Simpson's Did It

So as I was browsing my RSS feeds this morning, I saw this little article on BBC News.com
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11467352
Basically Toshiba is using the Nintendo 3DS technology to create a 3D television that does not require glasses.
Now... What has taken them so long? Why did a video game company beat out a television company with this type of technology? Oh well... And Toshiba of all companies? Come on Samsung, I thought you were the king of TV.
Anyways, the 3DS is rumored to cost roughly $300. That's pretty expensive for a handheld gaming device; considering you can buy a netbook for that price, or less.
Is 3D here to stay?

The Fall of Release

Fall is typically the time for things of new... For everything but mother nature. The fall line up on television rears its head, great video games seem to come out each week, and fantastic music all come out right at the same time.
For example, last tuesday a small game named Halo Reach came out. Thinking back on the games that have come out this year, they seem to shy in comparison to Halo Reach (with the exception of Red Dead Redemption and StarCraft II.) So, as gamers get their game time in protecting Reach from the Convenant, another small little game called Civilization V came out today. Now, Civilization V is more of a cult game than Reach is. It has a very loyal following, but since the game only comes out on the PC (minus Civ Revolution) only those special breed of gamers on the PC have access to it. Time management is becoming a must if one is to get their prime game time in now a days. I'm juggling StarCraft II, World of Warcraft, and Reach currently, and I have to say it's getting tough because I have friends on each game that want to play. But, let's look ahead a little further. Later next month, Fable III and Fallout New Vegas comes out, and then in November we have Assassin's Creed Brotherhood, Call of Duty: Black Ops, Little Big Planet 2, and World of Warcraft: Cataclysm. All BIG games for the gaming industry. And most of them have collector's editions, which if your a geek like I am, you have to get for a whopping $79.99 (or even 149.99 for the Call of Duty Prestige edition). Things are getting tough financially for the gamer.

But moving on, this is just a pleasant surprise for me, but music wise, today I learned that a new Jimmy Eat World album and a Ben Folds album comes out on 9.28.10. That's NEXT week. 2010 has been a fantastic year for music, no matter what genre you're interested in. I can only hope that someday soon our "Pop" artists steer away from this odd techno dance funk everyone seems to be stuck in. I guess I miss the 90's and early 2000's music too much sometimes.
Lastly, Manhattan Boardwalk is another HBO blockbuster that will be dominating television like the Sopranos once did. Sadly, I don't have HBO, so I have to look forward to new episodes of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia each week! Now don't get me wrong, there are many other television programs coming out this fall, but when it's aired on CBS or NBC I tend to be wary. Hawaii 5-0 actually has been well received in closed showings, so I'm actually kind of excited for that. "Book 'em Dan-O."

Books - The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson, The Fall by Guillermo Del Toro.
Anyways, this year has been a busy year, and it will only get more crazy as it goes by. I just hope that the Comic Book industry starts kicking back in gear soon. Maybe once Bruce Wayne returns...
Now go and conquer the world.

Drinking and Video Games

It's that time of year again! Yep, you guessed! BREWFEST time in World of Warcraft. Not quite Oktoberfest, but Brewfest is a fun time nevertheless. Some may find it appealing to, you know, actually go out and get drunk. But others actually prefer getting drunk in the cyber realm of reality. The use of alcohol has been prevalent in games, especially within the last decade. One of the first things that actually comes to mind is the drunken stupor you can get Nico to in Grand Theft Auto IV. One would actually go to a bar in the game, become intoxicated, and basically play a mini game by trying to stay on two feet as you walk out of the bar heading to your car. Virtual drunk driving, aint that the bitter end?

Nico had a rough night.

But, back to Azeroth. Brewfest is the World of Warcraft equivalent of Oktoberfest. It is a time where the Alliance and Horde can come together and have drunken shenanigans in a make- shift armistice. In each Capital City (Orgrimmar for the Horde, and Ironforge for the Alliace), players come together to drink away their raiding worries, zap pink elephants, eat many kinds of sausages and cheese, and save the say from the Dark Iron dwarves from stealing kegs. And of course, each year Coren Direbrew comes to try to ruin the party, so a swift kick in the pants is always in order for him to get his loot and mounts.

Oh Brewfest...

And if you aren't careful...

After a day of binge drinking, this is usually where you find yourself.

These two examples are only two of many video games that have some form of alcohol consumption involved. It's interesting to see how the love of drinking is actually popping up into video games. Some cases, in a good light, and in others, a bad light. Yet nevertheless, even in something as silly as Brewfest, drinking has become such an accepted part of society that we pursue it in the virtual world also. And don't forget, beer are go good with pizza.
So, go grab your stein and have some fun, and always have a designated driver for your vehicle... or your mount.