Sorry for the title, couldn't think of anything better. So much to write/type about this time around. Anyways, I am now actually less hyped about PC gaming. Why you ask? It mainly has to do with...

Now, before drifting off into why I'm lessed hype, I've come this far with upgrading my comp...

• From 32MB of intergrated video memory to 256MB (Geforce FX5200)
• From 128MB of RAM to 1024MB
• A 2.2Ghz processor to 2.8Ghz.

That is the gist of what all went down in my old little Dell. I originally planned to get atleast a 3.0Ghz processor, BUT I found out that the type of Dell I have isn't compatible with Prescott Pentium 4's. My Dell initially had and conslusively has a Northwood Pentium 4. The 3.0Ghz Northwood that's available is extremely rare, and the price is outrageous. So I decided to go with a $70, 2.8ghz Northwood P4. I'm dissapointed, but hey, $200+ for a 3.0 P4 is blasphemy!!

For the most part I am satisfied with the performance of my comp. It will do fine for filling in the gap while saving up for a PS3 and Wii. Honestly, that is the main reason why I upgraded my comp. You see, I like to wait before I buy consoles, and having a decent comp in my possession allows me to make a well thought out decision.

As of now the only thing that can make me break that is the next Zelda, I'm a major fan and my god I will buy all of Nintendo's crappy systems as long as they deliver amazing Zelda games, seriously.

Ok...not all of Nintendo systems are crap, but Nintendo hasn't been living up to their name for the last 10 yrs. The DS may sell like hotcakes but there is NOTHING ground breaking in it's game library, no matter what fans say. Now there are excellent games and some great games, but there is a difference between greatness and excellence compared to something that is ground-breaking.

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Now about Half-Life 2.. In my last blog I hyped up the game..alot. Now I want to take back nearly all of my words. NOW, the game is excellent, and I believe Gamespot hit the nail with the 9.2 rating, but all the 9.6+ scores and the 9.6 press avg I believe, are not deserved.

The creator of HL2 brags of excellent A.I. while in reality your enemies aren't too bright at all.. Enemies too oftenly sit unaware ready to get nailed. I agree with Gamespot in stating that HL2's A.I. is one of it's bad points. The game is also too easy... If you're a gamer who has played shooters before, do yourself a favor and play through HL2 on hard mode.

Now, what mainly led me to over-hyping HL2 so much, was the excellent demo. The demo allowed you the play through Ravenholm, which is what I think is the best chapter in HL2. Hell it's so good, IT MADE ME BUY THE GAME! Now I kind of want to kick myself in the ass.

What keeps me from kicking myself too hard...is Counter Strike Source. Now HL2 is a great game on it's own, but it also comes with Counter Strike Source. Now.. Source isn't the best game, but with it being thrown in with HL2, it's DAMN good.

Heres what it looks like on my comp...

 Now CS:S isn't the best looking game. But it certainly doesn't look bad. Also the physics engine it uses (CSS and HL2 have the same physics engines) lends itself well to the already great gameplay. Combined with nearly 1 million players online each day and CS:S is basically a hit.

Though I have down talked it, here are a few more HL2 shots.

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Now as most of you should know.. the PS3 will be releasing in the US and Japan in 10 days. I'm not hyped enough to where I'll camp out for 30 days straight just to get my hands on one. But I truly believe the PS3 is the REAL next gen. Now the 360 by any means isn't a bad system... But I am really not impressed by it. I've spent hours apon hours playing various games... and nothing exclusive screams "NEXT GEN" exept Gears of War. Nothing besides Gears of War excites me when it comes to the 360. While when it comes to PS3, quite a few games excite me including:

• F.E.A.R.
• Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
• Heavy Rain (working title)
• Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas
• Virtua Fighter 5
• Ninja Gaiden Sigma
• Grand Theft Auto IV
• Resident Evil 5
• Unreal Tournament 2007
• Devil May Cry 4
• Stranglehold
• The Darkness
• Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
• Warhawk
• Heavenly Sword
• Assassin's Creed
• Final Fantasy XIII

Now alot of those games are easily not PS3 exclusives. But games like FEAR, Oblivion and Call of Duty 3 are the ones where I already know the PS3 will out-preform my comp. Also, with the lack of JPN titles, I think it's wiser for me to get a PS3 over a 360 for the posted multi-platform games.

That said, I hope the PS3 and Wii make quite a presonse in the coming years. Now I don't expect the Wii to do too well, but as long as it has an amazing Zelda game, I really don't care. Infact I've been using Nintendo systems has my secondary systems. Nintendo does indeed lack 3rd party support, but it's first party titles literally force me to buy their consles. They are usually just that damn good...

*Rant concluded*

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Now some of you who have been reading my blog, may remember me saying that I'll be going without FFXII. Turns out... I got the game on launch day. Why you ask? Well...

One day I decided to screw with my comp..Well it's one of the many days..ANYWAYS...

In the process of screwing with it, I learned how to exchange a processor. Thing is, my old 2.2Ghz P4 was so securely put it, that removing it was a pain in the ass. I'd done so, and didn't suspect in damage to take place. Little did I know, I bent 2 of the tiny pins on my processor. Now on a socket 478 Pentium 4, there was 478 tiny little pins that connect it to the motherboard. If even one of those is bent out of place, say good bye to you're expensive little processor..unless you can somehow fix it by the grace of god.

My girlfriend was kind enough to get me a replacement. A 2.8Ghz P4. I've been trying to pay her back, but she insist and argues with me that I shouldn't pay her back. Looks like I'll have to repay her outside of money.

Well with that... I had enough to purchase Final Fantasy XII. And well I must say the game hasn't blown me away, and I am not amazed. But I just can't seem to put it down. I'm 27 hours into it, and I'm probaly going to be 30+ into at before the night is over. I recommend FFXII to FF haters and lovers alike.

OH! And tonight I finally beat that damn Dinosaur in the Dalmascan Estersand. That scaly chastard is first encountered by all beginning FFXII players. It is 99.9% impossible to beat it the first time you see it. I came back to it at LV20 and beat the brakes of it's scaly arse. I did a 7-hit mist quickening that ended with Catyclasm (looked like a Flare/Ultima mix). The combo managed to do over 9000 dmg. Not bad for all the MP it took up, and considering that no one in my party is past LV20.  

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Lastly, if it wasn't already obvious I am taking a break from upgrading my comp. On the power side, I am done. I'll get a DVD-R/CD-R combo drive, and a keyboard when I feel like it. As for next month, I plan on buying Okami and getting my persistent girlfriend something special for the holidays.

Well, thanks to those of you who took the time to read my massive blog. Happy pre-Wii launch (and PS3) to you all!

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