Fightathon Generation Results

Lego crushes it like a coke can winning five out of six events. Final point tally:

Lego	11
Killa	5
Shwa	1
Rah	1

He knocked me out early in SFIV, walloped me in the SFA3 final, owned Tekken 6, withstood the competition in SCIV, and edged me out of Brawl. And he came in second in his worst game MvC2.

Fighting data to follow as soon as I gather my objective sportsmanship.

Fightathon Generation [Fighting Game Tournament]

The next big fightathon is on for tomorrow! AKA the Tekken 6 release tournament, we've had to put this off for a number of reasons, not the least of which was bringing the MAME cabinet back online for Street Fighter Alpha 3. Anyways, we can see clearly now; there are no obstacles in our way.

Lego, Shwa, Rah and I will partake in a vicious sextathlon (sounds dirtier than it is). Street Fighter Alpha 3, Street Fighter IV, Tekken 6, Soul Calibur IV, Smash Bros. Brawl, and Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 are on the agenda, with a secret tiebreak seventh game held back in case of a tie. Overall it is agreed this is a more well rounded tournament than the original two man challenge or the three man endeavor last time.

Looking forward to anyone dethroning Lego, who has been pretty cocky around Jcasa since the last tournament. (Yes, for the last four months...) I reckon it's gonna have to be me. Place your bets. Results to follow.

Oh, and due to popular demand, we will not be live blogging the event!

Kotaku links to a video of Robin Williams making a Wii joke on a recent HBO special.

Snow Daze [Cabin Fever]

The snow days this weekend have trapped the J-Team and their mammalian companions within the confines of JCasa. After enough time with Killa, even the most eager of our cadre grew tired with the endless rematches of Tekken 6.

[SSFIV Super Street Fighter IV Character Select Screen Shot]

Thanks Shoryuken.com! Me love you long time.

Scraped [Chris Henry Ghost Riding Speculation]

Was Chris Henry's death part of a ghost-riding stunt or a domestic dispute? Initial reports from the blogosphere purport the latter, but for Killa Blog's purposes, it was 100% most definitely an example of lamboasting turned deadly.

Because Fuck You is Why [Demon's Souls Review]

Man, have you read this review of Demon's Souls? I had about zilch interest in this game before reading it.

Why would they make this game so hard?

[Assassin's Creed II X Andy Richter]

Get Even [Tekken 6 Online]

So yeah, 262 matches later, I've finally gotten even with Dragunov. As you may recall, I started off with a miserable losing streak, and have just now dug myself out of the hole. (Actually I broke even at 126W-126L, but I didn't have my phone handy.) What will the future hold? Probably proportionate wins and losses, considering my performance thus far...

What's Hot [Thermostatic Capitulation]

That song Arsonist.

Baby, It's Cold Inside [Thermostatic Resistance]

JCasa has still not turned on the heat. Yeah, that's dedication, we know. Between the space heater, a couple of heated blankets, leeching heat from our neighbors, and thinking warm thoughts we've been able to make it by. Now it's starting to become a bit of a contest, to see who will be the first to break down and fire it up.

Thankfully my spirit guide, Frost Walrus from Mega Man X4, has agreed to help me illustrate the levels of cold one may experience whilst at JCasa. Right now, it's Extremely Cold. Mornings, typically it dips down to Cold as Balls. I think we may capitulate and turn the heat once it stays at Cold as Fuck for a day or more.

The World Fucking Ends with This Shit [Final Fantasy XIII Famitsu Score]

To: Killa
From: Big Sis Prinny
Sent: Wed, Dec 9, 2009 at 1:49 PM
Subject: Are you kidding me?

Famitsu rated FFXIII lower than Bayonetta? What is the world fucking coming to?

Insert Witty Title Here [Tekken 6 Online]

My big three are Sergei, Alisa, and Lars.

Big Drag is something like 71-75 now, hovering around 48%. I still need to work my ass off for decent results, but overall the practice is making me quite the ferocious DRA. I'm probably more like 60% on stages with walls; makes a huge difference when your big damage is in the corner. I've been within a couple of wins of hitting 50% but keep running into road blocks.

Alisa Bosconovitch is sitting around 60%. Lego and I traded off in a player match room the other day, and at his suggestion I switched to Alisa when I jumped back in and ran the next four matches. Nice damage and speed, but if I can't catch them with uf+4,4, I have a hard time of building momentum.

Lars is coming along nicely. I spent some time with his move list, learning the flow of Silent Entry and Dynamic Entry, before heading online. I went 7-0 until I ran into a mean Zafina, and then two matches against a 93% Marduk. My 7-4 currently is less impressive, but I've only just begun to use his arsenal. Love using uf+3,WR+2,1(B!),d+3+4,f,2 on the unintiated. Tons of ways to get out of the last hit, but to anyone who doesn't know better, it hits backrollers like whoa. Oh, and Lars' 1P Costume FTW; the cape really disguises SE and DE progressions.

Laws, though. Why so many damn Laws?

Back in the Cab'net [MAME Cabinet Revitalization]

The Software Engineer, who as we have already established could use a better Killa Blog pseudonym, was kind enough to swing by Jcasa after TKD to reright the Mame cabinet's computational conundrum. A little trickiness later, it is back in operation.

It may be a little sensitive in its new home, but it performed like a champ last night. Some Puzzloop, Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo, Puyo Puyo, Marvel Vs. Capcom, and a full playthrough of X-Men later, I'm pretty goddamn confident in it. If you've been combating an unhuman thirst for Joust, now is the time to hit us up.

This also clears one of the roadblocks for the next Fightathon. Still toying with different formats... Expect a post shortly with some ideas.

Palinetta [Bayonetta Hype]

To: Big Sis Prinny
From: Killa
Sent: Sat, Dec 5, 2009 at 5:08 PM
Subject: Palinetta

Yo,

Have you played the Bayonetta demo?

Even after the Famitsu scores we discussed previously, I still had kind of written off Bayonetta. I may just not have had the appetite for a single player action game, but I did play the demo, and, man, this shit is cool. You should check it out. Plus, you've got a 360; the PS3 version is relatively teh suck, appar.

Later.

-Killa (from Wasilla)

4 Life [Blood Gang Sign]

Killa Mob member teh GRza showing her dual allegiance between Killa Mob and another well known urban gang.



You know, it's so rare these days I get to use the Gang Signs tag for posts. It's really a goddamn shame

This was outside RFD last night. So, where the fuck was everybody else?

Get Rich [What is Killa Blog Featured Products]

Hey there, loyal Killa Blog follower. You ever see that list of games in the right sidebar? These are games I've been focusing on, either playing or tracking before release. For quick reference, they're all hot linked to Amazon where you can buy or pre-order them.

