.
It reminds me of old school Motion City Soundtrack.




Arcade Fire - Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)

From their 2004 album Funeral.
This song has literally been stuck in my head for at least three weeks and it just won't get out.
Thank God I love this song otherwise, I might have to hurt someone.







Broken Social Scene - Anthems for a Seventeen Year-Old Girl

Ever since I heard this song on the Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) I've been on nonstop listen-a-thon.
Prior to hearing this song, I've only ever heard of their self titled album that was released back in 05.






The Postal Service - Such Great Heights

Off their only album Give Up, one of the only bands that still today fans still want a sophomore album but it probably never will happen due to both members being always busy and touring and making music.
This song will forever be my favorite song of all time.

My favorite albums at the moment.

Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More

This Indie/Folk rock band from London, England has really made a name for themselves with constant touring and constant promoting.
The band was up for a few Grammys this past year.
Their two biggest hits that everyone has heard are Little Lion Man and The Cave. (The Cave is their latest single)
With only one studio album under their belt, they're a band to look out for in the future.






Passion Pit - Manners

An indie pop/electropop based from Cambridge, Massachusetts. Another band to lookout for who is gaining a lot of attention and is touring constantly.
They have three big hits off this album which are called Sleepyhead, The Reeling, and Little Secrets.
I believe they plan on releasing their follow up album sometime this year.









Bayside - Killing Time

This New York band which has kept their pop punk/punk rock/rock sound to them have just release their fifth studio album.
Before releasing this album, they switch their record label after being with Victory for so long they left them and went to Wind-Up.












Manchester Orchestra - I'm Like a Virgin Losing a Child

This legendary Indie band from Atlanta, Georgia.
This was their first studio album which was release back in 2006, still my favorite album from them but their latest stuff still sounds as amazing.
They're releasing their third album later this year.









Brandon Flowers - Flamingo

The front man from the Killers solo album.
He wanted to take a short break from his band and release his own album.
It pretty much sounds like the Killers still, but him on his own.
All the fans got worried that this would mean the end of The Killers, but the band and Brandon Flowers himself have promised to release fourth album sometime this year or early next year.

My PS3 Is Dying :'(

Oh great Gaming Gods, what atrocities have I committed to receive such a punishment? I have been a good gamer haven't I? I've played many games, spent good money on games I didn't need and  accessories I wasn't really gonna use I've even spent money money meant for food on games and game accessories. I game regularly, everyday in fact, so what could it be that i have done that has offended you so much? What have i done that has pushed you so far that you would inflict death like symptoms upon my poor ps3, my poor fat ps3 which has been the best investment of my life and my friend who is has been with me everyday for the past 3 years and 24 days?

