Portal 2

So, I just beat the single player mode on Portal 2, and I've got to say -- although it is SIGNIFICANTLY easier than the first game, it is also far more rewarding and fun to play.

The game dynamic has been made to sort of aid the player... Because of this, it is easier to get puzzles to work once you have solved them. Some of the puzzles themselves are more challenging, but once you've figured out how to solve it, you don't have to spend quite as much effort trying to make sure things line up - the elements in the game sort of know where to go.

I was actually very surprised about how much back story there is throughout the game. I was happy with GLaDOS just mocking and taunting me, but Valve has outdone themselves here... Not only is the back story great, but the way they let it unfold for you as you're going through pre GLaDOS era tests is really great.

If you've read reviews of the game, you probably already know about Wheatley and Cave Johnson -- these characters are fantastic and add a lot of life to the game.

The graphics are amazing and the test chambers are huge. I'm amazed how well the game runs (granted I am playing on an Intel Core i7 970 with an ATI Radeon HD5700 video card, but even with all the graphics settings maxed out, there is no lag or jumpiness... The game is flawless and beautiful.

The "Cooperative Initiative" goes above and beyond and really adds a lot of replay value to the game.

To say that I am pleased with the game would be an understatement. Suffice to say that I enjoyed playing it and I will enjoy playing it again and again. You should too.

Windows Live games... you can play them when you're dead.

Today I had my first experience with a "Games for Windows Live" title...

I heard Batman: Arkham Asylum was on sale on Steam and I've been interested in playing it or some time now...

I logged into steam, purchased the game, downloaded it... installed it... launched it... had to copy a key code to the clipboard... had to paste the key code into a box that came up on first launch... several extra things were installed/configured after that... then nothing... I had to re-launch the game... then paste the key code into a different box... Then I was told to log into my windows live account...

I'd forgotten my windows live password, so I hopped over to Chrome and went to hotmail.com to reset my password... logged into my gmail to open the email I got from hotmail... I reset my password... I then logged into my live account in the game and got a message that said I had to update Live... so, I told it to update, it closed the game, and installed the update...

Now it's re-launched the game (and thankfully remembered the key and my live credentials)...

Maybe I can play the game now?

Nope... Wife is calling...

Oh well --- Maybe I can play it some other time.

UPDATE: OK - so I thought I was in the clear, but I tried a few times while talking to Jamie to log in... it allowed me to, but each time it told me that there was another update. I downloaded and installed at least 4 updates... weather they were just not installing, I'm still not sure.

So, finally it allows me to get past the "YOU NEED AN UPDATE!!" screen and tells me that I don't have a gamer tag associated with my live account.

So it minimized the game and took me to a page that is asking me for my name and required me to accept an agreement that I did not read. It then offered me all sorts of options that I don't care about... I JUST WANT TO PLAY BATMAN DAMMIT!!!

I don't think I'll ever buy an X-Box because of this experience...

I wish I had a pair...

...of these.

Red Alert 3: Uprising

Seriously? No multiplayer?!

I mean, first off... Isn't that half the reason for playing a C&C game? The multiplayer...

Getting together with your friends online or at a LAN and playing a massive skirmish...

And in RA3, you could even do a 2 player co-op through the storyline itself... This was the greatest feature the franchise has yet to offer... and they left it out?!

Three words... What The Fuck?

The music is good and the rest of the game looks promising, but I was looking forward to playing the co-op missions tonight and I am unable to do so...

*sigh*

Half-Real

I'm going to have to admit that despite the shaky camera, this is pretty well done.