And, hey! A percentage of anything you buy at Amazon after your initial click-through from Killa Blog goes to support Killa Blog! So, if you're gonna order a bunch of shit anyways, why not make it count? The only thing is to make sure you click-through, place your items in your cart and checkout in one session (without logging out and back in to Amazon). Kind of a pain, I know, as I usually like to dick around with cart configurations and wishlists for extended periods of time. But once you've decided, just stop here first and then knock it out in one fell swoop over at Amazon.

Overall I find this method of revenue generation far less obtrusive than the Google ads between posts, so I think I'm gonna stick with this, unless I hear otherwise.

Thanks so much for taking the time to read this and for your continued support. This is the best way to keep me providing you with all the things you probably didn't need to know.

Dang ol' Jimmy Gibbs, man [L4D2 Impressions]

Cool. Found my way out of the mall.

KLAK! [Tekken 6 Technical, Online]

Got the Shanksshivving patch installed. This has smoothed out Tekken 6's online quite a bit. It's always nice to see a company being responsive and effective in this sort of situation. Parameters for Ranked Matches can now be adjusted, allowing one to prioritize by connection quality or rank. It's best to fight opponents of a similar rank to rank up, but you can get a lot more 4 (green) and 5 (aqua) connection matches with the connection quality option.

I knocked out Scenario Campaign yesterday, which ended up being a little cooler than I thought. I kind of wish I had gone through with Lars, so that I could have avoided the peculiarity that is playing as one character and appearing in cutscenes as another. At least I got a ton of items for Sergei and Alisa, and five or six million dollars to boot. The Comic Effect items are unlocked by finishing this mode, which adds the 'Bam!' or 'Klak!' bubbles to spark animations. I had been wondering wtf that was.

I've been working my ass of to try and keep Sergei competitive against Legoman. I'm getting really good at piling on damage once I ground an opponent or run them into a wall. Right now the set up du jour is the 4,1 Karnov kickspin which on hit or block sets up the f,f+1+2 Blizzard Rush grab, after which I've been connecting like 95% of the time with the 3,1,2 string either as a pickup/okizeme or catching the opponent back-turned.

Lars is intriguing me, but my initial dabbling has not gone well. Fought a Yoshimitsu online. I had heard that Yoshimitsu had been tweaked into an expert only character; don't know if this individual was an expert or not, but he sure as fuck beat me like one...

Plus Four [SSFIV Roster Reveal]

Scans of the new Famitsu confirm four new challengers in SSFIV. Adon, Cody, and Guy are all shown, and the third image shows Guy blocking a Kunai, Ibuki's projectile.

In my last post on the subject, I was pretty dead on in following popular predictions. I'm glad to see Ibuki, and pretty meh for the Alpha trio. Right now the roster additions look like: T. Hawk, Dee Jay, Juri, Cody, Guy, Adon, Ibuki, and most likely Hakan.

Still no sightings of Hakan, but it looks like this'll be what we're getting. Still the possibility of some extra new characters, DLC characters, and a new secret boss.

Stay tuned as uzh.

Don't Shoot the Messenger [Seasonal Flavor Exodus]

Drive Thru Attendant: "I'm sorry, sir, we no longer have the Pumpkin Latte."

Killa: "OH MOTHERFUCKER!! FUCK THIS FUCKING SEASONAL BULLSHIT!! GOD FUCKING DAMNIT, GIVE ME A REGULAR LARGE HOT LATTE!!! WITH SPLENDA!!... FOR FREE!!!!!!!"

Ghost Ride [Miley Cyrus Tour Bus Crash]

You can get the details from a reputable news source, but, essentially, one tour bus transporting part of the Miley Cyrus concert crew went off the road and flipped, killing the driver. The reports I've looked at have indicated that neither speed nor weather were factors. The investigation is ongoing, but my first reaction is that the accident was likely due to fatigue.

The concert business is rife with long hours. Very often times a tightly routed tour schedule will entail an 8:00 PM concert concluding at 11:00 PM, strike and load-out until 2:00 AM, and then travel immediately to the next stop on the tour for an 8:00 AM load-in. Depending on the clout of and demand for the act, and, of course, demographic and logistical factors, a tour schedule may vary widely from this, but two to three days like this followed by one day off is pretty normal. Touring production pays per diems to and for lodging for every crew member for every day of the tour, so more time between stops increases cost without generating any additional revenue.

At my venue, exhaustion is a constant concern. While a number of us enjoy a Monster energy drink before a load-out, if I pick one up for my Union Steward, he usually will save it for his ride home, a 90 mile commute from Northwest DC to Winchester, Virginia. In cases of back-to-back shows (or recently back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back shows) the practical option is to stay at the venue, if for no other reason, just to accomodate more sleep hours.

I received a call about a week ago from an associate from a local performing arts high school. He was inquiring as to policies in place here, at my professional venue, in regard to scheduling events and time off for working personnel. His organization's management was in the process of reviewing their own policies after a colleague died in a single car crash on his way home during an extremely busy period at their own venue. Unfortunately, the answers I had for him boiled down to money. Stagehands want to make as much money as possible (this is a business after all) and this is often accomplished by working long and odd hours subject to lucrative overtime rates and penalties, as well as working on consecutive gigs, especially compensating for slow periods when there is little work. On my side of things as a house guy, my ability to schedule staff is limited by the size of my team. With six people, and only three of whom are intimately familiar with the operational details of an event, there is little flexibility to allow for mandatory rest periods. Though, in all honesty, my own driving while fatigued is mostly due to greed, or an unwillingness to compromise.

Back when I was still a young Killa, I had the unfortunate chance of waking up with an airbag hitting me in the face. I was not seriously harmed, and neither were the occupants of the vehicle I struck, but it was an alarming experience.

Currently, I tend to become drowsy very easily behind the wheel. I pay special attention to make sure I have coffee or an energy drink with me if this may be the case, both to stimulate my nervous system, but also to have the action of imbibing break up the monotony of highway driving. Is a steady stream of caffeine a real solution? No. But is the business going to suddenly change, cutting profits in the interest of better rested, safer travel? Very unlikely.

I don't have any real point to make here, I'm just talking about it. Between aggressive driving, drunk driving, texting while driving, and straight up bad driving, adding tired driving to the mix makes me wonder how anyone ever gets anywhere...

Killa's Keep

You know, days like today, I really earn my keep.

It's In Your Head [Borderlands DLC Hype]

Check this vid of upcoming Borderlands content available on the 24th.

Man, zombies are everywhere! You just can't get away from them. (Hence, the threat.)



Thanks, IGN.

Brown Panda [Sounds like Drugs]

Rare brown panda found in China.

Initial scrubbings suggest it is not "just dirty".


I swear to god I knew a guy who got busted with "brown panda".

