text:
iOS 9 + Facebook users w/ trouble scrolling: #super sorry# we hope to fix it asap. In the meantime
Chrome Mobile
is a reach around
STFU and Just Blog Video Games
Sorcery! Parts 1 & 2
Atelier Escha & Logy Plus:...
Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth
Dying Light: The Following -...
Arslan: The Warriors of Legend
Assassin's Creed Chronicles:...
PC news
PC top stories
PC game reviews
PC game previews
PC games list
PS4 news
PS4 top stories
PS4 game reviews
PS4 game previews
PS4 games list
PS VITA news
PS VITA top stories
PS VITA game reviews
PS VITA game previews
PS VITA games list
PS3 news
PS3 top stories
PS3 game reviews
PS3 game previews
PS3 games list
Xbox One news
Xbox One top stories
Xbox One game reviews
Xbox One game previews
Xbox One games list
Xbox 360 news
Xbox 360 top stories
Xbox 360 game reviews
Xbox 360 game previews
Xbox 360 games list
Wii U news
Wii U top stories
Wii U game reviews
Wii U game previews
Wii U games list
3DS news
3DS top stories
3DS game reviews
3DS game previews
3DS games list
iPhone news
iPhone top stories
iPhone game reviews
iPhone game previews
iPhone games list
Android news
Android top stories
Android game reviews
Android game previews
Android games list
Free games
Tag Cloud
2K Sports
Staff Updates
Community Remix
Activity Feed
WWE 2K14 new mode
'30 Years of Wrestlemania' announced for WWE 2K14
This new mode spans 45 matches across WWE history
Aug 12
// Chris Carter
Last week, I took part in a conference call with WWE 2K14 creative director Cory Ledesma and Triple H, which detailed a brand new mode for the game called "30 Years of Wrestlemania." This new solo story will span 45 matches i...
Globetrottin': NBA 2K14 is adding some European flavor
14 Euroleague teams will be available
Jul 02
// Brett Makedonski
The world's biggest basketball videogame is about to get a bit bigger and expand across the sea. 2K Sports has just announced a multi-year partnership between Euroleague Basketball and the NBA 2K franchise to bring 14 Eu...
LeBron James crowned as NBA 2K14 cover athlete
Wii U is snubbed yet again
Jun 07
// Chris Carter
2K Sports is still chugging with the successful NBA 2K franchise, and for its next entry, NBA superstar LeBron James will be gracing the cover. The ever polarizing LeBron is pretty much a no-brainer for any cover after legiti...
Clayton Kershaw is sexy
Kershaw will totally win MLB 2K13 Perfect Game Challenge
Go Dodgers!
Feb 25
// Kyle MacGregor
Clayton Kershaw is just the best. And as a lifelong Dodger fan, I'm thoroughly looking forward to Kid K and Zack Greinke dominating atop Los Angeles' rotation this season. But as much as I would love to ramble on about the D...
Bundle pack
2K Sports couples NBA 2K13 with MLB 2K13
Enthusiastic sports phrase!
Feb 20
// Brett Makedonski
2K Sports has announced that accompanying the March 5 release of MLB 2K13 will be a combo pack that features NBA 2K13 alongside the baseball game. The bundle will retail for $80, which is a savings of $40 over purchasing...
Perfect Game Challenge
MLB 2K13 sees return of the Perfect Game Challenge
$1 million pool will be spread around
Feb 11
// Jordan Devore
2K Sports will once again be putting on the MLB 2K Perfect Game Challenge, though the format has changed somewhat for MLB 2K13. Starting on April 1, players can begin competing for a total of $750,000 spread across 30 MLB Te...
MLB 2K13 to hit Xbox 360 and PS3 this March
Surprise! It's back
Jan 09
// Jordan Devore
While there were no guarantees that we would be getting another Major League Baseball 2K title this year, 2K Sports and Visual Concepts have come through for Xbox 360 owners and will be releasing MLB 2K13 on March 5, 2013 for...
A look at Wii U exclusive features in NBA 2K13
Sponsored by Gatorade!
Nov 12
// Conrad Zimmerman
2K Sports released this new video showing some of the unique features players of the Wii U version of NBA 2K13 will be able to look forward to when it launches next week. Given special attention is the Gatorade Biometri...
JAY Z is the Executive Producer of NBA 2K13
Aug 01
// Dale North
Yep, that Jay Z. And he's not only adding to the soundtrack. 2K says that he'll "lend artistic vision" to upcoming b-ball title NBA 2K13 as its Executive Producer. The 14-time Grammy winner and part-owner of the Brooklyn Net...
NBA 2K13 announced with All-Star Weekend pre-order DLC
May 30
// Samit Sarkar
2K Sports has announced that NBA 2K13 is due out for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC, Wii, and PSP on October 2, 2012, in North America, and October 5 worldwide. A Wii U version is also in development; it will be released during ...
Live show: Inning 2 of MLB 2K12 on Mash Tactics
Apr 23
// Bill Zoeker
Ready your sports balls! King Foom is taking another shot at flawless pitching today on Mash Tactics. Major League Baseball 2K12 is the game, and $1 Million are the stakes. 2K Sports is once again holding a contest for player...
Live show: Pitching the perfect game on Mash Tactics
Apr 18
// Bill Zoeker
Sports! King Foom's pitch hand is feeling strong today, so he's going for the gold. Today on Mash Tactics, Foom and his friends are attempting to pitch the perfect game in Major League Baseball 2K12. 2K Sports has made it a t...
Review: MLB 2K12
Mar 29
// Ian Bonds
MLB 2K12 (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 [reviewed], PC)Developer: Visual ConceptsPublisher: 2K GamesReleased: March 6, 2012MSRP: $59.99 Let me get this out of the way right now: if you've played last year's iteration of the game (or even 2K10), this year's MLB 2K remains virtually unchanged from previous versions. With the exceptions of a few coats of polish, updated rosters, and some other minor tweaks here and there, it's the same ballgame from before. That said, while the majority of the framework remains the same, graphically there have been better touches throughout making character models more realistic (though somehow more dead-eyed than usual), and everything seems brighter and more vibrant. Animations still have some stagger and hiccup, but nothing I hadn't seen in previous years. The menu presentation, however, will make you wonder if you'd accidentally purchased last year's game. However, when it gets down to gameplay we finally see some improvements, but to be fair, they are minor. Pitching now comes with a caveat: throw the same pitch over and over, despite your catcher's suggestions, and the hitters get wise and start anticipating what you'll throw. Switching up your pitches is now more important than ever, as batters will hone in on what you've thrown and make you pay for it with a base hit. It's with these hits that suddenly, gameplay falls apart again. Fielding here now seems unnecessarily tough, with meters appearing to determine whether or not your throw will reach the base with enough power, or even at all. Sadly, even without these meters, your fielder may not be sure where to throw or how, as they stutter through animations and allow runners to score before finally deciding to throw to where the runner used to be. Evidently, it's all determined by whether or not the fielder's feet are both planted before he throws, but when charging a ball and trying to stop a runner from scoring, who has the time to wait for a fielder to stop moving? If you've never played an MLB 2K game, this can be very frustrating, as the game itself gives no coaching to newbies. There are a few training drills, but they're slipshod and don't detail enough of the controls. The same can be said for pitching and hitting: while throws and hits were usually done with flicks of the right analog stick, I had to eventually switch to the "classic" mode of "press button to throw/swing" as the drills provided no marked improvement to my game. The analog stick movements may have awarded a bit more precision and immersion into the simulation, but overall I found them to be more of a nuisance than anything. The other gameplay modes also end up being carbon copies of previous years. My Franchise and My Player are back, and while My Player tricks you into thinking you're setting up a unique player with specified skills (a heavy hitter or a strong-arm pitcher, for example) with the point distribution suggesting how to improve your stats, the layout and feel are still the same as before. And while it may be deep, unless you want to live out your Moneyball fantasies, My Franchise is the RPG of baseball simulations and is perhaps best avoided for fear of yawning yourself to death. There is at least one new feature to the game called MLB Today Season, where players can select a team and compare their stats as they play alongside the real-life version of that team in a day-to-day, game-to-game season. Despite the overall sameness, at least the color commentary has changed. The announcers all seem to actually be watching the game you're playing, and their comments all seem fresh and real. I never once heard the same remark twice, and they followed along with stats and plays so well, I thought it was a live feed coming from the Internet. Speaking of online, there's the matter of playing MLB 2K12 with people other than those on your couch with you. There are a few instances of lag, but nothing game-breaking. However, animation frames still seem to jump and hiccup, and during the opposing team's pitch is when you don't want to have that. Searching for games online is confusing, and trying to focus your search by number of innings, skill, or difficulty level seems futile due to the same confusing menu system from last year's game (controlled by the right analog stick). When it comes down to it, MLB 2K12 isn't a terrible game. But if you've played it before...well, you've played it before. If you haven't played it before, it's not a very good jumping-on point due to little to no in-game tutorials, and the animations won't win any new fans either. For baseball to be the "national sport," it takes a nation to love said sport. I just can't see how they can love what MLB 2K12 delivers.
George Carlin said baseball was known as America's national pastime because "it takes so damn long to play a game." He was right. Never is this more clear than in playing simulated baseball in a videogame. While it does often retain the fun and excitement of being at the ballpark, it can also unintentionally include the tedium as well. Guess what MLB 2K12 includes?
MLB 2K12 supports new playoff format, MLB 12 doesn't yet
Mar 05
// Samit Sarkar
Last Friday, Major League Baseball announced that it will be expanding its playoff format to a ten-team field starting this season: each league's three division champions will get a first-round bye while the four- and five-se...
Kate Upton demonstrates MLB 2K12 pitching to MLB stars
Feb 20
// Samit Sarkar
David Price, you are a lucky man.Last week, 2K Sports released a second digital short promoting next month's release of MLB 2K12. Called "Finger Mechanics," it features Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue cover model Kate Upton...
Preview: Mixing it up with MLB 2K12
Feb 17
// Samit Sarkar
MLB 2K12 (PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 [previewed], PC, Wii, PSP, DS, PlayStation 2)Developer: Visual ConceptsPublisher: 2K SportsRelease: March 6, 2012MSRP: $59.99 (PS3, 360) / $69.99 (360 Combo Pack with NBA 2K12)It's unclear at this point whether Take-Two will renew its exclusive licensing agreement with Major League Baseball. But even if this is the last MLB 2K game, the developers at Visual Concepts aren't phoning it in: they're focusing on fixing gameplay instead of buzzword-filled new features, and I give them credit for that. It's not a flashy approach, but if they pull it off, I expect fans to give the game a better reception.Visual Concepts has fixated on the pitcher-batter confrontation, the heart of baseball. Unlike McGilberry in his perfect game, real MLB pitchers constantly mix up their strategies for attacking hitters. That's what separates them from minor-league hurlers: they rarely abuse a pitch or return to a particular location in a certain situation. They have to adapt because they're facing MLB hitters, who got to the big-league level by punishing pitchers who became predictable. If you tend to go with, say, a splitter in the dirt on 0-2, and a shoulder-high fastball on a 1-2 count, hitters in MLB 2K12 will quickly pick up on that habit and learn to lay off. In addition, if the pitcher you're playing with has four or five pitches in his repertoire, and you consistently stick to one or two, batters will come to expect them -- and when a hitter knows what to look for, he's much more dangerous. (The game determines the baseline frequencies for each pitcher -- whether he tends to throw a certain pitch 8% of the time or 28% of the time -- from his Inside Edge scouting data.)MLB 2K12 gives you a good deal of feedback to tip you off to your tendencies. Analyst Steve Phillips might point one out with a comment. The visual feedback is more immediate and noticeable. All of your pitches are lined up on the left side of the screen as circular icons with numerical effectiveness ratings. If you're beginning to overuse a pitch (that is, throwing it too often compared to the Inside Edge data), the icon's background will turn from a neutral teal to yellow. That's a warning that you're becoming too predictable. If you continue to throw that pitch, the background will eventually become red, which lets you know that hitters are starting to look for it above your other options.It's also important to mix up your location and keep hitters on their toes. Going to the down-and-away well too often will cause that corner of the strike zone to turn black, which is a sign that you should go elsewhere. It'll be tougher to hit your spots, though, since Visual Concepts has tweaked breaking balls to be more realistic. You won't get the same sharp break on a 12-6 curveball if you start it above the strike zone as if you start it chest-high. At any time, you can pull up a screen showing exactly how many pitches you've thrown in each area, as well as Inside Edge data that illustrates a pitcher's real-life pitch frequencies. In practice, the adaptive hitting AI indeed made my life miserable when I began to overuse my fastball. A pitch's effectiveness rating also drops when you give up hits with it, and it varies from hitter to hitter. I only spent an hour or so with the game, but I had a couple of long innings because batters began to hammer my outside-corner heater after they learned to expect that pitch in that spot. That was doubly true for Albert Pujols. He smacked my fastball in his first at-bat for a single, and when I faced him again two innings later, I noticed that the fastball's rating had decreased. It appears that MLB 2K12 will really force you to adapt just as real pitchers do.Visual Concepts hasn't neglected hitting, either. Criticisms of past MLB 2K games always mentioned that they lacked hit variety -- it seemed as if you'd keep seeing the same soft liners to infielders. New ball physics this year have greatly improved hit variety and distribution, and it's all tied to the pitch that was thrown and the way the hitter made contact, just as it should be.Throwing in the field has also seen a significant upgrade. The new throw meter dynamically responds to your fielder's position. If you're charging a slow roller and you cue up a throw that your fielder has to make on the run, the green section of the throw meter will be much smaller than it would have been had you allowed him to set his feet before throwing to first. Of course, the meter also depends on the skill of the fielder in question, so someone with a more accurate arm will have a larger "sweet spot" even if someone's upending him with a slide as he's releasing the ball. The one new mode in MLB 2K12 is called MLB Today Season, and it's a spin on the traditional season setups in sports games. It allows you to play along with a real-life team, one game at a time. Let's say you're a Dodgers fan, and they lost the first two games of the 2012 season to the Padres. The MLB Today engine will import the exact scores and statistics from those games into your MLB Today Season, and you can pick up from there with the next game on April 7th and try to alter the course of the Dodgers' season.MLB Today Season forces you to play game-by-game, so you can't play at any pace other than that of your team's real-life counterpart. But by the end of September, the real Dodgers might be languishing in fourth place while your in-game Dodgers are celebrating an NL West crown!My Player has also seen a tweak in the direction of NBA 2K12: you'll select a role for your player that will affect the way your attributes develop. Speedsters won't hit a lot of home runs, but they'll be able to run down balls in the gap and steal a lot of bases. Sluggers, on the other hand, won't be fleet of foot. I'm still not sure that MLB 2K12 will be a legitimate competitor to Sony's MLB 12 The Show. But I liked what I saw, and it appears that the competition will be as close as it's ever been between these two franchises. Here's hoping Visual Concepts finally gets it right.
