Greg Grondin

I'm a big fan of Yahzee's Zero Punctuation game reviews. They are no-holds-barred video reviews delivered with Yahzee's rapid-fire speech and with a great wit and humour about them. The video's themselves are mostly still images and narration with Yahzee and the games' characters shown in stick-figure-like representation. He generally tears even the best of games apart with very few games escaping his reviews unscathed.

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/zero-punctuation

I'd recommend skipping "Awards for 2008" and "Year in Review 2008" and watching the game related videos first.

It's been a busy season. Lots of events on the go even after the holidays and I still have plenty of decorations that need to be boxed up and tossed downstairs for another year. When I do get some free time, I've been taking a crack at some of the games that Chris and I have picked up over the last few weeks. I thougth I'd give my thoughts on some of them.

Rock Band 2 takes up a majority of my time and since most people have played one of the two Rock Band games there's not much to say that people don't already know. It's a fun game. I've been playing Guitar Hero games since Guitar Hero 2 first came out for the XBox 360 and I've been playing music rhythm games even before that. I still enjoy the game a lot. I can actually complete most songs on Hard and I can pull off some of the lower tiered songs on Expert. Battery still kicks my arse and I can't make it past the first part of Joker & The Thief (a DLC track I picked up). Boo.

I've been playing a lot of LittleBigPlanet too. I was really interested in trying this game out. It managed to surpass my expectations. The game is basically a platformer. You control an expressive little rag doll named Sackboy (or Sackgirl) that you can customize and dress up. He lives on a world made from dreams and imagination. Everything in the world looks like it was made form felt, cardboard, foam or similar materials. The level design is clever and very unique.

What's interesting about the game though is that there is a very deep level creation tool available. You can create your own levels using objects and materials that you find throughout the story mode (you start with the basics). Everything you create can then be shared with other players -- from an simple object you make to an entire level. I've spent several hours messing about with the tool and it made the story mode even more interesting because you quickly come to realize that everything in the game was made using the same tools available to you. You start to marvel at the complexity and cleverness of it all.

The first user-created level I played was created by a LittleBigPlanet website (apparently). The level featured a tank that they built. You could control the tank with a series of levers and through the level you could find different pieces and parts of the tank that you could use in your own creations. It was quite impressive and the tank itself was a pretty complex creation that showcased a lot of skill.

The second user-created level I tried was called Dino Land. It was brilliant, simple and a lot of fun. There was a lot of whimsy to the level that made it feel like something that came with the full game.

I also downloaded the LittleBigPlanet Metal Gear Solid add-on with levels (and new objects) based on the Metal Gear Solid series. It was a lot of fun and certainly worth trying out if you own the game.

So yeah, great game. Very creative and a lot of fun and I certainly expect to put lots of time into it. I created a UFO that exploded and crashed last week and now I'm creating some Wizard of Oz themed objects for fun.

Those are the two games I've spent the most time with, but I've also played some of the new Prince of Persia -- a beautiful game with a great story and sense of style. I've been pretty impressed by it so far and will definitly give it a good play-through. I've also been playing some Wii Fit. The balance board and the Wii Fit game are both a lot more impressive than I had thought. I really like the Yoga exercises, and a lot of the games that come with it are fun too. It's quite well done.

I ended up over East a few times over the last week despite my innitial reluctance to wander over that way. I managed to pick up more than a few things -- a couple of movies, some much needed clothes, winter shoes, an audio cable for the stereo and Wii Fit.

A wander into Future Shop with a Future Shop gift card had me picking up the latest Batman film and Wall-E on Blu Ray. I also picked up an audio cable for the stereo. I have to laugh at the fact that they charge $50+ for optical audio cable with their HDTVs and players, but if you wander over to the video game section, you can find cables for half the price. I'm not interested in "best of the best" Monster cables whose difference in audio quality I can barely detect -- particularly in a room not tailored to a perfect audio experience.

