Today it is the 67th anniversary of D-day. Every year fewer and fewer of these veterans are left, so try and take a moment to remember all of those who died in the name of freedom.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Thursday, February 3, 2011
DC Universe Online
Well, I have been playing DC Universe for a little over a week now, and I have to say, I like it! So far so good, Sony! I have a few issues with the control system, but I guess that is what you get when you design a MMO for both the PC and a console. Hopefully they will get that all sorted out. In my opinion, I don't
think console players are the type to play MMO's over the long hall like hardcore PC gamers, but we will have to wait and see I guess.
think console players are the type to play MMO's over the long hall like hardcore PC gamers, but we will have to wait and see I guess. As for the over all look of the game, I am liking what I see so far. One issue right out of the gate is the character creation area. It is a little basic and you don't really get a good selection of uniforms and emblems, but from what I can tell so far you get more and more as rewards and as drops in game. So the more you play the more you can customize your uniform, and there seem to be really cool reward ones as part of the end game content. The staring area is well set up and navigates you through the area while acting as a tutorial for you to master your new superpowers. The environment is very cool to look at, and you really have the feeling of being in a large city in the quest areas. Some of the other areas seem a little dull and could use more NPC's (like pedestrians walking around on business and traffic, stuff like that.) The graphics are pretty good as well. The game looks good on my desktop, and it is a couple of years old, so even people without top of the line computers could still enjoy this game.
As for what the whole point of this game is. Does it make you feel like a superhero (or villain)? So far for me, yes. whether flying over the city or jumping from rooftop to rooftop, it does give you the feel of being a hero. If you are the type of player that enjoys a little quiet solitary game play, the quests and quest chains are easy to solo. Perhaps higher levels require more team play. As for PvP in game, spotting enemy players is a little difficult. Unlike other MMO's hero's and villains are all in the same city's and start to run across each other almost right away.
All in all, not a bad start for DC Universe Online. If it will keep my attention for years remains to be seen.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Retro Cool
When I was a kid, some of the coolest toys you could have (and almost everyone who was a kid in the seventy's did have at least one), were Mego's Action Heroes. They were just the best and for the most part they were pretty durable and had a super high degree of "playability". That and because of the nature of product licencing back in the 70's they had the licence for just about every and any thing cool. From super-heroes to sci-fi, Mego made it. All in that same awesome 8" scale. A couple of years ago Diamond Select began releasing Retro Star Trek figures based on the original molds from Mego, and they were a huge hit.
So big in fact, that after they had released all the original figures that Mego had produced, they started releasing figures that Mego had never got around to in the same style as the original ones. Of course, being the huge geek that I am, I picked up as many of these as possible, and they were fantastic. A great trip down memory lane, without having to pay an arm and a leg on ebay!
The latest to jump on this bandwagon is Mattel, with their Mego-inspired "Retro Action DC Super Heroes". I have picked up a couple of these, and have for the most p
art, been pleasantly surprised. Even the packaging is reminiscent of the old Mego style of packaging. They are quite faithful to the original Mego figures, while fixing some of their short-comings. The Boots are much better than the thin molded plastic ones the originals had, the hero's "symbol" is of a higher quality (the old Mego figures were just a sticker, that would come off if you were not careful) and there has been some re-designing in the body. Mattel also seems to be releasing them in "pairs". One hero, and a matching villain, which is kind of cool. The only complaint that I have, and it is a minor one at that, is that it seamed to me that Mattel underestimated the popularity of these figures, as the first wave of them (including Superman) was almost impossible to find in the stores. Hopefully they will re-release these ones at a later date. Still there are lots of online shops that you can find the first line where the prices haven't been marked up yet.
So all I have to say about this trend is...cheers! It is so cool to see these toys, or copy's of them at least, back on the toy shelves. Cool enough for collectors to want and still a awesome toy for a kid that is into super-heroes to play with and make some of their own memories. And isn't that what toys are for.
So big in fact, that after they had released all the original figures that Mego had produced, they started releasing figures that Mego had never got around to in the same style as the original ones. Of course, being the huge geek that I am, I picked up as many of these as possible, and they were fantastic. A great trip down memory lane, without having to pay an arm and a leg on ebay!
