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irwin529 Blogirwin529 Bloghttp://www.gameinformer.com/blogs/members/b/irwin529_blog/atom.aspxCommunity Server2015-03-20T13:30:00ZWhat I Want From E3 2016/blogs/members/b/irwin529_blog/archive/2016/06/05/what-i-want-from-e3-2016.aspx2016-06-06T02:35:00Z2016-06-06T02:35:00Z

In case you haven't heard, E3 2016 is just around the corner. It's the best time of year to be a video game fan as developers wow us with footage of upcoming games, both new and unannounced. Normally, I would take the time to write up some predictions for the upcoming event. Like last year, for instance. Where I said The Last Guardian will NOT be shown. This year, however, I've decided to keep it simple. Instead of making a fool of myself, I'll just write up a few things I would like to see during E3 week, from gameplay of my most anticipated games to new announcements.

Sea of Thieves Gameplay

I've expressed my excitement for Rare's newest game, Sea of Thieves, in the past. It was probably my favorite announcement from last year's E3. Too long has Rare been out of the spotlight, working on Kinect Sports and Xbox Avatars after their glory days on the Nintendo 64. They were my favorite developer growing up, so to see them finally bringing out an original IP has me pumped. A cooperative pirate game where my friends and I can form a crew, sail the open seas and explore islands? Sign me up. It's been a year since Sea of Thieves debuted and there's been no news since, so I hope to see some gameplay and maybe a release window.

Rockstar's Newest Game

We all know Rockstar is too cool for E3. It's not like they need the exposure for their games, as the Rockstar name alone is enough to grab anyone's attention. However, it'd still be nice to see whatever they're working on sooner rather than later. Their last shipped game was in 2013 with Grand Theft Auto V, with the upgraded version a year later, giving the studio a good 2-3 years of working on a new game. While they did announce they would release story DLC for GTA V, it seems like they've moved passed that, with GTA Online receiving all the attention. All signs point toward a new Red Dead, which would be more than welcome, and maybe we'll get Red Dead Redemption coming to Xbox One backwards compatibility. Maybe a sequel to Bully is in the works. Remember Agent?

Halo Wars 2 Gameplay

I long lamented the fact that the criminally underrated Halo Wars never received a sequel. It was a great game that gave us a different perspective of the Halo universe while also serving as my official introduction to the Real Time Strategy genre. So imagine my delight when Microsoft announced a sequel led by Total War developer Creative Assembly. I have no doubt Halo Wars 2 will have a good presence during Microsoft's conference, but I hope to see a lengthy demo showcasing the new features and factions joining the fight. Maybe the Forerunners will be playable?

Reassurance for Early Console Adopters

It's all but confirmed that we'll be seeing new, upgraded versions of the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 at some point in the future, with E3 being the official debut. With several fans not being onboard with the idea, I want Microsoft and Sony to reassure current Xbox One and PS4 owners that these new consoles will not render the older ones obsolete. That games released on the current consoles will not be lesser-versions. It would also be nice to see some kind of upgrade program for those who wish to get the new consoles.

A New Jak and Daxter

This year's Ratchet and Clank reminded just how much fun video games can be. It was pure bliss to play a game that doesn't take itself seriously and revels in its absurdity. It was a breath of fresh air amongst the dark and gritty games that are in abundance these days. It would be great if Sony kept the ball rolling and announced a new entry in the long dormant Jak and Daxter franchise for the PS4. With Ratchet and Clank and Yooka-Laylee bringing the character platformer back, a new Jak and Daxter would fit right in.

CUPHEAD!!!

Just give me a release date, please.

irwin529http://www.gameinformer.com/members/irwin529/default.aspxCommunity Writing Challenge: One Game For Life/blogs/members/b/irwin529_blog/archive/2015/08/21/community-writing-challenge-one-game-for-life.aspx2015-08-21T20:54:00Z2015-08-21T20:54:00Z

I once thought about what game I would choose if I can only play one for the rest of my life. It's no easy choice. I look at some of my favorite games of all time and wonder if any of them can take that mantle. A game like Bioshock, as excellent as it is, can only be played so many times before I would grow bored of it. The same can be said for other linear games like Halo 2 or Uncharted 2: Among Thieves. So, I would have to go with an open-world title. One that features a world that just begs to be explored. One that I could easily get lost in and lose track of time. If you were to ask me this question a year ago, I would have easily answered with Grand Theft Auto V. However, I've now found a game that I truly believe I could spend the rest of my life playing if I can only choose one. And that game is The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.

Content is the main thing I'm looking for when making a decision like this. Is there enough in this game to keep me entertained? Fortunately, The Witcher 3 has that in droves. One look at the map and I was quickly overwhelmed by how much there was to see and do, and that was just the first area of the game, the White Orchard. Question marks litter the map marking a point of interest, all of which contain some kind of side activity, like monster nests or hidden caves. I once spent a two hour session doing nothing but exploring these parts of the map, and I had barely made a dent. There are also plenty of side quests and Witcher Contracts that reportedly takes around 50 hours to complete all of them. That's a brand new game all by itself right there.

Now, a game can have all the content it wants, but it means nothing if none of it is entertaining. Once again, The Witcher 3 succeeds in this department. Every side quest and contract has enough context to make them meaningful. Whether it's an old friend seeking revenge against someone who betrayed him or a rock troll who simply needs paint, every side quest is its own fully realized story waiting to be told. I often found myself more invested in some of these quests than I did with the main story. It's a testament to the story telling abilities of CD Projekt Red that they can tell so many meaningful stories in just one game. That's definitely a plus if I'm choosing to play just this for the rest of my life.

Finally, there's the world itself. It's a liberating feeling to just hop on your horse and ride wherever you want with this calming music accompanying you. Exploring snow-capped mountains, riding through the forest, sailing around the Skellige Isles; it's easy to get lost in the views. Not a bad place at all to call home for life.

I've already sunk about 60 hours into this game, and there's easily another hundred if I want to see all there is. With multiple directions the story can take based on your decisions and multiple endings to see, I can easily make this decision now. If I were to choose one game to play for the rest of my life, it would most certainly be The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.

irwin529http://www.gameinformer.com/members/irwin529/default.aspxRevisiting Halo 3: ODST/blogs/members/b/irwin529_blog/archive/2015/08/15/revisiting-halo-3-odst.aspx2015-08-16T02:36:00Z2015-08-16T02:36:00Z

I wasn't as over the moon with Halo 3: ODST as many others seem to have been back when it released in 2009. I blazed through the story and, as such, I didn't really remember much of the specifics. I was much more into the brand new Firefight mode as well as the second disc that included the full Halo 3 multiplayer suite. Over the years, I've become slightly surprised at how fondly the game has been remembered. Fans have consistently ranked it among the series' best, citing its story as a high point for the franchise. With 343 Industries remastering the game on Xbox One for The Master Chief Collection, I figured it was the perfect time to revisit it and remember what made it stand out from the main-line Halo games.

Originally conceived as an expansion to Halo 3, ODST was eventually spun out into its own full-fledged game featuring members of an Orbital Drop Shock Trooper squad fighting to free the city of New Mombasa in the aftermath of The Covenant slipspace jump seen in Halo 2. After the mission goes awry, the squad finds themselves separated within the city, under siege by The Covenant. As The Rookie, you explore the city at night in search of clues to your squad's whereabouts, as you piece together the events prior his awakening.

The first thing that makes Halo 3: ODST stand out from the other Halo games is the obvious one: playing as a regular soldier. ODST's aren't the super soldiers the Spartans are, and the subtle tweaks to the gameplay highlight that. They can't jump as high; grenades aren't thrown as far; they can't withstand as much damage. It still plays like a Halo game, but the way I would normally approach a Halo game was decidedly different here. I had to play more cautiously, especially on Heroic difficulty. I found no shame in turning back and running away when the odds were stacked against me. It's something I would eventually like to see expanded upon if they ever decide to tackle this premise again.

ODST also saw an open-world element added to the series for the first time. While not as in-depth as other open-world games, it was nice to explore the city at your own pace. In a cool little twist, you are guided to your next objective by the Superintendent, the city's monitoring system. It would constantly take control of electronic signs to read things like "KEEP RIGHT" to keep you on track or "WARNING" when enemies are near. It's a neat feature that makes you feel like you have a friend looking out for you in a city filled with aliens hunting you down. And while there's not much in the way of collectibles, there are audio logs you can find that tell the story of a young woman, Sadie, trying to reach her father during the invasion. I missed these during my first playthrough, but it's a great story that was absolutely worth the time it took to find them and listen to all the way through.

The open-world segments of the game serve as the connective tissue between the flashback sequences, and these are where ODST feels like more of a traditional Halo game. They feature plenty of explosions, and the vehicle based missions with Warthogs, Scorpions and Banshees are just as great as ever. Each mission also lets you play as a different member of the squad and it allows these characters to grow on us. The dynamic between Buck, Dare, Mickey, Romeo and Dutch is a fun one that saw them become my favorite characters from any Halo game. As an added bonus, Buck, Mickey and Dutch are voiced by Nathan Fillion, Alan Tudyk and Adam Baldwin, respectively. I came into Firefly pretty late, so it was nice to learn ODST was home to a small reunion of sorts.

Finally, I have to mention the soundtrack. Halo has always featured an excellent soundtrack, but the music in ODST blew me away with how beautiful it is. The use of pianos and saxophones perfectly captures the feeling of loneliness and hope as you make your way around the city. It really made me feel for the predicament The Rookie finds himself in. It's a departure from the guitar riffs that accompany the action sequences in previous Halo games, and it's all the more better for it. I had to kick myself for overlooking it back in 2009.

