Game Addiction Blog

My eyes are bleeding…Seriously

- X

Ohhhhh My Goooooooooooooooooooooosh!

I can’t believe it can get any worse then this.

- X

I make a post on my site and I didn’t mention that around 3:45pm yesterday there was an earthquake here.
It was strong, 6.1-6.3 on the richter scale and it caused some damage in towns near the source, no fatalities but of course some casualities none serious to my knowledge.

Thankfully the houses built in Iceland are sturdy and can withstand even the fiercest of weather and the onslaught of earthquakes with relatively little damages.

Iceland lies on the North Atlantic ridge and as such there is a lot of volcanic and tremor activity here. The last big one happned back in 2000 and it was about the same although it lasted longer. This one was over in only a few seconds while that one lasted for a good long while.

There have been much worse earthquake here in the past. I think the worst one was 7.8, that’s about as strong as the one out in China and killed thousands of people. It’s about 200 times stronger then the one yesterday so I hope it won’t happen as long as I live. but it’s not a question of if, but when the next big one will happen. They are anticipating another big earthquake soon to follow this one so in the next few days I can expect the Earth shaking from underneath me again.

Here below is an earthquake activity chart.

The star represent tremors above 3 on the richter scale. As you can see, there is some heavy activity going on. The capital is only 50km(30miles) from the source so it’s effect was felt there.

Some more sources.

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/05/29/iceland.earthquake/index.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7426369.stm

Here below there is a video that was taken while the quake was going over.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7426529.stm

- X

I’m finally on vacation from work. Can’t describe how good it feels to throw off the shackles even if it’s only for a week.

Now while I’m on vacation from work that doesn’t mean that I’m on vacation from the site. I’ll be sure to post something worthwhile tomorrow.

- X

So, it seems that a new Oddworld “stuff” is being worked on as Lorne Lanning the head of the Oddworld Inhabitants studio has confirmed. As of yet they haven’t released anything about the plot or setting of the “stuff” probably because it’s at an early stage at this time. There is speculation that it will be episodic content but at this point we are just gonna have to wait and see.

I haven’t played Oddworld in ages and it’s going to be interesting to see what they will be cooking up for the adventures in Oddworld in this day and age of High definition.

Microsoft were rumored to have plans to delist unsuccessful Xbox live Arcade games that didn’t meet certain criteria such as being older than six months, less than 65% on Metacritic and less than a 6% conversion rate. However this has been confirmed to be untrue, or at least misinterpreted.

According to Aaron Greenberg, Director of Product Management for Xbox 360 and Live that appeared on Major Nelson’s podcast yesterday the games they plan to delist will still be available on xbox live arcade and so will all online function they are mainly moving them to the back so to speak. The games will still be available for sale through the “tell a friend” option.

Better yet, Microsoft has confirmed that a fix for the DRM issue that has plagued Xbox live arcade users for ages is finally coming in june. It’s a new digital rights management tool that will allow you to better consolidate your licenses for downloaded content to a single Xbox and allow you the freedom to be able to play your content both online and offline.

This will enable players that have had their Xbox 360 dying on them due to Three red lights of doom or other mechanical failure to be able to play their Xbox live arcade games offline again.

I certainly have had that problem myself so I’m really happy to see it finally fixed.

- X

As some of you might have noticed I’ve made some changes to the site. First and foremost I updated the software running the site, installed a cache system that will make the site run more smoothly, added links to a blog directory I joined to try to promote the site even further and a rating system so that visitors can rate the posts me or Vorrador are making.

I also added a neat music player with a playlist with some videogame tunes both remixed and from games. It can be seen at the top of sidebar to the left above my Xbox live gamercard if you want to rock out to some tunes.

I checked Joystiq earlier today and noticed this article. Killer Instinct making a return would be awesome. Rare have been denying all claims of this so far but that doesn’t they aren’t working on it in top secret. MK is going down the drain and Street fighter 4 is going 2.5D I think it’s safe to say that KI probably won’t be anything all that much like the earlier titles but as long as they keep in the sweet characters, the combos and the “fatalities” they will be safe.

Perhaps even more laughable is this…

I would love to see Castlevania going to the big screen, after all it’s one of the best series of games ever made but Pac man getting there is just what the fuck are they smoking.

I’d go see it for the sole purpose of seeing how stupid the plot is going to be. To quote Vorrador on it.

Edvin says:
heres the script….
Edvin says:
waka waka waka waka waka waka end scene
Edvin says:
waka waka waka
Xtrife*Egill* says:
haha

Yeah….that about sums it up me thinks..

- X

To keep yet again with the theme of things, here is the theme song of Indiana Jones with a guy singing over it. It’s pure awesomeness.

- X

Nice insights Vorrador but here is a review of three crappy games based of the Indiana Jones Trilogy to keep with the theme of things.