For clothes I first hit up Tip Tops. They had 50% off almost everything in store, and I managed to find some nice shirts and a pair of pants. I also found a nice pair of pants on sale at RW&Co -- a store that I never felt comfortable even browsing in when I was a larger size. I find a lot of their clothes to be too expensive. Nice, but expensive. I did managed to net a nice pair of pants on sale for $20. I also picked up a cardigan at Sears for $20. A bit more money spent than I had intended overall, but now I have some nice clothes.

I found a copy of Wii Fit at Toys R Us. Not like I needed more games but Chris and I had been thinking about picking it up for a while now. It's a lot more interesting than I would have ever expected and far more difficult too. I really enjoy the yoga. I just need to get my remote back from Erin and Jay so I can play with it some more.

So now I need to stay the fark away from malls and stores. I'm too much of a bargain hunter for my own good -- I can't pass up a good sale.

Update: Forgot -- I also picked up four CDs for $10 Each (AKON, Coheed & Cambria, Killers, Disturbed), the second Futurama movie for $10 and four all-season tires for $330 (buy one, get one 1/2 price).

We had some very strong winds last night. The winds blew parts of an old bedframe we had out back, tearing the back screen, breaking off an outside thermometer and pulling out a board from the fence. All minor stuff, but it *could* have gone through the window or the siding. Eep.

Bigby was very upset about the wind last night. You know when he's upset as he'll bunker down in his kennel. Chris and I just carried on as if nothing was wrong and that seemed to settle him.

Last day of work before I'm off on holiday is about to begin. Probably going to get some groceries picked up after work, and tonight is our office party which should be a lot of fun.

I still have some baking to do and I need to run some gifts out to different places over the next couple of days, but asside from that, there's not much on the list of things to do.

Christmas Eve still makes me a bit anxious. I'm hoping we get good weather on the 24th, 25th and 26th. It's calling for snow now though -- figures. I think we have a few "plan Bs" in mind if the weather keeps us from heading to Hali on the 24th.

I got some baking done today. I baked some gingerbread cookies and some shortbread cookies. My first batch of Gingerbread cookies involved a gross underestimation on my part -- the cookies swelled up far more while cooking than I had expected resulting in a pan of cookies that looked more like one giant sheet of gingerbread loaf. Oh well. The loaf is yummy. Maybe I'll make some sort of Christmas desert with it all.

Such as this:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/pumpkin-gingerbread-trifle-recipe/index.html

I also managed to wrap the remainder of my Christmas gifts, so that is taken care of too. I now just need to sort the gifts out so they get to where they need to be.

Also helped shovel my neighbors' driveways. Two driveways -- one shared, and one individual one -- for our three neighbours. I really only did one because I felt bad seeing our neighbour next door get a ton of snow plowed into his driveway after he had finished shoveling. But then when I finished his (which was shared between him and Lynn the house next down the row) I felt I should probably do the final neighbour in our little townhouse row a Christmas favor as well. Besides, the cookie sampling needed to be worked off.

I have my gingerbread house picked up so I plan on putting it together tonight. I'm not sure if I'm going to keep it at my house or take it to Mom and Dad's or Erin and Jay's. I might make it here, leave it here, then break it up and bring the bits to Emma after Friend Christmas.

Off from work tomorrow, but doing some running around (doctor's apts) then working at Weight Watchers tomorrow evening to fill in for someone. Extra money this time of year is always welcomed.

I took the bus home yesterday as I am still car-less. Unfortunately, I made the silly decision to read a comic on the bus. Within minutes I was feeling a bit queasy. If I get car sick, I tend to continue to feel yucky for a while -- sometimes hours. This was the case last night.

I had hoped to get all of Chris' gifts wrapped last night. I put in a valiant effort and got a majority of his things wrapped, but there came a point where I was just feeling too nauseous to continue. Happy with what I got done though.

I took a break and decided to finish off the evening with a quick round of Rock Band 2. My rock session was cut short by the ADT alarm panel beeping at me and flashing "FIRE". After a quick search of the house for possible flames, I realized that there was another message -- "LOW BAT". Turns out the smoke detector's batteries were running low. I tried to replace them, but after I detached the thing from the wall, the alarm panel started beeping furiously.