Yes, I remember the day I bought my black beast with the killer apps, it was a weekend, a Saturday I think, I had been to I visited 3 stores looking for said best with no luck they were all sold out but I wasn't going to give up until i had checked every store i knew of, finally the 4th store the Walmart at Arundel Mills Mall I succeeded and how lucky I was it was the last one in stock. I didn't wait to think about it, I grabbed the first employee in sight and forced them to open the display case and retrieve the PS3. Beaming as it was pulled from the shelf and watched it like a hawk, as it wasn't handed directly to me but taken to the checkout as the protocol on such items seems to be with the Walmart franchise, and made sure it was handled with care. I jumped into line eagerly, luckily I #2 in line however the person in front of me seemed to take FOREVER but I had to restrain myself and held in the words from escaping my mouth as my brain screamed at the top of its "lungs" for this person to "HURRY THE FUCK UP!" as I was certain some fool would walk by and snatch my future purchase and run like mad from the store, knowing my luck I wouldn't have been surprised and I like to think that i would be quick thinking enough to chase down and pummel the would be thief to protect that PS3.
After what seemed an eternity I moved up to the register and met a young lady who I want to say was named Mary or something of the sort, I greeted her with an excited but calm hello and relayed to her that I was the one who was buying the brand new Playstation 3, she turned grabbed the box punched a few numbers into a keypad on her side of the desk and proceeded to scan the item while i looked at the display facing me to determine my total. $528.36 if i recall correctly, i reached into my pocket and retrieved a wad of bills and counted out the amount and gave the cashier $550 and waited as she insisted on recounting and then had to make sure each bill was real for some reason, as if I, Ross, would try to make such a investment with fake or otherwise illegal tender all seemed well and she placed the money in the drawer and thus at about 4:30 on February 2nd I was a very proud owner of a PS3. As she handed me my change with one hand she reached down behind the counter and pulled out a large bag a bag large enough to fit such a beastly purchase, and was ready to hand to hand it over to me when my mom asked her to double bag it as to obscure the new toy inside since we had to take the bus home. I agreed since I hardly wished for some cracked out pimp to notice my new friend and decide to take it for himself. I took the bag(s) from the woman behind the register and thanked her and wished her a good day hopefully one as good as mine was turning out to be. I didn't at all in any way want to linger at this point, I had the treasure it was time to run like hell from the tomb before some stone monsters decided to come to life of before some fool stepped on the 1 square foot of floor that opened up an Indian death trap such as a pit full of sharpened sticks or somehow releasing a giant stone to crush me where I stood. I left the store and headed towards the bus stop, for some reason we went though best buy where I noticed my first PS3 game purchase, Skate, I counted my change and determined myself to be just shy of owning this amazing game, I asked to borrow a few dollars and quickly threw my money at the cashier and ran from the store ( not really, but that would be intense) to the bus stop for fear of missing said bus and being stuck at the mall, quite possibly the most dangerous place for any PS3. We made it to the bus stop ahead of schedule unfortunately the bus was running late and so I had to sit there with almost a dozen other people with this $500 box between my legs. I watched my back like a Meerkat watches for hyenas, looking up from my bag every few seconds to see if any one seemed to be watching me at all, thankfully everyone was more focused on avoiding the light rain shower that had begun just after I reached the relative safety of the bus stop. The bus soon arrived and I keep my Meerkat tactics up until I was back in familiar territory where i tripled my efforts for i knew the fools around the way wouldn't hesitate to thief my shit just because I had it and they didn't, not even knowing what was in the bag to begin with, just seeing me carrying something would be enough. I hoped off the bus and made for the house, I played it cool and walked quickly, but I didn't run as to not draw attention to myself always watching my back. I made it home alive with PS3 unharmed, mission accomplished.

Gaming gods, please revoke your punishment upon my PS3, its not the 3's fault. If punishment is to be had aim at me, take my 12th born child instead, but please please don't take the life of my beloved PS3. I've had way too many good times with it and I truly wish to have many many more.

R.I.B.S.

This is for Ross. The boss!!!!!!!!!!

Run forest run!
Oh Captain, my captain.
Show me the money!
Say 'hello' to my little friend!

We'll always have Paris.
A martini. Shaken, not stirred.
Nobody puts 'Baby' in a corner.
Toto, I've got a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore.
Surely you can't be serious?! I am serious... and don't call me Shirley.

Round up the usual suspects.
I feel the need—the need for speed!
Bond. James Bond.
Stella! Hey, Stella!

P.S. all of those are famous movie quotes.

This shouldn't even be possible!

I just almost drowned in somebodies fuckin bed!! DAMNIT!!!

A Warning to Jared Fogle

Ok, Jared "Eat Fresh" Fogle we is coming for you boy! No five dolla footlong will save you from the wrath of vaught and Ross. We must sacrifice you to the god of ribs(google it, its real mofos). Our hunger will not be quenched until we have more ribs that as Ross said, literally fall off the bone. So this is your warning Mr. Fogle we are coming and we will find you. So you can run and tell that homeboy!


P.S. If Ross wants the rack of lamb we might have to sacrifice your wife as well. Sorry bro.