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Archives for February 2013

What I’ve Been Playing

February 28, 2013 by Tony Leave a Comment

It’s been waaaay too long since I’ve done one of these so I could go on forever, but I’ll just list stuff I’ve played over the last couple of months.

EVE Online: Yes, there probably isn’t a lot to say about this if you aren’t playing EVE. Now that there are people I know IRL playing, it makes things interesting. What I find more interesting is that a lot of the time, we’re actually “parallel playing” quite a bit. I may be working the markets, buying items to reprocess at a profit while someone is in a far-off asteroid field mining and the other is running a security mission. We have the corporation chat channel to chat when we want but sometimes we’re just playing a single player game in a massive universe.

But of course we still come together on a regular occasion to mine together, to run missions together and eventually (once we can convince a few more friends to join us [hint, hint]) we want to venture in to null-sec (zero security) space and engage in some adrenaline pumping PVP. But for now, we’re content hanging out where the action is a little slower and things move at a more enjoyable pace.

The Walking Dead

The Walking Dead: This game, man. THIS GAME. I just recently started Episode 3 and I’m already dreading decisions that I know I’m going to be faced with. My time spent on the Dairy Farm was harrowing and I’m barely holding it together. I really don’t know how anyone alive in the Walking Dead world doesn’t just take a deep breath, lie down, and let death overtake them. Sure, it’s going to be painful, but just for a minute. A couple bite and pulls and I’m pretty sure your already racing heart will just finish the job for you. It’s got to be easier than living like this.

I guess the will to live is strong.

Borderlands 2: My ardor for Borderlands has finally died down somewhat. This is the result of a combination of a few things — my partner in crime hasn’t been available to play much lately and we’re approaching the level limit. We have been able to finish the Pirate Booty and the Mr. Torgue DLC but we haven’t really been drawn in by the most recent Sir Hammerlock additions. We’re still in it for the whole season (and we both have golden keys burning holes in our pockets) but for now, Borderlands 2 is on the shelf.

halo_4_majestic_map_pack_landfall_11

Halo 4: I am ashamed to say that Halo 4 has been neglected. I think I’ll probably have to go back to the beginning and start this one over, it’s been so long since I’ve played it.

Mass Effect 3: I finally got around to finishing Mass Effect 3 and it’s been a long time coming. I won’t get into it very much here, but suffice it to say: It was worth it. Three fantastic games, dozens of amazing stories and characters I am still interested in (Legion, Thane, Jack) and actually care about. That isn’t easy to say as someone as cynical as me.

Up Next: (Hopefully) Fire Emblem: Awakening (3DS) and any number of the games I’ve got in my Steam Library.

Filed Under: Gaming

A Year of Achievements

February 25, 2013 by Will 1 Comment

365 Day StreakLast night, I completed the goal I set out for myself last year – to score at least one achievement per day.

Looking back at it, I’m not so sure that was time well spent.

I know there are plenty of gamers out there that put absolutely no stock in Microsoft’s reward system (or in any of the many copycats that followed in the years since its introduction), but I happen to like earning them. There is something about the little dopamine hit every time that ding sounded.

Was, actually. It was fun. When I started last February, it was supposed to be for a month. Maybe two. Before I knew it, I wouldn’t stop forcing myself to get another one each day until I finished out the year. Game time wasn’t about enjoying myself anymore; it was more like a job. Instead of smiling when the alert popped up, I would sigh “finally” under my breath and immediately save and quit in fear of popping a second one in the same session. This behavior ruined story-heavy games like The Walking Dead and caused me to spend more time with mobile games on my Windows Phone.

Even though I know how much this is messing with my favorite pastime, after meeting that year-long goal last night I started heavily considering going for another year.

So, this is it. I’m going to bed tonight without getting another achievement.  Once I break this hobby-wrecking habit, I’ll be able to actually resume having fun with my games and those achievements will finally have meaning again.

Wait… wasn’t 2012 a leap year?

