You two need to get alife outside of professional thread derailment you losers!!

Dude.  I only typed three words.  Do you know how hard that was for me?  That has to count for something.  I almost only posted the picture, but I just couldn't seem to let my post go with at least some words.

Perhaps if you talked about something more interesting, ATB and I wouldn't have to take it upon ourselves to create interest where none exists.   

I didn't even start the thread silly!!

Your contributions to the initial discussion:

Personally, I wish it was *longer*.  I'm one of those strange people who likes it when it gets dark earlier.

Wow wow wow, thats just plain wierd.

...and...

Personally, I wish it was *longer*.  I'm one of those strange people who likes it when it gets dark earlier.

Wow wow wow, thats just plain wierd.

Hey, I've spent copious amounts of time underwater on a submarine- sunlight obviously just ain't that important to me

This is a good point. Wierd boomers.

You didn't stay on topic either, silly.  And I'm the thread derailer.   

You two need to get alife outside of professional thread derailment you losers!!

Dude.  I only typed three words.  Do you know how hard that was for me?  That has to count for something.  I almost only posted the picture, but I just couldn't seem to let my post go with at least some words.

Perhaps if you talked about something more interesting, ATB and I wouldn't have to take it upon ourselves to create interest where none exists.   

An amazing read, especially if you are a dog owner or dog lover.  Well written, fun to read, very entertaining, and also heart-wrenching at the same time.  One of my favorite books in a long time.

But you probably all saw that coming a mile away.

Point of clarification- I was only on Fast-Attack submarines.  Boomers specifically refer to Ballstic Missile Submarines (ie AKA Chicken of the Sea). 

Removed retarded image.

Not even sir, not even.

There.  That's better.

So far so good.   

Anyone else having as much fun as me updating hundreds of desktops, laptops, servers, applications, etc for the Daylight Savings Time changes?

My biggest issue is Microsoft trying to charge $4,000 for the Windows 2000 hotfix.  Microsoft stated that they generally charge $40,000 per hotfix for software that is no longer supported, but lowered it to $4,000 since this is such a big issue.  I ended up writing my own hot fix to import the changes.  Maybe my boss will give me the $4,000 that I saved him as a bonus..

I live in Arizona.  We have no such thing as Daylight Savings Time.    

How guys have no idea how much I would love to play some R6V with you. Nobody ever invites me though and I have never played against anyone from here. If you guys see me on, please, shoot me an invite and lets play.

Myself as well.  The Gears of War sessions have been a blast, and I would think a round of R6: Vegas would be just as enjoyable.  However, it all depends on if I find myself online.  But I will try.  Oh, I will try.

If this week will be any indication, I'll probably be lucky if I can power up my 360 to check messages and just see who's online, wishing that I too could be playing a game instead of entertaining in-laws.  Yesterday the in-laws and grand-in-laws were in Scottsdale for the Arabian Horse Show.  They weren't supposed to get home until late in the evening, giving me a much needed night of gaming, drinking, and most importantly, peace and quiet.  My wife and I were going to stop by the grocery store, pick up a few bottles of wine, I'd make my world-famous spaghetti, we'd have a nice dinner, and then she planned to sit and read her book while Simba rested next to her and I'd finally settle in for some gaming. 

On our way home from work my wife gets a call that the grand-in-laws are tired, the mother-in-law is cranky, and they're all heading home now for dinner.     My wife looked at me with a look of utter defeat, knowing how much I needed this night and feeling badly about how quickly it was snatched from my grasp.  But, she said that we could run through the grocery as fast as possible, get enough supplies to make spaghetti for six instead of two, grab a few extra bottles of wine, and then rush home so that I could get at least a few minutes of gaming in before they arrived home.  Some gaming to help me relax is better than none at all.  Off to the grocery!

