“For he did not know, that beyond the lake he called home, There lied a deeper, and darker ocean green. Where waves are both wilder and serene. To its ports I’ve been, To its ports Ive Been.” -Thomas Zane

You are Alan Wake, a famous horror writer obsessed with Stephen King. After writing a successful novel you take a vacation to Bright Falls. It is then there your trip takes a turn for the worse. You end up becoming dangerously close to Night Springs!

You are equipped with a flashlight and various firearms to stop what is known as the darkness, and its henchmen the taken. Formula for this is quite simple, shine light on the baddie, wait til the Darkness force field is broken, shoot til dead. Gameplay is very easy to adapt and is not complicated by any means. A much needed change from most games now a days where it takes the four shoulder buttons and the D-pad to walk forward.

This game shines when it comes to story, delivery, environment, ambiance and the overall feel of the story and its star Alan. I can without a doubt say that I have never been this into a game’s story since Final Fantasy 7. It is brilliant. The tension comes at the right times, as well as the calm moments, the dialogue is great, apart from Alan narrating that he just opened a door, but even that just adds to the brilliance that is Alan Wake.

I cannot tell you in a simple blog post how awesome this game is, do yourself some good, go out and buy two copies of this game. If you do not have an Xbox 360, go out and buy an Arcade unit at the very least and then buy two copies of this game. The return is there immediately after you watch the first cutscene.

Pros:

• Amazing story
• Brilliant setting
• Not complicated to play
• Did I mention the story?

Cons:

• Controls lag ever so slightly during big fights
• They are not pumping out the DLC fast enough
• Camera can be annoying at times when navigating small areas, or vastly large spaces. However this happened only twice for me in the whole game.

Rated: 6/5 (My personal pick for GOTY at this point) GO BUY IT!

Sometimes you need that quick “brighten your day” moment, and here it is. A few Pokepapers! We have one with the trainers, a cute cartoon of the non legendary dogs, and finally an awesome one of Legendary bird Ho-Oh This is just a taste of what I ran into, I will post more as I find these gems, so enjoy! So make your desktop better with some Pokemon!

So the question that needs to be answered… is Red Dead Redemption a good game? The short answer is, YES, but not so much. This game SUFFERS from a terribly slow story, and even more so a turtles speed crawl through it.  It takes several hours of mundane ranch work, and learning of the controls to even scratch the REAL story of this game.  This game is great, I loved its good parts but they were few and far between.

From this point on I am no longer giving kudos to a game just because it looks and sounds good, and this game those two areas it shines. The controls are an issue, you sometimes need to navigate 3 buttons to shoot a target, the duel system is pathetic and the horse controls are maddening. Rockstar took GTA 4 and applied a wild west theme to it. The missions/tasks are quite repetitive, go kill the baddies, save the person, go investigate some far off point on the map. Wash, Rinse, Repeat. Yet Rockstar filled the game with so much side-questing that at times I get lost in the amount of things to do in the game. Its like they knew the story was utter trash so they threw in some Poker, Dueling, and Night Watch quests to distract you from the main story.

The game has one amazing part and that is the horse ride as you enter Mexico, thats about it. I bought into the hype of this game, thinking something completely different. I thought I was going to be playing through a story like Tombstone or 3:10 to Yuma but nope, I was playing through outfit changes and leveling up my “marksman” abilities. At least with GTA they put in just enough side notes and quests to provide a well needed time out from the story, with RDR Rockstar loaded up the Side “Stuff” and went lean on the the story.

Did I have fun when there was action? Hell yes, I loved the Dead Eye multi-targeting system of killing multiple enemies, albeit could have been simpler to control. I loved just riding on my horse through some of the best looking landscaping I have seen in a game. I loved the dialogue at times and going out to a small corner of the map and putting a bullet into a guy for no reason other than to collect some cash. However, these simple enjoyments cannot cancel out the wrong with this game.

I have no problem recommending this as a great rental, but I am hard pressed to recommend it as a purchase. I purchased this title, and in all honesty I am regretting it a bit.

