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User Reviews
Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 (Xbox 360) - 98 reviews
Call of Duty has been a prominent first-person shooter throughout the years. The gripping action and heart-racing missions have proven to be addictive amongst players. Now with Modern Warfare 2, all the factors have been improved and will surely make fans and gamers begging for more in the end.
Modern Warfare 2 continues the legacy of the Call of Duty saga but this version is the least traditional among the other Call of Duty games. The main game package is divided into three pillars of gameplay. Fans who like single-player games will still have their main campaign, gamers who like to cooperate with other players either through a local or online connection will have the new Special Operations mode, and last is the multiplayer which got even better. Each mode is 100 % standalone that it does not have any connection with the other modes, so you actually get to have three different experiences in one game.
Gamers should definitely try the single-player campaign mode first, which is absolutely back and more intense than past campaign modes. Fans will truly appreciate the improvement in the mode as they are thrown into the bustling streets of Rio de Janeiro, the very cold mountains of Kazakhstan, the very dusty roads of Afghanistan and a whole lot more destinations. Modern Warfare also offers stunning visuals that are steps over Call of Duty 4 and World at War. There is an emphasis on intricate terrains in the environment, interesting weather effects, and a whole lot that adds improvement to the chaos and action of the entire game. A great audio also accompanies the stunning visuals with effects from returning weapons and a very captivating score by Hans Zimmer that will truly complement some game scenes. With the dazzling visuals and a captivating audio, you would feel like you are watching an action film when playing the game.
The campaign mode has its issues, though. For newbies, it's quite short. But despite its shortness, Modern Warfare 2 is definitely more chaotic; brought by better visual effects, upgraded production values, and very tough scenario designs. Realism is even more exemplified in Modern Warfare 2 with better visuals, which is more pronounced when it comes to bloody scenes. There surely were effects in previous versions that showed blood with the screen getting red. But this time, blood splatter can truly be noticed as more real-looking on your screen throughout the game. Though others find this as a distraction, it's still quite amazingly awesome.
Modern Warfare 2 is also the debut of the Special Operations or Spec Ops mode. This mode is actually an arcade-inspired challenge mode. The mode can be played with a single player for the most part, but is actually intended to be around two people's team play. The Spec Ops mode is divided into 5 tiers that have missions where there are three possible stars to gain based on the level of difficulty in each of the 23 missions in the game. Fans and gamers will truly be surprised with this mode because of its entertainment value and is actually longer than the single player campaign mode.
The multiplayer in Modern Warfare 2 got even better, as well. Being the front bearer in the Call of Duty saga, Modern Warfare 2's multiplayer visuals and effects indeed got a good boost. You are guaranteed to be in for an engaging experience with the multiplayer mode enhancements.
Overall, Modern Warfare 2 really proves to be one of the best first-person shooter games out in the market. But there's a catch for those who prefer to play the single-player campaign mode. It is really short and it only forms part of the entire Modern Warfare experience. If you opt to immerse on all three modes, then you will definitely have one hell of an experience and action with Modern Warfare 2.
User Reviews
Yoshi's New Island - 3DS - 98 reviews
'Yoshi's New Island' for the 3DS is an action platformer which contains mild cartoon language, the game was developed by Arzest and published by Nintendo and released on March 14, 2014. for the 3DS handheld portable console.
Marketed as the sequel to Super Mario World, 'Yoshi's New Island' for the 3DS is a somewhat contentious game in certain circles. Some people believe that it is one of the best games that Nintendo has ever made with original graphics and fresh gameplay for the time, while others believe that those same qualities make the game awful and a stain on Nintendo's record. With Yoshi's New Island, Nintendo has managed to do something that I wouldn't have thought possible - they've made a game that doesn't make either camp happy.
Put simply, 'Yoshi's New Island' throws away that really made the original game so interesting for so many people - its uniqueness. Unlike other Yoshi-centric titles like Yoshi's Story, 'Yoshi's New Island' does absolutely nothing to distinguish itself as a new game. Other than the graphics, pretty much everything about Yoshi's New Island could be done on the Super Nintendo.
Even that new more modern graphical style that Nintendo has adopted takes away from the charm of the Yoshi's Island series, however. Instead of the beautiful and unique style that typified the Super Nintendo game, New Island uses a mostly generic Mario art style.
The gameplay, while it has not been modernized or changed in any significant way hasn't really changed at all. There is nothing interesting going on if you've played the first 'Yoshi's Island' - but perhaps that is New Island's biggest strength. People that have some sort of strong opinion on the original Super Nintendo game will more than likely not be huge fans of the new game - but people who have never touched a 'Yoshi's Island' game in the past could certainly find a lot of fun in the new one.
Of course, that would make the assumption that they haven't really played a large amount of side scrolling platformers either. Like so many other Nintendo platformers, Yoshi's New Island starts off relatively easy. Most Nintendo platformers would then take a sharp turn upwards in difficulty after the first few levels - but not New Island. Instead, the game waits until the last few levels before it finally becomes as difficult as you would expect a Nintendo platformer to be. Indeed, many levels of the Super Nintendo game were notoriously difficult, and in losing that the game loses another part of its charm.
Without it's charm, what does 'Yoshi's New Island' actually have? Not a whole lot. Without the charm that made the original game so interesting, 'Yoshi's New Island' has become yet another bland platformer in a sea of similar titles on the 3DS - many of them from the same company. New Island is a valiant attempt at recapturing the flame of the original title, but it is clear that the people who developed this game did not quite understand what people really loved about the Super Nintendo game.
The original game was not so beloved because it had a fun egg throwing mechanic - that was probably the worst part, and has always been somewhat clunky. The original game was fantastic because it was doing something that Nintendo had always seemed reluctant to do - try new things. In a world where Nintendo is churning out the same games year after year in an attempt to boost sales of their hardware platforms, the degradation of such a unique franchise like Yoshi's Island stands out as even worse as it would have been otherwise. 'Yoshi's New Island' on the 3DS is by no means a bad game, and is probably worth picking up on a sale or a rental, but no one should pay full price.
User Reviews
Wii Fit Plus with Balance Board (Wii) - 98 reviews
Wii Sports is undoubtedly the best seller in today's video gaming, the Wii Fit bundle that comes with the innovative Balance Board closely follows and just slightly behind. Now here's good news. Wii Fit Plus now takes the place of the original Wii Fit, so aptly named, because of the many enhancements that come along with it, including additional mini games and several new exercises with the much needed extra layers of tips for calorie burning.
Nintendo simply recycled the core Wii Fit package for its latest version, which is not bad really; most of these features, the menus, interface system, virtual trainers. Balance games and strength training exercises, are well-executed and definitely worth trying out. And here's one delightful thing, you can even bring in you previous workout data from its predecessor so you can just continue from where you left off. What's more, if you haven't unlocked any of the advanced routines before because you weren't really committed, you don't need to sweat it out as they are now automatically opened for you in Plus. All other added features can also be accessed right away.
Speaking of added features, Plus does boast several worthy ones. For starters, three new yoga and three strengthening exercises have been added. Also noted is how Nintendo has emphasized putting on more balance games in Plus, a total of 15 well-planned extra modes that are really a lot of fun! The games are great but are too easy and as far as exercises go, you can't expect to sweat and shed some pounds if you just play them and avoid strength training and yoga.
The one remarkable enhancement that is likely to become a favorite of many is the calorie counter. Get this, every activity in the game has a metabolic equivalent of task, also called METs, number. Most of the mini games are assigned MET ratings of 2, which is about the same as the most leisurely walk you've ever embarked on, but the more rigorous exercises, such as push-ups, have higher rates. Here's how the calorie counter works, just multiply your weight by the MET ratings you get for each exercise you perform and you'll get the amount of calories you burned.
This can either be encouraging or discouraging; encouraging, because you can envision a scientific demonstration of your workouts, and discouraging because the outcome don't really register double or triple digit calorie numbers. Understandably, since the Wii Fit Plus workouts are relatively simple and easy, it will take you sometime to burn those calories.
Don't get disappointed now but Nintendo has decided to warn customers not to make the calorie counter as the be-all and end-all indicator of calorie burning; rather, that you are well advised to still rely on BMI or body mass index scale as your fundamental gauge of success or failure with regards to burning calories. In a sense, this can make you have second thoughts as to the accuracy of the results when you use Wii Fit Plus.
Another thing that you're going to miss with the Plus is the inclusion of any online functionality. It doesn't even have leader board features. Wii Fit Plus would have benefited from similar online functionality such as that offered by Nike Plus, which lets users track how far they've run and compare the results of their efforts with family and friends online. It is truly a major lapse on Nintendo's part not to include this feature, and offer instead a fast and easy local multiplayer mode where players take turns, which doesn't even come close to motivational.
One thing that you have to be thankful about is the measures taken to address one of the biggest issues of the original Wii Fit, which was the inability ot create a customized workout program for individual preference and needs. This time, you can conveniently go to My Wii Fit Plus Routine section and choose your own set of exercises that are designed and aimed at trimming down specific body areas. This you can do either by using the presets that Nintendo has or creating your own routines from scratch.
To sum it up, Wii Fit Plus is a fantastic way to burn some calories while simultaneously having fun. There are issues that could have made the Plus even stronger, had Nintendo given the appropriate attention to resolve it and did not ignore those few shortcomings. Still Plus is a lot less expensive that paying for a gym membership. With proper diet and by using it right, you can actually lose weight and tone your muscles, while having a fabulous time.
