Man, this is the week of the Demo. First Warhammer, then Tribes? Played Warhammer for hours yesterday and will probably play it some more today, it's just that damn good. On the other hand, downloaded Tribes demo and it promptly locks up my system Posted a help-me-I'm-an-idiot message on the Tribes forum so maybe I'll get it to work later.

Still plowing away through Doom 3 and I give it a 6.5 out of 10. It's just too damn dark and the enemies are just too cheap. Feel like I'm playing a souped-up version of Serious Sam. The pick-up-the-item-and-monsters-spawn-in-front-and-behind-you is OLD! How about programming some A.I. Carmack? You can program the most incredible looking game, but can't program intelligence? Personally, I think the best A.I. in a game ever is Half-Life (the original). Still remember hiding around a corner and one of the guards flanked me and threw a grenade in my hiding spot. Good times...

Back to Warhammer, that game is really going to kick ass. Just marines on marines is fun (skirmish), can't wait to try all 4 races against each other! And that damn Squiggy... Ooooooo, I'll get back to you! (shakes fist at screen) Love the fact you can paint your units (not THAT unit). I hope there is a way to import your own paint schemes. I have some 40k marine figures that I painted in camo that look pretty cool, would like to put that in the game.

Well, off to some more gaming...

Went to friend's house (whose wife was out of town for weekend) and had some raging fun playing JO. Another guy came over and we had three of us on LAN. Actually very little lag even though the three of us were using the one dsl connection. It was nice being able to TALK to teammates for a change. Tried using TS before, couldn't get it to work (well, my end worked fine). Anyways that went on til 4am. Fun, fun, fun!

Played demo for Locomotion, and can't wait for retail version. It's basically an updated and simplified version of Transport Tycoon, but so what, I still play that game. One of my friends downloaded and played the Tribes beta, and it looks pretty good. There are definitely some lag issues going on, but for the most part it feels like the old tribes. Will wait and see final version reviewed before I decide to buy it or not.

FINALLY got my hands on Doom3 and am about halfway through it. I really want to like it more, but it definitely is the "flashlight sim". First thing I did was get the duct tape mod, but still there is just way too much darkness. What's the point of all the hyped tech in the game if you only get to see dimly lit spots of it? Game gave me a major headache from staring at the screen trying to see. They should have balanced it with some more brightly lit areas. Of course, like I said, I'm only halfway through it so maybe there are.

Burnout 3 got a 9.5 by this site. Woo-hoo! Can't wait to play it. Played the piss out of Burnout 2. Crash mode by far the most favorite part. Many times we had a room full of people playin the 4 player crash mode (3rd and 4th place had to give up their spots). Gonna need wrist surgery after Burnout 3...

Roommate's 12 year old finally got around to beating my copy of KOTR for xbox. I was near the end but my original xbox hd went boobs-up (was gonna use another word, but Gamespot said I couldn't LOL) so I had to buy a new one and I never felt like replaying the game to beat it. I kept my old xbox with the intention of modding it, but hadn't got around to it. Lucky thing though because the dvd drive in my new xbox died, so I just swapped it with the old one and it works fine. Guess I should just buy TWO of the next gen systems. One for play and one for spare parts, LOL...

One of the guys at our mini-lan party is starting up a cyber cafe. His financing is going through the "process" but it looks good. He's going to have 13 PCs, xbox live connection on 60 inch tv, wi-fi area for laptops, and even a BYOC area! Also there will actually be a cafe section for food and drinks. Can't wait for that (hopefully I'll get some "free" time in there).

Unfortunately, I did not get to see or play the new Source CS. Since the cyber cafe isn't actually real, yet, he can't get access to it . Oh, well...

Posted first forum message today, don't know why I haven't done it sooner, been member for over two years...

Going to mini-lan party tonight (just three of us). One of the guys is starting a cyber-cafe (13 pcs, x-box live, wi-fi access). Supposedly, he already has access to the new Source CS. Gonna check that out. Not a big CS fan. I don't like gettin killed and having to sit the rest of the match, especially when ppl you play against use dirty tactics, even though the matches are short. But if he does indeed have it, I will play it. Otherwise it will be some Joint Ops fun. Maybe try some co-op haven't done that, yet.

For those of you that play JO, some of my views of the game. The massive amount of sniping doesn't bother me. I like to snipe myself, but 9 times out of 10 I am a TEAM sniper, which means I set up shop wherever the current objective we are fighting for is at. I then proceed to try to clear a path for our gunners (via .50 ). When our team has the advantage I pick up my gear and get in the zone so we can own it. Once the base is ours, I reload, go to the next objective and do it all over again. I very, very rarely base rape. It seems pointless to me, since whoever you kill can just pop right out again. But, I can see where it has an effect, esp. on keeping helos on the ground. I also like to play as a gunner (main auto rifle, w/ nade launcher). Not really any good at any other classes. Halfway decent pilot, as long as I don't fly straight into cliff (happened last time I piloted, LOL). The game has its share of problems, just like any other game, but I still have fun with it. I also think there aren't anywhere near as many cheaters as everybody claims. There are quite a few people who play dirty (STRES), but they play within the rules of the game. If the game allows it, it's not a cheat. May be an exploit or flaw in the game, but that's up to NOVA to correct. I know ppl are gonna flame me for this, but I also think there is nothing wrong with what SHIMBUMI does with the rocket bird. So what if he only racks up the kills on that? Ever heard of SPECIALISTS? That's what real TEAMS are made up of, and if I'm not mistaken, the MILITARY is made up of. If ppl would just take the damn game for what it was and just PLAY it would be such a better experience.

In non-game related news, I watched my dvd "Bruce Campbell vs. Army of Darkness: Director's Cut (official bootleg edition)" last night. Oh, man, haven't seen it for awhile and it still cracks me up! Hope him and Raimi do make Ash vs. Freddy and Jason. Oktoberfest is just around the corner here (Oregon). If you live near Mt. Angel, you need to go (BEER GARDEN). It's a blast! Only missed two years in last twelve (I'm 33). They average about 100,000 ppl attending the festival over four days. There is also a wine garden (actually pretty big, mostly older ppl), and even a micro-beirgarten. Better stop talkin bout it, making me drool. And that's not even talkin' bout the hotties...

Well, I need to get something accomplished in the real world so off I go...