Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure (Wii)

One of the video games our son received for Christmas was Skylander’s: Spyro’s Adventure Starter Pack for the Nintendo Wii. This little game is probably going to be the starting point for a new fad of games. A starter pack – which is available for all console systems (Wii, DS, 3DS, Xbox 360, PS3) comes with three figures, the game and a Portal of Power. The figures are just 3 out of a large assortment that is available for the game, and the biggest catch is that you can use any figure on any of the console versions. Say, for example, you have the Wii version of Skylander’s, you can still take your Spyro figure and go to a friend’s house that has the PS3 version and play with them. An even bigger catch is that your character will still have their own level and equipment that you earned on your Wii version! Tell me this isn’t the start of something bigger and I’ll call you a fool, sir-and-or-madam!

The game is straight-forward with what you have to do and where you have to go. The main story arc puts you on a closed path and you would really, really have to try to stray off of it. Point A to Point B, shoot the bad guys in the middle and you complete the course. Where the game gets challenging and switches things up is in the figures available for the game. You can, without issue, play the game from beginning to end with only the three figures in the starter pack. But the catch is that there are side areas and powers in the game that can only be opened by using figures with a certain power set. At the moment, there are 8 power classes of figures and a total of over 30 figures in all that the player has the option of buying to add to their collection. Excuse me while I make a few “KA-CHING!” noises for the geniuses behind this marketing wonder.

So, you have a game that is playable out of the box with what is provided. 30+ additional figures with different powers and animations you (or your child if they are into this whole game thing) can buy to open up other areas of the game. AND … are you ready for this? AND each level, beautiful and well designed in their own rights, has goals. Not just one goal, but numerous goals that you can discover, unlock, achieve that all go toward the 100% of the game’s end. Yea, if you are a completist, you are also going to have to buy those other figures to unlock those areas that need exploring to complete each zone 100%. Darn you Activision!!

But wait, that’s not all! If you wonder why the PC doesn’t have its own version of the game … wait for it … IT DOES! With each figure comes a small card with an online activation code. Go to the games website, sign-up and in and enter the code, and you have a mini-game area where you can meet other Skylander players, show off your figure collection in what is called Skylanders: Spyro’s Universe! You get to choose your own island, claim your own cave and decorate it with your items. ZOMGBBQ, it just doesn’t seem to end!

Maybe I just haven’t played many games lately, but I love this as much as my son does. It’s fun, actually challenging as you go further into the story, yet simple enough for kids to pick up and play. The catch for collector’s is in the figures (which, depending on where you shop, range from $7.99 to $12.99). And for the completists, there are plenty of challenges. It’s available on all game consoles, so you don’t have to wish you had the PS3 or 360 to play. And if you place the Portal of Power far enough away, you could even get some exercise in there by having to get up and go change the figures around depending on what you are doing. I would definitely recommend this game no matter your skill level or even if you do or do not have children in the house. Plus, I can’t wait to see what other games spring from this idea of interactivity.

Two Projects Going Into The New Year

There are two things I have been thinking of trying out myself after Christmas passes through. I say thinking about because, with my skill and luck, even the simplest thing could turn into a disaster. Nevertheless, I’m fairly confident on one and a little iffy on the other. As far as being confident, I’m pretty sure I can upgrade and replace the hard drive in my PS3 with a larger one. As for being on the iffy side, I’d like to look into installing Bootcamp so I can also play PC games on my Macbook.

A few days ago I actually received an “no available space” error on my PS3. While trying to download numerous demos for my boy and I to try out, the system came to a screeching halt. It took me a few seconds to figure out where the location of disc space information was at, but I finally found it and low-n-behold, it is true. I went through and deleted a lot of rental games we had played, and was actually surprised to find out that a lot of Blu-ray movies download and store A L O T of data when you put them in. That whole updating when you put a Blu-ray disc in? Yea, I turned off the automatic updates on that. But still, I think it is time to expand my storage space now that I am actually playing games on the console instead of using it as a Blu-ray player. Luckily, when it comes to replacing the PS3′s hard drive, there are a few hundred videos out there that demonstrate step-by-step how to do it, and it sure looks easy enough. I’ll let you know my own personal experience when I am ready to try it myself.

As for my second project, I am not too sure if I want to go messing around with this expensive laptop and risk messing something up. Sure, I know folks do it all the time, but I am extremely paranoid when it comes to my investments. That’s a lot of money to risk screwing up by having a program go in, partition my hdd and installing a version of Windows 7 on that new space. I may have to look into some Youtube “how-to” videos on this as well and check into the risks.

Meanwhile, tomorrow is Christmas Eve, and whatever your traditions and beliefs, I wish you a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year.

Thanksgiving 2011

I hope everyone had a fantastic Thanksgiving. We stuffed ourselves, had a great time with family and friends and are now relaxing at home.It is an extended weekend for many, including myself, and the time is being spent hanging out, watching movies and playing games. Nothing productive going on here, folks!

My wonderful wife and her mother went out on their 4th annual Black Friday mission last night. They left around 9:00 PM, headed to Wal-Mart for their first sale event that began at 10.  My boy and I stayed home, popped some popcorn, sipped some Dr Pepper and watched Spy Kids 4: All the Time in the World, and played Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga on the PS3.  Our son has just gotten into the whole Star Wars thing and absolutely loves the Lego version of the characters. He was super excited last night because we told him he could stay up as late as he could stand it.  I finally caved at 2:00 AM and told him if he went to bed we would get up early and go have breakfast somewhere.