This is the third year in a row that 2K Sports is holding its Perfect Game Challenge for its MLB 2K series. They're changing the format this time, but previously, the first person to throw a verified perfect game would win $1...
MLB/NBA 2K12 Combo Pack due out for $69.99 on Xbox 360
Feb 17
// Samit Sarkar
2K Sports' next baseball game, MLB 2K12, launches on March 6, 2012, for 360, PS3, Wii, PC, PS2, PSP, and DS. It will be the only simulation baseball title available on the Xbox 360, where MLB 2K12 alone will retail for $59.99...
MLB 2K12 gets an 'official' trailer
Feb 10
// Liam Fisher
There's been no shortage of trailers hyping up this year's model of 2K Sports' MLB series. Last week we were lucky enough to get the teaser trailer, but now we've got the "Official" trailer and man... it's something spe...
MLB 2K12 gets a crackin' teaser trailer
Jan 31
// Liam Fisher
Well folks, baseball season is approaching once again and, of course, that means it's almost time to pony up for the newest iteration of MLB 2K12. Just in time to get you hyped up, 2K's released a new teaser. As is the way w...
Wind up for MLB 2K12's Perfect Game Challenge
Jan 13
// Liam Fisher
For the last two years, 2K Sports has promoted their MLB 2K line with a million-dollar race to a perfect game. As expected, the contest returns this year alongside MLB 2K12, but things are a bit different. Rath...
NBA 2K12 welcomes back basketball, with basketball
Jan 05
// Brett Zeidler
So, I don't exactly follow basketball to any degree, but I remember hearing about the whole lockout controversy that prevented the NBA from starting last fall. Apparently the NBA has finally come to an agreement though, beca...
Triplet of super awesome NBA 2K12 launch videos
Oct 06
// Kyle MacGregor
This is pretty much the best sports game commercial EVER! I may be a die hard Dodger fan, but I love San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Brian Wilson. He's not be my favorite guy to see take the mound when my beloved bums ar...
NBA 2K12 bounces to iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch
Oct 04
// Dale North
He flicks...he scores!. NBA 2K12 gets the App treatment, as it's coming for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch, set to hit the App Store on October 4, 2011. There's a finger friendly control scheme that offers touch-based ...
Becoming a freak with NBA 2K12's My Player mode
Sep 08
// Wesley Ruscher
NBA 2K12 (PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 [previewed], PC) Developer: Visual Concepts Publisher: 2K Sports To be released: October 4, 2011 I was "The Great" hailing from my alma mater, but really, you can be anyone you want from practically any school in My Player mode. There's an almost infinite feeling to the possibilities in NBA 2K12's create-a-player system. Strangely, on the surface it may look a little shallow -- initially allowing only for basic head and facial feature selections -- but once a feature is chosen, the ability to tweak every facial feature from lips to ears amplifies tenfold. It doesn't stop with the face, either. Being "The Great," I sported the one new accessory to this year's game, the headband. If you saw it on a player last year, then you can assume it is in NBA 2K12. The game even goes as far as setting where logos can be placed on certain accessories. Shoe aficionados fear not, even more kicks have been added to make sure your player has the look you want. You're going to spend a lot of time in My Player, and 2K knows this. Making sure the character creator was super robust was as important to them as having the best-playing basketball videogame around. Once my laces were tied and my hair was the way I liked it, it was on to the Rookie Showcase. This is a big change from how My Player worked in NBA 2K11. Last year, players entered the Draft Combine, which consisted of three games in empty, lifeless gyms to showcase your rookie's talents. While it was true to how things really work, it was more or less a three-hour training mode, and boring, to boot. This year's Rookie Showcase is a game that pits all of the league's top prospects in one make-or-break contest to see where they stack up for the oncoming draft. During the game, a letter grade is assigned based on performance. Scoring a lot, racking up assists, and playing good D can go a long away in ensuring a cozy draft spot. There are also objectives assigned throughout -- in my case, I needed to get eight assists and help hold the opposing team to less than 29 percent from behind the three-point line. But while there is only one game to play, it is not the only way to impress the scouts en route to landing a big rookie contract. After the Rookie Challenge you'll find your player's linguistic skills put to the test in the pre-draft interview. In my case, three interviews with prospective teams were lined up: the New York Knicks, Indiana Pacers, and Charlotte Bobcats. It's pretty amazing just how extensive each team's questions for my star point guard were. With the 17th pick, the Knicks representative started out asking if I could handle the pressures of playing in the spotlight of a big city. There were four answers to select, ranging from "I was born for this" to "it's not for me." You can answer however you want, but rub teams the wrong way and you'll be heading to the bottom of the draft. The Pacers had the 15th pick, but I showed them no interest and was quickly, but politely, let known I wasn't in their interest either. The Bobcats with their 19th pick asked how they thought I stacked up with their current guard D.J. Augustin and if I could handle playing with a team that is still building -- basically the "Do I mind losing?" question. With my interviews concluded, a mock draft slotted me as the 17th pick to the Knicks. It's extraordinary just how much time and effort in one year has clearly been put into NBA 2K12. I was told over 100 possible questions, consuming 30-35 hours of recorded audio, could have been asked depending on my position and interested team during the interviews. With the Rookie Challenge and interviews behind it was time for the draft. Apparently, a lockout frees up NBA commissioner time, as David Stern's vocal talents -- a first -- grace NBA 2K12's draft. The draft goes by quickly, but I still waited in anticipation, sweating it out as the Knicks passed me by. So much for the mock draft. Like a real draft, the experts don't always call it right. Two picks later, though, I was property of the Charlotte Bobcats. Where the draft ends, the true beginning of My Player commences. Unfortunately, with time not on my side, I was only able to scratch the surface of what's been added past the robust beginnings. Perfecting your skills is just as important as making sure you're a role model for the sport. Fan support, team chemistry, and league-wide popularity go a long way in helping reach the end goal of the Hall of Fame. There are eight new skill games to improve a cornucopia of attributes, all the way from ball-handling to specific moves such as the step back and cross-over. A new "key game" selection feature helps make hoop dreams come true faster. Instead of pounding out 82-plus games every season for your player's career, a new option allows those pressed for time to skip to the marquee match-ups for their star. This means that monotonous games against the Sacramento Kings will be passed in favor of taking on Kobe and the Lakers, or whoever your team's rival is. Having the option to jump to the next key game really opens the door for My Player to be NBA 2K12's mode of choice. It takes all the great action of the regular game and boils it down into a condensed 10- to 15-game personal experience. And if creating a rookie from scratch isn't for you, there's always the Create A Legend mode, which does practically the same thing with any player in the game. NBA 2K11 was already one of the best sports games ever created and 2K could have easily taken this year off. After seeing NBA's Greatest Mode and now My player for NBA 2K12 ... like I said before, October 4 can't come soon enough.
They call me "The Great." I'm a 6'3'', Mohawk-rocking, inked-up point guard out of Cal State University Fullerton. I have a killer crossover and can drain triples all day. Oh, and one more thing... I'm a future NBA Hall-of...
Going old-school with the NBA's Greatest mode in NBA 2K12
Aug 24
// Wesley Ruscher
NBA 2K12 (PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 [previewed], PC) Developer: Visual Concepts Publisher: 2K Sports To be released: October 4, 2011 My hands-on with the new NBA's Greatest mode began with one of the league's most decorated players ever, Bill Russell. Hitting the court with Russell's 1964-65 Celtics, I was faced with the task of taking on none other than Jerry "The Logo" West's Lakers in what was perhaps the birth of the rivalry between these two fabled franchises. As the contest began, it was hard not to notice the attention to detail that encompasses more than just the feel of the game, but the actual look. The grainy black-and-white presentation and audio filter -- giving the announcers a vintage transistor-radio-sounding effect -- truly captured the essence of what it must have been like to have watched this game live on television. All the attention to detail would have been wasted if the game wasn't an accurate representation of what it was like to play basketball in each respective player's era. In the case of the '64-65 Celtics, this entails jump balls every quarter for possession and the removal of basketball's biggest game-changer, the three-point line. Not having the ability to drop treys all day long really changes the game's fundamentals. The three-point shot has only been in use since the 1979-80 season, but it's definitely something I've come to rely on for a tactical advantage when I take it to the virtual court. If you want to be successful in these earlier games, mastering 2K12's improved post-up game is important -- close, well-thought-out shots are the key to victory. Switching gears, but oddly enough, not teams -- this is even more strange, considering I'm a Lakers fan -- I jumped into the shoes of another Celtic great, Larry "Legend" Bird. My decision to pick this classic Lakers villain stemmed from the notion that regardless of the pain Bird caused my Lakers in the '80s, playing as one of the game's most clutch shooters simply sounded like heaven. Bird's challenge pits his 1985-86 team against the high-flying Atlanta Hawks, complete with Dominique Wilkins, Doc "Current Head Coach of the Celtics" Rivers and all 5'7'' of Spud Webb. In making sure to create the most authentic historical simulation, every classic team's -- of which there are 34 in total -- bench goes at least ten players deep. After battling back to take a one-point lead at the half with Bird and crew, I passed off the sticks to let another give the game a go. As I observed Patrick Ewing and his '94-95 New York Knicks take on a young Orlando Magic led by baby Shaq, I found myself really getting into the game, occasionally screaming in excitement when an impressive dunk was made. Sitting back and watching 2K12 in all its glory is truly stunning. The game looks and animates so well to the untrained eye, it would be easy to confuse this game with a real broadcast -- especially when you listen to the game's announcers. The on-the-fly commentators are perhaps the most impressive to date in a sports sim. Not only do they call the game, but they inject history and stories about the players into their commentary. I think the aspect that blew me away the most was when one of the announcers was discussing Shaq's retirement and was interrupted when Ewing threw down a monster jam. Instead of just moving on, he actually went back to the thought and continued the story seamlessly when the action on the court resumed a more natural pace. Realistic commentary, authentic visuals, and an unparalleled attention to detail make NBA 2K12 one of the most robust sports gaming packages ever. 2K11 literally disintegrated its competition last year, and while this year's game is again running unopposed, 2K Sports didn't stop shy of making perhaps the definitive virtual NBA experience for fans. October 4 can't come soon enough.
It's hard to know exactly where the NBA would be today without the onslaught of game-changing superstars that shaped one of the country's most dynamic sports. Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird defined the e...
2K Sports reveals full 'Greatest' line-up for NBA 2K12
Aug 19
// Nick Chester
"Holy s**t, there's a New York Knick in there!"That was Destructoid New York-based sports man Samit Sarkar's reaction to 2K Sports full reveal for its "NBA's Greatest" roster. The 15-player legends roster will be a part of NB...
Eminem, Travis Barker grace NBA 2K12 soundtrack
Aug 12
// Nick Chester
I don't really play sports games, but every once in awhile I'll pop one in for its slick soundtrack. Because who buys CDs these days? Looks like 2K Sports isn't going to let me down with NBA 2K12. The complete 28-track music ...
2K Sports introduces NBA's Greatest mode for NBA 2K12
Aug 03
// Samit Sarkar