We hauled ass through traffic, arriving at the grocery in record time.  She immediately ran toward the pasta aisle while I turned right and sprinted toward the wine and bread section.  We met back at the register in less than two minutes, and the cashier recognized the look of utter desperation on our faces and rang us out faster than ever before, knowing all to well that it was a race to get home before the family.  Just minutes after arriving at the check-out line we were already in the car speeding home.  My wife opened the first bottle of wine and unpacked the groceries while I dewatered and depooped Simba.  When I arrived back inside my wife already had a glass waiting for me and the 360 loading up NFS: Most Wanted (as if I hadn't already gotten my fill of wreckless driving on our way home from work).  She sat down to play with Simba so that I could finally sit down to play a game before the army of misery arrived home.

"Press Start to Play."  I pressed start.  "Loading Game."  I started wringing my hands in anticipation.  "Resume Career."  Perfect.  I would get in some high-speed police chases, perhaps a race or two, all while enjoying a wonderful glass of Cabernet.  The windows were open, a nice spring breeze gently passed through our living room carrying the scent of blooming flowers, and there was no complaining, no drama, no grand-in-law jumping back in horror anytime Simba walked by as if at any moment he could bite off a finger, no spilled coffee, no crumbs on the counter, just a nice evening at home with my wife and puppy.  I haven't known peace like this since her family first arrived in town.  "Milestones."  Excellent.  Time to start a police pursuit.  AND AWAY WE GO!  Wait.  What was that?  Was that a car door?    It couldn't have been.  They should be stuck in rush hour traffic on the 101.  I should have at least 30 to 40 minutes of gaming before they'd arrive home.  They couldn't possibly be home already.  It really must have been a neighbor.  It had to have been.  But why is Simba wagging frantically, watching the door as if guests were about to arrive.  Oh no. 

Just as I was about to tag my first police vehicle, the front door opened and my wife's family had arrived home, as if the bickering from the street wasn't an obvious indication.  My taste of peace had been brief, but oh how sweet it was.  I spent the rest of the evening preparing dinner, serving the family, cleaning up the dishes, and cleaning up the mess left in our dining room from what looked to have been a pack of wild dogs mauling a poor creature made of spaghetti.  Sunday has never been so close but felt so far away.

I love my wife's family.  But a man can only take so much.  My weekend playlist?  If only I could be so fortunate.    

I actually might opt out altogether this week. I need my sleep. 

and you call Calvin a pansy? 

BUCK UP MAGGOT AND PUT BOTH HANDS ON THAT CONTROLLER!!!  YOU CAN SLEEP WHEN YOU'RE DEAD!  ONLY PANSY ASS NANCY BOYS WHO STILL NEED THEIR MOMMY TO TUCK THEM IN SLEEP ON THE WEEKENDS!!! NOW SUCK IT UP AND SHOW ME YOUR KILLING FACE SONNY JIM!!!!!!

Uh. It's called marathon training. Will you be joining me in late october for the marine corps marathon? You can wear your fairy costume.

Cool.  I'm working on getting back into cycling shape because a new member of our office is an avid cyclist, giving me someone of similar skill to ride with, and there are a number of century and metric century rides this coming spring/summer along with some massive climbs we'd like to do.  Plus, there are a number of routes I've wanted to ride, but it just wouldn't be the same solo.  This weekend I'm having some damage from the move to our new house repaired (a problematic derailleur, inconsistent computer, untrue rear wheel), and then my new friend and I are going to start training for some big rides coming up this spring and summer.  There are a few climbs we'd like to do, like through the Superstition Mountains and around the Saguarro National Park in Tucson, but until we get back into shape we're going to have to save those for later (climbing a few thousand feet on a 15 to 20% grade is no small challenge - neither is surviving the descent).

I taught this was about playing MP friday night? Since working out is on everybodys mind I'll take it that we will be playing DDR this Friday?

Actually we were leaning toward Yourself: Fitness.

It'd be great to get a crowd together at some point in the next few days...

Saturday or Sunday during the day, perhaps?

Actually, even though my in-laws are in town, they should be busy with the Arabian horse show in Scottsdale on Saturday that I might find myself with some "me" time while they're finally out of the house.  I'll keep an eye out for people playing online.  I haven't played much, so this would be a good opportunity for me to get back into the game.  I'd be up for versus, but co-op is always an option as well.  But I can't make any guarantees, so the best I can do is just keep an eye out and hope to find some people online whenever my in-laws head out for the day.