It took me almost six years, but I now fully appreciate the work Bungie did with Halo 3: ODST. By making small changes to the gameplay and atmosphere, Bungie crafted a Halo game that felt a little different to what we're used to. And by not having to focus on the galaxy-spanning exploits of the Master Chief, they were able to tell us a smaller story about the unsung heroes of the Human-Covenant War. Whereas I would have normally ranked ODST near the bottom of the series, I now see it as one of the highlights of the franchise, right up there with Halo 2.

irwin529http://www.gameinformer.com/members/irwin529/default.aspxSmite Has Dominated My Gaming Life/blogs/members/b/irwin529_blog/archive/2015/08/06/smite-has-dominated-my-gaming-life.aspx2015-08-07T00:56:00Z2015-08-07T00:56:00Z

About a year ago, I wrote about my interest in the Multiplayer Online Battle Arena genre and why I want to see more of them make their way to consoles. For those not in the know, the concept of a MOBA game is simple. Two teams of five that consist of characters with their own special perks and abilities battle it out to destroy the other team's base. To get to the base, there are three lanes comprised of towers that you must destroy in order to get your computer controlled minions to the other side. In between the lanes is a jungle with neutral enemies that grant buffs when defeated. So while the objective is simple, the execution is where things get complicated. There's a heavy amount of strategy and team work involved, and if your teammates aren't doing their job, it's game over.

I've been fascinated with the genre ever since my brief stint playing League of Legends. I played that for around 10 hours, and while I was pretty bad at it, I liked much of what I saw. Still, it didn't grip me the way it clearly has done to millions of players. Much of it had to do with my general confusion with the genre. I had no idea what the term "carry" meant, which champion to use for a certain lane or what items to purchase for my character. It certainly didn't help that this was on PC, and in a game that requires quick thinking, I just couldn't keep up the way I would with a controller. Ultimately, I stopped playing League of Legends with the hope that maybe it or any other popular MOBA would make its way to console.

Then, Microsoft announced at last year's Gamescom that Smite, a popular PC MOBA from Hi-Rez Studios, would be coming to Xbox One. I quickly looked up some gameplay videos and was immediately excited for it. The third person perspective immediately set it apart from League of Legends and Dota 2. It was also apparent that this game would translate naturally to a controller. Throw in the fact that the characters in Smite are comprised of mythological gods from Greek and Egyptian lore, among others, and I knew I would enjoy this game.

When I received my code to participate in the closed beta, I jumped right in with glee. As with League of Legends, I found myself lost, but not as bad as before. The great thing about Smite is how accessible it is. The third person perspective makes life much easier, and there is a mechanic that automatically purchases the recommended items and upgrades the abilities of your selected god without you doing anything. It's a great feature that streamlines the process and keeps you in the fight.

I started off playing the Guardian class, which is essentially the support role. I wasn't good at this game yet, so I figured the best thing I could do is help my teammates get kills and take down towers. If you're new to Smite, I highly recommend you start with this role, specifically the god Ymir. These gods tend to have high defense and excellent crowd control abilities and excel in getting assists. Playing this role helped me better understand the roles of other characters and which lanes they belong to. I also finally understood what the hell a "carry" meant!

As I mastered the support role and grew more confident, I decided to take on the Warrior class. As its name suggests, this class is reserved for gods who are physically strong at close combat and are better suited for operating in a lane by themselves or roaming the jungle. This is also where I truly fell in love with this game. It's always a great feeling just dominating the other player in your lane and flanking enemies in other lanes to help your teammates. Where I was once afraid to initiate a fight with another player, I now welcome the challenge and actively seek them out.

Don't try me with Bellona

I once questioned how someone can spend hundreds of hours playing League of Legends or Dota 2. And yet here I am with close to 150 hours playing Smite with easily another hundred on the horizon. The kicker is, I still don't get it! There's only five game modes, four of which feature the same basic concept: destroy the towers, kill the titan. But I can't stop playing. I love this game but I can't pinpoint exactly why. There are days where I'll tell myself I won't play Smite and instead catch up on The Witcher 3 or play a couple of rounds of Halo. But when I turn on my Xbox One, I instinctively go straight to Smite without thinking twice. All I could keep thinking about is ways I could improve or what god I'll master next.

Smite has effectively dominated my gaming life, with no end in sight. Now if you'll excuse me, I got some towers to take down.

irwin529http://www.gameinformer.com/members/irwin529/default.aspxCommunity Writing Challenge: Goodbye, GameCube/blogs/members/b/irwin529_blog/archive/2015/06/26/community-writing-challenge-goodbye-gamecube.aspx2015-06-26T21:54:00Z2015-06-26T21:54:00Z

Of all the video game consoles I owned when I was younger, I generally consider the Nintendo GameCube to be the first one I really took seriously. It was the first time I would really take the time to seek out future titles and do research on them, usually in the form of previews via Game Informer. Before I just got whatever game my parents bought me and enjoyed it, whether it was actually good or not. But not with my GameCube. I would only play the best here.

Near the end of its era, I had amassed a library of well over 30 games for my GameCube, all of which I thought were great (even though they probably weren't). Sonic Heroes, my first GameCube game, was a fun platformer that also happened to be my first 3D Sonic game, and the sense of speed on a 3D pane made it a blast to play. Star Fox Adventures was a great, story driven adventure title that saw Fox McCloud step out of the infamous Arwing, and Star Fox Assault felt like a true sequel to Star Fox 64, my favorite game from the N64 era. NBA Street remains my favorite sports arcade series, and my house played host to plenty of Super Smash Bros. Melee parties where friendships were tested.

And then there were my two favorites. Super Mario Sunshine is probably my favorite Mario title behind Galaxy 2. I think it's the most beautiful of the Mario games, with the sun shining on the tropical island Isle Delfino and all its bright colors. It played host to numerous imaginative levels and the cleaning mechanic is something I wish to see again in a future Mario game.

And Spider-Man 2, one of the all time best video games based on a movie and the single GameCube title I spent most of my time on. Literally hundreds of hours doing nothing but swinging around New York City. One of the most liberating games I've ever played.

I loved that GameCube. So what happened to it? This.

Through it all, Halo was my jam (and still is) and Halo 3 was my most anticipated game at the time. As soon as I saw the Halo 3 Legendary Edition with a replica of the Master Chief's iconic helmet, I knew I had to have it. But as a junior in high school with no job at the time, there's no way I could afford the hefty $149.99 price tag. I was ready to settle for a standard copy when a friend of mine looked at my GameCube and games and suggested I trade them all in for the Legendary Edition with the argument that I won't be playing them much anymore.

"He's right!," I thought. So without a second thought, I grabbed a garbage bag and filled it with all my games, controllers, wires and finally, the system itself, and headed off to GameStop. All of it gave me enough store credit to pay off the Legendary Edition as well as preorder a standard copy for my brother and, a couple months later, I proudly walked out with a box containing my most anticipated game of all time and the Master Chief's helmet.

It wasn't until about three years ago when I started to miss my GameCube. I was suddenly hit with memories of Super Mario Sunshine and the desire to play that game again along with other classics like Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door and Star Fox Adventures.

I don't regret buying that helmet though. I still proudly display it in my room, right next to me as I write this in fact. But was it worth trading in some of my favorite games and memories for this collectible? Maybe, maybe not. I still wish I had them though. It's part of the reason why trading in my Xbox 360 and games for an Xbox One was out of the question. Sure, I could have gotten it cheaper, but you can't put a dollar amount on sentimental value. I gladly paid full price for my Xbox One, and I still kept classics like BioShock and Red Dead Redemption in the process.

You may not have been Nintendo's best console, but you were definitely my favorite. So goodbye, GameCube.

irwin529http://www.gameinformer.com/members/irwin529/default.aspxSea of Thieves Already Won Me Over/blogs/members/b/irwin529_blog/archive/2015/06/23/sea-of-thieves-already-won-me-over.aspx2015-06-23T17:40:00Z2015-06-23T17:40:00Z

Like many, Rare was a big part of my childhood. They were the developers behind many of the titles I sunk countless hours into, like the combo heavy Killer Instinct; the puzzle platformer Banjo-Kazooie; the hilariously vulgar Conker's Bad Fur Day; and the highly influential Goldeneye 007 and its spiritual successor, Perfect Dark. Rare was once at the top of the video game world, making games people of all ages can enjoy.

Unfortunately, the years have not been kind to the once great developer. Since being acquired by Microsoft in 2002, Rare has made games that don't reflect the company's storied past. Perfect Dark Zero wasn't a worthy sequel to Perfect Dark. Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts was a decent vehicle building game, but far from the true Banjo sequel we wanted. They also worked on several Kinect Sports titles and created Xbox Live Avatars.

Ever since Microsoft ditched the Kinect from the Xbox One, people have wondered what Rare will do now that they are free from the peripheral. Will they draw from their deep catalogue of IPs? Or will they create something entirely different? That question has now been answered. Enter: Sea of Thieves.

Making its debut at this year's E3, Sea of Thieves is a new IP from Rare for Xbox One and Windows 10. There is still plenty we don't know about this title, but from the brief gameplay shown, we can gather a few thoughts. It's a pirate game; there's multiplayer in a shared world; we can create crews and sail the open seas together; there's naval battles and island exploration.

Yep. I'm stoked for this game. Assassin's Creed IV:Black Flag and the show Black Sails have left me itching for a true pirate game, and Sea of Thieves looks to be it.

I love the prospect of getting together with friends and setting sail in search of adventure. The trailer showed that each crew member will have a specific role on the ship. We saw one player steering the ship while another managed the sails. I imagine one player can sit on the crow's nest to scout out islands and possible enemy crews. Perhaps some can be assigned the grunt duty of scrubbing the ship. The possibility of a crew hierarchy excites me, as I'm sure the captain will be able to dish out orders to the rest of the crew, but a mutiny is always a possibility since the trailer also showed a player being forced to walk the plank.

If Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag taught me anything, it's that naval warfare in a video game is a thrilling experience. To be able engage other player ships should be a blast, although I'm curious to see how they'll handle running into a crew that has far more experience than your own.

Time will tell if Sea of Thieves ends up actually being a good game, but I'm already all in on it. It's great to see Rare back to making a game they seem passionate about. The colorful world and charming music present in the trailer all seem to indicate Rare is back in form, and I couldn't be more excited for it.

irwin529http://www.gameinformer.com/members/irwin529/default.aspxE3 '15 Predictions - Day 2: Sony/blogs/members/b/irwin529_blog/archive/2015/06/07/e3-39-15-predictions-day-2-sony.aspx2015-06-07T21:07:00Z2015-06-07T21:07:00Z

E3 is right around the corner. The most exciting event in the video game industry is a time for all of us to sit back and watch what the future has in store for us. We'll see more from hotly anticipated games like Halo 5 and Uncharted 4 as well as (hopefully) be blindsided from games we had no idea about. It's quite possibly the funnest time of the year for fans of the medium.

A favored pastime for many gamers is speculating just what E3 will bring us. It's always good fun to talk with others about our hopes for certain announcements from each company. Of course, I'll be taking part in this as well, making predictions for the big 3: Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo. Next up is Sony.

Sony is obviously very pleased with itself. It's no secret the PS3 had a slow launch after sporting a $600 price tag. Mistakes were learned, and a gamer's first initiative has helped its successor, the PS4, skyrocket to record sales, taking a big lead against its competitors. So unlike Microsoft and Nintendo, Sony is in no state of urgency going into E3. The problem now is the PS4 lacks a big exclusive for this holiday season after Uncharted 4: A Thief's End was unfortunately knocked out of 2015, a fact admitted by Andrew House himself. Sony's E3 show should be an interesting one. Do they have an ace up their sleeve? Or will they double down on third party deals?

For reference, here are my Sony predictions from last year:

 Kingdom Hearts III demoed; Star Wars world teased

PS4/Vita bundle coming to North America

Infamous game coming to Vita

LittleBigPlanet 3 announced

New God of War and Jak and Daxter teased

The Last Guardian re-emerges

1 out of 6. So yea, not my best work. Moving on.

Call of Duty: Black Ops III will open the show

One noticeable aspect of the Black Ops III announce trailer is that the Xbox logo was nowhere to be found. Past Call of Duty trailers usually end with the usual "all DLC first on Xbox" announcement, but not this one. It leads many to believe that whatever deal Microsoft had with Activision has run its course. With the PS4 leading in sales and the successful partnership they had regarding Destiny, Activision knows which side its bread is buttered and they will bring their flagship shooter to Sony's show. In a little jab at Microsoft, Sony will even open the show with it with a demo showcasing the usual cinematic moments you expect from a Call of Duty game.

Next God of War demoed

One of the Playstation's biggest exclusives, God of War, has been silent for a couple of years now. God of War III is getting the remastered treatment and we know a new installment is in the works. So expect an official announcement regarding a new God of War game, but it will also be in playable form with a demo on stage. It will feature a new playable character on his/her own path of vengeance, though what this means for Kratos is unknown. No release date will be announced, but this demo will be included in next months God of War III Remastered.

Guerilla Games' new title will be shown

It's well known that Killzone developer Guerilla Games has been working on a new IP for the PS4, but we've seen no official announcement for it just yet. The rumor is that it's an open world RPG with what seems to be a prehistoric sci-fi setting with robot dinosaurs. Some concept are was leaked late last year as well, and I've never realized how much how I wanted this kind of game. Expect Sony and Guerilla Games to lift the lid on whatever this game is, but not much will be shown. A brief CG trailer confirming the setting and giving the game an official title should be enough to build anticipation for a proper reveal somewhere down the line.

Another new IP will also be shown

Sony's got a number of talented first party studios under its umbrella, several of which have been silent for quite some time. At least one of them should be breaking their silence soon, and my money's on Media Molecule taking the stage for an extended gameplay demo of their next game that will surely charm the pants out of everyone. Whatever it is they show, it will be out this November to help bolster Sony's first party lineup.

Morpheus blowout

Sony is also getting into the VR craze with their own headset titled Morpheus. Expect it to get plenty of spotlight during the show with a few tech demos, one of which will be Morpheus running Killzone Shadowfall. Finally, a release window for sometime in 2016 will be announced.

The Last Guardian!!! ...will NOT be shown

Every E3 prediction the last couple of years regarding Sony swears that this is the year and this year is no different. The Last Guardian was officially announced in 2009 with a brief trailer and it generated a ton of hype given the pedigree of Team Ico, developers of the critically acclaimed Ico and Shadow of the Colossus. But its gone dark ever since, with the only news regarding the game coming from Sony's insistence that it is still in development. Until they state otherwise, I'll continue to believe them. But, and I'm sorry to burst your bubble, The Last Guardian will once again be a no-show at this year's E3.

irwin529http://www.gameinformer.com/members/irwin529/default.aspxE3 '15 Predictions - Day 1: Microsoft/blogs/members/b/irwin529_blog/archive/2015/06/05/e3-39-15-predictions-day-1-microsoft.aspx2015-06-05T22:19:00Z2015-06-05T22:19:00Z

E3 is right around the corner. The most exciting event in the video game industry is a time for all of us to sit back and watch what the future has in store for us. We'll see more from hotly anticipated games like Halo 5 and Uncharted 4 as well as (hopefully) be blindsided from games we had no idea about. It's quite possibly the funnest time of the year for fans of the medium.

A favored pastime for many gamers is speculating just what E3 will bring us. It's always good fun to talk with others about our hopes for certain announcements from each company. Of course, I'll be taking part in this as well, making predictions for the big 3: Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo. First up is Microsoft.

About a year and a half into its lifespan, the Xbox One has been doing great for itself, outpacing its predecessor, the Xbox 360, at this point in its own lifespan. Despite this, Sony's Playstation 4 has been dominating the market in about the same span. Microsoft has since been playing catch-up by dropping the price and ditching Kinect. They still got a ways to go though, and E3 is the perfect time to show people why the Xbox One is the console they need this year.

For reference, my Microsoft predictions for last year's E3 were as follows:

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare will open the show; Limited edition console announced.

New Gears of War teased

Fable Legends will be free-to-play

Backwards compatibility service announced

A new IP will be announced

Crackdown 3 Announced

Halo: The Master Chief Collection will include access to the Halo 5 beta

Five of those came true, though not all were announced during E3. So not to brag, but I clearly know what I'm doing here (don't worry though, Sony and Nintendo would later humble me, as you will soon see). Let's get on with it then.

The New Mass Effect will open the show

The long awaited next installment in the Mass Effect series will finally make its debut in the form of short trailer captured with actual gameplay. We'll get a few tidbits as to the state of the universe after the events of Mass Effect 3, as well as a tease for a possible returning character. As is usually the case these days, EA will ask that you tune in to their own E3 conference for more on the new game. The presentation will end with the first official announcement of the remastered Mass Effect Trilogy, coming first to Xbox One this fall.

DC Universe Online coming to Xbox

Earlier this year, Sony Online Entertainment was sold off and renamed Daybreak Game Company. They've all but confirmed they will now make Xbox games in addition to PS4 and PC, and it stands to reason some of their existing titles will make the jump too. Expect the hugely popular DC Universe Online to be one of the first games making its way to Xbox, with a trailer announcing its arrival. They will then ask anyone interested to visit the game's website to sign up for a closed beta beginning next month.

Halo 5: Guardians will dominate the show

Halo 5 is without question the Xbox One's most important exclusive this year. It's the flagship franchise and it's coming off the lukewarm reception to Halo 4 as well as the disastrous launch of The Master Chief Collection. So expect Halo 5 to take up a good chunk of Microsoft's showing. The focus will be on story given that we've seen no actual campaign gameplay yet. There will be a full campaign debut where we'll get the full scope of Halo's story after all the cryptic trailers we've seen. Expect a 10 minute demo showing off 4-player co-op with Agent Locke and his squad, the rivals to the Master Chief's elite Blue Team from the Halo novels.

Look for some shenanigans as well. The weeks leading up to E3 has seen a viral marketing campaign in the form of the Hunt the Truth podcasts. They center on fictional journalist Benjamin Giraud who, each week, has been uncovering a government conspiracy related to the Spartans. Given that they're tying these into E3, I wouldn't be surprised if Benjamin "crashed" the show by hacking in and telling us not to trust what we hear regarding the traitorous Master Chief.

Finally, the presentation will end with the announcement of a second Halo 5 multiplayer beta, available "right now."

Gears of War Ultimate Edition will be a free download

A Gears of War remaster seems to be all but confirmed, with plenty of reports and leaks pretty much confirming its existence. What remains to be seen is whether it will be just the first game or a trilogy collection like The Master Chief Collection. I suspect it'll be the former, but with a multiplayer offering that features the best maps spanning the entire series, with Horde mode included. Moreover, Microsoft will announce the title will be available as a free download via Games with Gold this December.

Xbox LIVE Arcade Legacy Service Announced

One thing many have wanted since the Xbox One's debut was the ability to play purchased Xbox LIVE Arcade games from the 360 era on the new console. While they could just port the game over and resell it again, I believe Microsoft will announce a service that allows you to stream XBLA titles over an internet connection, similiar to Sony's Playstation Now service. However, Microsoft will go the extra mile by allowing you to play titles you already own at no extra cost, otherwise you can still purchase individual titles. Hits like Shadow Complex, Castle Crashers and Braid will kick off the service, with more games added periodically.

CUPHEAD!!!

