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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

My team and I have finally cleared the escalators from all of the terrorist, and are ready to rescue the hostages. Before we proceed, we resupply ourselves at the conveniently placed crate of weapons and ammo. Better change my smoke grenades to flashbangs so I can stun the terrorists.

Further down the hall, I can hear the terrorists arguing with one another.

"Put down the gun!"

"No you put down the gun!"

"I told you first!"

"Sez you!"

"Yo mama"

and so on. Read more

So last night, realizing that I had been playing a lost of Xbox live recently I ran a quick question past Guba before the gaming began.

"Did you want to do anything tonight?"

She looked at me like I had grown a third eye. A glowing bright green third eye, smack dab in the middle of me forehead.

Chastened, I slowly slunk backwards out of the room until I could safely turn and run for my Xbox 360.

You think I would have learned by now.

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 received my new macbook pro on Tuesday, and transfered all my old Powerbook's content unto the new Pro.
I used the Firewire migration tool and selected "Everything"

Right...

So, on Wednesday night, I reinstalled OSX on the Pro... Copied my data over, and downloaded and installed all the software I used regularly. Everything works fine now.

Now it's Thursday morning and I decide to install Boot Camp and get Windows XP on this puppy. Well, as I look at Windows XP installing itself on the MacBook Pro, I am struck by a few feelings:

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

Just bought a MacBook Pro refurb, for $1000 less than the new one, plus AppleCare.

8 Days delivery

The countdown begins....

And my 3RLoD Xbox 360 is now in Microsoft's hands.

Four days to get to me and one day to get to Microsoft. I guess they do have more pull.

Date Scan Time Status Comment
2007/09/06 08:55 Delivered to ALISTAR at SHIP DOCK of CELESTICA 844 DON MILLS RD M3C1V7
2007/09/06 07:43 On vehicle for delivery
2007/09/06 07:23 Shipment In Transit
2007/09/06 03:48 Left TORONTO SORT CTR/CTR TRIE, ON
2007/09/06 03:42 Shipment In Transit
2007/09/05 19:25 Shipment In Transit
2007/09/05 14:29 Received at Reception from XXXXXX

Stormblade may have his own take on our evening of Rainbow Six coop.

But my version is slightly different.

Its a good thing that Rainbow Six Vegas only supports four players in coop because I would hate to see what more of us could do. 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

It doesn't look like a coffin.So my original call to MS Xbox support was Tuesday August 28th.

I received the "coffin" for shipping my 3RLOD Xbox 360 yesterday, Tuesday September 4th. And while it seems like a week (exactly a week) it was within the 3-5 business days promised. Four in fact. Read more