AOS Rated: ★★★☆☆ 

Disclamer: I did not try multiplayer as my PS3 has been going through internet/connection issues.

It’s not just that he screwed up and said something stupid because he’s so committed to a purist fancy. No, it’s worse than that. Libertarianism itself is what’s stupid here, not just Paul. We should stop tip-toeing around this belief system like its adherents are the noble last remnants of a dying breed, still clinging to their ancient, proud ways.

Now, to be clear, before continuing: there are legions of brilliant individual libertarians. [Dave] Weigel himself, for example, is a great writer and reporter, and a true master of Twitter. We’ve never met, but by all accounts, he’s also very much a stand-up fellow. But brilliant, decent people can think silly things. And that’s what’s going on here. It’s time to stop taking libertarianism seriously. [...]

Think about the New Deal. Although libertarian ingrates will never admit it, without the reforms of the 1930s, there might not be private property left for them to complain about the government infringing on. Not many capitalist democracies could survive 25 percent unemployment, and it doesn’t just happen by good luck. [...]

The government didn’t just help make the “free market” in the first place — although it did do that. It’s also constantly busy trimming around the edges, maintaining the thing, keeping it healthy. The state can think ahead and balance competing interests in a way that no single company can. [...]

The libertarian who insists that the state has no place beyond basic night-watchman duties is like a teenager who, having been given a car, promptly starts demanding the right to stay out all night. Sometimes, someone else really is looking out for your best interests by saying no.

And that’s why the best rap on libertarians isn’t that they’re racist, or selfish. (Though some of them are those things, and their beliefs encourage both bad behaviors, even if accidentally.) It’s that they’re thoroughly out of touch with reality. It’s a worldview that prospers only so long as nobody tries it, and is too unreflective and self-absorbed to realize this. In other words, it’s bratty. And that’s bad enough.

Of course this is after Rand Paul made his comments on the Civil Liberties legislation, which is a different discussion for a different day. What surprises me is that Mr. Winant’s take on the “Free Market.” He states that without the government there would be no free market. How this makes sense eludes me. The fact that the government passes regulation on the private sector eliminates the term “free market.” The fact that the government prints currency at super speeds and adjusts value of this paper and adjusts the intrest that these papers can collect completely destroys the principles behind the “free market.” Its a disgrace that people think that we have ever had a “free market” especially since the establishment of the Federal Reserve. If anything that line should read that “The government didn’t just hurt the “free market” in the first place, it destroyed it — It is constantly busy regulating, getting in the way of innovation, messing up the thing, making is sick with disease. The “FREE MARKET” can adjust to the current times and balance competing interests in a way no government can.”

The metaphor he gives to compare the governments duties and to that of a teenager acquiring a license to operate a motor vehicle doesn’t even fit. While the Government would love more than ever to have a parent child relationship with the citizens of the nation, it does not. All the gov’t is supposed to be is the night watchman, who defends in country. It is none of the states business how enterprise and industry provide money and wealth to society. There is not one line written in the constitution about gov’t and business. Any person who advocates that gov’t be in control of enterprise and industry are those who are already holding office or those who do not trust themselves to make decisions for their own lives. These people also love to tell people what to live like and how to live this way.

How about the fact that in the 1920′s credit was so easily available, it created a false boom just like today, and then it collapsed because of gov’t intervention and thus we had the great depression. There was a major crash in the economy in the 1921, and since the gov’t just left it alone and allowed the market to handle it, this depression lasted all of a year. A vast contrast to the great depression, where gov’t intervened and let to mass unemployment and a serious cut in living standard. The gov’t cannot do anything successful because the people who sit in their offices have no one clue about the issues they pass regulation and laws on. They like to think they do. But they don’t. Look at whats happening today with unemployment rates.

