Before he left, we all went to Target to stock-up on essentials for the time he’ll be gone so I don’t have to wrangle a couple of kids and a shopping cart by myself.

As is often the case, I found myself staring at the PS3 games that Target and salivating at the copies of Assassin’s Creed II and Borderlands that were just hanging out in there happy little plastic holders and calling my name.

Really. They were calling my name. Upon further examination, maybe I should worry about that little detail.

Anyway.

Target has both Borderlands and Assassin’s Creed II for the low-low price of $59.99 and there’s no way in hell that I can convince my husband that it’s fiscally responsible to purchase both games at the same time.

I might be able to convince him to buy one of them since he wants to play both of them but Modern Warfare 2 is coming out very, very soon and I have a feeling this is going to boil down to a my game and his game kind of thing.

So, after Tucker had left for Drill, I had this “light bulb moment”. Since I write about gaming and this is my job then a game purchase would be a work expense. Right?

I could buy both of the games that I’m drooling over and then, I could write off the expense of the games since I had to purchase them for my job. I like to think of Assassin’s Creed II and Borderlands as my staples and manila folders. You can get that, right?

I wonder if my accountant would agree?

Image|pjstoneson

Post from: EveryJoe

Staplers and Manila Folders

The games that maybe didn’t make the most money or maybe didn’t get the most press but still rock and are games that have a hardcore following.

See? THOSE are the games that I want to play.

I want to play the games that people play because they LOVE them and not because they think that they should be playing them and then they find themselves hating the game but they can’t quit playing it because what would people think of them?

Wait. Am I the only one who has done that?

Assassin’s Creed was like that for me.

I was SO FUCKING EXCITED by the things that were offered by that game. The graphics were awesome. The story was pretty solid. The gameplay was good…until you had assassinated like the second person and you realized that every single assassination was going to be just like the first assassination…and the second…and the third. After a while, I felt like I had to finish the game, even though I was so amazingly bored by the whole deal that I started having fantasies about folding laundry.

If I am having fantasies about folding laundry while I’m playing your game then you know that you have officially lost my interest.

So.

I come to you with a plea, of sorts.

What games are you playing? And not just what games are you playing, but what games do you LOVE? Gross, sloppy, tongue kissing in love with.

A couple of restrictions, since nothing with me can ever be easy:

1. Has to be a PC game
2. Has to be a PS3 game [though I have a 20GB PS3 so PS2 games are an option, as well]

I know that there are probably some dynamite games out there for 360 and the Wii but I have no interest in shelling out the dough to purchase those systems. Also, I’m fiercely loyal to Steve, my Ps3, and know that it would hurt his feelings if I cheated on him.

Let me have it, y’all. I can’t say that I’m gonna run right out and grab up everything that you suggest but I’ll definitely give them all a good, hard look.

Not like I have any ideas of my own right now.

Image|idogcow

Post from: EveryJoe

A Plea

A boy can dream.

That being said, why is it that games (and movies) for that matter can not be done in sequential order.  Nothing pisses me off more than to get the wrong game because it was not in any kind of known order.  With the interest in prequels nowadays I stay confused, and that sucks!

Image Source: greefus groinks

Post from: EveryJoe

I am Never Wrong; Just Misinformed.

So, not being a zombie fan I shied away from all of the Resident Evil games (and the movies). You may be asking yourself, “how can you blog about FPS-es if you have not blasted zombies?” Well, I don’t know either but I am doing it. So, Ha! However, after seeing the trailer for Resident Evil 5 I really want to bludgeon me some of the undead.

Are zombies undead?  I know that vampires are undead.  I guess that zombies are dead.  Then how is it we can kill them?  I get that you can dead the undead, but how do you redead the dead?  Anyway, it looks like fun.

I have a bit of a problem though. I can not decide if I should I play the earlier games or just start with 5. If you have an opinion tell me what you think in the comment section.

I want to have the total Resident Evil experience.

Image Source: Digital Sextant and Amy Tucker © 2008

Post from: EveryJoe

Is That a Dead Man?

I did a lot of research on the subject of why I am so upset with the release of Call of Duty 5. Then I realized all I really needed to say was that Activision sucks!

Let me explain how I got there.

First Activision, with the help of Infinity Ward, launched Call of Duty. It was one of the better WWII shooters for its time. Unfortunately, like all good things, when they make money they are beaten to death. The WWII shooter is one of those good things.

By 2006, I was shell shocked and suffering from battle fatigue. The European and Pacific theater had lost its charm. Then out of the blue in 2007 Activision and Infinity Ward did it again with the release of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. This game just exploded on the scene like a 5 megaton bomb.

I loved the storyline of COD4. I was still in the Navy at that time and the way that COD4 plot was laid out was as close to the real thing as you wanted. The death of the Marines and the matter of fact way in which the SAS churned out mission after mission just felt real to me. I could not put it down, and as much as I loved the single player game, the multiplayer was even more engaging. I still enjoy playing the multiplayer. (I bought the map pack.)

Just as I was starting to sing praises for Activision, it was announced that COD5 would be set in the Pacific during WWII. WTF?!! WHY!! COD4 crushed records and was a gamble that payed off. Instead of adding to the sea of WWII shooters COD4 was different. Then for no good reason other than it was safe, Activision went and made a World War II game. How disappointing. I am fed up with the WWII shooters and I am fed up with the companies that push them on us.

So, Activision can bite my ass.

Did You Know: The Call of Duty series is actually split between two developers, Infinity Ward and Treyarch. Infinity Ward was responsible for creating Call of Duty, Call of Duty 2, and Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. Treyarch, on the other hand, made Call of Duty 2: Big Red One, Call of Duty 3, Call of Duty: United Offensive (PC only), and Call of Duty 5: World at War.