NBA 2K11 drew mass-market attention by putting Michael Jordan on its cover, but his appearance on the box highlighted the mode that sold many gamers on the title: "The Jordan Challenge," in which players could relive ten clas...
Retrogazing with Karakasa Games: Maniac Mansion & Beyond
Jul 27
// Allistair Pinsof
Future Wars (Delphine Software, 1989) It's a great game with plot that has this nice sense of mystery to it. You progress through with a real sense of accomplishment in it. You get to solve this mystery and figure out where you are. It's like, "Hey this is cool. I'm exploring the future!" But, there are some things in that game that we hate. Maniac Mansion (Lucasfilm Games, 1987) [This one came from Thunderbeam! producer Wiley Wiggins] Maniac Mansion is a big influence on us because of the multiple viewpoints. You get to play as this group of kids, send them on missions and flip between them. A lot of puzzles have to do with combining different abilities and activating different things on areas of the map at the same time. Damocles (Novagen Software, 1990) Paul Woakes wrote a series of games before the modern Mercenaries series. It started with Mercenary but the best games in that series were Damocles and Mercenary III: Dion Crisis. They created an entire solar system.I don't think they were procedurally generated. I'm not sure -- the guy who made them fucking insane. You could wander around and you could explore. Every house was populated with objects. If you got really good at the game, in Damocles, you could find the author's house. In it, you could find the author's computer and just delete objects from the game. You can even delete planets, causing them to explode. "Delete object 15. Oh, the planet exploded. You're dead!" It was amazing. Captive (Mindscape, 1990) This is another Atari ST/Amiga game. It's kind of a Dungeon Master clone but it's set in the future. You can actually retrieve your [character's] corpses in captive and put them in a regeneration machine to bring people back to life. Captain Blood (Exxos, 1988) I really love Bloodian, the language [in the game]. Especially if you played it on the Atari ST, the speech in that game is just terrifying as hell. All the speech was delivered in symbols and you'd have to figure it out.The weird thing about Captain Blood is if you put in the code for help it gives you all the answers. The alien communication -- just talking back and forth to get information was a lot of fun. And the fact that if you got really pissed off, you could just blow up their planet was great. Frontier: Elite II (GameTek, 1993) It was fantastic. You explore a procedurally generated universe. David Brabern is fucking genius and therefore needs to exist, but he needs to makes Elite 4. Everytime someone asks, he says, "We're working on it. It's going to be 15 to 20 years but we are working on it." The original and specifically its sequel, Frontier, were fantastic because it was a procedurally generated universe but you could explore every planet. You didn't have to but you could. I spent a solid year playing that game every single day. I got to some incredible ranking. There is a sense of wonder in that series. Frontier: First Encounters (Frontier Developments, 1995) Games like Elite were great because you could go off into space and explore or do something else. Elite was a truly open-ended game which was great. The third one kind of spoiled the series in a way, because it had plot on top it. I actually played First Encounters again for the first time in a long time, last year. And, I appreciated it a lot more because it had everything that was in Elite II but it had a plot to it. It did some clever things. I think the reason I disliked it when it was first released is because it was really buggy. Everyone hated it because the game would crash when you would try to go to almost any world. It's only after seven series of patches, when everyone had already forgotten about it, that it became a good game. The way they reveal the plot is really clever. You can subscribe to various newspapers with different political alliances and you'll see headlines that tell you the plot -- you can choose to get yourself involved with it or not. ----- Interested in checking out these games? They are all available for free at Abandonia, except Maniac Mansion. Interested in hearing more classic picks from Karakasa Games? Click here! Interested in scrubbing my back for $20 a week? PM me or contact me on Twitter!
For this entry in Retrogazing, I spoke with Karakasa Games' James Curry about memorable PC games that influenced him. As it turns out, Curry knows a thing or two about weird-ass, ludicrously ambitious adventure games ma...
Preview: NBA 2K12
Jul 21
// Steven Hansen
NBA 2K12 (PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 [Previewed]) Developer: 2k Sports Publisher: Visual Concepts To be released: October 4, 2011 The idea behind this year's iteration of the franchise was to make a gameplay jump commensurate to that made between NBA 2K10 and NBA2K11 and it shows. For example, the post game was completely redesigned in last year's game, yet the team felt the need to go back to the drawing board and shake things up once more. Now, pressing Y (or triangle) in the post is used for activating the post game, freeing up both triggers and the right stick. This opens up the post game entirely compared to last year's game, as every single move in the game's impressive arsenal suddenly becomes available to players in the post. This newfound freedom effectively captures one of the leading tenets of NBA 2K12, which is making sure the gamer is the one scripting the actions and flow of a game, not canned animations. Accordingly, from the start of a shot, you will have control over what your player does. This includes things like switching hands in the air while attempting a layup and even deciding to kick out a pass right after committing to taking a shot. It's all about putting control in the player's hands. The game's AI has also seen a lot of tweaking. For example, the same zone defense scheme that the Dallas Mavericks used to best the Heat now plays much more smartly. One of the complaints about defensive players in last year's game was their Spidey Sense-like ability to reach and arm out and deflect a pass without even looking. The team admitted that it was a band-aid meant to discourage players from running their player down court before their team was going to get a rebound and then having the rebounder pass the ball to the now-wide-open man down court. In NBA 2K12, issues like that have had time to be addressed much more thoroughly. The AI system has been completely rewritten to be more dynamic. In last year's game, the AI would run specific plays, which could often lead to the player figuring out the plays and making the appropriate jumps on the ball over and over. Worse still, when the AI had its play snuffed out, they would default to a generic brand of basketball intelligence, defaulting to simple plays. The new system is now much more divergent, giving the AI more options if their primary options aren't available. This keeps the players on their feet and makes the AI more of a challenge as well as more like a human opponent, which should do well to extend the life of the game. I got to play as the NBA Champion Dallas Mavericks in the latest build of NBA 2K12 and played against the same Miami Heat team Dallas trumped in the NBA Finals earlier this year. Given my brief experience with NBA 2K11 going in, I was surprised by how quickly I was able to notice some of the gameplay changes made in NBA 2K12. One of the things that stood out to me most during the game is the new physics engine, which handles all forms of contact, and reacts according to the situation. For example, shorter players will have a much tougher time out rebounding bigs, and player on player contact differs depending on whether the contact takes place in the air or on the ground. The other notable impact of this system is the newly implemented live ball physics. In last year's game, the ball didn't seem to go live often, and most players could keep a handle on it fairly easily. In 2K12, the ball can make contact with anything and react accordingly, leading to a lot more intense scrambles for possession. The live ball physics forced me to watch my play style immediately because no longer could I make contact with people without paying careful attention to the ball. I lost handle of the ball a lot early on because I would be running down the court and I would basically dribble it off my own teammate inattentively -- something the game rarely accounted for in last year's game. Not only did it help make me feel like I was playing a more accurate brand of basketball, but I got to experience some of those aforementioned intense scrambles for possession and they were exciting. A lot of other subtle touches have been made that won't be lost on fans of last year's game. The entire first row of the crowd is now live. That is, it's fully possible to interact with them; for example, diving into the first row while trying to keep the ball in bounds or having a lunging defensive player's momentum take him over the scorer's table. The facial animations and character models have all seen tweaks in the name of authentic player representation and the team was particularly happy with white players finally having a more realistic looking skin tone. I was also pleasantly surprised to see a letter rating system (F, B+, etc.) pop up after taking shots. A high letter grade doesn't always ensure a made bucket, nor does a low letter preclude a possible bucket, but the system rates both how well you took the shot and the quality of the shot itself. It would take into consideration if you were well defended or didn't have your feet set. It's a nice bit of immediate, tangible feedback that feels like it can be used to adjust your game accordingly. Speaking of adjusting your game, it also has a feature allowing you to adjust your play style on the fly, bypassing menus and keeping you in the action. With the system, you'll be able to assign specific players a specific role, or quickly swap between playing philosophies (lock down the paint, pressure shooters, etc.), whether it's just for the present play or for the rest of the game. Thankfully, one of my few complaints with last year's game has also been addressed. Refs no longer hold onto the ball for an inordinate amount of time when the player is taking the ball out or shooting free throws, which livens up the game's pace by removing those occasional, jarring stops in the action where the player would mash the A button and scream at the ref to give them the damn ball. A combination of reworked AI and an advancing physics engine actually made NBA 2K12 feel more fluid to me than last year's game, despite 2K12 being so far out from release. If you're a basketball fan, I think the only question left might just be "Which cover am I getting?"
As we reported earlier, NBA 2K12's cover athletes -- yes, athletes -- have been revealed, but I'm sure some fans aren't sold yet. After all, we want some advancement in our games, right? Well, I was able to ...
Sorcery! Parts 1 & 2
Atelier Escha & Logy Plus: Alchemists of the Dusk Sky
Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth
Dying Light: The Following - Enhanced Edition
Arslan: The Warriors of Legend
Assassin's Creed Chronicles: Russia
A Boy and His Blob
Tachyon Project
View games & review list
Hands-on: I like the new Hitman, and its episodic model
F.A.N.G is a poopy pigeon in Street Fighter V
Nintendo 3DS's spring is an oasis of JRPGs
More new game previews
Leonardo can slow time in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants in Manhattan
Zelda meets vikings and crafting in Cornerstone: The Song of Tyrim
Overcooked is a cooperative cooking game on LSD
More new game videos
Podtoid 322: Football or Gay Porn?
Podtoid 321: Witness the Rise of Bombshell
NPR's Morning Edition had an Easter egg for us today
More podcasts
Only on Destructoid
Finding Weezer's 'Across the Sea' in Firewatch
Mastering game making with two masters of Game Maker
The biggest secret hidden across the three Assassin's Creed Chronicles games
More Destructoid Originals
Status updates from everyone
Omg i love the internet
Mike Martin
Iron Paladin
Jed Whitaker
I can't wait to mute Niero. #NoRules #ThePurge
Joe Parlock
I spent all last night playing Day of Defeat: Source. If only Valve gave it even half the attention it did to TF2 or CS:S...
Nearing Platinum status.
Sheesh i played metal gear rising before and Platinum ruined the franchise.
Toonami is running a poll right now at [url]www.toonami.com/poll[/url] where one of the questions is which show you'd want un-cancelled. Oh, Teen Titans is included? That's curious...
"The Ravagers dropped the giant insects and waited for them to evolve ... it's clear. This is their plan from the start" -EDF 4.1 scientist So dragons are evolved forms of ants, spiders and/or wasps ....... what?
Every time I hear "I don't understand why people like _____ game", I get annoyed. Of course you understand, if you've listened to what those people were saying. You just don't agree, and that's A-OK. I HATE Twilight, but I understand why people like it.
Just tried playing the first Bayonetta game... it was really bad. Honestly I don't understand why Platinum games are so well regarded. None of them are really worthwhile.
The first person I block is the person who talks shit about Platinum
Even though your waifus are shit
Darth Wachen
Finally, a blog that I can call my own, I feel accomplished somehow.
Gonna be honest; this really made my day.
Rico the Penguin
I doubt I'll use it much but I'm totally fine with a block/ignore feature. Everyone has a right to speak, but I don't think anyone has a right to be heard. If this place played country music I'd want a mute button, basically :p.
Sir Shenanigans
Mall haul today (plus I split a BEAUTIFUL Star Wars Slave I with my brother). Any thoughts on Haze? Wanted to play it back when it came out and I had no PS3. For a dollar you can't go wrong!
I'm not gonna lie, I don't feel "good" about the upcoming "ignore" feature. Maybe it's just me, but I don't like the idea that people can mute other people because they don't agree with them. Spammers and trolls, sure, but not regular community members.
Oh man. Those Next Gen transformations in Megadimension Neptunia are legit as fuck!
Write a Quickpost
Community Blogs
Summer Wars: The Video Game….I mean Digimon: Cyber Sleuth
// Forgotten Bastion
Gaming's Beautiful People #4: Valentine's Day Special OR Love Multi-Kills
// ChrisHannard
Exist Archive: The Other Side Of The Sky Import Review
// Terry 309
Stupid Teens Do Stupid Things: An Oxenfree Critique
// General Mills44
A blog test. Brought to you by Buckner & Garcia
// SeymourDuncan17
Cblogs of 2/11/16, 2/12/16 + Firethoughts
// CblogRecaps
XCOM 2 And The Glory of Mods
// Darth Wachen
More blogs
Write a blog
Ads on destructoid may be purchased from:
contact Crave Online
, thanks!
Site Map
Invert site colors
Dark Theme
Light Theme
Destructoid means family.
Living the dream, since 2006
Pssst. konami code + enter
Auto-loading more stories ... un momento, corazón ...