True unemployment rates are approaching that same 25% that is was in the 1930′s and how is the great government handling it today? By forcing regulations on the private sector to “stimulate” job creation. It sure is working! Ask people how easy it is to get a job today, in todays market. These regulations shut the door on job creation, no business is hiring because they simply cannot afford to hire or do not have the tools to make sure they match these requirements and regulations. So the government creates some public works project to build some useless bridge out in the middle of nowhere to create 500 jobs that last 6 months-1 year, and lauds it as some success, while the factory that produces a small part to an aircraft has to close up shop because the 20 people he was going to hire were given the bridge job, that in the end provides nothing to economic growth. This factory now needs to shut down because it does not have the man power, now the aircraft manufacturer needs to go to China, Japan, India, Mexico to get the part to produce the crafts. He runs the risk of paying more per part due to regulations on foreign importing and trading of goods set up by the government, and he also risks that the quality of the part that he has used for the past 20 years might not be the same quality as the part made from foreign plants and businesses.

You cannot go attacking the “free market” because you feel its attackable due to what one Rand Paul stated. You need to do research and think things through before you post your verbal assault on how bad the “free market” is and how it would not exist without the governments watchful eyes and constant pruning. Until we have a true FREE MARKET in this country, one cannot assert that it will not correct government created problems and those that fall under corporatism.

The gameplay is basic for a turn based RPG that is 15 years old. But its beauty is in this simplicity. There is no eon systems, no materia systems, no costume garbage to deal with. Its straight forward, each of the characters have an element they command: Lightning, Water, Fire, and Shadow. They can use single attacks, double attacks and if available triple attacks. These abilities are called “Techs.” They are easy to manage, understand and execute through the game. Battles are entered by running into enemies on-screen or tripping a battle “switch” by walking on a certain piece of the map. In this game its fun to enter battles because paired with this beautiful battle system and the epic battle soundtrack, you do not want to skip a battle. It does not feel like a chore to go and kill some Naga-ettes or some Mutants.

The Soundtrack is one of the best in video game history! Some of the greatest pieces of VGM has come from this game, Schala’s Theme, Corridors of Time, Singing Mountain, etc. All Superb. The music meshes so well with this story, it is a perfect game. Even after 15 years this game outclasses some if not most modern-day RPGs. You actually play this game, you are not playing an interactive cut scene with a confusing system of play and a tacky story. With Chrono Trigger you get involved in it, you read every piece of text, you go out of your way to complete all the side-quests, because that is how good this game is. This game only gets better with time. Which is why truly I among many consider it the greatest RPG ever made. It’s the total package of Story, ambience, and gameplay mechanics.

I have no hesitation in giving this a

AOS Rated: 5 out of 5  

If you own a DS, go out and buy this game, if you have not already. Track down a copy of the SNES version for the true experience. Even if you dislike RPGs, you should play it, because it’s a true RPG. Not some watered down, linear, lack of depth attempt at an RPG that is forced to you today.

I will start by saying that I normally don’t “do” these types of articles, but I feel compelled to share with you my thoughts on a topic that supersedes gaming, technology or the occasional picture or YouTube post.

Democracy has been forced to the masses since the Greek golden age in history. It has been viewed as the fairest, most efficient way of allowing a populous to come together and make decisions, laws and to appoint leaders to carry out said decisions and laws.  Each man has a vote and with that vote he gets to decide what suits him the best out of a handful of options presented to him. Then the votes are counted and the majority wins. I ask is this fair? Is this efficient? More so I ask you is this just? Not really, not in a long shot.

Democracy’s main issue is that the power of the (country, land, state, etc.) is simply leased to those that the populous chose to govern, the leader has NO direct investment in the control of the land and state. Thus the leader can wield his/her power in any way that they see fit and merely brush the shortcomings off on the next leasee. Thus this only benefits the elected leader and his/her comrades that they appointed to various positions in the government.  You might say that this is handled with a system of Checks and Balances. Much to your disappointment, it is not, because these people who need to keep a check on the other elected officials are still just leasing power, that has been given to them by the people. The Check to these officials is the people, however since we have foolishly given the officials power, we the people remain powerless under a democracy.

