Malik
(3/8/05)
I didn't get
around to posting yesterday because I was too caught up in the whole
vacation thing before I put in the massive work to modernize the
site. Anyway, that's just how I am. As they'd say on
Naruto, that was my ninja way. So, you might be noticing about
now, if you're a repeat visitor to the old Geek-Asylum, things have
been modernized. I'm quite proud to be stepping out of the
1990's with the old frames, and into the modern age with some flash
menus, a real logo, and a lot of streamlined features.
I also have some
good news, from a more personal side of things. I bought Grad
Tourismo 4 this weekend. If you've paid any attention to my
posts for the last couple of weeks, I swore I'd not buy another game
until I beat the horribly tedious Xenosaga 2. Well, put the
two facts together and I can say two important things. The
first being that I beat this crap-fest. The second is that
I've started a review, which should be ready to publish in the next
few days, depending on will to write about such a horrible game.
While the game,
itself, is really bad, I do have good news; the plot is
amazing. In fact, the game ends with a really cool series of
events that can be called nothing less than one of the best
cliff-hanger endings in a video game. If it wasn't for how bad
of a game engine X2 used, I'd honestly want to play a whole
additional game right now to see what happened. However, the
engine was bad, so I'm left instead feeling like I can't wait for a
more intelligently designed Xenosaga 3.
On top of putting
some nice time into GT4, I've also gone back for another play
through GTA:SA. This is the first GTA game I've ever gone back
to less than a year after I first played through. Take this
how you want. I take it as a re-affirmation of how hella cool
GTA:SA is as a game. I mean the variety of solutions for each
mission, combined with a deep and interesting plot makes for a
damned fun game.
Anyway, the post
will be on the short side today. I am putting way too much
time on re-newing the site's look to have time for a post. I
mean I've gone through almost 170 pages to add in the new menus, the
logo, and the total elimination of frames. I'm am worn
down. Also, to top off my needed updates to the general look
and feel of this place, I had a security problem with my
forums. This doesn't amount to much, especially since I don't
secure my forums much as it is. However, the look of the forum
may be off for a day or two as I try to correct the style after the
required security update is installed. I am working on this,
but I like to give myself some time to fix a problem since more
problems tend to pop up. Of all times, this happens around my
one day of total updating...for better or worse, I'm getting a
web-master style workout today.
Malik
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Malik
(3/9/05)
Beyond the news
that game stocks are doing pretty darned good, there's not much
news...once again. While the stock thing could be interesting for
those who actually invest stocks and all of that (hehehe...I called
it a sorta experiment when I started...hehehe), it's not the type of
news I like to talk about on this site. I mean there's geek related,
and then there's non-geek stuff that touches into the geek realm.
The last one I just don't like to do.
So, my major
upgrades have been up and running for a day now. I personally can't
say which I like more; the old look or the new look. I mean I could,
but I'm biased since one makes it a lot easier for me in the long
run. Plus, the fact that I invested a good chunk of time in the new
scheme also makes me unlikely to complain about it. So, if you feel
like sharing on this transition, or if you notice any problems, go
ahead and send me an email or share it on the forums.
So, after I
finished with the upgrades yesterday, I took far more time than I
should have to play GTA:SA. I was planning on playing some GT4, but
I just couldn't break Rockstar's spell. They pwned me.
They pwned me so
much that I went from about 10 missions done in Los Santos to being
a good deal through San Fierro in one day. I know I said it in my
review and countless posts, but this is one hell of an awesome game.
Not only do I still find myself going back to play through for this
second time, but I'm enjoying watching every cut-scene again. In
fact, I think this game was made for a second play through. The
first time you play, it will be fun, but also very frustrating at
points (like the low-rider race in Los Santos). The second time
through, that same race which took a good dozen attempts before only
took two tries...and the first one was because a cop chase came
across the track and took down five of the racers (including me),
leaving one guy with a huge advantage.
It's almost like
this second play through is on a higher difficulty setting (if that
was possible) since I've seen more missions messed up by cop chases
so far this time than I saw the entire first game I played. At least
with knowing the basics this time, it's even more enjoyable...at
least for now. I'm at the dreaded mission in which I need to fly a
radio controlled plane for Zero (the one with a very low fuel gauge
and a plane that has almost no control), and that could change my
perspective in a hurry. Plus, after that, I'll still have pilot
school to "look forward to". However, I'll just hope that
my piloting skills are still pretty good when I take these horrible
missions on.
It still makes me
wish that Rockstar could've thought out the plane controls better
(especially the complexity of them and the sensitivity of them).
However, I'll stop my bitching and wait to see how my second play
through actually handles these situations.
Also, I'm half way
through the review of doom...yup, the Xenosaga 2 review. I aim to
have it up by Friday, at the latest. Since there's no real news this
week to bitch about, and since that game makes me really bitchy,
let's call it the Malik's Bitchings for this week.
Malik
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Malik
(3/10/05)
There is a bit of
news today over
at Gamespot that some may find interesting about E3 and the GDC.
Unfortunately, I am not really one who finds this interesting. I
mean E3 is cool, but this stuff is only a tiny bit of a preview of
the previews yet to come about the show. In other words, it's slight
info on what should be found at E3. Yeah...I prefer to actually know
the news and not the news that news is coming (since that's pretty
obvious).
As for the GDC
stuff; I never really could get interested in the GDC. It's not as
much of a chance to learn of what's coming up as much as it's a
chance to learn what's coming to E3. That, and a good chance for the
developers to stroke their egos. Yippee. I personally need more than
a hint of what's to come.
On the
continuation of me bitching, I love the stupidity behind technology.
