There have been so many games that have come out this year that can be considered for the coveted GOTY in all those magazines, websites, and cashwhore domains. *cough* I was just wondering what my GOTY is so far this year, and also what everyone else's favorite game was. Its really a tough decision. Initially I think of the games coming out recently: The Orange Box, Call of Duty 4, Bioshock etc. Then I start to hate myself for not remembering all the great games that probably came out before the summer that i can't remember for shit.

The games that i mentioned earlier are really excellent, from: The Orange Box's excellent compliation of great AAA games; Bioshock's great story and atmosphere; and Call of Duty 4's RPG-esque online, there are too many choices for me. Also, I've forgotten about Galaxy. I'm waiting for everyone on Dtoid to come in here, smack me on the head, and tell me about every other game I've left out. Hey, its almost 11 where I am and I can't remember.

However, i'm pretty sure you guys do. Whats your favorite game of the year so far? Hell, maybe I'll add them all to this blog and it can be like fucking insane.

PS: This blog is shit.

Oh what an old pastime for me. Often realizing that I either had no/shit games to play on a console or my PC, I would often retreat to the internet for some good old flash games. Though I never had the guts to stick it out for learning how to make something in Flash, I could always enjoy the fruits of someone else's labor.

Anyway, I've decided to compile a short list of some flash games that I've been into or are into at the moment. Here it goes.

1. The Last Stand


This game is really very good. What surprised me is that it was the first game from the creator. Basically, the Last Stand is a defense game. You and others are held up in a little fort, and zombies stream at you, and you are given the task of "Removing the Head, or destroying the Brain." Theres 20 levels, and about 16 weapons. Theres tons of different zombie looks.

Link: http://www.addictinggames.com/thelaststand.html

2. Sinjid: Shadow of the Warrior


One of the first games I acutally got into, Sinjid is a bit of an action RPG where you play as a ninja/warrior man whose sole purpose in life is to...go through portals and kill shit? Yeah. In a nutshell. But, theres an impressive amount of customization, stat progression, and fun for a flash RPG. If you like this sequel (of no real relation to the first, so theres no need to worry about story), you can also check out the original (I think?) entitled Sinjid: Battle Arena.

Link: http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/209736

3. Boxhead (More Rooms, The Rooms, etc.)


Words cannot describe how much I fell in love with this game...Basically, you play as this Boxhead guy, and then zombie boxheads almost endlessly flow into a "Room" while you kill them for points. Theres a decent amount of weapons and stuff to get, and its a real good timewaster in my opinion. Theres actually three or four versions out I believe, and if you're into two players on one keyboard, I think there is a co-op option in one.

Links:
Boxhead More Rooms: http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/363126
Boxhead The Rooms: http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/355964
Boxhead 2Play Rooms: http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/378950

So, if your computer and internet can actually handle decent sized flash games, then you should check these out. Sure, there are a ton more good and better games out there, but I just thought of a few you could get started on on some snowy day in the near future. :)

Ah, the single player campaign of COD4. Its variety of missions and objectives, its actually somewhat passable storyline, and its cinematic missions (Flashback missions anyone?) left a warm feeling in my heart. Or maybe that was just the heat in my house.

Anyway, I wrapped up the campaign on regular, beat the epilogue, and then got ready for a little multiplayer. Normally I like to finish the single player first, for odd reasons unknown. So, I tapped the X button on Multiplayer, hit Play Online, and got ready for some "ownage".


Ownage like this maybe?

Of course, that was a while ago. Now, I'm level 26, which I know is pretty tame compared to the people who have completed Prestige Mode 8 times, but I've only logged 7 hours. While I'm off topic, I love using either the M4, shotgun, or M16.

Baack on topic, the online is a little different in terms of community. Seeing as how most PS3 owners that are playing do not have mics, the game rooms are usually silent. Which, is golden. When you experience that chatty group, or that asshole who sucks at the game but heckles you for killing all but one person when you were the last one alive, you get really pissed off. I do, at least.

This sort of changes the online. While I try to use tactics with those willing to do so, most people, often without mics, run off trying to get kills and end up getting a round to the dome. Laugh it off? Nope. These players often lead to my team losing.

sadface.

