WRUP: Chrismahanukwanzaka Edition

by Ross Miller { Dec 19th 2008 at 9:51PM }

Also known as, "I logged onto Xbox Live and all I got was this damn snow globe" Edition.

Alexander Sliwinski: Going to play Far Cry 2 or Fallout 3, but really haven't decided. Figure I'll also spend some time in Northrend. Too many other games to play.
Christopher Grant: Did you make it to the Engadget meetup in NYC tonight? I didn't, thanks to the very forces of nature conspiring against me. Instead, I'll spend the evening in PlayStation Home mingling with strangers and talking about video games ... just as if I was there! Either that or continue on Far Cry 2 and Fable 2. In other words, just the F2s for me.
Griffin McElroy: I think I've got a beat on a Dreamcast in my hometown. Going to snag it, then play through the copy of Shenmue that's been sitting in my bottom dresser drawer for the past four years. Also trying to finish disc 3 of Final Fantasy IX. Man, JRPGs are long. Whodathunkit?
Kevin Kelly: is (whoa-oh) living on a prayer.
James Ransom-Wiley: Will be sitting quietly on West 27th Street.
Jason Dobson: Like Randy, I plan on giving Midnight Club: Los Angeles a spin this weekend, if only because my son has become hoplessly enamored with the commercials. That said, on Saturday I celebrate my 34th birthday, which means I'll probably spend much of my time -- in between eating cake and drinking more than my fill -- wrapped in a comforter and weeping. That's kind of a game, right?
Justin McElroy: I'm going to desperately try to save my co-workers and family on my iPhone in Dr. Awesome.
Ludwig Kietzmann: I'll be pickpocketing everyone in Fallout 3, if I'm not too busy engaging in some tactical, turn-based shootery in Valkyria Chronicles. I'm also feeling the urge to buy up all the remaining property in Fable II's Albion. I never knew I had this property magnate inside of me.
Randy Nelson: My gaming plans for the weekend as focused on wrapping up (and by that I mean finishing, not, y'know, gift wrapping) the remaining games I'm considering for my 2008 top five. Prince of Persia must be beaten. I'll probably give Midnight Club: Los Angeles a rent as well, since I loved the second and third games in the series. I'm 85 hours into Fallout 3, so I feel confident I can consider that one. GTA IV, Fable 2, Dead Space, etc. have all been beaten. What else should I play? Anyone?
Ross Miller: Holy crap I'm done with school ... but more importantly, I beat Prince of Persia (confession: loved it). Now onto beating Fable 2 so that I can ponder whether or not to (a) start over as a bad person, (b) turn into a bad person by devastating an entire city or two or (c) delay this decision until after Knothole Island DLC so that either way I can dress up as a flamboyant Dread Pirate Roberts. Also: Dead Space. Even also-er: Must play Mirror's Edge if Blockbuster finally has it in stock.

Tags: what-are-you-playing, wrup

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Lard @ Dec 19th 2008 10:03PM

Funny, Griffin commented on the VGA video podcast that he doesn't play older games anymore, when I mentioned Persona 4.

slycooper_rocker (lorddshadow the amazing) [anti-panda death squadron force five] @ Dec 19th 2008 10:11PM

conspiracy!!!

Mr Khan @ Dec 19th 2008 10:10PM

Tomorrow i'll be spending 7.5 hours on a train (why in the hell does it take so long? It's only from one end of PA to the other. It could be done in 3 hours if they wanted), so i'll kill time chasing down Mesprit in Pokemon Pearl. Once i get home, i'll final open my roommate's christmas present of Link's Crossbow Training, and get re-acquainted with my N64 from whom i've been separated for 3 months

Markez (Anti-Panda Death Murder Squadron) @ Dec 19th 2008 10:42PM

I'll be flying back to the frigid midwest for the holidays, to reacquaint myself with my old roommates couch, his GC, and crummy selection of titles :(

Really leaves me with my DS, and FFIV and Zelda. Which I don't know if I can bear to pick up again, the Temple of the Ocean King really borders on game-breaking for me.

Mr Khan @ Dec 19th 2008 10:51PM

your new items should make possible great shortcuts in the Ocean King Temple

WRE @ Dec 19th 2008 11:32PM

Temple of the Ocean King was a game breaker for me, sadly. I didn't even finish the game I was so sick of that fucking temple...

