danbambridge's GameSpot Friend's Blog Posts danbambridge's GameSpot Friend's Blog Posts danbambridge's GameSpot Friend's Blog Posts en-us Copyright (c)1995-2013 CBS Interactive. All rights reserved. http://www.gamespot.com 20 Fri, 24 May 2013 20:15:13 -0700 GameSpot danbambridge's GameSpot Friend's Blog Posts http://img.gamespot.com/gamespot/shared/promos/misc/gs_logo.gif http://www.gamespot.com 135 40 Fri, 24 May 2013 16:53:01 -0700 Kravyn81 writes: Microsoft Shows Its True Colors http://www.gamespot.com/users/Kravyn81/show_blog_entry.php?topic_id=m-100-26024820 All you morons that bought in to the propaganda of used sales hurting the industry, I hope you're happy.

This is what you wanted so enjoy it: Xbox One preowned plans revealed?

You brought this on yourself so you have no room to complain even though there are over 5600 comments (and counting) on that article doing just that.

Enjoy the future of this industry which you have so successfully !@#$ed up for the rest of us.

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"Kravyn81 writes: Microsoft Shows Its True Colors" was posted by Kravyn81 on Fri, 24 May 2013 16:53:01 -0700
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Fri, 24 May 2013 10:44:36 -0700 Synthia writes: GameSpotting, What is it? http://www.gamespot.com/users/Synthia/show_blog_entry.php?topic_id=m-100-26024788 Quick show of hands, how many of you who fancy yourselves writers were aware of "GameSpotting"?
If you're not sure what that is, it's where we've featured user blogs from the site as a GameSpot feature. It finds a home on the front page and everything.
Here's what's been featured so far:

Masters of Reality: By Pierst178
Why Tomb Raider Failed as a Reboot: By biggest_looser
If the rumors are true: 5 reasons the next Xbox will fail: By -Saigo-
BioShock Infinite: Baptism of the Human Heart: By adusenbery
and  The Zone of Influence: How Paratext can change our experiences with games: By tom_cat_01

These are features that are picked no by community members, but by GameSpot staff, myself, and Carolyn Petit. 


 If you're interested in being featured, you can do so by doing several things: 
PM Me with a link to your blog.
Post a link to your blog in the Writers Round Table for a peer review.
Or if you're super shy, email community@gamespot.com 

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"Synthia writes: GameSpotting, What is it?" was posted by Synthia on Fri, 24 May 2013 10:44:36 -0700
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Thu, 23 May 2013 11:25:27 -0700 Starshine_M2A2 writes: Xbox One - The De-evolution of Gaming Culture http://www.gamespot.com/users/Starshine_M2A2/show_blog_entry.php?topic_id=m-100-26024599 xbox-one-vs-ps4-580-75.jpg

When Nintendo unveiled the Wii U, it came as little surprise it would continue the departure from traditional console gaming considering the steps taken with motion technology and a family friendly presentation that led to the original Wii's success. With the unveiling of the Xbox One and Microsoft's own apparent departure from a gaming focused system, it seems the console market is now undergoing a kind of de-evolution. It would be fair to say Microsoft and Nintendo believe themselves to represent the pinnacle of innovation and originality if their advertising campaigns and grandiose press conferences are any evidence. But does the Xbox One actually represent a step backwards as far as gamers are concerned?

Although Sony's original Playstation brought gaming into widespread public recognition by appealing to clubbing culture with trance like visuals and pumping soundtracks, it was the Xbox that pioneered online console gaming. With the introduction of Xbox Live spearheaded by the phenomenally successful Halo, Microsoft quickly and aggressively seized early control of the online market something both Sony and Nintendo have yet to match. The genius of Microsoft's approach was not simply to create a way for gamers to play online but to turn that interaction into an entire community. With the ability to compare statistics, achievements while forming and nurturing online friendships, the widespread popularity started by Sony ended up consolidated back into a culture especially for gamers - rather than club socialites seeking a way to impress their real life friends by showing interest in what they believed to be 'the next big thing'. Essentially, Microsoft gave gaming back to the gamers.

With this in mind, it came as something of a disappointment to learn that the Xbox One would apparently be undoing some of this by catering to a more general community beyond those who play games. The console was revealed to include a Blu-Ray player, Skype support and an evolved online marketplace for movies and music, not to mention integrated Kinect a feature that has never been truly accepted by gamers as a practical method of playing games. So the name Xbox One is something of a misnomer - 'One' meaning all forms of entertainment delivered by a sole system while simultaneously splintering off from a culture of gamers that had been so expertly set up with the previous two consoles. All of this combined with the lack of backwards compatibility and we have system that appears hell bent on erasing the established gaming history of so many who had finally found a devoted community to call home.

