A Gaming Diary
Archive for March, 2008
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (PS2)
Mar 8th
The wait for GTA IV got too much this evening, so I had to start this up for the first time since 2006. Three things shocked me most -
1) The graphics look jaw-droppingly horrible for the first two minutes. This new generation of HD gaming has spoiled me. Luckily, within a few minutes I’d forgotten the technical deficiencies entirely.
2) The aiming on the Dual Shock stick is completely awful. Didn’t really notice until I tried a shooting mini game in an Ammunation, but, ugh.
3) I can remember huge amounts of the map. Gun locations, safe houses, Cluckin’ Bells, etc. I don’t know all the map, but I’m sure I shouldn’t remember the layout quite so well two years after I last played.
Anyway, it still plays brilliantly, it’s great and while the aiming was never good and the years haven’t been kind to the graphics, everything else has stood the test of time immensely well. I was worried I was going to destroy some precious memories, but I didn’t. Yay.
And I completed the mission I’d been stuck on when I last played. Hooray!
MLB 08: The Show (PSP)
Mar 7th
Spring training over and a final batting average of .226.
Based on that the Angels offered me a one-year AA contract at $98,750. Yes please!
MLB 08: The Show (PSP)
Mar 7th
I’ve recovered from another slump and am now performing better than expected with a .242 batting average. Still a week or two of spring training for me to completely mess up, though.
Last game was great, in that I was brought in as a pinch hitter and managed to hit a ball down the line past first base, which meant the two runners on the bases could score to tie the game. We eventually lost in extra innings, but that was a great, game-changing moment for me.
MLB 08: The Show (PSP)
Mar 6th
I might be starting to get the hang of this. In the last couple of games I’ve dragged my batting average up to .167 and I’m grounding out more often than I’m striking out. Let’s hope this is a real sign of improvement and not a false dawn.
MLB 08: The Show (PS3)
Mar 6th
Gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous. Some of the faces are a bit off – Pedroia of the Red Sox looks very scary indeed, like he’s not quite human, possibly some shark DNA in there – but others are just spot on. Sound is perfect, with easily the best commentary I’ve ever heard. Presentation is brilliant, with it highlighting exactly what it should and a superb atmosphere.
I am having trouble hitting the ball, though, as I am in the PSP version. I think I just need practice – and to train my thumb not to slam itself down on the X button as soon as I see the ball leave the pitcher’s hand. I’ve only played four or five innings so far, as the Red Sox against the Astros, so it’s early days. Really wish you could save in the middle of Exhibition games, but the option to do that is only in the season type modes. Not quite sure why, but there you go.
Slight disappointment is that “Allaway” isn’t in the huge list of surnames that the commentators can say, so when I make myself as a player I think I’ll settle on “Wolverine”, which I suppose is pretty cool.
MLB 08: The Show (PSP)
Mar 6th
I started a new Road to the Show game with a roster update and put myself on the Angels, as a second baseman again.
I’m having a really hard hitting the ball on Veteran mode, still, but I’ve not played much yet. If I’m still batting 0.010 in a few days I think I’m either going to have to adjust some sliders or even fall back to Rookie mode.
MLB 08: The Show (PSP)
Mar 5th
First impressions, then.
Argh! The load times are the same as last year! Noooooooo!
Hmm, same commentary and grahics.
Oooh, nice new presentation including much clearer explanations for the training points you’re awarded.
Ah ha, lots of new types of plays to deal with as a second baseman.
Bah, why won’t the game find my music from my memory stick? There are loads of files on there you silly thing!
Basically, based on a few games, it’s the same game, but improved in a lot of ways, just not the most important one.
MLB 07: The Show (PSP)
Mar 5th
So, after a few games with the Boston Red Sox Owen Allaway retired from baseball.
Those few people that noticed wondered why a young and promising player would retire just as he seemed to be getting somewhere, but he didn’t say.
MLB 07: The Show (PSP)
Mar 4th
Wow.
The Red Sox just offered me a two-year contract for $500,000. Five hundred thousand dollars.
My last contract was one year for $30,500 – which I negotiated up from $30,000.
I don’t think I’m going to negotiate this one, just accept it before they change their minds.
Wow.
Dead or Alive Xtreme 2 (360)
Mar 4th
My wife’s been playing this a lot, so while she was in the bath last night I started my own game, as the 360 was on and the disc was in the drive. I chose to be Kasumi because… well, because I’m always Kasumi. I bought her a hat, bought some presents for Ayane and Lisa, got to be good friends with them, played some volleyball, took some photos and did an awful lot of jet ski racing. (Which made me long for some Waverace action on the Gamecube, but I’ve got the US version and no way to play US Gamecube games at the moment.)
It’s quietly compulsive, which is all down to the freedom of choice. If I don’t want to do pool-hopping – which I don’t – then I don’t have to. It’s all a bit strange – especially how certain parts of the characters’ bodies move – and no one element is outstanding, but it’s more than the sum of its parts.
Hardest game ever to get an achievement on, though. I didn’t get one in the couple of hours I played last night and my wife, who’s played a lot more than that, still hasn’t got any.