The batteries were those silly short little camera batteries and it needed exactly two more than I had in the house so I was not going to be able to fix the low battery problem. Reattaching the smoke detector did not stop the frantic beeping and the phone rang within moments. ADT is pretty prompt to follow up on any kind of fault with the system. They asked to make sure everything was fine, told me that they had a LOW BATTERY message and then put me through to tech support to help stop the beeping. There's still a LOW BAT message and I still have to replace the batteries. Hopefully this time when I try to remove the thing I won't get the frantic beeping and phone call. I probably will though.

I finished my Rock Band session, put the puppy to bed (he was already sleeping happily at my feet) and headed to bed still feeling a bit nauseous but at least happy that I got a few things accomplished.

Fables may be finding it's way to TV:

http://io9.com/5104224/exiled-fables-could-find-a-new-home-on-television

My Christmas shopping is pretty much done. I have a few little things to pick up and the usual stocking goodies. I'm quite pleased with some of the gifts I've picked up, and didn't do too bad for budget. I think everyone will be pleased. I hope so at least.

I'd like to start getting some of the gifts wrapped soon. Maybe this week. The big problem is that I don't have much room to put them once wrapped. I think I'll just set up a spot for them.

I'm probably going to take a half day on Dec 18th before heading off for Christmas vacation. I still have to work for Weigth Watchers now and then, but that's fine.

Picking up supplies for baking this weekend. I'm going to roll up my sleeves and do some serious baking this year. I'm planning on making some banana bread, pumpkin bread, shortbread cookies, gingerbread cookies and also putting together my usual gingerbread house!

I've been looking for a little Santa outfit for the dog but I've had no luck. If anyone finds a Santa outfit that would fit Bigby, let me know. I realize he will probably chew it off pretty quickly, but I'd love to have it.

I borrowed Dad's car over the weekend. This morning, all of the doors were completely frozen from the wet and rain the night before. After a bit of prying, I finally got one of the back doors open. Even after leaving the car to run for a bit, I still could not get the front door to thaw. I ended up climbing over the seat, after which I was able to get the front door open pretty easily.

Good thing too. Would have made the toll booth difficult if I had to climb over the seat and open the back door to toss the tokens in.

I'm a BIG fan of PVP. This past year has contained some of the best storylines that Scott Kurtz has ever written for the series.

Two of his main characters got married.
http://www.pvponline.com/2008/05/05/you-may-kiss-the-bride/

Skull had to leave because Brent had 'grown up'.
http://www.pvponline.com/2008/05/09/case-file-mcmlxxi-xxi/

Marcy got more "screen time" and both she and Francis matured.
http://www.pvponline.com/2008/05/23/falling-down/
http://www.pvponline.com/2008/05/28/ding/

Skull made some "guest appearences" in other comics.
http://www.pvponline.com/2008/06/24/introductions/
http://www.pvponline.com/2008/07/28/family-troll-part-one/

Scratch Fury went on a mission to rescue Skull.
http://www.pvponline.com/2008/09/05/thats-all-he-can-stands/

And more recently he addressed Max's relationship with Cole
http://www.pvponline.com/2008/11/19/excuses-excuses/

The last storyline was the recent I wrote this post. I always thought Max was a brilliantly written foil for Cole. Max was Cole's arch nemesis since he first appeared in the strip. He was the 'bad guy'. You originally figured him to be the kind of guy with all the cash and looks and the matching ego and bad attitude -- but after a while you notice the guy never does anything wrong. He always went out of his way to be nice to everyone every chance he had. He even purchased Cole's failing magazine company and kept it running until Cole was able to buy it back. His only flaw seemed to be that he was almost always "too nice".

The last storyline went on to reveal that there really never *was* anything wrong with Max -- he just always drew attention to what Cole felt were his own failings. The interesting thing is, I think we all know people like Max and we've all had times we're we've been Cole.

So the silly car is dead again -- this time it's the transmission which I'm pretty certain is under warrenty. It had better be. Regardless, I now have no vehicle until early next week.