text:
2002 Sea Ray 56 Sedan Bridge
- Tim Gredick
- Active
- Used
- Motor Yachts
- 2002
- Sea Ray
- 56 Sedan Bridge
- Hilton Head, South Carolina, US
- Power
- 56ft / 17.07 m
- Caterpillar
- 3406
- Diesel
- Fiberglass
- 2009-10-20
- 2016-01-25
- 1495457
"Renee's Ride" is immaculate - truly better than new! Numerous upgrades make this an exceptional yacht for both comfortable cruising and enjoyable watersports. Knowledgeable owners have a frequent and routine program for cosmetic detailing and mechanical maintenance. BIG CAT 800hp engines w/ only 300 hrs. Be sure to note: Air Conditioned Bridge, NEW Bridge Enclosure, NEW Carpeting and Carpet Runners, UPDATED Furuno electronics, SAT Phone and SAT TV, Watermaker, New Flat Screen TV's in Salon and Master and a hydraulic high-low swim platform among many other amenities.
She is a must see for any 56 Sedan Bridge buyer!
DimensionsBeam: 16
Max Draft: 4'6''
Displacement: 50000
EnginesTotal Power: 800
Cruising Speed: 26k
Max Speed: 32k
Vessel Walkthrough
This richly appointed and full-featured 56 Sedan Bridge rivals more expensive imports for style, quality, function and performance. The plush three stateroom interior is arranged with the Master Suite forward, VIP Stateroom to starboard, and double bunks in the Guest Stateroom to port. The Galley and Dinette are next aft, with the Galley to starboard and the Dinette opposite. The spacious Salon features facing sofas and an exceptional entertainment system. The large Cockpit provides a great outdoor venue for entertaining and sporting activities. Easy engine access is provided through a hatch in the cockpit sole. The cockpit also features a transom bench seat, a livewell and fish box. A wide molded staircase leads to the Flybridge, with its wraparound helm, refreshment center, ample seating and hardtop with full enclosures. A hydraulic high-low swim platform makes water activities a breeze.
The décor is classy yet comfortable and includes the cherry wood interior package, upgraded carpeting, fabric day/night shades, accent pillows and halogen lighting w/dimmers.
The airy and naturally lit Main Cabin is surrounded by windows showcased by the use of valances, accent draperies and shades. Ultraleather sofas provide abundant seating and the central coffee table is adjustable for variable uses. The entertainment center and breaker panel are concealed by cherry tambour doors
- New Carpeting throughout the vessel
- New Carpet Runners
- Sofa, Ultraleather w/ storage under
- New 37 inch Flat Screen TV
- Stereo System, AM/FM/Cassette w/ 6-Disc CD Changer
- Clarion 6-Disc CD Changer
- DVD Player w/ Bose Surround Sound
- SAT Phone
- Storage, Cabinet - CD & Videotapes
- Table, Salon/Cocktail, Granite Top, Hi-Lo
- End Table w/Storage Below
- Central Vacuum System
- Carbon Monoxide Monitor
Granite covers the floor in the starboard side Galley. The Galley is fully equipped for the most enthusiastic chef. Adjacent to the Galley, to port, is a large, elevated Dinette for four, with granite flooring.
- Ample Cabinets and drawer storage including a lazy susan and wine rack
- Trash Receptacle w/ Chute & Solid Surface Cover
- Water Heater
- Dockside & Pressure Water System
- Seating, opposite Dinette, Ultraleather w/ storage below
- Table, Dinette w/Cherry Top
- Granite Floor in Galley & Dinette
- Refrigerator
- Freezer w/ Icemaker
- Microwave Convection Oven, built-In
- Stove Top, 3-Burner, Recessed
- Power Vent
- Coffeemaker, Spacemaker
- Countertop, Solid Surface w/Cutting Board & Sink w/Single-Lever Faucet
- Glass, Dish and Cutlery Storage
Master Stateroom
Fully forward, the Master Stateroom showcases an over-sized queen berth with drawers at the foot, cushioned seating, cedar lined hanging lockers with mirrored doors, vanity with beveled mirror, and ample drawers and cabinets and much more.
- New Carpeting
- Bed, Queen-Size w/ Innerspring Mattress
- Coordinated Spread and Accent Pillows
- Door, Privacy w/ Full-Length Beveled Mirror
- Cushioned Dressing Seat
- Storage Cabinets and Drawers
- Mirrored Rope Hanging Locker: Full-Length Cedar-Lined w/ Light & Mirrored Doors (2) – Stbd
- Storage, In-Floor
- Vanity w/ Solid Surface Countertop, Beveled Mirrors, Storage
- New 17 inch Flat Screen TV
- Portlights (4)
- Overhead Hatch w/ Skyscreen
- Reading Lights
- Carbon Monoxide Monitor
- Hanging Locker: Full-Length Cedar-Lined w/ Light & Mirrored Doors (2) - Port
Master Head
Shower w/ seat, adjustable shower wand and circular acrylic door
Door, private access from Master Stateroom w/ mirror
Flooring, tile
Chrome & Platinum Hardware VacuFlush Head
Vanity: w/ Solid Surface Countertop, Solid Surface Sink, Storage
Storage: Cabinet, Upper Mirrored
Storage: Medicine Cabinet, Mirrored
VIP Stateroom - Starboard
Immediately aft, starboard side, this Guest Cabin houses a full sized bed on the forward bulkhead with coordinating soft goods and plenty of storage and cruising comforts.
- New Carpeting
- Bed, Full-Size w/ Innerspring Mattress
- Coordinated Spread & Accent Pillows
- TV/VCR Combo, w/ remote
- Vanity w/ Solid Surface Countertop, Mirror, Drawers
- Storage, In-Floor
- Storage Cabinets and Drawers
- Hanging Locker, Cedar-Lined w/ light
- Skylight, Circular w/ Sunshade
- Opening Portlight w/ Curtain
- Reading Lights
- Full-Length Beveled Mirror
- Door, Privacy into the shared Guest Head
Guest Head
Door, Privacy, Access from Hallway
Door, Privacy, Access from Starboard VIP Stateroom
Chrome & Platinum Hardware VacuFlush Head
Vanity w/ Solid Surface Countertop, Solid Surface Sink, Storage
Storage, Medicine Cabinet, Mirrored
Full-Length Mirror
Flooring, Tile
Guest Stateroom - Port
Across the companionway, the portside stateroom has twin upper/lower bunks and lots of storage. The washer/dryer combo with drawer storage is also built into this Berth.
- New Carpeting
- Coordinated Spreads
- TV/VCR Combo w/ remote
- Hanging Locker: Cedar-Lined w/ light
- Storage, In-Floor
- Skylight, Circular w/ Sunshade
- Opening Portlight w/ Curtain
- Carbon Monoxide Monitor
- Reading Lights
- Washer/Dryer Combo Shower w/ Seat, Adjustable Shower Wand & Circular Acrylic Door
- Door, Privacy, Access from Hallway
- Door, Privacy, Access from Starboard VIP Stateroom
- Chrome & Platinum Hardware VacuFlush Head
- Vanity w/ Solid Surface Countertop, Solid Surface Sink, Storage
- Storage, Medicine Cabinet, Mirrored
- Full-Length Mirror
- Flooring, Tile
Helm /Electronics
The Euro-styled wraparound control station features an instrument panel with the latest navigational electronics and great visibility
- Instrument Panels w/ Multi-Gauges
- Shift & Throttle Controls: Electronic w/ Sync
- Systems Monitor for Engine Diagnostics
- Steering, Tilt Wheel and Wood Accent
- Storage Drawer and Cabinets
- Furuno Nav Net C Map Plotter
- Furuno GPS Navigator (2)
- 2006 Furuno 10" NAV NET 2 GPS
- 2006 Furuno 10" NAV NET 2 with 64 mile Radar
- Roberston Autopilot AP 22 w/ Remote
- VHF, Icom IC-M502 and B&G (2)
- Bow Thruster
- Telephone/Intercom System w/ Antenna
- Compass
- Spotlight w/ Remote
- Windlass Remote
- Trim Tabs
- Horn
A curved portside forward bench seat with under stowage surrounds the entertainment center. Additional seating is accomplished by the addition of an aft bench seat. The fiberglass hardtop is enclosed for comfort by an EZ2CY enclosure.
- Hardtop, Fiberglass, w/ Overhead Storage
- Hatch Overhead
- Overhead Lighting w/ Electronic Dimmer & Red Night Lighting
- 2007 EZ2CY front and Isinglass aft panel Bridge Enclosure
- Seating, U-Shaped Forward w/ Storage Below
- Chairs, Helm (2), Fully Adjustable
- Seating, Aft Bench
- Custom Table
- Generator, 20 KW Westerbeke Diesel, w/ Sound Shield
- Battery Charger/Converter (2)
- Shore Power, Cablemaster, 50 Amp w/ 50' Cords (2)
- Transformers, Shore Power
- Batteries (7)
- Battery Solenoid Switches
- Isolators, Galvanic (2)
- Isolation (2)
- Inlet, Cable Television and Phone w/ Cords
- Water and Waste Tank Indicators
Engine Room
- 200hrs on Caterpillar Overhauls
- Ladder: Stainless Steel - Removable/Swing-Away
- Fire Suppression System, Automatic
- Freshwater Cooling
- Steering, Hydraulic, Power-Assisted
- Oil Changer System, Engines & Generator
- Alarms, Bilge Temperature, High Water
- Emergency Start/Stop System
- Bilge Pumps, Automatic
- Watermaker, 660 GPD w/Remote
- Ventilation - (Delta "T")
- Crossover Fuel System
- Algae X Fuel Protection System
- Fuel Filters, Dual Racors
- Gel-Coated Engine Room
- Flooring, Fiberglass Diamond Plate
- Macerator
- Freshwater Spigot
- Block Heaters
2008 Window screen covers
Windlass, w/ Foot Switches
Anchor Chain Storage w/ Hatch
Anchor, Stainless Steel
Anchor Washdown Spigot w/ Hose
Bow Rail, SS w/ Welded Stanchions
Intermediate Rails & Life Lines
Sunpad, Foredeck
Spare Props
Freshwater Washdown
Cockpit Shower - Hot and Cold
This spacious and functional Cockpit incorporates many features, including a hatch to provide convenient engine access plus seating, fishing amenities and storage. A wide molded staircase leads to the Flybridge and the transom door provides ready access to the hydraulic high-low swim platform.
- Live Baitwell
- Rod Holders (4)
- Rocket Launchers (4)
- Door, Cabin Entry, SS, Sliding and Lockable w/ Screen
- Door, Transom
- Carpet Liner
- Courtesy Lighting
- Seating, Aft Bench w/ Fiberglass Storage Base
- Steps, Molded Deck Access
- Engine Room Service Hatch & Engine Room Ladder
- Storage, Side Panels
- Fish/Storage Box
DisclaimerThe Company offers the details of this vessel in good faith but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. A buyer should instruct his agents, or his surveyors, to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. This vessel is offered subject to prior sale, price change, or withdrawal without notice.
2016 Sea Ray 470 SundancerExpress
Play video or click to visit USBoatTest.com
2015 Sea Ray L650 FlyMotor Yacht
Play video or click to visit USBoatTest.com
2015 Sea Ray L590 FlyMotor Yacht
Play video or click to visit USBoatTest.com
2015 Sea Ray 470 SundancerExpress
Play video or click to visit USBoatTest.com
2015 Sea Ray 290 SundeckRunabout
Play video or click to visit USBoatTest.com
2015 Sea Ray 21 SPXBowrider
Play video or click to visit USBoatTest.com
2013 Sea Ray 510 SundancerExpress
Play video or click to visit USBoatTest.com
2013 Sea Ray 370 VentureExpress
Play video or click to visit USBoatTest.com
2012 Sea Ray 450 Sedan BridgeConvertible Sedan Bridge
Play video or click to visit USBoatTest.com
2012 Sea Ray 410 SundancerExpress
Play video or click to visit USBoatTest.com
For Sale By HMY Yacht Sales, Inc. - Charleston17 Lockwood Drive Charleston City Marina
Charleston, South Carolina, 29401