Yeah, and I always forget to bring a towel for the dogs.  That results in mud/stink on a level I couldn't have imagined tolerating prior to being a dog owner.

Odd.  It might be that we give Simba a bath pretty regularly, but he doesn't really smell much after an afternoon at the "puppy pool."  We usually go every Saturday, and then he gets a bath immediately following our park visit.  He spends more time smelling like puppy conditioner than anything else.  Plus the water at the park is filtered fairly well and kept moving to keep it from getting stagnant or gross.  It was built specifically for dogs to swim in, and it was designed to make sure it doesn't get funky.  The mud, however, can't be helped, so we always remember towels for the park, and then clean towels for drying him off after our visit to the pet wash (a local car wash has a stall designed specifically for washing your pet, complete with shampoo, conditioner, treats, etc). 

And give me 'career mode' that focuses on ONE GUY, not the entire damn team.

If I'm the running back, I don't want to be calling plays, I don't want to be throwing the ball as the QB, I don't want to play defense.

And most importantly, if I'm a 3rd string RB, I don't want to be starting!

Um, that's what the career mode does in the most recent Madden offering.  Unless you're being sarcastic, in which case I feel the same way.  I loved the career mode in Madden '06 for the original Xbox, because even though I was focusing on one player, I was able to participate in the rest of the game as well.  The most recent career mode is boring as hell.  I haven't even been able to play beyond the preseason. 

I actually might opt out altogether this week. I need my sleep. 

and you call Calvin a pansy? 

BUCK UP MAGGOT AND PUT BOTH HANDS ON THAT CONTROLLER!!!  YOU CAN SLEEP WHEN YOU'RE DEAD!  ONLY PANSY ASS NANCY BOYS WHO STILL NEED THEIR MOMMY TO TUCK THEM IN SLEEP ON THE WEEKENDS!!! NOW SUCK IT UP AND SHOW ME YOUR KILLING FACE SONNY JIM!!!!!!

Uh. It's called marathon training. Will you be joining me in late october for the marine corps marathon? You can wear your fairy costume.

Cool.  I'm working on getting back into cycling shape because a new member of our office is an avid cyclist, giving me someone of similar skill to ride with, and there are a number of century and metric century rides this coming spring/summer along with some massive climbs we'd like to do.  Plus, there are a number of routes I've wanted to ride, but it just wouldn't be the same solo.  This weekend I'm having some damage from the move to our new house repaired (a problematic derailleur, inconsistent computer, untrue rear wheel), and then my new friend and I are going to start training for some big rides coming up this spring and summer.  There are a few climbs we'd like to do, like through the Superstition Mountains and around the Saguarro National Park in Tucson, but until we get back into shape we're going to have to save those for later (climbing a few thousand feet on a 15 to 20% grade is no small challenge - neither is surviving the descent).

For me the game had a particular moment when it "clicked."  The first eight or nine times I faced that first boss I died progressively faster each timed I fought him.  After that ninth consecutive dose of humiliation, something just "clicked," and I all-of-a-sudden understood the concept of the game, i.e. play like a ninja.  The key is using your speed and agility rather than your weapons and strength.  When I'd fight that first boss head-on, he'd crush me in seconds.  But, once I started using agility and evasion to my advantage, he was no challenge at all.   

Use your speed and agility.  They are your most powerful weapons.  Running along a stairwell wall while slicing the heads off of nine consecutive enemies running up the stairs armed to the teeth with machine guns as if they were statues never seems to get old. 

I've been replaying this over the weekend, and I am amazed at how much my girlfriend likes spectating this game.  She's not drawn to many games, she likes Wii Sports and Warioware, she liked directing Inigo Prophecy since it was movielike, but I never expected her to be drawn into an action hack'em'up, especially one so bloody and violent.

She said she liked the look of Kratos, with the tatoos and everything.  She particularly liked the setting, with all of the mythical beasts and gods, and ancient temples.  Especially with the nice soundtrack, I guess a lot of the game reminded her of the Mummy movies she likes a lot.