There's a funny coincidence though. Yesterday I came home and found a letter from Mazda stating that they were paying top dollar for used Mazda 3s ("like your 2005" said the letter) and were offering their valued customers a half point reduced interest on purchases and leases as well as 90 days no interest, no payments so you would't have to worry about payments over the holidays.

We've been considering a hatchback -- we may get it sooner rather than later. Considering Mazda's year end clearence event is going on and I would have had to fork out $400 for new tires in the new year anyway this could work out well. Might even be worth looking at financing this time.

The car is making new noises when decelerating. It sounds like a truck's air brakes. Nice. I hope it's just a hose that needs replacing. Either way, it is an expense that I don't want this time of year. One of many.

Bah!

I miss LiveJournal. I miss posts that were relevant to what my friends were doing and I tire of sifting through the dozens of various quizzes just to find out how things are going in people's lives.

And now for an update on my life:

I'm still sick with a cold. I've had this cold for almost two weeks now. I've heard form others that two weeks is about the duration. It's not debilitating, just very tiring. There's just too much shit piling up at home for me to be out of commision for any length of time. Bigby misses his walks with me, the back yard needs to be cleaned up, laundry needs to be done... Hopefully I'll be feeling well soon. I certainly feel better, just not 100%.

As a strange side-effect of the cold and due entirely to taking two days of sick time, I have decided to grow a nicely trimmed beard. I havn't had a beard in a long, long time. The goatee was shaved off back when I rediscovered my jawline after loosing the weight, but I havn't had a full beard in a while.

Christmas shopping should be done this weekend. Hooray!

My knee is still not 100%, but better. I'll be happy to start walking on it and I hope to be running in time for the New Year's Resolution Run on January 1st. Fingers crossed. My insoles are in too. I should pick them up. I hate the though of forking out $350 for *insoles* this close to Christmas (or any time of the year, for that matter)

I saw Hancock over the weekend. It was a surprisingly good movie. It was really not what I was expecting.

My only complaint with the movie is that it all too quickly moves on from being about Hancock trying to gain public acceptance to a more generic action hero film. Still, it was quite entertaining and did some new and interesting things.

Final Fantasy XIII is now confirmed for the XBox 360.

http://blog.wired.com/games/2008/07/final-fantasy-1.html

Remember me whining about my tummy at Hockey? Looks like I have the flu -- which means Steve probably does too as he seemed to be having similar troubles.

It's not fun. I feel a bit barfy now and then, but mostly it's the severe cramping. I still want to eat though, but eating just seems to trigger another bout of severe cramping. I spent last night trying to sleep while at the same time feeling like I was burning up.

Sitting here at lunch with Bigby. Pets seem to know when you're not feeling well. He let me pet him for a bit earlier and now he's chewing on his pillow and being quite a clown.

Bigby has started to loose his baby teeth. He's lost at least one on the bottom front.

I got to see Hellboy II yesterday. It was both a great movie and a bit of a dissapointment. Part of me felt like it needed more -- as if pieces were missing. I think part of that has to do with the fact that the characters all seemed three dimentional that you couldn't help but want to know more about them. This is especially true for the main villain who came off as very human in his ideals.

Another 'problem' with the film is that it assumes you know a bit about the characters from the first movie which is fair, but honestly the first movie seemed to be so long in the past, and the second was a much better film. It would have been nice if it was more capable of standing on its own.

Finally, my one big complaint was that at one point of the film, Hellboy does something both out of character and in character. The feelings he's supposed to show in this scene make sense, but the fact that he had been portrayed as "shoot first, sort it out later" up to this point made the moment feel very forced.

Also, the movie looses points for a predictable ending :(

Bigby had a fun filled weekend. We took him back to the camp and he got to play with Abby - Beth's boxer. They got along really well and played all of the time. We actually had to seperate them at times because we knew they were playing themselves to exhaustion.

Bigby also swam some more -- a lot more than before. This time he ran right in an started paddling away so there's no more worries about him not liking water. He also paddled around Emma's kiddie pool on Friday.

I have photos and will post them soon.