Bangalangin' [L4D2 Demo Impressions]

The demo comprises two sections from The Parish level. Just like last time, you and three other survivors (whether they be CPU AI or online compatriots) blast your way through the infected horde towards some destination. Sometimes it's the simple pleasures, no?

I played the demo last time 'round, but never purchased the original Left 4 Dead. I remember it being one of the few attractions at PAX 2008 that I didn't find an opportunity to enjoy. Throughout the weekend the lines for L4D were significantly longer than anything I ran into at SeaTac.

With all the talk about sequelizing L4D in lieu of supporting and expanding it, I was a little hard pressed to observe these major improvements they spoke of. Then again, I'm not a hardcore fan nor the developer, so I'm not really suited to say what merits a full-fledged follow up. I will say it looks better, has more enticing modes of play, more unique infected varieties, and more weapons and items. But again, I didn't shell out for L4D(1), so what do I care if they jumped the sequel gun?

This demo is an absolute fucking blast.

This demo is an absolute fucking blast.

Just thought I'd make that doubly clear. Even if you have no intention of getting into a PC FPS and would never buy it, if you think your box can run it, get it. It's just a hell of a good time. It's a simple, fast-paced pick-up-and-play oft-hyphenated experience that feels like it's over far too soon, which is a good demo attribute.

The second area entails a segment wherein an alarm at the top of a tower is attracting the horde, and it seems to be a wise course of action to rush through the chainlink fence maze to get to the target ASAP. I ran ahead of my teammates to accomplish this, but as the maze snakes around, we got the opportunity to blast zombies attacking one another through the fences. Another neat way to use teamwork. I replayed the demo almost exclusively for this alarm tower event, because it is straight exhilarating.

First time through was single player, and my second go round was with internet peeps. One of the knuckle-draggers on my team just didn't understand getting into the safehouse at the end of the level. I tried to shoot around him to get his attention, and (somewhat) accidentally killed him with my rifle. I then grabbed my defib and brought him back, which seemed to stimulate the level ending centers of his brain, as he then complied with my suggestion.

Not sure if I'm going to jump on this immediately on Tuesday, as I've also got Assassin's Creed 2 to resist, and an extremely heavy schedule at work for the rest of the month. But, if this demo is any indication, L4D2 is the can't miss shooter of the holiday season. (Oh, unless you're a MW2 person...)

What Am I an Aggregator? II

Wow, that title is a throwback, son! Man, has this year flown by.

Here's a little best of Kotaku:

New School, Meet Old Skool

An old friend decries the decision to bring minigames back for Super Street Fighter IV.

Oh, and this essay by Guido Pellegrini, sounds like something I outlined to Big Sis Prinny about game antagonists being identified with game designers. Should've written that.

And a couple non-Kotaku items:

Deer got into the lion's den at the National Zoological park. Here's a clip via Hulu through the safe confines of Google Video. ALso, please enjoy 52 year old Guamanian Ann Curry being so stoic.

Oh, and I did some iPhone trolling over at Greater Debater.

Oh, and just for fun, this:

Note to Self [Sergei Item Move]

Sergei Dragunov
FDFA d+1+2,d+2
Tactical Goggles - 700,000

The Great Pumpkin Debate [Taokaka Jack-o-Lantern Controversy]

You know, Keif is not a big KB reader, but she did briefly see the Taokaka Jack-o-Lantern post from a little while ago. She said it looked weird, and possibly a Photoshot, but I assured her they also had a pre-lit image of the painted pumpkin. As you can see it is painted, and the only etched, as opposed to carved, area is the eyes, which give this Taokaka's eyes their glow.

Since this is the second post on the subject, I would like to thank Flickr account holder spera for the fodder.

M is for Mayhem [L4D2 Demo Hype]

Hey! The Left 4 Dead 2 Demo is out. Can't wait to get home and play through it. Hell, even Jcasa's new edition is excited; She clearly cannot control her HUNGER FOR (rabbit) BRAINS.


Anybody played it yet?

Bound [Tekken 6 Impressions]

We've had some more time with Tekken 6 now. Not much more, what with Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 and Borderlands (and requisite Smash) soaking up free time like a wad of gauze. I've beaten Azazel in Arcade mode, and dabbled ever so slightly in the Scenario Campaign, which is dreadful as far as I can tell.

Of course, the meat of any fighting game is facing off against other people, preferably in person. Rah Digga and Lego have been more than happy to oblige. How are things going?

Lego is rotating his old mains Ganryu, Wang Jinrei, Baek, and the highly revamped Law and mixing it up some with fat Bob. While he always been crafty, Lego's Law fights with a fury unseen. I'm not sure exactly how they've changed Law, but Lego is parrying attacks like it's 1999 (the year Third Strike was released, natch).

Rah Digga, much to her own delight, is having more success than ever with Christie Monteiro, the Nana to Eddy Gordo's Popo. A real pain so far, just as in T5:DR (just as in T5). Her ability to mix it up while staying below most attacks is infuriating to say the least, but, you know, can't knock the hustle.

As for myself, it's been going. Rah's tricky Monteiro is the biggest threat at the moment, as I can usually trade rematches with Lego. First I thought I'd be able to use Dragunov's new low reversal to shut down Christie's capoeira, but it turns out to be very difficult to anticipate a low attack from someone who is button mashing. I then thought trusty ol' Steve Fox would do teh trick with his Sonic Fang and stomp setups. Alas, not much luck. The only clean defeat (which was quickly followed by a losing rematch) was with Kazuya (in his new Daft Punk costume pictured below). Whereas I used to end his juggles with [df+4,4] I can now use [f+4] to bound and hit [f,n,df+4,1].

I'm also learning the ins and outs of Alisa Bosconovitch, but in the meantime, Lego doesn't know her ins and outs either, which makes for exciting rounds.

I know Dragunov's movelist better than anyone else's, so the differences have made a more profound impression on me.

[df+1,4]	A great mixup with Sergei's excellent [df+1]. This quick poke can now be followed up with a spin kick which combos on counterhit. I've been trying to use it 50/50 to punish someone trying to pressure after blocked [df+1].
[df+1+2]	Drag's new low reversal. Haven't got the hang of timing this yet, but it's got the potential to be game changing. One more tool to mix it up.
[4,1]	There are now a few followups to standing [4], but this is probably the best. It's a solid juggle substitute for [1,1] and it seems to be pretty close to neutral on block.
[FDFA, 1+2~1+2]	Sergei's Living Dead is a giacreepy way to rise from the Face Down Feet Away position, and now it can be cancelled into a tackle, which is another great way to deal damage. Careful, though, this can get really obvious if done regularly.

I need to run through Kazuya's movelist to find the changes, and probably a great number more times to absorb Alisa's massive arsenal. Stay tuned.

Ad Hack [Advertising on Killa Blog]

So, yeah. Ads on Killa Blog. What do you think?

