Decent Video Game Dry Spell Coming?

It looks like after GTA4 comes out we won't be seeing many games being released untill June. That's not a bad thing though. I still have a bunch of games to finish. Once I start playing GTA4 it will probably take me longer than a couple of months to finish it anyway. That is if I finish it all. I have three other GTA games that I haven't even finished. It just seems like one of those games that is more fun to just wander around blowing shit up and being a criminal. You just end up not giving a shit about finishing missions. I never really cared for the structured missions anyway. I've heard that's supposed to change for GTA4, but we'll see. I am looking forward to playing it, but I'm not exactly excited about playing it. I did pre-order it, so I am kinda looking forward to it. Circle April 29th on you callendar.

The games that are being released a couple of months after GTA4 don't have me all that excited. It could be a long summer or it could be a summer of going back and playing or finishing those games we want to or need to play.

Release Dates For Games Worth Mentioning
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April 13th
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Gran Turismo 5 Prologue (PS3)

May 20th
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Haze (PS3)

June 3rd
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Ninja Gaiden II (X360)
Brothers In Arms Hell's Highway (X360, PC, PS3)
Alone in the Dark (X360, PC, WII, PS2)
Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures (PSP, DS, X360, WII, PC, PS3, PS2)

June 12th
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Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (PS3)

June 23rd
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Battlefield: Bad Company (X360, PS3)
Command & Conquer 3: Kane's Wrath (X360)
Guitar Hero: Aerosmith (WII, PS3, PS2)

June 24th
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Soulcalibur IV (PS3, X360)

June 29th
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Guitar Hero: Aerosmith (X360)

AAAAAACHOOOOOOOOOOOO

The past few days have been hell on earth for my sinuses. I haven't played a game since Wednesday. I'm popping sinus pills every four hours. I haven't felt like doing anything. I'd try to play a game, but my head won't allow it. I have that dizzy head cold feeling going on. I'm about to break out a drill and make my sinus cavity bigger. It looks like I may be using some sick time come Monday. Looks like I'll just have to kick back and watch the Stars game tonight and read the latest Official Xbox Magazine while I pout about feeling like crap like the little bitch that I am.

Random Thoughts Re-Revisited The $5.98 EP

Congrats to Xbox Podcast on their 52nd (unofficial 1 year) episode! I wish I could have been on the show, but I have this thing called a job that gets in the way of having a social life. Anyway I hope to see at least another 52 episodes! Xbox Podcast

I watched Stephen King's The Mist last night. Wow! Just wow! What a great movie. I haven't seen a horror movie this good in at least 10 years. I've been a huge Stephen King fan since the 80's. I've read a lot of his books. He's basically the only fiction writer I read. The ending was definitely a shocker that only King could come up with. Brilliant! If you haven't seen this you really NEED to. It's a must watch movie. On a side note I share a birthday with Stephen King.

I've been listening to a podcast that is NOT gaming related lately. I've been listening to the Stuck In The 80's Podcast. They mostly cover music and movies from the 80's. It's a great podcast if you are stuck in the 80's like I am. Stuck In The 80's

The latest Three Red Lights podcast on IGN was great. They actually interviewed Don King. He's a riot. He's a riot because he's just so damn over the top with his whole spiel of bullshit. It was entertaining to say the least. Three Red Lights

I was looking forward to buying Dark Sector untill I saw the reviews. Now I'm really not so sure I'll be buying this game. Knowing me I will though. Right now I have more than enough games to keep me busy. Not to mention GTA4 is coming out the end of April. I may end up waiting a few months before I pick it up. I'm in no hurry.

Lately I've been in a big movie watching mood. Three nights in a row now I've watched a movie. I generally play video games for about four hours straight, but the past few nights it's been an hour and a half for gaming and then a movie. I might watch I Am Legend tonight. I'm not really expecting to like it all that much though.