User Reviews
Resistance Retribution (PSP) - 98 reviews
Sony Playstation continues to head on the right track in reforming their successful PS3 video games into PSP formats. From their popular Resistance series, here comes Resistance: Retribution, which continues the story of James Grayson, the British soldier on a fight against the Chimera force, aliens trying to invade the Earth.
In Resistance: Retribution, developer Bend decided to do some tweaking to the game for improvement and adjustment purposes especially to more restricted specifications PSP could offer. First off, instead of the first person point-of-view, they switched to a third-person over the shoulder perspective. It does not give you the same Resistance experience but is effective for the PSP version, which also becomes a solution on the tight controls it has been developing over the years.
Because it is smaller, the PSP handheld version has several limitations and adjustments have to be made. The left stick is used for movements; while aiming is done through the four face buttons found on the other side. This is actually a good thing because of the auto aiming and target lock-on features that you have to rely on. If your weapon is at the right direction, the game itself will guarantee that you hit the opponents. You can opt for free-aim by tapping the d-pad; but this is not recommended because it is so slow.
This game also has new enemies like the Boiler, a skinny creature with a swollen head that blasts when it is near you. The game does have exploding enemies but these Boilers are more irksome because you spend a lot of bullets to defeat them; unless you shoot them on their heads, then you save a lot of ammunition. The bad news is this is near impossible with the auto-aim on, so you just have to do it manually. Enemies that blow up charges at you anytime out of nowhere, is another source of exasperation, especially if you are caught off-guard. Good thing there is a polished cover system that automatically glues you into place when you are in close proximity to a wall, a doorjamb or a box, which saves you the trouble of a blind fire or the complicated motions of holding a direction, leaning over and firing.
Resistance Retribution may not be a purely original game with all those gameplays but they are the best on PSP pure shooting games with their polished controls and consistent action. They have great graphic designs that could compete with other PSP games and even exceed in some areas. The game is very detailed when it comes to enemy graphics and location. If you're looking for snags, it is most likely be about the quality of the audio.
Besides being able to enjoy a single-player campaign, one of the unique features of this new PSP version is the availability of a multiplayer mode. This is all possible through a local wireless connection or play online with PSP's Infrastructure mode. Eight players can tough it out with each other in teams or in everyone versus everyone games or the most popular of all, the Assimilation type.
If you loved the Syphon Filter games, this is definitely much better. Although they have a lot more in common, the adjustments in the new Retribution has made the game a lot easier and faster to play.
User Reviews
LEGO Batman: The Videogame (Wii) - 98 reviews
LEGO Batman is the fifth go of Traveller's Tales at the LEGO theme but still only minimal change has happened during this time. However, even if that is the situation, gamers and fans of the dark-caped crusader, are sure to find the game amusing. The main reason here is that the gameplay used is a proven success. It is enjoyable and easy to understand. Yet all the problems in the past concerning the LEGO games, such as nonsense puzzles and the AI problem are still present. At this stage you would have expected Traveller's Tales to nearly perfect the game, but that is not so.
LEGO Batman is a unique game because it did not take its story from any of the Batman movies or from the comics. The plot within the game is kind of original; thus, it gives the creators a wide horizon, since there is no pressure to follow up with a well known story. The Batman here is not even connected with the Batman we know. It is exactly like a Batman in the toy shelf where you can create anything you desire with it.
The main idea of the plot is basically a story of Batman chasing and capturing villains that escaped from the Arkham Asylum. When you play LEGO Batman, the main goal is basically to destroy enemies and smash objects. The story isn't all that important.
The charm of LEGO is still present in the game and as a whole, it is still very funny. You have the same stoic Batman here, Robin is still same old goofy self, and the villains have remained amazingly crazy. The characters are really good LEGO counterparts of the cartoon Batman. However, aside from the characters, the background is not something to get crazy about. It would have been better to see a more creative Gotham City.
To the game's credit, LEGO Batman has everything in the mix. There are a multitude of characters spread out in six acts. In the first half you can use Batman and Robin. There are also power suits you can use. Robin can use the magnetic suit that allows him to walk through metal walls. And Batman has the demolition suit so he can turn stuff into smithereens in an instant (this fits Batman, he always wants everybody's attention, right?).
When you reach act three to six, you may start using the villains. In this plot, you can have a taste of how the sinister villains set up their master plan. This, however, is before the ultimate meeting between them and the bat. Each villain has their own unique powers. Poison Ivy uses her kiss to poison another. The joker gives joybuzzers to anyone he touches. Mr. Freeze places anyone in the cold storage. The Riddler controls the minds of other villains to make them his minions. You know the rest. But the main Batman Nemesis here is Killer Moth. Oh yes, the all popular Killer Moth that everybody remembers (That was an attempt at sarcasm, by the way. No one really knows who Killer Moth is or was.)
And on top of the story, there are dozens of unlockable characters that can be used when replaying levels. Among these characters are Night Wing, Batgirl, Hush, Man-Bat and others; which can be unlocked with each LEGO bit collected in the game (Cool, huh!)
There are many good things going for this game. The huge downside is that the problem from the previous LEGO games was never addressed. The AI presents problems; the jumps are difficult to time and stuff like that. But if you are looking for a good laugh with a buddy while appreciating the comical Batman and friends the game has created, then by all means, go ahead and purchase the game!
User Reviews
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 (Wii) - 98 reviews
EA has taken over the Wii creation of the system and the golfing experience of the Game Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10. The feedback on the game is great and the experience of golfing is terrific. The way the gameplay is created has really answered the needs of gamers. The game just allows you to get immersed in it. It is the best entertainment in golf that money can buy. Moreover, PGA Tour 10 also features a wide selection of new courses with a realistic weather effect. The star of the game is the long awaited MotionPlus swing controls. This offers a very realistic recreation of real golfing. If you are still deciding whether or not to buy the MotionPlus, here's a tip: YES! Buy one already. It is really THAT good.
The gameplay is really one fantastic feature. The menus in the game are slick. The style is very good and the pointer controls are well done. However, the game is still not a major revolution. The fundamentals of the previous edition are still intact; EA has just added and then subtracted some features to improve the game. And there are several game type modes, but the biggest part of the single player game is on the "My Career" mode. It is specially detailed that you are able to create a golf player basically from scratch. You may also customize as much as you want in the game. And when your player is ready you can take him to several tours like the PGA tour, the FedEx Cup, and Tournament Challenge. This type of career mode, I would definitely recommend to golf fans because the tournament is filled with seasoned PGA real life players as your competitors.
The game not only has the career mode, but it also features more than ten mini-games. These games range from cart competition to target practice and then to ring scores. Well, this mode actually featured in the previous edition; which up to four players - and the fun just keeps getting better.
Then there's the online mode. The features in the last edition are still there, but some new fantastic live tournaments have been added. In this edition, you may join a tournament on a daily or weekly basis. You can even play with the pros in the ranked tournaments. And when you add this to the real-time weather feature of the game - the weather forecast - you'll encounter unpredictable environments which just make the game a bit more challenging.
The Graphics of the game is superb when it comes to fluidity and the course looks realistic enough. However, the textures in the game can do with some improvements. The sound on the other hand is just average. The sound on the menus is decent but is not a stand out. And the sound effects in the gameplay are not that good either.
Despite the minimal drawbacks, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 for Wii can still be considered one of the best. It's filled with content and the game is made excellent with the addition of the MotionPlus, along with the great Disc Golf expansion and the online mode that add some other dimension to the game. Don't be surprised if this game hits the top of the charts.
User Reviews
Final Fantasy XIII (Xbox 360) - 98 reviews
If you're one of those addicted to gaming and you have been waiting for new and incredible games to play in your chosen console, then the wait is finally over. The latest installment of the Final Fantasy is available in the Xbox 360 game console. You can now enjoy new adventures made in a very creative and polished game interface.
Final Fantasy has been considered to be one of the best role playing games in the gaming industry. It has been known to have very interesting characters, elaborate stories, and multifaceted battle systems. Now with the new installment, a more straightforward approach is used in the entire game overarching some well-loved series traditions. But fans of the game series will never be disappointed because the battle system and the narrative remain as strong as those in the past versions of the game.
Fans and gamers will get to experience the exciting adventure of Final Fantasy XIII featuring 6 different characters, with Lightning taking the lead role. Reminiscent of Final Fantasy VI, you hold control over the 6 different characters in different times and get to frequently jump between different characters. In terms of story structure, fans and gamers will enjoy the multi-story approach as well as the cool use of flashbacks throughout the game story.
Themes stay very relevant to the game play of Final Fantasy XIII. And one of the highlights is the establishment of a dynamic link between the two worlds of Final Fantasy XIII – Pulse and Cocoon. Interestingly, Final Fantasy incorporates mythology, such as some of the major religions in the world; into the entire game play, with the inclusion of gods called fal'Cie to protect humanity. The relationship of the humans and their fal'Cie counterparts is also shown creatively in the entire game.
Final Fantasy XIII also delivers a very interesting and solid battle system. The game starts with a simple menu-driven system; then it gradually develops into a more complex and challenging system. The classic ATB or Active Time Battle Principle is also utilized in the entire game. Players are able to do numerous tricks in a single action with the multi-slot ATB gauge. Because the game has an attack queue system, players are able to build up combos and conduct other important tasks when the situation gets difficult.
Each character of Final Fantasy XIII is crucial; and survival in this game depends on the performance and interaction among the characters, unlike in the past versions where a job system has been set up. This installment also has six roles and by the end of the game all the characters would have had access to each role, which will ultimately be the deciding factor on how well you play the game. These roles are what keep the game totally heart-pounding and leave you gasping for breath. The battles are kept crisp, robust and exciting by all the role-playing, which is most essential in RPG.
