Emerson once said: "We do not count a man's years, until he has nothing left to count." If that is so, then it shouldn't even be noted that Shawn, our residential Cblog Recapper extraordinaire SilverDragon and Gamer Limit editor, is turning thirty today for I'm quite sure he still has quite a few things left to count, least of all the many blessings of his fiance and his finally doing what he loves to do, which is to write professionally about videogames. So I wont start counting the prior thirty birthdays that have passed for Shawn, nor will I imply that youth has left him behind today.

I will merely wish my friend a Happy Birthday and encourage others here to procure an alcoholic beverage of some kind and raise a glass in unison as I wish him a birthday filled with merriment, friendship and above all, love. Here's to thirty more ...old man.

<p> Ladies and gentlemen, I am concerned. It seems that a great many people are suffering, and that's hard to watch. This tends to happen when video games are involved, and while I'm not exactly sure what causes it, I like to do what I can to help. To that end, I have put together a simple troubleshooting guide that might soothe some of the unbearable pain you seem to be experiencing. Prepared below are some easy instructions on how to STFU about Modern Warfare 2. Step 1: Shut the fuck up. Above all, this is an effective method of problem solving that will, in most cases, alleviate any issues you may be experiencing. Think of it like a reset button. Should any of the measures you've attempted prove ineffective, rest assured that simply closing your mouth and worrying about something more important is usually enough to set things right. It can be difficult to believe, but there really are better things to get upset about. If that fails, try some of the troubleshooting steps outlined below. Problem: I can't support Modern Warfare 2 because of the leaked footage of the airport level so I can't throw my weight behind and purchase it. Solution: Then don't. Nobody is jacking you up with a gun to your head to purchase it. It's clearly within your rights to not support it as a consumer. You also have every right to your opinion as well but how about we wait for the actual finished game to roll out, shall we? If you're not privy to the whole game how on earth can you draw any kind of logical opinion from just one snippet? Sure you may not like that particular scene but keep in mind, it's being taken out of content. As in, again, it's not the whole game. It could be that after experiencing the full game you may see it in a new light. And if by chance you do purchase it and still may have any trepidation of the forthcoming scene you can , get this, skip it. Yes Infinity Ward has given everybody the option of doing just that. That's kind of generous of them to think of the faint of heart like that. Actually I personally find it odd that in a game where you mow down people with every conceivable modern weapon dead that you'll grow a conscious all of a sudden because these particular people being shot are not armed "bad guys". I mean it's okay to snipe ( bad ) people's brains off as they do their patrols, or knifing them in the back to meet your objective as these things are not technically morally wrong, right? Again, if the above rationale is not enough for you, the short answer is, don't buy it. No, really. Nobody is forcing you to buy it. Still having trouble? Refer to Step 1. Problem: Activision is evil. I wont buy it because of that. I will not fund their campaign of satanic business practices in which they try to, get this...make money. Solution: This is going to sound like a broken record but don't. Don't buy it. Boycott the shit out of them. Create a worthless online petition where like minded delusional souls think they can effect the outcome of Modern Warfare 2's sales. Since you wont be getting the game chances are you'll have plenty of time on your hands while the rest of us will be rocking the game. Who knows you may change a few people's minds into your way of thinking. You know, the ones that weren't going to get it anyway. Actually the Activision is evil tag is bizarre to me. Since when did EA lose that? Since when are all game companies not wanting to make money? You think Activision is the only one? Think the rest just make games just for you 'cause they're sweet on you? Because they want to give back to us gamers? Let me stop before I lose track. That's just me thinking out loud. The truth of the matter is, nobody is holding a gun to your head and making you buy MW2. Some of us are really pumped about it, and if you're not one of those people, there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. If you don't like the fact that it exists, you can easily voice that opinion by not spending your money on it. That's how it works. But please, find something better to get angry at. There have been far worse crimes committed against gamers, and chances are, you spent your money on them. [ When Y0j1mb0 isn't ripping other people's blog to make a point, he can be found in his home in North Carolina where his three children and lovely wife harass him to get off his beloved game consoles. ]</p>

Gentlemen. Ladies. We, as gamers, truly are spoiled. Say what you will about games not being of the caliber of old ( though that's poppycock ), but nowadays everything is handed to us in a silver platter. Through online we can just download games, eliminating the inconveniences of the past of actually walking into a store and physically buying games. Our games lately, for the most part, are easily digestible as in they are easily beaten. The days of epic hurdles to beat videogames are long past and entering into the imagined fabled Hall of Videogame Champions is as sure as baseball players chewing bugglegum and taking steroids. For even if you're having the rough patch of beating a game, a gamefaq is but a click away on the world wide web.

