Call of Duty: Black Ops Map Packs

Why is Sony still charging $14.99 for the Call of Duty: Black Ops map packs? Black Ops came out in, what, 2010? How many new games have we had since then: MW3, BLOPSII, Ghosts, Advance Warfare and coming soon, BLOPSIII? If one were to buy these four map packs, they could essentially buy a brand new game in the series or if they found a good discounted deal like previously owned, two or more of the new games could be bought.

Yes, I still play BLOPS. I am more attuned to the weaponry in it than the newer games, especially when it comes to playing Gun Game or Core-Pure. I can't stop loving running around with my double-barreled Olympia shotgun and a pistol owning the other team and hearing on my earpiece after the game is over, "Who the hell is running around with a shotgun!?" Brings a smile to my face every time!

So, back to the costs of these map packs...just ridiculous! C'mon Sony, how about charging $15 for all four? I have two PS3 and two copies of BLOPS. If I want to purchase the new maps, I'd have to buy for both for my kids to be able to play on one or both of the PS3 systems.

Gameworks in Grapevine Mills Mall is gone!

As you can see from their website, Gameworks is no longer in Texas! I don't know when this happened but it did. I was thinking about what to do with the kids over the three-day Memorial Day weekend (yes, this post is a week behind) and thought about the times in the past when we would spend a few hours doing unlimited video games at Game Works in Grapevine. They used to have these gaming "happy hours" where you'd spend something like $15-$20 for 2-3 hours of game play. It was a pretty good deal because most of the games cost at least a $1 or more to play. That wouldn't be too bad if your turn on the game wasn't over in less than a minute! The only real issue with the "happy hours" is that they would normally begin around 8 or 9 p.m. which was my kids' bed time back in the day. The bedtime wasn't so bad on a weekend but the drive to Gameworks at Grapevine Mills Mall was like 20-30 minutes. Add that on each end of the two hours and it would be somewhere between 10pm and midnight when we'd get home. Not something that went over well with the wife.

I enjoyed the "happy hours" but I never played during the other hours of operation because they weren't a very cost-effective arcade...especially for my cheap ass! As I mentioned, the games were expensive to play during non-happy hour hours and kids nowadays have their iPhones/iTouches to play games for free or a minimal charge. When kids are eternally playing something as stupid as Angry Birds for $5 or less and unlimited restarts, an arcade that charges $1 or greater to play 1-3-lives-and-your-done video games is not a good business model.

Anyway, I just thought it was interesting how there is no longer a Gameworks in the entire state of Texas.

Dishonored - Video Game Trailer

This looks pretty damn sweet. Just like the comments say, it's a mix of many games. Hopefully, it turns out as good as the animated trailer.

Graphical Neoprene Full Face Mask at Tanga.com

I started typing this post back on November 19, 2011. I've been busy!

I guess you could say this is my fanboy tribute to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.

Actually, I just happened to see a sale on this thing at Tanga.com. The website is showing them for $6.99 instead of the regular price of $24.99...a 72% savings. And as usual, it was one of those products that I figured this price point is a good one to see if these masks were worth it.

These neoprene masks are pretty cool. I say 'masks' because I actually bought two of them. First the one in the included image and another one referred to as 'yellow skull.' I hope they are durable but also I don't see that I will be overusing them.

This one is a glow-in-the-dark skull (slightly hard to tell but you can see it once you're told what it is) and the other one I have is a ghoul—it's more of a pale goldish, yellow-greenish color.

I've actually worn them a couple of times since I purchased and also since I started this post and they are pretty warm. I think that the breathing, whether from my mouth or nose, helps warm it even more because it circulates between the back of the mask and my face. I've even turned it inside out to make the mask just all black. The graphic on the front didn't bother my face so it's nice to know this could be reversible if need be--you know, around the kiddies or skittish white folk in the neighborhood. LOL!

Overall, I think it's been a pretty decent purchase. Now I just need the really "cold" weather to give it a real test!