One interesting thing about this version is the swanky grouping of the roles called Paradigms where players can shift roles at any part of the game as may be deemed most suitable to deal with any given situation. This role switching – or what you may call Paradigm shift – heightens the tension and the thrilling sensation; which is why this game is such fun to play. There's none of the mundane, dull moves to this game.
Final Fantasy XIII is not without its share of issues. The linearity of the game is still very apparent Players will also get to notice of the linearity; although it's not really enough of a problem to distract you from the fun part. Also very noticeable is the obvious absence of the mini games, which Final Fantasy has been well known for and has even become a trademark. Also bothersome is the lack of New Game + option, which is now very common in RPGs. It could get frustrating when players couldn't go back and re-experience the thrill of the earlier portions of the game without having to start from scratch.
With all those great game features, the little problems become negligible really. You can still enjoy a great JRPG that sports a challenging, fast-paced and absolutely satisfying battle system. Despite the few drawbacks, the game is still truly worth buying.
User Reviews
Virtua Tennis 2009 (Xbox 360) - 98 reviews
Video games have stayed in the market for years but most of them become successful because of continuous upgrades and innovation. But, for over ten years of being in the gaming world, Virtua Tennis has hardly changed and their latest version Virtua Tennis 2009 is no different. Like other VTs, the series still comes with its three basic shots - the top spin, slice and the lob.
Virtua Tennis 2009 is not without improvement though. A tiny advancement is made on the players' movement where they don't dive for shots directed on the baseline; and you do need to practice a lot to be able to do powerful returns. But aside from that, the rest is basically the same, which is truly disappointing.
There are times when the AI doesn't work. Even though Sumo digital has done away with the diving that has damaged the playing in the past, players in this new game still have to charge for the balls, sometimes going down on one knee just to hit back. This is fine except that sometimes during matches, the AI would blast off, running right after serving; taking away the challenge of the game. It feels like when you move to a direction before the opponent serves, they take that same direction after returning the shot. All of this could be a form of guessing and anticipating where you're going to hit, based on the direction of your last hit. In any case, everything just doesn't seem to add up.
Animation is also an issue, especially when you are about to hit a ball. Sometimes players make sudden jerks when doing their moves. Interestingly enough, this only happens when games are played on a Melbourne court or online. The new sequel does not shout creativity when it comes to innovation. It could have been more exciting if they tried to develop new controls instead of doing nothing at all to expand the gameplay.
Most of the plays are done in World Tour mode where you get to create a player. Here the feature interface is a far cry from satisfactory as players often end up scaring gamers instead of creating tennis stars. This mode has not even changed a bit just like the gameplay. You still travel throughout the world in handpicked destinations. Everything from the home, to training in the academy to doing things with your partner or playing their mini-games; everything has stagnated into boring sameness.
The audio is even more of a let-down. They have this tennis music going in the background during each game that pervades like annoying little mosquitoes and their striking ball sound effects is pitiable to put it mildly. You bet gamers would rather opt for total silence while playing.
The one significant change that can probably save the day from a total rain check is the added feature of bringing your customized player online to improve career ranking by competing in multiplayer games. I'm sure you won't be surprised to know that even that has a hitch, too. There is an awful lag in every match you play, which can really drive you to the edge of annoyance.
Virtua Tennis 2009 is just like any VT available on the market. Nothing is new that would excite gamers about this new installment. There is no innovation that would pique up your interests. Although some would undoubtedly love its consistency, those who are looking for something new will most likely feel even more frustrated than before.
User Reviews
EA Sports Active: Personal Trainer (Wii) - 98 reviews
Getting in shape is quite a big task nowadays. But the bigger concern is how to get motivated to get in shape. I bet you have been to the gym and spent so much money investing on memberships and the like yet still you have not gained much in terms of your goal to stay fit. This is an opportunity for you to grab the EA Sports Wii and avail of the Personal Trainer game. This may sound a little exaggerated as normal athletes will not normally engage in this stuff but for an average guy like you, it can have a big impact on your plan get in shape; here's a real good motivation if you need one. This is the time to get you going with your stay-in-shape campaign with the help of the Wii Personal Trainer that has so much to offer.
The counterpart of Personal Trainer, the Wii Fit, has been a disappointment. You've probably tried it too and I bet you did not enjoy it (and you haven't really lost weight with that program either). Yes, you would have been better off if you just joined yoga sessions. But now the long wait is finally over for you; you now have the option to try the Personal Trainer. This game lets you set your own personal goals which are recorded. You can get to work out in a particular time, burn calories in a set and work out a number of times in the same set. This game can give you a sense of purpose, and there really isn't that many games like this one.
The Personal Trainer offers players to try the 30 day challenge. You can choose the program that suits you; there's a variety of workouts offered by the Personal Trainer so that overworking can be prevented. The Personal Trainer likewise offers a combination of cardio and strength exercises; although the focal point is aerobic exercises. The activity focuses on the speed and flexibility of the player.
With the various exercises that the game offers, the player can instantly combine kicks and running in a single set. The good thing about this virtual fitness activity is that you actually do the exercises in real. You get to work every muscle, depending on the chosen program. You can select from exercise sets such as squatting, bicep curls, skating, throwing baseball, playing tennis, playing basketball and hitting the heavy bag in boxing. These compound exercises make the workout feel refreshing and more interesting; thus, prevent you from getting bored.
After taking the 30 day-challenge you can see a remarkable improvement, as long as you follow your chosen workout religiously. It is a game that provides a fabulous array of different workouts to choose from, all in one Personal Trainer.
With the increasing awareness of the importance to stay in good shape and keep fit, the competition for this kind of game has gotten stiffer. The Personal Trainer has already raised the bar and this is definitely going to be the best videogame workout ever created on the planet. So you better grab your own Personal Trainer now.
User Reviews
NBA 2K15 - Xbox One - 98 reviews
Some franchises age like a fast food cheeseburger, others like a fine wine. The NBA 2K series has been going on now for over a decade and each installment seems to build off of the precedence set by the one before it. NBA 2K15, which dropped last October for all of the current and next gen consoles, is a splendid serving of wonderful hardwood action. The crew at 2K sports seemed intent on making their game live up to the highest standards possible and it shows. NBA 2K15 is the LeBron James of basketball video games right now and for a ton of different reasons. Let's dive in and see if you can handle all the squeaks, swats, and dunks of professional basketball.
NBA 2K15 Is Style Meets Substance!
If there is any sport that is more renown for its slick presentation, stylish gameplay, and almost transcendent solo accomplishments then it has to be the NBA. The game of basketball can be changed by one single player and it is often done in a style that turns the feats into legend. Much like LeBron James or Michael Jordan carrying their squads to greatness, NBA 2K15 makes winning games look and sound good. The first thing that players will notice is that the whole presentation of the game has been taken to the next level. Upon the first tip off of your 2K15 career you will notice how legitimate and real to life each player looks. From tattoos to hair cuts to undershorts you can identify your favorite ballers. The stadiums look sharp and the on court action looks as real as ever. Of course when your eyes start to gravitate toward the crowd you'll notice that the presentation falters a bit. But you shouldn't be looking up there anyway. The new commentary tracks are on point and they actually last a fair bit of time before you turn them off and utilize the 'NBA Beats' music option instead. You'll enjoy tracks from Pharell and Depeche Mode along with the usual array of enjoyable hip hop.
What About The Gameplay?
Man, what's a basketball game if you can't enjoy crossing someone over or getting to the hoop? The NBA 2K series has long been one of the most consistent and 'in the flow' basketball games on the market. 2K15 pushes things to the next level. Depending on what player you use your skill set will transfer accordingly. With guys like Kevin Durant you can time your jumper to seamlessly rip net from just about any section of the court. Try that same technique with Dwight Howard and you'll get some not so similar results. Your guys on the court respond with a touch of the control and the different dribbles, dunks, and crossovers are easy enough to access. With that said you won't be able to just bully your opposition at a moments notice. The AI isn't technically more difficult in this installment but they DO play smarter. You won't see opposing PGs drive to the rim only to kick it back out to get a 20 footer from their center. You'll also get punished for throwing crazy passes and trying to Superman their entire team. In short: you need to keep your head in the game to succeed, which is what basketball should always be about.
Many Game Modes To Play!
One of the biggest faults most fans have with the 2K series is their lack of deep game modes. There has always been the GM, single season, and MyPlayer mode but that's been just about it. For 2K15 we are getting the 'MyTeam' mode addition right alongside of all of our favorites from last year. In MyTeam you collect players and try to put together the ultimate dream team for competition. You can collect them through gameplay or buy and sell players at the Auction House. One way or another you can build up one of the better squads online. MyGM mode has also been appropriately improved. You have as much control as possible and probably more than you want to pay attention to.
In short NBA 2K15 is the basketball game that fans have been waiting for. It isn't a complete reinvention of the genre and it won't shake you to the core BUT it does offer the most complete NBA experience to ever be released.
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This is how pvp works in swtor - it sucks
General Discussion « Star Wars: The Old Republic
Re the PvP on Illum, it sounds just like the screw-up made by Funcom in AoC's Bori.
I really wish that developers would study a bit of game theory to try to model players' likely behaviour in advance when developing PvP situations involving rewards.
Just a basic understanding of situations like prisoners' dilemma and the like could provide some insight.