The latest to jump on this bandwagon is Mattel, with their Mego-inspired "Retro Action DC Super Heroes". I have picked up a couple of these, and have for the most p
art, been pleasantly surprised. Even the packaging is reminiscent of the old Mego style of packaging. They are quite faithful to the original Mego figures, while fixing some of their short-comings. The Boots are much better than the thin molded plastic ones the originals had, the hero's "symbol" is of a higher quality (the old Mego figures were just a sticker, that would come off if you were not careful) and there has been some re-designing in the body. Mattel also seems to be releasing them in "pairs". One hero, and a matching villain, which is kind of cool. The only complaint that I have, and it is a minor one at that, is that it seamed to me that Mattel underestimated the popularity of these figures, as the first wave of them (including Superman) was almost impossible to find in the stores. Hopefully they will re-release these ones at a later date. Still there are lots of online shops that you can find the first line where the prices haven't been marked up yet.So all I have to say about this trend is...cheers! It is so cool to see these toys, or copy's of them at least, back on the toy shelves. Cool enough for collectors to want and still a awesome toy for a kid that is into super-heroes to play with and make some of their own memories. And isn't that what toys are for.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Where I'm Not....*sigh*
It's getting near the end of July. My daughter in particular (because she is almost as big a geek as her dad...lol) was looking forward to going. Sadly while the family was planning to head down to San Diego, events (my beautiful wife's new job, and my son couldn't get the time off)have transpired that have prevented it. Sad but true. At least I might be able to cheer my daughter up, as there is a big Anime convention here at the beginning of August.
Oh well, maybe next year we will make it down. Here's to Comic Con 2011!
Marvel...You Sure About That?
I'm not sure what is going on at Marvel Studio's lately. I really would like to know. I'm not kidding....really, because it seems like they are making some really strange and uninformed decisions of late. Some of these decisions seem to imply that someone in the "upper management" part of the company doesn't have a clue about how to make a good superhero movie, and yet feels the need to tell people that know what they are doing, what to do.
After just two Fantastic Four movies, they have made the decision to "re-boot" it. Really...already...just because the second move (which was not too bad) didn't make enough money for you? The film grossed $289 million worldwide. So what is your issue with it? Then there is their Spider-man franchise. So, not everyone was a fan of the last one. It could have done with a few less villains, to be sure, but all together the three movies have grossed nearly $2.5 billion worldwide. So again... why the re-boot?
Now, it seems that the role of Bruce Banner will not be portrayed by the very talented Mr. Edward Norton. It seems that Dr. Banner will be played by Mark Ruffalo. Nothing against Mr. Ruffalo, not that I have seen much of his work but, I personally liked Mr. Norton's take on Banner.
All of this just stinks of someone in a position of power being greedy and making these decisions based on how much money can we make NOW! Screw the long term! As with anything in life, when a creative endeavor is placed under the control of un-creative people who don't understand or care about it, the quality of that creative work will suffer. God help us.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Too Much?
How far is too far when it comes to being politically correct. This morning, as I watched the news, they had a story about a midway ride that broke and injured some riders. Now, I am a firm believer that anyone, no matter race or sex should have a chance at a job so long as they have the skills needed to do that job.
You would think that being able to speak English clearly would be an essential job skill for a TV reporter. But apparently not, because the woman reporting from the location of the incident, while she could speak English it was not what I would call her first language. It was a struggle to understand what she was saying, as she would stop mid sentence and re-phrase, then continue along.
So my issue is... when did it become OK to place someone in a position at a national TV network that cannot speak clearly. How many other fully competent people where overlooked for this position? Political correctness gone to far? Were exceptions made because they were a female minority? I really don't care who reports the news to me...but I would like to know what they said.
You would think that being able to speak English clearly would be an essential job skill for a TV reporter. But apparently not, because the woman reporting from the location of the incident, while she could speak English it was not what I would call her first language. It was a struggle to understand what she was saying, as she would stop mid sentence and re-phrase, then continue along.
So my issue is... when did it become OK to place someone in a position at a national TV network that cannot speak clearly. How many other fully competent people where overlooked for this position? Political correctness gone to far? Were exceptions made because they were a female minority? I really don't care who reports the news to me...but I would like to know what they said.
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