Cephiros, The One Winged Angel

While trying to setup a blog related application on my facebook and I find out my RSS feed is not working. So, I got to my site and I discover I am getting a 500 internal error. This is strange since I had not work on my blog for quite awhile and made no changes recently. So, backed up all my plugins, themes, images, and SQL database. Deleted the current installation. I was having some troubles after reinstalling but the issues are resolved now.

Became a writer over at Platform Nation and I posted my first review for Ticket to Ride. I am glad that I am given this chance to become better known in the gaming community and sharpen my writing skills. Check the site out. Lots of great people and many podcasts that are fun to listen to.

Looking foward to tomorrow being over with at work so my weekend can start. I will of course attempt to write here more now that I am car pooling to and from work. Remember, stay cool.

Today was a contrast of highs and lows. Even though I had very little sleep; I went to Circuit City because of a sale on 1600 Microsoft Point cards at $15! That’s a savings of twenty-five percent per card. I cleared out the whole stock at the Gateway Circuit City. $120 dollars worth of points for $90… Score! So far I haven’t spent any since I don’t want to go wild with my spending. I might pick one or two more but we’ll see.

On my way back to the MAX, I need to get some change for laundry since I wasn’t able to get any quarters on Friday or Saturday. It was a big pain in the ass. Two dollars from the Fred Meyer’s customer service counter. The rest I already had or got from putting dollars bills in a soda and pushing in the change return button.

Laundry was started relatively late in the day since the laundry rooms get quite busy on Sundays. However, the dryers were a little difficult in finding an empty one until around 3pm. Everything was completely finished near 5pm; I went down to the laundry room to get my clothes and I returned to my front door. Bah, I didn’t bring my keys and I accidently locked my door. FUCK! FUCKETY FUCK! Ok, breath in, breath out. I was able to get back in thanks to my girl, Chandelle but after nearly two hours outside.

I think I found a domain name for my new video game blog. I also think I found the perfect Wordpress theme as well. After I flesh out my budget a little then I will register the new domain names and start the new site construction.

That’s all folks!

Rockband Roundup – 6/3/08 DLC Reviewed

Another week passes by and Harmonix has given us more DLC as promised. Whether or not you like the music they release every week. You do have to applaud them for at least keeping their promise of weekly DLC at moderate prices. Anyways, enough fanboy pandering to Harmonix! We’ve got content to review!

This week’s review is Disturbed Jimmy Buffett. Ah, yes the new name for Parrot heads from now on. No, no, I am just kidding. Yes, this week we have Disturbed and Jimmy Buffett. This week’s content has something for good ole dad and his teenage son. Maybe buy the Jimmy Buffett pack as an early father’s day present? Perhaps, I can help you decide!

Disturbed - 240 MS Points ($3.00) Pack / 80 MS Points ($0.99) Individually

Truthfully I never heard of nor listened to this band prior to the announcement they were going to be in Rockband. That doesn’t mean I’m not open to new music but I need a venue that allows me to experience new music. After downloading and playing it. I can tell you that I really enjoyed these songs.

I do believe that this might be the first time the bass was harder for me than the guitar parts. I played both bass and guitar on hard. I was able to pass them all but with higher scores on guitar. The one song that I had the most trouble with which required some practice was “Perfect Insanity” since it had a short but quite challenging solo.

All of the songs had interesting but challenging note charts for all three instruments while the vocalists might have a small break in difficulty here. All three songs have solos on guitar that were hard but not impossible. Bass made good use of chord changes mixed with hammer-ons/pull-offs. Drum note charts were fun and allowed this gimped drummer to actually do well.

Final Verdict: Good song pack and with a great limited price. Absolutely get it unless you can’t stand Disturbed.

“Indestructible”

Band: 6/9 Guitar: 7/9 Drums: 7/9 Vocals: 3/9 Bass: 7/9

‘Inside the Fire”

Band: 6/9 Guitar: 7/9 Drums: 7/9 Vocals: 4/9 Bass: 7/9

“Perfect Insanity”

Band: 6/9 Guitar: 8/9 Drums: 7/9 Vocals: 3/9 Bass: 8/9

Jimmy Buffett – 480 MS Points ($6.00) Pack / 160 MS Points ($2.00) individually

Parrot heads rejoice! Your Rockband ship has finally come in. Most people have heard at least heard one or two Buffett songs in their lifetime. You might actually be able to get your parents to play some Rockband. I find all of these songs catchy and pleasant to the ear. However, the drums are by far the most “challenging” of this song pack but not by much beyond the difficulty of the guitar and bass note charts.

