Well, it's been a while since my last blog (again), but I've been very busy lately. I finally found the time and remembered I had a blog on this Web Site. Anyway, I've decided to start a special blog in the hopes that this will get me back into the habit. I'm not what I'll call this weekly post, but that isn't important at the moment.

In this section, I hope to sum up every game I've gotten or borrowed since my last post. First, I got Mass Effect and Rock Band, which are both great games. I hope to at some point get reviews posted for those, but I barely even do this, so I'll have to wait and see about that. I also borrowed Assassin's Creed, which got boring about half way through. It was a lot of fun, but it just felt repetitive after a while. I also got Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, which was a great game, though I did like MSG2 more. I got Fear for the Xbox 360, but I didn't like it, so I returned it and got WWE Smackdown! vs. RAW 2007. I also got Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory, because I had never played and I had heard a lot of good things about it (and it was $3.99). The most recent game I've received was Baten Kaitos. My friend lent it to me because he liked it a lot and thought I should play it. I've started playing it, but I haven't actually gotten to a battle yet, so I can't tell if it's good or bad yet.

Recently, I've started going back to other games for Xbox 360 achievement points. I actually played through the whole campaign mode of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare on veteran just for that purpose. I still haven't obtained the Mile High Club achievement though. A couple weeks ago, I was playing a lot of Oblivion to get the points for the guild ranks and the stuff in the story mode, but I'm taking a break from that, partially because I was spending so much time playing it. Currently, I'm playing through Bioshock again. I'm getting the achievement I believe you can only get by playing the game the bad way. I'm also doing the hacking and research achievements.

I've noticed that achievements have started affecting the games I choose to play. At the moment, I'd much rather play an Xbox 360 game just because I can get achievements by playing them. It's really odd, especially considering that the points are useless to begin with.

Anyway, Happy Fourth of July!

Being the last day of the year, I've decided I should post what my decision for game of the year. Well, as I've said before, it was an extroadinary year for gaming.

This is definitely a hard decision. There is only one real rule. It had to be released in 2007.

I must add that I haven't played all of the games that I think have a shot at this title, so I cannot make this decision right now. I have a few games left to play. After I have done that, I will be able to make my decision. I do this because I've heard great things of the games Assassin's Creed, Mass Effect, and Rock Band. And those are the only three I have left to play.

However, I can give you my current list of nominess for GotY 2007.

• Bioshock

• Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare

• Super Mario Galaxy

That's really my list right now. They really were, for me, on a higher level of quality than the other games this year. But then again, I haven't played them all, so I can't tell you what I thought the best game was (if you do indeed care).

Anyway, I saw Juno over the weekend. It was really good and possibly even my favorite movie of the year. I have to think about it though. The decision shouldn't be that hard because I only saw around four really good movies this year.

I hope to have the results soon. I also hope I find the time to put some reviews on here.

Happy New Year!

I write this post because for the past several days I have done a lot of gaming. And I have no real thoughts about not doing the same for the coming week. Can you really blame me though? I have, in one day, received four of the best games this year. What's more, I received them early into my two weeks off.

I really can't say I've been doing much other than gaming recently. Oh sure, I do the occasional chore or bike ride so I don't feel too guilty about the fact that I really am just laying around all day. I don't want to make this sound like a bad thing, but I sometimes like I haven't done anything in the entirety of a day.

But still, can you really blame me? I have two weeks off. That's time given to me so i can relax. And gaming is how I chose to relax.

It's not like this new or anything either. I remember when I first got The Legend of Zelda:The Ocarina of Time. I played through it countless times and could still go for another ride around Hyrule (something that's now possible due to the Virtual Console).

As you probably gathered by now, I don't consider myself a casual gamer. I hope you don't either. When A game is just that good, it's all I can think about. For example, to this day, I still think about Final Fantasy X (if you hadn't already deduced that from my name).

