It has Officially Happened

http://kotaku.com/358237/mind-over-no-matter-hands+on-with-the-psychic-controller

I knew this day would come. It's an ominous indicator of our ever-approaching dystopian future.
How long before the controller.... controls us??!?!?!?

Shopping for a Cheap, Multi-Standard DVD Player

Came across this actual review for the Philips DVP 5990:

"Total lemon -- defective out of box"
by jabelar on September 7, 2008

Pros: Nothing -- didn't work enough to even try it

Cons: I got a total defective unit. It was able to start to play a movie, but then got stuck and then wouldn't open the drive tray. I tried two other commercially bought, scratch-free movies, and they wouldn't play at all -- just got stuck "loading".Summary: Just defective. Never even played one good disc long enough to try it out. Also, there was a huge spider in the box -- a real live hairy spider that came running out when I opened it. Hope it wasn't some exotic spider from China or something!"

http://reviews.cnet.com/dvd-players/philips-dvp5990-37/4864-6473_7-33004022-5.html?tag=contentBody;userReviews

I like the last bit in particular.

The New Creed

I'm very much looking forward to playing the new Assassin's Creed. There are some who say the setting, Italy in 1476, doesn't appeal to them as much as the Crusades time period.
I actually think it fits the type of game even better. The whole political intrigue thing. I, of course, really enjoyed the original AC and its storyline, but I think it will be surpassed.

And what about the nifty alterations they made to the costume? It's evolution, and rightly done. The suit still has the elements of Altair's version (the red cloth around the belt, the eagle-nosed hood) but has added frills and symbols (Italian pomp, I guess?). The symbol, if you noticed, of the clan of Assassins has become the belt buckle. Nice touch.

Which brings me to the character himself, Ezio. In this game, you follow Ezio's search for vengeance over the course of 27 years. Another touch I really like! It's kind of Count of Monte Cristo - but lots of people die all the time! :)
The developers say that vengeance, in the real world, doesn't happen overnight. I agree. I think the dragged out, life-long journey is well played here. Looking forward to it.

Check out the main website, it has some interesting stuff. Although, the load times are a bit grinding. Maybe Youtube is a better fit. Or gametrailers.

Anyway, I'll probably blather on more about this soon, but for now-

It Figures

So, I placed ad space on my blog in the hope of making a few odd cents to finance my ambitions (a romantic hope)...

And remember a while back when I spoke about Evony seemingly being a dubious and snaring trap? Well, now their advertisement is appearing on my blog.

Oh, how droll. How delightfully scrumptious.