Yep, I joined the dark side, and you should too!

Actually you can get the other version if you want as well, I don't care...

I just bought SC IV on Monday, and OMG! I love it. XD I'm still getting used to the combat I admit, (too much time on DOA 4's fast fighting pace... SC IV feels a bit more slower and arcadey) yet it's just great fun.

There's so much to unlock, and the character customization is cool too.

The only gripe I have is... it seems you have to keep going into the Character Creation to buy the weapons for the fighters... Why's there no shop to just buy them from? It makes it easier, also... I noticed when in Versus Special, where you can choose to fight with customizations and all that... you have to select from the data cards... you can't just select the character and weapon? Why not?

I dunno, maybe there's something I'm missing, I didn't exactly fool around with versus mode much since I only have one controller right now for my PS3...

Anyways, aside from that though, there's so much to do... bah I have to play some more SC IV soon.

Anyways if you guys want to fear my Talim and see what she can do, challenge me!

Gah! 20 years I've lived on this planet... can you believe that! Woah... What will I do next... o.o

Well I don't feel any more like a "20" year old yet, but maybe it will sink in later... one more year to go for that 21 age!

So now to celebrate....

Enjoy! ^^^ Looks yummy, right? XD

We got a 5.8 earthquake today...

it happened around 11:45 a.m. and I was in my room at the time when the thing struck.

It lasted about... 15 seconds or so at the most I think and yet it was so hard for the short time, it was kind of ... cool, thrilling, a bit scary, and crazy... XD

First off, it began with a small thud like beating... what I mean is... instead of it feeling "wave" like it felt like you had a jack hammer going on nearby or something... then the big boy came and the house began rocking.

When I felt the small hammering, I first though something blew up nearby, I don't know why, but at the same time I didn't accept what was going on as anything problematic, till the big thunder came in and shook the house like a mad mofo. XD It was just... wow..

So my room was shaking, a few things fell, and my brother in the other room was going "What's that!!" and then after a few seconds it starts to ease away and we get small subtle shaking till it eventually stops.

The whole event lasted around 15 seconds or so it felt like it... maybe 20. It wasn't long, wasn't bad, but pretty cool.

Only a few pictures fell, nothing broke, no gas lines broke, nothing wrong by the looks of the house... so we're all good. In other words it was just a fun ride!

But I will say this now... we are so not prepared for an earthquake... XD

We have like one gallon of water stored up, and maybe a few napkin rolls to take, but I don't think we even have any food... XD

The phone lines were out for a while, and maybe are to this writing... not sure, but I had no trouble calling my parents on my cell.

I can't believe I'm writing this... it's unfortunate to say...

but my end...

is...

coming...

as a ...

Teenager...!

Yes I'll be turning 20 in 3 days. This Wednesday to be exact... XD

Hopefully I'll get something nice? We are planning to go out to dinner and it may just be me and my family nothing special to be frank. My parents have stopped really throwing any parties and at the age of 20 I guess I better get used to it? I hope I still get gifts, but now that I'm going to be 20 I wonder if asking for video games seems... appropiate? Well I could ask for money! I love money! (And use it to buy games! XD )

Well I'm sure everyone had their way of grabbing your attention on their feelings of The Dark Knight.

So let me just hope I grabbed your attention long enough to say...

OH MY GOD THIS MOVIE IS NOT GOOD, NOT AMAZING, BUT INCREDIBLE!!!

*ahem*

... well

if you haven't watched it, I won't spoil much in this blog. Just that... Heath Ledger's performance was INCREDIBLE!

This movie was just awesome, hands down better than Batman Begins I'd say and that's a tall stand, because IMHO Batman Begins has to be hands down the best Super Hero movie ever.

No more, now go forth and spread the good word! Watch the movie!

Well I can't say I remember a time where something in this event wouldn't disappoint, but I aslo can't remember a time when all three big names in the industry disappoint me as well.

Let me get down to it, I just was underwhelmed. Nothing blew me off at the conferences (but I'm still trying to scour for other news related stuff that's from third parties or wasn't shown) yet... frankly... the big three gave me a wake up call...

This industry is expanding, and it's obvious a hour and half conference or so isn't enough to show what we all want... so maybe it's personal disappointment, maybe it's also the fact that I'm leaving to go on a mission soon and I was trying not to ride the hype bus... but whatever it was, this year's E3 disappointed me.