This is how Playstation says "Thank You"?

Two free PS3 games that are older games and a couple not so grand and exciting. The best one in my opinion (I guess somewhat bias since it's the only one I've actually played) is InFamous. It's a pretty damn good game. I can't wait to play the second version. I've read about Little Big Planet and how great it is. The other two I had never played before. So, I downloaded Little Big Planet and WipeOut HD Bundle. I have only played WipeOut and I'd have to say it's a lame fucking game. I think most of the apps on the iPhone are better than this game. Graphically, they are probably equal but the play/replay value is nil. I have yet to install Little Big Planet.

As far as the free movies, again, are you fucking shitting me!? "GhostBusters," "Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within," and "Bad Boys?" Ser...ious...ly!? How old long ago did GhostBusters come out?

Anyway, Sony has a funny and lame fucking way to say, "Thanks" and "Sorry." It reminds me when Sprint sent me a "Thanks for being a long-term, loyal customer with Premier status" and said they're offering me a free ring tone. The max charge/worth of a ring tone was $3.99 with the lowest being $.99.

Boo Sony! Boo Sprint! Boo!

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 at GameStop

I get an email from GameStop since I'm a PowerUp Rewards member stating I am privy to a "deal" for COD:MW3. I click on the link and the screen capture below is the landing page I am directed to.

It's a rockin' poster but really? I don't know about you but this is not a "deal" to me. You get an exclusive poster? Really? That's their big selling point for pre-ordering through GameStop? Oh yeah, "and a chance for future MW3 exclusives." Oooooooooo.

Give me half off the price. Give me $20 off. Give me something respectable but don't insult me by saying I can get an exclusive poster.

I guess they may be mad at me since I haven't purchased anything from them in a while.

Call of Duty: Black Ops

So, in case you didn't know, Call of Duty: Black Ops came out today. I was going to link that but I think you can Google those five words and find with great ease what it is...just like I did by finding this image.

Anyway, I'm in sort of a dilemma.

First, I got an email from Newegg which gave me a coupon code that would take $10 off the game which would bring it down to $49.99 plus tax but with free 3-5 day shipping. The shipping is fine because I'm in no extreme hurry like the other "COD" nerds. I can wait otherwise this wouldn't be a dilemma.

Second, there is a GameStop right around the corner and they have it in stock. The price is $59.99 plus tax but also no shipping. If I purchase it at GameStop, I can get 250 points on my PowerUp Rewards card. Which if I read the "rules" right, that is on top of the "10 pts per dollar spent on all new games" for a max of 850 points (right?).

Either way, I would like to get the game but I'm not a first-out purchasing kind of guy. I mentioned that I can wait. I didn't get COD:MW2 until probably almost a year after it came to market. About the same time, I picked up COD:MW and Bad Company: Battlefield. I think they were all previously-used games from GameStop and I got them for something like $60 total. I haven't done those games justice as I've only played the single-player or four-way "in-house" multiplayer. I haven't play any of them online. The last console online game I played was Socom 3: U.S. Navy SEALS on the PS2. I have played MOH: Spearhead on my PC.

I think I'll probably wait. I've seen a few quick reviews on people that did the midnight-purchase thing and they are mixed so far, although still good ratings. I'm sure it doesn't have a lot of different game play compared to MW2 but how many games can vary the gaming in a certain genre, know what I mean? Besides, I have played all the games of SOCOM, Splinter Cell, Ghost Recon, Rainbow Six, and Syphon Filter without any negativity of saying, "It's the same old game play." That's why we like them and why we buy them again and again. What we do want is to continue the story and to continue the required learning curve of beating the game and hopefully the A.I. can improve from game to game.

After all this, I guess I don't have a dilemma after all...[excited thought occurs]...

Oh crap, I just realized that I have some movies to exchange on my Blockbuster Total Access Plan. I can rent video games now. Hell yeah! That'll suffice until I decide to purchase in future. Booyah!