It's been a mixed bag. Obedience school made sense after the KB-VG-K9 poll. The Tassimo beverage system touting its pumpkin spice lattes made sense after Seasons Drinkings. And in the last two days, I spotted spots for both Bob McDonnell and Creigh Deeds for yesterday's Virginia gubernatorial race. Chalk that one up to locale.

Then again, when I see ads for the official Tekken 6 site, Ratchet & Clank Future, GTA Chinatown Wars, or Soul Calibur: Broken Destiny, I begin to think there may be a future for advertising on KB.

Now, the money is not the issue. I blog out of spite, after all, not greed. But a system wherein people can learn more about and even purchase products or services read about on Killa Blog, that has some potential. These Google Adsense shenanigans have been amusing, but it may be time for something more focused.

Thoughts?

I like it when you call me Big Droppa.

-Spilla

BlazOrange[BlazBlue Taokaka Jack-o-Lantern]

Via Kotaku.


Damn, that's dedication.

Worth Waiting For [Tekken 6 Impressions]

Tekken 6 was released in JPN game centers in November 2007. Its update, Tekken 6: Bloodline Rebellion, dropped in JPN game centers in December 2008. And after an unecessarily complicated delivery process, it is now in Jcasa ensuring the PS3 gets as little downtime as possible. So, really, this has been 23 months coming. Worth it?

Oh, fuck yeah it is.

This edition is 40 characters strong, with six new challengers: Bob, Zafina, Miguel, and Leo added in T6, and Lars and Alisa added in T6:BR. That's pretty damn impressive. BlazBlue brings only 12 fighters to the table, Street Fighter IV only boasts 25, and probably around 33 for the SuperSFIV update. KoFXII and MKvDCU both sport rosters of 22, the upcoming Tatsunoko Vs. Capcom console edition rocks 26, while Smash Brawl's impressive 35 characters was the biggest selection around until Tekken 6 (with the exception of MvC2). Namco's other offering, Soul Caliber, is pretty damn close, but that lineup's exact number is somewhat nebulous given all of the minor, modified clones.

Looks like there may only be 17 stages, which Lego finds a little disappointing, but I feel the interactivity of the environments goes a long way to liven things up. Oh, and the first person to get smashed through a floor was Rah Digga, so beer's on her.

Bob and Alisa are the real standouts of the new recruits, though Zafina is intriguing. On a more personal note, Dragunov gets a really robust makeover, with some handy new tricks and an overall faster and safer arsenal. A little bit of speed goes a long way with Drag, as being able to pressure a character makes all of his feints and grab setups more difficult to avoid.

Graphically, I expected a bit more over what T5:DR exhibited, but I think some news specs and a 1080p display may fix that.

Haven't gotten in any of the Scenario Campaign yet, and I've played but one match online. Stay tuned for more impressions or a Killa review a little down the road, or hit me up and come check it out for yourself.

The Wild West [Borderlands Impressions]

Anyone else think multiplayer Fallout would have been cool? Good news!

Big Sis Prinny implored me (and I don't just throw around the word 'implore', for real) to check out Gearbox's Borderlands. It is a loot-driven role-playing shooter set in a sci-fi Wild West. If that sounds like the sort of thing you would like, you may want to check this out.

So far my time with four player online play has been limited, but my impression is that it runs smoothly, and once the logistics of playing with friends on headsets is realized, I think it'll be fucking money.

In my solo escapades I've been able to bring my soldier character up to Level 11, giving me enough skill points to amp up the damage dealing capability of my Scorpio Turret, my class's special action, and to activate Metal Storm, a temporary increase to firing rate and decrease to recoil, every time I kill an enemy, which predictably makes mowing through multiple enemies pretty efficient.

Millions (literally) of possible weapons, vehicles, multiplayer arenas, one hundred-sixty quests, new game+, splitscreen two player coop, nice cel-shaded graphics, and four character types to use. Who are you to resist, eh?

Normally I try to space out new game purchases, but, hell, sometimes you've got grab life by the throat and spit in its mouth.

Under da Sea [Bioshock 2 Trailer]

New Bioshock 2 video. Word.

Get Ready for the Next Battle [Tekken 6 Release Hype]

Oh shit. Some logistical complications aside, I should be able to obtain my Tekken 6 Wireless Stick Bundle on the way home this evening.

W00t! This is the most hyped I've been since, well, SFIV came out.

First person to get slammed through a floor buys beer!

Rush FTW [VG K9 Poll Results]

Leave it to the artificial dog and his artificial master to beat out all the rest of the fictitious canine companions.

I don't know who came out swinging at the last second to put Rush over the top, but I do like to see the best dog win. I mean, he can turn into a fucking jet, people. C'mon. A fucking jet! Can Dogmeat fly the Vault Dweller over an otherwise impassable spiked floor? Didn't think so.

Odds and Ends: Autumnal Edition

Mmmm... Nothing like enjoying a Dunkin Donuts Pumpkin Latte with a Pumpkin Cake Donut on a cool Fall day...

Only like ten hours left to voice your opinion on the best canine companion in videogames. Looks like Rush and Fable 2's dog are in a dead heat for the title. Please note: If the votes are equal at the end of polling period, the title will be awarded to Fran from Final Fantasy XII.

Swapped out the Mame PC's PSU with the new one... Same problem as before... Which leads me to believe it may be the mobo... Methinks a new computer may be in order. No one has an old PC of which they're trying to get rid, do they? Hit me if you do.

Tekken 6 should be arriving @ J Casa Tuesday, so unless there's something going on that night I'm forgetting about, hit me up and come on over if you want to try your Iron Fist before Lego and I start flexing our 1337ness.

And oh yeah, what is everybody doing for Halloween? No crazy Jcasa party, so I'm leaning towards Cypress Hill @ 9:30 Club. Anything else going down?

Word is bond. Peace.

BlogoShock [Second Playthrough, Wrench]

Chapter VI: Recompense


Final Loadout for the second Bioshock run. Wrenched it up as much as possible. Please note: Wrench Jockey 1 and 2, Wrench Lurker 1 and 2, and Damage Research 1 and 2. That's a lot of damage. Thanks, Bioshock Wiki for teh secret formula:

* Standard Attacks:

The Wrench's base damage value is used for calculation (20 physical):
Wrench Jockey 350% + Wrench Jockey 2 550% + Research Camera bonus from Bouncer 50% = additional 950% damage (210 damage total)

Note: Damage bonuses gained from research and the Damage Research tonics are calculated with using the result value in the above equation as a base.

* Attacks Against Unaware Enemies:

The Wrench's enhanced damage value is used for calculation (base damage with enhancements):
Wrench Lurker 150% + Wrench Lurker 2 200% = 350% of enhanced Wrench damage (i.e. 210 damage + 350% unaware bonus = 765 damage total)

Note: Only the first attack on an unaware opponent will have the damage bonus applied.