FYI it's a lot more exhilarating fighting off a giant minotaur sent by Hades when you've got a beautiful girl jumping up and down on the couch yelling "get him get him don't die he's almost dead go go kill him!"

My wife is the same way.  She loves to watch while I play God of War, leaning forward and wringing her hands during tense moments, helping me through the puzzle portions of the game, and cheering when I take down a difficult foe.  She'll even wind up screaming, "F#&K!" before I do if I fall short in a tense battle.  Great times.  I really need to start playing again.  I'm just horribly hooked on Need for Speed: Most Wanted again.  But, I'm sure it won't be long before the rubber band AI frustrates me to the point of firing up my PS2. 

I need to get back to work on finishing the first one.  I'm on the level where you have to rescue the president at the construction site, and I can't seem to keep from getting my ass blown off.  It would be so much more helpful if the president in GRAW was more like Harrison Ford.  Then I could at least hand him a gun, stand back, and wait for him to save my ass.

....release date?

Looks to be March 6.

Plus, I thought the demo was gorgeous, much better looking than the original GRAW, and so since I'm not only a Tom Clancy whore, but also a graphics whore, I'll be right with Jancelot picking this up on Day 1.  I'm such a whore.

Even though I prefer the Rainbow Six series to Ghost Recon, I really enjoyed Advanced Warfighter, especially in MP, so I'll most likely be "in."  I'm a sucker for Tom Clancy games, anyway, so whether it's Ghost Recon, Rainbow Six, or Splinter Cell, I'm pretty much a given.

[God of War]

Now that I finally got my brothers PS2 I'm going to be starting:  God of War (in honor of rrmorton).....

Didn't you once tell me that you could never get into a game with an evil, dark main character, even after I insisted that despite Kratos's less-than-desirable demeanor, God of War was an amazing game?  And here I find out it took the inspiration of the great Golden Cock Monkey to sway you to play such an evil-themed game.  You won't take my word for it, but you have no problem taking the word of a cock monkey made of gold.   

Probably work to get some serious DS time in this weekend. Since I turn the magical 30 on Monday I'm taking that day off...

Um......Monday is President's Day.  Don't you get that day off anyway?   

Not everyone gets Federal Holidays off (I know I don't anymore). 

I work for a consulting company, and we never get federal holidays off, except this one for some reason.  I figured if we get it off, then everyone else has to as well. 

B-7?

I thought it was witty.  At least at first.   

I'm getting ready to throw this thing on ebay, it is an incredibly frustrating game. Mission 4, where you have to sink the Japanese Battleship Fuso.........freakin' KILLING ME!!!!! The ship flat out will not sink. How did you guys beat this? What did you do to sink it?

Try B-7.  Sorry, I got nothing.

Probably work to get some serious DS time in this weekend. Since I turn the magical 30 on Monday I'm taking that day off...

Um......Monday is President's Day.  Don't you get that day off anyway?   

My wife has the type of personality that she can get along with anyone, and she is also pretty versatile in that she can head off with the girls to do girly things (pedicures, spa treatments, etc - wait, that sounds kind of like me  ), but she can also sit down next to the boys and house some ass in Halo 2 MP or head to the bar with all of us and scream obscenities at the Philadelphia Eagles as they give us another season of false hope.  Since I've known my wife, she and I have always been able to have mutual friends, not in the sense that we are known as a package deal, but as separate people.  My wife can head out with our friends solo, and so can I, or we can head out together, but never is one's attendance contingent upon the other's.  Our friends like each of us independently, they don't merely accept one because they're the spouse of the other.  We're known as independent people who happen to be married.  But, over the years, whenever I'd head out "with the guys", they'd always want me to bring my wife because she is a lot of fun and can hop right in as "one of the guys."  And she's up for anything, whether it be heading to a strip club, or heading to a sports bar to play pool or air hockey.  And because she is my best friend in the world, I never minded because one moment she's my wonderful wife, and the very next she's a buddy I'm housing at pool.  Plus, I never was much of one to want to head out with just the guys, leaving the significant others at home.  Until recently.