Then, theres the assholes. They also do the same thing, except when I play with them they seem to know that they're running off and being stupid. These guys I can ignore. If we're playing Search and Destroy, which is a game type that if you get killed in you have to wait until the round ends to respawn, I don't give a fuck. But the comments get real tiring when you are often left with the guy.

Whether I'm looking for either a quick match or two, or I'm looking for tons of experience to level up a few times, all of this really gives me trouble. But, maybe you disagree. Maybe YOU don't give a shit. But I do.



Dear Infinity Ward/Activision,
Please give us a fucking mute button.

Dear Sony,
Please bundle a mic with all console variants.

Thats it. Thats what I have to say. Not much I know, but I just wanted to get my thoughts across the internet medium.

"But you didn't say God Bless You when I sneezed!"

A couple months I set aside a little bit of money, much too eager to spend it, but smart enough to save it for a while. At least a few weeks. So, I recently decided to put my thoughts to fruition and actually spend some of that hard-given cash. Thats right I did not earn this cash.



Got a problem?

Anyway, I decided to spend it on none other than the Nintendo Special, that being a Wii and a DS. Ever since visiting my friends house during the summer and experiencing the Wii firsthand, as well as a rather explicit house wide Pictochat session featuring some of his sisters, I've been on the verge of wanting the two. Of course I've been on the verge of giving up on them and just buying Rock Band. But, I decided to see the tracks for Rock Band and might just wait until Christmas.

So, I went to my local Best Buy, bought the two, along with Phantom Hourglass, Metroid Prime 3, Manhunt 2, and Resident Evil 4. Needless to say, I was spent. Broke. My wallet looked like Nicole Richie on a bad day.

Now, here I am, sitting at home, writing a blog about this whole experience. Want to know my thoughts on the actual playing of these two systems? Maybe? Well fuck it dude, lets go blogging.

My experience with the Wii, is what you might say, interesting. I got home, hooked it up, and immediately whipped up some Wii Sports. Making my Mii and setting to the lanes, I got my Lebowski quotes rolling right along with the ball. Pro Level called to me, but I'd had enough. My arm felt like I'd been participating in a Jerkoff-a-thon. Metroid Prime is the first I've played in the series, and while I liked it, I wanted to get to the other good stuff. Manhunt 2 is fun, and the ruthless killing gets me going sometimes, so that was a good experience. RE4 was, well, RE4. Nevertheless, my experience thus far with the Wii is a good one, although its not exactly the thing that I'll want to do for hours upon hours at a time, or at least in an intensive game.

Short little paragraph there, but thats all im interested in writing. The DS awaits.

Nintendo DS, two years old and still thriving. I have played this mostly at my friends house and on a school trip, but it still makes me want to play just like a console. I can sit down for a couple hours on the couch and just play some Pheonix Wright or Zelda, just like I'm sitting down to play some Eternal Sonata (which i recently aquired fo free).

Now, I can finish up my quick blog, which I wrote mainly to get a blog in amongst the many spam contest blogs or whatever the hell is going on around Dtoid that I don't give a flying motherfuck about. just kidding.

The rug that my Wii is sitting on really ties the room together...*trails off*



And why the fuck is Big Lebowski popping into my mind...guess its the bowling.

(no title on the other one, which i didn't even know was posted cuz my internet just took a shit)

A couple months I set aside a little bit of money, much too eager to spend it, but smart enough to save it for a while. At least a few weeks. So, I recently decided to put my thoughts to fruition and actually spend some of that hard-given cash. Thats right I did not earn this cash.



Got a problem?

Anyway, I decided to spend it on none other than the Nintendo Special, that being a Wii and a DS. Ever since visiting my friends house during the summer and experiencing the Wii firsthand, as well as a rather explicit house wide Pictochat session featuring some of his sisters, I've been on the verge of wanting the two. Of course I've been on the verge of giving up on them and just buying Rock Band. But, I decided to see the tracks for Rock Band and might just wait until Christmas.

So, I went to my local Best Buy, bought the two, along with Phantom Hourglass, Metroid Prime 3, Manhunt 2, and Resident Evil 4. Needless to say, I was spent. Broke. My wallet looked like Nicole Richie on a bad day.

