Atmospheric Black metal has certainly caught my attention over the past year or two. People will think I am insane to listen to this music- but I love it. I'm just your average person- I never do anything extreme to 'show my individuality'. Not that I have a problem with those that do. I never have to prove myself to anyone and I've developed that attitude since high school. Anyways.
Great band and a great track. Hermóðr.
April 25, 2014
April 23, 2014
Inquisition: Ominous Doctrines of the Perpetual Mystical Macrocosm
It's no secret to me, anyways that I've become a fan of black metal. Not all of it sits well with me though. When I say that, I am talking about the continuity and melodic department. For example, bands like Behemoth are inconsistent and just don't sound right to me. Different strokes for different folks I suppose. So what the fuck? from the album cover this band looks... creepy.
Surprisingly, once you get passed the frogman vocals, this band is actually really good. It makes excellent monster slaying music, and definitely adds a new breath of fresh air (fresh?) to my music lineup. I've also gotten into bands recently such as Nasheim and Gallowbraid, both Black Metal artists.
Oh if my mother found out I listened to black metal. It would flip her proverbial whig. Ahh oh well. I'm a fan of most genres of metal.
Great album by the way.
Last Straw with Itunes
Itunes is beginning to piss me off to no end. They keep changing everything, even when I don't authorize it. I can't find the playlist and main menu; they took it away. I've had enough of their bullshit and I am going to try and find an alternative. Fuck Apple.
April 21, 2014
Haven't Cared About 'Console Wars' Since Gen 4: Xbone Better Drop the Kinect or Tap Out of the Ring
In life there are people that think they are better than you because they show loyalty to a person or product. Sometimes, people have anger issues with seemingly 'innocent' things. Woe to the person who crosses the fan boy with an anger issue. They are all too common on Xbone Live, I hear.
I don't own a PS4 and I don't plan on buying one for another year or two. I like to get into new systems when they mature. I am a retro kind of guy. Now that the last gen is... last gen, I've been looking at expanding my Wii collection, my PS3 collection especially, and I am considering investing in an Xbox 360 if there are exclusives worth playing on the system.
I have had the chance to play both the PS4 and the Xbone. Completely barring the NSA and Kinect camera spying from the picture- I felt both were good systems that have a lot of potential. When it came to UI- PS4 seemed a little different to me, while the Xbone had a Windows OS- something more familiar. With that said, I prefer the PS4 UI.
I don't care about console wars anymore. I haven't cared since generation 4. I can't find Playstation 4 in stores, but I see plenty of Xbones. I am sure you can find either system online, though. What I do care about are good games. I may be on the majority a PC and Retro gamer now, but I still enjoy picking up a controller and playing good games.
I prefer value in my games rather than shelling out $60 for 30 hours of content. What, are they up to $70 for games now? sheesh. I don't know. When I buy a title I seek value. Skyrim. Borderlands 2. Goat Simulator (deviant example). Bioshock Infinite ($10) and games like GRID ($4) or Ace Combat Assault Horizon ($7). Steam.... is impossible to leave.
I've pumped over 400 hours into Skyrim before I finished everything I wanted to. Borderlands 2 had netted me around 170 hours. In college, I dumped 400-500 hours into Borderlands easily. I'm still not done with the sequel and I have found value in both the original game and the DLC. Gearbox Software does DLC right, unlike some companies I know who force you to pay for "disk locked content". I don't buy games to have the chance to buy something on the fucking disk, thanks.
There might be a couple of exclusives that Rhombus has in store for us. In the future I might look at getting one. As for the spy box, I am too pissed at Microsoft for wanting to bring a water cooler and a seal team dog to my living room, along with big brother. I've already got a water cooler in my fridge and I have no use for a german shepard. Too many vet bills. Can't deal with the heartache. No cats or dogs for me.
If Xbone wants to survive, and I say this from the neutral sidelines (I don't have a WII U, PS4 or XBONE) the puppet masters better ditch that $100 kinect device fast. Then, and MAYBE then I would recommend the console to people, until I just realized that Microsoft can throw a switch on and fuck with gamers again, by either requiring constant connection DRM schemes or stopping physical media from working. Bad move on the second part, and I know Sony is capable of doing it- but Microsoft is more likely to go through with it. Sony is in a position (and they investigated the idea of additional DRM) to cater to a bunch of pissed off gamers- and that is exactly what they are doing. Value, support and good games.
I don't own a PS4 and I don't plan on buying one for another year or two. I like to get into new systems when they mature. I am a retro kind of guy. Now that the last gen is... last gen, I've been looking at expanding my Wii collection, my PS3 collection especially, and I am considering investing in an Xbox 360 if there are exclusives worth playing on the system.
I have had the chance to play both the PS4 and the Xbone. Completely barring the NSA and Kinect camera spying from the picture- I felt both were good systems that have a lot of potential. When it came to UI- PS4 seemed a little different to me, while the Xbone had a Windows OS- something more familiar. With that said, I prefer the PS4 UI.
