Up to Date: Apr. 14th, 2010

Here’s a couple quick notes to get everyone caught up.

• I’m cutting the daily gaming updates from Raptr to my Twitter account on the grounds that they were useless and overabundant. I will keep my achievement notices, though.
• As I tweeted, expect my Just Cause 2 review within the next day or so.
• Beta and I are working on a new efficiency system here at e-AAGH.net, namely how to get my butt in gear. It’s a behind-the-scenes process, but I just wanted to let folks know that I’m trying to catch up.
• ABO: Random Fandom is DOA. I’m sorry that it didn’t make it past issue one, but lack of support and interest from our readers have put it to bed.

That’s all for now. I hope to have my review up ASAP for everyone to read.

iPhone OS 4

Apple had their press conference on the iPhone OS 4 yesterday. I watched a live blog on Engadget as it happened since I obviously wasn’t there. Here are my thoughts.

Number one on my mind is obviously my excitement for multitasking. I like their interface they went with, and I think it should work well. The folder feature reminds me of the Droid OS personally. I actually joked sarcastically to a friend nearby – who owns an Android phone – that I was so happy that my iPod Touch was turning into an iDroid. On the subject of the Touch, only iPod Touch 3rd gen. are getting the full new OS. Touch’s of the 1st and 2nd generation are getting – for lack of a better term – dumbed down versions, as are iPhones 3G and earlier.

I’m less excited about the enhanced mail feature that allows you to have a merged inbox and more then one Exchange account, but it will be a nice touch. I’m more looking forward to the Game Center, basically iBox Live. It’s a take off of Xbox Live – achievements and all. How it will work with existing apps is anyone’s guess.

Lastly, I’m happy that they’re finally allowing wallpapers. It was nice to be able to pick an idle screen for when the device is locked, but now you can pick a wallpaper to go behind your icons.

OS 4 should be available sometime this summer for iPhone/iPod Touch and this fall for iPad.

Why? Just ‘Cause.

I am officially reviewing Just Cause 2, for anyone wondering. This game has it’s flaws but the carnage is hard to deny. Eidos just released new DLC with this pink car that you can buy from the black market in game, and it’s a riot. It’s nigh maxed out, stat-wise, and it’s fairly cheap, so of course I got one right away and went on a little rampage.

Here’s some quick bullet points on what I like best.

• Sling-shotting myself across the terrain with my grappling hook before deploying my parachute, and then using my hook to pull myself around in the air to stay above ground.
• Riding on the hood of one of my AI buddy’s car, with him careening out of control as baddies chase us.
• Shooting enemy tires out, forcing them to wreck and save me the trouble of killing them.

It’s a fun game, but I’ll have some things to nag about when the review comes around.

Review Forthcoming?

I posted last time that I was in a dead zone as far as what to review next. I also posited that Just Cause 2 was not going to be it. Those statements may both change soon.

Early this morning, after another late night World of Warcraft session, I decided I was going to try something I’d not really played yet. I narrowed it down to the demos of Settlers 7 and Just Cause 2. I had been in the beta for Settlers 7, so I opted for Just Cause 2. The preview for the game on Steam made for an interesting read, so I downloaded the demo right away. I was worried that I would be playing the game the same way my computer handles GTA4 and Red Faction: Guerrilla – with frame rates dipping into the single digits all the time. I was also worried that it was going to be like the original Just Cause’s demo, which never excited me.

Damn, was I surprised. The game’s default settings for my computer kept the frame rate around 30 FPS, and the gameplay was pure – for lack of a better word – chaos. I’ve not had free-form destructive fun like that since GTA: San Andreas, and I must say that I forgot how much I enjoyed it. I may pick this game up and review it yet.

Slow Times Ahoy

It’s a slow, slow time to be working at e-AAGH.net. Finances have hit a lull again, and the one game I have that needs reviewing – Mass Effect 2 – is hard for me to sit through long enough to review it. For whatever reason, the game is boring the hell out of me. That may be a review right there, but I’m not that kind of writer. Beta’s and I have been somewhat out of touch lately for whatever reason (I assume her primary occupation is keeping her very busy).

I have also attempted a complete redesign of e-AAGH.net, but for the time being, that’s going on hold. It’s just not a priority with the site as stagnant as it currently is.

All is not lost, though. Once I get it through my head that Mass Effect 2 just isn’t going to be reviewed, I can finally move on to something new. Maybe Endless Ocean: Blue World or Red Steel 2 will be next, or perhaps Perfect Dark. I have a feeling that attempting to review Just Cause 2 will put me right back where I am now, so I’m holding off on that.

Random Rant of the Month

See this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNLilO7mEEU

See these?

http://www.tacobell.com/bigbox/

Lies. All of ‘em.

For kicks I ordered a five buck NBA box from Taco Bell as Charles Barkley advertised in the above clip, and it was pretty good. The burrito supreme was mediocre at best, but the taco was a taco, and the cheesy gordita crunch was pretty good. The cinnamon twists were nice and the Pepsi was a Pepsi. There was only one problem.

No box. Just a bag.

Now, I’m usually a cool customer when ordering something I saw on TV. I don’t expect everything to come completely as advertised. However, when you advertise something as a five buck box, don’t you expect, y’know… a box? Hello? Earth to Taco Bell! You can’t sell a box without the box! Worst of all, how the Hell am I supposed to rock without a box?! Charles’ rhyme in the ad should have started;

“The five buck bag… it sags, it sags…”

I want to sue Charles Barkley now. The damages? A five buck box with an actual box.

MLB 2K10 Played, Glitchy

I’ve had my copy of MLB 2K10 since noon on the 2nd, and have put quite a bit of time into it.  My one My Player character has already – in about a month of play time – escaped Double-A to reach the Majors. Wow! However, sometimes the game is just harder then it needs to be.

Yes, he’s batting without a bat. On a foul ball, he dropped the bat and ran part way to first. He got back and resumed the at-bat, but forgot his weapon. This has happened to me twice.