Better Late Than Never

After an another hiatus (these things happen too much with me), I've got some new info on some games that I've been playing (and a beta website for MAG).

Battlefield : Bad Company 2 Beta

My PSN friend FizZ1 gave me the keys to the beta of Bad Company 2 and I'll go on record as saying this game is better than Modern Warfare 2, but graphically and gameplay wise. The Battlefield franchise has be a mainstay on the PC front, and it came to consoles with the release of Battlefield 2: Modern Combat. I played the demo of the original BC (on PS3) and felt a bit underwhelmed. One thing BC1 had over MW1 was destructible environments.

BC2 Beta is MW1 but with strategy, medics, and no kill streaks. My stats got reset ( I made it to lv 14), but I plan on working to get my stuff back, if the stats aren't normal. Most of the games that I've played on BC2 have been pretty fun, a couple were not so fun, but overall I would recommend anyone who didn't buy MW2 (like myself), to buy this game (which I will since BC2 doesn't come out until March).

MAG BETA INFO

I went to Playstation Lifestyle (dot) com and saw that they were giving out a website to give keys to MAG Beta. Since I'm a relatively nice guy here's the link. The file itself is 300+ MB and the update is 1.8 GB (I waited for 4 hours to finish the download and played a game the next afternoon). MAG is a decent game, if you don't have an internet connection or hate playing squad based games (i.e. every SOCOM game), then you should pass. I'll give MAG another chance tonight and then probably play some BC2 for the weekend.

COMPARISON OF ROCK BAND AND GUITAR HERO

I've been playing Guitar Hero since the original (when my boy Rambeaux FORCED me to play), but I never bought it until GH3 (technically traded back some of my PS3 games, mostly sports games so I wasn't missing much). Rock Band was released shortly after and folks have been comparing the two. I'm playing GH:Metallica and RB2 right now, so I guess I can fairly compare the franchises. I wish I would have bought RB on PS2 last Christmas, but blame Gamestop and myself for trying to buy it the day before Christmas.

To truly enjoy Rock Band, you've got to have a broadband connection. If you don't, you're missing out on the appeal of Rock Band, downloadable content. Every week since RB1 was released Harmonix (the original creators of GH) gives gamers the opportunity to add songs to their collection. If you like the artist download the entire album, track pack, or individual songs. GH3 (and Neversoft, the current developers of GH and former creators of the Tony Hawk Franchise) however only released a handful of content and the Death Magnetic Album Pack a few weeks before GH: World Tour. Then Neversoft (and the greedy higher ups at Activision) decided to make GH similar to RB.

RB and GH share a few songs in common, but both execute them in different ways. For instance, GH has a mechanic called Slider Gems, clear gems descend the fretboard, and tap the corresponding fret(s) or use the slider bar (which acts as another strum bar). RB's Stratocaster controller has buttons that you tap in the middle of the guitar neck. You use those buttons for solos (this is optional, but they're there should you wish to use them).

The presentation and User Interface are two things that impact one's enjoyment. RB has a star system that you can see how close to 5 starring (or gold starring) you are. GH3 and World Tour didn't have it, however starting with GH:Metallica they have something similar, a meter with the number of stars on the side. In terms of presentation, GH's animations were decent, GH:M is a different story because Metallica, Lemmy of Motorhead, and King Diamond came in a motion captured most of the stuff. RB's animations are decent too, though some of the motion do get redundant (i.e. the bassist smashing the guitar into the camera).

GH has gotten stale (i.e. Smash Hits and Van Halen should have been DLC), whereas RB is still fresh, to me anyway. The best combination of instruments to get is all Guitar Hero stuff. If not get the RB bundle for $99 and buy a GH controller and GH:M if you like Metallica, if not, RB2 (and RB1 with DLC and Lego Rock Band) should be enough content to keep you busy until RB3's release.

That's it for me, now I'm gonna watch the rest of Alabama v. Auburn. Later.

The Week of Weird

It's been a week or so since I've blogged and some strange things have happened and with no hesitation lets go.