Don't call me a hater because I don't like the game
General Discussion « Star Wars: The Old Republic
Sounds like you had high expectations which the game didn't meet. Whose fault is that? Perhaps the game's, or yours, or more probably a bit of both. Hope you find something you do like.
Aside : Even if the game doesn't suit now, see how it sits with you later perhaps (money and/or special offers permitting) - the expectations may have paled by then and you may perhaps like it then. But, if not....not!
OT : So, if you don't want this (rather divided) board to call you a "hater" - how about a "disliker"? :P
LF MMO w/ Immersion
LFGame « General Discussion
GW2 sounds like it's the closest thing to what you may be looking for, although some of their ideas come across as hype to an extent. GW2 might be what you want, but I'm really not sure - depends on how is meaures up on release. There are anime influences in their art, I believe, but it's meant to be an option of some kind (?) (Disclaimer : I dislike the art style of anime)
Other than that, you could try games like A Tale in the Desert, but that's very far from anime, has a niche population, and may be too sandboxy for your taste. Eve Online could perhaps float your starship, if sci-fi is your thing.
One last thought....meant in all seriousness....have you tried tabletop RPG? The kind of consequence you're looking for is of the *really* permanent kind, and a tabletop setting could cater to that (I understand that this option may well not suit)
MSNBC Game of the Year
General Discussion « Star Wars: The Old Republic
Best MMO of the year? Sure, I can go for that....but the bar isn't too high IMO - e.g. Rift...not a bad game, but not a strong contender by my reckoning.
Best *game* of the year? Heck no! Skyrim is leagues better. Deus Ex : HR is also better as far as I'm concerned.
[POLL] Fans OF Guild Wars 2, What is your Race? Pt.2 [Mod Edit]
General Discussion « Guild Wars 2
Human...just because of GW1, and because I like the style of the race
That said, I plan to make an alt charr engineer, and the Sylvari do interest me - they seem like a slightly different take on elves - much like the Aldryami of RQ2 (happy days a long time ago...)
What IP Would You Play Religiously If It Came Out With An MMO (Even if it was a Themepark MMO)
The Pub at MMORPG.COM « General Discussion
Call of Cthulhu
Mass Effect
Conan (would prefer Funcom's version to be lower fantasy than it is, but meh)
With all the above, a lot would depend on implementation, of course.
[POLL] Fans OF Guild Wars 2, What is your profession? PT1
General Discussion « Guild Wars 2
Mesmer (human) - my main was a mesmer back in GW1 (nd I loved it!) ,so I plan on mesmer being my main character in GW2. Also plan to have a Charr Engineer as an alt.
I'm hoping I like the game as much as I did GW1, but there are some concerns for me.
I have a question...is the conflict between the Sith and Republic..
General Discussion « Star Wars: The Old Republic
Didn't Warhammer try something like that? I believe that kind of gameplay was what they intended to include.
However, that didn't work out so well; when one side was locked out of facilities etc., affected people would just relog to another character on the opposite faction and/or another server.
Whilst the initial goal was admirable, the consequence was less so.
There are some obvious ways to limit that (e.g. restricting an account to one faction and/or server only), but that runs a high risk of alienating more people than the original idea might attract.
I'm hoping that some aspects of what you want might be found in GW2, but I'm remaining cautious about how well it will be implemented in practice (will try the game to see how it feels).
Trion pledges to donate $1 for each digital upgrade you buy
General Discussion « Rift
Originally posted by Orphes
It could well be...though it depends what you mean by "better". It's certainly financially better for the charity for people to do 2 rather than 3.
Is it morally better?
For a consequentialist view of morality one would probably think so as it would, one hopes, be improving the lot of the less fortunate.
However, not everyone agrees that the consequences of actions are all that matters, morally speaking; many would hold the reasons for which something is done as being of prime importance in moral considerations.
I have to say that I don't like this kind of marketing ploy; particularly distasteful to me is how it instrumentalises charity
General Discussion « Star Wars: The Old Republic
Originally posted by DLangley
Good to know, but just to remind you that macros are actually part of Rift's own programming i.e. built in by the game designers. So, in Rift, they're in no way 3rd party.
To echo others' feelings, I very much disliked Rift's macro system - it reduced some specs to needing very few buttons, and made the game play less interesting overall.
My opinion re macroing is therefore "gawd, I hope not!"
Don't listen to the uninformed Haters..
General Discussion « Darkfall
Originally posted by Meowhead
Both WAR and AoC have subscribers. For AoC, you can do most of the early game and very little of the end game as a free player. For WAR, I thought free accounts were capped to Level 10 or so (?)
Tried AoC again.. uninstalled the next day.
General Discussion « Age of Conan
Each to their own I guess. I enjoyed AoC when I started, and I still do.
Even though I've had some periods when I get tired with it, I keep coming back and am enjoying it at present.
I also played Rift, taking a couple of months' break from AoC, but it wasn't to my liking (wasn't keen on the mechanics, and didn't find it immersive, personally).
I've never tried or played WoW but, based on my experience in Rift, don't intend to.
Hope you find a game you enjoy.
Give it a try?
General Discussion « Age of Conan
Originally posted by Deadlyne
I was under the impression that FTP players could one play one class from each archetype, as follows -
Soldier archetype - Guardian (yep, this one tends to be tanky)
Priest archetype - Priest of Mitra - Healer
Rogue archetype - Barbarian - Melee dps
Mage archetype - Demonologist - Ranged magic damage, focussing on AoE
Tap-Repeatedly: Exclusive Interview with Bobby Stein 2
General Discussion « Guild Wars 2
Can see what you guys mean - it does sound a little staged.
Aside from that, I'm glad he raised the issue of voice acting, as this was one of my major gripes with GW:Factions - the voice acting in that was (IMO) painfully bad....so bad it was immersion-breaking.
Luckily ANet upped their game re this for Nightfall....
So, to hear that they are actually thinking about the quality of voice acting/synchronisation in advance for GW2 provides a degree of reassurance, although the fan reaction from the English fan-base that the VO is "cheesy" is not.
Rift Immersion
General Discussion « Rift
I agree - Rift really didn't feel immersive to me.
Switching roles all the time was also a negative to me re immersion. I tended to play my main as a chloromancer as much as I could, but even that paled, as the instances were ones I'd managed to do many times, and one invasion began to feel much like another.
The world itself didn't grab me, even though some of the ideas behind the game lore-wise are kinda innovative.
In essence, I pretty much agree with all of your points.
Unlike you, however, I'm no longer finding it entertaining. I think my 6-month founders sub still has a few more weeks to run but, after that, I'm out of Rift (TBH, haven't even played it for a month now).
Profession Poll
General Discussion « Guild Wars 2
Well, I loved mesmer in GW1 so, assuming that the secret class is indeed that, a Human Mesmer for my first character.
Second character will be a Charr Engineer, I reckon.
Rift / Rift - Patcher Trojan?
General Discussion « Rift
If you're using Kaspersky, this is a known issue. There's a post by one of the devs about it on the Rift forums - apparently Kaspersky are working on a fix.
(Poll) Your favorite GW class and will it effect your GW2 class choice?
General Discussion « Guild Wars 2
Another one to add to the heap - mesmer was my favourite GW class, and I hope to play that (or a reasonable facsimile thereof) in GW2.
Ranger was also fun in GW, though I'm not sure that, in GW2, it's following the same kinds of ideas it was in GW
Your top three best classes from any MMORPG
The Pub at MMORPG.COM « General Discussion
Mesmer - Guild Wars
Bear Shaman - Age of Conan
Warden - LotRO
What does everyone think about GW2's graphics? (fans and nonfans)
General Discussion « Guild Wars 2
Hm...I enjoyed GW1 (a lot) but the plans re graphics of GW are perhaps the only thing that could turn me off the game. I'm confident in Anet's ability to release a quality product without too many bugs.
From the preview vids, the graphics look to be of very high technical quality, but the artistic style is not really to my tatse.
I mean.....personally I'm happy with the animations for necro and ele, but find that too much when looking at warriors and rangers - to me it feels overdone.
I guess I just prefer low fantasy to high fantasy. Re the races, it's similar - I have a feeling that I may end up preferring the "humans only" set up of GW1 to seeing Asura, Charr etc. also looking for groups.
That said, I still plan to get a CE when the game starts and play a mesmer (again), assuming that the class is in the game (which I'm pretty sure it will be).
I guess I'll suck it and see, but am cautiously optimistic.

subset: commoncrawl


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Keel bolt issue
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Keel bolt issue
Catalina has an unadvertised program for replacing keels. Call them and get the details. Last I knew you had to remove the old keel, make a template of the old bolt pattern and ship the old keel back to the factory for a swap out on a new keel with your bolt pattern. When I checked this out three years ago (for my C-30) the price was around ten cents a pound with exchange of a lead keel. I would imagine they would not want your cast iron keel back so you could just send them the template and buy a new lead keel. The prices are very reasonable.....The other alternative is to do nothing and beleive it or not it may be the best alternative. I''ve been on boats where the nuts are similar in shape to a mushroom cap and the keels are still hangin in there. The early keels were bedded with a product similar to 5200 when the boat yard re-fastened my keel they took all the nust off and the keel was still hanging there. They had to use a sawzall to remove it. It finally came free when only two inches of bedding were holding it and then the fiberglass gave way not the bedding compound. My vote is to leave it alone or you''ll spend more money than it''s worth and never recoup your investment....