- X

So its been a little under twelve hours since I saw the fourth instalment of the Indiana Jones series: The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

And to calm your fears, yes it’s just as awesome as you hoped for.

The first thing you notice about the movie is of course that it no longer takes place during WWII.

Not that this is any sort of revelation. But you will notice in the first two min that this movie takes place during the 50’s.

Right away you notice how they have captured the spirit of that era in so many ways, and it carries through the movie just like with the other three movies.

Many critics and naysayers on the intrawebs have been voicing their worries about Shia LaBouf, being in the film. And I myself had started to get a tad nervous. But no FUCK IT he was awesome in this movie.

Sure I can see that there will be people that saw the old movies when they where children (like me)

And many will hate this movie just like they hated the Star Wars Prequels. Because they see the movie with the rosary glasses of bygone days.

Nothing will ever measure up to that image they carry around in their head.

Then there are those that never really liked the Indiana Jones movies in the first place to those people I say fuck of this movie is not for you.

For me going to see Indiana was like putting on a worn old wrinkled hat and realizing that it fits perfectly.

So my advice to all Indy fans put away your fears and prepare to be blown away as we go back in time to the glorious days of the the greatest action hero ever to grace the silver-screen.

Since I don’t like disecting movies for people before they have had a chance to see the movie, I will be writing more about the movie in the next weeks when more people have had the chance to see the movie so we can discuss some of the awesome scenes and touch a little on the plot of the movie.

And if you don’t believe me on how awesome this movie is, take it from the master of critics himself Roger Ebert He gives the movie three and a half stars out of four.

Here is his review: Roger Ebert Reviews Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

But for now I just wanna say why are you still reading this?

Go see the fucking movie right now!

hehe.

- X

So right now I’m waiting for my copy of Age of Conan to arrive.

It’s not been easy hearing all those Early access lucky bastard talking about how great the game is. I’ve been working so much lately that I overlooked checking on AoC and so I  missed the chance to get in early…

Same can be said about the beta. I was signed up for it when it first came on fileplanet but due to time constraints and other games I didn’t even play it an hour in total(plus it crashed on me)

It probably won’t arrive for at least another week so I’ll just have to be patient. I’m importing a US copy since that’s where my buds are going to be playing. I always found it stupid to have EU and US seperate. I kind of get why but really it isn’t necessary at all. It’s pretty much like the PAL vs NTSC crap. These restrictions are just a pain in the ass. What the hell does it matter where the money is coming from as long as it’s being paid to the gaming industry…Why can’t I buy a copy of a game in US and use it on my EU wii without some stupid restrictions?

It’s a good step that the PS3 is totally region free and so are most Xbox 360 games but Nintendo still cling on to this tired idea of restricting and controlling the sales of games depended on which continent. I do hope they will drop it eventually because it isn’t going to stop people from importing and it actually drives people to do workarounds such as using a modchip.

So on to good stuff. on the 30th my week long vacation away from work starts and I honestly can’t wait. Work these past few months has been tough. Since february It’s been really hectic, long workhours and working 7 days a week. It’s a physical job so it takes a lot of energy to keep going.

The week in question I’m gonna spend at my best friends place, he starts summer vacation at the same time so I’m anticipating a lot of fun stuff to be had. You can bet your ass we will play some games, watch some DVD and go to Cinema. Indiana Jones 4 being on nr.1 on my list to see.

End of July my actual summer vacation starts from work and the plan is to move back to the to the big city, take it easy for a little while. Not sure what I’ll be doing just yet but I want to move back there again.

Sooo, as you can probably tell from below, the site has a new blogger and he’ll be providing us with his insights on movies and TV in general but also other stuff if he feels he has something to report. I’m glad to have him aboard and I hope this will advance the site a little bit. I do need more readers so anyone willing to do some advertising for the benefit of the site can do so if he/she wants. I only ask it’s not done by spamming out forums or in general annoying the hell out of people. :p

Sooooo, back to waiting for Age of Conan…….

- X

Hello my name is Vorrador (Obviously a sudo name, my real name is Edvin) and I am 27 years old.

I am Xtrife’s old friend from Iceland. I lived in an area very volcanically active.

There have been two major eruptions in the 20th century the last one was in 1973 which created a 700-foot-high mountain where a meadow had been, and caused the island’s 5000 inhabitants to be temporarily evacuated to the mainland. I don’t live there any more, but Xtrife does, such a brave brave man **salute**.

Anyhoo I am 50% Icelandic/50% Faroese = 100% Viking. Well actually most of us decended from farmers and Irish Slaves (which does explain our drinking habbits), but you know Viking sounds a lot cooler doesn’t it?

Anyways I moved from the Vestman Islands to the Faroe Islands in agust of 2001 and lived there till 2006 when I again pulled roots and moved to my place of birth Copenhagen in ‘lil ol’ Denmark the former colonial rulers of Iceland.

