HAPPY...

4 Years @ Gamespot!

04 September 2004 - 04 September 2008. It's been exactly 4 years since I decided to sign up for a universal Gamespot-GameFAQs account in order to save my account in the latter from being deleted. For almost a year since I had my GS account, I have not really used it until I decided to fully support the union system under and in front of the the banner of my beloved FFE. Well, after all that have happened here at GS... the bugs, glitches and controversies, like you guys who have decided to read through this blog, I can say that I am still very much enjoying my stay here like a noob trying to make new and more friends, and figuring out what else GS has to offer. 4 years of great Gamespot experience... and still counting.

3 Years as Leader of FFE!

10 September 2005 - 10 September 2008. I will never forget the day I was chosen successor by the founding leader of Final Fantasy Experience, mgatson, in leading Gamespot's leading RPG union... Well, it is not yet leading when I took over, but in my heart, it will always be the leading one. It is always a great honor to be the head servant of a great community, but being with FFE is something special. The union has gone through a lot... ups, downs, changes, losses, but until now it is alive and kicking.

Through the years we have managed to hit some remarkable accomplishments, among others:

1. Getting and keeping the Top 4 Union (by ranking) even before the union level and hits counter went defective.

2. Being the official union of Gamespot for the "Final Fantasy" series (of course, it will not be complete if our "Officially Endorsed" emblem is not hit by glitchspot for the nth time now.)

3. Taking over the "original" The Final Fantasy Union and transforming it into the now Gamespot's top and most active SE union, Square Enix Experience.

Oh, (I don't really need to mention it, but I have to 'coz it is about me being a union leader), I was also recognized an "Outstanding Union Leader" of the Unofficial Gamespot Union Awards.

Anyway, the above--and all other--accomplishments of FFE would not have been possible if not for our great community... our officers, members and contributors, past and present. Credit is given to whom it is due. Thank you.

2 Years of No Love Life!

-- ---------- 2006 - -- September 2008. Nah. Don't expect me to tell you "that" story 'coz it's not too good. Well, it is good... in the sense that it made me a better, stronger, more mature person when it comes to serious relationship with the opposite sex. [I also managed to keep my virginity intact. ]

Oh, I'm no longer depressed at all so don't worry about me... I have moved on since last year.

I'm single and very much available now.

1 Year Since I Took the Bar Exam!

02 September 2007 - 02 September 2008. Time slips so fast... Just last year I started my campaign to become a lawyer here in the Philippines... Taken the Philippine Bar Examination in the first four (4) Sundays of September 2007(there are 5 Sundays in September 2007) and now, I'm already a lawyer.

On September 9, the Philippine Bar Exam for this year will start already and I'll be there to cheer and support my ****ates and friends (first timers and re-takers alike). It's always great to reminisce great past experiences... and by going to the same place where my actual battle to become a lawyer took place a year ago... I know it'll be a delightful experience. Of course I'll be having a reunion with my co-new lawyers and ****ates I haven't met for more than a year now. i'm excited!

0 Gaming Life... No Way!

September 2008. I just got a condo unit near two of the most famous malls in the Philippines (SM Megamall and Shangri La Mall) in the heart of the very busy Ortigas Central Business District of Madaluyong City in Metro Manila, Philippines, in preparation for my impending new job. I am quite worried that due to this, I will finally have to stop my 2-decade old gaming life 'coz I am going to be very busy [Sheesh... Gaming and lawyering, how am I suppose to combine those two??). However, I'm a gamer by heart. I'm one since I was 5. I cannot just give up my passion just because my work would cause me to become very busy. So, for "0 Gaming Life"... NO WAY!

Right after Valkyrie Profile: Sylmeria, I'll try my hands on Romancing Saga: Minstrell Song, or will continue by files on Shadow Hearts 2: Covenant or Persona 3: FES. (But I guess it'll take much more time for me to finish a game now 'coz of business. )

3rd Year Officer @ FFFE ( UPDATE: 08 July 2008 )

It's been three (3) years since I was appointed officer at Final fantasy Experience. Well, I guess, I will always be FFE's biggest supporter.

Filipino-American Friendship Day

Here in the Philippines, July 4 is celebrated as Filipino-American Friendship Day.

Filipino-American Friendship Day, July 4, is a day in the Philippines designated by President Diosdado Macapagal to commemorate the liberation of the country by joint Filipino and American forces from the Japanese occupation at the end of World War II.

The Philippines was a U.S. territory from 1898 to 1942, when it was occupied by Japanese forces, and again for a brief period after the war. The country gained complete independence on July 4, 1946.

Initially, the nation's Independence Day holiday was held on July 4. Former President Diosdado Macapagal moved it to June 12, the date on which the Philippines declared independence from Spain in 1898. Filipino-American Friendship Day was created in its place, and coincides with the United States' July 4 Independence Day.

