So I've still been wrapped up in the Icy Grasp of World of Warcraft ever since my nostalgic feelings prompted me to re-up my account. For the most part it's been enjoyable, but I can't help but notice how utterly disinterested I've become with gaming apart from WoW. Its not a new feeling, however, as I felt the same when I was still raiding Molten Core/Blackwing Lair/Ahn'Qiraj/Naxxramus back in the good ol' days of pre-expansion WoW. The game obviously sucks up alot of your time, mostly due to the fact that it takes so long to really get anything meaningful done, especially at 70. I'm not raiding at all, but rather doing dailies and farming mats to level my blacksmithing ability, which is probably the most expensive profession in the game. I've discussed how engrossing WoW is before, so I won't prattle on about it, but the whole "disinterested with gaming" bit has gotten me thinking these past few days.

For the past hour or so, I've tried to think up all future game releases that I'm currently looking forward to that don't pertain to Warcraft. So far I've come up with Tales of Vesperia, Metal Gear Solid 4, Infinite Undiscovery, Star Ocean: First Departure, Star Ocean: Second Evolution, Valkyria Chronicles, and that's pretty much it, aside from things that aren't yet confirmed like a possible Skies of Arcadia 2 (Please make it so!). Thats a very small amount, in my opinion. Granted, I'm an RPG nut/tri-Ace fanboy, but even still, there's just not much out there that excites me anymore. I kind of hate the idea of me being set in my ways and tastes for games because it makes me sound like I'm getting close minded, but it seems anymore that the only things that get me excited are tri-Ace/Square Enix/Koei releases.

I think part of it pertains to the fact that I think there are entirely too many First Person Shooters coming out, and it's been that way for a couple years now. I mean, Call of Duty 4 was great, and frankly that can last me for a long time if I ever want to jump on Xbox Live and have some fun. I never played Gears of War, even working at a Game Crazy with attached Hollywood video and never bothering to rent it (and even when I tried to, it was usually out. They only had one copy because all the others were either stolen, transferred to us to sell, or scratched beyond repair.) So naturally, I'm not that excited about Gears of War 2. Haze looks meh, Killzone 2 will probably end up being shit, and I could go on, but won't.

Then there's the Wii. I hate my Wii. It just sits there, taunting me, saying, "You fucking cunt, you spent $250 on me and you've got shit to play! Hah! I revel in your discontent!" You might be saying, "Urashima, you dumb fuck, what about Smash Brothers?" My answer would be, well, what about it? It was great the first two weeks, now I have no reason nor want to play it with all the characters/stages unlocked and no wireless connection to use for online play, which ALSO means no chance of downloading WiiWare titles and such. I know they're making a Tales of Symphonia 2 for the Wii, but honestly I know they'll find a way to fuck it up with motion controls. I don't want to flick the wiimote up and down to do a damn Tiger Slash! I know you have to expect that sort of thing with the Wii, but come on, some things just don't need freaking Motion Controls. I'm not going to sell it on the off chance something worthwhile DOES happen to release on it. Not to mention there is also the Trauma Center releases that I can pick up and play should I ever want to, and I'll end up buying ToS 2, motion controls or not, because I'm a chump like that.

In this time in between Christmas and E3, there usually isn't a lot of exciting news to be announced, so perhaps it may be natural to feel this way; however, I still can't help but feel a little jaded. Ah well, perhaps E3 or the Tokyo Game Show will lift my spirits a bit. That, or a damn confirmed release date for Star Ocean: First Departure. The only thing I've been using my PSP for these days is to play music. It requires more Fellpool Air Slashing and Welch Vineyard.

Till next time, ladies and gents.

Ura-

(P.S. - That was a great Champions League final earlier today. I was cheering for The Blues, but it just wasn't meant to be, I suppose.)