Let's start in order of appearance, shall we?

Microsoft:

Well what can I say here? Perhaps the biggest "Megaton" was the announcement of FF XIII coming to the 360. (Which I have to admit didn't surprise me too much but at the same time doesn't affect my choice of getting it still for the PS3) Yet frankly, what I have to say displeased me a bit with this conference was more so the confusion I got from it.

After letting all the nice Gears 2 gameplay wash away, the kick in the balls to Sony with the announcement of FF XIII coming over, and the nice tease of seeing Banjo coming back... I felt like MS was having an identity crisis. Showing off more casual friendly games than before, showing their imitations of the competitions offering rather than showing something unique and original. (Mii avatars, Home like abilities with Live Party system and so forth.)

Now I'm not saying having the 2.0 Dashboard updates will be all bad, nor do I think it's bad per se, it's just that MS showed me nothing to get hyped about. Nothing I really felt "Wowed" by (Except the FF XIII announcement a bit) and nothing exclusive that would make me counting down the days for release. Sure, I'll buy Gears 2 likely, and I'll get Banjo, and yet those were givens. RE 5? Yeah you bet I will. However, that's it... where was the original game or new IP I felt would be so awesome or keeping an eye on, where was the "Megaton" announcement that would be the Halo, Mario, Zelda, Final Fantasy level one comes to expect?

Overall there wasn't anything that blew my mind, but I will say this... of the three ... MS didn't leave the most bitter taste in my mouth...

Nintendo:

Ah yes... The Big N. What can I say about their presentation that wasn't said by the audience there already? I mean, it's no surprise I love Nintendo, it's no secret that I have fond memories with them and still consider them one of the best in the industry bar none.

Yet to be honest, I can't seem to understand where Nintendo is going here. I'm not calling the "they are abandoning the hardcore" just yet. Yeah, the only game I was excited to hear about was Animal Crossing City Folk for Wii. The 1:1 motion plus looks like it could be fun, and I may even buy Wii Sports 2 just for that and because I like Wii Sports.

With that in mind... it was utter disappointment one after another for me. Nintendo did not show me any core games, they teased me with words like "Sounds like the music from F-zero," the Sword fighting duels in Wii Sports, a Wave Race game in WSR and so much more, but what did I get? Long sessions of sales, charts, graphs, moving the industry, and other talks and Wii games catered to "Everyone" but not "Me" the core gamer.

I was hoping for Disaster Day of Crisis news, a game I've been following since the announcement but have heard nothing of it, I've been wanting even the Kirby game that was announced for the GC back in what... 05? to be shown, I wanted a Star Fox Trailer, a new IP announced that catered to Everyone like Mario does and not Wii Sports, and ... I wanted something to be shown that was at least the core audience that brought them here today.

Sadly, none of that was found, it was just disappointment one after another, and I can't say... I even know what I want now for the Wii this moment. I can't tell what's coming out, and I can't say I'm even too excited for anything much other than Animal Crossing and maybe Wii Sports 2. That's it...

Sony:

Seriously, I don't know what to say. Sony seems to have it's act somewhat together. They made announcements and confirmations of games like GoW III, R2, inFamous, and other great core titles. The movie store is launching and yet...

with all that said and done... the words "Just wait" spring to mind.

When is HOME coming out? What's up with LBP? What about Killzone? (I never played the first, but this is obviously a title many clamor for on the PS3) and why is it... we get nothing new or any info on games that have been announced back at E3 '06?

Sony continues to tease with games coming soon, games that may release eventually, and touting the PS3's power and it's 10 year life span plan. (Which at this rate, I guess it could be true, but I wouldn't say it's a plus.... nor a good approach)

I see some promising titles, I see long waits coming and I see that really... I'm not sure what my PS3 will be doing for some time other than playing Blu-Ray movies and the occasional game or two when it hits... if it hits.

FF XIII, when will you be out? LBP, come now please! HOME... really is it coming? R2 could keep me going for some time, but my goodness... the waiting game really tries my patience and I'm a patient man.

Conclusion

Well I have to admit as disappointed as I was, what can you do? I'll still have some games to play somewhere here and there, and I have a back catalog of games just waiting to be bought and played too. However I've begun to notice... my PC and my DS have kept me well entertained... so much more than any console this generation... Consoles in general to me have low interest, but I must admit... I did try not to hype much this gen cause I expected to be leaving before the year ends...