~Wikipedia

I'm not sure about the first paragraph. The reason I know (based on my History subjects) for celebrating it is stated in the second and third paragraphs. July 4, 1946 was the day when America finally gave the Philippine Governement total control over the country, but President Macapagal (father of our incumbent President), changed it to July 12 reasonnig that it is the Filipino-gained independence, while July 4 can be described as an American-given independence.

Anyway, enough of history. Happy friendship day to all my American friends here at Gamespot! (and also to my other friends).

GAMING LIFE

My gaming life has been quite slow the past several months. Not that I am not playing videogames at all, but the games I've been playing are too time consuming allowing me to only finish few of it in several months:

CivCity Rome (PC)
World in Conflict (PC)
Nobunaga's Ambition: Rise to Power (PS2)

CivCity Rome is a city-builder game joining the ranks of Sim City. Well, it is quite nice, though the outdated graphics has taken a lot of its appeal. It is the frist city-builder where you can zoom in and see the insides of the buildings, plus incorporating the technology tree of another addicting game, Civilization.

World in Conflict on the other hand is a real-time strategy game. It is quite a different from the RTS that I got used to (Command & Conquer, Age of Empires, Empire Earth, Warcraft, etc.) and I think, so far, it is the best one I have played (I still have to try Company of Herores). I haven't beaten it yet 'coz of the game below, but definitely, I am going to finish it.

Nobunaga's Ambition: Rise to Power is my first Nobunaga's Ambition game. I've been seeing this game since the NES and SNES days, but I'm quite young then so I did not have even just a bit of interest over games with lots of menus and submenus. This game is related to the Romance of the Three Kingdoms series, which I truly love. Both games are called "Historical Simulations" by its developer/publisher, Koei, with Rot3K covering China's three kingdoms period and NA covering the warring states period of Japan. The gameply is a combination of city/state building with all the military, commercial and diplomatic issues to take care of and strategy battles. While Rot3K features fully turn-based ary-to-army battles, Nobunaga's Ambition features RTS battles... Still, army-to-army, with the option to engage into a kessen. This game has eaten a lot of my time ( my entire June 2008 ) and I'm just half-way through unifying Japan. (UPDATE -July 31, 2008-: Beaten it last night. Whew! )

I rate those games: CivCity Rome - 5-6/10, World in Conflict - 8-10/10 and Nobunaga's Ambition - 4-5/10

WHAT LIES AHEAD...

I am planning to replay Suikoden V. The second best Suikoden for me due to its awesome story. I did not get all 108 Stars of Destiny in my first playthrough and being a big fan of the Suiko series, I cannot accept that I will have a game file that do not have complete characters! So, after Nobunaga's Ambition, it will follow.

I also planning to continue my Shadow Hearts: Covenant file. I hope I can do it after Suikoden V.

I feel that I will finally have a Playstation 3 in the enxt two months, so I'm quite excited with that idea.

Finally, I want to do something else aside from private law practice, so I am going to try my chance to look for a job at the Senate of the Philippines or Fil-Am Life Insurance Company.

Final Fantasy Experience, a.k.a. FFE (May 25, 2005 - May 25, 2008 - present). It's been three (3) full years since this trusty union first made a way for all enthusiasts, casual and hardcore, of Square Enix' Final Fantasy series here at Gamespot to meet, to discuss, to argue, to play, to be friends and do other things in a place truly dedicated to the series.

I would want to apologize for the lack big celebration for this another milestone of our community due to some uncontrollable circumstances (signal no. 4 storm, power interruptions and disrupted internet connection) on my part. Nevertheless, I would want to let everyone know that FFE will continue to serve our community to the best of our skills.

Thank you for all the people who made Final Fantasy Experience what it is today: our founding leader and officers, all who became part of the FFE Administrative Team, all our competitors, all our critics, and most especially to all our loyal members who sticked with us through thick and thin.

We are not perfect, but we are doing our best to serve this community with all responsibility and loyalty, so I ask for your continued support for all our good works and understanding for our shortcomings.

God bless us all, and long live Final Fantasy Experience, and the rest of the "Experience" unions!

Fantasy Gamer
Leader, Final Fantasy Experience (officially endorsed)
Founder, Square Enix Experience
Founder, Kingdom Hearts Experience

[On a side note, my team in my first SEE Team Battle was second to be eliminated (SymondeZyn said we're first. :S)... I guess the particapant-teams and mercs hate SEE officials. Anyway, I had a great time. Thanks to my teammates, nackopacko and johngebreadman, and to OdinUnlimited and Lady_Bahamut, for doing a great job in administering the 3rd SEE Team Battle.]