Mw3 Reveal

MW3=WW3

Yes, yes, yes...on with it. Okay, so I think many people have a lot of mixed feelings about the game so far. However, after seeing the trailer, you can't help but feel a little confidence boost, like "yeah it looks like a Modern Warfare, bet it's good" or something along those lines. Obviously, like all of the others, the game has tons of potential. And, hey, a lot to lose as well since it carries a fanbase larger than any other game ever. Well, "fans" in the smallest sense of the word, as well all know, considering the majority of people who play CoD play it only because everyone and their mother is on. I myself am proud to say I have been with the series as my favorite FPS since CoD 1 for the PC, the very first installment, developed by Infinity Ward in its fetal stages as a development firm.

So, WW3. I'd give a "wow this is so unexpected" but honestly with so much war, I'm a little battle-hardened as far as storylines go. The CoD game of today isn't driven by the single-player at all, but by the mega-saturated multiplayer landscape. As far as I'm concerned, if the game follows safely in the footsteps of Mw2 without detracting too much, they really can't lose. Sure, people are going to get bored, but the initial appeal will be enough. And you know that's exactly what they're going to do, not risk anything as long as Infinity Ward is hurting for fresh talent following the mass-exodus of Zampella/West and Company. They don't want to give Raven Software and Sledgehammer Games any leeway, I'd wager.

I do hope they have a more dynamic sniper situation. The last two games the overwhelming favoritism has been evident. The Intervention dominated Mw2 due to it's "flashy" appeal and powerful stopping power (while the Barrett was classified as "nooby" and less powerful), and the L96 owned Black Ops for an obvious reason, the snipers in that game SUCK, and you can't afford to lose any of the precious miniscule strength offered to sniper bullets. So yeah, snipers, there's enough of them out there, make it a better selection.

Assault Rifles, really nothing to say about them. It's the same deal every year, this is like the Wal-Mart of weapons, has what everyone wants and you can't go wrong.

SMG's, please not another UMP 45. Or AK74u for that matter. Or Mp40..
come to think of it, what's the last CoD that didn't have a largely dominant SMG?

Call me cliche for giving this game more light, but I'm sorry, I love it. I love CoD, I've always loved their dedication to framerate/graphics and independent-based gunplay where I don't have to lose every match thanks to a crying 12-year-old. CoD owns the market for a reason, Halo/Battlefield/GoW fanboys.

I'll be playing until Mw33.

This is interesting, planets more than likely outnumber stars:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/05/110518-planets-jupiters-worlds-space-science-nature/

Maybe some of you already took this as a given. I certainly didn't, whenever I hear "billions and billions of stars in the Milky Way" I think stars, not planets. This fact also broadens the possibility of inhabitable, or life-sustaining planets out there like our own. Unfortunately, one can only dream as space technology seems to be going nowhere within our lifetime, we can't even get back to the Moon anymore.

On a different subject, I recently stumbled upon the old king of Youtube:

I can hardly believe this used to be the views leader. You know, before Youtube became overrun with little kids,  bored senior citizens, and tween girls (You know, to give Biebs over 500,000,000 views). I hate to say it, but this is when the 'net had class, you know, true style. Especially considering Youtube, since when did it become this big mega-channel for mainstream music videos and other shit. You'd think MTV would've taken that opportunity first. I disappoint myself in that I contribute by regularly supporting VEVO by frequenting its empire of songs on the Tube.

Nothing ever beats the classics though. And hey, maybe Numa Numa guy's spirit lives on, through the likes of Antoine Dodson and Double-Rainbow Dude.

Summer Movie Onslaught

It's inevitable. The perennial influx of summer movies is upon us and I'd like to speculate a little on a few:

I've always enjoyed the Pirates series, as I'm sure many others have as well. Being the 4th installment, however, carries many ramifications. This is usually the point in any long series of movies where it either completely fails or is reborn better. As far as I know, the original director Gore Verbinski wasn't at the helm this time around, and this movie operated on a significantly smaller budget as well, plus the axing of Orlando Bloom and Kiera Knightley's parts. Nevertheless, it looks like it could be a fun turn into a new direction, and let's face it, Pirates never get old, whether they reach the Fountain of Youth or not.

