• 8Jul 09

  Back from a summer trip

  Hey guys and gals!

  I was on a trip for the past few weeks.
  I and my family drove around west United States and saw some beautiful national parks.
  We traveled with our 2003 Toyota Highlander and made more than 5000 miles during the trip.

  We started at Arches National Park and Zion National Park in Utah.
  Then, we went to Las Vegas (for second time) and also saw Hoover Dam that is only about 20 miles aways from Vegas.
  After that, we went to Death Valley National Park in CA (one of the driest places in US - 120F), Sequoia National Forest and our main park - Yosemite National Park.

  

  All of the park were gorgeous and unique. We love to travel and especially seeing the beauty of nature (big cities don't attract us that much).

  For those who don't know, Yosemite is one of the most beautiful parks in US (maybe even in the whole world). It has everything: waterfalls (highest in the US), mountains and cliffs (biggest granite rock in the world), and biggest living things in the entire world - Sequoia trees (can live up to 3000 years!).
  
  

  More info on:
  Arches National Park
  Zion National Park
  Death Valley National Park
  Yosemite National Park

  We also saw in our previous trips: Niagara Falls, Grand Canyon, and Yellowstone National Park.

  

  • Posted Jul 8, 2009 5:52 pm PT
  • Category: Travel
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• 17Jun 09

  Left 4 Dead 2 (is it really necessary?)

  

  LEFT 4 DEAD 2 was announced by Valve during E3 2009..

  ..and I was not very happy with this announcement.

  I have purchased L4D a while ago and I have spent some hours shooting zombies.
  I really liked the game, but sometimes it felt really awesome, while others - really boring/frustrating (mostly during Versus mode). I loved the new Survival mode when it came out as a free DLC.
  However, I have not played this game in a while..mostly because if I wanna play a multiplayer game then I launch Team Fortress 2 (this game just doesn't get boring) and L4D doesn't have that many levels as TF2 does and it gets a bit boring..

  Anyways, I do not regret my purchase of L4D, but I disagree that L4D2 should be released. It feels just too quick, especially from Valve that takes a long time (maybe too long sometime) to release a sequel.
  I would like to see more DLC's for L4D because I think it needs more guns, maps, modes, etc. but a new game?
  
  I also don't like that there will be new characters. I like old characters and I think they fit well. The new ones don't look so friendly. I don't see what's the problem to keep old characters in place..?

  Also, I don't like that most of the maps are set during day time in L4D2. That just doesn't fit in survival-horror-zombie game..daytime? Seriously?...

  Lastly, the name itself just sounds weird and funny...Left 4 Dead 2..hmm...NOT!
  They could have changed the name, something like 'Left 2 Die' (found this name somewhere in internet).

  I just don't know..L4D2 seems too quick and nothing too new from L4D. It just feels that Valve wants to make a quick buck releasing a sequel that is very similar to the frist one.
  Currently, from all the demos and pictures I have no desire to buy L4D2 and I still feels L4D needs more DLC's because it might 'die' if they forget about it.
  Also, if someone doesn't have neither of the games, then which one he/she will buy? (I believe the choice would be L4D2, leaving L4D alone and thus with fewer players).

  What do you think about L4D2? Do you own original L4D?

  

  VS

  
  
  -my vote goes to L4D crew -

  • Posted Jun 17, 2009 8:44 pm PT
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• 9Jun 09

  E3 2009: my reaction

  Ok, I have all of your reactions, so I gues it's my time to speak out about E3 2009.

  Conferences:
  I watched SONY and Microsoft conferences both on IGN, because they had "new" kind of player with no buffering and waiting so I took advantage of that since I did not watch the conferences live.
  Both conferences were interesting and I watched them from start to finish.
  They both seemed to me equally good/bad (there were good and bard boring parts).
  I like SONY opening better since it showed various SONY games in a nice video and Microsoft started right from the Beatles game (which had a nice opening credits).
  It was kinda funny that both conferences had similar endgins..in the way that they both showed their "new" motion controller that will change the future of gaming (oh, please...).
  It was also funny that most of SONY's annoucements were already known (..PSP GO..) and that they announced new Final Fantasy even though FFXIII is not released yet.
  However, I think Microsoft conference was organized better and I liked their stage more (green color).
  In general, I was happy to see both presentations and they both were great.

  Games:
  Many great games, but only few new debuts.
  Talking about debuts, I remember new Rockstar game being announced - AGENT, but only the logo was showed (seriously, not even a wallpaper?) and where the heck is L.A. Noire??
  Other..already known games..
  - Alan Wake is alive and looking really good! (but where's Heavy Rain?)
  - Splinter Cell: Conviction comes back with different look..?...still don't know if I like the new look
  - God of War III - brutality at it's best!
  - Modern Warfare 2 looks pretty good, but I was not impressed with the demo.
  - Assassin's Creed II looks stunning and beautiful..hopefully it's not aa repetitive.
  - Forza 3 has cars that look better than in real life! Wow...please release this on PC..PLEASE! (this game left better impressions that Gran Turismo 5)
  ...just a few games, that I saw demos during press conferences and those that I still remmeber...
  oh yeah, and Left 4 Dead 2 (I hold my comments 'till my next blog).

  I don't remember last year's E3, but I was pretty happy with E3 2009. Hopefully E3 2010 will be even bigger and more badass (I know what you thinking now) next year!

  
  See you next year (or not, I don't really care)
  

  • Posted Jun 9, 2009 8:40 pm PT
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