If there's one game that won the hearts and minds of viewers everywhere at last year's E3, it was Cuphead. This run-and-gun indie game from Studio MDHR was first seen in a blink-and-you-missed-it cameo during the ID@Xbox montage, but it left a lasting impression with its charming hand drawn graphics that evokes old Disney cartoons. I expect Cuphead will receive its own dedicated stage time during Microsoft's show with a humorous trailer that will win everyone over, making it one of the most anticipated games of the year. Contrary to popular belief, Fallout 4 will not shut down E3. Cuphead will.

irwin529http://www.gameinformer.com/members/irwin529/default.aspxCommunity Writing Challenge: A Halo Survival-Horror Game/blogs/members/b/irwin529_blog/archive/2015/05/08/community-writing-challenge-a-halo-survival-horror-game.aspx2015-05-08T19:53:00Z2015-05-08T19:53:00Z

I love Halo. Its been my favorite video game series since it showed up on the scene back in 2001. Since then, a huge universe has been built between the games and novels, so much so that I've always felt there is much more to see in the games besides the Master Chief's story. I've expressed my desire in the past to see Halo explore different genres other than the first person shooter and tell new stories. To explore different corners of this vast universe. There are several different games I'd like to see, but the one I want the most is horror game in the vein of Dead Space and Alien.

There's a short story in the book Halo: Evolutions titled The Mona Lisa, and the set-up is exactly how I picture this game being. In the aftermath of the Halo ring's destruction in Halo: Combat Evolved, a crew is sent to investigate an abandoned ship near the wreckage, the Mona Lisa. While inside, they discover the parasites known as The Flood have taken over the ship and its crew, and so now they must destroy the ship and get out alive.

If you've played the first Halo, think of the levels featuring The Flood, specifically 343 Guilty Spark and The Library. The description for the 343 Guilty Spark level says it all:

"Creep through a swamp to meet the only enemy the Covenant fear."

Up until this point, the game featured mostly open spaces as you blasted through the Covenant in Warthogs and Scorpions. But now you were inside a dark facility with very few enemies and a sense of dread in the air, which is a sign that things are about to take a pretty bad turn. And then The Flood show up. The cut scene of Sergeant Johnson and his team first encountering The Flood via head-cam footage was one of the scariest things 11 year old me had seen. Luckily, the Master Chief doesn't go down as easily, so The Flood never stood a chance.

Now imagine that, but instead of playing as the all-powerful Master Chief, you play as a regular marine. No super strength. No shields. Limited ammo. Similar to Dead Space, you would make your way around the dark corridors of this infested ship with a gun with limited ammo and a flashlight, not knowing whether a surprise awaits you around the corner. Like The Last of Us, it would be best to avoid open combat, opting instead to take enemies out stealthily and conserve ammo.

This game would also put you in charge of managing a safe haven within the ship and of your crew's fate. You would make decisions, like prioritizing tasks and sending crew members to different parts of the ship for a mission like retrieving items for your base. Make wrong decisions and you put your crew in danger. They can be permanently killed off, only to then be encountered again as part of The Flood. Get enough crew members killed and the odds will be stacked significantly against you.

I don't play too many horror games. Not because I scare easily, but because they require you to be very meticulous when you play. But I would without question buy a horror game set in the Halo universe. Like I said, I love Halo. The opportunity to experience a new story told from a very different perspective would be too good to pass up.

irwin529http://www.gameinformer.com/members/irwin529/default.aspxCommunity Writing Challenge: The Troubled Niko Bellic/blogs/members/b/irwin529_blog/archive/2015/04/28/community-writing-challenge-the-troubled-niko-bellic.aspx2015-04-28T19:51:00Z2015-04-28T19:51:00Z

"Life is complicated. I killed people, smuggled, people, sold people. Perhaps here, things will be different."

Through that quote, we get a good sense of who Niko Bellic, the protagonist of Grand Theft Auto IV, is. A man who fought in a war and witnessed horrible things, even taking part in some. He is a man looking to escape his dark past, but no matter how hard he tries, it continues to haunt him. He has some hope, though. Maybe by moving to Liberty City in the land of opportunity he can live a normal life and find some closure. Maybe he can finally move on with his life. Of course we, as the player, know that won't be the case. But one can't help but hope he'll find redemption.

Niko travels to Liberty City at the request of his cousin, Roman. Roman's been living of life luxury. He's got a mansion with various sports cars and beautiful women. Except it's all a lie, and Roman is no better off than he was back at home and now finds himself in massive debt to the wrong people. Despite his hesitation to do so, Niko helps Roman settle his debts. After all, he is family. And so once again, Niko finds himself falling into the same life he so desperately wants to leave behind.

We eventually find out more about his past and what his true motivations are for moving to Liberty City: during the war, his unit was ambushed and most of his friends were killed. Niko deduces that one of the survivors betrayed them and he's been looking for him ever since. When he finally has him at gunpoint, the player can decide whether to kill or spare the man. Kill him and Niko will remark that he doesn't feel any better. Spare him and Niko will wonder if he did the right thing. It all begs the question: was all of this worth it? Did Niko finally find the closure he spent years trying the find?

What makes Niko a fascinating character is his morality. Does he find joy in killing? Sometimes, it seems like he doesn't want to kill anyone, yet he knows it's something he's pretty good at and, by extension, the only way he knows how to provide for a better life. For this reason, his morality is in a grey area. He killed his friend's brother, yet feels sympathy for him without revealing what he did. Whether or not this makes him a likable character depends on the player, but it makes for one of the most interesting characters in video games.

irwin529http://www.gameinformer.com/members/irwin529/default.aspxThe Thrill of the Heist/blogs/members/b/irwin529_blog/archive/2015/04/26/the-thrill-of-the-heist.aspx2015-04-26T17:29:00Z2015-04-26T17:29:00Z

We're in a helicopter making our way to Humane Labs to infiltrate the facility and steal some secret files. When we reach the lab, two of us jump off the helicopter and parachute towards the parking lot. As we get closer, the EMP we snuck inside during the previous mission goes off and the facility goes dark. We land, slip on our night vision goggles and make our way towards the back to blow open the garage door. We're in.

It's been a long time coming, but Heists have finally made their way to Grand Theft Auto Online. Plenty of jokes were made about the amount of time Rockstar took to release this long promised feature. Rockstar themselves even took a few jabs, with Lester proclaiming "I know you've been complaining, but you weren't ready," when the update finally came. It may have taken them about a year and half, but the wait was certainly worth it.

What immediately stood out to me is that the five heists aren't just about robbing banks, which is actually what I expected. Three of the five heists have different objectives, like breaking someone out of prison or helping good ol' Trevor with a drug deal. The variety comes from the set-up misions, like sneaking around the Humane Labs compound to put the EMP in place or stealing jets from an aircraft carrier to tune of Kenny Loggins' "Danger Zone." There's a lot to do and you can always go back and play a different role to see things from a different perspective.

The unique part of these heists is what Rockstar admitted to having trouble with, and that's making sure all four players have a role to play. It'd be pretty boring if, say, the designated driver sat idly by while the other three are busy doing the deed. They did a good job at making sure everyone is involved and that each role is important to the task at hand. For example, in the aforementioned Humane Labs Raid, while the two us infiltrated the labs, the other two stayed in the helicopter to keep the skies clear and prevent reinforcements from arriving. In the prison break, two players disguise themselves as an officer and prisoner to blend in and look for the target, while another player gets the getaway plane and position while being protected by another in a helicopter. It's a real cool feeling knowing every player is doing something important on other parts of the map.

Which brings me to cooperation. These heists require a good amount of teamwork. When I broke the target out of prison, I needed to evade the police while coordinating a landing spot with the pilot. It was a bit difficult, but also thrilling. Sneaking into Humane Labs required the four of us to function as one unit, calling out targets and taking them out at the same time so as not to raise the alarm. It's greatly satisfying when everything comes together, and it makes for one of the best cooperative experiences I've ever had.

The heist itself is what's most rewarding though. There's a feeling of adrenaline you get as you and your team make their way towards the finale. Everything you did during the set-up missions comes into play in one form or another; the armored truck, the stolen plane, the EMP or anything else you did previously. All your work pays off and, in the end, you got yourself a huge payday.

Heists have been a great reason to revisit GTA Online after a long absence. Rockstar took the best part of the single player campaign and made them even better by throwing your friends into the mix. There may only be five of them, but they offer plenty of replayability, from taking on a different role to amping up the difficulty to complete challenges and get an even bigger payday. And who knows? Maybe we'll get more of them in the future.

irwin529http://www.gameinformer.com/members/irwin529/default.aspxMy Love for Mortal Kombat/blogs/members/b/irwin529_blog/archive/2015/04/05/my-love-for-mortal-kombat.aspx2015-04-05T19:17:00Z2015-04-05T19:17:00Z

I'm not good at fighting games. Most of them feature some very complicated mechanics that require much practice if you wish to be any good at them. And even then, there's no guarantee. Just when you think you've nailed the basics and are feeling pretty confident, someone will wipe the floor with you once you jump online. I've tried my hand at several fighting games: Street Fighter IV, Marvel vs. Capcom 3 and the new Killer Instinct. I never stuck with them. There's only one fighting game that has remained constant in my life. One that I keep coming back to time and again. That game is none other than Mortal Kombat.

Like most people, what drew me to Mortal Kombat was the violence. My cousins and I would have a ball with little tournaments on the Sega Genesis. Of course, none of us really knew what we were doing, so our sessions were about who can button mash the best. Only one of my cousins knew how to actually play, so it was something of an honor to lose to her just to see the fatalities. It wasn't until I played Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance on the Xbox that I began to realize that Mortal Kombat has a pretty interesting lore. Multiple realms throughout the universe compete in the Mortal Kombat tournament by sending their best warriors to fight. If one realm can defeat another in ten straight tournaments, that realm can conquer it. It's a pretty outlandish concept, but they make it work with a memorable cast of characters that any casual fan can instantly recognize.