The Unlikely Comeback

I was watching the Colts and Pats game last Sunday and I saw one of the most unlikely things happen. Bill Belicheck and Tom Brady lose a game that they were ahead in. This is happening with more frequency (since the Colts won the AFC championship game against them in '07). The only time I've seen someone go for it on their own side of the 30 would be on Madden (except for that time this season the Pats went for it and converted). The box score shows that Indy won, but for 58 minutes New England was the better team. Belicheck's blunder probably will cost them home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

3.10 Update Brings Facebook

Updated the PSTriple last night (slow download night for me I guess, took over an hour. I was on my moms wireless network so that did help, or hurt.) I haven't integrated my Facebook account to my PS3 because I don't remember how I typed my password, same with my PS3 (though I typed it in correct last night, weird), but they're both auto-logins so I'm not losing that much sleep. When I get my computer hooked up, I'll have more details. BTW, anyone that has a 360 has Facebook too (although you've gotta have a gold account and a Facebook account to even access it. Paying for features FTL.)

Modern Warfare 2 = Angry Gamers (and Viruses)??

Many gamers know about the hubbub about MW2 and the non-dedicated servers issues. If you don't read about it. Turns out Infinity Ward's IWNet has viruses. I don't know what to say about MW2, at first I was super excited about it, then issues about dedicated servers (even though console gamers have no influence over PC decisions), and other things makes me just want to rent it, or maybe buy it used at 30 bucks.



That's it for me, I'll some postings about some Black Friday sales and other musings. Before I forget, I watched The Ultimate Fighter and it was a good one. Brendan Schaub with that one hitter quit knocked out Jon Madsen. Until the next time, later.

Sports, Video Games, and More Sports

After a brief hiatus and recharging the blogging batteries, I got some new things to share.

N(o) F(un) L(eague)

I watched two games yesterday (Dolphins v. Patriots and Panthers v. Saints), would have watched a third (my Cowboys got that 'W') but I was too far into Rock Band 2 to even care. The Pats are looking like their 2007 selves, which is a good thing for the league and a bad thing for everyone else. The Dolphins look as though they've might have given up on the season, which is too bad because I like the wildcat/single-wing/cowboy that they use. Phins had their chances but couldn't pull it out. Besides, the way New England's been playing I kind of foresaw that loss.

The Saints done it again, another comeback victory. My pops thought it was a fluke when they beat Miami (my moms sneered and I laughed at them both), but I told him a great quote from Rasheed Wallace, "Both teams played hard, my man." And that's exactly what New Orleans did, played hard. N.O.'s pass defense is good, the run not so much. Offensively they remind me of the Pats from '07, who do you stop? That being said I got my top 5 power rankings:

1. Indianapolis Colts: It was a tough division game, but they won. Houston is definitely a team to look out for.
2. New Orleans Saints: They're no longer the 'Aints. Impressive comeback victory against a divisional foe.
3. Minnesota Vikings: Brett Favre went to the perfect situation. He's got too many weapons, and the defense is really scary.
   
4. New England Patriots: Read my previous statement earlier about them.
5. The winner between tonight's football game: Whoever wins this game will end up being the 3 seed in the playoffs.

My boy Chad Ochocinco is back. Gave a ref a dollar bill to 'bribe' him. That's classic Chad. Welcome back, Chad to my "DUDES" club.

Phillip Rivers (a.k.a. the crap talker) narrowly beat Eli and the G-Men. I caught the tail end of that one. San Diego has been one of my more disappointing teams in the league. L.T. has lost two steps and the defense is okay. They need to change something otherwise they might not make the playoffs.

Modern Warfare 2 (semi) boycott

As much as I loved Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (which I found out my skills have vanished, and the fact I haven't played fully in a year or so), I can't support MW2, not yet. Infinity Ward (the developers) took away dedicated servers from PC gamers. I'm not a PC gamer, but I understand why they are angry. Picture this; you and a few friends play with the same guys at the same time every night. Now, what if the company said that you couldn't play at that particular time anymore. You'd be (mildly) angered and maybe you'll have some negative things to say about that company.

That's the same thing happening to PC gamers. Sure, they're snobs and they spend (more) money on their PC than you would on a PS3, 360, and a Wii. They have a right to be mad, but they also brought it upon themselves (PIRATING). Many people are going to pirate MW2, others might buy it used. As far as me, It'll be next year when I get it. I want to play Demon Souls, Batman: Arkham Asylum, and Valkyria Chronicles, plus get better at Rock Band/Guitar Hero.

Footnote: The Yankees won the World Series, I'm ho-hum that they 'bought' a world championship. Hats off to A-Fraud.


That's it for today, gonna watch a few videos on nba.com and play more Rock Band 2. Later!!!