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MUSIC Hurt, sad and lonely? Find solace in songs
Many people probably relate to the popular mantra of 'when I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome instead'. Yet, a different part of that culture is responsible for making us mope and bawl.
Last month, the results of a research poll conducted by Daily Telegraph on the most depressing songs placed R.E.M hit 'Everybody Hurts' at the top. The survey also found gender-related insights: 84 per cent of men and nearly 90 per cent of women aged between 18 and 24 had tears in their eyes, listening to music. With those above the age of 55, the figure fell to 74 per cent.
A quick glance at nothing more than the titles of these songs is telling: love makes everyone depressed. Loneliness comes a close second, which explains the choice of songs such as "Sound of Silence". There are the puzzling inclusions of "The Living Years", which is more about regret, and Sinatra's "My Way", a song that is more triumphant than languishing.
More important, the list raises the question: is the combination of music and love mentally unhealthy? Hansika Kapoor, a student who is researching clinical psychology at Mumbai University, feels that a song's "melodic and lyrical themes can exaggerate a depressed state, and in some cases even cause it."
"But the latter is likely to be momentary, where you 'feel sad' after hearing a song. Misery loves miserable company," she adds. Perhaps another thing most songs on the list have in common is that they emphasise lyrics and vocal delivery more than musical ingenuity. The listener is more likely to be drawn in by the words.
Siddharth Basrur, singer-songwriter and vocalist of alternative metal band Goddess Gagged, explains why he writes sad songs. "I write them to express how I'm feeling. I find it cathartic. When I sing those songs, it reminds me of those times and makes me never want to go back there again."
Rather than make his fans feel miserable, Basrur says his aim is catharsis, for himself and his listeners. "I'm hoping my songs help the listeners in some way or the other. There have been people who've come up to me after gigs and told me how they've felt emotional during my set. It is definitely not my intention to make my audience feel depressed."
State of mind
In terms of psychology, there is also the question of how depression is different from sadness. Anuradha Sovani, professor at the University of Mumbai and consultant at the Institute for Psychological Health in Thane, says there is ambiguity in the way both terms are used: "Sadness is a generic term for a mood state which may be a passing one. Depression, on the other hand, is a technical label for a diagnosable mood disorder which would require intervention. Unfortunately, the latter tends to be used loosely and hence the two words are often used interchangeably."
"WHO defines depression as 'a common mental disorder that presents with depressed mood, loss of interest or pleasure, feelings of guilt or low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, low energy, and poor concentration'. These problems can become chronic or recurrent and lead to substantial impairments in an individual's ability to take care of his or her everyday responsibilities."
Dr. Sovani agrees with Basrur that listening to sad songs is not always detrimental. "I do not think listening to songs is a saddening or depressing experience, since if it were so, nobody would have listened to them. Human beings enjoy experiencing a range of emotions, and songs that invoke sad memories are often part of this range. Hence, if songs of parting make one sad, they also remind us of the loved one we parted from. It is these memories that we look for, or this experience that underlines the fact that we are alive and responsive!"
Kapoor also points out that the surveyed age group has more things to get depressed about than just love. "Most of those things do not feature in the top 20 depressing songs list, one of them being existential crises: the sense of not knowing which path one wants to tread, or likes treading, often occurring in young adulthood, when there are more options than decisions."
There are probably plenty of famous songs out there about existential crises, but love seems to be the one subject people are more likely to bemoan. And for good reasons.


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The Hatewatch blog is managed by the staff of the Intelligence Project of the Southern Poverty Law Center, an Alabama-based civil rights organization.
Conspiracy Theorists: Isaac Caused by God, Gov't, or Maybe Chemtrails
Hurricane Isaac has inconvenienced a lot of people.
Many thousands of Gulf Coast residents have boarded up windows and sought shelter inland. And many others are now facing the prospect of cleaning up and rebuilding flooded homes and businesses.
But the inconvenienced people we've been hearing about most are the pundits and politicians who gathered in Tampa this week for the Republican National Convention. ( continue to full post… )
Anti-LGBT Zealots Target Fox and Bill O'Reilly
Leave it to extreme elements of the anti-LGBT right to make Fox News look almost "fair and balanced" after all.
Frequently the target of left-leaning criticism, the cable news network and its most popular host, Bill O'Reilly, are now coming under fire for "helping violent homosexuals to kill Christians."
Last week, a group of anti-gay activists leveled that charge as part of a campaign aimed at stopping O'Reilly from inviting LGBT rights advocate Wayne Besen onto his primetime program. ( continue to full post… )
Two 'Sovereigns' Plead Guilty in Alaska Murder Plot
An Alaska couple who are antigovernment "sovereign citizens" face lengthy prison terms after pleading guilty Monday to charges they plotted to kill a federal judge and an IRS agent involved in a tax case against them.
Lonnie Vernon, 56, a member of Schaeffer Cox's Alaska Peacemakers Militia, and his wife, Karen Vernon, 66, admitted conspiring to kill U.S. District Court Judge Ralph Beistline and IRS officer Janice Stowell in 2011 in retaliation for ruling the couple owed more than $165,000 in back taxes. ( continue to full post… )
New Intelligence Report Focuses on Possible Border Vigilante Killings
Are U.S.-born vigilantes murdering Latino immigrants near the U.S.-Arizona border?
The Southern Poverty Law Center today released its latest issue of the Intelligence Report, and the magazine's cover story sifts through some of the evidence suggesting that undocumented immigrants may have been killed by nativist extremists in Arizona.
While the story is not conclusive, it cites internal law enforcement documents focusing on the murders of four people in two 2007 incidents near Eloy, Ariz., that say that "[i]t appears that the same group of individuals is working in concert to intentionally kill IAs [illegal aliens]." The story also examines the remarkably similar murders of two people this April in the same remote area of the state. ( continue to full post… )
Prosecutors: Secret 'Militia' in Army Planned to Blow Dam, Poison Apples
Four members of a secret militia group, now facing murder charges in Georgia, operated inside the ranks of the U.S. Army and discussed blowing up a dam and poisoning fruit crops in Washington State, authorities said Monday. The motives of the alleged plotters remained murky.
The revelation came as Army Pfc. Michael Burnett, 26, struck a plea bargain with prosecutors in Long County, Ga., agreeing to testify against three other soldiers who called themselves the FEAR militia (Forever Enduring Always Ready). ( continue to full post… )
Conspiracists Say Recent Shootings 'False Flag' Attacks by Government
Kurt Nimmo says that there is no problem with violent white supremacists in the military.
His boss, Alex Jones, says that there is no problem with gun violence in America – at least, no problem that's not a result of government-sponsored "mind-control" experiments.
Jones and Nimmo, who are among the biggest spinners of conspiracy theories in the United States, are revered within the antigovernment "Patriot" movement, which is always eager to ascribe malevolent plots to the government. Their fantastical allegations appeared recently on Infowars and PrisonPlanet, Jones-run websites that warn obsessively of a supposed government conspiracy to surrender national sovereignty to the forces of a fascistic "New World Order." ( continue to full post… )
Arizona Neo-Nazi Was Sober, Drug-Free During Murder Spree
Immigrant-hating neo-Nazi J.T. Ready was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs when he went on a murderous rampage in early May in Gilbert, Ariz., killing four people before taking his own life, a newly released autopsy report says.
Jason Todd "J.T." Ready, 39, died from a single bullet he fired into his own "right temporal scalp," Maricopa County Medical Examiner Etoi Davenport ruled in the formal autopsy report. "The cause of death is gunshot wound of the head, and the manner of death is suicide," the report said. ( continue to full post… )
Bulletin: Four Soldiers in 'Militia' Said to Plot Government Overthrow
Update: The AP is reporting that members of the militia "wore distinctive tattoos that resemble an anarchy symbol," according to a prosecutor.
Prosecutors today said that four active-duty soldiers in Georgia formed what was described as an "anarchist militia" and took steps aimed at overthrowing the U.S. government, The Associated Press reported.
One of the four, Pfc. Michael Burnett, told a judge in Ludowici, Ga., today that former soldier Michael Roark and his girlfriend, 17-year-old Tiffany York, were murdered in December because he knew of the militia's plans and was a "loose end," the AP said. Burnett pleaded guilty today to manslaughter and gang charges.
The group spent $87,000 on guns and bomb-making materials, according to prosecutor Isabel Pauley. The AP also quoted Pauley saying the men intended to take over Fort Stewart, bomb unnamed sites in Savannah, Ga., and Washington state, and assassinate the president.
Nativist Lawyer Kris Kobach Jumps on Anti-Shariah Bandwagon
Kris Kobach, the immigrant-baiting attorney behind a raft of "attrition through enforcement" laws designed to make unauthorized immigrants' lives so miserable that they choose to "self-deport," is letting his Islamophobic colors fly.
Talking Points Memo reported last week that the Republican National Convention (RNC) has amended its platform to include a ban on "foreign law." Kobach introduced the plank, saying, "I'm not aware of any court that's actually accepted the argument, but in cases involving either spousal abuse or assault or other crimes against persons, sometimes defenses are raised that are based in Shariah Law."
Shariah law is Islamic religious law, and the far political right has spent much of the last two years ginning up groundless fears that it will be imposed on the United States — an impossibility under the Constitution. Already, two states have banned "foreign law" based on those fears, and close to two dozen others have considered such statutes despite Oklahoma's law being struck down last January. ( continue to full post… )
David Barton's Make-Believe Version of American History
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared on Aug. 20 at the website of Other Words, which publishes progressive editorials and offers them to newspapers around the country.