subset: commoncrawl


text:
SodaHead News is your source for the latest goings-on in the world. But in addition to finding out what's happening out there, you can actually have a say-so about it. From breaking news to tech talk to the latest bill hitting Washington, share your opinions here.
How Important Is Likability?
by Pollware
Is likability very important in a presidential race? Or are there other, way more significant factors to worry about?
Have Democrats Moved Too Far Left?
by Pollware
Democrats are meant to be liberal, but have they moved too far left throughout the years?
- Did Rachel Dolezal Commit Ethnic Fraud?
- Is There Such a Thing as Being Transracial?
- Does Donald Trump Have Your Vote?
Some Peace Corps volunteers are coming out of the woodwork and complaining about one of the government's most respected agencies -- namely, about its insensitivity to rape.283 opinions2011/05/11 20:47:47
Obviously, the writers of Rolling Stone are not part of Donald Trump's primary constituency, and by now we're pretty familiar with the mogul's grandiose demeanor.162 opinions2011/05/11 19:30:03
Just four days after a shooting at a San Jose University house party left two people dead and one injured, CBS brings news of yet another triple shooting on campus, this time leaving no survivors.8 votes2011/05/11 17:28:18
By now you may be aware that thousands of billboards across the country have warned that Judgment Day is nigh.807 opinions2011/05/11 17:00:00
We have a "no-fly" list for planes, but in light of news that al Qaeda was planning an attack on passenger trains, should we also have a "no-ride" list for the rails?228 opinions2011/05/11 22:00:00
With a series of recent security breaches on airlines in which passengers tried to open emergency doors and cockpits, is it time to implement tighter security measures on both?164 opinions2011/05/11 15:00:00
After 33 years of debate, the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. has cleared the way for openly gay members to be ordained as ministers. Is this Christian?2,366 opinions2011/05/11 19:00:00
Roman Caple was looking forward to graduating. But after a Facebook post critical of his school's response to a recent tornado, he was told he couldn't walk with his fellow students.835 opinions2011/05/12 11:00:00
Sgt. Joseph Bozicevich, who was charged with the murder of two fellow U.S. Army soldiers -- Staff Sgt. Darris Dawson and Sgt. Wesley Durbin -- in 2008, could face the death penalty.279 opinions2011/05/10 22:22:00
"Don't Ask Don't Tell" hasn't even been repealed, and Perez Hilton is reporting that Congress has already announced that Navy chaplains will be authorized to conduct same-sex marriages on base.1,718 opinions2011/05/10 20:35:23
A columnist is claiming that violence on the Internet is slowly making us more accepting and tolerant of violence in our daily lives, to the point of declaring it an emergency.38 votes2011/05/10 20:18:24
Remember when Donald Trump was the GOP's most likely presidential candidate? Well, Reuters reports that his time may be up.1,117 opinions2011/05/10 19:22:10
Most cicadas only live a few years, but the most popular species in North America last from 13 to 17 years, and only emerge once in their lives to find a mate. Well, they're back.192 votes2011/05/10 18:57:01
Most people don't know a whole lot about GOP freshman Rep. Aaron Schock. But thanks to a Men's Fitness cover, they can now tell you that he has rock-hard abs. Is it okay for members of Congress to pose shirtless?560 votes2011/05/10 18:49:41
Whatever the cause, we're paying through the nose at the pump. Conservative pundit David Limbaugh blames the Obama administration for the high prices and says the answer is drill, baby, drill. Do you agree?834 opinions2011/05/10 18:34:03
When a high-profile comedian tells you to Google something, do you do it? Apparently so.435 opinions2011/05/10 18:07:57
Should the victims and first responders from 9/11 get some of the $50 million bounty that was offered for the killing or capture of Osama bin Laden?402 opinions2011/05/10 15:00:00
U.S. commandos seized lots of valuable information on hard drives and computers in their raid on Osama bin Laden's $1 million suburban compound in Pakistan. But now they'll get to speak to his three wives.249 votes2011/05/10 15:00:00
It's called the "Don't Say Gay" bill -- and it would ban teachers from putting anything gay-related into their curriculum before high school. What do you think about it?1,316 opinions2011/05/09 22:33:27
Jimmy Carter's speech at the Georgia State University on Saturday seems to have rekindled comparisons between Carter's failed 1980 re-election campaign and President Barack Obama's approaching 2012 campaign.447 opinions2011/05/09 21:45:40
According to ABC, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich will, in fact, be running for president in 2012.509 opinions2011/05/09 20:34:47
CNN reports that the death of Osama bin Laden could end the "cycle of suspicion and discord" toward Muslims that President Barack Obama warned of in 2009.4 opinions2011/05/09 19:28:59
ABC reports that a Canadian woman who had been missing for seven long weeks in the Nevada wilderness has been found alive.22 votes2011/05/09 19:18:34
As the Mississippi River continues to rise, threatening to flood into the city of Memphis, the Los Angeles Times reports that Mayor A.C. Wharton Jr. is pushing his men to do what they can.17 votes2011/05/09 17:42:13
Remember Casey Anthony? She's the woman who's charged with killing her two-year-old daughter, Caylee, after news broke that she waited an entire month before notifying the police. And her trial begins today.875 opinions2011/05/09 17:26:35
The New York Times reported early Monday morning that NBC has made its decision on Meredith Vieira's replacement, as she prepares to step down from her spot hosting the "Today" show in June.31 votes2011/05/09 17:18:43
A Delta Connection pilot turned a plane around and asked two Muslim clerics to get off, claiming they might scare other passengers. Was it right for him to do that?1,510 opinions2011/05/09 18:00:00
Municipalities across the nation are scrambling to find ways to save money amid budget crises. Near Sacramento, the latest scheme is leaving the streetlights on to shock thieves. Good idea?191 votes2011/05/09 19:00:00
A New Orleans man is facing life in prison for his fourth conviction on charges of trying to sell marijuana. Do you think the sentence is too harsh?2,290 opinions2011/05/09 20:00:00
New videotapes of late terror leader Osama bin Laden show the 9/11 mastermind watching himself on TV. We're not sure why the government felt the need to release them, but are they useful?300 opinions2011/05/09 14:00:00
News & Politics
2016/02/13 06:55:20
Hot Questions on SodaHead
More Hot Questions