There's Scorpion and Sub-Zero, the subject of many Halloween costumes when I was younger. Liu Kang and his infamous Bicycle Kick accompanied by his high-pitched yelling. The Thunder God, Raiden. And my personal favorite, Johnny Cage, the enemy of groins everywhere. There have also been a couple of humorous characters, though whether they were intended to be that way is questionable. Characters like Bo' Rai Cho (spanish for "drunk") and Mokap come to mind.

It wasn't until the 2011 reboot that I really began to appreciate Mortal Kombat though, thanks in large part to its accessibility. No, it wasn't as deep as Street Fighter or Killer Instinct. But it was friendly to all newcomers. Anybody can pick up the controller, check a fighter's move list, and be pretty competent. In fact, that's exactly how I approached the game for a while.

But then I played online and saw other players pulling off these massive combos where they kept their opponent up in the air for an extended period of time. I wound up learning that every character has a "pop-up" move, a move that throws the opponent up and gives you a small window of time to follow it up with another move. Once I grasped this concept, pulling off big combos became second nature. Taking this knowledge online, I was actually able to hold my own against some of the better players. I was actually having fun playing a fighting game!

Unfortunately for me, not every game in the genre follows that simple mechanic. Killer Instinct is all about performing huge combos where muscle memory plays a big role. There's much more to it than performing a simple pop-up move. But that's okay. I don't have the same fondness for a game like Street Fighter that I do for Mortal Kombat. But I also have a ton of respect for the people who have mastered and compete in those fighting games. It takes an insane amount of time and practice to reach those levels.

I love Mortal Kombat. It's the only fighting game series I've played throughout my life and will likely continue to do so. I've enjoyed everything I've seen of the next installment, Mortal Kombat X, and I'm looking forward to continuing the story and seeing where they go next while also being introduced to a new cast of characters, like Johnny Cage's daughter Cassie Cage. But most of all, I'm looking forward to playing a fighting game again. I had a lot of fun playing 2011's MK and MKX should be even better.

irwin529http://www.gameinformer.com/members/irwin529/default.aspxThe Game I Never Finished: Mass Effect/blogs/members/b/irwin529_blog/archive/2015/03/27/the-game-i-never-finished-mass-effect.aspx2015-03-27T22:05:00Z2015-03-27T22:05:00Z

The Mass Effect series is arguably the highlight of the last generation of consoles. Those three games together told one of the best science fiction stories in video games that even let the player choose the outcomes. It had a memorable cast of characters that would follow you through all three games and that the player would build a connection to, eventually growing to care for them. I love this series. I constantly tell my friends, who have never played it, how great it is. How I consider it an essential game that everyone must experience. There's just one small problem. I never finished the first game.

When Mass Effect first released back in 2007, I bought it without really knowing much about it. I liked the idea of creating your own character and playing through a story that put the choice in your hands. Other than that, I went in blind. But I was hooked after the first mission. I remember wrestling a bit with the clunky controls, but the story got off to a hot start and I was genuinely interested in seeing it play out. Then you go the Citadel, this huge, beautiful space station that acted as Mass Effect's hub world and played host to many interesting characters. It's also where the game began to lose me. The Citadel is huge, so much so that I was constantly getting lost in it. I had trouble finding my next objective. I even got lost trying to find my ship and get out.

Then there was the Mako, the crew's surface vehicle. I'm sure you've heard tales about how terrible it was to drive this vehicle, but let me assure you that those tales are in no way exaggerated. The Mako's controls are horrendous. It didn't help that I would again get lost in missions that included it. After putting about six hours into this game, I decided to put it down for a bit, eventually trading it in. It's not that I didn't like it, but the scale of the game was just too much for me. It may sound stupid, and it probably is. But I prefer my games to be a bit more simpler.

Ugh

Fast forward to 2010. Mass Effect 2 was close to release, but I had no interest. Why would I play the sequel to a game I never finished? But then I watched the launch trailer. And then I watched it again. And again. And again. Mass Effect 2's launch trailer is quite possibly the greatest trailer I've ever seen, video game or otherwise. Seriously, if you haven't seen it, please do so. It convinced me that I needed to give Mass Effect another shot, if only because I wanted to carry over my character and story decisions. I just felt like I needed to do it in order to get the most out of Mass Effect 2. And perhaps I've grown as a gamer that I can now fully understand this type of game. Oh how wrong I was.

To my credit, I was able to get a bit further into this game before I gave up. But I just kept running into the same problems I ran into three years ago. Unclear objectives; getting lost; somewhat frustrating controls; that damn Mako. So I tossed it aside and jumped straight into Mass Effect 2. It was every bit as good as people said it was and just as epic as the trailer suggested. It was also much more straightforward, something fans of the first dislike but one thing that I appreciated. I actually finished part 2 and then waited patiently for the finale.

You would think I learned my lesson, right? That the first Mass Effect is just not for me and I shouldn't make a third attempt? Well, I did just that. Mass Effect 3 was a couple of months away and I learned that there were several decisions made in the first game that would play out in the third, such as whether or not you saved the Rachni Queen, a decision I never got to. So things like that convinced me to try again. And, well, yea. You can take a wild guess on how that ended.

I love this series, and I cannot wait for the fourth iteration to come and seeing where the story goes next. But never finishing the first Mass Effect is one thing that, in a way, shames me. How can I express so much love for this franchise without ever beating the first game? Maybe one day I'll finally do it. Perhaps when the inevitable remastered Mass Effect Trilogy makes its way to new-gen consoles?

irwin529http://www.gameinformer.com/members/irwin529/default.aspxSpeculating on Halo 5's Story/blogs/members/b/irwin529_blog/archive/2015/03/23/speculating-on-halo-5-39-s-story.aspx2015-03-24T01:45:00Z2015-03-24T01:45:00Z

Halo 5: Guardians is set to release later this year, but despite its imminent release, there is still very little we know about the story this game will tell. We've seen a few trailers that have given us small hints, but other than that, its been one big, intriguing mystery. That's about to change though. The marketing train is now picking up steam with a "Hunt the Truth" campaign that will see a fictional journalist named Benjamin Giraud begin to unravel just who the Master Chief really is. We'll now begin to get a few more clues to Halo 5's story in the lead-up to E3, where there will likely be a big unveiling. So for now, I've decided to share my own theory on what Halo 5 will be about. Being a big Halo fan, I feel I have enough knowledge to make an educated guess that will most likely be completely off base. But there's no harm in trying, right?

[WARNING: Spoilers for the Halo series follow, specifically Halo 4]

First, let's start with what we know. The Master Chief is on the run. From the first trailer shown at E3 2013, we see the Chief wearing some tattered robes to cover his trademark armor. He also seems to be holding onto Cortana's chip. Perhaps he's looking for a way to bring her back? The trailer ends with a Forerunner-looking AI coming from the ground and confronting the Chief, but more on that later.

Our next bit of information comes from the debut trailer of The Master Chief Collection at E3 2014. Here, we get our first glimpse of Jameson Locke, a Spartan IV and ONI agent who will play a major role in Halo 5. We learn that Locke is searching for the Chief, and that our old friend the Arbiter is assisting in the hunt, or at the very least advising. This is further evidenced in the terminals found in Halo 2 Anniversary, where Locke is asking the Arbiter questions concerning the Chief. After a brief discussion, where the Arbiter refers to Locke as a "Spartan Hunter," the two prepare to embark on some kind of mission before the scene ends. No doubt this will be an actual mission we play through during Halo 5's campaign.

Then we have the most recent teaser trailer. A bullet engraved with the word "TRAITOR" is shot from a sniper rifle and shatters the Master Chief's helmet. We've also come to learn that the words SON, ABDUCTEE, VICTIM, ORPHAN, RECRUIT, SOLDIER, WARRIOR, ALLY, HERO and SAVIOUR are also etched into the bullet. These are words that, aside from "traitor," can be used to describe the life of John-117.

Finally, there's the "Hunt the Truth" marketing campaign. The fictional journalist, Benjamin Giraud, is doing a piece on the Master Chief, but in his first log, he reveals his belief that he is onto something big regarding the Chief. He also mentions the word "traitor." He promises to reveal more as the weeks go on.

So what gives? Why is the Master Chief, the man who has saved mankind several times, being branded a traitor? The Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI), whom Agent Locke works for, has always been presented as a shady organization in the Halo novels. So are we supposed to believe them when they label the Chief a traitor? There's clearly more to the story, and so here begins my theories.

At the end of Halo 4's Spartan Ops story, Catherine Halsey, creator of the Spartan II program, has joined the Covenant after the UNSC has ordered her assassination. Her ultimate goal is to find out more about the Forerunners, so joining the Covenant is more of a means to an end for her. But she is also seeking revenge against the UNSC after the attempt on her life resulted in her having her left arm amputated. So the real traitor in all this can be considered to be Halsey. How does the Chief fit into all of this? Well, it's possible that he's protecting her, possibly because he believes she can bring Cortana back. After all, that's what the ultimate goal in Halo 4 was: save Cortana. The Chief also has a mother figure in Halsey, which would also drive him to protect her from the UNSC. So the Chief, by association, is also a traitor, and Locke is tasked with finding him to learn of Halsey's whereabouts.

Another hint lies in the prologue to Halo 4. In it, Halsey is being interrogated by a mysterious ONI agent about her Spartan II program and the Master Chief. From the line of questioning, Halsey deduces that ONI is looking to "replace" him. But why? Well, let's consider the fact that the Spartan II program represents a pretty dark chapter in ONI's history. They abducted children against their will, replaced them with clones, and put them through a rigorous training regimen that many didn't survive. Something like that getting leaked to the public wouldn't exactly make ONI look good. They already have a bad reputation, so clearly they can't let something like this get out there. Labeling the Chief a traitor by pinning some kind of crime on him to get the public opinion against him would present ONI a good opportunity to bury this part of their past. This one isn't likely, but it is something to consider.