UPDATE:  I just checked my membership online. The game is not available for rental through the online portal until 2/22/2011. WTF? But I think I can use my in-store exchange towards games. I'll have to see tonight.

UPDATE #2:  I did stop by my local brick-and-mortar Blockbuster to check on Black Ops. They had a few copies for rent. I asked the BB employee about exchanging my mail-order DVD for the game because I remember seeing something about being able to do so. He says he knows I can get the game for a $5 rental fee (versus the $9...yep, isn't that effing insane!?) with my DVD exchange but he is unsure if the game rental time limit is unlimited like my DVD would be. What kind of help is that? I want to know if I have the standard 5-7 days or return it whenever I'm done blasting the hell out of the Taliban unnamed enemy. So, I opted for renting Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. I'm just not willing to pay $5 to know that I can't take my time playing the game like I could watching a movie. I'm particular like that. Sue me! I guess I'll have to post my question to the online customer service or get a manager-type person at the local store to answer my question!

Retro NES game player at Buy.com

Got an email today from Buy.com for this little gem: Retro NES TopLoader Video Game System. Yes, it is a gem. Those of us that remember the 8-bit graphics of the NES can appreciate this "machine."

One reviewer remembers the quick fix to get a game cartridge to if it wasn't working properly by "blowing in games and console." It's funny how this more often than not worked like a charm.

Oh the days of old. If I had any of my cartridges left, I would consider this for $25 or a black one for $18 but alas, the cartridges have been sold, given away, damage or forgotten.

Mortal Kombat Rebirth

I've been reading about a possible new film based on Mortal Kombat. I finally found a clip (again from somewhere where I'd give credit but I found it this morning and emailed it to myself to post about later and I've forgotten where I got it).

Anyway, it seems that there is a maybe and maybe not on this movie but with someone putting this much effort into a "trailer" clip I would think it is more of a maybe. But that's just me.

With actors like Jerri Ryan (I think was playing Sonya) and Michael Jai White as Jax, I find it hard to believe this was a non-studio put together trailer. But what do I know.

So, here's the link to the trailer while it lasts.

Refurb or not to refurb

I got an email from Gamestop today in regards to some previously-owned deals. I'm usually not too worried about a game being previously owned when I purchase them from a Gamestop or a Blockbuster because I can see the disks to make sure they aren't scratched or whatever. Plus, they usually have a guarantee or return period for anything that doesn't work properly.

It's a little different for me when I look at something as big as a PS3 refurb for $250. For one, the price of a new PS3 Slim 120GB is like $299. And two, these refurbs are guaranteed to work but I can't seem to find if you can buy a service agreement with them because there is no way I'm spending that kind of money on a refurb just to have it crap out on me without having a service agreement and then I have a very expensive but pretty brick!

I had an 80GB and the CD drive crapped out on me after two years and right before, like two weeks before, my service agreement at Best Buy expired. Good timing but sucked because the new PS3 Slims won't play my PS2 games. I get it but I don't get it. I Googled a bunch about the drive problem and a lot of people did the self-fix of installing a new CD drive themselves. It seemed simple enough for less than $100 but I started thinking, "Why the hell did I buy the $200+ service plan if I'm not going to use it?" Everything else about the PS3 80GB was in working order as far as I could tell. I just couldn't play games or movies from the CD drive which is like 99% of what I did. Anyway, longer story short, I ended up getting a replacement because they said the drive was an non-fixable item and an exchange was authorized. The 80GB was like $399. I tried to get them to give me the comparable price exchange of the 250GB PS3 Slim which was $399 but they said it would only exchange the 1st newer model which was the 120GB. I told them the price difference bothered me because I paid $399 and now you are giving me a machine (albeit newer but less functional) for $299. I don't get the actual logic because that's not technically apples for apples in my eyes. There were some other issues I had to work out but I won't go into detail because I've already gone off track of the reason of the post -- if there was a reason.