The decision to cater for a wider demographic could very well prove fatal for Microsoft considering it already faces competition from the Wii U and is set to face the Playstation 4 on release. It can be assumed the Playstation 3 was the least popular of the current generation systems. A rocky beginning and a severe loss of credibility for Sony after the Playstation Network was hacked in mid 2011 resulting in the compromise of millions of credit card numbers means its been a difficult road for Sony of late. However, it now has a chance at redemption and reclamation of its status as the most popular console developer as proven by the Playstation 2's record of the highest selling console of all time. If you consider the departures from traditional gaming being made by Nintendo and the now risky fracturing of gamer culture by Microsoft, it leaves Sony in an interesting position to take advantage of the Playstation 4 now being the only console to still offer a traditional and dedicated gaming experience.

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"Starshine_M2A2 writes: Xbox One - The De-evolution of Gaming Culture" was posted by Starshine_M2A2 on Thu, 23 May 2013 11:25:27 -0700
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Wed, 22 May 2013 15:50:42 -0700 Bad_Gamers83 writes: The Next Xbox Isn't the One For Me http://www.gamespot.com/users/Bad_Gamers83/show_blog_entry.php?topic_id=m-100-26024407 Theres a charm in simplicity that seems to have passed over Microsofts heads in the development of the Xbox One.  The reveal shows us what gamers, and mostly non-gamers, can utilize with this shiny piece of Next Gen tech when its released later this year.  There were some impressive demonstrations, but, for the most part, the new dashboard features made me wonder what would happen to those with low attention spans and made me glad that I now bed with Sony.

            Kinect remains overall unappealing.  The ability to turn your Xbox One on and off via a voice command is a nifty feat, but the 1080 camera, improved motion capture, etc., are all wasted on me.  Its like theyre milking a one-trick pony.  In all fairness, I feel the same way about Sonys Move.  I cant help that Im an old-fart gamer!

            Microsofts Xbox luster is gone from my eyes.  They seemed to focus more on what products to show via their new system than they were of the games one could play.  They mentioned a number in the teens of exclusive titles, apparently within the next year, but instead showed two of the games and spent the rest of the game trailers on multi-platform releases.  Granted, they did look very nice.

            On paper, the PS4 and XBO (XB1?) are identical.  The major differences between the two lay in the companies differing focus which gives Sony an advantage on the gaming side, and thats the point of the systems.  Sonys presentation showed us more of what gamers can do with the powerful system.  Microsofts every-man appeal has its draws, and Steven Spielberg, but I was turned off by the fact that it seemed like they were trying to say the gamer is not their main target.

            Forza looks awesome.  The controller looks cool, and theres no denying that the number of exclusives coming in the next year is impressive.  A lot of the new bells and whistles seem to over complicate the system and could threaten to ruin the entire experience.  But dont take an old gamers word for it.  Im just looking forward to spooning the PS4 controller.

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"Bad_Gamers83 writes: The Next Xbox Isn't the One For Me " was posted by Bad_Gamers83 on Wed, 22 May 2013 15:50:42 -0700
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Mon, 20 May 2013 20:04:40 -0700 dannyodwyer writes: Xbox Reveal Bingo! http://www.gamespot.com/users/dannyodwyer/show_blog_entry.php?topic_id=m-100-26023995 Back due to popular demand! It's Xbox reveal event Bingo.
Join us on GameSpot and Twitch tomorrow morning at 9AM PDT for awesome livestream/bingo action!

Xbox Bingo

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"dannyodwyer writes: Xbox Reveal Bingo!" was posted by dannyodwyer on Mon, 20 May 2013 20:04:40 -0700
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Sat, 18 May 2013 14:04:58 -0700 guy_cocker writes: New Beginnings http://www.gamespot.com/users/guy_cocker/show_blog_entry.php?topic_id=m-100-26023650 Hey guys! I just wanted to jump on here and thank you all for your support recently. Some of you may have seen the report on MCV -- if you haven't, please check it out. Loads of people have since been in touch with some very kind messages, mostly expressing their opinions on what happened, and what's happening to GameSpot UK in general. The GameSpot UK Podcast page offers some particularly interesting feedback, all of which I've been paying very close attention to.

Subsequently, a lot of people have been in touch asking what I'm up to now. The last couple of weeks have been really exciting -- I've put out the first episode of my new weekly podcast, which not only reunited me with Jane Douglas, Lucy James and Dan Maher, but also went to number one on the iTunes chart. I've also been busy writing for Wired, appearing on BBC and Sky News, and updating my YouTube channel with new videos. In the next few weeks I'll be sitting on a BAFTA games journalsim debate, interviewing Rhianna Pratchett at the Hay Festival, talking about the next Xbox on CNN and BBC, and of course heading out to E3. If you're going to be attending any of those events, please say hi, and if not, I look forward to hearing from you over on my website or on Twitter. There's loads more coming down the line, but for now, please let me know what you think! See you all again soon.