* Attacks Against Stunned Enemies:

The Wrench's enhanced and unaware damage value is used for calculation (base damage with enhancements and unaware damage bonus):
Splicer shocked with Electro Bolt = 400% of enhanced Wrench damage with unaware bonus (i.e. 210 damage + 350% unaware bonus x 400% = 3,060 damage total)

Note: Only the first attack on an shocked opponent will have the damage bonus applied. This combination is called the "One-Two Punch" by Atlas.


Plus Sportboost 2 which allows me to swing the wrench faster, and Bloodlust, which gives me back a bit of Health and EVE every time I strike with the wrench. And consider Natural Camouflage for lots of easy Unaware damage bonuses.

I finished off one of the last Daddies with the wrench. It was truly the culmination of an elaborate scenario: I shot a Proximity mine onto the stairs from the upper level, hit the Big Daddy with an Incendiary Crossbow Bolt, quickly ran into a room wherein I could not be shot and placed another Prox Mine at the top of the stairs, meanwhile the Big Daddy runs up the stairs to pursue me, activating both mines, and then becoming ensnared in my Trap bolt electric triplines, at which point I began wailing on his oaf ass with the wrench. Nice.

For the final Daddy, during the Proving Grounds, I went for bust. Went toe-to-toe with an Elite Bouncer Big Daddy, Wrench versus Drill.

WRENCH KILL FOR THE WIN, MOTHERFUCKER.

HOW YOU LIKE ME NOW?

Got the evil ending and all that. Def done with the Bizzle Shizzle... So, yeah, when is BizzleShizzleTwizzle coming izzle?

Careful! Don't Get Squashed [Shadow of the Colossus Jack-o-Lantern]

As seen on Kotaku.

Seasons Drinkings [Pumpkin Spice]

The union boss here at my Venue, Sweet, Venue doesn't drink coffee. That is to say, he doesn't normally drink coffee.
	Only during one part of the year is he so tempted he cannot resist.

No can resist the call...

...of Pumpkin Spice.

On Fluid Boss Mechanics [SMB2 X BioShock]

or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bombs

You know, two games can't be much more different than BioShock and Super Mario Bros 2 (aka Doki Doki Panic). Era, format, genre, mood, theme, control.

What is familiar with them, is the way that bosses are presented in a fluid manner. Now, I can't say there are a lot of games like BioShock that allow you to fight bosses wherever you want, although, --damn.. What's that one game? With the girl and the dog? ... Haunting Ground! That's it. I never played that, but you may have been able to do that in Haunting Ground. No clue, really. Did anyone play that? I might need to track that down.

Anyways, though SMB2 clearly does not allow you to fight boss battles wherever in a level you would like, it does stray pretty far from the idea of fighting Bowser on a bridge in a castle level, or Mega Man entering boss battles through those classic doors. But it did have you fight familiar bosses repeatedly on varied terrain, and with different strategies.

BioShock has a number of very familiar Big Daddy fights, like the first in Medical Pavillion and the one in the Farmer's Market. These tend to play out pretty similarly since the Daddy-Sister pairs tend to start in the same part of their route when you enter the area. Of course, you can wait, and lure them off their path with an ADAM-rich pile of corpses if you want to tilt the odds in your favor (or closer to a hacked rocket turret).

Using the same type of boss in different environments presents an interesting situation to players, wherein the knowledge of the enemy's tactics allows one to create new stategies for the encounter. This is dynamite bitchin' cool whether it be building a wall of blocks to hide from TriClyde's fireballs, or inviting a Sister with Daddy in tow to enjoy a freshly prepared corpse and proximity mine salad. Just as defeating enemies with different weapons or different characters expands a gameplay experience, so does facing them in different environments.

Not a fit for every game, but giving more control to the player while keeping tension high is always a good idea.




Hmmm... HebeGB doesn't check KB, but someone else may know... Resident Evil ever allow you to lure bosses into different areas?

Also, did you see the price of Haunting Ground on Amazon?! Gooodddd-ddaaaammmnnn.

Blindsided [Half Minute Hero]

Sometimes seeing info on a new game is like getting T-boned in an intersection. Looks like WarioWare crossed up Final Fantasy VI(NA III).

High Res-titution

There. I regretted not having a higher resolution Houdini Splicer Icon. Took me a second to get back into PC mode and use PrntScrn. Enjoy.

A New Challenger Approaches

Not only can you check out the furious crossover action of Tatsunoko vs Capcom in this clip, but you also get to see Zero in action. What?! Batsu from Rival Schools is his partner, and they throw down against a couple of Tatsunoko IPs, err, characters. Enjoy!

Teh S [SSFIV Roster]

Teh S is coming to Street Fighter IV; specifically the silver emblem of superiority. Super.

Super Street Fighter IV has been announced as a standalone title, and the webz are humming with the possibilities that brings. Most prominently, the roster of characters is the target of so much speculation it could make your head spin. Here's what we got:

The twenty-five returning from SFIV are Ryu, Ken, Chun Li, Guile, Dhalsim, Honda, Blanka, Zangief, Balrog, Vega, Sagat, Bison, Abel, Viper, Rufus, Fuerte, Akuma, Gouken, Seth, Fei Long, Cammy, Sakura, Rose, Dan, and Gen.

Confirmed as new additions are T.Hawk and Dee Jay, who complete the entire Super Street Fighter II Turbo crew.

Juri is the other so far confirmed addition, and the only new character confirmed so far. The South Korean TKD practitioner with the wacky eye implant, she likely has a connection to Seth and S.I.N. (Any tie to the Alpha Dolls is conjecture, but, for the record, I said it.)

Next up is Hakan the Arab grappler. A real scarcity of information on this fellow. No images, no official data, but since he's new and being mentioned in every list, it seems a safe bet.

The rough number eight was thrown out as the sum of the new entrants. So, after Juri, Dee Jay, T.Hawk, and Hakan, we've got possibly as few as four spots left. The top contenders from the rumor mill are:

Adon, Sagat's Starscream, was the penultimate opponent in the OG Street Fighter. Popped back up in Alpha with his Jaguar style involving many Muay Thai normals, the very familiar Jaguar Knee, and a lot of off-the-wall antics reminiscent of Vega(Claw). Though I did use him a lot in SFA3, I'm not a big admirer, and I'd love to see him left on the modeling room floor in lieu of some other additions.

Guy and Cody, the Final Fight crew that sprang up in Alpha. I was never big on them, but they are quite popular. I'm more of a Cody man myself, but I think the knife and rock shtick is pretty tired. Again, I could take them or leave them.