In addition to all the traitor talk, there seems to be a new threat to the universe. In the MCC trailer, the Arbiter tells Locke that the Chief must be found because "all of our lives are at stake." In Benjamin Giraud's first log, he briefly mentions deep space anomalies. The Halo novels detail a Forerunner AI named Mendicant Bias, the most advanced AI of its time before it betrayed its creators. During its trial, the Forerunners decided to entomb Mendicant in a desert on the Ark.

Sound familiar?

The reason the Forerunners kept Mendicant Bias alive was because of its knowledge of The Flood. If The Flood were ever to return, they would seek Mendicant's help in fighting them and, in turn, Mendicant can atone for his betrayal. So is it possible that these "deep space anomalies" is the return of The Flood? If that Forerunner in the trailer is indeed Mendicant Bias, which many believe to be the case, then it's possible the Master Chief is seeking its help. How this would fit in with ONI hunting him down remains to be seen. I'm still trying to connect the dots.

So what do you guys think? Am I crazy or am I actually onto something here?

irwin529http://www.gameinformer.com/members/irwin529/default.aspxIt's Time for Call of Duty to Revisit World War II/blogs/members/b/irwin529_blog/archive/2015/03/20/it-39-s-time-for-call-of-duty-to-revisit-world-war-ii.aspx2015-03-20T17:30:00Z2015-03-20T17:30:00Z

Since its debut in 2003, the Call of Duty series was primarily a World War II shooter that put players in the boots of soldiers during that time of history. That changed in 2007 though, when Infinity Ward decided to modernize the series and bring it to the (then) present day. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare was a masterpiece of a game that truly innovated the landscape of first person shooters. It laid the foundation for the rest of the Call of Duty series and even set up the blueprint for other FPS games. Each entry since then has expanded upon what CoD 4 did. World War II had one last hurrah a year later when Treyarch released World at War, and since then Call of Duty has stuck with the present/near future as its setting. With seven years having passed since World at War, I believe now is the perfect time to turn back the clock and return to the series' roots, and Treyarch should be the one to do it.

With Sledgehammer Games joining the club, Call of Duty can essentially be split into three different franchises: Black Ops (Treyarch), Ghosts (Infinity Ward) and Advanced Warfare (Sledgehammer). The connective tissue between the three games is the setting. All of them seem to take place in some version of the near future. It would be great if at least one of these games would set itself apart and take place in the past. Infinity Ward can continue with the near future in Ghosts, Sledgehammer can focus a bit farther in time with Advanced Warfare and Treyarch can focus on the past with World at War II (or whatever they decide to call it). I think it would be a good move to create a little more distinction between the three games as it would keep the series fresh year to year.

Another good reason why Call of Duty should return to WWII is simply because enough time has passed. Between Medal of Honor and Call of Duty, World War II was a very popular setting during the 2000s, almost to the point where we sort of grew bored of it. After all, there's only so much you can do with that kind of setting without having to revise history in any way. With seven years since World at War, it's very possible that a WWII game would be met with open arms. After all, last year's Wolfenstein: The New Order, though not technically a WWII shooter, enjoyed strong sales and much critical acclaim upon its release. So that, coupled with many fans' desires to see a World at War sequel, should signal that we are ready to explore the past once again.

Finally, who doesn't want to see World War II presented on new-gen technology? The setting of Europe or The Pacific would look gorgeous amongst the chaos of war. Plus, Treyarch's World at War has the distinction of being one of the more grittier CoD's in recent memory. Blood was shed and limbs were lost all throughout that game. I would love for Treyarch to continue that on new-gen hardware.