One morning a couple of friends of mine went with me to our local Eagles bar to reserve "our" table for the Eagles/Saints playoff game.  We got to the bar when they opened at 9am, and the game didn't start until around 2pm.  Our wives weren't planning to show up until around 1pm for the game, so we had some time to hang out together.  For the first time in years I realized just how much fun it can be to head out with just the guys, doing "guy stuff" (chatting it up with a hot waitress, jokingly lamenting married life, talking about cars, video games, home electronics, etc).  It was really fun.  Not to say that I don't love my wife, because I adore her and could never imagine spending my life with anyone else.  But even though I love my wife to death, sometimes a "break" is kind of nice.  Gets me out of the house, gets us out of each other's hair, and when we see each other again that evening or later that day, we can tell each other about our respective days and then appreciate each other's company even more (we work together at the same company as well, so I don't even get a "break" at work - not to say that I need it, as we work very well together, but sometimes lunch with someone other than your wife is fun........sometimes).  

Also a couple of my guy friends and I recently headed out to Buffalo Wild Wings for some wings and beer.  Just the guys.  Our wives weren't interested in wings, and so they suggested that we head out ourselves and they'd have some spaghetti at home.  And it was again a really nice break for us to head out, talk about guy stuff, have a few beers, fire down some wings hot enough to eat through your stomach lining, and then head home to our loving wives.  They actually appreciate the break, and we get a chance to be the knuckle-dragging, head-butting, bear-guzzling guys that we are.

But, then there is the time I get to spend with my wife without our friends.  Because we are very social people, we spend a lot of time with our friends (during any given week, we see our friends at least 5 out of the 7 days).  And sometimes it's nice to just spend a quiet evening with just my wife and no one else.  Whether it be a nice candlelit dinner, or just relaxing on the couch watching a movie with our puppy by our feet.  Or even folding laundry while chatting about the day.  Yes, time with your significant other and your friends is nice, but sometimes quiet time with just your significant other is also nice.

My point?  Appreciate the ability to spend time with friends without your significant other, appreciate the time you spend with just your significant other, and appreciate the time you spend with both your friends and your significant other.  You may not see it now, but a number of years down the road, what I have written here will resonate with you as if I could read your mind.  Trust me.    

I'm pumped about all of the casting choices for The Dark Knight (including the omission of Katie Holmes).  I think Heath Ledger is an amazing, versatile actor and he should add an interesting element to the Joker's character, Aaron Eckhart is a great actor and could be perfect for the role of Harvey Dent based on his performance in Thank You For Smoking, and Christian Bale continues to be one of my favorite actors and I look forward to his continued portrayal of Batman.  You're right, next summer definitely can't get here soon enough.   

Things aren't looking too good.

Number 44 with +30 is just not cutting it.  I really need to get to work.  I've got about 80 hours logged in Oblivion, and I've barely scratched the surface with plenty of potential gamerpoints on the horizon, and then there's the Gears of War campaign (which I still have yet to finish), Need for Speed: Most Wanted, Rainbow Six: Vegas, Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter, The Godfather, Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory.  Christ.  I need to get to work. 

[Gears of War]

The in-laws and grand-in-laws will be arriving in town tonight around 8pm local time, and they'll be staying with us until next Sunday (when I have to head up to Bagdad, Arizona, again for one of our nightmarish projects - sometimes it sucks when you're good at fixing things, because whenever something shits the bed, they keep coming back to you to get things back on track).  I'll be in Bagdad all that week, and then when I get back my grandmother is coming to town for ten days to drink, gamble, and to head out on the town to sample great food and wonderful wine.  So potentially for the next three weeks you guys won't see much of me online.  

Perhaps tonight my mother and father-in-law will be tired from travelling and will head to bed shortly after getting home, which would allow me to hop online later in the eveining for some Gears of War, but odds are most will have already finished for the night, and I'm not so sure I have enough Jack on hand to "convince" my mother-in-law that she's sleepy and needs to head to sleep.  