Ibuki, Makoto, and Dudley from SFIII round out the short list of popular assumptions. Of the three, Ibuki is the only one I'd really like to see in SSFIV. A lot of really fun EX specials and a cool character design FTW. Makoto feels too derivative to me, personally, as she is too similar to both Ryu and Sakura, even if this super tough karate girl's fighting style is significantly distinct. I like Dud as well, but I do not think another boxer is necessary, let alone another black boxer.

"Well, Killa, who would you like to see in SSFIV?"

Now that you ask, my picks beyond Juri, T.Hawk, Dee Jay, and Hakan, would be Ibuki, Birdie, Charlie, and Yun. Ibuki I have already expressed my desire for, so let me explain the other three.

Birdie is another SF1 throwback who reappeared in Alpha. The chain wielding Brit hoodlum is a great hybrid character with 360 throws and charge attacks, plus he has a distinctive character design and a mean brawling style, which, oddly enough, is a nice contrast to the recognized disciplines in SFIV.

Charlie was one of my Alpha faves, and I'd like to see him return, whether as Charlie or as his Marvel crossover alter-ego Shadow. There is some suggestion in the dialogue of SFIV that Abel knows him, and I'd love to see him come out of retirement. Just as you can differentiate Ryu, Ken, and Akuma with the subtleties of tatsumaki senpukyaku juggling or shoryuken priority, there is plenty of room to tweak the Sonic-Flash military moveset to provide a different experience than Guile. This one's a longshot, though. (Mayhap Shadow will be a secret boss?)

And finally, Yun. Yun is just a great character, and the best thing to come out Street Fighter III. Oh, and Genei Jin is the sweetest Super Art, like, eva.

But, you know, meh. Can't always get what you want.

Want Crabs?

Big 5

No, I don't mean Kaiba Corp's malevolent board of directors, nor the dimensions of personality... In this case, I'm referring to the five... best... videogames.

I'm talking single player experiences here, also. So please, no hatemail about Marvel Vs. Capcom 2, Smash Brawl, or Team Fortress 2 getting left out in the cold. They're great games, but this list is going for the quality of narrative and gameplay in single player experiences. For this reason, most puzzle, sports, driving, and rhythm games are not in contention. (Sorry Pac Man, no cerebral resonance.)

Here 'dem is (in order of the character length of their familiar titles):

Portal
BioShock
Snake Eater
Final Fantasy VII
Shadow of the Colossus

Controversial, I know. "No Zelda?" I'm afraid not. I'm a big fan of Ocarina and Majora's Mask, but those games don't have any real emotional value tied to their story. Zelda games are what they are, but I've never spent any time thinking about them after the fact like I have the list members.

Portal, if you have played it, is self-evident. An anti-shooter, if you will, it defies all convention. This first-person puzzler is so unique, and presents such a compelling plot even with the near total absence of other characters.

BioShock may seem like jumping the gun, as I obviously completed it pretty recently. But this really did edge out Half-Life 2 or Half-Life 2: Episode 2 as the best FPS I've ever played. Just check any of the BlogoShock posts to see why.

MGS 1 and 4 are also both great games, but Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater holds a very special place in my gamer heart. Definitely the most emotionally invested I've ever been in a game. Great characters, immersive atmosphere, and top-notch stealth action. (Man, I could go for another playthrough right now...) Solid Snake is a complex, beloved character, but he is no Big Boss.

Final Fantasy VII is a tough one to pick, as the gameplay has aged significantly. This one is a total classic, and the storyline, that is to say, the complete storyline, made this the definition of the word "epic" in the gaming lexicon. Breadth, depth, and scope all revolutionary for it's time. It is the kind of game, like Snake Eater, that is always worth a challenge playthrough, not just for the bragging rights, but to enjoy the experience all over again.

(I actually debated a lot between inclusion of Final Fantasy VII or X-2. X-2's gameplay I believe is the best in the series, and I am looking forward to a return to the formula for XIII, but VII's plot and characters outweigh X-2's frenetic battle system.)

Shadow of the Colossus... well, if you haven't played it, you need to. And once you play it, you know.

Odds and Ends: Oktoberfest Edition

Still need to get a new power supply for the Mame cabinet computer. Obviously we'll need that operational for the big Tekken 6 release fightathon. What's that? You are interested in the next fighting game competition? Well hit me then. I'm thinking I'll sacrifice BlazBlue from the lineup in order to keep SFIV. Likely it'll be T6, SFIV, SCIV, SSBB, MvC2, and SFA3 as the big six. Tiebreak suggestions?

Big Sis Prinny and I wrapped up a casual afternoon by knocking out the rest of the levels in the XBLA release Bubble Bobble Neo. I believe I have mentioned before how fond I am of Bub and Bob, those irresistable bubble-spewing dragons. A lot of fun, but, man, that Level 72! >.<

And last night I was cajoled into participating in a little No Limit Hold'em tourney. I've probably only played four times in the last two years, a drastic comparison to, say, 2006, when teh crew played every night for months on end. The heads up showdown ended up as a battle of the douche bags, and as you well know, no one can out-douche Killa. Walked away with $100... (toward a PSPgo?!)

BlogoShock

Level 5: The Modern Frankenstein

Ken Levine had said that in retrospect he wished he had placed the dramatic confrontation with Andrew Ryan later in the game, as there is a fair amount of gameplay between that point and the final encounter. Good news for me, however, as I reached that point and knew I still had some wrench-bashing left to do.

I've completed the game now, as you may have surmised from the loadout post. A credit to 2K Boston's gameplay design is the way my abilities kept up with the steep difficulty. I poked around a little bit just after finshing to confirm there was no New Game+. (PS3 only it turns out.) Saw a few remarks about the difficulty in the game, especially people referring to Hard (which I played) as forcing you to play the game differently, using the environments and luring splicers into turret traps. Well, you know, that is true, but after concluding the run through, I'm pretty glad I did. I had a rocky start as you'll recall, before I adopted the kitchen sink approach.

By using everything at your disposal to kill enemies and clear areas as quickly as possible, I believe you really are playing the game the way it was meant to be played. Towards the end, also, Damage Research 2 and the defense boost you get from the *cough*cough* evened the playing field right before what was probably the toughest segment of the game, the obligatory escort sequence. (Don't get me wrong, it was cool. At least I wasn't dragging Eva's knocked out ass through the jungle...)

But I think I got just about everything out of this playthrough. I obtained (or had the option to buy) every plasmid and tonic in the game, bought every health and EVE upgrade, maximized research damage on all enemies except perhaps turrets and cameras, found a metric fuckton of audio diaries, and rescued all of the Little Sisters obtaining the "good" ending. I missed two weapon upgrades, one apparently because I killed Sander Cohen, and the other due to an oversight, though I wasn't overly interested in Chemical Thrower range and Crossbow Breakage chance. Oh, but I would recommend getting Pistol Clip Size early. Much more useful than I thought it would be.