Heres a scenario: We all came together and voted, and “Person A” won the majority of votes and is now president of the state. Then president “A” appoints people who share similar views to various posts in the government, he is now able to write laws and make potential life altering decisions at the behest of the country, who is to stop him? The current minority? Not a chance. Now imagine president “A” feels that the state would be safer if we increased our defence and protection services. He and his cohorts write a bill, given that he has the majority, it passes into law and within 30 days we have 2x bigger defence and protection services. Now you person “B” does not like this one bit, in a democracy what can you do about it?  You can stand up and protest. You can write your “Representative.” You can find others who share your opinion on the matter. However in the end, you are powerless because you are a member of the minority. So you and a group of people start a protest, but because of what senator “G” earmarked in the current defence and protection bill, you are now labeled a threat to the citizens around you and are then punished. Ergo, because of Democracy you are now punished. I really do not see how democracy is so great. I would venture to say that a legit Monarchy works better and is potentially a better society to live in than a Democratic society. How so you ask? KEEP READING!

Now a monarchy and the concepts behind it are simple to understand. We have a king or queen who own a large chunk of land and control all the day-to-day operations of the land. The king then employs the common man to build a castle, walls, gates and smaller dwellings and buildings on said land.  How this is better than a democracy? It is fairly simple to see that the current monarch has a DIRECT investment in the kingdom. He is not leasing power like an elected official is. The current monarch if he remains lax in the upkeep of their kingdom will directly suffer, the kingdom could be invaded or the subjects could simply leave the kingdom, essentially leaving the monarch with nothing. It is in the monarchs best interests that he maintains a prosperous, safe and blissful kingdom. If the monarch starts charging high taxes to its subjects he risks said subjects to rise up and potentially harm his investment. However, if the monarch provides basic necessities of life to its subjects and asks them simply to do an assigned job (e.g.. Gardening, tailoring, defence services, butcher). This allows the king to maximize his investment all while keeping the subjects happy. Imagine that you are living under a monarchs rule, and they provide you a home, that is already being paid for by the kingdom, all the monarch asks you to do is maintain the royal gardens. Seems like a fair trade. There is only one problem with this system. While being better than a democracy, where power is not abused and where majority rule does not destroy the opinions of the minority. A monarchy lacks personal freedom, which is the ultimate prize.

Why should we the people be forced to accept the views and values of others? Can it be possible that we would be able to govern ourselves with no established government? I believe so. It is no ones job to force anyone to live by a certain standard. The most powerful force in this world is the Free Market, a TRUE free market, not the imaginary one that the Neo-Cons claim to support and the one Democrats brand as the enemy. With a stateless free market it allows all the issues that are constantly being tossed back and forth by our elected officials to be handled in a fast and efficient and better yet FAIR way. How so? Lets look at the controversial Stem Cell issue that is a hot topic of our time. In a stateless free market if a group wants to get together and support it, they can, if a research center wants to study stem cells they would be able to. Heres the kicker, because there would be a DEMAND for cures to common illnesses that plague us. As long as there is a demand for something in a free market that demand will be met. With a government in the way to write laws and pass regulations its is impossible for there to be breakthroughs in various fields of study, industry and life. Since the majority does not find it to be ethical to study stem cells, the minority now has to stop researching a potential life altering method of curing the masses.

This can be applied to any issue. With a stateless free market, there would be no force on the individual to conform to any legislation or monarch rule. By infringing on others right to privacy and property the aggressor only harms himself. If you are allowed to protect your property, and someone transgressed the boundaries of your property, they (the transgressor) is more than likely going to get seriously hurt. The way a democracy would handle this would be, they vote to establish a domestic defence bureau, they then force the citizens to pay taxes to upkeep the defence bureau and the facilities to detain criminals, some of which are beyond rehabilitation, and in the end because of earmarking, corruption and coercion there is little to no progress in effectively dealing with crime, yet you the citizen are forced to pay for it. Under a monarchy crime is handled as the monarch sees fit, you still pay taxes and in the end it is up to the monarch what the process of dealing with crime and criminals are. Under the process chosen there is potential for you to be directly effected in a negative way. Since this is a monarchy, you the subject are powerless to do anything about this decision. There are limitless examples that can be discussed as to how a Monarchy is superior to a Democracy and how a stateless free market is superior to all political systems.