At some point Halo 2 multiplayer will be inevitable, as my father-in-law loves to play with all of us.  Whenever I'm either up after everyone goes to bed, or early in the morning making coffee before anyone wakes up, I'll probably try to get some time in with The Godfather, Need for Speed: Most Wanted (some friends left it at the house for me to play, and now that I've picked it up again I'm having a lot of fun, other than the rubber band AI, of course), and I'm currently on the Cozumel Cruise Ship level in Splinter Cell: Double Agent and would like to continue on with that game as well.  I would love to start over with God of War, but with the limited gaming time I'll have while family is in town, odds are that will have to wait until I get back from Bagdad.

Realistically I'll be running around, cooking meals, doing dishes, straightening up around the house, and picking up after my guests for the entire time my family is in town and will have zero time for gaming, but a man can dream, can't he?

Pansy.

gellar

You just want me because I'm sensitive.  Wow, did I manage to derail this.  At least for once a PS3 thread didn't degrade into 360 vs. Hetz (I mean PS3  ) argument again.  Just doing my part to keep the peace.   

Um, go away now sir. 

Odd.  It seems the feeling is mutual.  Although I never recall asking you to leave my first thread, even after your less-than-amusing comments and attempted derailment.  Is it not as entertaining when on the receiving end?  

Um, are you somehow missing the humor/sarcasm or in a bad mood today?

Nope.  I just have a limited amount of heterosexual man-love to spread around, and ATB seems to be pining for all of it, leaving little left for anyone else.  Plus, after that very first post I've found your "humor/sarcasm" a bit suspect.  I didn't find it funny then, and so perhaps I'm a little more weary of it now.

Ok I am stumped, we've been interacting here and on Xboxlive for several months with no issue, I make a regular thread and have my normal dustups with ATB, and suddenly you dredge all this up because you didn't find my response to the derailment funny even though it was clearly in jest? I am sorry, that strikes me as very odd. Well, I guess if thats how you are feeling then...ok. Lets just take it elsewhere as this thread was theoretically to talk about a PS3 review and this is not serving that purpose.

You've got PM.

I apologize for the misunderstanding (and the derailment), and it seems that comments made quite some time ago were taken the wrong way (by me).  I misunderstood Calvin's sarcasm and humor and took his comments more seriously than they were intended, and I've harbored some dislike toward Calvin from that very first day, always wondering if his sarcasm is meant in jest or if it has malicious intent.  Now that I know that I've been completely way off base, and that my impressions were horribly innacurate from the very beginning, I owe Calvin an apology and hope that he and I can move beyond my asshattery.  I'm sorry, Calvin.  I've been wrong and I hope you can understand my mistake.

Sorry all for the derailment.  I'm also sorry that in third grade, I cheated on my history exam. In fourth grade, I stole my uncle Max's toupee and I glued it on my face when I was Moses in my Hebrew School play. In fifth grade, I knocked my sister Edie down the stairs and I blamed it on the dog... When my mom sent me to the summer camp for fat kids and then they served lunch I got nuts and I pigged out and they kicked me out... But the worst thing I ever done - I mixed a pot of fake puke at home and then I went to this movie theater, hid the puke in my jacket, climbed up to the balcony and then, t-t-then, I made a noise like this: hua-hua-hua-huaaaaaaa - and then I dumped it over the side, all over the people in the audience. And then, this was horrible, all the people started getting sick and throwing up all over each other. I never felt so bad in my entire life.

There, now I feel so much better.  Now back to your regularly scheduled thread.
 

Um, go away now sir. 

Odd.  It seems the feeling is mutual.  Although I never recall asking you to leave my first thread, even after your less-than-amusing comments and attempted derailment.  Is it not as entertaining when on the receiving end?  

Um, are you somehow missing the humor/sarcasm or in a bad mood today?

Nope.  I just have a limited amount of heterosexual man-love to spread around, and ATB seems to be pining for all of it, leaving little left for anyone else.  Plus, after that very first post I've found your "humor/sarcasm" a bit suspect.  I didn't find it funny then, and so perhaps I'm a little more weary of it now.