But anyways, I believe I enjoyed the bulk of the intended experienced. If I were to do it differently, I would likely focus on Wrench tactics, and I'd probably give Hacker's Delight a try, since I did fucking hack everything. Oh, and it turns out, I never really understood Security Bullseye. Silly me.

But, in summation, Bioshock is a hell of a game. Upon completion I quickly indulged myself in the Bioshock 2 Big Sister and multiplayer trailers. Guess I don't have much to do except salivate until February 9th...

Ballsy

Who would use such a crazy piano?

BlogoShock

Teh Final Loadout

Here is the set of plasmids and tonics I used in much of the endgame.


Telekinesis, Electro Bolt 3, Target Dummy, Insect Swarm 3, and Hypnotize Big Daddy 2 served as quite the versatile arsenal. I found Target Dummy to be especially useful late game to lure splicers into traps and to get around turrets. At a certain point leading to the final encounter, I kind of knew I wouldn't need Hypnotize, but it kinda became like a good luck charm.

Also to note, nothing fancy in my ultimate Combat Tonic selection. As I had maxed every type of Splicer or Daddy in regard to Photographic Research, stacked Research Damage 1 and 2 increased bonus damage 90%. Likewise Armored Shell 1 and 2 for overall defense.

As you can see I didn't go crazy on buying additional plasmid and tonic slots. I did buy every available Health and Eve upgrade, though, as far I could tell.

Roc Lego Familia

To: Killa; Rah Digga
From: Legoman
Sent: Thu, Sep 24, 2009 at 9:01 AM
Subject: Killing Time

Yeah its true, she did well with Bowser. She didn't play as Pikapussy once either. Obviously the computers had a little something to do with the outcome of the match but I don't want to discredit her achievment. I dont mind losing a match or two like that. I like to let the new comers share the spotlight with me. It allows me to reinvent myself. When you're like the Jay-Z of the Smash Bros. world you need the competition. You thrive off of it. I mean, "I'm the best Smasher alive". "I'm still countin kills from 88". So whenever you wanna come test the king......bring it!

Conchords Tracks on the Way to Rock Band?

Via Kotaku

Check the Emmy red carpet video where Bret spills teh beans.

Personally, I would hope for 'Rhymenocerous vs. HipHoppopotamus', 'Boom', and... 'If That's What You're Into'. How about you?

Blogoshock

IV. Convention Defied

Not unlike its spiritual predecessors System Shock 1 & 2, Bioshock is quite the genre bender. It's pretty novel in a FPS to be presented with a task like "collect seven enzyme samples and seven bottles of distilled water". While on the hunt, one comes across a corpse and a recorded tape. The message cautions someone to stay the fuck away from someone else's bees if they aren't willing to pay. When searched, the corpse has an enzyme sample. Hmmm...

Similarly, another recorded message is entitled "Water into Wine". Now, I don't remember the exact details, but the plot device is simple. Go to the Farmer's Market, and then to the Apiary's hives for enzyme, and the Winery's cellar for distilled water. The method by which the player is motivated to explore the area feels organic, and the conclusion of the fetching task takes you to a previously visited, deadend location. The sequence ends with being trapped in the cul-de-sac laboratory and having to hold off a platoon of splicers until the process is completed. (Luckily I was holed up with a Big Daddy that was willing to help me pass the time.)

Varied gameplay and excellent level design are making the game a joy to play, and a pain to put down. I really haven't focused on it, but part of what really makes this a stand-out experience is the audio design. It makes for a completely immersive environment, and the ability to listen to backstory while going about hacking, searching, and strategizing precludes any dull moments.

Sander Cohen's freaky artistic antics have me snapping pics and taking names. Stay tuned.


(You know, I couldn't find the Houdini splicer icon anywhere... Sorry for the lo-res.)

Happy TLaPD!!

"Go Under!!"

BlogoShock

Part Three: Variety is the Splice of Life

I've made it to and through Arcadia, the leisure park of Rapture. I reckon I should've wondered how they supplied oxygen to this underwater city... Trees, son!

New gameplay mechanics keep popping up, which is refreshing this far into a game. Odd junk items started turning up just before I found my first U-Invent machine, a nifty way of crafting (primarily) bad ass ammo. It's interesting the number of resources on which one has to rely: junk, health, EVE, money, ADAM, ammo, auto-hack tools, film... (If I had wanted to make a spreadsheet, I would've played Disgaea 3.)

Splicers have been keeping it fresh, with the newfangled ability to disappear and reappear while attacking. Startles the shit out of me on the reg. Makes a lot of previous tactics rather ineffective.

I did realize I haven't fought a Bouncer Big Daddy since the end of the Medical Pavillion. I've been getting pretty handy dispatching Rosies, and I think a rude awakening may be in store whenever I run into another up close and personal encounter. Oh well, back to the U-Invent for more armor-piercing auto rounds...

"This Adidas, bitch"

I hate thoroughly enjoy saying I told you so. So, yeah, I totally called it, like, over a year ago. Check the evidence fo' yo' self.

[Not a Rickroll. This time.]

Nom³

via HC13

BlogoShock

Chapter II: Kitchen Sink Approach

I have to say, after a slow start, Neptune's Bounty has gone swimmingly. Almost immediately upon entering the level, the first Daddy/Sister pair were shlumping their way 'cross my path. This time around the three Daddies lurking are Rosies, the long-range counterpart to the melee Bouncer. Even with a pretty nice supply of health and EVE, I ran into some issues.

I stocked up on Armor-piercing pistol ammo, but couldn't bring him down. I tried hacking some gun turrets before engaging it. Died. I tried waiting until a group of splicers barraged him, to no avail. I tried the Medical Pavillion technique but just couldn't put him down. Wouldn't you know it? It was merely a matter of addition. Decided to throw everything at this mofo except the Kitchen Sink (which I couldn't find, but otherwise would have thrown). Hack the turrets, let the splicers distract him, blast him with explosive cannisters, Electric Bolt him at every turn, and then unload on him. Voila. Tough cookie, that one.

Luckily, this made my third rescued Little Sister, and for this I got a very nice care package including the Hypnotize Big Daddy plasmid. (You know how much I love Hypnotize.) Between the Daddy-on-Daddy action and getting my grubby paws on the Grenade Launcher, the Bounty's Sisters were soon all accounted for.

But, fuck, these goddamn Spider Splicers. When enemies came at me with pipes, I took it in stride. I didn't even whine much when they started firing at me and tossing grenades. But when they start crawling along the ceiling and hurling hooks at me, I take it personally. Not enough that I had a specifically tough one to kill, but as I meandered around I was required to take research photos of them. Pretty neat actually, the way the photography mechanic works, rewarding good shots of enemies with tips, damage bonuses, and combat tonics.