David Barton, a self-styled Christian historian who claims to debunk left-wing myths about America, is sure of it: If you studied the Founding Fathers like he has, you would know that "as far as they were concerned, they had already had the entire debate on creationism and evolution."
And the creationists, Barton says, won.
Just one little problem: Charles Darwin's On the Origin of the Species, the founding text of the theory of evolution, wasn't published until 1859. That's, oh, about three-quarters of a century after the founders were active. ( continue to full post… )


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I have a simple Python script that uses the socket module to send a UDP packet. The script works fine on my Windows box, but on my Ubuntu Linux PC the packet it sends is slightly different. On Windows the flags field in the IP header is zero, but using the same code on Linux created a packet with the flags field set to 4. I'd like to modify my script so it has consistent behavior on Windows and Linux.
Is there a method for controlling the flags field in the socket module? Or, is this a setting I have to change in Linux?


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My little guy knows all of his upper case letters, half of lower case, shapes, most of the sounds, colors, the general jest of opposites and he can rhyme to a certain extent. He counts fairly well, but still gets goofed up in some places. He can not, however, print much of anything just yet. He learns so differently than his sisters did. He loves books and will listen intently while I read. And, altough he is finally eager to sit and do learning pages, his attention span isn't more than a half hour or so at this. He is quite immature in some ways. I am really starting to stress that he is not going to be ready. His class will be made up of 2/3 boys, some of which, I've been told, are pretty onery. My husband thinks he has plenty of time and will be fine. I am questioning holding him back a year.
Where are your little ones at? Can they print at all? Do they mostly retain from time to time what they have just learned?


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|Property type
|Minimum Stay
|3 - 7 nights
We call it our secret hideaway!
The Main House:
An all glass jewel box on the top a sand dune overlooking Lake Michigan. An open floor plan includes a large galley-style kitchen, yards of open counter space for buffets, a large outdoor dining area with seating for 20, indoor dining area that can seat 20 with folding tables, living room with glass on all sides for lake and dune views, a master bedroom with queen size bed and a guest bedroom with two full size beds and two twin beds bunked over the top of them.
360 degree views bring Lake Michigan into all parts of the house and most rooms overlook the expansive pool deck, gazebo dining area and Lake Michigan. The house comes with 2 central a/c units but Lake Michigan breezes make it unnecessary most of days and nights. A paved circular driveway provides parking for up to 4 cars.
The Guest House:
Connected to the main house by a private walkway, the open floor plan includes a full kitchen, dining room with seating for 10, living room with glass on two sides for lake and dune views, a master bedroom with king size bed and two guest bedrooms each with two full size beds.
Abundant windows provide lake views from the living room, dining room and kitchen. A large deck runs the entire length of the house on the lake side with plenty of space for outdoor dining, sunning or watching sunsets. The cottage comes with central a/c but lake breezes make it unnecessary most of days and nights. Our paved driveway provides parking for up to 4 cars.
The Beach:
The stairway to the beach is right outside your door. Enjoy sunning on the sandy beach, swimming in the crystal clear water, or walking miles of serene shoreline away from the crowds of urban life. If you prefer a beach with lifeguards, the Indiana State Park Beach is only a 15 minute walk away. After a day on the beach you'll enjoy incredible sunsets over the distant Chicago skyline and on many evenings you'll encounter bonfires hosted by friendly "Dunies"
The Location:
The nearby Dunes State Park offers miles and miles of hiking, sand dunes and bike paths. Just 2 miles to the new Seven Peaks Water Park for kids. Bicyclers will also enjoy the National Lakeshore bike trail that is just a miles ride from the cottage and is free from motorized vehicles.
Nearby Valparaiso still operates a drive in movie theater for old fashioned family fun.
The houses are supplied with sheets and towels, dishes, glassware, and cooking supplies, as well as a gas grill. For those who prefer to bring their own bedding and or pillows, we have one king bed, one queen and 7 full size beds and two twins
Sorry, to protect our guests with allergies, we do not allow pets.
Lake Michigan Family Compound is the perfect beach vacation for an extended family - panoramic Lake Michigan views, just steps to the beach, lots of space for eating, sleeping, or gathering indoors or out and just an hour from Chicago. Immediately East of East Beach Dune Acres.
If you thought the listing photos were too good to be true....let us tell you that it was all that and more! The main home was as if someone said "Welcome to my Paradise!" Well maintained & expertly decorated with amenities for a crowd and scenic views like you've never seen in Indiana. Beautiful sunsets...more times than not when you looked out over Lake Michigan you could imagine yourself in the Caribbean with all the beautiful blue & green hues of the water. At night we could see Chicago lit up in the distance. Photo ops were endless. The guest house was very comfortable and a great place for the younger crowd that wanted to party a little later & sleep in. Seating for 20 or more inside & out. The pool was fabulous after an afternoon on the beach. No negatives about this property. Sleeping 16-18 may be more comfy than 20. Only suggestion...an outdoor rinse off station/hose at top of steps from beach to keep from tracking sand in pool and on patio area. Sweet memories were made and we hope to come back. By the way...did I mention that we loved it!
We have rented homes on Lake Michigan for the last 5 years and had a wonderful week! This home and the owners will leave your family with lasting memories. The owners were responsive, helpful and easy to work with. Our group is a bit of a challenge as we range in age from 4 to 87. The home was set up in a manner to suit us all. Thank you for the memorable week! We entertained the teenagers with walks on the beach, trips to the dunes and a quick train to Chicago for a day. My 87 year old mother-in-law was very comfortable in the main house and even ventured down to the guest house a time or two to check in on the kids. THANK YOU, THANK YOU!
Our group of 16 really enjoyed this property and location. Things we loved - the view, the pool, lounge chairs, room for everyone to eat together indoors or out, large living room for gathering our whole group, cleanliness - especially al those windows, lots of neat things to explore in the area and access to a nice beach with gorgeous sunsets and volleyball! Things that should be addressed to make it worth the fee charged - main grill did not work and was very, very dirty - even after the owner worked on it the second day, only drain in main kitchen sink is a non-working garbage disposal - had to reach down near blades to clear out bits of food several times during the week so it would drain properly, light in pool is coming out of socket exposing wires and light switch could easily be turned on when someone is in the pool putting them in danger of a shock, several windows in guest house have no or non-working screens so there's not good cross ventilation. Pictures do not show that the guest house is two steep flights of stairs below the main house. The houses slept 16 okay with some people in the guest house living room, but to sleep 20 you would have to put 6 people in the guesthouse bedroom with the trundle bunk fully open which leaves very little floor space and only a small closet (no dressers) for the luggage of 6 people - and 12 people in the guest house with one bathroom. If you want to kayak, canoe, etc., you need to bring those items with you. Overall, we had a great week.
We had our entire family stay here for the 4th of July and we had a wonderful time. The pool is beautiful and very large. The beach is just down a flight of stairs and there is a parking spot close to the beach for those who can't take the stairs. The views from inside the house and on the deck are amazing! We took the train into Chicago and had a great time. The owners were wonderful to work with. We highly recommend this property.
We stayed at the family compound and it was a perfect setup for our family reunion. The lower house was perfect for the 8 teenage cousins. The view is beautiful and the lake is a stair climb to the beach. There is a lower level parking spot which was great to drive the grandparents and two infants to the beach. It was nice to have a pool when the beach got too hot. Plenty of outdoor seating for the family to sit down and eat together and we grilled every night. The owners checked in to make sure we had every thing we needed. Thanks Michael and Bruce!
My wife and I are actually from indiana and grew up in valparaiso, but when we lived right on the beach in this amazing house, we felt like we were on vacation very far way. It is hard to describe everything but lets talk about the house. It is a very cool and hip place, three bedrooms, the living room is huge and the kitchen is awesome for cooking. The view from the kicthen looking at the lake is stunning and on clear days you can see chicago far off in the distance. We would watch the sunset from the awesome balcony everynight. Everything in the house is great and it is loaded with everything you need. I forgot to mention the beds are super comfortable. The beach is super nice and no crowds at all. I would be the only one running most of the time. You are also a couple minutes drive from the many miles of hiking in Indiana dunes or you can hike from the house toget to the trails. A lot people go to the beach(public side) when the weather is perefect, but if it does get windy or a cool front comes thru, you feel as you are in califorina as huge waves crash on the dunes.We would just drink coffee and watch the waves break. Also it is 5 minutes from the south shore train to chicago It is a very cozy place and we were just thrilled with it. The owners are super nice.
Located just 2 miles off I-94 at the Indiana Dunes exit, we are easy to reach by car in less than a one hour drive from Chicago. For those needing to dash back to Chicago or get to the airport during your vacation, the Chicago South Shore commuter train line is only 5 minutes away and runs West to downtown Chicago and East to the South Bend airport. Our area has many great resources for a family vacation. Supermarkets, K-Mart, and a number of family dining options are just 3 miles away in Chesterton. And for cooks, Chesterton's European Market provides an opportunity to find local produce, fresh baked goods, artisanal cheeses, and charcutare every Saturday. Local produce, gifts and antiques are also available at the charming Schoolhouse Shop.
The great variety of gourmet and family dining options are detailed below.
|Rate Period
|Weekend Night
Early Season Special
May 15 2015 - Jun 18 2015
3 night minimum stay
Peak Summer Season
Jun 19 2015 - Aug 13 2015
7 night minimum stay
My Standard Rate
3 night minimum stay
|Tax Rate
All rates subject to 7% Indiana Sales Tax.
$1,000 refundable security deposit required.