This one looks like it will probably be funny, but not comedic gold. As far as I can tell, it borrows largely from the original Hangover formula, except new characters and setting. That's all fine, but it doesn't usually warrant the same reception as the first time around. I'll still laugh hard anyway.

I have some serious doubts about this one. Of course the plot and dialogue couldn't be worse than Transformers 2, so what is there to worry about. All you need is plenty of explosions, hot babes, and a lovable lead character. Michael Bay, has budget, will travel. To the dark side of the moon and back.

This will undoubtedly be a good movie. Now that that's aside, all factors point to this being a GREAT movie. Seems like it's only yesterday that the Sorcerer's Stone was released, with Harry being 11 at the same time roughly that I was. I have grown up with the movies, and they will undoubtedly come to represent something better in time to come. Forget the critics, the plots are enchanting, the characters easy to familiarize with, and the dream is there.

Another interesting movie of note is Captain America. However, considering the plethora of superhero movies  already available, I think it goes without saying that everyone knows what to expect.

Cheers, to another summer of popcorn and restroom breaks.

Random Week

First off:

Yes, I lol'd. I don't watch South Park much, but this is plain funny regardless. I especially love the "ooohh" "ooohhh" adolescents in the background, a regular staple in Mw2 search and destroy lobbies. We've all heard that before. And been a part of it...

Anyway, bullshit story of the week:

http://articles.boston.com/2011-05-06/yourtown/29517416_1_track-team-tom-davis-westwood-coach

I don't even know what to say about this. The state of this nation degrades every day, thanks to little crap like this chipping away at us. Really? Since when has shirtless men been a taboo topic? Anywhere you go guys have shirts off, and track practice in the hot sun seems like one of the most understandable scenarios. Regardless, the A.D. of that school can go eat a fat one.

It's Mothers Day

So what are you doing? As for me, my mom's in Denver right now with my Grandma. She's getting older so my mom felt it was a good time to spend a week with her.

So I herd you liek Blu-Ray sets

What's that, the new wave of full extended-cut sets return, fresh and ready for the battle of Blu-Ray? That's right, two of the longest and most acclaimed sagas of all time return, The Lord of the Rings and Star Wars!

Oh yes, were the original LOTR movies not enough for you? 3 hours didn't sate your appetite the first time around. Well here you go, pack on a cool extra 15 minutes of extended footage, turned into Hi-Def Blu-Ray by those magicians at Sony (hehe).

That's not all, it's also being re-released in select screenings at theaters nationwide. That's right, if the four bathroom breaks, kids crying, and prolonged mayhem wasn't enough the first time around be ready for more, and bring a diaper.

You can expect it to cost upwards from $50, mostly for that unnecessary bulk of a box containing irrelevant material like little informational pamphlets, advertisements, LOTR concept art, and finally the little disc actually containing all of the movies. Or maybe they'll make it 3 discs to make it look sizable.

Moving on, there's also more Star Wars to be had. It's been a few years since the last special edition box set, you better believe it's time for more. This time you get to notice the lack of wrinkles on Harrison Ford's face and Mark Hamill's lazy eye. Lucasfilm is ever flowing with new product concerning their flagship franchise.

I just can't wait to hear that grating, stringent THX intro for the billionth time. It's literally scared me every time since I was a kid.

Are these really worthy buys? I guess it depends on your loyalty to the series. For all intents and purposes, there's no need for any time to be added to the Lord of the Rings, and Star Wars has seen more set editions than any series out there.

But yes, I'll probably still end up slipping one into my PS3. So sue me.