However, if you’re an adult age twenty-one and over and drinking then you won’t have to worry about failing out on the guitar and bass. That’s a positive factor for this song pack. Apparently, all of the songs were recorded again specifically for Rockband. “Volcano” reminded me too much of Super Mario Brothers game music. This song pack is good for fans, parties, and getting a high spot on leaderboards.

Final Verdict: Six dollars is a little steep. I feel only those who are big Buffett fans or those who would like to diversify their song list should purchase this. You have the power… Use it!

“Margaritaville”

Band: 2/9 Guitar: 3/9 Drums: 4/9 Vocals: 1/9 Bass: 3/9

“Cheeseburger in Paradise”

Band: 2/9 Guitar: 2/9 Drums: 4/9 Vocals: 2/9 Bass: 2/9

‘Volcano”

Band: 3/9 Guitar: 4/9 Drums: 4/9 Vocals: 1/9 Bass: 4/9

Source: Song difficulty ratings from Rockband Music Store

It’s been a crazy week so far. Well, not really but I have been pretty tired and not getting much accomplished. Last weekend I went to the Rush Snakes & Arrows tour up by Battleground, WA. It was the first time that I saw them in concert and I had a great time. My father came up to visit me so we could go to the concert together. It was a special concert for since Rush was the first concert he attended when he was a teenager. Of course I was really tired the next day because lasted just past 11pm and you have so much energy after something like that which prohibits you from going to bed right away.

Margarita Monday was blast again in Grand Theft Auto IV. Hanging with friends of Gamehounds Podcast and Platform Nation meant I had a great time. Playing video games with people are not complete dicks and are liked minded felt good. I hope to attend every Margarita Monday if possible.

As I listen to my gaming podcasts and try to an active member of Platform Nation. I’ve realized that I would like to get more involved with the gaming community. I don’t ever expect to start my own podcast since there are more than enough good ones there. In addition, I don’t think I quite have that radio voice. I am going to submit a writing sample to The Gamers Pub to review retro games. It will be a good experience whether or not I get the position. It will allow me to sharpen my writing skills.

Also, I’m going to start a game related blog on my domain separate from my personal blog. Just to make sure things are not cluttered between the two. I’ve already done some house cleaning with old posts in this blog like all those Youtube posts whose videos which are most likely not valid along with some personal ones I no longer want on the internet.

Just for the record. I’ve never beaten any GTA game that has been released before the newest one. I’ll do the missions and I’ll advance the storyline but so after I usually lose interest for some reason. The very same thing might happen with the newest one but I doubt.

I really like the hero/anti-hero that is Niko Bellic. He is not a parody like the main character in the other games. I have not started a killing spring. My main source of killings are from missions. Yes, I’ve stolen a bunch of cars and I try not to run anyone over. However, accidents do happen.

I have not delved into the multiplayer just yet. I will try it. It has over 16 modes I believe with a mix of co-op and such. I doubt that I will ever reach 1000/1000 on the achievements but I will be able to pick up a hand full. I’m really not that much of an achievement whore even though I have the Avatar: The Last Airbender. *looks sheepishly*

On that note, really loving Avatar: The Last Airbender. Waiting for the last few episodes of the very last season. However, that is a topic for another post, another day.

So, I did not decide to download the First Album DLC for Rockband. I’m simply not a Judas Priest fan. This week DLC I have really decided just yet. It is one Smashing Pumpkins song, Zero and Two Mother hips songs. It is not part of a pack so each song is 160 MS points or 2 bucks basically.

I’ve been trading my old PS2 and DS games on Goozex. It is a video trading community. Each game has a point value assigned by supply and demand along with when it was release with other date involved. It is a much better resource to trade and receive games. Once you have the points, you request a game. If you have the trade credits then you are matched with a seller. Each trade credit is $1. Overall, I’m very happy with this program.

April 29th, 2008 - Grand Theft Auto IV came and I purchased it after work. I decided to go with the special edition which came with an art book, soundtrack cd, lockbox, keychain, and bag. It was $90 bucks but I feel what was included made it worth it.