irwin529http://www.gameinformer.com/members/irwin529/default.aspx


text:
B.A English Poetry Portion Complete solved notes
(i) Occurrence: Lines 7-8/14
(ii) Content: In this poem the poet laments that modern man has drowned so much in the ocean of temporal charms that he has no time to see and enjoy the Nature like trees, animals, streams and Beauty. He concludes that such a sorrowful life is a poor life.
In these lines the poetess has personified Reality. She has given it the qualities of a husband. She has decided to spend her nights in the bony arms of Mr. Reality. In the beginning it was a very bitter and unpleasant practice because bony arms can give no joy or satisfaction to his wife. But the poetess is not an escapist. With the passage of time, she has become habitual to it. Now she has understood and comprehended the fact that "truth is beauty". Thus she is comforted in the bony arms because these give her self-satisfaction, blessed relief and spiritual exultation.
In these lines the poet says that the presence of "rebels" in a society is very good and beneficial. These "rebels" are, in fact, unconventional persons who act against social values and traditions. Their outwardly rebellious attitude creates fun and promotes variety in the society. In other words, they bring happiness in life and increase the cultural wealth of the society. There is not doubt that education and age have made most of the people civilized, sophisticated and urbane. Therefore, these people do not like to become "rebels". But these people should tolerate "rebels" in the society for their own benefit.
In these lines the poet sums up the political career and humble wish of a leader. This leader, one year earlier, had entered the city as an acclaimed hero and patriot. He served his masses whole-heatedly for a whole year. But after a year, he had to go to the scaffold in thorough disgrace because his erstwhile devotees had stigmatized him as a traitor. While going to the scaffold, the leader wished if he would have died at the moment of his great triumph like some of the heroes in history, for example Quaid-e-Azam, it would have been better for him. He wanted to receive full reward of his struggle in this very world but his wish remained unfulfilled.
(b) Walked through a wood ——- at their ease.
Ole Anderson, Al, Max, George, Sam and Nick Adams are the main characters of the story, "The Killers". However, the protagonist is Nick Adams. He is a typical Hemingway hero who is learning "the code". He is a teenage boy, responsible citizen and peace-loving individual.
Firstly, he is a little dude of about eighteen or nineteen who works at Henry's Lunch-Room with George and Sam in Summit. His age becomes evident when Al and Max mock his masculinity by calling him a "bright boy". Moreover, when Sam says, "Little boys always know what to do", his teenage gets proved.
Secondly, he is a responsible citizen. After the departure of Al and Max, he goes to Hirsch's Boarding House. There he warns Ole Anderson of the impending danger to Ole's life from Al and Max. He also offers him his help by saying, "Don't you want me to go and see the police"?
Thirdly, he is a peace-loving person. He recognizes the horror of evil and attempts to do something about it, but when he cannot, he decides to run away from the area of gangsters. Thus when he comes back Henry's Lunch-Room, he says to George, "I'm going to get out of this town".
Poisonous women have long been the embodiment of fear. History and literature presents many examples of it. Beatrice is also a poisonous girt but she never wants to become an object of fear but of love. She wishes to be loved because she is alone, her soul is pristine and her mind is depressed.
Firstly, she is a lonely maiden. Her life is confined to her house and garden. He "sister-plant" cannot requite her love. Thus, to keep her emotionally sound and psychologically balanced, she wishes to love of society.
Secondly, her soul is pristine. Although her sinister father has impregnated her body with poison, her soul remains pure. Her evil power is merely a superficial disguise. Hence she says, "Giovanni, believe it, though my body be fed with poison, my spirit is God's creature, and needs love as its daily food."
Thirdly, her heart and mind is grief-stricken. All the three characters make her life miserable. Baglioni causes hatred in the heart of Giovanni for Beatrice. Rappaccini uses her as a guinea pig. Giovanni accuses her of his being poisonous and even calls her "terrible" In this dilemma, she only needs love, love and love.
It was the morning of 1st April, 1935 in South Asia. The day when a new constitution was supposed to be promulgated. Ustad Mangu, the hero of the story, "The New Constitution" by Saadat Hasan Manto, got up earlier than usual. He set up his tonga and came on the road. He moved about in the city to see colour and light, but there was none.
He went to the cantonment. There he saw the Gora soldier who had abused him the year before in the drunken state. He was waiting for a conveyance. Mangu drove towards him. The Gora soldier wanted to be carried to the dancing girls' bazaar. To recover the amount spent on the new plume of his horse, Mangu demanded five rupees for the service.
The demand of five rupees caused a violent bickering between the two. The Gora soldier hit Mangu with his stick. Mangu's thigh was injured. He flew into exasperation. He thought that the new constitution was in force. So under the illusion of equal rights, he hit a blow under the chin of the soldier. Many blows followed. He gave the soldier a sound beating.
In desperation, the soldier began to shout for help. Soon a crowd gathered there. Police also appeared on the scene. Mangu was apprehended. He shouted, "New constitution!" "New constitution!" But he was told that there was no new constitution. At last, the common Indian was put behind the bars and it got proved that the British were still in rule.
(a) Why does Eve turn down every offer of Rosen in "Take Pity"?
(b) How does the Swallow sacrifice his life for the love of the Happy Prince?
(c) Describe the effect of romantic love on the adolescent mind of the Small Boy. (Araby)
Hitler kills relatives, migration ruins business, disease snatches husband and daughters become burden. So Eva is in a great predicament. God takes pity and sends an angel of help named Rosen. However, Eva rejects all his offers of help because she likes self-dependence, possesses self-respect and loves her lat husband very much.
Firstly, Eva wants to lead an independent life. She thinks that nobody will marry a poor widow with two daughters. Even Rosen is ready for marriage but she refuses. She fears that the sick Rosen will soon leave her in the lurch like that of her sick husband. Thus she says, "I had enough with sick men".
Secondly, she is a paragon of self-respect. She has a firm belief in her own integrity. Rosen's pity, charity, love and marriage proposal all hurt her self-respect. She prefers starvation and loneliness to disgrace of her self-respect. Hence she plainly says no to each and every offer of help by Rosen.
Thirdly, she has a great love for her late husband. She still calls hem "My Alex". She does not want to let his name down. In the end it seems that she goes to Rosen's window to surrender. But it is just the hallucination of Rosen as he wants to see her breaking down before him. But Eva never breaks down.
The Swallow is a very lovely character in the short story "The Happy Prince" by Oscar Wilder. At the start of the story, he is shown to be a romantic bird who believes in physical love. However, as the tale advances, he falls in true love with the statue of a prince. Gradually his love is transformed into agape. The love for which he postpones his seasonal migratory flight towards Egypt, becomes an agent of charity and even sacrifices his life.
The Swallow is migrating to Egypt where he is awaited by his friends. However, on the request of the statue, he procrastinates his journey three times. On the first night he stops to help a seamstress and his ill son with the ruby from the statue's sword-hilt. On the second night he delays his trip to help a starving playwright with one of the sapphire eye of the statue. On the third night he stays to succor a destitute match-girl with the other sapphire eye of the statue.
When the statue becomes blind of both eyes, the Swallow decides to live with him forever, He flies over the city and narrates the sufferings and miseries of the people to the statue. One by one he plucks the gold leaves that cover the body of the statue and distributes them among the indigent of the city. In the meantime, snow is followed by frost. The Swallow grows colder and colder. In his moribundity, he flies to the statue's shoulder, kisses him on the lips and falls down dead at his feet.
According to Freud, a love which has a blocked sexual urge is called romantic love. "Araby" by James Joyce beautifully depicts the effect of romantic love on the adolescent mind of a small boy who is infatuated with the sister of a play-mate. This is the boy's first and unrequited love which makes him an imaginative dude, parasitical follower and sentimental fool.
Firstly, love makes the boy highly imaginative. He is always obsessed in the sweet thoughts of his sweet-heart. He always keeps her with him in his imagination. At day in the class-room and at night in the bed-room, he envisages her beautiful "brown figure" between him and the page of book he strives to read.
Secondly, love converts him into a parasitical follower. He wants to hang around his beloved all the time. Every morning, he lies on the floor of his front room and anxiously waits for his beloved to come our of her house for school. As soon as she comes at her doorstep, he quickly takes his books and follows her to that point where their ways diverge.
Thirdly, love makes him a sentimental fool. He promises his darling to procure a souvenir for her from "Araby". Being late, his aunt advised him to postpone his trip. His uncle gives him a little money. However, love compels him to visit "Araby". With a little money in the almost closed bazaar, he confronts with epiphany and returns home empty handed.
(a) How does E.A. Poe build an atmosphere of horror in "Tell-Tale Heart"?
(b) "The Necklace" is a satire on the vanity of women. Discuss.
(c) How does the story "The Duchess and the Jeweler" reflect the moral decadence of the English aristocracy?
A very strong feeling of fear, shock or disgust is called horror. In "The Tell – Tale Heart" by Edgar Allen Poe, horror plays a tremendously vital role in the execution of the tale. The reason of the murder, the procedure of killing, the dismembering of the corpse and the relentless heart-beat of the dead man are the major elements of horror in the story.
Firstly, the motive of the murder creates horror. The narrator wants to eliminate a harmless and offenceless old man simply because of his physical deformity. One of the eyes of the old man is abnormal. The narrator labels it a "vulture eye". The eye chills him to the backbone. The revulsion exceeds to such an extent that he decides to kill the old man, perhaps his master.
Secondly, the process of killing generates horror. For seven nights, the narrator goes to kill the old man. The eye being closed, he takes no action. However, on the eighth night, the old man wakes at a certain noise. After gloating over his victim's fear an hour, the protagonist lets out a ray of light at the "evil eye". The sight infuriates him. He pounces upon the old man and smothers him under bed.
Thirdly, the corpse of the old man fills us with shuddering horror. We feel near nausea when the merciless killer hacks the corpse into pieces to conceal it under the wooden planks of the floor. The horror gets intensified manifold when the conscience of the killer begins to hear the relentless throbbing of the dead man's heart getting louder and louder each moment.
A literary work in which human vice or folly is attacked through irony, derision or wit is called satire. "The Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant is an excellent satire on the vanity of women. Through the characters of Matilda and Forestier, the writer has satirized three aspects of women's vanity; discontent with life, excessive pride in physical beauty and egoism to hide truth.
Firstly, women's dissatisfaction with life has been satirized. Vanity is, in fact, the quality of being vain and valueless. Matilda is not satisfied with her poor husband, humble house and other modest belongings. The absence of expensive stuff in her life makes fer feel worthless and futile. The writer condemns this vain and pessimistic attitude of life.
Secondly, women's excessive pride in their physical beauty has be criticized. Matilda is very proud of her physical beauty. To become a beauty queen at a ball, she procures a costly frock and barrows a diamond necklace which are symbols of her vanity. The writer manifests that vanity has a fall. The necklace is lost and Matilda has to pay a heavy price for it.
Thirdly, women's egoism to hide the truth has been ridiculed. It is the egoism of Forestier that she does not tell Matilda that the necklace is fake. Similarly, Matilda does not tell Forestier that the necklace has been lost. Thus both women have fear of being original and this attitude is intimately connected to vanity or vainglory.
The act or process of falling into an inferior condition is called decadence. The story "The Duchess and the Jeweller" written in 1938 by Virginia Woolf clearly reflects the decadence of moral values of the English aristocracy after the Victorian Era. Gambling, stealing, cheating, greediness and insolence were the prevailing vices among the elite class. There are two main characters in the story — Oliver Bacon and a Duchess. These characters fully reflect the moral decadence of the English aristocracy.
Oliver Bacon is a representative of naoveau aristocracy. His character amply reveals the moral decadence of the contemporary upper class. He is a very greedy man. Even though he has become the richest jeweler in England, yet he is not satisfied. Moreover, he is a philanderer. He has deceived Mademoiselle who used to stick roses in his button hole. Now he buys fake pearls from the Duchess in exchange of passing a weekend with her daughter Diana, his new beloved.
On the other hand, the Duchess represents inherited aristocracy. Her character also highlights the lax ethics of the nobility of that time. She is a thief. In order to get money for gambling, she steal the pearls of her husband. She has no respect for her husband. She calls him villain, sharper and bad'un. She is so bankrupt morally that she stakes the honour of her daughter for money. She offers her daughter Diana for amour to Oliver Bacon in her own house.
(a) The Wife in "The Shadow in the Rose Garden" cannot help digging her past. Discuss.
(b) Describe the love between the French Soldier and the Panther.
(c) How is Lisby different from her elder sister?
Some memories fade away with the passage of time. However, the reminiscence of first love refuses to wither away. The Wife in "The Shadow in the Rose Garden" by D.H. Lawrence still retrospects her first love passionately. Her issuelessness, choosing a familiar place for outing and ejaculation of pent-up emotions prove that she cannot help digging her past.
Firstly, the Wife is childless. She married Frank three years ago. Since then she has been living with him in Bridlington under the same roof. However, she has not given birth to a baby. It means she has not compromised with her present. She has not developed conjugality with her husband. In other words, she still loves her past.
Secondly, when the husband arranges for an outing, the Wife deliberately selects a sea-side village to revive her yore. Here there is her sweet memorial place, a rose garden. She visits this garden alone. This lush, enchanted garden, filled with red, pink and white roses reminds her of the time spent there with Archie, her erstwhile lover.
Thirdly, her discharging of repressed emotions shows her love for past. In the garden, she encounters Archie. Watching him alive but mad perturbs her greatly. Her mind is so full of the memories of past that it refuses to hide the present shock. Thus after coming back the garden, she blurts out a confession of her affair with Archie to her husband.
Farce is a kind of low comedy that raises roars of laughter rather than smile. "The Bear" by Anton Chekhov is an outstanding archetype of this genre. The exaggerative characters, ludicrous situations and improbable plot are the major farcical elements in the play that produce belly laughs, slapstick humour and rumbustious entertainment.
Firstly, the play has exaggerative characters. They are alazons. They inflate themselves to be more than they actually are. Smirnov exposes himself a misogynist. However, the way he exploits flattery to win Popova's love makes us giggle. Popova claims that she is inconsolably bereaved but her powdered face and passionate embrace with Smirnov give us a hearty cachinnation.
Secondly, the play is pregnant with ludicrous situations. Popova's refusal to pay back Smirnov the loan, Popova's accepting Smirnov's challenge to fight a duel with pistol and Smirnov's teaching Popova how to fire a pistol are the most ludicrous and ridiculous situations in the play. These situations breed a great hee-haw and guffaw.
Thirdly, the plot of the play is improbable. It is full of suspense but the suspense, curiously enough, is titillating, rather than grim. The twist at the end of the plot is quite humorous. In masquerades the expected tragedy into comedy. Thus the end, obviously makes the readers or the spectators laugh a great deal. Ha! Ha! Ha! …………!
The opposition between two things is called conflict. In "The Boy Comes Home" by A.A. Milne, the element of conflict is very prominent. Almost all the five characters are in conflict but the agon between Philip and Uncle James is the soul of the play. The majot factors which establish conflict between the two are: punctuality, manners and Philip's career.
The first conflict starts at breakfast on the issue of punctuality. Philip has just repatriated from a nerve-shattering war. So he is in a mood of holiday. He wakes up late in the morning. He demands his breakfast at 10 o'clock. Uncle James does not approve his unpunctuality. He has made a strict rule in his house to have breakfast at 8 o'clock sharp.
The second conflict takes place in a dream on the matter of decorums. While waiting for Philip in the morning room, Uncle James naps in front of the fire. He dreams that Philip has a cigar in his hand. He lights it and starts puffing in front of his uncle without any permission. Uncle James does not like it at all.
The third conflict is seen in the dream on the concern of Philip's employment. Philip wants to be an architect while his uncle tries to push him into his jam business. A showdown starts between the two. James exploits the power of money and Philip uses the power of revolver. Philip wins. However, when James wakes up, Philip is ready to join the jam business.
The ugly husband is a secret to successful marriage. The Beauty and the Beast make the most positive and supportive couple. Primrose, the heroine of the play "Smoke-Screens" by Herold Brighouse, has realized it. She is a beautiful young girl of twenty. She has decided to marry an ugly man, John, because he is a very loving, solvent and secure man.
Firstly, she has decided to marry the ugly man because he is a very amorous and loving person at heart. He makes her feel all funny inside. He hits her where she matters. His love has made her blind to his physical ugliness. And love between a man and a woman is an insanity that is only cured by marriage.
Secondly, she has proposed to marry the unattractive man because he is well-established financially. He is an international player of a very earning game, the rugby football. Moreover, he is one of the most successful advertising agents in London. Thus she will have no financial problems after marriage. She will roll in money.
Thirdly, she wants to marry the hideous man because he is very secure. Since he is ugly, he is not a lady-killer. She will have not worries regarding his running after other women or other women running after him. In other words, he will remain a monogamous husband. He will not desert her the way her charming father has deserted her mother.
Conclusion is, in fact, a logical end of something. As far as the conclusion of the essay "The Eclipse" by Virginia Woolf is concerned, it is very significant. The phrase "the whole fabric of civilization was modelled and moulded" shows the importance of the sun in the system of universe, strengthens our belief in Allah Almighty and discloses the worth of those things which are found after their loss.
Firstly, the conclusion signifies the importance of the sun for the world. After the eclipse, the light is restored in the sun. This light transforms the entire structure of human civilization into its original shape and splendor. Once again, the world becomes bright, colourful and popolous. The farmhouses, the villages and railway lines become the centre of activity. Thus the sun is the flesh and blood of this world.
Secondly, the conclusion strengthens our trust in Allah Almighty. An eclipse is a natural phenomenon. It warns that man's place on this earth is very precarious. All the advancements in knowledge and science cannot overcome this helplessness of man. However, the return of light in the sun gives us a message of hope and substantiates our faith in Allah Almighty Who is controlling all the processes of the universe.
Thirdly, the conclusion implies that losing something makes us realize the importance of that thing. The sun is lost for twenty-four seconds during this eclipse. However, when it is revived we realize that nothing is more important to us than the sun.
When the writer came to know of his tailor's sudden death he was shocked. He thought that he should enjoy life for ever. He was like something fixed and permanent surrounded by the tailoring shop. He had been dealing near him for the last thirty years. However, during this long association, he did not analyze any change in his character and nature. Hence he considered him an immortal figure.
The essay "Bachelor's Dilemma" by Herbert Gold highlights the problems faced by a bachelor in this world, especially in American society. The writer says a bachelor is a person who does not know where he stands in this civilized society. He has no belief, no notions, and no aims in life. His life is much disorganized. He always finds himself on the verge of some dilemma. He always feels himself alone in this world. Probably, he finds himself misfit in this environement but having no alternative where to go. He is often found in parties wandering alone.
When a bachelor looks into a mirror, he has an altogether different idea about himself. The mirror gives him the reflection of a healthy young man with a lot of time, chance, and money; who can eat, drink, and roam at will. He feels himself free without a wife or children to look after. But same mirror sometimes gives him some displeasing aspects as well. He feels himself alone and unwanted by society.
There are two major types of bachelors. There is one who is handsome, charming and always in search of new girls and even getting them. The other is a bit mediocre, always considering himself a hero in dreams. He has intimacy with pretty girls only in imagination, but a failure in real life. He always tosses in bed but sometimes fortunate enough to get a meeker like him as a partner. But the problem with both of them is that they are not satisfied with themselves. They always need true love but seldom get and always get what they do not want.
In short, these are some common problems faced by an American bachelor as expressed in this essay.
Thirdly, she decides to grabble with the realities of life. No doubt, reality has "bony arms". But she is not an escapist like Walter De La Mare and Maya Angelou. She is a realist and believes in the fact, "Truth is Beauty". She hopes that reality will give her self-satisfaction, blessed relief and spiritual exultation.
Thirdly, the poem presents a tragic dramatic situation. It invokes in us feelings of pity, fear and relief called catharsis. The leader's downfall excites feelings of pity in us. We fear because we recognize similar possibilities in us. However, the leader's belief, "'Tis God shall repay: I am safer so" gives us relief.
Life is a cycle and old age is a stage where the cycle is returned to its beginning i.e., childishness. The Holy Quran states, "He whom we bring unto old age, we reserve him creation". In "All the World's a Stage", Shakespeare calls old age 'a second childishness' because old people become weak, dependent and forgetful like that of children.
Firstly, oldsters become weak and feeble like that of infants. Both lack physical and mental energies. They cannot walk at ease. They cannot talk clearly and audibly. Their immune system is very poor. They cannot think about their lives wisely. Thus Shakespeare rightly calls old age 'a second childishness'.
Secondly, old people are helpless like that of children. It is a common experience of life that aged people are dependent on others in the same way as kids are dependent on others. Both cannot earn their bred and butter, and a caretaker is necessary for them. This similarity again proves that man is 'once a man and twice a child'.
Thirdly, decrepit people become victims of amnesia. They become forgetful like that of children. Both lack retention. They are unable to concentrate on anything. They often forget persons, places and things. The memory of a grandparent corresponds the memory of a grand child. Thus senile dementia is a return to infancy.
A good title of a poem corresponds the content of the poem. The title "A Poison Tree" is not very appropriate because biblical tree was not like this tree and the poet's foe approaches this tree without the poet's knowing which is unbelievable. Only if the foe symbolizes the poet's mental disturbance then the title is quite appropriate.
Firstly, the poison tree of William Blake stands for the tree in Paradise. But this analogy is not suitable. Adam and Eve did not die after eating the apple from this tree but the poet's enemy dies. Moreover, God does not rejoice in killing His enemies like that of the poet.
Secondly, the poison tree is a physical manifestation of poet's anger, growing in his mind for his enemy. But how does the enemy get into the poet's mind without the poet's knowing? How does poisonous thoughts kill the enemy? Only its shows the inappropriateness of the title.
However, if the foe represents the poet's mental disharmony and the poison tree his wrath, then the title matches the content of the poem. In the end the poet is happy because his wrath has killed the demons in his mind, and his mind is at peace now. In short, diamond has cut diamond.
"When I Have Fears" is a beautiful sonnet in which John Keats gives expression of his desolate fears. The impending demise of Keats creates limitations which become his fears. He fears that he will not be able to achieve fame, enjoy beauty and savour love because he will sooner die of tuberculosis.
The first quatrain describes his fear of not getting fame as a poet. He worries that his premature death will leave his poetry in parenthesis. Though he has a "teeming brain", full of ideas, images and thoughts yet he will not become a Shakespeare. His death is hovering over him.
The second quatrain highlights his fear of not getting enough time to enjoy the physical beauty of Nature. He says that heaven is boasting of its beauty with its starry nights and shadowy clouds. Unfortunately, his anticipated death will deprive him of relishing these beautiful scenes.
The third quatrain expresses his fear of not getting a chance to develop a love-affair. His erstwhile beloved, Fanny Brawn, has already deserted him. Now he fears that he will never become an inamorato of anybody. Thus he says in the last couplet, "On the shore of the wide world I stand alone".
Bahauddin Zakariya University, BZU Multan M.A English Part 1 Subject Classical Poetry Important Questions and Guess Paper for Annual and Semester Examination Preparation
BZU Multan M.A English Part 1 Subject Classical Poetry Important Questions and Guess Paper for Annual and Semester Examination Preparation
M.A English Part 1 Subject Classical Poetry Important Questions and Guess Paper
University of Sargodha (UOS) M.A English Part 2 Subject Poetry Important Questions and Guess Paper for Annual and Semester Examination Preparation
UOS M.A English Part 2 Subject Poetry Important Questions and Guess Paper for Annual and Semester Examination Preparation
M.A English Part 2 Subject Poetry Important Questions and Guess Paper