Our game reviews tell us what to spend our hard earned money on, and in more than a comfortable percentage, even spoil the game for us, telling us all there is to it. Even before the review we are bombarded with developer diaries of upcoming games with screen shots that could choke a rhinoceros. The hype train of old amongst fans is now a hype campaign initiated by the companies behind the games to ensure our interest as well as our nestled dollars in our wallet. Information passed on to try to generate buzz. All these things I can understand. Know what I can't? If you're a perceptive one then the title to this post will lead you to the answer.

The answer being the latest phenomenon of Ten Minutes of Videogameplay employed by almost every game site, including our own who recently added it to their frontpage arsenal. Let me, before I continue, just state I know I'll be in the minority here and that's okay. This just happens to be a pet peeve of mine that I am merely exploring and voicing. For the life of me I don't get it on a few fronts. For one, I don't want to be spoiled of what will be my initial play through of those said minutes. I kind of get a kick out of experiencing my own first impression of a game. I feel these rob you of not just any excitement the game may generate initially but of any possible surprises as well. Could you imagine if these existed when Super Mario came out. Imagine the loss of discovery that would of happened there.

Two, I could probably find more things I detest, like any kind of waiting in line or otherwise, but watching someone else play a game is a close third or second. I know it's supposed to give you an inner peak at a game, that's the purpose yet that doesn't negate the sensation of feeling like the kookiest voyeur watching someone else playing. At least on a video game review there is the narrative of the review itself. With these it's hey watch me play this. Uhh, no. I'd rather not and before anybody says anything, I avoid these like the plague.

Obviously these are a huge hit as everywhere you look you see them. I just don't understand why gamers nowadays want to ruin the beginnings of the opening arc to any game. Yes we are truly spoiled nowadays as gamers. More in depth coverage to games, more behind the scenes peeks, interviews with developers, thorough previews and reviews. And now these ten minutes of video gameplay ( well lets be honest, these have been around for a bit) along with the constant scrutinizing of games are in a way...siphoning all the mystery and wonder of our own playthroughs.

I wouldn't be surprised somewhere down the line full video of not just ten minutes but of the game or even a demo of the game being finished as the next supplemental to be embraced. Oh wait, that's already being done.

If by chance you haven't seen my sidebar or my comment section on my PSN account, I'm literally dying to get my hands on Demon's Souls. I'll go so far as saying that out of all the games coming out and there are quite a few great ones coming this October, this action RPG is the one that will blow the others away to be on my coveted top game of the year. I sincerely believe that.

Anyway every few days, being an Atlus subscribee, I get a bunch of updates regarding all new Atlus games coming, whether it be Persona on the PSP or a new developer's walkthrough of Demon's Souls. So lo and behold I look at my mail to see this: PR Manager Aram Jabbari Deluxe Edition Unboxing of Demon's Souls. Typically I find unboxing videos meh but this one I found amusing enough to share with you all.



Have I said I can't wait for this game yet?

I know you guys are used to getting these elaborate theme posts (especially from Takeshi) but this week I just couldn't come up with anything. So, yeah...


8PM EDT: BlazBlue Host: JackofNoTrades(PSN: JackofNoTrades85)

Here's a game that Jack's hosting, it's got punches and kicks and stuff. It's a pretty cool game. You should totally play it.


9PM EDT: Marvel vs. Capcom 2 Host: Santanaclaus89 (PSN: Moosehole)

Moose is hosting this one. It's got punching and stuff too but it also has, like, Wolverine and Mega Man and shit. Anyway, it's a pretty cool game. You should totally play it.


10PM EDT: Killzone 2 Host: Elsa (PSN: Elsa)

This game has guns and bombs and junk. Also, it takes place in space, so that's pretty badass. Elsa's hosting it, she's a pretty cool gamer... plus she's a girl. But I digress... It's a pretty cool game. You should totally play it.

Oh yeah, the password is 'TOID'.


11PM EDT: King of Fighters XII Host: JackofNoTrades(PSN: JackofNoTrades85)

There's been, like, 12 of these games so far. If you really need a description then chances are you aren't interested in joining Jack. But you should; It's a pretty cool game. You should totally play it.


12AM EDT: Socom: Confrontation Host: y0j1mb0 (PSN: k0wb0y-b33b0p)

Another game with guns and grenades and things like that, but it doesn't have all Sci-Fi stuff in it, so there's that. It's a pretty cool game. You should totally play it. So there's the line up ladies and gents. Have I mentioned you should totally play with us tonight.


