Ranting Kenya

Last year was a great year in gaming. But, I have a feeling that this year could be equally as awesome. Here’s a list of some games that I am looking forward to.

Coming soon

NHL 09

NHL 08 was probably the best hockey game ever created since the original on ice. The controls were excellent, the game played like hockey, and I feel it was the perfect blend of simulation/arcade hockey. Most of the things that I didn’t like about NHL 08 sound like they’ll be fixed for 09 (aka “heat seeking ass missile hip checks”). Plus now Dion Phaneuf is on the cover. Other things I hope they fix is the online play (didn’t work that well on my 360 for some reason), add good online leagues, and please EA update the rosters every month (at least) rather than quarterly.

Star Wars - The Force Unleashed

This is probably the first Star Wars game that I’m actually excited for since Knights of the Old Republic (previously TIE Fighter). I like the idea of just throwing guys around, and a compelling new storyline. Hopefully the controls and everything holds up.

Quantum of Solace

Similarly to the Star Wars games, there’s been a fantastic Bond game, and a lot of not fantastic Bond games. The movie Casino Royale ruled, I’m hoping this game will pick that up and carry it to the next movie. 1up’s Garnett Lee’s preview is making me feel better about a new Bond game. I played lots of the others. They were… forgettable.

Gears of War 2

I enjoyed the first Gears game, though not as much as some other people. Basically, if the online is actually fixed, I’ll probably play this a lot. Probably won’t unseat COD4 as my main online game however. I liked the single player though on the first, so I’m happy with a good campaign for the second.

Far Cry 2

I really liked Crysis for the PC. I liked it a whole lot until the aliens appeared. The alien sections were still good, but I really enjoyed fighting the Koreans. Hiding in the bushes, using my suit’s abilities, try different methods for my encounters was a lot of fun. Far Cry 2 feels like it could be the perfect shooter to itch that that non-COD4 shooter itch. There’s no suit abilities, but there is self-propagating brush fire! That Dunia engine looks crazy too. I think I’d like to play it on PC (especially if I can get some gamerscore for my Xbox Live account), rather than Xbox 360. May even get a second 8800GT so I can go SLI for this game.

Red Alert 3

I’ve played all the C&C’s and Red Alerts. I’ve always preferred Red Alert, and this one looks wicked. Again, probably play in on PC.

Spore

I know this is on everybody’s list. I’m not all that stoked about it, but it seems new and unique enough that I probably shouldn’t skip it.

Halo Wars

Here’s another title I’d like to play on PC, though I’m not sure it’s announced for PC yet (or if it will be at all). I do however believe it will hit PC eventually. It really looks like a fun game. I hope it’s story is as epic as the original Halo. I’d like to experience that awe that I did in the first game.

Tiberium

I’ll probably wait for the reviews on this one. Maybe I’ll just rent it. Need more info. It has my attention, for now at least.

Crysis Warhead

I liked Crysis, this is more Crysis. Hopefully lots of Korean encounters. Maybe I can turn the graphics up a bit more on this one.

Coming Whenever

I know these games aren’t coming anytime soon, but I’m waiting…

Bioshock 2

Seriously, how good was the first one? So good. Hopefully the story is as good. This game definitely gave me the original Halo awe that I was talking about.

Bungie’s Next Project

Whatever it is, it will be quality. Maybe it’ll finally be Pimps at Sea.

Assassin’s Creed 2

Lots of people didn’t care for the original, I however was not one of them. I really really liked it. Plus the cliffhanger at the end of the original really hooked me for the next story. I didn’t like the whole modern/middle ages take on the last game until the end of the game, now I’m way into it.

The next X-Com

If some developer could capture the essence of the original, and slap a new coat a paint on it, then add more modern game design concepts, then the world might implode. I played the first a lot, even though I never finished it. It was very hard, though one of my buddies beat it. Once the aliens went all nutty on the Psionics, I was finished. Still, I really want to play a good modern sequel to this game.

The Next Knights of the Old Republic

Because the first two games were so good. I really like the original best between the two. Also, if they could kill the silly loading screens and make the interface quicker, then it would sell like crazy.

Mass Effect 2

Basically the same for me as KOTOR. Kill the loading screens.

Already Released, Need to Play/Finish

I’ve played these already, or even own them, but need to finish them.

Rainbow Six Vegas

It’s sitting on my shelf, just waiting for me to play. I would’ve played this game when it came out, but my money and time went the Gears of War instead.

Lego Star Wars - The Complete Saga

I’m really just waiting for this game to be sold for like $30. Then I’m in.

Half life 2 - Episode One/Two

Loved the game, need to continue the story. I know I’m way behind on this one, but there was this Portal…

Civilization IV

I’ve played this game a certain amount, but is there ever enough time for Civ?

Company of Heroes

I’ve played against the PC a lot, but not so much that I’ve finished Opposing Fronts. I should probably play this game online some. It is the best strategy game to be released in my opinion.

Sins of a Solar Empire

Actually, this game might be a little too epic for me. But it is fun.

Lost Planet

Again, really liked the demo, but my money went somewhere else.

Dead Rising

I played the demo too, loved it, but didn’t buy it. Maybe when it’s in the cheap bin.

Star Wars - Empire at War

My PC can handle it now, so I just have to get into it.

Movies

Just thrown in for good measure.

The Dark Knight

Batman Begins was the absolute best Batman movie ever. Christian Bale is an awesome actor, and Batman is awesome, so The Dark Knight is awesome. Plus this film was filmed on IMax film, not adapted like to many other IMax movies. Going to be so good.

Step Brothers

C’mon, it looks so funny. What a hilarious idea.