text:
The Colossus of New York
Now available for your home viewing pleasure!
Posted By: Paul -
Wed Aug 17, 2011
Mad Scientists, Evil Geniuses, Insane Villains
Fictional Monsters
More weirdness from the WU archive:
Ronson Hood 'N' Comb Hair Dryer, 1958
The school of weird facts opens, 1989
Deputy Sheriff Hurst and prisoner, 1945
Yeah but the robot had more talent.
Posted by yogi in Kennesaw GA on 08/17/11 at 09:58 AM
"a steel colossus without a soul"
imply that there's one with a soul? Just asking.
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 08/17/11 at 10:04 AM
BTW, Yogi, the Govenator is looking for you.
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 08/17/11 at 10:05 AM
LOL guys! If it was just a body to contain the brain for reanimation why did the mad scientist give it the ability to zap people with rays from its eyes? Just askin'.
Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 08/17/11 at 10:50 AM
The mirror trick had already been used by Perseus and would have been copyright infringement.
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 08/17/11 at 11:09 AM
KDP, you remind me of dvd I watched. It was one of the Final Destination movies, the one with the roller coaster. It had a feature where you could choose what action the characters took next and see what happened. In the beginning it gave you the choice of no one getting on the coaster in the first place. When chosen that option would result in the credits rolling because if no one dies on the coaster there really isn't a movie after that.
Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 08/17/11 at 01:22 PM
Page 1 of 1 pages
Commenting is no longer available on this page.
Custom Search
Books Selected and endorsed for Pure Weirdness by Your WU Team
Get WU Posts by Email
Enter your email address:
Delivered by
WU on Twitter
RSS Feed


text:
Med town house with roof terraceFranceLanguedoc-RoussillonMarseillan
About this listing
Converted maison village with stunning roof terrace, conveniently located in the picturesque port-side town of Marseillan with great selection of shops, cafes, restaurants, nr beautiful sandy beaches. Sleeps 4 comfortably, open plan kitchen / lounge.
Space where guests can cook their own meals
Towels, bed sheets, soap, and toilet paper
The Space
Roof Terrace accessed from the top floor bedroom - perfect for breakfast in the sun, or champagne under the stars!
Great for couples but comfortably sleeps 4
Guest Access
Whole house / terrace and bicycle if required
Interaction with Guests
We're happy to help in anyway we can, and our local English / French speaking housekeeper is moments away if needed.
The Neighborhood
It's a real taste of France, very friendly neighbours and town. Very pleasant walks around the old town and the beautiful port
Getting Around
Airport Shuttle bus to and from Beziers Cap d' Agde airport. Summer season beach shuttle bus
Other Things to Note
Well equipped kitchen if you do like to cook, there are also many very good restaurants to choose from... just moments away from the house.
Non smoking property, sorry no pets


text:
- 65Promote
Art Print
Agitation Invertedby Claudia McBain
Collect your choice of gallery quality Giclée, or fine art prints custom trimmed by hand in a variety of sizes with a white border for framing.
!! ✯ amazing ✯ !!
Looks really good, nice work.
Lovely color abstract!
thank you def29, justin, and laertis :)
Oh Yeah! ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ 👍
Thanks Wayne.
pretty combination!
Love this!
thank you Melanie
Thanks Sylvie :)
See More Comments


text:
- 84Promote
Art Print
Great Adventure IIby Leah Flores
Collect your choice of gallery quality Giclée, or fine art prints custom trimmed by hand in a variety of sizes with a white border for framing.
Wonderful as always Leah!
Thank you Kurt! Love the compliment!
Great! Carpe Diem
so true..and so awesome...
very cool
Thank you all :) !
Thank you VisualPonderland!
Very true, Leah!
Thank Chris :) Helen Keller has some pretty great quotes!
Love this!
Thanks Melanie!!!!
Thank you Pixel Pop!
Love your type, Leah.
Thank you Wise Idea!
See More Comments


text:
Oil Stripper
KMEC's new oil stripper combines the functions of the stripper and crude oil tank for the solvent extraction plant. The unique spherical baffle plate allows the oil to flow uniformly. Steam is able to thoroughly penetrate the oil via direct contact. Vapor is applied consistently to avoid patches of residual solvent and volitility is reduced considerably. The trays of the stripping tower are connected by flanges, thus both maintenance and cleaning are convenient. KMEC's design allows for convenient operation and reliability.
With over ten years' experience in supplying and exporting complete oil mill plants, solvent extraction plants and related equipment, KMEC is your source for solvent extraction machinery such as oil strippers, desolventizer toasters and other extraction machinery.
Oil Stripper
- Oilseed Pretreatment
- Oil Expelling
- Solvent Extraction
- Vegetable Oil Refinery
- Oil Filling
- Small Scale Oil Production Line
If you want to extract oil out from niger seeds, then the pressing e...
Establish oil production plant for groundnuts(peanuts), detail groun...
Offer professional palm kernel oil extraction and refining productio...
Know details about how to make soya oil, KMEC always supplies profes...


text:
You are always welcome on Audiko.net! We offer you to download a free eu ringtones for your iPhone or mobile. Take your favorite episodes from your favorite award-winning track - gato, calate cabron, Atende o caralho do celular, or any other track. Then download the prepared eu ringtones to your mobile, and enjoy IDM music by eu every time your phone rings. If you love IDM or maybe Downtempo and Ambient music, then you will probably like Maps, 2h Company, or ambidextrous as well. For all who want a free eu ringtone, we also recommend listening to Russian, Experimental, and Electronic. It's possible to receive your ringtone both in the MP3 and m4a formats, supported by both mobile phones and iPhones. Just select a track, and choose free eu ringtones download option.
Download eu Ringtones
Top free ringtones
|Ssonerie apel Basex
|Dady Is calling
|Da Butt
|boate azul
|Doing the Butt
|Ultra Combo 4
|bem te vi


text:
Select a region below to explore Resorts & Lodges in that destination.
Excitement and Entertainment For All Ages
Amidst the calm magnificence of some of Colorado's most spectacular ranch land you'll find a...
Dude Ranch - Resorts and Lodges in Colorado
Get the true dude ranch experience when you plan your next outdoor getaway to Colorado. Here you will find a wide variety of ranches to choose from including Vista Verde Ranch, C Lazy U Ranch, and Aspen Canyon Ranch. If you are looking for the perfect horse riding adventure, book your trip with Colorado Trail Ranch where you can enjoy scenic trail jaunts, half- and full-day rides, and even a cattle drive excursion. Find out what it was like to be a farm hand in the Old West, and start planning your next dude ranch getaway in Colorado.
Visiting a dude ranch is an exciting way to tour the great outdoors, and Vista Verde Ranch is one of the best in the West. This is because they bring you a guided and flexible ranch experience. Saddle up for fun as you mosey through the forest with an expert guide ready to take you anywhere you want to go.
At the heart of the C Lazy U is its herd of more than 175 horses and professional, friendly wranglers, along with a 12,000-sq.-ft. heated outdoor riding arena that hosts the afternoon family "Shodeo." Year-round guided trail rides are for all ages and experience levels. Kids five and under will love the ranch's pony!
Discover a Rocky Mountain ranch experience like never before at the Aspen Canyon Ranch! This Colorado destination offers you a stunning setting amidst the majestic peaks. Enjoy horseback riding through the mountain trails, or head to Williams Fork River for a fly-fishing adventure. Onsite you'll love the rustic atmosphere of their accommodations,...
Discover a true ranch experience at this charming Colorado destination. Tumbling River Ranch features a variety of fun options that are sure to make you feel like you're a part of the Old West. Hop onto the saddle and enjoy a horseback ride through Pike National Forest. Watch a rodeo show, partake in square dancing, and much more during your next...
Colorado Top List Picks
Top Rocky Mountain National Park Lodging
Spanning over 415 square miles of breathtaking mountain and sub alpine landscape, Rocky Mountain National Park is an outdoor lover's dream getaway location. In 2015 the park celebrated its centennial... more
Top 10 Estes Park Vacations
The rolling foothills, singing wildlife, tall trees, and steadfast mountains are signature beauties of Colorado's magnificent Estes Park, a country with its own brand of luxury. You won't look a... more
Top Snowmass Ski Vacations
From the top of Snowmass Mountain, you feel on top of the world as your heart races with excitement for the coming ride. That excitement never ceases with all the variety and challenge that awaits on... more


text:
NEW YORK -- Stocks rebounded Tuesday, with the Dow Jones industrial average rising solidly above 10,000 as investors, less anxious about volatile energy prices, focused instead on good corporate news.
Light crude for November delivery surged above the psychologically important $50 milestone early in the session, but backed off that record high after Saudi Arabia indicated it would raise its output if necessary. Nervous about rising energy costs, investors had turned to the safety of Treasury bonds lately, but with the third quarter drawing to a close and oil prices easing, they seemed ready to return to stocks -- especially after several sessions of equity declines.
"All attention is definitely being paid to oil today, and the fact that it's trading off its highs is definitely helping equities," said Brian Williamson, an equity trader at The Boston Company Asset Management. "You can definitely make a correlation today between the bond market selling off ... and the momentum in U.S. equities."
The Dow Jones industrial average closed up 88.86, or 0.9 percent, at 10,077.40.
The broader gauges also posted gains. The Standard & Poor's 500 index added 6.54, or 0.6 percent, to 1,110.06. The Nasdaq composite index added 9.99, or 0.5 percent, to 1,869.87.
In economic news, consumer confidence declined for a second straight month, according to the Conference Board. The index fell 1.9 points to 96.8 from a revised reading of 98.7 in August. Analysts had expected a reading of 99.5.
Economists blamed the decline on soft labor market conditions.
Moderating crude prices, a Saudi Arabian oil official said his country would raise its daily production capacity by 15 percent in an effort to calm the market. The move essentially allows the world's largest petroleum exporter to raise production at will, depending on demand.
Oil prices remained quite volatile, however, as increased fighting in Nigeria forced several companies to shut down production and evacuate workers. Rebels in Nigeria, the world's seventh-largest crude exporter, are battling for control of the nation's southern oil fields. Light, sweet crude for November delivery settled at a new high, up 26 cents at $49.90.
Uncomfortably high oil prices have dogged the equity market for months.
© 2016. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Service | Privacy Policy / About Our Ads