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Jane, Lucy, Dan and I recording the first episode of my new podcast.

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"guy_cocker writes: New Beginnings" was posted by guy_cocker on Sat, 18 May 2013 14:04:58 -0700
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Tue, 14 May 2013 08:33:46 -0700 JodyR writes: Farewell GameSpotters http://www.gamespot.com/users/JodyR/show_blog_entry.php?topic_id=m-100-26023069 Can you believe it has been almost 8 years since I first started working at GameSpot? How it began, GameSpot contacted me to ask if I knew of any competitive Unreal Tournament gamers for E3 2005. I provided a solid professional gamer and it didn't take long for them to offer a community manager position for the GameCenter service that allowed you to build your own game servers. I've pretty much done everything at GameSpot, from a daily show to stage show assistance but one area I never touched is reviews, and for good reason! It's a tough job.  Outside GameSpot, I've dealt with other games media networks, events, and services but now it's time to see how games are built from a developer's point of view. The game I'll be working with has two of my favorite gameplay components: rocket packs and rocket launchers! LOL But yes, the game is a competitive shooter so I fit right in. 
 
I'll miss all of you but I know we'll keep in touch. As for whether or not you're in good hands, GameSpot staff is working diligently around the clock to rebuild the site. I can't wait to see what's on the horizon!

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"JodyR writes: Farewell GameSpotters" was posted by JodyR on Tue, 14 May 2013 08:33:46 -0700
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Sat, 11 May 2013 01:06:31 -0700 Bioshockraptor writes: hi again http://www.gamespot.com/users/Bioshockraptor/show_blog_entry.php?topic_id=m-100-26022599

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"Bioshockraptor writes: hi again" was posted by Bioshockraptor on Sat, 11 May 2013 01:06:31 -0700
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Tue, 16 Apr 2013 23:25:37 -0700 g1rldraco7 writes: The Lost Spark of the Pokemon Series http://www.gamespot.com/users/g1rldraco7/show_blog_entry.php?topic_id=m-100-26019766 Pokemon

Like so many Pokemon fans out there, I am one of the many who watched the anime when it first came to the US.I remember it clearly since it came out before Digimon and what got me hooked was the voices of the characters. Sure the pokemon were different and colorful, but the voice actors they chose really fit the characters right. Even though most of the episodes had an after achool feel to some of them, it was written well for a cartoon.

The saturday mornings I got up early to watch the new episodes even though my eyes burned after staying up. I did get into the card game and video games, but the series drew you in as you love the characters to death. Veronica Taylor as Ash Ketchum, Eric Stuart as Brock and James and Rachael Lillis as Misty were the gold standard. One moment that really got to me was the episode where they split apart and it still gets to me to this day.

I watched every episode and special from the first season to season eight where I believe the spark was lost. See during a podcast interview, Eric Stuart revealed that when Season 8 was done, new voice actors were already hired. The company figured they were saving thousands of dollars by hirng new voice actors instead of keeping the originals. See that greedy move right there is what made me stop watching the series, but I played the games though.

See I grew up with Veronica, Eric and Rachael as Ash, Brck and Misty in Pokemon and I hoped it would stay that way. When I watched the new episode of Season 9, I was heart broken when I heard them speak and that killed it for me. I know people get hired and fired, but the first eight seasons are the golden years of the tv series which is still going. It just doesn't feel the same and I can't bring myself to watch whatever or whereever Pokemon is now.

I know you're thinking I'm dumb for caring about this, but Pokemon can't recatch the spark it had when it started. Even though the tv series will keep going as long as people still watch it, FOR SHAME ON THOSE FOOLS!!!!!!!! For the podcast I mentioned, it is episode two of the AllTasteExplosion on Itunes, it's really good to listen to. No matter what the first eight seasons of the series are the best of Pokemon and nothing can change that!!!!
 

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"g1rldraco7 writes: The Lost Spark of the Pokemon Series" was posted by g1rldraco7 on Tue, 16 Apr 2013 23:25:37 -0700
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Tue, 09 Apr 2013 05:45:35 -0700 ArmoredCore55 writes: I am now.. http://www.gamespot.com/users/ArmoredCore55/show_blog_entry.php?topic_id=m-100-26019207 I am now 22.