So last post, I said I had some problems that I needed to resolve on my blog. Well, I found a neat little Wordpress plugin that helps you back up and upgrade your installation with ease. Glad to say that my blog is running Wordpress 2.5.1. My security plugin says that everything is perfect.  Also, I found a somewhat working Livejournal Crossposter plugin. I don’t know if I will ever try the Myspace one. Maybe not until it transfers all of my SQL database stuff into it so I don’t have to.

Been watching tons of Avatar the Last Air Bender. We’re on Season 3, waiting for the disc 3 from the DVD to be released. It happens to be my birthday when it does, May 6th.

Anyways… that’s all I have for now. Oh yeah, my gamertag on Xbox Live is CephirosMatsuri

Another Friday is upon us and that means two things. A new episode of Battlestar Galactica and Rockband DLC announcement. I am glad that albums are finally going to start being released but I am unsure about purchasing this. I will preview it on the music store once it is released but I will probably not purchase it right away if ever. Other albums have been announced as well, The Cars “Cars” and Pixies “Doolittle”.

Judas Priest: Screaming for Vengence

All of them are master tracks. They will cost 160 MS points ($1.99) each or the entire albums will cost 1200 MS Points ($14.99).

“The Hellion/Electric Eye”

“Riding on the Wind”

“Bloodstone”

“(Take These) Chains”

“Pain and Pleasure”

“Screaming for Vengeance”

“You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’”

“Fever”

“Devil’s Child”

Rant #1: Excessive Fee charges for to many transfers from your savings to checking account. I remember that there was a limit, it was in the back of my mind. However, today I was hit with a $10 fee. I don’t like it but I really can’t fight it. However, what does piss me off is that many Banks say the Federal Government charges this fee.

This is completely wrong! Regulation D of the Federal Reserve must limit transactions of this sort (electronic) in a monthly period or it dilutes the difference between a transaction account and deposit account. The fee is charged by banks! Get this, not all banks charge it. Citibank does not but of course that is not a local bank. Grrr!

Rant #2: Fuck retail locations that make you place your bag in front while you browse their selection. I went to a Game Crazy on North Lombard, had to place my bag in the front. Yet, what is the purpose of their security system? Really I ask you this. I really fucking hate being thought as a criminal before anything else.

Rant #3: Fuck Subway your and loyalty card. Not all Subway’s take this little plastic card to earn points on it. Ok, yes they are franchises. However, if you want loyalty programs to take off and generate sales then you need to highly suggest or mandate the use of this program. Listen folks, loyalty programs do not work if not all stores take them.

Breath in… breath out… relax.. that is all!

So, As owner of a Xbox 360. Every game has ability to gain achievements, anywhere for 200 for most games on Xbox live arcade to 1000 or 1250 for full retail games. Now, I’m not a gamer who must get the max achievement points for each and every game I play. I mean I have a few that I maxed out and I have a few I can easily get 1k gamer points by just sinking in some time.

However, I think to myself.. one game particular, should I even bother. I played through Eternal Sonata which is a beautiful Japanese RPG. Story was a little weak and confusing and the character development was not the best. Overall I really did enjoy the game. Not to mention it was the first game I’ve beaten on a console since Dragon Quest VIII and Grandia III. Both great games in their own right.

Okay, so in one play through of Eternal Sonata, I get 77% of the possible achievements but net less than 400 points. I really think that is really messed up. Now, I started a second play through game. I don’t know, I might just give up on it. In the encore mode, enemies have 1.5 health, attack and defense but give the same fucking amount of exp.

We’ll see.. until the next time.

Another Tuesday means more Rockband coming way to Xbox 360 users. Our PS3 friends will have to wait until Thursday. They will be able because they have been without access to Rockband DLC for the last few weeks.

In addition, there was addition today, a Motley Crue single debuted not on radio, nor television but as Rockband DLC. I believe it was called “Saints of Los Angeles”. It was only 80 MS points ($0.99) for a limited time.

Overall I am quite happy with this week’s DLC. Call Me is a great and classic Blondie song. Message in a Bottle is a very good Police song and Simple Man by Lynyrd Skynyrd rocks. All of them were masters and great songs in their own right. As for their challenge on hard guitar, they are pretty easy. I might have to try them on this upcoming weekend sometime. I don’t sing and I am only a medium player on drums. Bass is almost easy even on Expert.

If you have the MS points, or the money then I suggest purchasing this for your next gen system.