Gamestop No More

I recently went, for some unknown reason, to Gamestop just to see how much they would give me for FarCry 2, a game they are selling used for $27 used online and $30 new (not available online). I knew ahead of time that I would most likely be walking out of the store with my game instead of the cash. So how much did they offer me?

$10 for in-store credit and $7 cash.

I did, indeed, walk back out with my game.

On a lighter note, Target had pre-order cards for quite a few games. They had Halo: ODST for pre-order for $1 so I grabbed it. Plus, with all of their pre-orders, when you pick the game up you get a $5 gift card.

I'll never set foot in a Gamestop again. Neither of the three in Harrisonburg, VA that are literally within a mile of each other.

Test Driven

Here is a screenshot from the upcoming Test Drive Unlimited 2. Yes, it is in development. No, there are no details or release date.

Will Test Drive Unlimited 2 be just as fun and innovative as the first? Or will it just be TDU1.5 ?

Games Find a Way to Surprise

Every time you think you have a grip on what video games can be, will be, could ever be, something like this comes out. A first-person game where discovery is the engine that drives the play. A tech demo now...oh, what the future holds.


The Unfinished Swan - Tech Demo 9/2008 from Ian Dallas on Vimeo.

From GameGirlAdvance.com

Looking Forward to Dirt 2

I just read the preview build review of Dirt 2 by Codemasters.

One thing that has been seriously missing from my simulation racing with Forza 2, since parting from the PS2 Gran Turismo games, has been rally/dirt racing. I absolutely love sliding cars around and racing over jumps. I have been getting some kicks from watching the Summer X Games since they started including Rally-X.

I played the demo of Dirt, but after reading reviews I was turned off by the lack of on-screen multiplayer racing. True, it's more of a nod to time trial racing, like Pike's Peak hill climbing, but I like to have my option of smashing into people in real-time.

I'm putting this on my list for the next racing game to seriously check out.

Future Games: Baja

One of my favorite games from older systems was Smuggler's Run 2: Hostile Territory. It was a game based on check points, drop-off and pick-ups, and time limits, and it was all based on mountainous terrain that sent the vehicles spinning and flying in the air. It was super fun and filled lots of four-wheelin' driving action.

Baja sounds it's racing cousin.

The major bullet points? Simulation mountain/desert driving, realistic damage, 4 hour online races (with computer co-drivers), repair management, hundreds of miles of unrepeated terrain, random wildlife encounters.

No official reviews yet. Just an interview with the developer.

Info: Stuntman Ignition

I played the Stuntman: Ignition demo a few weeks ago on Xbox Live and I was pretty impressed.

Today on IGN they reviewed the game's Constructor function. A set of challenges that you must win by placing elements on the movie set to complete the scene. If your scene involves getting over a river, you must use the set props you have to achieve the scene. A ramp might be the best application.

Here's the best part: there are two modes. Stunt Director has you strategically placing a limited number of props to achieve a scene in a movie. It's a sort of logic puzzle that involves blowing things up and looking cool.

The second mode is a free-style, sandbox arena that lets you do whatever you want with an unlimited number of props. Set up the most insane course with the most insane stunts and then go at it. Put cameras anywhere you want to catch footage as the car comes by, then post your movie online for other people to see.

I have to admit, I was thinking about the game as a used purchase, but with this new level of interactivity, I might have to buy it right when it comes out.

Here is some footage of the Constructor level.

On Finances

We finally decided to go to someone about help with our finances.

We have pretty good financial standing, so it's nothing like bad debt or anything negative. We are just getting ready for that stage in life where we want kids and are thinking about the future.

How does this relate to games?

One of the ways we are planning on shifting our money is to pay ourselves every month with what's left of our paychecks. Instead of having a pile of cash after the 1st of the month bills, we're only going to have a small amount to curb rash, spontaneous spending.

Now I don't buy a lot of games off the cuff anymore. I was for a while when I was trying to build back my Atari/NES/SNES collection. Now I'm on top of my collection and waiting for new stuff to come out. If you've seen my list of games to buy this fall, this new home finance plan is going to hamper the shopping list by quite a bit.

That's not necessarily a bad thing I guess. But winter is when I play a ton of games since I don't ride motorcycles in the cold or play tennis. But this is also probably the most impressive fall line-up of triple-A titles to hit consoles in a long time. Halo, Mario, Metroid, Grand Theft Auto, Katamari Damacy, Ace Combat...all great titles worth every penny.

Christmas is coming early this year. It just sucks growing up and having to buy your own presents.

I'm Going to Spend A Lot of Money

Upcoming Games

Since I've finished Grand Theft Auto: SA, I've been giving a lot of thought to my next game purchase. Now, I have plenty of games to go and play that I already own (Perfect Dark Zero, Test Drive Unlimited and Ninja Gaiden to name a few) and even a borrowed game, God of War (that I did actually grind away at last night), my thoughts are always one the newest of new yet to hit the shelves.

In EB on Saturday, I noticed that they started hanging the release lists in each consoles shelve sections. I scanned down the alphabetical list (why not by date??). At the top of the list was Ace Combat. That doesn't come out 'till November.

The next two games that caught my eye were Forza Motorsport 2 and Mass Effect. If there were ever two games to eat up a whole Summer (especially with as little time as I spend inside), those were going to be the next purchases. And they both come out in May.

We're going to have to get Nicole her own HD tv soon. Man I can't wait until the basement get's finished.

Which is good because scanning IGN's list, Guitar Hero III doesn't hit the consoles until Q3.