Stormblade's blog

I have been trying to finish up Overlord before Halo 3 arrives. Unfortunately, this is one freaking long and convoluted game! I spent yesterday fighting Dune worms. There is only one way to kill them and yes, it is time consuming and involved.

So, since it isn't obvious, but necessary for the story, I am issuing a spoiler alert. If you want to keep reading, scroll down. Read more

Yes, I finally broke down and did it. After several months of procrastination, followed by several months of pain and agony trying to get my license transfered from NJ, I have gone out and bought a car. My parents are relieved, because they can have their car back. Blackwalt is also relieved because I won't need the CR-V for anything. Read more

I have developed a disease. A sickness really.

It's called Overlord, and it's all Blackwalt's fault.

You know, it started with the usual "I have this game you should see. I think you'd like it." So I watched him for a bit and it looked ok. I then downloaded the demo and it was pretty fun, so I picked up the game on eBay to give it a try.

It's a good thing I don't answer to anyone right now. Read more

Or, How to Throw a Grenade with Friendly Fire Turned On

So last night was a gaming night that probably shouldn't have happened. It started with Blackwalt and Stormblade attempting multiplayer in Overlord.

Painful.

Then, our intrepid heroes decided to switch to 'Old Faithful' - Rainbow 6 Vegas.

This may have, in hindsight, been a bad decision. The comedy of errors began with our heroes starting a game that Revek joined. Both heroes were actively deriding Revek for being unable to work his headset, providing profanity-laced advice on how to fix the problem. Read more

As I have mentioned before, my aim in Vegas sucks. No two ways about it.

I decided to get home a little early yesterday (noon) to practice some more. I have been working my way through the single player mission quite nicely, thank you. I take cover, I aim, I kill. Everything's great.

So, 9:30 comes along and Blackwalt invites me for our nightly venture into mayhem. No problem, says I. I have been practicing. Read more

So, I got back to the house yesterday evening and looked longingly at my XBOX. It was calling to me. ... rainbow six ... graw2 ... space invaders ...

But I had a big meeting today. I had to prepare. The internal battle was raging. Just one game. It'll only take a few minutes. I''ll just get to the next save point ...

NO! I had to resist. If I sat at the machine, it would take me into it's clutches and the next thing I would realize was that it was 11PM.

So I forced myself to flee the room and the seductions of the evil beast.

... but I don't have to work tonight ...

The twitching began several hours ago.

It started with a slight shimmer in the fingers and has progressed to a full shaking of the hands and feet. My eyelids have developed a tick as well.

At first, I was unsure what was causing this. Lack of coffee? Anxiety attack? Hives? None of it made sense. Read more

I have a problem. In the quick reaction world of R6V, I can't hit the broad side of a bus.

I can sneak pretty well, I can cover pretty well (as long as it's not Blackwalt the Uncoverable). I can pinpoint my enemies pretty well. I cling to the wall, peak around the corner, line them up and ...

... miss. Consistently.

Pointing right at a guy, emptying my clip. Only to find I have missed, I need to reload, and then I'm dead.

This is not like Q-Bert's problem (one of many). I don't point at the floor. Nor do I have Revek's problem of getting mauled by rogue doors. Read more

TEAM
–noun
1. a number of persons forming one of the sides in a game or contest: a football team.
2. a number of persons associated in some joint action: a team of advisers.
3. two or more horses, oxen, or other animals harnessed together to draw a vehicle, plow, or the like.
4. one or more draft animals together with the harness and vehicle drawn.
5. a family of young animals, esp. ducks or pigs (or cats). Read more

I admit I am out of practice.

It has been several years since Blackwalt and I have gamed regularly. Especially coop. Due to this, I was definitely out of practice deciphering the information coming from my 'partner'. I do use that term loosely.

So I figured I might offer some translations for those of you who do not regularly coop with Blackwalt, so you will be better prepared.

Phrase: 'That's not where I meant to throw that grenade'
Translation: 'You are about to die'

Phrase: 'Where did that grenade come from?'
Translation: 'I'm dead, you're on your own' Read more

And who are all these people wandering around the house? They don't look German, maybe I will let them live...

Ok, It's possible that I played Call of Duty 3 a little too much this weekend. So I finished the game in two days, so what? You got a problem? Maybe I should grab my Bren and ...

uh, sorry. I guess I killed one too many Germans. Read more

Ok, I admit it.

I have NO idea what took me so long to get an XBox 360. Maybe it was anti-Microsoft sentiment, maybe it was lack of funds (more likely). I don't know.

But when I fired up Call of Duty 3 last night, I just couldn't believe my eyes. I have never seen anything or played anything like that. It was so pretty, I wanted to cry. Read more

I should have known better.

I mean, I do know better.

This is the same guy who used to give me the second of a really bad series of books for my birthday and would keep asking me if I had read it yet. Just so you understand, some of the titles were 'Revenge of the Fuzzy Bunnies' and 'Samurai Cat goes to Hell'.

Yes, classics.

So when Blackwalt recommended that I watch Jackie Chan in Who Am I?, I should have known better.

But I didn't, and I am still recovering, some 14 hours later. Read more

Bring on Jackie Chan!!!

I considered Q-Bert's idea of Sex and the City, but I have never really found what little I've seen of that show to be entertaining and Sarah Jessica Parker gives me the creeps.

So, Robocop looked interesting and it has probably been 20 years since I last saw it, but I just wasn't in the mood. Browsing over the collection, I ran into Shanghai Noon and Shanghai Knights. I took them down and showed them to Half-Pint, who rrowled in disgust and asked to be let out. Everyone's a critic. Read more

I was bored last night. No XBox, not in the mood for PC games, and Patches has now decided I am harmless, so there is no entertainment there either.

So down to the basement to inspect the movie collection.

Now it must be said that Blackwalt's and my movie tastes run along the same vein, so there's not a whole lot there that I haven't seen and don't own. He does have a tendency to invest in movies one might consider 'B' or 'C' (and in some cases 'D') movies that I avoid, so I decide to look through these.

Um ... it was tough. Read more