I still have a PS2 but I really liked being able to play PS2 and PS3 games on one machine. It was less clutter and less A/V input jacks to mess with. It was also nice to get to replay a lot of my PS2 games because I had to play and beat them all over again to get them to save on the PS3 hard drive versus a PS2 memory card. Now, I do know you can transfer this information and I even bought a small, cheaply priced gadget that supposedly do it for me but I never got around to taking the time to do so. Funny thing is that gadget is still in it's package since it's arrival. Anyway, so now I have to play on the PS2 and the PS3 and some PS2 games I have to replay because I can't remember where all my memory cards are. See, too much shit to keep up with.

So, I ponder: buy another PS3 for in-house multi-player games with my kids and neighborhood kids AND a bedroom Blu-ray player or just deal with the one I have because it's not like I play network games with the kids all that often anyhow. I can't decide.

All I do know is that I have $55 of Best Buy Reward certificates that I can apply towards any purchase. They are like cash burning a hole in my pocket. I mean I've spent money to earn those rewards so I should at least get something back out of it, right? A PS3? Maybe but more than likely not. An iPod Touch? Maybe, the wife is against it but my Zune 30GB battery just went defective on me - it'll play with the power cord but it won't once it's unplugged. A Zune HD? Maybe, but only 32GB is a negative for me. An iPod 160GB Classic? Maybe, it's more beneficial to me for the size capacity and I really don't need all those apps for the Touch.

I'm so confused and the hole in my pocket is getting BIGGER!

Best Buy is stalking me!

I was looking to buy some things at BestBuy.com the other day because I have two rewards coupons worth $55 to put towards my purchase. I was adding things to my cart to see the price + shipping (if applicable) - the coupons to see what my overall cost would be. I thought about getting another PS3, the 250GB version, or an iPod Touch 64GB. I don't really need either but I figured with $55 off it makes it more enticing to purchase.

Anyway, about a day later, I get an email with the statement shown in the screen capture. I thought it was kind of funny and intrusive. Maybe they have a lot of people that thought they submitted their order when in reality they didn't. I don't know but it didn't make me want to rush over and do it.

Instead, it kind of made me think they were questioning my intelligence. Saying to me, "Hey dumb ass customer! You forgot to complete your order. Get your stupid ass back to our web site and complete it correctly!"

Ha! I know it wasn't anything like that. I was just kind of surprised how they emailed me about having items left in my cart. I wonder how this would pan out in an actual brick and mortar store. Fill my cart while walking around the store and then I just leave it in an aisle somewhere because I decided not to purchase anything after all. I bet one of the sales associates would chase my ass down like I stole something. LOL!

Anyway...

Tom Clancy's End War for PS3

So, I purchased Tom Clancy's End War PS3 game (Wiki entry) about a month ago. Yes, it's been out a while and that's why I got it for $14.99 at my Blockbuster store. I didn't do much research on the game other than at Gamespot where I saw the rating was 7.5-Good. I saw some of the screen captures and thought it looked like a good game.

Not doing more research and the screen captures being a little misleading (for my simple mind), when I finally got a chance to play the game about a week ago, I realized it was not the game I expected. It was especially not the type of game I've come to expect from the Tom Clancy video game series (another Wiki entry).

The ones I'm used to or more like the 1st/3rd person shooters like the Rainbow Six, Ghost Recon and Splinter Cell games. It's what I like. It's what I prefer.

End War is nothing like these. It's more of a tactical game play where you control multiple vehicle types and such. Kind of like Star Craft or Command and Conquer. Now I like Star Craft and the C&C games but I know/knew what kind of games they were and expected a certain style of game play. All of those games are "overhead" game play except for C&C: Renegade and probably one other.

Anyway, I'm not saying that End War is a bad game. The graphics that I did see while tinkering around the game were pretty decent. Nothing exciting but also nothing noticeably terrible. For me, it was as exciting and intuitive as the SC and C&C games and most definitely is not a fun, tactical 1st-person shooter.