text:
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) – A four-alarm fire tore through four homes in Mill Basin, Brooklyn late Monday afternoon, and as many as firefighters were injured in fighting the blaze. 561 more words
Tags » Mill Basin
Three homes damaged in Mill Basin fire
MILL BASIN, Brooklyn (PIX11) — Four homes were damaged when a fire broke out in Mill Basin Monday afternoon.
104 more words
East 23rd Street
Survive the winter in this amazing home!
It's a 7Br/3Ba located on the edge of Marine Park. It's the perfect place to snuggle up with your family this holiday season and many more to come! 20 more words
East 65th Street
Highland Ave.
East 66th Street
Woman's car stolen with dog at gas station in Brooklyn, makes plea for pup's safe return
MILL BASIN, Brooklyn (PIX11) — Eleni Pappas is desperate to get back her 11 month old puppy named Leo. She was with her Chihuahua when she stopped off to get gas at the intersection of Avenue U and Mill Avenue around 10 p.m., Friday night, when in the blink of an eye, both her tiny dog and car were gone. 250 more words


text:
Freddie Mercury by artcovaWatch
©2008-2016 artcova
Sixth in the series, some of you asked for this one, so enjoy
As the others, PS CS3, genius 4500 tablet, standard brushes and a crappy photo reference.
Comments and critiques are always welcomed.
If you like it, let me know.
As the others, PS CS3, genius 4500 tablet, standard brushes and a crappy photo reference.
Comments and critiques are always welcomed.
If you like it, let me know.
would you ever sell this picture?????
Aw Freddie if you're cold..give me a hug. I'll keep you warm! I don't miiind...I wuv u
OH CRAP!!! HOW DID I MISS THIS ONE!!! You make me cry... in a good way Thank you artcova for being my HERO!!
When I searched Freddie pictures on Google this one came up and it took me about ten minutes to realize it was a drawing.
Bloody brilliant
Gorgeous, gorgeous, GORGEOUS!!! This was my favorite era of Freddie ever.
Amazing work!
Amazing work!
Beautiful... Just stunning! All those details... The buttons of his shirt... The texture of his jacket... Impressive!
I can't find a word to tell you how amazing this iartwork is ... to say amazing and masterpiece is simply not good enough.. it's a miracle
You seriously drew this?!?! O.o WOW! It's soooooo amazing!
I like it I like it I LIKE it! (kudos to you if you recognise what song that's from )
dats one sexy beast :3 great job!!! wonderful artwork!!! ^^
I love the expression.... Freddie
I love the expression.... Freddie
Simply fantastic...
Beautiful. Did you copy it from a photo?
Wow!!! i love it
my god. this is amazing.
Magnificent !
oooooouh, it's it's great!
You said "If you like it, let me know.". But I love it, so, nothing to do here.
Beautiful,i love it
This is beautiful!! I love the tones, how everything has such amazing depth.. it looked like a photo from far away.. this is how amazing this was...
Freddie Forever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Absolutely brilliant- I mistook it for a photo! Your technical skill is near flawless; the detail in his hands and velvet jacket is wonderful.
Thank you so much, I invite you to see the rest of the gallery with newer works (:
I loooooooooooooooove it
so fantastic!!!
Hello! Your beatiful work was featured here ---> [link]
Smashing, smashing, smashing! I can only hope to aspire to this level!
OMG. I just don't have words to describe how amazing your artwork is. Looks exactly like a photo.
I put this on my blog, linked back to your page. This is amazing.
Cool! Thank you so much! Could you link me to your blog, please?
Oh my God! At The Beginning I Thought It's A Photo! Amazing Work!
amazing!!!love it !!
OMG!!! That's is very impressive!!! Is splendid!!
im jealous
This might sound strange, but the backs of his hands are amazing!


text:
Total Reviews: 10
Average Rating: 4 out of 5
Finally a painless way to do your own underarms! I have been able to wax any body part but my underarms until I found the Soothing Wax. Easy to use, clean and no mess.
Was this helpful? 591 79
Works great!!
Was this helpful? 316 42
The strips come a little dried up.
Was this helpful? 148 49


text:
RCMP are investigating what is believed to be a homicide in Chemawawin First Nation early today.
RCMP said a man was found dead in the community at about 2:30 a.m.
RCMP said the Chemawawin detachment is being assisted by the RCMP Serious Crime Unit and the Forensic Identification Section.
No other information is available.
Chemawawin is located 400 km north of Winnipeg.


text:
- 134Promote
Wild 6 by Eric Fan & Garima Dhawanby Garima Dhawan
Available in 11 and 15 ounce sizes, our premium ceramic coffee mugs feature wrap-around art and large handles for easy gripping. Dishwasher and microwave safe, these cool coffee mugs will be your new favorite way to consume hot or cold beverages.
fantastic collab again Garima...Happy New Year!
Thanks so much soaring anchor designs! Happy New Year to you! Wishing you much happiness & success!
I love the colours! Thanks again for collabing.
Always great to work with you Eric! Thank you for your gorgeous drawings.
So fabulous! Great colors!
very well done Garima & Eric! love it!
very nice, zen!
Nice one!
Awesome artwork with fantastic colors!
Love how you edited the print for the shirts
lovely on all the products!
superb design
Works so well!
Nice work!~
Beautiful elephant
this one is so beautiful!
marvellous !
Fantastic piece, love those colours!
awesome collab garima :-)
Fantastic Peace Of Art!
Love it!
This is really sweet! I love elephants.
Amazing stuff! following you, could you follow me back please?
i make colorful handmade collages!
i make colorful handmade collages!
See More Comments


text:
Broncos Might As Well Hold Open Tryouts At QB
Things are dire at quarterback for the Broncos. Oh, you probably already know this, seeing as how we wrote about it just yesterday. But for as disastrous as "Kyle Orton, starting quarterback with two healthy backups" sounds, the situation's devolving into something far worse.
("Hmmm, I can see the inside of my knuckle. Is that normal?")
The problem with Orton is that he might not actually be healthy for Week 1. Oh, and the clear #2, Chris Simms, is also hurt for at least a month with a high ankle sprain. So now the starting quarterback for the Broncos is a late-round rookie. Check that; aside from a warm body they signed as an emergency rookie, he's the only healthy quarterback.


text:
Analyzing the survey's results from 2009, one year before the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was signed into law, is eye-opening. For example, back then, the main reason hospitals used locum tenens physicians was to fill in for staff who were vacationing or on leave for continuing education.
That is now the number three reason hospitals use a locum tenens physician. Back in 2009, the third most popular reason for hiring a locum tenens doc was to test market a new service. That reason has all but disappeared today.
Today the main reason for using locum tenens is to fill in for staff who have left an organization or to fill in until permanent doctor is found.
Stefan Trocme, MD, a 58-year old cornea specialist who retired as a tenured professor from Case Western Reserve University, has been filling in as a locum tenens for about a year, says the instability in healthcare is driving not only the need for more locum tenens, but also filling a pipeline with experienced physicians who still want to contribute to medicine.
"I have something I never had in my professional career—control over my time," says Trocme. "You were very limited in the amount of time you could spend away from work. And, having worked in academics, office politics took way too much time. As a free agent and entrepreneur, you are not so embroiled in all that.
Comments are moderated. Please be patient.


