New Year Resolution

Do better. Know better. Be better.

Happy New Year.

The Problem with Gaming...

I took a gaming break in college. I played unfinished games on my PS2 from time to time without completing them. Towards the end of college, I got into Maplestory. It was crazy addicting. It wasn't until I graduated in 2008 that I started getting back into gaming again. My dad bought the PS3 around this time.

I started with a decent collection of PS3 games. Soul Calibur IV and Tekken 6 for fighting games, a First-Person Shooter with Unreal Tournament III, a basketball and tennis game and that Motorstorm racing game that came with the PS3. None of these were serious games that I invest my time on. Most of those games were still a year or so away. I was still playing better games on the PS2 and my current Maplestory addiction. My ex also bought Rock Band 2 for me and my siblings, even though I told her it's a waste. It's a nice party game, but it's not a game I seriously invest my time on or the fact that I don't really host parties lol.

It was about 6 months or so after (2009) when all the good games were released. Over the next two years, not in any particular order, I got Fallout 3, Metal Gear Solid 4, Dante's Inferno, Heavy Rain, Brutal Legend, Final Fantasy XIII, Silent Hill: Homecoming, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Mirror's Edge, L.A. Noire, Nier and God of War 3.



Fast forward to now:

• I reached level 200 in Maplestory in late 2012. I'm probably the only one among my friends in college to ever reach this achievement (no cheating or private servers). I stopped playing shortly in early 2013.
• I haven't beaten Silent Hill: Homecoming. I also bought a copy of Silent Hill: Downpour. I haven't played it yet.
• I haven't beaten Fallout 3. I actually traded my copy of it. At first I thought about buying the Game of the Year edition of Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas, but I felt it was too much Elder Scroll mechanics for me.
• I did beat Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. I also got copies of their direct sequels, Modern Warfare 2 and 3. Also beat them.
• Metal Gear Solid 4, Dante's Inferno and Mirror's Edge were the only serious game I invested my time on in 2009-2010.
• When I started playing Final Fantasy XIII on my fat PS3, it actually broke the system. The lens was fried and could no longer play any disks, Blu-Ray or DVD. The system is still operational for downloaded games and is now sitting in the basement. I bought the Killzone 3 bundle of the slim PS3. I beat Killzone 3 (didn't really care about multiplayer).
• I started playing Nier, Brutal Legend, Heavy Rain, God of War 3 and L.A. Noire around 2010. I beat God of War 3 and Nier in 2011. I just beat the other three games earlier this year.
• Sony had problems with the PSN in 2011 and closed it for a while. As their "Welcome Back" package, they gave away a few PS3 games for download and a trial of PlayStation Plus. I got inFAMOUS and Wipeout. Wipeout was meh. I beat inFAMOUS earlier this year and downloaded a free copy of inFAMOUS 2 as a PlayStation Plus member. Still have yet to beat it.
• E3 in 2012 showcased a trailer for Assassin's Creed III. That got my so hyped up that I bought the previous Assassin's Creed games (1, 2, Brotherhood, Revelations) and beat them in the 3 months leading up to the release of AC3 in October 2012. I bought Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag on release date. I beat it about 3 weeks after.
• I acquired a bunch of PSN games. flOw, Flower, Journey, Datura, Machinarium, etc. Already beat them.
• I got The Walking Dead: A Tell-Tale Game and the 400 Days DLC. Still waiting for Season 2.
• I acquired Ni no Kuni and Bioshock: Infinite from Amazon. Bioshock: Infinite includes a free copy of the first Bioshock. I'm actually playing that one first. I started playing Ni no Kuni. It's a fun J-RPG.
• I got Beyond: Two Souls. Many people were turned off by this game, but it's a definite improvement as the spiritual-successor to Heavy Rain. It had better dialogue, acting, pacing and story.
• Because of PlayStation Plus, I've had my pick on the litter on free games. I got Uncharted 3 for free. Rather than play this game first, I bought the Uncharted 1 and 2 bundle at Best Buy and beat the first game.
• I started playing Final Fantasy XIII again. I'm almost done with the game. I bought Final Fantasy XIII-2 last year for $15 at Target. The final sequel, Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII comes out next year.

The problem with gaming is that there are too many games distracting you from playing and completing previous games. I literally have games lying around enough to last me for another year, provided I don't purchase anymore. With PS4 already out, it's only a matter of time before I make the switch.

I'm done.

TL;DR Movie Reviews October-December 2013

1. Ender's Game - Where other movies end after humans beat an alien invasion, this book adaptation explores what the world did to prepare for future attacks. Harrison Ford says "GET OFF MY PLANET!!!"
2. Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa - An actual movie with a plot. Involves people as extras, unaware that they are filmed. Less crude than Borat. Heartfelt movie.
3. Thor: The Dark World - The banter between Thor, Loki, Natalie Portman and one of Two Broke Girls actress were much more interesting than the villain: some platinum blond space-pirate alien elf race. Another tease of Marvel's "Phase 3" in movies.
4. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire - Didn't read the book, so I'm glad when readers told me that it's as close as a perfect adaptation of the book. More drama and plot development. Still hungry.
5. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug - Don't care if Benedict Cumberbatch voiced Smaug. The script for this sequel is probably longer than the entire The Hobbit novel.
6. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty - Daydreamer wakes up and goes on an adventure. One of the reasons why I don't read critic reviews is because I would have skipped this wonderful, uplifting movie. I recommend.

Not sure if I'll be watching any other movies before the end of the year. Until next time.

I'm done.

Sad Christmas Songs

My mom and dad left for Denver Thursday afternoon. They were visiting my aunt, who's on the last stage of in her fight with cancer (MDS). She passed away Thursday afternoon. They planned on heading back this Saturday, but they're staying an extra day for memorial services.

During leftover dinner Thursday night, my sister mused that yesterday just felt a little off and sad. She asked me if I'm sad. I told her that I try not to think about it... that I'd probably be sadder if I was with the family over at Denver. Truth is, I already cried a few days/week ago, dreading the thought of this day. My aunt was still going through chemotherapy over the last few months. One of my uncles, who's a doctor, said her prognosis was bad. In between chemo, she had a lung infection. Her immune system was just shot from all the therapy. My aunt decided to end her daily blood transfusions last week. I cried for my dad. I cried for my cousins and my aunts and uncles.

My aunt is survived by her siblings and her loving children, who were able to see her in the last two months. My dad was able to see her and took his turn to watch over her last month and two weeks ago. It would be her birthday on the December 28th. My friend said it's good she was surrounded by loving family on her last few days.

I always found these songs, "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" and "I'll Be Home for Christmas," to be a little sadder than most songs. They always get me. More so now than before.

No matter what religion or creed you follow or not, I always thought of Christmas season as the time of the year to spend with your love ones. Love and cherish those moments.

I'm done.

Ignorant Asshole on Facebook

The people I have to deal with on my friend list.

This one particular guy posted an article about Noah's ark that it's been found or whatever. One of his friends opined a valid counter that it's impossible. Hilarity ensues (it's sad, really). I'm the red. The girl is the gray. He's the asshole.

I'm done.