Clear Ring of Death

I really don't know what to say as I write this. My 360 has betrayed me. Look at what it did to my beloved Fallout 3 GOTY disc!

Earlier today, my foot caught the memory card hanging over the ledge of the entertainment center as I was moving, which caused the console to make a terrifying clattering noise as it was jolted around, but I immediately took the disk out and inspected it for problems and there weren't any scratches like this. I continued to play, but about 3 AM this morning the dreaded "Disc Read Error" message popped up. I pulled it out, fearing the worst, and absolutely wanted to murder myself when I saw those ring-shaped death-scratches.

I don't think my xbox is still under warranty, and I don't know what to do. I don't know how to fix the disc, I don't know how to fix the system, I don't have the money to get a new one, and I don't trust this thing anymore to put any more of my game discs into it to test it out. So that means no BioShock, no Assassin's Creed, not even any Mass Effect, which I haven't had a chance to play yet. I'm now limited to my downloaded games, which leaves Fable as the only "full retail game" I can play on it.

FUCK!

The Feature Creep Network

You may have noticed the new navigation up at the top. Welcome to the Feature Creep Network. the FCN is a new online media network feature 53Games and other sites for movie and game reviews, Let's Plays, and general updates. Be sure to check out our latest series, Talking Pictures for our review of Avatar.

Take THAT Alexey Pajitnov!

It's-a Me!

Legalese

Mark today. Thursday April 9, 2009, 10:49 AM Pacific Standard Time.

In regards to the upcoming Wii Game "Dead Space: Extraction" I am officially coining the phrase "House of the Dead Space"

That is all. Thank you for your time.

New Games!

This just goes to show you; it pays to make friends with people in other countries. Today I received a package from someone in Canada who was getting rid of his games. He didn't want to sell them, just wanted someone else to be able to enjoy them. So for the piddly sum of $10.50, I was able to ship this



Brigandine is the rarest of the bunch, which can sell for as much as $120 on eBay used, and this thing has all of the documentation and booklets still in the case.

But I didn't get these games to turn right around and sell them. In fact, I think that's the LAST thing the original owner wants me to do. I want to actually play them first.

Site update

I tried recording a video of this. Three times. But every time, the footage was unusable. It reflects poorly on me a filmmaker and it's not up to my standards.

Anyway, 3 games are off my list, and they're being replaced by 3 others.

Hotel Dusk: Room 215 is gone. I last played it about 6 months ago, and honestly, I can't remember a damn thing about the story. All I can remember is it went ON and ON without ever getting anywhere.
In its place, I will be playing Bioshock.
Yeah, tough decision there.

Ultimate Spider-Man is also gone. I already beat it before I even started 53games, And getting 100% is the next step. But that means finding all the tokens, stopping all the crime, and beating all the races at the fastest time, which is FUCKING IMPOSSIBLE. So in its place is another game where you run around on rooftops, climb buildings, and help civilians: Assassin's Creed.

Finally, Doom 3 wasn't even mine. It belonged to a friend who sold it to me when he needed money, then I sold it back to him later. So to replace that, I have another game. A game with zombies, a number in the title, and is a PC FPS: Left 4 Dead.

Also, if you look to the side, you will see a video for my new ustream account, where I will be playing my games live for the select few who actually feel like viewing it.

I am not alone

Apparently backlog syndrome is not a practice reserved for myself. Many other gamers come across the same problem, so much so that Tom Endo of The Escapist has written an article on the matter analyzing the current state of the gaming industry. What do you think? Do games these days defy you to finish them as part of a flaw in their own design? Let me know.

To Do: Finish Any Game

Still Alive...and Dead

You're probably wondering why I haven't posted anything in the last month. Have I not been playing any games? There is one game I've been playing for about 6 hours a day every day: Webcardz. But this doesn't really count because it's actually my job. For the last 2 and a half months, I've been doing QC Testing for SnapTV Games. While I do enjoy the money it provides, it's been wreaking havoc on the time I have for games.


Even though it's not on my list, you can expect a video review once I beat it.

xkcd rips off 53games!