text:
Since when did the MP become the game?
User blog
Let me begin first, modern day competitive online games are rubbish. I like online gaming on PC and consoles, but competitive games are stupid.
One thing I can't stand this generation is something Halo 2 caused. The multiplayer SECTION of the game being popularised as 'the game'. This is something I can't stand, this has continued into games such as the Call of Duty series and especially when the blockbuster story or campaign gets ignored for essentially what has been exactly the same game for the past 4 years or so.
This is a typical conversation concerning this situation I hate;
Me: "Have you played the new Call of Duty?"
Friend: "Yeah! It's awesome!"
Me: "That's great! So what set pieces does the game have this time?"
Friend: "I've not played the campaign yet, but I'm halfway heading towards Prestige."
Or the seminal;
Me "How's the new Call of Duty?"
Friend "Agh, the bullet detection is rubbish, the sound of the guns aren't very good and the maps are flawed"
Me "Oh right, so I guess that means that the campaign has rubbish level design then? Not as good as the old one?"
Friend "I wouldn't know, I've been busy playing the multiplayer, I only played half an hour of the campaign."
And this is something that comes up regularly. Just HOW many people in the world are actually thinking that the multiplayer is the game and then actively complain about the game being rubbish after playing ALL FOUR of the maps available in each mode and just see the game flopping just because the ATTACHED multiplayer that hardly changes, UT2003 and UT2K4 had more changes in a year than either CoD or Halo.
Then add to that insult of the level designers, story writers, animation directors. The campaign isn't played for about a week until they're bored of the MP and IN COMPARISON because of all the trigger happy shooting online for that week and mastering the shooting mechanics obsessively, the game's AI seems 'too easy'.
A lot of reviews these days for these kind of first person shooters, just review the multiplayer section and ignore the campaign as if it was some kind of last minute addition, when ACTUALLY, the campaign was what the game was intended to be marketed AS. The reason the developers built an engine, the reason the motion capture was so closely adapted for animation, the reason that the team hired a top class Hollywood composer to do the soundtrack, all gets ignored until later, when the player is bored and rushes through it like having ADHD just to get either Achievements or Trophies. What a sad world we live in and the game development community is encouraging this, because it makes money and everyone follows, getting the line between 'additional selling point' and 'high budget game' mixed up.
Oh well, I'm going to play the rather good bonus section of the game of MW2 which had a few tweaks that could of been in a patch in the last game and should be named "Call of Duty Modern Warfare Arena Tournament 2" until I get a copy of Black Ops in the future.
But I disagree with your second-last paragraph, I mean look at the adverts for Black Ops, how many of those are focused on the single-player? Look at the back and front of the BFBC2 box, how much of those focus on the single player? The games that are almost only played in the multiplayer section are usually marketed in that way because they know that most multiplayer-focused games have more longevity than singleplayer-focused games and because multiplayer seems to attract more attention than single-player does. All depends on the genre though when you think about it, I'd say if you asked anyone about Assassins Creed: Brotherhood at least 8 out of 10 would tell you about the story first and foremost before even considering the multiplayer.
I do like the MP, don't get me wrong. It's very addictive, but I get annoyed how the actual parts of the game gets swapped around for the afterthought and bonus to be the game itself. If it was the case that everyone wanted that, then the MP alone could be sold a lot cheaper and it should just be advertised on TV as people sitting around shooting each other, which actually, I believe a clever advert has shown that aspect recently.
If you look at a Uncharted 2, neither part of the game eclipsed the other and it was a whole package. It just seems to me, a lot of the time, CoD and Halo just become 'the multiplayer' when referred to in general speech, forgetting there's a good piece of single player focused interactive entertainment behind it which should be at the forefront because it had the bigger budget.
Is it because the MP outlasts the SP? Personally, I get bored of the MP faster, the maps and the weapons, they're just the same boards with different pieces. Plus...Would you fork out the price of half a board game for another board to put the same pieces on just because everyone's decided to play on the new board more? That's also something worth discussing. I'm sure people can see the metaphor I'm trying to put across there.
Personally, as regards to the metaphor you mentioned, I have gotten the last 2 Cod games myself. I originally had CoD4 as one of my first "next-gen" games and loved it. I eventually got MW2 and even from my first play of it, I never really ever enjoyed it because I felt I had played this all before, and eventually got rid of it and told myself I wouldn't take this bs from a company like Activision anymore. But then I got sick of playing multiplayer games alone and eventually got BO, solely because of that, and I know for a fact that for the whole time that I went not even considering considering buying BO that would have continued had it not been for the want of playing some lighthearted games with my friends. Ok I've really gone off topic but I suppose that's the only reason why I'd ever go and get a game like CoD each year / two years, and at the end of the day, even though I love single-player games and modes a whole lot more than multiplayer, the attraction of playing games with friends casually and of being able to say to yourself you're better than this or that guy in a match (as egotistical and stupid as it sounds), for some reason that makes me want to play multiplayer games often.
Edit: Sorry I really went on in that second part about nothing in particular hehe.
L4D arguably. In my eyes, hope I'm not going to be hypocritical here, always has been packaged and marketed a MP game. Right from day one, just like Counterstrike. It was intended to be online.
Another part of this argument is that the L4D series still has a narrative wherever in SP or Online unlike CoD, it's the same choice of stories, the bots are just replaced with real gamers around the globe and the characterisation, voice acting and soundtrack (although dynamic) remains. This partly is why I respect Valve with multiplayer games that the story is the characters/classes within the games meaning that the same feel of the game can be online and offline.
What you have with CoD is a blank slate running around shooting. There's not much more depth. Like as seen in L4D which has great characters and archetypes, you might as well be Doomguy in CoD.
L4D is excused though. That's pretty much an MMO and SP is practice.
There is definitely more of an emphasis on competitive mutliplayer in games though and its been going that way for a few years now. I guess its a way of saying to potential buyers that they can just hop on for about half an hour for some mindless action. It's a big shame because some of the storylines in games are brilliantly crafted and amazing to watch play out. Unfortunately people just don't want to dedicate their time to it as much.
Question is though, with multiplayer only on the up and up. What does this mean in the long run for the singleplayer? Two versions of the game to be released?
As we can see from other articles here they want to start charging exclusively for multiplayer content, releasing two versions of the game could be the start of that.


text:
Forms Jobs
501 Reynolds Blvd.
Facilities: Arts and Crafts Room, Computer Lab, Gymnasium, Kitchen, Meeting Room, Softball Field, Walking Track
Hours: Mon.–Thur. 9 a.m. –
10 p.m.;
Fri. 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Center Supervisor
Art Blevins
For more information regarding programs, recreation center rentals, or any other inquiries, please call Art Blevins at (336) 727–2428 or send him an email here! e-mail Art Blevins
Computer Lab: Daily 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.Homework Hour: Mon.–Fri. 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.Teen Night Basketball: Tue. 6 –10 p.m.Teen Night Trips & Events: Tue. & Sat.(Contact Art)Tutoring by WFU: Mon.–Thur. 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.Winter Basketball Leagues: (Leagues for ages6–10 & 11–15), $25, Games in Jan. Sign–ups in Nov.
OTHER ACTIVITIESFall Festival: Oct. 29, 6 – 8 p.m.Forsyth County Emancipation Proclamation Club:3rd. Wed. 6 – 7 p.m.Gilmer Ave. Neighborhood Club: 2nd Tue. 6:30 –8:30 p.m.Hanes Hosiery Senior Citizens Club: 3rd Mon.10 a.m. – noonPaisley Alumni Association: Thur. 11 a.m.R.A.P.P (Relatives as Parents Program): 3rd Wed.11 a.m. This support group is for relativesthat have become caregivers for childrenthat have experienced the loss of a parentdue to incarceration, death, drug use etc.Red Hat Ladies Club: 3rd Thur. 6 p.m.Body and Soul Exercise Class: Thur. 6 – 7 p.m.FreeCorn Hole Toss on Weds: 11 a.m., FreeSittercize: Tue. 11 a.m., FreeDeltas Club Meetings: Thur. 6 p.m.
Map of all center locations
Receive E-Mail Notification When New Information is Posted on this PageAs a member, enjoy the benefits of MyCityofWS, including your choice of newsletters, and notifications about events and site updates. Login and Manage Your Subscriptions Now.


text:
Narrow your search
A holographic version of Dr. James Naismith makes a cameo appearance to talk hoops during the NBA's tech summit.
At CES 2016, Harman unveiled its Summit, a new audio platform for high-end cars that not only replicates the acoustic qualities of famous music venues, but also creates a deep immersion experience far beyond surround.
A new consortium aiming to harvest solar power from space hopes to spread word of a little-known source of energy that's clean, carbon-free and literally limitless.
The inaugural New West Summit -- devoted to the marriage of pot, tech, business and media -- serves as the site for a kind of passing of the torch. Or should we say a passing of the pipe?
The popular interactive festival will hold an all-day summit after suffering a backlash for canceling two sessions on the harassment of women in the video gaming culture.
The chairman of the Belgian Privacy Commission, William Debeuckelaere, says Facebook's behavior "cannot be tolerated."
President Obama heads to Stanford University to meet with Apple CEO Tim Cook and other business and academic leaders in an effort to tackle cyberthreats.
A cybersecurity summit on Friday at Stanford will outline how President Obama aims to get the US government and technology companies collaborating on issues of national security.
The president plans to visit the San Francisco Bay Area to meet with leaders in cybersecurity and discuss how to best move forward in preventing hacks and cyberattacks.
Commentary: A British research team has gotten the go-ahead to edit the DNA of a human embryo using breakthrough tech that could cure cancer -- or bring on a comic-book-style mutant apocalypse.


text:
The Fragging of Patrick Garofalo
If conservative Republicans emulated the Boy Scouts--beyond their mutual antipathy toward gay people, that is--and bestowed merit badges for noteworthy achievements, Rep. Pat Garofalo (R-Farmington) would be a much-decorated partisan in their ranks. During his brief tenure at the Capitol, the 33-year-old freshman legislator has co-sponsored the conceal-and-carry gun-permit law as well as bills that would exclude family-planning grants for organizations supplying abortion services, establish a constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union of a man and a woman, and rename the State Office Building after Ronald Reagan.
Garofalo, whose non-government job is as a network engineer for Allianz Life Insurance Company, also notes that he was Tim Pawlenty's "computer guy" during the governor's successful campaign in 2002, and owns the domain names for both pawlentyforgovernor.com and pawlentyforpresident.com. He was the campaign manager for his Republican predecessor in House District 36B, Steve Strachan, who left office to become the chief of police in Lakeville. When Garofalo stepped up to run for Strachan's seat in 2004, he received the largest proportion of votes (62 percent) of any non-incumbent that year, outpolling both President Bush and Congressman John Kline in his district.
Yet despite this long list of bona fides, Garofalo has apparently been shivved by members of his own party--indeed, by a personal friend whose family has shared dinner in his home. "I don't have a lot of experience in dealing with betrayal," states Garofalo. "I have always been well equipped to fight those on the other side of the aisle, but I never thought in a million years that people in my own party--even the tiny, crazy wing of the Republican Party--would do this to me."
The terms of that betrayal are pretty straightforward. On January 6, Garofalo announced that he would seek a second term this November. Less than a week later, Chaz Johnson, the Republican Party chair of the Second Congressional District, a member of the Farmington Planning Commission, and a flight attendant at Northwest Airlines, made it known that he would challenge Garofalo for the party endorsement at the district convention on March 18. About a month after that, Garofalo announced that he was dropping out of the race. More recently, after former District 36 GOP chair Bill Callister announced he would lead a movement to draft Garofalo at the March convention, Garofalo said he would still accept the nomination if it was proffered.
So how did Garofalo get to be a state GOP pariah in the first place? He cites three votes that, in his view, stirred the ire of what he calls the "flat-earth wing of the party" and led some colleagues to promote Johnson's challenge: his votes on behalf of Northstar commuter rail, Tim Pawlenty's 2005 racino proposal to pull more gambling revenues into state coffers, and a transportation bill that included a 10-cent per gallon gas tax hike.
"Even the most conservative point of view would regard road construction as a legitimate function of government," Garofalo says. "When the people from the business community, the ones who create the jobs and actually sign the payroll checks in my district, tell me that a lack of transportation funding is hurting job creation, I listen to them. The Taxpayers League has never created a private sector job in its life."
In addition to Taxpayers League members, some of Garofalo's more conservative colleagues in the Legislature are rumored to have pushed Johnson to run--including District 36 Sen. Pat Pariseau (R-Farmington) and District 36A Rep. Mary Liz Holberg (R-Lakeville). Johnson declines to go into specifics, but says, "Obviously I didn't just wake up on a Saturday morning and decide I was going to do this." He acknowledges speaking to both Pariseau and Holberg about the race but downplays the significance of their opinions. (Holberg declined to comment on the race; Pariseau did not return calls from CP seeking comment.)
"This is not personal. I like Patrick; I like his wife and I like his kids," says Johnson, who acknowledges that "strained friendship is probably a reasonable characterization" of his current relations with Garofalo. But he also demurs on citing specific issues or votes on which he differs with the incumbent, except to say, "I am a true believer that we do have an ample supply of money to take care of the business of the state without finding new and creative ways to tax the people of Minnesota."
Bill Callister, the leader of the movement to draft Garofalo, claims to be good pals with both Garofalo and Johnson. He adds that "Paul Hardt, who is also from Farmington, is also a friend of mine and a very intelligent man who is going to be a strong opponent. That is why I am supporting Patrick. I feel as an incumbent he has a big edge.
"We also have to recognize that Republicans alone don't elect people," adds Callister. "It takes support from independents and Democrats too. Ronald Reagan taught us that."
Garofalo may eventually decide to become one of those independents. "I do not plan on running in the primary and I do not plan on running as an independent," he tells City Pages. "But I reserve the right to change my mind."
Get the This Week's Top Stories Newsletter
Every week we collect the latest news, music and arts stories — along with film and food reviews and the best things to do this week — so that you'll never miss City Pages' biggest stories.
Sponsor Content