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"ArmoredCore55 writes: I am now.." was posted by ArmoredCore55 on Tue, 09 Apr 2013 05:45:35 -0700
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Fri, 05 Apr 2013 13:00:33 -0700 shaunmc writes: Here is a picture of Mankey http://www.gamespot.com/users/shaunmc/show_blog_entry.php?topic_id=m-100-26018912 mankey+remake+by+Max+Motta.jpg 

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"shaunmc writes: Here is a picture of Mankey" was posted by shaunmc on Fri, 05 Apr 2013 13:00:33 -0700
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Wed, 13 Mar 2013 18:32:25 -0700 modernsocks writes: Futuresocks http://www.gamespot.com/users/modernsocks/show_blog_entry.php?topic_id=m-100-26017225 With the next generation of overpriced hardware just around the corner I've found myself once again pondering what could be. Naturally, I know it won't be what I dream of, but I like to think that perhaps this time it'll be just a little closer. Probably not.

When the Xbox 360 and the Playstation 3 came about I'd heard tell of a game called "Assassin's Creed". My interests in this game were two fold: a love for the Crusades and the developers bragging of some advanced AI. I never did get around to playing the game, but I did have the opportunity of once observing a former love playing the game. Near as I could tell it did not live up to my expectations of what "advanced AI" would mean.

I've a bit of an obsession with technological progression, so much so that I kick a few bucks to Humanity Plus when I can, despite my suspicions of it some day revealing itself to be a cult. But that's how much I dream of a wonderful cyberpunk dystopia not unlike a William Gibson novel. All digressing aside, I'm particularly fascinated with the progression of artificial intelligence and its potential for video games.

I had always believed that AI would progress at a rate that, by now, would have us interfacing with it more commonly. In video games, AI is nothing impressive, at least, as far as anything beyond puzzle and strategy goes, and for this I blame the focus on multiplayer. Nothing against multiplayer, it's nice for those who enjoy it, but it's the bane of AI, as well as storytelling, as developers shift focus from making immersive, interactive stories in favor of making socializing more agoraphobic-friendly.

Imagine a video game world, perhaps something as open as a Bethesda game, that truly reacts to the choices you make therein. More than simply receiving an alternate dialogue route or ending based on some sketchy moral compass that's almost entirely inconsistent. I mean a world where the death of crucial characters or world-impacting decisions can have a "mass effect" that the game can compensate for via an AI that can assess and rewrite large portions of storyline. A good example of where this would benefit is Fallout 3 (stop now if you haven't finished the storyline for the game and care about spoilers. Really though, you shouldn't because the game's story is pretty shallow and uninteresting). In Fallout 3, the player is ultimately confronted with the choice of genocide: either "purify" the wasteland of mutants or simply purify the local water supply. Regardless of your choice no change is actually made to the game world, ultimately making the player's efforts for naught, aside from enjoying the storyline, although, probably the storyline as well as Bethesda (or Obsidian) will likely never implement this choice mechanic into the story, assuming they'll even be expanding upon the events of the game at all.

As I forget where I was going with this I'll close with the following: my personal interest in video games boils down to two primary factors: story and gameplay. Both of which I hope to one day see evolve through a sort of Hal 9000-like interactive AI (oh how I wish) where one can influence a games storyline with their own words rather than predetermined dialogue choices. I dream of a future that redefines the "sand box" game, one in which if you decide to pee in the sand box you truly screw it up (or make it better if that's your thing). Eh, food for thought, maybe?

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"modernsocks writes: Futuresocks" was posted by modernsocks on Wed, 13 Mar 2013 18:32:25 -0700
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Fri, 15 Feb 2013 03:59:28 -0800 xsonicchaos writes: A Good Day to Die Hard Review and why I hate movie theaters http://www.gamespot.com/users/xsonicchaos/show_blog_entry.php?topic_id=m-100-26010697 Ah, the good ol' days when Bruce Willis was younger and his constant smug was more than tolerated. It is true that Willis is one of the few mokeys in Hollywood that's actually trained in the art of entertaining other monkeys, but it's not funny anymore. You can't just giggle every frikin time a reference pops up in the dialogue. By the way, the dialogue is a clichee extravaganza. It's like they ripped every page from a boring book and banged it with a hammer over the keyboard. Anyway...

diehardcb11.jpg

Here's an image that describes the whole movie.

Watching a premiere in my country is apparently like watching fireworks in some hobo's a**. My girlfriend wanted to go to a movie and we had only too choices: Hansel und Grettel.... or the latest entry in the Dies Hard franchise. Yeah. Of course I couldn't have expected a great movie after the whole milking of the series and Willis is obviously having lots of fun througout the movie to even care. He's not even the main protagonist anymore. Remember Indiana Jones and te Crystal thingy? Remember how we all wished deep inside that we could sneak behing Shia LeBoots and snap his neck? No? Just me? Nevertheless, It's like that in A God Day to ah, to damn with it, we'll just call it Die Hard 5. Only worse. You can barely see John McLane from behind his son's eagerness to fill in the shoes. No, really. There's even a scene at the end that I won't spoil where it becomes obvious.