There I make my living as a Tech-Supporter for the 2^nd largest ISP (Telenor) in Denmark which also happens to be the 7^th largest Telecommuncations company in the world.

So enough of that I am probably boring you half to death with my long introduction so on to business.

Xtrife asked me if I was interested in writing for his quaint but robust blog and I was thrilled to accept him on his offer.

So what will I write about?

Well I’m hoping a little of everything ranging from game news both console and it’s older brother the pc.

And my true love of them all: Movies and Tv series.

Starting tommorow/tonight, I will write my thoughts on Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull.

That’s right tonight at GMT+2, I will have the great honor of seeing the fourth installment of the Indiana Jones Series on a screen of epic proportions.

And later I shall share my thoughts on Indy’s latest adventure almost 20 years in the making. Meanwhile I present to you the theatrical trailer to Indiana Jones: And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull

Enjoy.

Looks hot so far, I’ll be keeping an eye on it.

- X

Here it finally is, my thoughts on the latest installment in one of the best and most highly controversial series of games Grand Theft Auto.

Lets start with the basics in case that someone out there has never seen or played GTA. Grand Theft Auto belongs to the Sandbox genre of games, meaning that it consist of a vast world you can explore and with in it you can do pretty much anything you want or go anywhere you want.

Now for this reason the game is a focus of a lot of controversy. Being made for adults you can visit strip joints, pick up hookers and pay them for sex and then you can even kill the hooker and take your money back to name but two examples of what makes this game controversial.

The main character in GTAIV is named Niko Bellic. A man with a shady past and a former war veteran plagued by his past he decides to travel to Liberty City after his cousin Roman tells him all about how great life in America is and he had a great apartment and women and so on.

When Niko arrives to America only to find out that the stories Roman told him were a little exaggerated.

Now this is how the game starts and now you can go run around the city and scope the place out.

The scale of the city is enormous. It would take you hours to run a circle around the city. Many of the famous landmarks from New York City are there like the Statue of Liberty, which in the game is called the Statue of Happiness. It also has some minor touches to it that make it different like the fact that it’s smiling and instead of holding a torch, it holds a coffee cup.

There has been a vast improvement in the visuals and physics over the earlier titles. The City looks absolutely stunning with highly detailed textures and nicely rendered 3d environments. The Draw distance has also been improved by a lot. When in the air you can see all the city without any fps droppage.
The NPC models in the game are also more varied then in the old games. In the old GTA games, there were only a few different 3d models available so you could run into the same sort of guy standing next to each on the street corner.

In GTAIV I haven’t noticed anything like that, they all seems to have their own character and realistic AI helps with that too.
For example, you can see a bum seeking out a barrel with fire in it to warm himself. It really helps to humanize them.

As with earlier titles the games comes with some great music and radio shows along with good voice acting and even some famous people lending their voices. The Radio is filled with humor and they alone are worth driving around the streets for sole purpose of listening to it. If you get bored with the radio, don’t worry you can also watch TV in the game that has a few channels on it with some shows to watch.

Each GTA game has been set in different time periods. GTAIV happens in the present as such you can see some technologies that are standard today that weren’t in the earlier games like being able to go online and visit some websites and receive emails.

You also have a cellphone, through the cellphone you have can call friends for business or even leisure actives such as go get drunk with your friends.(you can also drunk drive in the game, although I don’t recommenced it, it’s a rather unpleasant to drive a car like that in the game)

With it you can also access the multiplayer portion which supports up to 16 players online and offers a wide variety of different game modes. It’s a blast and makes an already great single player game even better. It has also been heavily optimized obviously, while playing I have never noticed any major lag online and that’s a major plus right there.
This game can suck you right in and you can often end up just wasting away doing nothing constructive in it, I know I have gone into a helicopter more then once just to let myself fall down somewhere and go splat on the ground below and been in more then one fight against the cops and trying to outrun them.

I am about 12 hours in and I’m only about 20% through the mainstory of the game. This game can easily take over 50 hours to finish and for people probably much longer then that. Very rarely are games actually worth the high price tag but in this case the longevity and the amount of stuff you can do makes it well worth the money.

I imagine it will take quite awhile longer to finish this game because as with so many other games I can get sidetracked easily and move on to other things and then pick it up again later. But that’s one of the beauty of this game, you can always pick it up again for there are so many things you can do.

I don’t usually give games ratings since they don’t mean jackshit. However the 10/10 rating GTAIV has been getting is fair. There are very few kinks in it. I haven’t run into any myself but there always is something. The four years they invested into this game seem well worth it and Rockstar have made a splendid job with this one.

A true masterpiece and comes highly recommended to anyone who can legally play it by me.

- X