So, at 8:30 this morning we got up, got ready and went to Shoney’s with my mom to enjoy their fabulous breakfast buffet. The Wife joined us shortly after we got there. It is a new record, being done with their shopping that early. Last year they didn’t get home until 3 the next afternoon! Tonight – not having any of those pesky left overs – we picked up some KFC to snack on and The Wife and I are about to wrap presents. I also watched the new Conan: The Barbarian movie today. I was surprised that I liked it. Do not always believe all those negative reviews you see online or hear on television from half-assed movie critics. The only real problem I saw with the movie was that, in action scenes especially, there was a delay when they switched a scene – as if the actors were just standing there waiting for the right moment to begin the next take. Over all, though, I enjoyed the story, the acting wasn’t that horrible and the action was a tad bit over the top, but fit perfectly into the fantasy-type world of Hyboria.

Tomorrow … well, I’ll have to talk about tomorrow when it gets here. If anyone who visits my site or receives updates when I make a new post has noticed, I deleted my previous blog post. I’ll explain that tomorrow – I hope. Nothing bad to report, just correcting my own rush to make a purchase and hoping for the same fantastic support from a local store.

Movies, Games, Life Events – the Usual Stuff

Hi there!  Everyone, take your seats and let’s get started.

I’m Gaming!

A few posts ago, I commented on the PS3. I am happy to say that I am still playing!  Right now my dusty and miniscule collection includes Saints Row 2, Fallout: New Vegas and Lego Star Wars The Complete Saga.  On

the horizon are: Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Batman Arkham City and I’m also interested in Dark Souls.

On my list of little played games are World of Warcraft, which I am on the verge of cancelling.  It isn’t that I don’t still have fun, but there is just not enough time for it anymore to do anything.  It’s basically came down to a waste of money each month.  Also, Facebook games.  As much as I enjoy the jump in and jump right back out

play style of the Facebook flash-based games.  They are so simple that it quickly becomes time consuming because you are suddenly playing 10-15 of them at once.  A quick glance at Facebook now turns into an hour tending your farm, replenishing your Sims needs, hunting for treasure on an island, etc.

So, PS3 good!  WoW and FB gaming – meh.

Watching Movies (and Television)!

Because I’m already in front of the television after playing a game, my movie viewing as increased.  Just check out my GetGlue check-ins!  Weeds, The Walking Dead, William Shatner‘s The Captains, Monster Squad, Law Abiding Citizen, Captain America, Hot Tub Time Machine, The Roast of Charlie Sheen, Ghostbusters!!!!  /GASP\  Yes, I’ve been getting my money’s worth out of the Apple TV, Netflix and a couple of Blu Ray discs.

Reading Books!

Kevin Mitnick!  Ghost in the Wires.  This is the story from the man himself – Kevin Mitnick, the world famous and infamous hacker.  Good book, a simple read but by God I was so tired of the words Social Engineering by the last page that I could have ripped the digital reader in half with my bare hands.

Also, finally finished George R. R. Martin‘s A Storm of Swords.  It lost me there in the middle, but the end picks up speed as you get rolling past a certain point.  Fantastic read, as usual.  Can’t wait to read the next book – but I’m taking a break from the Ice & Fire series for a bit, first.

Events & Stuff!

Halloween came and went with no bumps. Carved pumpkins, Trick ‘r Treated, handed out candy. It was a great time, over all, but I’ve had a cold ever since that night.  Stuffy, congested, runny nose, cough.  Fun times!

Thanksgiving is coming up, which also means Christmas is right around the corner. Can’t wait!  The wife is already wanting to put up our Christmas tree, but I’m holding strong – for now.  The evening of or the day after Thanksgiving is good enough for me.  Besides, as we all know, it’ll start out as a family affair, but in the end it’ll be me throwing up the decorations while Noah is in his room watching television and the wife is mad about something.  Ahhh, holiday traditions :)

And, I’ve been working over time at work.  Big surprise there, eh? They get an extra man on days and our work load doubles on nights.  Interesting how that works out.  I guess the 6 of them are just too covered up so the 2 of us on nights have to catch all that overflow.  Because we can handle it, darn it!

It’s not that I’m ungrateful, but I do have other things to do besides sleep a few hours then work 12-14 hours a day because they can’t get a fire lit on days.  I know, I know, paint me a cry baby and send me on my way :)

So that’s been my past couple of weeks.  I hope yours is cruising along nicely and that the remainder of the year treats you well.

 

It’s Alive!

I have this little thing you may have heard of. It’s a huge black electronic device that plays blu-ray movies.  Oh, it also plays games. It’s called a Playstation 3.

Once upon a time, the Playstation 3 in our home did more than play high definition blu-ray movies.  In fact, it even – are you ready for this? – was used as a video game console!  Albeit, we were a hardcore Xbox 360 family, so the few games the PS3 did play were mostly the downloadable content from the PSN Store.  Then, one day, the Xbox 360 broke a leg and we had to shoot it.  Well, technically it was a “red ring of death.”  Either way, it was the second time it had happened and I was highly peeved.

Alas, my joy of gaming died with the 360 – Microsoft doing what they do best and killing the dreams of millions with tainted hardware.  I hid my sorrow by burrowing deep into the World of Warcraft mmo, the family PC becoming my new best friend. The PS3 forgotten, except when it was needed to play the occasional rented dvd.

Then, out of the blue, something strange began to happen. Game developers started showing off amazing looking games again. This is the first year in a long time that I’m actually 100% interested in titles that are being announced, coming out this holiday or are already on the store shelves. And, of course, since I don’t have a 360 to play them on, guess what my default console gaming system is?

Oh, Sony, we use to be in love back in the PS2 days, and the past couple of weeks has seen our relationship spark to life once more.  I look forward to snuggling up with you on the coming winter weekends when I’m home and need comfort. Won’t you play Batman: Arkham City and Skyrim with me?  Say you will, please …