Let me first get comfy, because I feel like I went way ahead of myself. Once I sat down in the chair, I realise there's a tall bloke in front of me that's blocking half the screen. Why is there every time I go to see a movie there's a tall guy making out with his tall girlfriend in front of me? Is this a conspiracy like the one where they strategically place a baby in the plane? "Excuse me, kind sir!", I said to him in a monotone and polite voice, "could you please lower thyself a bit so I can read the subtitles? Thank you for thy benevolence!". He seemed like he agreed, but just nudged a bit and started making out with the lady next to him. "Hey, friendo!", insisted I, "how about you make a little bit more effort? I know you're a big fellow and I may be puny, but how about we switch places and I'll wear a porcupine as a hat?" Never had problems with him for the rest of the movie. And what is it with young people and poity hairdo? Gel is useful when your hair makes you look like Lloyd from Dumb and Dumber, but stop recreating battle scenes from Lord of the Rings on your head if you plan on going to the theater. I can't even imagine how awkward it must have been for Mr T.

On with the movie. It's a Die Hard movie on par with the latest action flicks starring Steven Seagull, that wrestling guy and Dolph Lundgren. The plot starts simple enough, with McLane going in Russia to... well, they don't tell you at the start, although it wouldn't be a spoiler if you've watched any trailer, but let's go with the flow. It looks like something tragic has happened and McLane takes a vacation to Russia. Russia... And that's Willis' line for the rest of the movie, "I'm in vacation", like a parrot in a cage. Oh yeah, and "Remember when uncle Harry touched you in that special place..." no one cares. I have not come here to watch "alas, poor Yorrick, I knew him", don't fool yourselves. Those awful boring bonding moments between McLane and his son (oops spoiler alert) are obviou fillers for the lack of money for more bad CGI. So yeah, it turns out McLane actually travels to Moscow after being informed that his son is in some kind of trouble and he tries to help. Well, I would have never doubt it, but as it turns out later, that very first scene in the movie is a huge plot hole. There's nothing to be spoiled here as the whole plot has been covered in the trailer. So here's how it goes...

Four minutes in and there's a huge explosion. Wait, let's start this again: random stuff happening and no one gets it, singing russian taxi driver, LOUD NOISES, plot hole, shenanigans. Also be prepared to be twisted like a twisted twist on a drunk spinning twister. Here's homework: before going to see the movie, write on a napkin whatever you think it will happen in it. U psychic yet? No, well get a load of this: remember how McLane suddenly became a professional truck racer in the last movie? Now he's doing drifts with a truck while avoiding rockets and slaloming through incoming traffic. And no one was impressed, more so when he eventually couldn't get the achievement he was after and landed face front on the asphalt. It was clear the accident turned his brains into mush when he started waving his extremities at cars in the middle of the road asking to steal them. This might work in 'murica with a badge over your head like in Sims, but I will give credit to the film makers for the realism of this scene. After acquiring another vehicle to drive on conveniently placed ramps over busses, trucks and other people's expensive goods, McLane catches up with his son and his weird russian grandpa Vania or what's his name and saves them from an unknown fate. If you really care to know, the whole chasing sequence ends with a picture of a photoshopped brick.

The things is, how it turns out, McLane's son is not a common crook, but some kind of new age spy or something (covered in the trailer) and the old russian guy holds some secret file about someone important that's somehow involved in the Chernobyl disaster. But it's deeply hidden in the a** of Pripyat, in a radioactive bank's deposit box that can only be opened with a weird twisted key hidden in somewhere only the old guy knows about and the bad guy wants the file so he can burn it. What? So here we go to get the damn key. There's a scene in an elevator where the old russian guy notices how McLane seems like he's done this before. We all sat there in silence as they sat there in silence and I could see Willis' smug in all its mightiness waiting for the next stupid f**ing one liner. I never saw it coming right from Johnny Jr's mouths: "I could have done it better" he said. You f**ing retarded prick Weren't you the one hiding behind a pair of dirty briefs a couple of minutes ago while your father went all Rambo on the most dumbest platoon of special forces? Because I recall how McLane landed in the middle of one lame Christmas party a long time ago, barefooted on broken glass, with a lighter, a pop gun and his undershirt and still managed to take the terrorists out one by one, while going up and down inside a skyscraper. But now the writers got so lazy they created a scene where one pushes a button and a bunch of bad guy drop like flies. That's not a metaphor, it really happens in the movie. It was then when I said to myself that I should step up, yell like my hands are on fire "f**k this f**king movie" and walk out like I own the place. But I was too afraid that people will judge me and toss me in the naughty corner for being such a ponce and thus I sat there through the whole movie, cringing and cursing silently, hoping that someone will hear me and kick me out. It never did happen. We must sit in our chairs and enjoy the spectacle just like overeducated chimpanzees with top hats watch gorillas performing can-can. And once in a while they throw bananas at the public just like saying "here's your gunfights and here's your explosion, that's why you came here, you w**ker and stop your whining". I read a review about this movie somewhere and the bulls**ter was praising the heck out of it in such an overly realistic manner, he couldn't understand it: "everyone in the audience was cheering at the end, we all clapped and whistled at the wonderful acting and it was a delight seeing people dancing on the chairs and tossing feces at each other." That's bollocks. My experience was totally different, as in everyone mumbling in a successive manner, shacking heads in disappointment, just like Bruce Willis acted this whole movie pretending to be that "son, I am disappoint" meme.

