So yeah, ever since I got my Asus up and running with games (and when it runs, it never stops, if you catch my drift), I've been blown away with all that I have been missing (and what I have missed with Dungeon Siege, a game unplayable on the newest PCs, due to Microsoft's unending laziness to support older games they make).

World of Warcraft: Battlechest is really fun. At first it was hard to swallow -- something that happens for me with new games. But the way it unfolds makes it easy to play, so long as you try not to bull-rush through. I am satisfied with the game and look forward to playing it thoroughly.

Doom 3 (for the PC) is a lot of fun. It adds a whole new layer of tension ovewr the XBOX edition, especdially because helming shooters on PCs is more immersing. The length of the game is better than its console brother, which is good because I have already seen the added sections and I haven't played it an hour. An hour on the console and I felt like I was entering the Second Quarter. I can only play it for a few minutes because it is so tense, and this is a quality I like. I kinda wish I had gotten Bioshock, now.

Civilization IV (I haven't even gotten to the expansions yet) is a great, fresh experience with soem quirky visuals. I like the aesthetic changes, but the animations seem to lock up a bit here and there, (not enough to make it seem dumb), though I was playing it on a large map with a lot of units. Such lag is not harmful to the gameplay experience. I've already played a medium game and a quick game and I have enjoyed the balanced difficulties.

Neverwinter Nights: Diamond is another one I deeply enjoy. Sure, it's old, but it doesn't look bad at all and I have already considered sticking to one character till the end, just for this game. I don't do that with RPGs anymore, so that tells you how much I appreciate its reasonable depth. It quells whatever D&D desires I had before the wedding.

Now for the one I admit to enjoying the most so far (heh), Far Cry 2. Few games with vulgar language and bleak circumstances appeal to me (looks at anything bearing the GTA name), so I was surprised by how much I enjoy the game. It's really, really deep for a shooter. I will be playing this a lot. I started as two characters and was doubly surprised to find that you start in different areas with different characters. I know it doesn't take a lot to impress me, but honestly... how often do you start at least a little fresh every time you play a shooter? Call of Duty 4 doesn't have that. The dialogue is different when you play it through with different characters, and (by obligation of selection) the people you team up with in game changes with each different character.

As much as I have become an RPG nut and Platformer fan over the years, Far Cry 2 has started to draw me back to shooters, and has inspired me to seek the best in them. After I play Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, I hope that all future shooters won't try to follows its cookie-cutter mold, and instead seek out new concepts. The Map Maker for the multiplayer adds a lot, so I can't wait to try it.

--resident Map Making nut

Is there any particular reason why all my games here are gone? Wish list, Collection, etc.?

It had better come back.

I really, really would dig having some game soundtracks on CD. Like, for instance, ones for Chrono Cross and Castlevania: Lament of Innocence. Some of the tracks from those games I just can't ever get enough of.

Kind of odd, though, that I used to hate Chrono Cross and now I think it's a great game, for the most part.

As long as I keep my Old-School badge here I don't care about not ranking up/getting merits, 'cause I am Old-School all the way.

Grr...