Skyward Sword

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is slated to release sometime soon. As much as I like the idea of a new Zelda entry, then again I don't. Looking at this trailer, there's obviously a lot you can retrieve. Firstly, it's cel-shaded. That in itself makes me apprehensive, I don't like the idea of another Wind Waker. I just don't like the cel-shaded style, period. Especially for this series, it pulls away from what is usually the best graphics on the Nintendo system of that generation (a la Twilight Princess Wii, Ocarina of Time N64). Maybe by using this graphical technique they are trying to recapture the magic of N64 era by means of a quainter style? I don't know, but as I said before, I by rule don't prefer it.

I have no fears about the soundtrack, even though they'll never top OoT. Never. Okay, maybe that's basically nostalgia, but I'm sorry tell me why I'm still listening to those songs every now and again. I'm not a Nintendo fanboy whatsoever, I primarily play Xbox, and yes I listen to garbage Rap and Rock nowadays, but I still go back to OoT. So GFY, lol. Lon Lon Farm 4 Lyfe.

Beyond the trailer, I didn't look for much information. I've truly gotten apathetic towards this series recently. The DS iterations are mediocre and uninspired. How much more can Link do? Who can even foresee an end to the games featuring these Nintendo legends, most notably Link and Mario. They've been around since the damn beginning.

If this game turns out to be an abysmal failure, which is highly unlikely, I say give the series a few years rest. Or more. If it turns out to be a decent game but not along the caliber of others, I say give the series a rest. Yes, give the series a rest. Everything spoils with too much use. Back on the topic of Mario, honestly who even noticed Galaxy 2 come out? It is time for Nintendo to develop something new, something they can roll with for a decade, and give these guys a break.

But hey, Skyward Sword is coming out, should be worth a look.

We Got 'im

So the sordid career of Osama bin Laden ends. Yes, I'm sure this is everywhere. Yes, we all know the details of how it went down. I'd still like to throw in my two cents.

Of course we have to be apprehensive about this announcement. There are many holes in the story, and the fact that the body was "buried at sea" and there is no video/images of deceased bin Laden or raid released as of yet, makes the story a bit muddled. So I take this news with a grain of salt.

Nonetheless, it is a relief, weirdly. This guy has kicked sand in America's face for so long now, he definitely had it coming. For those of you who are proponents of his fair trial here in the States, be assured he would have gotten nothing of the sort. A man who masterminds, or at least takes credit for, the murder of over 3,000 innocents has dug his own grave.

At least the raid sounded cool. Seal Team Six, moves in swiftly takes out tangos, neutralizes target, yeah it sounds like something out of SOCOM Fireteam Bravo. Yes, I deserve to be publicly stoned for comparing real life to a video game as if video games are the predecessors of real life. Regardless, the news that Osama purportedly grabbed a woman as a human shield gives me images of "Mile High Club". Alright, I'm done.

Rest in Pieces, Osama. Sharkbait, Ooh ha ha.

Sunday Recap

It's been a rough week. We did a lot of running, plus leg exercises such as squats and extensions. And I mean a lot. Plus, I strained my pectoral tendon so I have had to give benching a rest for the week, much to my dismay. Oh yes, I know, what a sad story. I figure what doesn't break you makes you stronger so hey, maybe I'll be pushing 300 Tuesday. Haha, yeahhhh, that's a stretch.


So I heard there's been a wedding?

Yeah, haha, I know no kidding. It's been on TV 24/7 here in the States so I can imagine Europe's having their fun.

In the meantime, I finished The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald this past Thursday. While I can imagine a lot of you have read it, it really struck a nerve for me. I could easily see myself in Gatsby's position, albeit to a lesser extent. Let's just say I knew (know) a girl like Daisy, and had some similar experiences. Damn, Fitzgerald, he was really writing to the point. It's always so interesting to me when a book set in a different time, different setting, can still resonate so well with you.

The cover art is gorgeous if you ask me. It really exemplifies the tone of 1920's America.