Stormblade's blog

Those of you who know me know that I love eBay. I have made hundreds of purchases on eBay, including both of my XBox 360s, and have only had one bad experience that was eventually resolved. If you know what you're doing, you get great deals and great products. Also, the resellers don't tend to be morons.

Now, one of my 360s died last week and it is out of warranty. I decided the time had come to actually buy one new. So, as reported by Coxxorz and others, there were several XBox 360 deals this weekend. Walmart for $159 (Arcade). BB for $159 (Arcade) plus Fable II. There was even rumour of the 60GB version on sale at Costco for $199 (wild goose chase). Since I live in the boonies and didn't expect to be able to snag any of these, I had asked Graybush to pick one up for me if he could.
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This is not my car(With deepest apologies to Homer)

And lo, there stood Stormblade, on the plain below the mighty mountains of rock. The Boulderites had been conquered, their city in flames (with a little help from the Orkians, who took revenge for the desecration that had been Mork and Mindy).

‘It is time’, said he. ‘I must undertake the perilous journey to return to my home. My enemies are vanquished, my demons bested, and my XBox is packed. I must make haste towards my destiny.’ Read more

I admit, I've been putting this off. Procrastinating. Evading. Generally finding any excuse not to write this review.

Because yes, I am addicted to Saints Row 2.

I admit it took a long time to get past the initial revulsion. It took a long time to get into this game. Mostly this is because, despite assurances from certain smug individuals that infest this site, I was blinded by the GTA IV feel of this game. Really, the environment is similar in many ways to GTA. The gameplay is not, and that's where this game excels. Read more

This can't end wellOk, so I am way behind on several game reviews I have meant to do. This is partly because I am working my ass off trying to finish up everything I need to do here before I leave. Mostly, it's just because I am lazy and prefer playing games to writing about them.

That being said, some of those I have played recently deserve some press. The first of these is NHL 3 on 3 Arcade. I have to thank Aku for bringing this game to my attention. This came after a conversation I had with him regarding the lack of 'arcade feel' to the recent crop of hockey games. I have been enjoying them less and less because they are becoming more and more realistic. As Blackwalt can attest to, the NHL games of the mid 90's were the most fun. A bunch of guys (and gals) could get together, drink heavily and laugh themselves senseless playing those games. Guba sitting on the edge of the couch, screaming 'AAAALLLLL!!' as her Al MacInnis character crushes a hapless opponent into the boards comes to mind. Read more

Once again (see GTA IV and Halo 3) I have succumbed to the pressure of my peers. I have allowed my moral fortitude to be eroded. I am weak, pathetic.

I hated GTA IV. Everything I have read about Saints Row 2 leads me to believe I will hate it as well. It is everything I dislike in a video game all wrapped up in one package. Nothing about it appeals to me.

So, it will arrive next week. Hopefully before Wednesday evening so I don't have to keep listening to Blackwalt grumble and whine.

I am so ashamed ...

Due to peer pressure that has caused me in the past to make such intelligent purchasing decisions like GTA4, Halo3 and R6V2, I have succumbed and purchased Rock Band.

So I managed to get Rock Band, Rock Band 2 and all the instruments (albeit corded, but I don't care) for $85 (US that is, shipping included).

God Bless eBay.

The proof arrived today and it looks great, so I approved it. It's a bizarre feeling. I've been working on it off and on for so long it almost seems unreal.

Things that make you go hmm ...

The only HoC member to register on the Blacks Magic site up to now is MoriceRevek. Yes, the same Revek that I continually abuse and mock. He's the only one to take the time (all 30 seconds of it) to participate. Not sure what that says about either of us, or the rest of you.

With friends like these ...

Yes, after 5 longs years of work (ok, 6 months of work surrounded by 4 1/2 years of procrastination), I have finally finished my first novel, The Emperor's Opal. Read more

90 years ago tomorrow, the German and Austria-Hungarian forces surrendered to the Allies at Versailles. That war, then called the war to end all wars, marked not only the greatest casualty toll the world had ever seen, and the rapid decline in the power and influence of the old empires, it also witnessed the emergence of two nations on the world scene. For the US, it was a coming out party. An opportunity to arrive like the proverbial cavalry charge and save the day. The Americans were there for only one year of the war, the last, but there is no doubt that by sheer numbers alone they were able to break the stalemate that had been WWI. Read more

"Oh martyrdom, how I have missed you." - Coxxorz Read more

Last night, around 8:45PM I realized just what I was truly missing in life. It hit me like a ton of bricks. All this time, my life had been empty. Now it was all clear. The missing piece was there in front of me. Read more

11,500 ft - WTF??Friday, July 4, Brother's back yard - There are moments when you shouldn't make life choices. At a barbecue in the sunshine while drinking several beers is one of them. Unfortunately, these are often the times when one makes decisions based solely on relaxed inhibitions and increased hubris. Read more

I'll leave it up to Weird Al to portray the sentiments. He's an honourary Canadian anyway.

Which, says something about Canada, but I'm not sure what.

Ok, so my copy of Frontlines: Fuel of War arrived Friday night. I was in the middle of some actual work so I didn't get to break it open until Saturday afternoon. So, how does it compare to the last couple of disasters I have purchased? Read more

Has it really been 3 months since my last blog post?? Geez. Slacker.

Anyway, I am stuck in a conundrum. I am simply am running out of games to play. I still play COD4 regularly, but it's getting a little old. The last purchase (GTA IV) was a disaster and will absolutely become the first game I have ever traded in. I simply do not wish to see it in my collection anymore and I can't bear just throwing it out after spending $65 (whimper) on it. R6V2 was nearly as bad, but I have managed to keep playing it, except for the fact that I am stuck on a level where I am by myself and the bad guys keep killing me no matter what I do. It gets tiring after the, oh, 100th failure. Read more