While it is hard to comprehend and even I do not have all the answers, I can without hesitation say that democracy is the system that failed, and it is unfortunate that through this system your liberties are trampled without you knowing it. Will it ever change? I cannot see it happening soon. Can steps be taken to move towards a system that works? Of course. There are a group of individuals who have discussed this very topic before me. One way would be to elect officials who want to reduce the size and power of government. The best place to start is educating yourself, go and listen to these individuals, read their books, change starts with you. Hans-Hermann Hoppe wrote a whole book on this very topic: Democracy: The God That Failed. If my small write-up has intrigued you, I suggest you check out his work. It is basically this write-up just more detailed and provides more evidence on the matter.

Heres another quote by Hoppe that in short explains why democracy fails: “As for the moral status of majority rule, it must be pointed out that it allows for A and B to band together to rip off C, C and A in turn joining to rip off B, and then B and C conspiring against A, and so on.”

If you have a DS phat I would look into upgrading to this, IF you don’t do as much gaming on the go, I mean the XL can be taken on the road in a somewhat deep pocket or backpack. But, if you just sit on your couch playing Ace Attorney most of the time, do a favor and save your eyes and go for the bigger XL model. Outside of that there is not much more to say, it has the same specs as a DSi, there is no difference between the two outside pricing. (DSi $169.99 DSi XL $189.99) are bigger screens worth the added 20 bucks? In my opinion: Yes.

Final Verdict: Bigger does prove to be better, if you love the DS system, yet find that it does not leave home often. Potential eBook reader, same functionality as the DSi makes it a harder yet still understandable sell for just bigger screens with no improvements in resolution if you have a newer DS Lite or DSi system.

Nintendo’s DSi XL gets a 4/5

“WHA? NO MENTION OF THE UPCOMING 3DS?” Nope, not even going there. First lets get some more information and wait for what E3 has to say before I discredit the DSi XL. All we have is a press release that there is a new handheld glasses-less 3D system in the works, nothing more…

Dr. Gupta has echoed the warnings from the CDC and WHO that we all must wash our hands after interaction with a keyboard and to discard any and all mice you own as they have the highest reinfection rate. Symptoms include talking in binary, slow processing, illegible error messages and overheating. Pharmacies across the nation are providing clinics that distribute the proper packets to clear up the bug. The WHO is officially working on a quarantine center for the horrid bug. Stay tuned for more information as it is rolled out…

If you do not already know the back story behind God of War I suggest you go HERE first.

If you have not already played the first two God of War titles I suggest you do! (Go Gamefly them!)

After you have done the above proceed to play God of War 3!

If in the first ten minutes your eyes have not exploded because of the god like graphics, I suggest you find yourself a doctor to sit down and discuss your status as a human being. Visually this game is THE BEST LOOKING GAME OUT TO DATE, BAR NONE, NO OTHER GAME EVEN COMES CLOSE TO THIS GAME. The water effects alone are of tear jerking beauty.  Even on my ancient flat panel this game looked superb. I cannot stress to you on the aesthetics of the game, its a “you must see it for yourself..” kind of thing. Now that discussing the graphics is out of the way lets look at the rest of the game.

The length of this game is laughable, I completed this game in a little over 8 hours. In these 8 hours I proceeded down “linear tunnels” killing enemies and opening chests. Repetition is this games calling card. The game diverts very little from this equation of Kill > Collect > Solve > Repeat > Boss. However due to this games awesome way of presenting itself, I never truly felt bored with the repetition and linear gameplay.

The voice acting is superb (Rip Torn is in it!) and the story pans out really well in this action packed conclusion of Kratos’ journey.  The people at Santa Monica did a great job with this one. There is nothing that I need to go in depth with in this review, as I do not want to give away to much or ramble on small issues that plague any game.  There is one little glitch I noticed though, the R1 action was random or at times non-existent at save points.

tl;dr – The best looking game out at the moment, great story, extremely short and repetitive, minor glitches that are tolerable.

I give this one a 4.5/5

ENJOY!!