10 years ago At midnight last night after waiting 12 hours in line for my US launched Dreamcast (I picked up a Japanese one in 98 ) I stayed up all night and all day playing it.

Keep in mind that I already owned a Japanese system a year prior, but I loved it soo much that I had to get myself an American console as well, having already owned and beaten Sonic Adventure, House of the Dead, Power Stone and Blue Stinger's Japanese versions. 9.9.99 still holds a special place in my heart because it was the first time I got to play Soul Caliber, I rem when I brought home my US console and popped in Soul Caliber I was literally blown away again by the awesomeness of the Dreamcast. Even though I had Virtua Fighter 3 before it and numerous other awesome Dreamcast fighters, it was Sold Caliber that reallly raised the bar on 3D 128bit fighters. The game was absolutely breathtaking!

The Dreamcast represents my favorite period of time as a gamer, I remember back then I was actually excited about the games that were coming out. The games that were released on the Dreamcast were some of the funnest games I have ever played. Games like Resident Evil Code Veronica, Project Justice, Bangi-o, Sonic Adventure 1 and 2, Power Stone 1 and 2, Blue Stinger, Dead or Alive 2, Jet Grind Radio, Phantasy Star Online just to name a few. But the game that really blew me away and still remains my favorite game of all time was Shenmue.

Shenmue was the first game that I literally felt a true connection to the world, the story, and the characters. I felt like I was actually living in this world that Sega created, it was a feeling like no other and I remember the day I got the Japanese version of the game I literally played it all day, and while I couldn't understand the story, I was blown away by the cinematics, the world, and the entire way of playing the game. I remember it literally took me about a month to beat the game using trial and error to try and figure out what to do, not being able to understand any of it because it was in Japanese, but I didnt care because the game was just absolutely gorgeous and addicting. Once the game came out in the US I was finally able to understand the story, and take in the games amazing experience all over again. I have beaten Shenmue probably well over 20 times, and have loved every sec of each play through.

Today I'm celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Dreamcast, I'm officially calling this day Viva La Dream, I took off today from work so I could play nothing but good ole Dreamcast for 24hrs straight. I've been playing a healthy dose of Jet Grind Radio today, with a few rounds of Soul Caliber, Power Stone 2, and Street Figher Third Strike in the mix. And I plan on playing some Shenmue, Sonic Adventure, and Resident Evil Code Veronica later.

So are any of you celebrating the Dreamcast's anniversary today? Comment back if you have any memories or stories of your 9.9.99 experiance.

Spike3o0o

So as I mentioned in my last blog, I have been playing my PS3 as my main platform ever since last year when my 3rd 360 got the ring o death, while I did end up getting it replaced there just hasn't been a good game on the 360 all year. Finally this week I decided to pick up Shadow Complex on Xbox Live Arcade, and my god is it addicting!

Shadow Complex plays like an old school 2D side scroller shooter, it plays great homage to games like Metroid, Castlevania, and Contra. It mixes action, adventure, and exploration together perfecty. And while the story is pretty lame, the action never lets up and its easily one of the best Xbox Live Arcade games avalible. I just can't put the game down, going back looking through the areas you've explored for secrets as you unlock new upgrades and ways to get past previous unreachable areas is addicting as hell. I highly recommend checking this game out if you haven't already.

Also this week I picked up Batman Arkham Asylum on PS3, and wow is it brilliant. The game feels like a mixture of Splinter Cell, Metroid Prime, Bioshock and Zelda. It combines the perfect assortment of Action, Stealth, Survival Horror, and Platforming that help make it one of the best games of the year so far. This is def a GOTY contender for me, that could pos only be beaten by Uncharted 2. The challenge maps are incredibly addicting as well, thanks in part to the games fantastic combat. I'm only about half way through the single player so far, but man is it filled with tons of water cooler moments that you will be talking about for weeks with your friends. It's nice to finally have a game that does Batman justice. Also on a side note Joker is bad ass and plays totally different than Batman and is def a great reason to pick up the PS3 version if you have the option too.

Those are probably going to be the last games I get for the summer, as I have a growing back catalog of games I need to beat. Looking forward to Nov when Uncharted 2, Ratchet and Clank ACIT. and Modern Warfare 2 come out. Well that about does it for now gamespot.

Spike3o0o

Sup Gamespot, wow has it really been almost a year since I posted on here ! Man how time flys, honestly I have missed all of you guys and miss doing video blogs, reg blogs and just getting my thoughts out into the world of gamers and interacting with all of you.

Anyways a lot of things have happened to me since I've been on here last. For one thing I have been playing a ton of games, and if your wondering why you haven't seen me on 360 lately its because I have been doing most of my gaming on my PS3.

This is not to say that I don't play 360 anymore but most of my friends have a PS3, and I didn't feel like paying for Xbox Live (until recently got it turned back to a gold account about a month ago). Anyways I also moved from California, to NJ this summer and am living here full time now. Its a nice change of pace and I'm enjoying living close to NYC, and by the beach its pretty nice and relaxing in the town I'm staying in.

Here are the games I have bought and been playing this summer

Also bought some PSN, Wiiware, and Xbox Arcade games

PSN

Fat Princess

Battlefield 1943

Shatter

Bionic Commando

Marvel vs Capcom 2

Xbox Live Arcade

Shadow Complex

Duke Nukem 3D

Wiiware

World of Goo

Onslaught

The games I've been the most addicted to this summer are Battlefield 1943, Battlefield Bad Company and COD WAW (zombie nazis), I have spent an insane amount of hours online in these 3 games playing with friends and having a blast. If you have a PSN account and play any of these games add me and we'll play.

And that pretty much sums up in a nutshell about the what games I've been playing and such. So anyways hope to hear back from you guys, and I'll be sure to look at your contributions and post on your guys blogs now that I'm back on gamespot. It feels great to be back!

Spike3o0o