The rental week starts after 3:30pm on Fridays and runs until 10am the following Friday – that allows the housekeepers and us to prepare the house for the next family's vacation.
A $1000 deposit is required to confirm your reservation and the full rent is due 6 weeks prior to check-in. Upon check in the depo
Payment is usually accepted in the quoted currency (USD) unless the currency and the amount is specifically agreed in advance with the owner / advertiser.


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In the edge of the peaceful town of Katzrin, with the landscape of Sea of Galilee to the south, Mt. Hermon to the... Más información »
An outdoor-orientated, cosy and clean home-style hostel in the heart of the most colourful region of Israel – the... Más información »
Our Bed and Breakfast is a taste of American comfort in the heart of Israel. Our New England style B&B offers... Más información »


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Scammers are always looking for new opportunities to scam people out of their personal information. In one of the latest scams, fake emails are going out, targeting Netflix subscribers. The phishing email leads users to a fake webpage that resembles the Netflix log-in page. Netflix users enter their account log-in information and the fake webpage claims the user's account has been suspended. A fake customer service number is provided and a "representative" recommends the user download the "Netflix support software," which is remote log-in software that gives the scam artist full access to the user's computer.
Scam artists often use reputable businesses to take advantage of consumers. There are three things consumers can look out for in this email. First, the phone number is not Netflix. Instead, the number belongs to a call center in India. Second, the webpage is a pop-up. Third, the "representative" wants to log in to your computer via remote software.
Here are some tips on how to avoid this scam and others like it:
•Never let someone log in to your computer remotely. When someone logs in, they can do anything you can do on your computer. They can access anything including personal and financial information.
•Do not click links in emails. It is better to type the address in the search bar manually.
•If the URL seems odd, do not continue to go to the site. If it is a scam, it will most likely have an unusual URL. It will likely contain a common name but be accompanied by some jumbled letters or numbers.
•Always look up the company's phone number on their website. If you need to call a company, look it up on their official website. This can make sure that you are calling a legitimate number.
For more advice on scams, visit www.bbb.org or call 1-800-388-2222.


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YSU should invest in parking
The meter has run out on Youngstown State University's M-2 parking deck. Instead of continuing to waste money on expensive and superficial repairs on a near 40-year-old dilapidated, poor excuse of a parking deck, YSU must wise up, tear down M-2, and build a safer, larger deck.
Last fall semester, a YSU student found his car damaged by falling debris from the deck. Sections were constantly being roped off as more of the structure begins to crumble. The deck's horrid condition also made it more inviting for crime, as proven by the armed robbery that took place there earlier this spring semester.
YSU's solution is to stuff more coins into the meter and buy time. Renovations, which begin on April 18, are only meant to last 10 years. Afterward, a new deck is to be built, but only time will tell if that will become a reality. If it does, the likely time frame will probably be longer, as the WATTS center delays prove. During renovations, students who can't find a parking spot, must park at the Covelli Centre and be shipped by a bus. Students buy parking passes to park, not to take a bus. If YSU plans to inconvenience its students to this extent, it should be for a higher reward than a slightly more stable deck that will need to be replaced soon.
YSU, largely a commuter school, should be planning for the future. In recent years, lack of parking spaces has become a frustration for all students. About 15,000 students enrolled for Fall 2010 and 11, 645 purchased parking permits, yet there are only 6,361 spots on campus. A new deck with more spaces is not a luxury, but a necessity based on increasing enrollment trends.
For a campus that prides itself on being one of the safest, YSU would be wise to invest in a deck with better safety measures. As the campus continues to extend it borders, it becomes less of a safe haven in the middle of one of the most crime and poverty ridden cities in the country.
Building a new parking deck would require funding. Parking Services has proposed adding a $9 per credit hour surcharge, amounting to $108 for full-time students. This is $30 more than students pay now for a permit. While this does add to the financial burden of already struggling college students, it will be more than worth it.
So if YSU officials would like to charge students $108 to park each semester, give them something in return: the comfort of knowing that they won't be robbed at gunpoint or return to their car to find parts of an ever-crumbling deck on top of it. If the budget allows for an innovative training center, a brand new, state-of-the-art business building, and one of the tallest rock-climbing walls in the state, surely it can allow for a way for students to park safely.
Jenn Zdelar, Struthers
m8ke_the_call, you should know that the land purchased by YSU on the west end of campus is for the use of the Athletic Dept. They plan to build a new softball complex and soccer field (w/ potential track) across the street from Stambaugh.
If there are about twice as many students who have parking passes than there are spaces why not raise the parking pass to the point where there are just as many passes as spaces. Then use the extra money to build a new parking deck. It seems to make little sense to charge people who are not parking to raise money to build a parking deck. Let the people who want to park raise the money.
The land across from Stambaugh Stadium will be used for the fields. If people don't come to YSU for sports, why is parking for the football and basketball games a joke? However, with my knowledge of the current condition of the M-2 deck, it is a total waste of funds to rehabilitate this structure. It has reached it's useful life long ago and needs replaced with a newer deck. There is way too much salt damage and the deck is functionally obsolete.
The investment in a parking structure would be a poor use of YSU\\\'s taxpayer & student funded dollars. Not that I disagree that parking is sometimes an issue, but the economics of constructing, let alone maintaining a parking deck just doesn\\\'t make sense. An elevated parking structure typically costs upwards of $30,000 per stall. A surface parking lot costs about $3,000 per stall. Given the fact that the property value in and around Youngstown is amongst the lowest in the nation and there are several empty parcels around the university, the solution - if it is determined that more parking is needed once the Lincoln Ave deck reopens - is to construct one or more surface lots.
YSU is a Division 1 school and is upgrading its facilities to be on a Division 1 level. We currently play softball at a little league park in Canfield and play soccer on a field with a crown. Try playing soccer on a field with a crown.
The bottom line is the athletic facility improvements have been planned for years and beautify YSU's presence along the Madison Avenue Expressway. There is plenty of areas YSU could add parking throughout campus or around campus.
My secret to the parking mess, schedule early classes and you won't have a problem.


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Smith Valley III
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7 responses
Lynn E. Harvey gave props (27 Nov 2012):
The tones and detail in these Ted are exquisite. The textures in the sky and subtley of the tree is perfect.
Robert Newman said (27 Nov 2012):
Nice treatment in this whole series!
Rob Linsalata gave props (27 Nov 2012):
Wonderful. Love the perspective, and the drop-focus tree in the distance adds a cinematic quality to this frame. Very cool.
Jenna Kim gave props (28 Nov 2012):
pov is dramatically shifting!
Susan B. Griffith said (30 Nov 2012):
Like the combination of stone and nature.
Yaz Hawkins said (4 Dec 2012):
Great series Ted!
David Goold gave props (17 Dec 2012):
So simple, so beautiful. Lovely juxtaposition.
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President Hugo Chavez and his allies accused opposition presidential candidate Henrique Capriles on Sunday of trying to provoke violence by campaigning in areas that have been bastions of support for the incumbent leader.
Mr. Chavez accused Mr. Capriles of trying to spur violence as part of a broader plan aimed at creating widespread political upheaval ahead of Venezuela's looming Oct. 7 presidential election.
"They are going to try to destabilise the country. I've been saying it and everybody should be alert," said Mr. Chavez, speaking to soldiers during a ceremony to promote military officers.
The socialist leader spoke after a scuffle Saturday involving stone-throwing Chavistas and opposition sympathisers who joined Mr. Capriles as he led a march in the poor Caracas district of La Vega. Police forced him to turn back without completing the march.
"Yesterday, for example, a very lamentable incident occurred. But it's evidence of this plan," Mr. Chavez said, speaking in front of hundreds of uniformed soldiers at Venezuela's largest military fort. "We must neutralise the destabilisation plans."
Pro-Chavez lawmaker Juan Carlos Aleman echoed the president's accusations.
Mr. Capriles demonstrated "an irresponsible attitude by staging an event in a neighbourhood that backs President Chavez," said Mr. Aleman.
Mr. Capriles called for calm and attempted to avoid any violence amid the tussle, which police broke up before violence escalated. No major injuries were reported.
"I'm not walking Venezuela's streets to fight with anybody," Mr. Capriles said. It was not the candidate's first foray into a Mr. Chavez bastion.
So far, campaigning ahead of an Oct. 7 presidential vote has mostly been peaceful, but observers warn the deep political polarisation and rising tensions between allies and adversaries of Mr. Chavez could boil over, making for a potentially violent campaign.
"There is a risk that minor clashes between supporters of both camps could escalate and threaten social peace. The distrust is profound, and arms are plentiful," said Michael Shifter, president of the Inter—American Dialogue think tank in Washington. "It is likely that cooler heads will prevail and the violence will be kept in check, but that is far from assured."
Mr. Capriles is seeking to shore up support from working-class and poor Venezuelans, which make up most of the country's 19 million voters.
Mr. Chavez denied that he's attempting to undermine Mr. Capriles' efforts to make inroads in poverty-stricken barrios.
"There has never been so much freedom in this country to exercise politics," he said.
Mr. Chavez, a former paratroop commander, noted that he has barely begun campaigning because he's still recovering from cancer treatment and attending day-to-day duties as president, but he expressed optimism that he'd defeat Mr. Capriles at the polls.
Over the past 13 months, Mr. Chavez has undergone two surgeries that removed tumors from his pelvic region, most recently in February. Mr. Chavez has not disclosed key details about his illness including the type of cancer he's fighting or the precise location of the tumors.