A person with humorous observations on life?
A stack of games being played one after another?
depriving oneself of a new game until they're finished?
It's like looking into a mirror!
(53games does not condone absurd claims of theft that are baseless. 53games does condone the castration of people who don't understand sarcasm when they read it. Check out www.xkcd.com)

Nobody cares

Nobody really cares, but I haven't been playing Hunters much lately. I've been addicted to Tetris DS online play since I got my wi-fi working. I've got a solid 5800 score right now, still trying to break 6000.

If you want to play against me, my number is 700-964-917-235

Death in the Family

Today we mourn the loss of one of the greats. My beloved laptop, Wyvern, is dead. It suffered a head crash during a fight with Ghadie Rashal, the boss of Arabia in the emulated NES game 8 Eyes. It went blue screen almost instantly; it did not suffer. The hard drive could not be saved. I lost everything since the last backup. He is survived by his big brother, Tiamat.

I will finish Final Fantasy IV soon. I just need a few days to grieve.

A special announcement

That is all.

Fifty-Three Games

Over the years, I have developed a large backlog of games that I own, but for one reason or another, have never beaten. Some of these are games that I started playing and got bored with, or simply lost interest.
However, I have always been taught to waste not/want not. So until I beat these 53 games, I will not purchase another system. It is helpful that there is nothing spectacular planned for release over the next few months, but I need a project to keep me motivated. So that is where you, the reader, come in. I will post videos and progress reports as I play, and I want my readers to keep me motivated. Many of these games are considered masterpieces and must-plays among the gaming community, whereas a few others are just cool games I've been wanting to play.

Is this a pipe dream? Maybe. Honestly, who the hell cares about what some random guy from Southern California wants to do with his time? But I'll try to keep this project going.

Here are the games, separated by system, in no particular order:

Super Nintendo Entertainment System:

• Chrono Trigger - Regarded by many as the best RPG for the SNES, and possibly the best RPG ever. (COMPLETED ON APR 20, 2009)
  
• Final Fantasy VI - Ditto.
• Breath of Fire - I like dragons. (COMPLETED ON SEPT 17, 2010)
  
• Breath of Fire II - Ditto.

Nintendo 64:

• Paper Mario - This spiritual successor to Mario RPG is loved by many for its anarchic sense of humor (COMPLETED ON DEC, 15, 2008)
• Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask - Transformation and time travel. What's not to love? (COMPLETED ON MAR 9, 2010)
  

Nintendo Gamecube:

• Pikmin 2 - Even better than the first simply because they got rid of the running timer.
  
• Viewtiful Joe - Renowned for its fluid action gameplay and intriguing art style.
• Ultimate Spider-Man - I'm a big fan of Spider-Man, and this was one of the better versions that actually let you play as him in a free-roaming environment. (removed)
  
• Super Mario Sunshine - The true sequel to Super Mario 64, though criticized for its considerably higher level of challenge.
• Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker - Zelda on the Gamecube. Need I say more?
• Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem - Loved for its fourth-wall-breaking and mind-bending presentation. (COMPLETED ON JAN 21, 2011)
• Metroid Prime - Samus's first foray into first person was a thing of beauty.
• Metroid Prime II: Echoes - Sequel to the first. As a Metroid fan, it's a must-play.
• Tales of Symphonia - The only Gamecube RPG on my list. I like Tales of Phantasia for the Super Famicom, And the gameplay style is refreshingly different from other turn-based RPGs.

PC:

• Doom III - People seem to like it (removed)
  
• Diablo II - I loved the original when I owned it for the playstation, but I still have never gotten past that bastard Duriel. (COMPLETED ON JUL 12, 2010)
• Half Life 2 - Sequel to what many call the absolute greatest PC game of all time (COMPLETED ON NOV 30, 2009)
  
• Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb - This was a gift to me from a friend at a Christmas party. I figure I owe it to him to play through it.
• Left 4 Dead - I bought this on Steam when it was on sale, but realized I can't even run it on my computer. D'oh!
  