You can stop here if you're still eager to see the movie for the first time, but I have to SPOIL some of the plot in the next part. So here's your SPOILER ALERT!

The whole story that occurs after McLane first encounters his son in Moscow is loosely based on the fact that McLane delays his son's perfect escape plan for about 10 seconds. As it turns out in the end, the really bad guy was always the old creepy russian they insist on carrying around. You see, the old man only pretends to be the good guy, while in fact he was trying to trick the bad guy into getting him where he wants. And after a whole hour (I guess) of driving from Moskow all the way to Pripyat, Ukrain, it turns out there was no file, but in fact there's some kind of Solomon's tomb inside the bank that only old man Vidia new about in which he hid a lot of nuclear material. It also turns out these terrorists have come up with some kind of gas that has the ability to teleport radiation to another dimension. And here's the wild part: this old guy is so bad that after he shoots a worse person point blank in the face, he unloads the entire clip in his corpse. But here come the McLanes to the rescue of the world. Remember the time when Allan Rickman tried to fool John into thinking he's just a victim? They do. How awesome was that scene, right!? And Allan Rickman? Forget about it! No, but they do the same thing in this movie and they even try to pull it twice. The first time, meh. But the second time it's when they meet again with the old man not knowing he's the actual mastermind, the old guy starts coughing and leaning on the crates like he's suddenly been struck by the coughing syndrome. A two year old kid would have thrown poop at the screen. Of course, McLane senior realizes that he's crooked and thus the end battle starts. But there was an army when they came, and now there are only three people: the old man, his dastardly daughter and a naked guy that looks like Dwayne Johnson. I prefer to call him Dwayne Johnson. "Ah" I said to myself, "there are going to be some headbutts in this movie". But there were none. In fact, Dwayne dies like a sissy girl in a ball of gas fire. And I can tell you for sure that's not how the combustion dynamics of gas fire behaves. I have an academic diploma in such matters, you see.

The thing is, to keep this as short as I can, the old guy planned this whole thing from the beginning of the movie (even longer, 1986 presumably), but wagering all on the random encounter of McLane and his son when McLane f**ked up his son's plan by 10 or so seconds. Okay, let's say that's not important, but then how come McLane has found out about his son if he was an undercover CIA agent all the time. But as it has been proven, the CIA are just a bunch of amateur w**kers. And then there's the last scene with the helicopter when ooh, aah, beautiful splosions!

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"xsonicchaos writes: A Good Day to Die Hard Review and why I hate movie theaters" was posted by xsonicchaos on Fri, 15 Feb 2013 03:59:28 -0800
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Thu, 14 Feb 2013 16:58:03 -0800 Dan_Lero writes: Would like to post a video update :( http://www.gamespot.com/users/Dan_Lero/show_blog_entry.php?topic_id=m-100-26010209 I would like to post a video blog with an update on everything that i've done since my inactivity, but it seems Gamespot's user video don't work

How is everyone!?

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"Dan_Lero writes: Would like to post a video update :(" was posted by Dan_Lero on Thu, 14 Feb 2013 16:58:03 -0800
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Wed, 13 Feb 2013 09:19:53 -0800 poormallard writes: What do you do? http://www.gamespot.com/users/poormallard/show_blog_entry.php?topic_id=m-100-26009005 A couple of people have asked me what I actually do on GameSpot, so I thought I'd answer via blog. Given I'm terrible at updating this blog this can also act as a sticky post of sorts if somebody takes a look at my profile wondering why I've got a staff icon and seem to be upset about the state of ducks.

So, I'm an Associate Producer and I work in the London office. Given that somebody could be editing videos and also have this title I suppose it is slightly confusing! The kind of production I'm involved in isn't actually making the sweet videos on GameSpot, but in site production.

Essentially, I do the stuff that you don't see for the UK team. Ever wondered how videos actually make it onto the website once the video crew (Cam/Danny/Johnny/Seb) is finished with them? Yup, that's me. I also take care of promotion for the UK, which is essentially updating the carousel on the homepage, and post witty things on our Facebook and Twitter accounts. When big announcements drop during UK working hours, I also take care of some of the trailers and such you see going up on the site, which is pretty cool when it's a big game you're looking forward to. I also take care of The YouTubes, copy edit some written features, photoshop monstrosities, and occasionally pop up in the GSUK Podcast.