Following his cancer treatments, Mr. Chavez has appeared in public less frequently, preferring to address Venezuelans during marathon speeches broadcast on television and radio.
"I'm sure we are going to win the election. Of course, we have to work hard," he said.
Mr. Capriles' campaign manager, Armando Briquet, called on the National Electoral Council to send representatives to the area.
Election officials have not yet responded to the request.
Keywords: Venezuela presidential election, Hugo Chavez


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Football Betting at VietBet — Bucs Want to Turn Up Heat, But Bills May Be Ready For the No-Huddle
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have not won yet in the pre-season, and certainly they would like to get a more solid performance, especially as it takes place in the third game, which is traditionally the time for the "dress rehearsal" for NFL teams. On Saturday afternoon they will take the field at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, NY against the Buffalo Bills in football betting action that is set to kick off at 4:30 PM ET.
The Bills are in a slightly different situation than the Bucs in that they have already played three pre-season games, having competed in the Hall of Fame Game. They lost that one to the New York Giants, and also fell last week to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Tampa Bay is in a period of some transition as Lovie Smith has taken over as head coach, installing Josh McCown as the starting quarterback. The Bills have their starter in E.J. Manuel, and still have something to settle as far as backup roles are concerned.
In the football betting odds that have been established on this game by the people at VietBet, the Bills are favored by a field goal:
Buffalo Bills -3
Tampa Bay Buccaneers +3
Over 41.5 Points -110
Under 41.5 Points -110
No one is going to accuse Smith of not being about discipline, but his style is somewhat different than that of his more hard-nosed predecessor, Greg Schiano, and we suspect that is reflected in the mood at camp. At the same time, Smith is working his team in 100-degree heat, eschewing any opportunity to schedule workouts for a "cooler" part of the day. He simply wants them to be ready for it, and thereby give his team whatever advantage it can get in the early going.
Football bettors have also gotten confirmation from Smith that the starters will play into the third quarter, and it's a good bet that for at least part of that time, they will be using a no-huddle offense, which McCown is experienced enough to handle. That will be something that can put a lot of pressure on an opposing defense in the heat. But the Bucs (+3000 to win the NFC in the NFL futures atVietBet) have to run successfully, or else the defense will be gassed before long. And that defense, in this game,.will probably be without Alterraun Verner, who has been dealing with a hamstring injury for most of camp. In that regard, he joins fellow starting cornerback Mike Jenkins.
Is there a spot for Robert Woods? He looked like Buffalo's best receiver at times last year, but he is going to have Manuel looking his way less with the acquisition of Mike Williams and the selection of Sammy Watkins in the first round of the draft. But maybe, in this game where the starters will log the most time they have through the pre-season schedule, Woods will get more of an opportunity to contribute, since Watkins' rib injury has kept him out of team drills lately. This could also be a pivotal game for world-class sprinter Marquise Goodwin, who is trying to break out of just being a return man.
The question among VietBet patrons as to who Buffalo's backup QB will be may have been answered already, as Jeff Tuel, who has shown some ability to improvise, has been getting the work in drills with the second team. Thaddeus Lewis, who got five starts last year when Manuel was sidelined, may be the odd man out.
There was quite a brawl at Wednesday's Bills practice, as rookie defensive end Bryan Johnson ripped off center Eric Wood's helmet, then punched him, which prompted Wood to threaten to kill Johnson. Maybe this is the kind of thing Johnson, who is desperate to make the team, needs to do to get the staff's attention.
Buffalo has a lot of speed among the skill players, and that will be put on display here. Another factor is that they have already seen plenty of the no-huddle attack, as they played the Steelers (who are employing it more and more) last week. Inasmuch as Tuel really looks comfortable in the offense now, it may not be a bad idea to lay the points in the football betting odds.
When it comes to the widest selection of NFL betting odds, props and exotics, no one beats what VietBet has to offer!
Charles Jay
CHARLES JAY, a contributor to BangTheBook.com, is one of the most experienced sports betting writers in America, as he has written more than 10,000 pieces specifically for the industry over the last seven years. At one time employed as an editorial consultant with USA Network, he is also a former syndicated radio talk show host (American Radio Networks) and has also done color commentary on boxing events in the past for Prime Network (now known as Fox SportsNet). He is a veteran of more than a decade and a half working within the professional sports industry, and has been handicapping sporting events for over 25 years. In addition to this, he has compiled specialty odds for a number of online sportsbook operations and media outlets.


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Developer Barratt American again sues Encinitas over fees
ENCINITAS -- Developer Barratt American Inc. is suing the city for increasing building and plan-checking fees, even as a related case remains unresolved.
Filed this month in Superior Court, Barratt's lawsuit alleges that Encinitas' approval in December of a revised fee schedule would result "in a massive and unjustified increase in the fees for building permits and plan reviews."
Several city officials contacted Monday said they weren't aware of the lawsuit.
"I hope we can talk to (Barratt) and settle it early and get it resolved," Mayor Christy Guerin said.
The city's fees are at about the midpoint of those charged by other cities in the region.
"It's a little frustrating, to say the least," Guerin said of the lawsuit.
In a related lawsuit, lawyers for the Carlsbad-based builder have argued that Encinitas charges more in fees than it spends to provide the inspection services.
That case, which merged with a Barratt challenge of fees charged by the city of Rancho Cucamonga, came before the state Supreme Court in December.
The high court ruled that Barratt was not entitled to refunds of fees that it had paid and that Rancho Cucamonga would not be required to audit its fee receipts to determine if revenue exceeded the cost of providing the service. Barratt could proceed, however, with its challenge of the ordinance that set the fees originally, the court ruled.
Both sides claimed the court's ruling as a victory.
Jeffrey Dunn, the attorney who represented Encinitas in the case, said Monday that the high court has sent Barratt's challenge of Encinitas' fees back to the Superior Court, where he would argue for dismissal at a September hearing.
Dunn said that he had not seen the new Barratt challenge to Encinitas' building and plan-checking fees, which attorney Walter McNeill filed on behalf of the developer on June 9.
McNeill said Monday that city officials can expect to receive formal service of court papers shortly.
In December, the City Council approved the first adjustment to Encinitas' fees in 11 years, which brought increases ranging from 13 percent to 52 percent. The increase would recover the costs of providing building and plan-check services, officials said at the time.
The Barratt lawsuit asks the court to overturn the City Council's approval of the revised fee schedule.
Encinitas employs the private San Diego-based firm of EsGil Corp. to review plans and inspect buildings.
The Barratt lawsuit claims that the December fee increase also would result in a "massive and unjustified increase in the compensation collected by EsGil."
The lawsuit alleges that EsGil authorized fee increases in 1995 without necessary approval from the City Council. At the time, fees were computed based upon construction costs per square foot as set by the International Conference of Building Officials.
EsGil President Richard Esgate could not be reached for an interview Monday.
In a voice-mail message to a reporter, Esgate said that he did not know of any new lawsuits.
"I was under the impression that working through the city attorney and (the Building Industry Association) that we had responded to all the concerns of Barratt," Esgate said in his message. "It shocks me that (Barratt) is filing the lawsuit again. If (Barratt officials) had concerns, they should have responded at the time (the city) was adopting the fees."


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So, I want to give this MMFPS thing a try
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Not Even Trying Anymore
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 230
So, I want to give this MMFPS thing a try
I want to try out the whole huge maps tons of people FPS games. I downloaded a few demos and this is what I got out of them:
Operation Flashpoint was graphically lame. The controls could be a bit awkward, too. Otherwise it seemed decent but I think I'd rather go with something more modern.
Joint Operations: Typhoon Force had acceptable graphics, but I couldn't figure out what was going on. I couldn't see anyone who was shooting at me, it was a bit awkward and more irritating than intense. It was like fighting a sniper, but a magical sniper with no muzzle flash and an m60*.
I'm downloading a demo of 1942. Anyone else have an reccomendations?
*Addendum Rant: The M60 in video games is retarded. M60s have an effective firing rate of about 100 rounds per minute. They are NOT intended to be used as a continuous fire weapon like the M249. The barrels will overheat and can cause catastrophic weapon failure at a rate over 100 or so rounds per minute. 7.62x51 rifles don't run into this as much because of the small magazines and the fact that they are rarely fired on full auto straight through - the recoil is just too much to make such an action worthwhile. But anyways, I wish video games would stop having these fakeass M60s that bear no relation to the actual M60 (the same applies for HK 21E and other similar 7.62 belt-fed weapons). The purpose of these guns is 400-1000m infantry support, NOT suppression fire or squad-combat. I can't imagine what sort of Rambo delusions these game makers must be under.
And I know someone is going to say: but it says here that M60s have a firing rate of 500rpm! or some such. That is the cyclic rate, how fast bullets come out of the gun when you hold the trigger down. However, holding a trigger down for more than 100 rounds/minute is likely to ruin your gun.
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Clarkson on the Merc SLS AMG
JC hates the doors and the ride, but that doesn't stop him wanting to head straight to a Mercedes dealer to buy one...
Posted: 05 May 2011
In many ways, it feels like a TVR - and like a TVR, I think that the ownership experience would be annoying and difficult and awkward and tiring. Although perhaps with a bit less fire and smoke. I'm not sure you'd grow to love the looks either. From some angles, in some colours, it is sensational. As good to behold as anything on the road. But from the back, it looks a bit weedy. So there we are. I really mustn't have one. It would be stupid. And I mustn't wait for the convertible either, because although it will have proper doors, it will cost a billion pounds.