However, my initial impression could very well be way off base, and you were only purposely choosing specific attributes of my personality in order to highlight your intended sarcasm and humor, and rather than recognize the humor, I took it to be more malicious than entertaining.  If I am wrong in my impression, please let me know, and I will happily lighten up about our rappour.   

Um, go away now sir. 

Odd.  It seems the feeling is mutual.  Although I never recall asking you to leave my first thread, even after your less-than-amusing comments and attempted derailment.  Is it not as entertaining when on the receiving end?  

I have not been called to the wisdom of this world,
But to a God who's calling out to me,
And even though the world may think I'm losing touch with reality,
It would be crazy to choose this world over eternity.

No R&P until 3/03/07

Umm..not owned, just distracting from talking about the review Go annoy CK ATB, im like at work or something.

Derailment doesn't necessarily take away from suggested ownage.  Two very different things.  I found the irony of ATB referring to the ban on religion and politics until the beginning of March to be more interesting than the review.   

I loved this game, but for some reason I got away from it to play other things and never went back.  I've been meaning to play, and even though I'm a graphics whore and love my 360 in HD on the 60" bajunga TV, God of War looks quite good in progressive scan with component cables, but I've been so busy trying to keep up with my 360 games that I've just never gone back to finish God of War.  The newfound hype surrounding the first game and the upcoming release of God of War II is enough to motivate me to go back and play through God of War from the beginning (after I get away from a game for too long, I can't just pick up where I left off, I have to start over).  Thanks ATB for rekindling my interst in such a phenomenal game.

I have not been called to the wisdom of this world,
But to a God who's calling out to me,
And even though the world may think I'm losing touch with reality,
It would be crazy to choose this world over eternity.

No R&P until 3/03/07

I understand what you guys are saying but envision if you would that suppose your wives used to be serious gamers. And that it was something you used to share together. Wouldn't you feel a little trepidation at her sudden loss of interest in a previously shared interest?

Not really.  Everyone's interests change.  Assuming gaming wasn't the only activity you two shared together, there must be other things you can do as a couple, and her loss of interest in no way should imply that you can no longer find joy in it, either.  You might see a slight decrease in the amount of time you have to game now that time spent with your S.O. won't be playing video games, but you should still be able to find time to play on your own time and still discover new interests your S.O. and you can share together.

Man I wish I did have Crackdown to review, but I've not gotten it yet.  I DO have God of War II and Guitar Hero II though.  Expect reviews for those pups shortly.

I guess I have to take your reviews at least somewhat seriously, being that you earned a bit of street cred with your recognition of The Godfather as being a bit better than other reviewers suggested.

[Knightshade Dragon, since he's one of them]

I totally called this...

So we are saying that Crackdown is a bad game a week before it comes out because 1 review site gave it a 7.8?  I could say that 1Up gave it an 8, IGN an 8, EGM an 8.3, and EGM an 8.3 to prove that it must be a good game.  But I am going to do someting crazy and actually play the game before passing judgement on it.  I will say that I put more time into the Crackdown demo than any other demo I have downloaded from Live.  Does that mean it will be a good full game?  I don't know.  But I am not writing it off based on 1 review from Gamespot.

I'm merely passing judgement based on my experience with the demo.  Since I didn't like the demo, and the reviews haven't said anything to convince me that my lack of enjoyment of the demo was completely unfounded, I just don't feel the need to pick this up.  You apparently enjoyed it more than I did and plan to pick up the game.  That's cool.  I just wasn't impressed with the demo and the reviews aren't really convincing me otherwise. 

However, I have been known to fall victim to the OO and GT forum effects, so if the OO or GT population likes this game, then it could very well find its way into my backlog.  I value what you all think far more than reviewers, as I consider real-world impressions so much more accurate as it's the public weighing in rather than Knightshade Dragon, since he's one of them.   

Yea!  Screw them reviewers! 

Edited to correct my mistake.

You review games?  Next you're going to tell me there's some kind of GamingTrend front page or some nonsense.   

Plus, you take too long.  PLAY FASTER!