I don't care about console wars anymore. I haven't cared since generation 4. I can't find Playstation 4 in stores, but I see plenty of Xbones. I am sure you can find either system online, though. What I do care about are good games. I may be on the majority a PC and Retro gamer now, but I still enjoy picking up a controller and playing good games.
I prefer value in my games rather than shelling out $60 for 30 hours of content. What, are they up to $70 for games now? sheesh. I don't know. When I buy a title I seek value. Skyrim. Borderlands 2. Goat Simulator (deviant example). Bioshock Infinite ($10) and games like GRID ($4) or Ace Combat Assault Horizon ($7). Steam.... is impossible to leave.
I've pumped over 400 hours into Skyrim before I finished everything I wanted to. Borderlands 2 had netted me around 170 hours. In college, I dumped 400-500 hours into Borderlands easily. I'm still not done with the sequel and I have found value in both the original game and the DLC. Gearbox Software does DLC right, unlike some companies I know who force you to pay for "disk locked content". I don't buy games to have the chance to buy something on the fucking disk, thanks.
There might be a couple of exclusives that Rhombus has in store for us. In the future I might look at getting one. As for the spy box, I am too pissed at Microsoft for wanting to bring a water cooler and a seal team dog to my living room, along with big brother. I've already got a water cooler in my fridge and I have no use for a german shepard. Too many vet bills. Can't deal with the heartache. No cats or dogs for me.
If Xbone wants to survive, and I say this from the neutral sidelines (I don't have a WII U, PS4 or XBONE) the puppet masters better ditch that $100 kinect device fast. Then, and MAYBE then I would recommend the console to people, until I just realized that Microsoft can throw a switch on and fuck with gamers again, by either requiring constant connection DRM schemes or stopping physical media from working. Bad move on the second part, and I know Sony is capable of doing it- but Microsoft is more likely to go through with it. Sony is in a position (and they investigated the idea of additional DRM) to cater to a bunch of pissed off gamers- and that is exactly what they are doing. Value, support and good games.
April 17, 2014
Diablo 3 Crashing Randomly
Well- I am getting random crashing with Diablo III. I will ask our resident IT guy to look at the situation, but he is going to swear up and down that it is Blizzard's problem- and not the networks. I thought I was getting random disconnects because he was playing League of Legends at the same time. It's almost 1 in the morning and his machine is shut off. I am still getting random disconnects.
Diablo III should have been a single player experience- not an online DRM one.
Diablo III should have been a single player experience- not an online DRM one.
April 10, 2014
Haggling Retro Games
So later today I am going to go down to 8 bit and see if they want to buy some of my retro games. They deal in this stuff, and I want to help them out- so I will do a direct trade for credit towards other titles in the store.
There are a couple of things you need to know when selling or trading your retro games.
1) Do they work
2) Value of the lot
3) What you want for them
Do they work?
Don't sell a good retro store games you know don't work. They will check the carts and discs anyway- but be ethical (and adult) about it and sell them legit product.
Value of the lot
Know the value of the lot. Pricecharting.com helps with this.
What you want for the games
Be realistic. A store is in business to make money, not give you full price for games and make a 10% markup. Let them offer a price first, then go from there. I like to offer them about 60%-65% of what the games are worth, and if I am lucky get 70% value in trade in credit. As a retro gamer I am not looking to cash in. I am looking for more games- and in the long run, trade in credit hurts a company less than giving out straight cash. Know when to keep your stuff, too. If they low ball you way too far, you don't have to sell. I plan on starting strong in taking 70% value of the games, given discounts due to condition- and haggle from there.
What are you selling today?
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 (PS3) (CIB)
Donkey Kong Country (SNES)
PGA Tour Golf III (GEN)
F22 Interceptor (GEN)
Sonic 2 (GEN)
Jungle Strike (SNES)
NBA JAM (SNES)
Zelda: A Link to the Past (SNES)
A business has to take a risk on product. They may not even take the whole lot, to which I am open and flexible. If I were a business into quality retro games, I would probably not buy PGA Tour Golf or F22 Interceptor. Everything else is fair game. Donkey Kong and Zelda WILL fly. They will offer me money for those. I am interested in getting a fair price for my games, but at the same time helping the store out. After all, the goal here is to expand my retro collection and sell my duplicates, not make a quick buck. Know your minimum thresh hold and stick to it.
There are a couple of things you need to know when selling or trading your retro games.
1) Do they work
2) Value of the lot
3) What you want for them
Do they work?
Don't sell a good retro store games you know don't work. They will check the carts and discs anyway- but be ethical (and adult) about it and sell them legit product.
Value of the lot
Know the value of the lot. Pricecharting.com helps with this.
What you want for the games
Be realistic. A store is in business to make money, not give you full price for games and make a 10% markup. Let them offer a price first, then go from there. I like to offer them about 60%-65% of what the games are worth, and if I am lucky get 70% value in trade in credit. As a retro gamer I am not looking to cash in. I am looking for more games- and in the long run, trade in credit hurts a company less than giving out straight cash. Know when to keep your stuff, too. If they low ball you way too far, you don't have to sell. I plan on starting strong in taking 70% value of the games, given discounts due to condition- and haggle from there.
