Week of 24th July 2011

Books/eBooks Read:

A Storm of Swords

About a third way through the 3rd book in the 'A Song of Ice and Fire' series. While the series is gripping, some parts seem to drag too much. The layout of the series has a chapter dedicated to one character, it takes ages for the main story to advance. This also makes it a little hard to read as some characters I do not like and feel like skipping the whole chapter, but if I do so means I may miss something that may affect other characters. But on the whole it is a good read (sorry no details on what happens in the book but I don't want to spoil session 3 if it is made). One side note, I have noticed the author it start to end each chapter a lot with cliffhangers. Cliffhangers are good every now and again, but for every chapter...... not so much.

Movies/TV Shows Seen:

Priest

When I hear about this movie I was also almost in heaven. The plot sounded like a cross of some of my favorite anime, 'Trinity Blood' and 'Vampire Hunter D'......... hmmmmmm almost.... Having not read the graphic novel I can not say if it follows it closely, but as a standalone movie it is ok, not great, not bad, just ....ok.

Ah!! My Goddess

This series have been a favorite for almost 20 years, from the early 5 ep OVA to what I watched this month, season 1 and 2 of the TV series. Having owning many of the Manga as well this has to be the best anime/manga of all time (my personally feelings, others will have their own favorites).

The Daily Show

Decided to watch it again from the starts of my collection (2000 onwards, currently at 2002). The show is the best one around and I learned a lot about American politics from this show.

Games Played:

Eufloria

Seen this on a daily sale on steam for $4.99. It looks good so I decided to give it a try. It was a good move, I am hooked. I am still playing through the story mode and haven't unlocked any extras yet but I still play it about 2-3 hours a day.

Mass Effect 2

Ok... having played through Mass Effect 1 (4th time and counting / 1st time from the Steam version) I am playing through Mass Effect 2 for the second time (again 1st time on the steam version). Becouse of Eufloria (above) and Starwars Empire at Wars (below) I haven't been playing this much, only a few missions in. But still a great game, to be played back to back with ME1.

Star Wars: Empire At War

A had a great desire to play a RTS of late. I was disappointed in C&C4 (have fond memories of C&C 1) I wanted a good RTS and saw this game on steam cheap. Having played this game a little as a *cough* demo a couple of years ago I decided to give this game another go. Not great, bot a good game to pass the time, it is good to play a RTS with Starwars units.

Command & Conquer 4

Was cheap on Steam, cheaper then C&C3, Now I know why....... The gameplay is so poor. When I think of RTS and C&C I think of base building and C&C4 takes this aspect away. Now you control a unit builder (offensive,  defensive and support builder) and placing one will deprive you of units from the other. You don't build bases anymore and that what C&C and most good RTS is based on. Also C&C4 Steam version is buggy ad I can not get passed one GDI mission (always ending in a failed mission).  Give this game a miss and get earlier C&C games.

Other Updates:

Mame Arcade Machine

Still going strong. Added holes for the buttons and joysticks, got the light for the marquee and screen installed. Just need to install the buttons/joystick and wire it up. Then the fun starts with installing the computer to run it and the software.

Ubuntu

Pissed off Windows again, can't stand it. If you don't want Windows and Mac there is another good OS..... Ubuntu (Linux). It almost has everything that Windows/Mac have except for games, which I kept a partition to play Windows games on. Currently ripping my DVD collection for my HTPC using Ubuntu.

eReader (what to get)

I currently own a Kindle DX which has a damaged eInk screen (got it mainly for  manga/comics) and a Nook Classic. I now wish I now held off getting a 6" eInk reader as the Nook Simple Touch and the Kobo Touch are out and are great eReaders. I am planning on ordering the Kobo Touch as it has better features then the Nook Simple Touch, but I am thinking of going through Borders Online store, so it will be touch and go (since Border's brick & mortar stores are no more). I will keep you all posted.

Week of 3rd July 2011

I lost most of my posts from Wordpress so I am starting again.......

A lot more Books/TV/Games was done this week as I am now on a two week holiday.....

TV Shows watched:

Normally I post books read first, but this time I watched a TV show based off a book first.....

The Main reason I
watched this show (actor)

Game Of Thrones

I was bugged by friends from work about this, "You MUST watch this" "You love 'Lord of the Rings' right? You will like this" etc.. I held out knowing that HBO did this and have to add sex scenes just to get ratings (see Dexter, True Blood). I finally caved in and watched it,  I am hooked.

Now I have read the first book of this series (which covers the first season), I hated how HBO added the upfront sex scenes as they never happened in the book, only mentioned or implied. For example the Imp was never shown having sex with whores in the book (he did mention that whores will be disappointed if he became a Night Watch, that was it)

The rest of the series is great. Even the events of 'Ned' Stark at the end of the series wasn't changed from the book which was good... sad but good.....

The Daily Show

I watch this every day. Even if you do not follow US politics it if a very funny show. I have watched all ep's from 2001 onwards. Local TV (ABC2) for a few months showed this, but got rid of it for re-runs of other ABC shows, so I am forced to just d/l then when their air in the US.

The Girl Who Leapt Through Space

I have had this for 6 months now but since I am on holidays, I have the time to watch it (since it is not dubbed I can't have it playing in the background while I do other things, I have to sit there and watch it to read the subtitles hehehehehe). Only up to ep 3 at the moment. At first it seems that it a simple silly anime, but the production value is good (very good use of 3D). I hope to finish watching this before the next update.

Book/eBooks read:

Game of Thrones

The first book of the series 'A Song of Ice and Fire' and also now turned into the TV show on HBO (See above) 'A Game Of Thrones'. Since I read this after seeing season one, I was surprised at how close it followed the book (minus the sex scenes).

A Clash of Kings

Not wanting to wait for season two of 'Game Of Thrones', I started to read 'A Clash Of Kings'. I am about half way through this book I wont say too much as I haven't finished it yet. But the fate of some of the people are gripping, I am trying not to skip chapters on lesser people to fine out what happens to others.

Games Played:

Oh great, almost half way through my holidays and Steam desides to hold a 10 day sale with too many games to play. While I am writting this I am d/l a couple now which will have to wait till the next update.

Mass Effect

I have played this before on the XBox 360. Since it was cheap on Steam, plus ME2 is also cheap, I decided to keep playing this on the PC, as it uses the save game of the ME1 (and the upcoming ME3 will use the save game of ME2). 

City XL 2011

The nearest thing to Sim City 4. Currently playing the tutorial levels, but so far a good game, almost like it what Sim City 5 should be like.

Cities In Motion

Almost like Sim City 4 but centered around just the public transport side of things. Like City XL 2011, I am playing through the tutorial missions. More info next update.

Minecraft

1.7 was just released at the writing of this. No time to update my Multiplayer server and try out the new Pistons. May get around to it by next update.

Other Updates:

I am currently building a MAME Arcade machine. While on my two week holidays I finally got some work done one the cabinet frame. I should start installing the computer parts this weekend.