Oh almost forgot! If anybody wants to play the Lost Planet 2 Co-Op Demo, which you can grab at the PSN Store, leave your comment of interest below. It's four player co-op and it totally rocks.

If what the latest unconfirmed rumors are to be believed that soon the PS3 will have some sort of backward compatibility and Dreamcast games to boot, then there will be many many gamers very happy indeed. Since I already own an original launch unit PS3, I'm not going to concentrate on what great PS2 games could potentially be played ( that functionality I've had since day one ), I will look towards what incredible Dreamcast games could grace our recently slimmed console instead. Being as this is a blog, I will adhere to the tried and true prerequisite of listing them in the denomination of ten.

What follows next are Top 10 Dreamcast Games that NEED to be on the PS3. These are in no particular order of greatness. They all need to be reissued to be experienced by more gamers. Let us begin with...

10. Power Stone 1 & 2.



One of the coolest arcade brawler series on the Dreamcast. Bright, colorful, with great characters and awesome moves Power Stone and its sequel were pure win. To have this reissued with online functionality and some trophy support would be ridiculous.

9. Sword of Berserk: Gut's Rage.



Sword of Berserk: Gut's Rage was just awesome. The graphics were great, the main character had a sword that would make Cloud's sword look like a dagger, gore and limbs flew freely through the air, but it was the top notch voice work that made it even more kickass. Done by the same voice actors that lent their services to the Legacy of Kain series, they were on the one. This game just reeked macho and even now if played would be badass. I LOVED this game.

8. Ooga Booga.



A four player party brawler game that you controlling a Kahuna around an island, attacking the other players’ Kahunas with a number of different attacks ranging from club beating, spells, throwing shrunken heads, riding on boars or giant birds and letting them have it. The style and the way it looks, doesn't make the graphics look dated since they were real cartoony and since it had an online component, would make a great addition to PSN network. This game was such a blast to play with others.

7. Super Magnetic Neo.



One of my favorite platformers ever. I know that's a bold statement but its true. I was shocked this never got a sequel but I kept forgetting it was on the Dreamcast and probably very few played it. Developed by Genki this game was awesome. It had a really cool mechanic in that your main character had magnetic hands on his head ( bear with me here ) and in order to get around in the environment you had to find different magnetic fields, some would attract and have you soaring through the air and others would repel. The game would alternate between the two as well as have the tried and true running and jumping. I remember this game being crazy hard but I beat it and have great gaming memories from it. Also the boss was literally a baby. Bizarro.

6. Sega Swirl.



I really can't pinpoint a justified reason why this Sega puzzle game is here. All I can tell you is that this Tetris like puzzle game that was released on a Dreamcast Demo disc and was free to download for the PC, was the biggest time sink for me when I first got my Dreamcast. The game was played online, or via email like chess, and offline in various modes. This game just nailed that I'll play one more game thing. That and that damn snake on the Dreamcast version if you were doing great would bug out but if you were doing horrible would be bored to sleep. Awesome game. I could easily see this on PSN or Live. Hell, on the DS!

5. Vampire Chronicles.



Only released in Japan for the Dreamcast its time this game came over and be played by all. Like now.

4. Fur Fighters.



Stuffed Cats, Dogs, Raccoons, and Teddy Bears blowing the stuffing out of each other. Take stuffed animal toys, John Woo dual wielding, plenty of explosions, and great platforming and you have Fur Fighters. One of the coolest games I played with cute animals. This one could be played with 3 other players competively as well and it was just pure fun. It was released on the PS2 with a new subtitle and cell shaded makeover but the original on the Dreamcast was better. Bring it back.

3. Daytona USA.



I want this so bad. Actually I want an exact arcade port to the Arcade Daytona USA ...but I'll settle for the Dreamcast version. But could you imagine an arcade perfect port with online play? That shit would blow my mind. Somehow I think this could easily be done. I would buy it. How about you?


2. Shenmue.



Besides the sailor fetish in this game, this game and its sequel were way ahead of their time. Too bad we will never have a proper conclusion to this series but it would be nice for another generation of gamers to play through this game like we did and ask about the whereabouts of sailors and lost kung fu scrolls.

1. Jet Grind Radio.



Seriously. Hell, could you imagine a Jet Grind Radio Online ? With different gangs and modes like tagging the most in neighborhoods before others, leaderboard support for most points, uploading original artwork/tags thru PSN for others to download? Or just a basic port...that will do Sega...that will do.