What with my birthday being exactly 2 weeks after christmas (for those of you who are mathematically challenged, that's the 8th of January) there is always the possibility of a joint xmas and birthday present.

This year i got a 360 Along with viva pinata, forza 2 and the simpsons game. None xbox 360 related i also got half life 2 the orange box for pc, the horrors - strange house, russel brand's booky wook, and some clothes. After hooking up my xbox 360 and racing around a few laps of forza 2 my christmas was made, even on my old 15" sony (which happens to have seen more christmases than me by one) the games still look great. I think my ps2 and gamecube have finally found a new shiny box to sit with them. (never liked the first xbox)

However, there is strong correlation between an awesome christmas present and then not having much to open come my birthday, with any luck i might get a cake. But who cares by the time my birthday comes my new fresh from the sales 26" hd tv will be here and my gaming will be in razor sharp resolution. Other january sales wonders include bioshock and halo 3, my expenditure might be slightly higher than my income for this month...

On a less festive note first module AS exams start the day after my birthday. So for the while instead of homework occasionally being interspersed into gaming it is all revision with the occasional trip to see my pinata garden or play through another level of half life. bring on january 15th when exams are over and my life can resume.

"Welcome to rapture"

As i have finished my GCSEs (national tests for 16 year olds) I was lucky enough to get an extended summer holiday. Glorious, you'd think, 4 more weeks in the sun, at the beach, outside. Exactly what you wish you are doing in the last few weeks of the school term. But alas, true to form, english summer rain has set in. With some places further west suffering severe floods. Needless to say it hasn't been the best weather to be outside.

But, cooped up inside, i have decided to complete the piles of games i have bought and not had the time to play. I have still yet to go "next gen" but with any luck soon i'll have to as all the games i want for my current systems will be exhausted. However, a little more sun would be good, as my current videogame pursuit is neither that sociable, or very energetic. The most excersise i get some days is swivelling on my desk chair 90 degrees to the right to go on my computer for msn, internet etc. and then swivel back to the left and carry on playing games.

There has been some sunnier days, which i have spent outside, and a few days where we have had to dash for shelter as near biblical rain showers come from nowhere; but currently i'm thankful for my trusty PS2/DS/Gamecube.

Bring on the sun.

Games i have completed in the first 3 weeks of the summer:

-Okami (from the start - a good 50 hours)

-Shadow of the Collosus (finished normal time attack and hard mode as well)

-Viewtiful Joe 2

-Donkey Kong Jungle Beat (not exactly a long game, but, whatever.)

-Warhammer 40k: Dawn of War

More to be added...

5. The Dreamcast -

Played my friends LOADS it really paved the way for the generation that was to follwo and also had some very good games such as shenmue, virtua tennis/fighter, sonic adventure, powerstone and SOUL CALIBUR!!! PLus without the Dreamcast the xbox wouldn't have had a controller to mimic

 

4. Nintendo 64 -

Although beaten by the PSone the n64 had many immenses games. Goldeneye, Mario 64, Legend of Zelda OoT and MM, Donkey Kong 64 etc. If you have a wii it is worth picking up some of these old classics on the virtual console.

 

3. Playstation One -

The original playstation truly brought gaming to the masses, with more "adult" games videogames stoppped being the retreat of geeks and became cool. If it wasn't for the PSOne the industry would never have been as big as it is now for better or for worse. It also brought Final Fantasy to the masses. Not just that italso had some immense games: RE2, FFVII, VIII and IX, Tekken, the birth of pro skater, oddworld, not to mention the mighty GRAN TURISMO!!! and some of the better fifa games. O crap and Metal Gear Solid

 

2. SNES -

The snes revitalised gaming as it became less popular. It also gave the GBA a great selection of games to remake. Super Metroid is the standout title of the system by far, although this is in my list the SNES was almost completely last generation when i started gaming.

 

1. Playstation 2  -

 First things first i do have a preference for sony, but there is a reason the PS2 has THE best catalogue of games of any system ever....ever. Spawning several new series such as: Ratchet and Clank, Jak and Daxter, Devil May Cry, God of War and Timesplitters. Even the early launch games were good for example SSX and Tekken Tag Tournament. It also brought about possibly the most important game of the generation GTA III. Ever since it was made there was no looking back, loads of imitators followed but none surpassed the original. It also had some of the more inovative games of the generation such as Okami, parapa the rapper, guitar hero, ico and shadow of the collosus. It would take me a very long time to detail all the good games released, so let's leave it at this -  there is a reason this is the highest selling console of all time, and it isn't DREs

 

What with all the hype of the PS3 getting up steam, the 360 building on its success and the wii's inovation, it has still been the faithful PS2 that has churned out the goods so far this year (especially for UK residents).

In the last few months in the UK we have seen the release of Okami, FFXII and there is still God of War and Rogue galaxy still to come. I actually have so many new games that i can't physicaly play them all. May the good times roll, and in before the end of the PS2s lifespan we still have Burnout, Tomb Raider, Brian Lara 2007 and the odd few JRPGs. There is also the shady title of Manhunt 2 sure to bait the Daily mail readers and Jack Thompson's of the world once again.

No DREs, no overheating and no malfunctions. My ps2 has served the last 5 years in styl3 (for some reason this word is modded...who knows) and still has life in it yet

Well i am now entering the last few weeks of my compulsory school education!! As great as it sounds it basically means lots of revision, coursework and free time destruction. But all is not lost i recently got Okami and it is awesome! Viva last gen!

As i have exams it also means i get an extra long summer holiday which will be awesome and hopefully allow me to claw back my social life after having school destroy it.

I will also be doing volunteer work in hospitals etc. as i am hoping one day to become a doctor and take medicine at university.


Roll on the summer.