Filed Under: Asides, Gaming

In My Hands

February 16, 2013 by Tony 2 Comments

It has been too long since I’ve posted an “In My Hands (actually, it’s been a long time since I’ve posted anything recently) but before I post my latest “What I’ve been playing” I thought I should give a little context to what I’ve acquired recently in terms of games that are of the video variety.

The biggest addition to my growing list of unplayed games isn’t actually a game — it’s one of these:

3DS XL

My daughter asked Santa for one for Christmas and I found such a good deal on these that I grabbed one for her (from Santa, of course) and one for me. I haven’t spent as much time as I would have liked with it, but so far I am really impressed with this hardware. I was skeptical about this whole “two screens” idea when I first picked up my first DS (the DS fatty, WAY back in the day. Holy crap it’s been over seven years. SEVEN.) and I’ve been skeptical of this whole “3D screen” idea since the 3DS was announced, but I’ll gladly eat my doubts. The 3D works and is really a technological wonder. Games look beautiful on it and this machine should provide some solid gaming for the foreseeable future.

Along with the 3DS, I also grabbed a copy of Super Mario 3D Land.

I picked up another handful of games during the Winter Steam Sale (inlcuding the aforementioned EVE Online) including The Walking Dead, Dota 2, FTL, Orcs Must Die 2, Torchlight 2 and a slew of other games I’ll probably never get around to playing.

To top that all off, I picked up the latest Borderlands 2 DLC, Sir Hammerlock’s Big Game Hunt.

So yeah, that’s a lot of stuff in my hands. My cup runneth over, as they say.

Filed Under: Gaming

February Releases

February 4, 2013 by Tony Leave a Comment

It’s cold outside but the video game releases are starting to heat up!

Week of February 5th
Dead Space 3
Fist of the North Star: Ken’s Rage 2 – Go look at the boxart for this game. Seriously, go look at it. What is going on here with ol’ Ken’s chest? Did he take bullets to the chest that only penetrated skin deep? Something is severely wrong here!

Week of February 12th
Aliens: Colonial Marines

Week of February 19th
Crysis 3 – I thoroughly enjoyed Crysis 2 and while I didn’t completely follow the story or understand what was happening, I would play Crysis 3 given the chance.
Metal Gear Rising Revengeance – Is Revengeance even a word?

Week of February 26th
MUD – FIM Motocross World Championship

Week of February 26th
Rayman Legends

No Nintendo Wii Releases for February

Week of February 5th
Fire Emblem: Awakening – After reading the reviews and waxing a bit nostalgic for the unforgiving permadeath of Fire Emblem, I may be picking this up.
Brain Age: Concentration Training – If I get more Sudoku puzzles? SOLD.

Week of February 12th
Sonic and All-Stars Racing Transformed Bonus Edition
Pro Evolution Soccer 2013

Week of February 26th
Young Justice: Legacy
Etrian Odyssey IV: Legends of the Titan

Week of February 26th
Scribblenauts Collection – I don’t think Nintendo DS is going to be included in many more monthly releases

Week of February 5th
Heavy Fire: Shattered Spear
Dead Space 3

Week of February 12th
Omerta: City of Gangsters
Aliens: Colonial Marines

Week of February 19th
Crysis 3: Hunter Edition

Week of February 26th
Might & Magic Heroes VI: Shades of Darkness

Week of February 5th
Dead Space 3
Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time

Week of February 12th
Aliens: Colonial Marines

Week of February 19th
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
Crysis 3

Week of February 5th
Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time

Week of February 26th
Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 Plus

Week of February 19th
Hakuoki: Warriors of the Shinsengumi – And with this, the Sony PSP will also probably be removed the monthly releases.

What are you picking up?

(Note: As always, all Amazon.com links have our affiliate code embedded in them. If you purchase something through our link, we get a little commission. It’s appreciated.)

Filed Under: Gaming Tagged With: Monthly Releases

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