If you like to and want to read the instructions and learn how to play the game, it will probably be a good one for you. Personally, I'm in the pop the disk in and let's start firing mode at the moment...or any games that are similar to such.

Gameful at GameStop

Made my visit to GameStop to see about getting my disks for Infamous and Batman:Arkhan Asylum. The guy clerk was pretty friendly about it.

He asked for my receipt stating that he didn't believe me but he wanted to see who the salesperson was.

I jokingly asked, "So, is this a recurring issue lately?"

He said, "Well, we do have a new person that started and I bet it was Emily."

I said while handing my receipt over without looking at it, "You know, it was Emily!" I knew this because I remember making it a point to stare at her name tag which just happened to be very close to her cleavage. I made sure to check her name as she was very nice, enthusiastic and overall helpful in helping me make my game-purchasing decisions.

He chuckled. Apologized profusely and got my game disks.

I said, "It was no problem" and went on my merry way. All was good.


Sent on the Super Jay Network from Super Jay's BlackBerry®

Gameless at GameStop

I stopped by my local Game Stop store last night. I purchased three previously-owned games. They are running a special, "Buy 2, Get 1 Free" on previously-owned games. I purchased Infamous, Batman Arkham Asylum and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. I just got a chance to open up the games and it turns out I don't have the disks for Infamous and Arkham Asylum. WTF?

I sure as hell hope there is some way to match my cases with the game disks. Otherwise, I will be quite mad at spending $70 for plastic cases!!

I don't think there should be a problem but who the hell knows with stores these days. We'll find out about 10am.

Tony Hawk Ride for Wii

I bought my kids a Wii for Christmas. Walmart was running a deal that started Saturday, Dec 5th and I think runs until the 12th. You buy the Wii for $199 and they throw in a $50 Walmart gift card. I'd say that's a pretty good promotion.

Now that I have a Wii, I was looking for games to buy that are rated well for the kids (and me)! So, I stopped on over at GameSpot to do some research. On the Wii page, I saw this game, Tony Hawk Ride, and I was shocked. I don't think I've ever seen a Tony Hawk game rated so badly. I thought it was the Tony Hawk golden touch for all his games. But it seems he's lost that touch. I didn't read the review because if it isn't rated at least a 7.5 then it's really not worth my time to even take a look.

I have a PS3 but apparently I have to have more game systems like I did when I was young (Sega Genesis, Nintendo, Super Nintendo, Sega Dreamcast). I would like the Xbox360 next but we'll see.

You can never have too many gaming systems, right?

Tomb Raider: Underworld

Is it wrong that I am mildly aroused by these screen caps from the game Tomb Raider: Underworld?

Video game programmers are evil to make me out this side of myself. Bastards! :-)

* Screen caps are from NewEgg as they were advertising TR:Underworld on sale.

My newest unnecessary electronic purchase

55 inches of pure manly love! This is my new LG 55" 1080p 120hz LCD HDTV. It was just purchased from Best Buy Wednesday afternoon during my lunch.

Best Buy is running a really good deal on home entertainment this week but I'm sure it'll be extended since the holidays are coming and they'll want your business. The current deal is if if you spend $999 and up on home entertainment then you get the financing option of 3-yr-no-interest. Now that I think about it I believe that's why and what on I purchased my previous LCD HDTV...it's a 42" I think. Anyway, that's a really good deal no matter what size, brand or kind (LCD, LED, Plasma) of television you end up purchasing. I still don't like or trust plasma and LED TVs are too new and too expensive right now for me to take a chance although they are super thin. Which is cool in itself.

