So with this clip fresh in your mind I have to ask you a question that has been floating around in the back of my head ever since I heard about this whole werewolf thing.

Is it worse that...

A. Sonic will turn into a Werewolf in the new game

Or

B. That there were undertones of bestiality in Sonic 360

Now that I have a few blog entries under my belt I feel less dirty about doing this.



This is not my turning point rig. In fact, this post will force me to go back and strike the word ‘rig’ from my description.

Background: I got this computer from my college for Freshman year back in 2003. It has seen the internet, term papers and Dawn of War.

Laptop: Latitude D800
NVIDIA GeForce4 4200 Go (Dell Mobile)
Intel Pentium M
Processor 1600MHz
1.60 GHz, 512 MB of RAM
40GB HDD



Fun Facts
1. The battery is dead. So it is as mobile as my power cord is long.
2. The sound is gone. It only beeps at me now. Like a crazy mini Captain Pike from robot hell.
3. It not seen a game setting higher than medium in a long time.
4. I think it hates me…

Another day, another digital disappointment.

A common RPG gaming story is this:

I desire the game. I buy the game. Then I spend an incredible amount time with the game.

Each game brings a new group of wonderful characters, an amazing world and hours of grinding.

This story – my story – is consistent. Waiting until the eleventh hour – before eternal glory – I find myself walking away. Turning off the game, I lose any desire to ever jump back into it.

The perfect example of this is Final Fantasy 6.

Back in the 90’s, I am waiting at the foot of Kafka’s tower, with a party so high in level that we could save the world and earn closure, I walk away from the game … and eternal glory.

Yet years later, I did the same damn thing. Hell, chances are if I had my hands on the GBA version I would have done it all over again. To a degree I feel bad for Edgar and the gang, but I can’t fight nature.



1. Still in his tower [FF6]
2. So I killed the 8 headed guy and you want me to do what now? [Okami]
3. Yeah…I have to admit that I hope that turns out well. [Lunar]
4. He can walk on water. Fuck him. [DQ8]
5. Bitch still has my legs and other stuff. [Quake 4]
6. No guilt here. I just wanted to show that I also stop playing bad games too. [DK64]

I know for a fact that I am not the only person who walks away from a game when they are needed the most. Here are a couple reasons why it happens.

First, there’s the final boss. You know what it is like. The main story is pretty much finished and all that is left is to walk over him and finish the fight. However, instead of fighting the boss the world map is opened, and ultimate power is promised again. Enter the fetch quests. FFX is the best example of this waste of time. Just how much time did we all waste trying to dodge lightning so that we could win a doll?

Second the N64. Boy did I back the wrong the horse. Playing catch up once prices drop aka buying 5 or 6 RPG’s at the same time means that most games I own are only semi completed.

Some games are just not fun or they are too long for their own good.

Hey, this was my first list. Good times.

Oh well Virtual-On came in the mail…meh.

Now that eBay has blocked any chance I have to get the Dreamcast games I desire, it looks like I am going to have a drastic shift in content for my blog. To keep to the theme of my disappointment, I think this is a good time to reopen another video game related wound.

A few weeks back I took part in the Gamestop Super Smash Brothers Brawl tournament.

A desire for money, glory and TV led me to enter. That, mixed with the always dangerous empty evening that gives me little to do while my better half is working. It all started while doing some discount bin diving — a subject for another time — the day Brawl came out.

Disclaimer: I wasn't looking to buy Brawl, nor do I own a Wii.

Anyway.

At the check out, the clerk asked me if I wanted in. Maybe it was the used PS2 game in my hand or the time of day, but he could tell that I had nothing to do.

I voiced some interest and then he pulled out the list. A quick glance showed me a list covered with 13-year-olds.

No hesitation.

With visions of glory, I signed my name on the form and readied myself for my greatest fight of my life.

Two phone calls later, reality set in.

Feeling pride for my future victory I called my gaming friends. I wanted them to join me in battle or they could stand by and speak of my Glory. I was god damn Beowulf and I needed my Geats.

The first phone call was a shock.

"Don't you suck at Smash?"

The strongest Smash player of the group went right for the balls.

"Yes, but there are only kids playing. Who cares if I win or lose? This could be fun."

Already I was returning to my mortal state. However, he did say that he would join in if I could get someone else to come.

The second phone call was shorter than the first.

"It's my father's birthday. Don't you hate that game?"

Both statements true. Neither helped.

"Have fun with your father."

It was that that moment I remember who I am and truly understood what I had done.

I hadn't entered a simple game, rather signed away my soul and dignity to that clerk at Gamestop.

Swimming in an ocean of regret, I recalled friend number one. He laughed at what was going to happen, but his internet was down so he could train me. For the short car ride to his house, I returned to my visions of success.

Reality was not kind. The hour of training with my friend was even less kind. Defeat piled on bloody defeat, and I started to hate Smash again. To make matters worse, his fiancée's apartment lost power and joined us. She couldn't help but notice how much I sucked.

So the three of us went to Gamestop and waited for the battle to begin.

I was number eight and given the news that Wii controls were the only style allowed. Not only that, but all of those 13 year olds turned out to be past 20.

Shit.

A one minute match in a game I suck at with a controller that I really didn't understand. Well, the only chance I had now was to pick the character I already knew and hope for the best. With that, I walked up to the clerk to pick my character.

"Wario."

To this day I still have no idea what I was thinking and yes, the clerk laughed at my choice.

Four minutes into the tournament it was my turn. I got Wario and my foe picked Link.

My first move was to summon my motorcycle and rush towards Link. I smiled, knowing I understood what I was doing.

However, just as I was about to crush the elf, my bike crashed in such a manner that Link was safe and I was on my ass. Using my finely honed battle skills I tried to summon another bike.

Wario had other plans.

He just stood there and looked right at me with his hand just above his eyes. He was looking for something, perhaps he wanted to mock me for thinking I ever stood a chance by looking around for anyone who thought I had a chance to win. I was angry, but I my rage disappeared as I watched Link beat Wario within an inch of his life with the very motorcycle I had hoped to kill him with.

Irony?

After breaking my bike over my head, he smashed me in the face and knocked me off the screen. The minute flashed and I was ejected from the crowd. With my head low I left the Gamestop with only my friends mocking voices to keep me company to my car. A car that didn't start.

Oh, the challenges of life.

Looks like my Dreamcast has returned from the dead. After three years of deciding to not work, the damn thing has woken up and come back into my life -- like an ex-girl. Like a bastard, I have left my 360 and PS2 waiting for my call while the Dreamcast and I enjoy life as it was back in the 90's. Marvel vs Capcom 2 is spinning again my friends with all of the buzzing and beeps in just the right places.

And just like any seduction or addiction, my credit card has joined in as well. With full knowledge that I can use the damn thing again, I have started combing the web for anything new that bares that wonderful red swirl.

My list is made of games I used to rent, but was never smart enough to buy.
1. Street Fighter 3: Third Strike
2. Virtual On
3. Power Stone 2
4. Two new Dreamcast controllers to make Power Stone worth it
5. Madcatz Dreamcast Memory card

I can tell this is just the beginning.

P.S. - To answer your first question. Yes, I do wake up every night in a cold sweat fearing the day the Dreamcast will leave me again.