Saturday, April 26, 2008

A Fever Pitch

Here we are, just a few mere days from the release of Grand Theft Auto. Incredible, isn't it?
It's very hard for me to believe. I like many others thought we'd never get this far. I look very forward to this. I think this is one of those times I'm glad to be around for in the game industry.
Forever will I remember what I was doing or wasn't doing when GTA4 came out. You know whats going to be surreal though is holding my copy in my hand. You can't help but feel bad for games like MArio Kart that come out tomorrow and anything else that comes out in the next like month because it will be overshadowed by GTA. I almost decided not to get Mario KArt cuz' I know I won't spend enough time with it even though when has not having enough time to dedicate to a game stop me from buying it. Hell I still have a brand new SEALED copy of Call of Duty 4 from launch day that hasn't seen the light of day. Shit, they just released a Game of the Year edition of that game! Everybody is saying it's the best shooter period.

Everybody is doing like a midnight opening to celebrate. I however am not attending. Why? I hate crowds. I figure If I go later on Tuesday, probably Tuesday evening, almost everybody who's going to pick their copy will have done so at like midnight. So maybe I can avoid a bit of a crowd and confusion, I hope.

It's funny, I was reading on gametrailers a forum post form this 14 year old kid who didn't have a job and had like five bucks left and needed advice on how to get money to buy GTA. I felt so bad for him! Now see this is the type of sh*t i was talking about awhile ago, you know about how it sucks to be a kid. I remember what it was like. Parents who don't just buy you stuff for the hell of it so you have no choice but to trade in your old stuff to get new stuff. Thankfully I had the best grandparents you could ask for who spoiled us rotten but here is a kid who probably is a good guy, gets good grades and just needs a little help getting new games to do what he enjoys.

Ahh well. So, a bid thee farewell for now. Hopefully I'll check in soon. Hell who am I kidding, no one will be reading, everyone will be playing GTA from now until the next one comes out...

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Collecting is an Artform

Okay so I know I was supposed to bring you my thoughts on the biggest games of 08' but I'm going to take time out to talk about the "bug" that's bitten my lately.

As some of you know, I collect games. It's just what I like to do. Lately Its consumed me. I have a bit of a vendetta against Ebay. I don't like it. First off, I don't like the idea of "competing" with people to buy stuff. I like the comfort of being able to walk up to somebody who's got something to sell, plunk down my cash and walk away with it. It's that simple. Yes, there are some great deals to be had there, and things can get more expensive there too. There are also some great "one-of-a-kinds" on there too. I'm sad to say that I broke my own promise to myself and in the past weeks I've been a bit obsessed with hunting down game relics on Ebay. I'm happy to say that I've since calmed down and now I only check occasionally and hopefully I can phase it out all together.

It doesn't help that I'm a little bitter that I got beat out of an auction that I thought I had wrapped up a few weeks ago. Yeah, I had it won until like the last two minutes what I was outbid by like 2 bucks. Yeah I'm REAL bitter about it. But then my ego was soothed later when I got a great deal on a Neo-Geo cart. But it just pisses me off and it's too damn competitive. It really get bad when you start winning and now you're hooked, looking for your next win to get that "fix". I'll be the first to admit the high that's to be had after you win, especially when you get something on the cheap like I did. I've come to my senses though and I still hate the site.

I'm actually trying to chill out on collecting for a little while. I've got enough current releases to worry about. I can't be concerned with the past for now. Even though I love nostalgia. I think a part of my collecting is the memories each game brings back. I can remember things that were going on around me when I was playing some of those games. Like the first super Mario Bros. I remember staying in my room for hours playing that game when I first got it. And like playing my Saturn brings back memories of my first job. I bought my Sega Saturn with my first two checks what I was 15. Lets see that was 13 years ago?

Some acquisitions are to satisfy the inner child in me. Like the Neo-Geo I got like 4 years ago or so. I never had one as a kid. and hell neither did anyone else in my neighborhood growing up. They just cost too damn much. Like $600-$700 bucks! Which I would say in unheard of except for something called the PS3 but we won't go there. So yeah I finally got one cuz' I never had one as a kid. Got it for like $150 bucks. I'm still chasing a few carts but damn there sill expensive even after all these years.

Alright well I'm done rambling for now. Everybody enjoy your night.