So, in case you didn't know, a 55" LCD TV is big but not cumbersome unless it's still in the box. I have a Dodge Grand Caravan and it has a pretty big cargo area with the two back seats taken out. I only took one out thinking that was enough room but when I saw the box of the 55" I was like, "Oh man, that may not fit." Alone it would but I also got an LG Blu-ray player as a package deal with the 55". I also purchased a 32" LG LCD TV. Both these LCD TVs are replacing tube TVs so I am definitely upgrading. All I have to do now is upgrade my DirecTV to HD and I could experience the complete awesomeness of the 55". The problem is that I don't know if I really want to mess with the added expense especially since I need to pay these purchases off over the next three years or less.

In the end, I think this will be my Christmas. Which is okay. I always tell my wife not to get me anything anyway because she knows I will get myself something somewhere long the way to Christmas. That way she won't have to wonder if I'll like whatever it is she purchases for me as a gift from her and the kids.

No more toys for me for a while. Although I really do like this Browning .22 pistol or the Beretta .22 (although I think the one I saw was all blue/black steel) or a S&W Sigma 9mm I saw at Academy Sports the other day....NOPE! Must remain focused. No more purchases!!

Anyhow...I can't wait to hook the PS3 up to this 55" baby and see how the regular DVDs play. I would say, "Blu-ray," but I don't have any of those just yet. I may rent one just to see what it's like because it could be amazing on 55".

Can you tell I am excited about my new TV purchase?!

By the way, the TV stand I'm currently using may be temporary. Also, as mentioned/questioned by my friends and family, the red tape on it is so the drawers didn't fling open while I was moving it around. If I keep it, it will be painted (per the wife) and the tape will be removed (DUH!).

New sales gimmick (Rooms To Go)

I guess whatever it takes to get the people inside the stores. I'm not sure that an at least $800+ kid's bedroom suite is worth spending for a free $299 Xbox 360. Of course, I'm sure their "special bedroom packages" are way more than $800!

I recently purchased a new dining room table with eight chairs (yes, it's that fucking big). I signed up for notifications via email. I don't mind as it's not my main email. I really don't care to receive them but you never know when you might get that "special" deal. Most of the "deals" are crap for me because I'm not prompted to buy things from subliminal advertising. If I need something, I go look. If I find something I like that I needed, I buy it. Simple as that.

Anyway, I just thought it was funny to see a furniture store throwing in a free Xbox 360 to basically bribe people to buy kid's room furniture. They might have something especially for the rich people with kids. If a rich brat complains and whines enough, the rich parents will give in just to shut them the fuck up.

Oh well, it's not like it's the first time I've seen such "bribery" to get people buying shit they don't need.

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Goodbye and Good Riddance!

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GTA 4: The Ballad of Gay Tony

From Google News:

Rockstar has announced the second expansion coming to Grand Theft Auto IV on Xbox 360 will be titled "The Ballad of Gay Tony."

Click here for as long as the story lasts.

So, this is great news that they are continuing the game series but what about the Playstation 3 folks? I mean, GTA was originally a game just for the Playstation, then the Playstation 2.

Is Sony neglecting it's initial target and LOYAL audience!? Bastards!

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Goodbye and Good Riddance!

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Grand Theft Auto IV

I quote from an article at GuideLive.com that I thought was funny to start as it did. Click here for the entire article until it expires.

Eight hours into Grand Theft Auto IV (Rockstar Games, for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, $59.99), I've stolen 17 cars, run over 20 people and killed another 15 (some of whom had it coming). I've shaken down a couple of store owners and beaten up an old lady. I've driven while drunk and, perhaps worse, while talking on a cell phone.

The only critique I have for this game is that the bastards didn't make a PS2 version for the cheap bitches like myself who have not yet upgraded to the PS3 or really want to spend the money to do so!

Bastards! Bastards! Bastards...but the game sounds awesome! I still play San Andreas, Liberty City Stories and even Vice City now and again because they were(are) such kick ass games.

Oh well...I wait and see if the wifey will let me purchase a PS3 otherwise I will live vicariously through others or play on their machines when I get the chance...if I ever do.