Infinity Ward developed the more influential titles of the Call of Duty series, but Activison keeps switching back and forth between developers. There were and still are so many military conflicts to choose from why is it that we have to repeat the same period in history over and over again?

Image Source: uhuru1701 and Amy Tucker © 2008

Post from: EveryJoe

The Greatest Genre

Joystiq seems to be intent on providing another video extravaganza. Last week, we were treated to several Far Cry 2 clips. This time, we’re talking about 10 (count ‘em!) Resistance 2 videos. Like before, the videos aren’t your typical short clips that are used mainly to tease. The videos are substantial and provide a deeper look at how Resistance 2 is going to be like.

Let’s get this extravaganza started! Ready the junk food and watch the videos after the jump.

Based on what we’ve seen, Resistance 2 seems like a huge jump from the original game, especially with the class-based system in play. There are times when the game feels like an MMO because of the multiple items being displayed onscreen simultaneously. Unlike Call of Duty 4, each shot a player lands in Resistance 2 rewards a bit of experience, which is fair compared to not getting anything when one gets killed.

Honestly, I’m now torn between Resistance 2 and Far Cry 2. Ubisoft’s FPS is still on my purchase list (next to Fallout 3) because of its impressive map editor and open-world gameplay, while Resistance 2 is begging to be bought because of its seemingly endless replay value via multiplayer. How can one say no to eight-player cooperative play?

Are you drooling over Resistance 2 like I am, or am I alone in this sentiment?

Image for Resistance 2 is courtesy of Sony Computer Entertainment.

Post from: EveryJoe

New Resistance 2 videos show even more multiplayer details

GameSpot has a new detailed preview for Resistance 2, and it provides more particulars on the game’s class-based gameplay and competitive multiplayer. Indeed, this year’s holiday season is shaping up to be a tough period for gamers’ wallets because of the sheer number of outstanding games available.

If Resistance 2 were released on any other period of the year, it would surely get a lot of attention because it’s a marquee game. Since Resistance 2 is sandwiched between the release of major titles like Fallout 3, Dead Space, Gears of War 2, Mirror’s Edge, and Far Cry 2, it’s awfully hard to stay focused on just one game.

Watch the Resistance 2 preview after the jump.

Like any class-based multiplayer game, Resistance 2 looks promising because the classes complement and are dependent on each other. Each class’ weapon also seems to be balanced so there won’t be one favorite class for everyone. This bit about randomized missions is rather intriguing but no details were offered.

This journalist’s built-in shit detector was ringing off the hook when the Insomniac Games’ lead co-op designer Jake Biegel started explaining Resistance 2’s “unique” story arc for the co-op mode, then spouted loads of jargon that, when translated into simpler terms, means: our co-op mode’s story complements the single player story.

PR BS aside, Resistance 2 is looking really good, particularly its seemingly-deep multiplayer component that promises almost-unlimited replay value. Last year’s Call of Duty 4 may have pushed the competitive multiplayer envelope, but Resistance 2 might go even further—especially with its promising eight-player cooperative mode. Watch out for Resistance 2 this November.

Image for Resistance 2 is courtesy of Sony Computer Entertainment.

Post from: EveryJoe

Resistance 2 video preview details multiplayer component

We all know Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps won a whopping eight gold medals in Beijing. What we don’t know is that Phelps is the first person on the planet to own a copy of Call of Duty: World at War for the PlayStation 3. During an interview with the CBS Early Show, the now-legendary swimmer was handed a copy of the FPS in question.

Here’s when things start getting even more interesting: According to Treyarch, the game’s developer, the game’s PS3 case contained an IOU card since the game isn’t finished yet. That’s right; Phelps didn’t get a working copy of the game. it was all bullshit PR.

The developer did promise, however, that Phelps will get the first disc off the production line later this year.

Post from: EveryJoe

Crap-Detector: Michael Phelps gets advanced copy of next Call of Duty

After what seemed like an eternity, Bioshock finally has a release date for the PlayStation 3. Mark your calendars, PS3 owners, because the critically-acclaimed FPS/horror game is coming in North America on October 21 and internationally on October 24.

Interestingly, Bioshock’s PS3 version comes with new content. This includes the Survivor difficulty mode, and Trophy support, among others.

Also mentioned in the press release was the addition of challenge rooms, which “will test the mettle of new and seasoned gamers by requiring them to utilize the knowledge and skills they have learned while traversing the halls of Rapture.”

Think Portal.

The first Bioshock challenge room will be viewable by appointment at Games Convention 2008 (CCL, Level 0, A02/1 + A02/2) from August 20 to August 24 and will be available for download shortly “after launch.” Strangely, there was no mention if the challenge rooms would be released as an add-on for the Xbox 360 and PC versions.

Image for Bioshock is courtesy of 2K Games.

Post from: EveryJoe

Bioshock gets a release date for the PS3

According to Joystiq, invitations for the Resistance 2 private beta have already been sent out. If you didn’t get an email informing you that you’ve been chosen to participate, then you’re probably not a subscriber to Sony’s Qore, an online magazine that charges $3 per month. Funnily enough, being a Qore subscriber is no guarantee that you’d get to play Resistance 2 anyway.

If you’re a Qore subscriber, then do check the email linked to your PSN account. Who knows? You may have gotten in. You can also find out by logging in the Resistance 2 beta’s website using your PSN account. Just click Beta Info to reach the PSN login screen.

If you were shown the message above, then you don’t get to play Resistance 2’s multiplayer before everyone else. If you were accepted, you have to wait until late September before you can actually gloat.

Post from: EveryJoe

Resistance 2 sends out beta test invitations