Now, here I am, sitting at home, writing a blog about this whole experience. Want to know my thoughts on the actual playing of these two systems? Maybe? Well fuck it dude, lets go blogging.

My experience with the Wii, is what you might say, interesting. I got home, hooked it up, and immediately whipped up some Wii Sports. Making my Mii and setting to the lanes, I got my Lebowski quotes rolling right along with the ball. Pro Level called to me, but I'd had enough. My arm felt like I'd been participating in a Jerkoff-a-thon. Metroid Prime is the first I've played in the series, and while I liked it, I wanted to get to the other good stuff. Manhunt 2 is fun, and the ruthless killing gets me going sometimes, so that was a good experience. RE4 was, well, RE4. Nevertheless, my experience thus far with the Wii is a good one, although its not exactly the thing that I'll want to do for hours upon hours at a time, or at least in an intensive game.

Short little paragraph there, but thats all im interested in writing. The DS awaits.

Nintendo DS, two years old and still thriving. I have played this mostly at my friends house and on a school trip, but it still makes me want to play just like a console. I can sit down for a couple hours on the couch and just play some Pheonix Wright or Zelda, just like I'm sitting down to play some Eternal Sonata (which i recently aquired fo free).

Now, I can finish up my quick blog, which I wrote mainly to get a blog in amongst the many spam contest blogs or whatever the hell is going on around Dtoid that I don't give a flying motherfuck about. just kidding.

The rug that my Wii is sitting on really ties the room together...*trails off*



And why the fuck is Big Lebowski popping into my mind...guess its the bowling.

Nowadays, everyone seems to game late into the night, not giving a damn about what time it is. As made almost famous by that phrase, "One More Level", it really is one more fight, one more mission, let me try that again.

But, don't get me wrong. I do this all the time. Hell, I'm writing this blog at 4:30 in the morning. Its that this process of late night gaming is really gaming in its purest form. Unadulterated gamers, most often alone, or with friends, plugging in their controllers (or connecting them wirelessly) and gearing up for a night of games.

You might ask, just how does everyone do this? If you really don't know, get off your son or daughters Destructoid account and get back to your 8-year old's soccer tournament. But, if you are a little clueless nowadays, perhaps I can clue you in. Hey, maybe you know something I don't.

However, I'm not just ready yet to do so. Sometimes these sprees depend on the game. Maybe you need to find that last treasure in Uncharted. Maybe you need to reach the max level in WoW so you can feel like a badass ( a badass that lives next to his computer, but below his parents bedroom).

People have all sorts of way to reach that time of morning/night when their eyes just wont close and they keep gaming.

Energy Drinks:
Remember years ago when Red Bull was just coming out and we all had no idea what it really was? Those days are dead and gone my friend. Energy drinks, full of caffiene, nutrients, and exotic shit we can't pronounce control the gaming market. Bawls, Jolt, and even the Game Fuel Mountain Dew all market themselves to gamers who need to stay up late and play one more Deathmatch.



I can't even begin to mention all the different sorts of energy drinks out there, so I won't. If you go to any gas station, supermarket, or even local pizzeria, you can find at least one variation of energy drink, I guarantee you.

Friends:
When my friends come over for some multiplayer, I don't need Red Bull. It seems like energy of others just keeps me awake. Understandable, because playing with someone else gives you reason to stay awake. Also, I never want to be the first person to fall asleep, especially if theres a Sharpie nearby. LAN Parties, while I never participate in them, can also potentially lead to all hours of the night. Though, sitting at your own computer, even if its a few feet away from someone else, isn't quite the same to me as sitting right next to a guy or gal with a controller in their hand.

Maybe you and your diverse friends who vary in age are on drugs like these guys, and maybe you just never sleep because you and your insane friends will kill you if you do. And who fucking cares if you and your friends use four different controllers to play Super Mario Galaxy. What, Galaxy isn't four player? You say I need a Wii Remote, not some N64 controllers and a Dualshock 2? Shut the fuck up.


Those two are only just a fraction of the unique variations on methods we all use to stay awake. Aside from that, they're what I will mainly utilize to keep myself awake for those long nights in the dungeons.

My question for you is; Do you combine something with something else? Have an energy concoction which could keep a cadaver awake its so powerful?

Share it. How do you stay up late?