I think I'm on the brink of some wild shit, fo' real tho'. Scraped my way through a splicer encounter sans weapons and am now on my way to the submarine dock. I've purposely avoided spoilers for the last, like, two years, though I have heard I've got some twists and turns in store. Don't worry; I'll keep you posted.

Leakage [TVC Roster]

Shoryuken did some digging and done dug up da dirt. The complete roster of the North American version of Tatsunoko Vs. Capcom was deciphered from some sloppy html. Most notable, as far as Killa Blog is concerned, is Mega Man Zero. He did pop up in SVC Chaos, though I've never really been an SNK guy, and didn't have much interest in that installment.

I have to say I'm pretty un-fucking-familiar with most Tatsunoko IPs. I know Casshern through exposure via Big Sis Prinny, though the film didn't really do it for me. However, on the Capcom side, I am pretty familiar with Ryu, Chun Li, Alex, Batsu, Morrigan, Viewtiful Joe, Mega Man Volnutt, and Roll.

I may have to consider picking this one up, though I have till January to debate it. It's hard to compare any Wii fighter to Smash Brawl, but, then again, Capcom crossover games only come around so often...

BlogoShock

Episode 1: Gone Daddy Gone

Whew. Managed to knock out the first Big Daddy. Really ran into some trouble to be perfectly honest with you. I came into this fight with the plasmids Telekinesis and Incinerate, having temporarily given up Electric Bolt. I also came to the end of the section with a very sparse supply (i.e. 1 shell) of electric shotgun ammo. Without a reliable way to shock and stall the Big Daddy's charges, this was going to be an uphill battle, which I lost very quickly a great number of times.

I eventually did check the intarwebbz for advice. I spent some time backtracking to Dr. Steinman's Aesthetic Ideals to collect the flammable gas canisters that I hadn't detonated in that encounter. Luckily, this amounted to three. Telekinetically flinging these explosives at the Mr. Bubbles off the break left me with a mere quarter or so of his health to scrape through. Some fancy footwork and a lot of armor-piercing pistol rounds later, I'm off to Neptune's Bounty.

I Like It When You Call Me Big Daddy

Primarily videogame miscellania this time 'round. Sorry, but you've been getting some pretty diverse blogging, so, you know. Be happy with what you get.

I'm up over 9300 GP in SFIV Championship Network mode now. Spending a significant amount of time losing with Abel. Been trying to rotate Abel, Gief, and Rufus pretty steadily. Championship mode is double blind character select, so I can only base the choice on prior experience with whomever I am matched up. I'm trying to mold Abel into my go-to counter pick versus Ryu. Fucking <3 Ultra through Hadoken.

In the "'bout fucking time" category, I should mention I bought BioShock on Steam, a bargain at twenty bones. As far as I'm concerned, this game is creepier than any Resident Evil I've ever played. I should really stop playing this game whilst situated. Think I'm about done the Medical Pavillion; fighting my first Big Daddy now. Not going so well, but I am playing on Hard mode for my first playthrough.

Wish me luck.

Hungry, Hungry, (Dead.)

As reported by Reuters, one of cocaine monarch Pablo Escobar's beloved hippos, Pepe, has been shot.

I mean, you take a man's life, ruin his drug empire, but... But to kill his hippopotamus?


That's fucking wrong, Colombia.


That shit is all fucked up.

What's Cookin'?

The roommate's manner continued to disturb the newlyweds. His behavior was quite alarming... Graciously welcoming them home from their honeymoon, helping them with their luggage, and inviting them to join him for dinner: a provocatively aromatic stew simmering in their newly acquired slow cooker.

They sat and tried to relax with their old chum, though the maniacal glint in his eyes was becoming unnerving. They were no strangers to his long, protracted practical jokes, though his ability to keep this one to himself for so long was conspicuous. He was known throughout their circle of friends for divulging even the supposedly most tightly guarded secrets at the tip of a hat. They were waiting at any moment for him to burst out with whatever inane story he had to share.

The cozy home was quiet, save for the bubbling stew. Their rambunctious shepherd mix was still with his mother; the moose of a canine being an undue burden on their busy roommate. He was, of course, more than happy to care for their low maintenance domestic short-hair, Mojo, during their absence. The cat apparently was still bitter about her owners' trip, as she had yet to slink downstairs to greet her caretakers.

The groom, hungry from their long trip back from the tropics, nibbled on some garlic toast, and then was seduced by the aroma of the stew that had been ladled into his bowl. The deep red broth swirled slowly, slices of carrot lazily bumping into bits of soft celery and chunks of potato. The hearty smell of black pepper and oregano drifted through the dimly lit kitchen, and enticed the new bride to likewise take a tantalizing slurp of the concoction.

"Do you like it?" he asked, on the brink of unbridled enthusiasm. They had known him to be awfully proud of his omeletes, and perhaps he was merely seeking approval of his latest endeavor.

"Yeah, man," the new husband answered, relishing the rich, smoky flavors of the meal. "Where'd you get the recipe? Food Network.com?"

"Oh," he replied, "I got it out of one of y'all's cookbooks. Made a few adjustments to make it suit my style. You all had told me to use up the stuff in the fridge while you were gone, so I figured I would make the best stew I could with what was around the house."

The young woman was impressed. The stew was well composed, rich, and the meat was tender and erupting with flavor. "This is great. Did you use the rest of that ribeye we had left?"

"No," he replied. "I didn't think that was the right fit for this recipe."

"Oh," she said. "This does fit better. Is this a lamb shank or something?"

"No," he replied. "I just tried to use things that were already here in the house," he said as he rose to clear the table.

The couple sat puzzled, as they reached the bottom of their bowls. They didn't think they had left any other meat in the refrigerator before their departure.

Confounded, the new bride was about to ask what he did use in the stew, when a horrible, sinking feeling began to pool in her stomach. And she suddenly became far too frightened to wonder out loud why their darling cat had not yet trotted down the steps to come see them...

"If you want I can give you the recipe," he offered. "But it might be a little tricky now to find everything you need... for Mojo Stew."

Crysis Averted [Crysis Final Impressions]

Beat Crysis. Thought I had some more game to go... Kind of abrupt. Ah well. Very cool game nonetheless. Don't know if I'll jump into sidestory/expansion Warhead just yet, but I'm glad I knocked it out.

Obobble

This is actually an episode of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon from back in July. Don't watch the whole thing, just the beginning (up to about 1:43) with the protracted Bubble Bobble reference. I thought I was the only one that remembered that game!


Maybe this Obama guy is okay after all...

Oh, and I reckon all you Facebook groupies are going to want to flock here.

Uh ee Uh aa aa [Diablo III Art]

Crescente's Diablo III impressions make me wonder if I would enjoy Diablo III when it is released. Probably not as much as I enjoy this Witch Doctor art.