• Starcraft - Not a big fan of RTS games, but I'll try my best.
• Warcraft III - Ditto.

Sony Playstation:

• Xenogears - I started it a long time ago when it first came out. I loved the combo-based battle system, but never finished it.
• Final Fantasy VIII - I didn't really like the tedious draw system, but a lot of people love the story.
• Final Fantasy IX - Criticized for being too stylized, but it was Hironobu Sakaguchi's favorite of the series. And that's saying something.
• Legend of Dragoon - People that turn into dragons? What's not to love?
• Jade Cocoon - I bought it for its more adult take on the pokemon style of gameplay, but never got too far in it.
• Chrono Cross - Beloved sequel to the greatest RPG ever. A friend of mine roleplays as a character from this, so I figured I should see what all the fuss is about.
• Breath of Fire III - Dragons! Yay!

Sony Playstation 2:

• Guitar Hero 2 - I beat the career mode, but I suppose 100% completion would be to unlock all guitars and outfits.
  
• Kingdom Hearts - People freaking love this Disney/Square crossover. I liked what I've played of it, but my interests later drifted.
• Gun - I found it in a bargain bin and played through 2/3 of it in a single night. I should finish it. (COMPLETED ON AUG 17, 2009)
  
• Resident Evil 4 - The critical re-imagining of the series was critically acclaimed.
• 24: The Game - I loved the TV show. I found the game used for cheap a few years after I forgot I wanted it. (COMPLETED ON FEB 4, 2009)
  
• Dragon Rage - Dragons! This game was a gift from a friend, so I figured I owe it to him to finish it.
  
• Okami - I got it at release but simply stopped playing at a certain point. Why? (COMPLETED ON JAN 8, 2010)
  
• Ico - I beat Shadow of the Colossus, but never the spiritual predecessor.
• Kill.Switch - I seeked this out for the innovative cover system. I'm not usually a fan of shooter games like this, but I liked how it played. (COMPLETED ON AUG 12, 2009)
  
• God of War - Greatest. Action. Game. Ever. (Yeah, right. Completed July 19, 2011)
  
• God of War II - Sequel. To. Greatest. Action. Game. Ever.

Wii:

• Zack and Wiki: The Quest for Barbaros' Treasure - I sometimes find this game insulting when it kills you for just being curious, but I will not let it beat me!
• Metroid Prime 3: Corruption - So far the only Metroid game on the Wii (At the time of this writing)
  
• Lego Star Wars - So far, I've only played this with my friend in party situations.
• Manhunt 2 - Rockstar's dark DARK wii game. I haven't even popped this in yet.
• Bully: Scholarship Edition - Rockstar goes to school. Haven't popped this in yet either.
• Super Mario Galaxy - I have gotten 3/4 of all the stars and beaten it with Luigi. Now I just need to get the last 61 stars and I'll be able to finally call it quits.(COMPLETED ON MAR, 30, 2008)
• Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess - Zelda on the Wii. Yeah. (COMPLETED ON Jan 21, 2011)

Nintendo DS:

• Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass - Damn I have a lot of Zelda games on this list
• Pokemon Diamond - My girlfriend loves it, My friends love it. I got 4 badges and then... stopped.
• Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - I loved what I played of it, and then... stopped.
• Hotel Dusk: Room 215 - I've heard it's a good game with a freaky art style. (removed)
  
• Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords - The best puzzle RPG ever made. Well... technically the only one... but still. (COMPLETED ON NOV, 29, 2008)
  
• Final Fantasy IV DS - I loved FFIV for the SNES. I'll start playing this once it comes out.(COMPLETED ON AUG 17, 2008)
• Metroid Prime Hunters -Hopefully I can get over the uncomfortable controls to get through 1-player mode so I can play online with all the hunters. (COMPLETED ON AUG 28, 2008)

XBox 360

• Assassin's Creed - Parkour style gameplay set in the holyland. (COMPLETED JUN 22, 2011)
  
• BioShock - Game of the year 2007. (Completed April 27, 2010)