My TV Wonder card was made by idiots. Last night I set up the equivalent
to a VCR on the device to record South Park. So, this morning, when
I turned on the PC, instead of seeing that my show was recorded, I
see a warning. This warning says that I may not have a DVD player on
my PC...I selected for South Park to record in DVD quality. I had
the option of a ATI specific file type, which could only be played
on the ATI video player (and while the video capture is nice, the
player is crap-tacular compared to something like MS Media Player),
or as DVD quality to be later played on anything that handles MPG-2,
which is almost every player I have on my machine. However, since
this warning box came up, which suggested I installed the ATI DVD
player program, the recording never happened. However, this warning
did not surface until the recording process was ready to be
initiated (which meant I was not at my PC at the time), so I
couldn't just close it and start the recording.
So, ultimately, my
complaint is that this type of shit should not happen. I mean a
warning that would interfere with a scheduled task should not come
up when the process is ready to begin. It should, however, come up
when the scheduled task is scheduled, and thus when the user is
present to take care of it. Luckily for me, Comedy Central re-runs
South Park into the ground. However, I should've been able to see
this episode already and not have to wait for the re-run.
Anyway, I'm still
caught up in my second attempt with GTA:SA. I played more last
night, and I'll player more tonight. I cannot get enough of this
game. Actually, I'm doing the missions for Zero, so I may reach my
limit today. I say that since my next mission is the damned remote controlled
airplane mission. This mission was my second biggest complaint on my
first play through (my biggest complaints; flight school, the radio controlled
airplane mission, the low-rider race). Maybe, since the low-rider
race was so much easier this time through, flying may not be so
annoying...yeah...and on the second play through, the cops give you
presents rather than trying to arrest you...blah.
I'm almost done
with the Xenosaga 2 review. I really want this thing over with, so I
can share some of my most bitchy complaints to the world. I just
hate this game that much...that, and I don't want anyone to make the
same mistake (buying the game) I did. Expect it tomorrow.
Malik
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Malik
(3/11/05)
Let's start with
something I usually don't have...NEWS!
Yes, real honest news is finally coming forward. Just click on this
link, or check out the news section via the nifty buttons above or
below this post.
Also, something
else...damn, it's a busy day for me...a review of
Xenosaga Episode 2. I finally finished and can fully rip apart
this game in a fair and honest review that touches all of the
problems (and the two good features...plot and visuals). Just check
it out to understand why I considered my 2.5 weeks with this game as
some of the lowest times in my geek life.
Also, my friend
Bastich checked out a movie that I feel like I need to share about.
Infernal Affairs. It's a Hong Kong crime drama that is beyond
description. Unlike the often translated HK works, this is not a
martial arts celebration. Instead this is a wonderful example of how
a suspense film should be made without the usual hand-holding that
American suspense films give you. In fact, this is a movie that is
absolutely amazing, if you decide to think as the movie goes along.
IA basically has a
plot that runs along the lines of this; a Triad leader decides to
send one of his youngest followers (who has no police record, yet)
to the police academy to serve as a mole. However, in the same
academy, another student shows such excellent promise that we is
sent to become a mole within the Triads. Ten years pass, and it just
happens that the Triad mole is working in the police on the case
that involves his Triad boss, and the police mole is now working for
that same Triad leader to gather info on how to bring him down. The
movie becomes an awesome experiment in psychology and suspense as
the two moles use their knowledge of both worlds to stay one step
ahead of the other.
Eventually the
moles become known (that they exist, but not who they are), and it
just happens that the police ask the Triad mole to find the mole in
the department, and the police mole is asked by the Triads to find
the mole in their organization.
If this sounds
like a good premise...well, a description fails to say how awesome
this movie is. This is the first movie I've seen in a long time that
not only made me think, but made me happy to think while watching
it.
Also, I'm still
playing GTA:SA. In fact, I played one mission last night. It was
"Supply Lines". This is the dreaded radio controlled
airplane mission. You have to take out 5 delivery vehicles with your
built in machine guns without being destoryed or running out of
fuel. To make things worse, you have to return to where you started,
with enough fuel to get there. So, I played it 8 times last night. 4
times I simply failed while trying to find a better way to do it. 3
times I defeated all of the delivery vehicles and ran out of fuel
only (no exageration) 2 or less seconds from the landing spot. The
final time...
Well, I found a
cool suggestion at Gamefaqs.com.
This suggestion may spoil your experience, but please check this out
if this mission angers you. You start by shooting the two closest
vehicles. Don't kill the drivers. Just shoot the van and the bike to
get the drivers to chase after you on foot. Now, without missing a
beat, move to the most west vehicle. Land in front of it and unload.
It will blow in no time. Now, while on the ground, don't move. The
first two guys will run to you, eventually. When they arrive, use
enough gas to turn towards them and fire. You now have two left and
a shit-ton of fuel. Now fly towards the last two, but if they are
too far out, just land on their routes and they will come (this part
was my own unique twist). When they do, fly or sit and take them out
(the van is best to kill while you're on the street in front of it).
Just be careful since the motorcycle will try to run if you mess up,
and chasing it wastes a lot of fuel (I waited for him to get trapped
in a red light related traffic jam). Now you will have about 1/2 a
tank of fuel left, and all you have to do is fly home. Done!
My first attempt
with this method beat this mission. It may take two or three
attempts, since it's good to know the routes of the final two
vehicles. However, this will beat the mission in a freakin' hurry.
Then you're on to far better places and missions...until you must go
to flight school (no easy solutions, that I know of, for this one).
Anyway, check the
news and the review. I'm off to a great weekend. Peace.
Malik
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