Cheers to the three of you who actually read this blog. I got nothin' but love for ya. ;)

My Top 5 Johnny Depp Performances

If ever there was a guy to have a "bromance" with it would be Johnny Depp. To me he's just oozes cool. He's been my favorite actor for a number of years now. Of all of his films I'm most impressed with "What's Eating Gilbert Grape". In my opinion it's his best work. There are other roles that have come close, but to me this was Depp at his best. It would have been easier for me to do a top 10 which is why I've decided to limit my list to just 5. The following are movies that I think Depp did his best work in order.

1) What's Eating Gilbert Grape
2) Donnie Brasco
3) Fear & Loathing In Las Vegas
4) Nick Of Time
5) The Ninth Gate

I think a lot of people would have added one of the pirates movies, but to me it just wasn't that serious of a role for Depp. I did enjoy his work in those movies, but they weren't his best work. I'm also hoping and praying that he never plays a pirate again! ENOUGH ALREADY!

John Cusack Rocks

Last night I decided to watch another movie even though I actually had a great night of gaming. I kicked a bit of ass in the single player campaign for RSV2. Anyway, I decided to download "Martian Child" in HD from the Xbox Live Market Place. I read some critic reviews over at rottentomatoes.com, and most were not favorable reviews. Not that that is ever a determining factor for me, but I read some anyway. Then I decided to read some of the user reviews. Those reviews were mostly favorable. I'll admit that I have not seen every Cusack movie, but the movies I've seen him in I've been mostly impressed with. He's a damn fine actor, and he's coming really close to knocking Johnny Depp out of my top spot. I definitely plan on seeing every movie Cusack has starred in. I loved him in "High Fidelity". "High Fidelity" is in my top five favorite movies. I really enjoyed "Martian Child". I went in not really knowing what to expect of it even though I did watch a trailer. I guess I was even kinda surprised by how much I enjoyed it. I won't even attempt to review it because I suck at movie reviews. It did keep me interested the entire time, so that's saying a lot for someone like me who has a short attention span most of the time. I really enjoyed Cusack's acting. He's always believable no matter what character he's playing. My rating for "Martian Child" is 8.5/10. I recommend seeing this if you like dramas.

SERENITY NOW!!!

One of the things I look forward to every night after I get out of work is gaming. I'm addicted to it. I get out of work at 11:30 at night Monday through Thursday. Every night I get home I eat dinner, jump online, and then start gaming. Last night was like any other night or at least I thought it was going to be. I turn on the old 360 and start playing Rainbow Six Vegas 2. I get from one checkpoint to the next one and then I just start sucking horribly. It really didn't even seem like it should have been as hard as it was. I just keep dying which was really pissing me off. I finally ran out of patience. I had had enough. I then decide to pop in Condemned 2. Basically the same exact thing happened. I ran out of patience and quit that game because agian I'm just seriously sucking ass. OK fine! I'm getting no love from my 360. I then decide to play MLB 08 The Show. I play that for a bit on Road To The Show mode where I continue to just royally suck! I couldn't even get a damn hit! Enough was enough already. The video game gods were laughing at my pathetic gaming skills last night. I said screw it and watched John Cusack in "The Sure Thing". I enjoyed it much more than totally sucking at games that's for sure.

Hopefully I can get out of the gaming funk I'm in. Maybe it was just an off night. I obviously needed a break. I may just watch another movie tonight and skip gaming for another night. If you lose your patience and get angry over games and are forced to say "SERENITY NOW" it's time for a break!

NHL 08 Is Easily The Best NHL Game I've Played Yet

Last night I finally finished my first season of NHL 08 on franchise mode with the Dallas Stars of course. I'm happy to say that I won the Stanley Cup. I only played on the pro level, so I'll play the next season on the next hardest level.

I've been playing the EA NHL games since the first one on the Sega Genesis. Every year I buy the latest NHL game on whatever system I happen to own. Though I did skip a few years to buy the NHL 2K games which for a few years were much better than the EA games. This is no longer the case though. This year EA really nailed it. The AI is the best it's ever been. It's the most realistic hockey sim yet. It's definitely the only time I'll get to see Dallas win another championship. Who knows maybe Dallas win another Stanley Cup before I'm dead and gone, but I'm not holding my breath on that.