Between the furrin hax0rs, mad scientists, and Blu Ray Viewers… is anyone actually buying the 3rd place PS3 actually sell for, you know, gaming?

Why do you suck so much?  I really want to like you.  That’s right… even after last season, I still really want to like you.  So why oh why did you decide to completely suck again?  It makes me sad like panda.

I was willing and eager to suspend my disbelief for you, my good friend 24.  But a small African nation infiltrating agents at every level of the US government?  Just to help them in some crappy civil war?

I give up.

Today I won a contest on the Freakonomics blog on the NY Times.  The question posed to readers was “what do Economists and garbage have in common?” and my answer “Ignoring either will inevitably lead to a very messy situation” won for sucking up!

Woo!

Was talking about artificial intelligence the other day… how would you know if a computer became self aware?  Well one way would be to simply ask it!  So I asked Google how it was feeling.  Turns out that the Google Search Engine is not self aware, or else it is shy.  Now you know.

After my previous post, I realized that I could actually try some of the games out since they have demos available on the PSN.   I tried MSG4 and Civ Revolutions.  I also discovered that they have movie rentals there, so I watched Hancock.

Hancock was unexpectedly great!  I was expecting more of a fluffier action movie, but it was very enjoyable.  The plot twist was completely unexpected and also I found the backstory delightful.  Even my darling wife watched it, and she usually hates everything.

Then I tried the MSG4 demo.  Meh.  I demand more from games these days than just shooting things, got bored pretty quickly (though the sneaking was kinda cool).  Fallout 3 and Oblivion have ruined me for FPS games I think.

Finally I played CivRev.  I found it completely fantastic!  In fact it may be my favourite entry in the Civ franchise to date… well, at least better than Civ4.  They removed a lot of the micromanagement and complexity but the basics are still there.  So the next morning I went out to the store and bought the full version!

My only complaint is that there is no option for longer games.  Anyhow on my first try I rocked on Warlord setting as India, won with a domination victory (and would have achieved cultural victory in the same turn).  Enough chatter, now I’m going to go play again on the next setting where I expect to be spanked.  [Update]  Beat it on King difficulty setting as well on my first try, heh.  They must really expect console players to be stupid!

This is a new years celebration I can totally get behind

We should totally do this next year!

I need some new video games.  I am so far considering the following but am willing to consider more options.  Any input on these games or anything I missed would be appreciated!

PS3:

• BioShock
• Assassin’s Creed
• Resistance 2
• Saint’s Row 2
• Civilization Revolution
• Orange Box
• Mirror’s Edge
• MGS4
• Far Cry 2

Wii:

• Williams Pinball
• Shaun White Snowboarding
• No More Heroes