Most importantly, I'm in charge of pressing this button if anything breaks. 

Make Go Website

That's pretty much it, but if you've got any questions about how on earth this behemoth runs, just pop a comment below.

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"poormallard writes: What do you do?" was posted by poormallard on Wed, 13 Feb 2013 09:19:53 -0800
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Sun, 06 Jan 2013 12:56:58 -0800 gamer-guy-adam writes: Watch dogs http://www.gamespot.com/users/gamer-guy-adam/show_blog_entry.php?topic_id=m-100-26002196
comment and let me know what you think about this game will be like or any information about it.

cheers

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"gamer-guy-adam writes: Watch dogs" was posted by gamer-guy-adam on Sun, 06 Jan 2013 12:56:58 -0800
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Tue, 01 Jan 2013 20:24:09 -0800 Vari3ty writes: Some brief thoughts about the games industry in 2013 http://www.gamespot.com/users/Vari3ty/show_blog_entry.php?topic_id=m-100-26001848 So 2012 has finally come to a close, and 2013 is now here. That usually means a time for reflection about industry trends in the past and present, and how they will impact the future. I'm not here to make any bold predictions: I don't believe that the free-to-play model will kill retail titles, or that mobile will destroy console gaming, or any other foolish predictions we've been hearing from the so-called "analysts" for years now. I'm just here to say that I think the future looks bright for the industry, despite some issues that still need to be addressed.

There's an argument to be made that sequels plague the industry, and to a degree this may true. I know I bought my fair share of them this year: Borderlands 2, Halo 4, Assassin's Creed 3, Black Ops 2... I'm guilty of enjoying sequels to be sure. But I also always make a point to try out new IPs, like Dishonored and XCOM: Enemy Unknown. New experiences are what make gaming so great, and while the industry may have been lacking the big-budget titles this year in that regard, in other areas it certainly delivered. I've recently been playing Telltale's Games The Walking Dead, the much praised episodic game zombie storytelling game (that's the most apt description I can come up with). I believe it's one of the better titles of the year, and it really shows how digital distribution can positively benefit the industry.

On the topic of digital distribution, it's inevitably going to have an increasingly large role in the industry, until it eventually becomes the only means by which games are distributed. I'll admit I have concerns about this - having to rely on companies to provide access to our games raises questions about the long-term accessibility of these games. What should happen if a company like Valve, who owns the PC digital platform Steam, should go under? Sure, the likelihood of this occurring at the moment is highly unlikely, but in the future there could be changes. Questions like this need to be addressed by companies starting now in 2013.

I've heard many people here posting the doom-and-gloom articles about the industry, which to me is unsurprising, given how often game developers like to proclaim that their method of development or money-making model is best and anything else is doomed to fail. It's a topic I've thought about considerably, and ultimately believe is quite - as I previously stated - this is quite foolish. There are now so many different ways this industry could head, the road for the industry now seems to be fragmentation, rather than consolidation. I firmly believe free-to-play and retail titles can co-exist, as can mobile and consoles and PCs. The more options gamers are given is a great thing, and if this trend continues, 2013 should end up being a great year.

Happy new year everybody. Here's to a great 2013.

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"Vari3ty writes: Some brief thoughts about the games industry in 2013" was posted by Vari3ty on Tue, 01 Jan 2013 20:24:09 -0800
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Tue, 25 Dec 2012 04:57:56 -0800 psdsoldier25 writes: Merry Christmas... http://www.gamespot.com/users/psdsoldier25/show_blog_entry.php?topic_id=m-100-26001244 Just wanted to say Merry Christmas to yall. I hope everyone has a happy and safe holidays. That is all...

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"psdsoldier25 writes: Merry Christmas..." was posted by psdsoldier25 on Tue, 25 Dec 2012 04:57:56 -0800
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Mon, 17 Dec 2012 06:09:24 -0800 jekyll writes: Lots of Games... and a new TV http://www.gamespot.com/users/jekyll/show_blog_entry.php?topic_id=m-100-26000643 I've let over two months go by again between entries. Last time I was partly through Resident Evil 6 and pretty much enjoying it. It was a very fun game, but certainly not like you want an RE title to play like. If it weren't an RE title it would've gotten better reviews for sure. Final stats were 775/1000GS.