I just knew they couldn’t stomach an unlimited plan. I just knew it. It is however still a pretty good data plan for Canada…

Here we have it, iPhone 3G pricing for our better mannered, gun-toting friends up north. All the plans from Rogers Wireless require that lovely, three-year contract and include visual voicemail, free evenings and weekends, and unlimited WiFi at all Rogers and Fido hotspots. The plans start at $60/month for 150 minutes of voice and just 400MB of data before topping out at $115/month for 800 minutes voice and up to 2GB of data. None of these plans offer unlimited data as previously rumored.

Rogers announces iPhone 3G plans, unlimited data isn’t one of them - Engadget

Tags: iphone, rogers, mobile, data

This information would have been really, really helpful to have had yesterday afternoon when the announcement was made (though certainly part of the blame rests with me for not checking to see if Rogers’ website had been updated.) You guys are technology companies, right? And you deal with communications services and such? Maybe next time you could send me an e-mail, or (gasp) pick up the phone and call. Seriously. WTF.

Load This - Apple (p)i(e)Phone

Tags: rogers

On July 11 no less.

Gee, I wonder what it could be? Rogers, who are you kidding? You’ll hold out all your information until the last dying second won’t you?

Well, Apple’s WWDC event for 2008 has had it’s keynote now. As expected, the 3G iPhone has been unveiled. I must say, this phone does actually make the previous iPhone look kinda light in the features department. The wireless speed alone is a big difference, the GPS tracking should be awesome (doesn’t cost extra money to have like on my Moto Q). So July 11 should be a big day in Canada and elsewhere.

But aside from a release date from Apple (a search on Rogers’ reveals no matches whatsoever for “iphone”), there is no price information on the Canadian page. Two screenshots below show the differences between the US and Canadian pages.

US Page:

Canadian Page:

Also, there’s no info on data plan rates either. I find this interesting since it was heavily speculated that Canada may have been left out of the last round of iPhones due to Rogers’ data plan greed. But $199 sounds good to me.

At any rate, at least now there’s a date.

Seriously, this is a great idea, and I can’t believe I didn’t think of it. It seems like it would also be a good way to roll out your wireless access points across the house too, if you have signal connection issues.

The D-Link Coax Ethernet Adapter Kit (DXN-221) is ideally suited for adding bandwidth-demanding applications such as high-definition (HD) media streaming, music sharing and online multi-player gaming to the home network. The DXN-221 comes with two adapters, each of which includes an Ethernet port as well as a Coaxial F-type connector for bridging the two adapters together. The adapters may also be purchased individually (DXN-220).Users can easily connect the D-Link Coax Ethernet Adapter to their existing router and then to an available coaxial outlet in the home, enabling network and Internet access to multiple rooms. A second adapter is added in another room to connect Ethernet-enabled devices like PCs and media players. The DXN-221 may be used in rooms with multiple devices by connecting a switch to the adapter to connect additional devices.

D-Link Introduces Ethernet-to-Coax Kit for Extending the Home Network Using Existing TV Cabling in the Home

Tags: network, ethernet

Here’s just a snippet of the intro from Ars Technica. It’s an interesting post to read.

It’s hard to imagine a time at which touting your own downloadable video store makes less sense than when you’re on the hot seat for throttling all P2P traffic, much of which competes with Bell to offer video (including entirely legal BitTorrent downloads from the CBC).

Bell Canada opens online video store as P2P debate rages on

Tags: media, video, net neutrality, bell, p2p, traffic shaping

Xbox 360 Blu-ray console shipping by September?by Thomas Ricker, posted May 2nd 2008 at 2:12AMFor all of Microsoft’s denial, the Xbox 360 Blu-ray console rumors just will not die. In fact, they are getting more and more specific. The Chinese language Economic Daily News is reporting that Pegatron, an OEM subsidiary of ASUS, has won the order from Microsoft to assemble the Xbox 360 with Blu-ray Disc ROM drive — shipments are expected to being in Q3 of this year. Now come on Microsoft, just come clean on the matter, we won’t tell anyone.

Xbox 360 Blu-ray console shipping by September? - Engadget

Honestly, even after getting burned by HD-DVD, I’d probably get one.

Tags: hd, blu, ray, xbox, 360, xbox 360

So by now, everybody’s heard the news.

Phil made an interesting comment on one of my other posts. He said:

…Chances are a lot of Telus subscribers will ditch their CDMA phones in favour of the trendy iPhone, especially the young and fashionable population…

While I believe this is certainly a possibility, with all the news surrounding the next version of the iPhone (Engadget has a bunch of posts), how many people are really going to go for it? Perhaps many, since not everyone follows this type of thing in the media.

If Rogers negotiated a lucrative exclusivity deal, and their voice/data plan is actually good, then yeah, I think Rogers will be selling them hand over fist. I heard a rumour that a 5GB data plan might be an alternative to unlimited.

However, I believe Rogers will be Rogers and will be greedy. Any really good data plan will undoubtedly be quite expensive. That’s really the deal maker/breaker in the Canadian iPhone story. The monthly charges.

It will of course sell out when launched, it will get all the media attention, and I will see more of them and want one more.

What is there that is left to say about this game. The review websites all love it. Here’s a link to the Metacritic score for the Xbox 360.

Well, I like it as well. I haven’t really played the other GTA games except for 2 for the PC (a top down view if you remember). The driving is really loose, which is hard to master. However, were it easier to drive it would make some things too easy quite honestly.

Crashing is really fun. I’ve flown out the windshield a number of times, and it’s always exciting to see your limp body fly through the air.

Jumping the vehicles is also totally rad.

The character are what surprise me the most. They are phenominal. They have such personalities it’s hard not to get sucked in. I can’t stress how great the people in the game are presented. I can’t even understand Little Jacob when he talks because his Jamaican accent is so thick.