What are you selling today?
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 (PS3) (CIB)
Donkey Kong Country (SNES)
PGA Tour Golf III (GEN)
F22 Interceptor (GEN)
Sonic 2 (GEN)
Jungle Strike (SNES)
NBA JAM (SNES)
Zelda: A Link to the Past (SNES)
A business has to take a risk on product. They may not even take the whole lot, to which I am open and flexible. If I were a business into quality retro games, I would probably not buy PGA Tour Golf or F22 Interceptor. Everything else is fair game. Donkey Kong and Zelda WILL fly. They will offer me money for those. I am interested in getting a fair price for my games, but at the same time helping the store out. After all, the goal here is to expand my retro collection and sell my duplicates, not make a quick buck. Know your minimum thresh hold and stick to it.
April 9, 2014
Sriracha + tomato soup = awesome
Want a quick meal idea? I was just eating tomato soup and had the idea to squeeze a little sriracha into it. Perhaps 3/4 tablespoon. Oh my god is it delicious.
April 8, 2014
April 4, 2014
Gas Stop Chickens
Only in Pennsylvania can you stop for gas- and someone's chickens are roaming around the town.
April 3, 2014
8-Bit Games in Shillington, PA
2017 Update: The store no longer exists. It was replaced by a shoe shine shop (source: friend)
It's quite a bit of a drive, but I heard about a retro video game store from a friend in this area. Having nothing to do today I ventured a few hours out here to find a mecca of retro memories, Super Mario World running on a demo station, old and obscure boxes of retro consoles, memorabilia, nice staff and fair prices. I scored some stuff today, including:
Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy (PS2)
God of War Collection (PS3)
Tak and the Power of Juju (PS2)
Nuclear Strike (PS1)
Crash Bandicoot (Black Label) (PS1)
Choplifter III (SNES)
I paid roughly 10% above market value on the goods. The prices were extremely fair (come on, they gotta be in business to make money) and importantly- they take Visa. If you are in the Reading, PA area stop on Lancaster Avenue (parking can be a bit ehhh... park behind back) and give these guys a try. Walk in the door and there is so much to look at. I took a stroll in there, then had to stop and focus on what they had on the shelves.
A managerie of great games, some rare- some common- at fair prices. A couple of boxed stuff too if you collect that.
PS: They don't sticker up their games like Gamestop. That alone is reason to shop there. Trades and Sales welcome. Just remember... they are in business to make money. Don't expect Ebay offers. They have to put risk into stuff they take in. The discs I had were immaculate to B+ condition. I'm not being endorsed by the store- but am providing my first impressions upon walking in- and giving them a shout out.
It's quite a bit of a drive, but I heard about a retro video game store from a friend in this area. Having nothing to do today I ventured a few hours out here to find a mecca of retro memories, Super Mario World running on a demo station, old and obscure boxes of retro consoles, memorabilia, nice staff and fair prices. I scored some stuff today, including:
Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy (PS2)
God of War Collection (PS3)
Tak and the Power of Juju (PS2)
Nuclear Strike (PS1)
Crash Bandicoot (Black Label) (PS1)
Choplifter III (SNES)
I paid roughly 10% above market value on the goods. The prices were extremely fair (come on, they gotta be in business to make money) and importantly- they take Visa. If you are in the Reading, PA area stop on Lancaster Avenue (parking can be a bit ehhh... park behind back) and give these guys a try. Walk in the door and there is so much to look at. I took a stroll in there, then had to stop and focus on what they had on the shelves.
A managerie of great games, some rare- some common- at fair prices. A couple of boxed stuff too if you collect that.
PS: They don't sticker up their games like Gamestop. That alone is reason to shop there. Trades and Sales welcome. Just remember... they are in business to make money. Don't expect Ebay offers. They have to put risk into stuff they take in. The discs I had were immaculate to B+ condition. I'm not being endorsed by the store- but am providing my first impressions upon walking in- and giving them a shout out.
April 2, 2014
Diablo 3 - Monk - Master Difficulty
The official Diablo 3 forums aren't much help. The biggest problem is that the information is outdated by a year or more. Second- people constantly call each other names and attack each other instead of helping. Third- when most reply to a topic, they don't answer the question or contribute.
I'll write a few articles about what I know and how I am progressing. I am having little trouble in MASTER difficulty with:
300k Damage
4,700,000 Toughness
20,000 Healing
I always wish my healing was a bit higher, but I survive. I tried Torment 1 and got my ass handed to me- so back to Master I go. I have found that Dexterity, combined with crit dmg and crit chance increases have dramatically increased my overall DPS. If you have questions let me know.
I'll write a few articles about what I know and how I am progressing. I am having little trouble in MASTER difficulty with:
300k Damage
4,700,000 Toughness
20,000 Healing
I always wish my healing was a bit higher, but I survive. I tried Torment 1 and got my ass handed to me- so back to Master I go. I have found that Dexterity, combined with crit dmg and crit chance increases have dramatically increased my overall DPS. If you have questions let me know.
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