Anyway, the two games that take up most of my time right now are COD:4 and Bioshock. One has the addictive online multiplayer I have ever encountered and one is completely fresh in it's story and gameplay.

Just to make sure you aren't confused by my title, I'm not trying to say that gamers are lazy bums. What I'm trying to say is that some games are so fun and addictive that they may cause you to play them for several hours straight on a regular basis (if you didn't already know that).

Well, it has been a good year for gaming. Putting aside the controversy surrounding Manhunt 2 and that GTA 4 and Super Smash Bros. Brawl (among others) were pushed back to next year, it was probably the greatest year so far. We had Bioshock, a very unique title that add morally challenging gameplay; Halo 3, which still holds the record for highest grossing launch in entertainment history; Mass Effect, which had, arguably, the greatest voice acting ever and a very intriguing story. We also had Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, which finally brought the much admired series away from the used-to-death WWII theme and into a more contemporary theme. We had plenty others as well, these were just the big names.

Anyway, I got Bioshock, COD:4, The Orange Box, and Super Mario Galaxy for Christmas. I've tried them all, and they're all really good.

Bioshock is really fun and the amount of customization, choices, and just downright disturbing material really makes a really different experience. Needless to say, I will definitely be playing this game more than once.

COD:4 is really more than I expected. I didn't think a game could be so chaotic and addictive. There were many times when playing when I was being attacked from several directions, and I have to say, it felt very refreshing. Also, the leveling system on the online play was pure genius.

I haven't gotten that far into The Orange Box yet, but I can already tell it was worth it. There's just so much stuff packed onto that one disc. I've tried Half-Life 2 and Portal and they are both wonderful experiences.

Super Mario Galaxy is a triumph as we all knew it would be (I mean, come on. It's a platformer starring Mario). The intuitive controls combined with the amazing gravity-infused platforming makes this one of the games that justifies buying the Wii.

Of course, by now you've probably heard this praise from several other sources, but these are my opinions as well.

There are a few games that I still have to get. These are Assassin's Creed, Mass Effect, and Gears of War. I also have to start saving for Rock Band.

Anyway, it may be a few days late, but Merry Christmas!

Hey, I'd like to talk about everything going on in gaming and what I have been playing recently, but I don't have the time right now (like you care). Anyway, to the point. I work on a newspaper and on the front page of our next edition there will be a story about violent video games. The story is about how violence in games doesn't seem to have any noticeable impact. He still does say that games could be made without the large amounts of violence. I personally believe that people should be able to make games the way they want to. Anyway, someone else is putting the story in the paper. I don't know if they misinterpreted or what, but they made the title "Violent video games make violent children." They did say that if I came up with a better one that they would put it in. I hope you all see the problem I see. So please, give me your ideas for an alternative title. Remember, it must have a subject and a verb and preferably not a question. It can't really be mch longer than its current title, so make it short.

Wow. I can't believe it's been a whole month since my last blog. And what a month it was. Firstly,for those of you who actually read this, I must apologize for me not posting anything in a while. I haven't really had a chance to though. Anyway, I guess I should explain what's been keeping me so busy. Well, a few weeks ago I got Halo 2. I must say I have a problems with it. The biggest was probably the weapons. My two most useful weapons from the first game, the assault rifle and pistol, were taken out. The magnum and SMG in no way made up for them. A week later, I got Halo 3. However I still hadn't finished the second game (I know, go figure). So near the end I decided to just skip the rest and start Halo 3. It was a lot better. Sure, the pistol wasn't restored to its former glory, but the assault rifle, new weapons, and upgrades to old weapons made me forget about it. I'm almost finished with the game, I think.

This weekend I got Oblivion. I haven't gotten that far because I hven't found the time. The game is still overwhelming to me. I can't decide what to do. Anyway, I should get working on those reviews (if anyone really cares, they include Halo, Halo 2, Halo 3, RE4 Wii Edition, Half-Life, and Oblivion).