I think after that was Dishonored. It really was an excellent game. I was a rare one I played through twice, in this case so I could get the never detected, don't kill people but targets, and no power ups achievements. The game really shined then because you really did get to see other ways to do things and routes to take. Certainly worthy of GOTY consideration, at least. (860/1000GS)

Up next was Halo 4. Another great game with a fun and challenging new class of enemy, the Prometheans. Honestly, it was still just another Halo game, though. I don't get as rabid over Master Chief as a lot of other people, and frankly I don't care about Cortana at all. I will say I took to the multiplayer far better than in any other Halo title, but not having standard free-for-all is a major buzzkill. There is the near free-for-all of Regicide, and I also love Oddball, so not all is lost. (740/1000GS)

Then I got my assassination on in Hitman: Absolution. This was a great game. So many ways to do things, often both lethal and non-lethal. They did screw up disguises, in that they were often useless. This game they work that others in your 'costume' can detect you're an imposter, but others can't. If you're in an area with only policemen and that's your only disguise, you can see how it's not much help. Conversely, some levels have only one person with a particular disguise you can 'liberate' them from, and if you can get that you're gold. Still, it makes little sense that henchmen or run-of-the-mill electricians or stir-fry cooks could tell you're in disguise by seeing you from 50' for two seconds. And the sound was great; if you have a surround sound set-up, going into the open air Chinese market is a treat for the ears. (910/1000GS)

Lastly of completed games is the one I wanted the most this holiday season, Far Cry 3. It could have had a better story, and the supernatural/hallucinatory angle I could have done without, but it was still very fun. Lots to explore and taking over compounds never stopped being fun, especially if they had a tiger caged that you could shoot the door off from afar and let the tiger do some of the work for you. Multiplayer was a mess, though. I played a bit Saturday for kicks and it just wouldn't give me xp after my first rank-up. I'd finish and none of my kills or deaths were registered on the leaderboard. Tack on playing one of the co-op missions and having it freeze at the end and screwing me out of my achievement and I'm done. I'm hoping the pre-owned copy of Tale of Graces f I saw is still at the GameStop to trade this in towards. (865/1000GS)

So, I just printed out an achievement list and am ready to start Call of Duty: Black Ops 2. I'm hoping for another fun experience and after I do some multiplayer I'll decide whether to stick with that or Halo 4. I also just started Katamari Forever. It's a lot of repetition from previous games, but it's still so simple and fun (and I got it pre-owned for $15) that you don't care. It's got great re-mixed versions of series songs and still feels very 'Japanesey', in a wholly good way. And it's just beautifully rendered.

Also, I tried the first episode of The Walking Dead after it got GOTY. I don't know that it deserved the award, but I couldn't put it down. I did the whole thing in about two-and-a-half hours yesterday afternoon, and for $5 it's not bad. I'm definitely downloading the next episode today.

Other than that I have a new TV. I was forced into it by my 73" Mitsubishi DLP dying after just four-and-a-half years. It needed a new blub, but after replacing it I noticed a bug to swat off the screen after about two weeks. But it wasn't a bug; it was a dead spot. A little research revealed these DLPs have a common fatal flaw. After replacing the bulb, the mirrors in the light engine fail, one by one. Sure enough, in a few days I had another dead spot. Then another. Then two more. Then another. Even though it was out of warranty, I found out Mitsubishi would still send a replacement part free due the defect being so pervasive, leaving you on the hook for just the labor. But between that and a scratch on my screen (which was now much more prominent with the brightness from the new bulb) I was looking at $500-600 to fix it, likely.

If your TV is dying, there's not much better time than the holidays. HH Gregg had a very highly rated 60" LG plasma for just $900 (on sale from $1,400). For comparison, the 61" Hitachi I got in 2001 was $5,000 and the Mitsubishi I got in early 2008 was about $2700. Soon a 60" TV will be just $500. The LG model on display was one digit different model number and priced higher than the one that was in the paper; the salesman told me it had better motion blur reduction, especially for Blu-ray watching. I still could have opted for the one in the paper, but I went with the one on display. Then at checkout, he manually changed the price to that of the lesser model; it was my first time at HH Gregg, and needless to say I'm very happy with the service.

Anyway, the picture is gorgeous and the slightly smaller size fits better in the living room where I live now. I sit a little closer to the TV here, so it's a little easier to see the whole screen now. It's amazing that it's barely more than an inch thick. The small profile does make my large speakers (which I bought when I got the giant Hitachi that was a massive console on wheels and was as big as a china hutch) look out-of-place, but that's a minor issue. And as it happens, Mitsubishi announced that same week that they were no longer making DLP sets, so who knows how long decent support would have been around for. It also means no one makes projection TVs anymore. It's all LCD, LED, and plasma anymore.

So, that's my entertainment news in a nutshell.

Thanks for reading, everybody!

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"jekyll writes: Lots of Games... and a new TV" was posted by jekyll on Mon, 17 Dec 2012 06:09:24 -0800
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