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Watney returning from back injury at Safeway Open
It turns out there will be one player making a return to the PGA Tour this week at the Safeway Open after an extended break because of an injured back.
Watney to sit out rest of season with ailing back
A month break to let his back heal has turned into much longer for Nick Watney, who says he is done for the rest of the season.
MD Headlines: Can Tiger turn the tide?
Tiger Woods tells the media he is frustrated with not contending and winning golf tournaments at the 2015 Quicken Loans National. Bailey Mosier brings you the latest headlines from the world of golf.
Snedeker wins at Pebble, heading back to Augusta
Brandt Snedeker broke his own scoring record and won the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am for the second time in three years.
Holmes, English share Farmers lead through 54
J.B. Holmes and Harris English share the Famers lead through 54 holes, but a crowded leaderboard will push them come Sunday.
Oral history: DJ and the bunker at the 2010 PGA
Rex Hoggard talks with the people who were closest to the controversial ending of the 2010 PGA.
Days after close call, Watney opens with 66
Nick Watney posted a 5-under 66 to move atop a crowded leaderboard at Riviera on the heels of his close call just days ago.
Notes: Like Sneds, Watney trying to get back in top 50
One month into the new year, Nick Watney already is putting last year out of his mind.
Kuchar shoots 64, edges ahead at Humana Challenge
It's a birdie-fest at the Humana Challenge, and after rounds of 65-64, no one is lower than 36-hole leader Matt Kuchar, who leads by one.
Watney starting 2015 with a 'clean slate'
Nick Watney can't help but feel as though he's starting over.


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This review is from: MSI 24X DVD Burner 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black SATA Model DH-24AS - Retail
Pros: Works great. Burns my DVDs well. It was definitely worth my $20.
Cons: None!
Other Thoughts: It was loud when it was reading its first disc. After that, it is now quiet.
At first, I thought MSI does not specialize in drives. But Newegg had a $4 dollar off promotion and I went ahead and bought it. I couldn't be anymore happier.