Yourself @ Dec 19th 2008 11:49PM

Gotta concur with the above complaints. It would've been my second favorite Zelda game if not for that god-forsaken temple. Sure, redoing levels is easier each time you're forced to, but that doesn't necessarily make it more fun. I had to quit when I was required to do the triangle/circle/square puzzle a second time.

One would think the only reason they would do something that stupid would be to extend the game, but it's already of a relatively substantial length, especially for a handheld Zelda title, so I really don't get it.

Markez (Anti-Panda Death Murder Squadron) @ Dec 20th 2008 1:57AM

@ Yourself

Without a doubt, I can echo your sentiments. It'd be one of my top fave DS games of all time, if not for that temple.

justshovejayohbe @ Dec 20th 2008 8:54AM

why WOULDN'T it take so long? you're going to be on an underbudget 1930's era rail system that doesn't receive airline subsidies that weaves through the appalachians in the midst of a huge northeast blizzard!

slycooper_rocker (lorddshadow the amazing) [anti-panda death squadron force five] @ Dec 19th 2008 10:15PM

getting further in fallout 3, editing my newly published level in lbp a bit more, and trying to level up and get more trophies in CoD:W@W...it's gonna be a busy christmas break!

Yourself @ Dec 19th 2008 10:17PM

With all the recent talk of Dawn of War II, I've been getting back into the original. Finally picked up the expansions, so hell yes on that. Also in the field of strategy will probably be Ogre Battle on the PSX, though it's hard as all hell and taking me forever to get through.

And it being the first weekend home for break, I'll definitely be Brawlin' it up with the locals.

Premature ejaculation man @ Dec 19th 2008 10:19PM

You forgot to add Festivus in the title. I am offended.

GoldenS1104 @ Dec 19th 2008 10:34PM

I've got a long list of games to play that will get that much longer come christmas time:

GoldenS1104 @ Dec 19th 2008 10:36PM

That was weird... anywhere, here's my list:
-God of War II (the trailer for #3 made me want to replay this gem)
-Gears of War II
-Fallout 3
-Fable II
-LittleBigPlanet
-Resistance 2

Dr Jeckyl and Mr ESC. @ Dec 20th 2008 12:06PM

Since it seems everyone is going to play Fable II for some reason anyone feel like getting the co-op achievements?

If so let me know so I can give oyu my Gamertag also I have a bunch of Lucien Dolls.

slycooper_rocker (lorddshadow the amazing) [anti-panda death squadron force five] @ Dec 20th 2008 9:57PM

what's your psn? we could help each other on lbp and play some co-op on resistance 2

VagabondArts @ Dec 19th 2008 10:35PM

playing "adventure quest worlds" if you can believe it.

...yeah I can't believe it either..

but its a lot of fun :)

Markez (Anti-Panda Death Murder Squadron) @ Dec 19th 2008 10:39PM

Nice job on the Princess Bride reference, Ross. I was a little disappointed Knothole Island was delayed :(

The Grandson: Has it got any sports in it?
Grandpa: Are you kidding? Fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love, miracles...
The Grandson: Doesn't sound too bad. I'll try to stay awake.
Grandpa: Oh, well, thank you very much, very nice of you. Your vote of confidence is overwhelming.

schwal @ Dec 19th 2008 10:39PM

To Alexander and Christopher: Avoid Far Cry 2. so many bad design decisions. it could have been good, but that just made it all the more annoying, like a good game was hidden in the dross somewhere.

Strategy_Panda (The Sandwich Poisoning Crew) @ Dec 20th 2008 5:54PM

argreed with a lot of this comment.

If the game was cut in half and mashed together, it would have been much more compelling.

Haggard @ Dec 20th 2008 7:39PM

YOU ALL LAUGHED AND DOWNVOTED BUT I WAS RIGHT

Game_playa @ Dec 19th 2008 10:43PM

Why no EID? Joystick once again proves it's racist to Muslims.

WRE @ Dec 19th 2008 11:34PM

After those assholes made us wait for LBP? Hell yeah!

Bowser Rogozhin @ Dec 20th 2008 9:24AM

Ead has long finished. I know because I've noticed the Somalians have stopped stabbing each other, and the Turks are roaming the streets again. Muslims need to extend Ead into a 11 month event.

NukeAssault @ Dec 19th 2008 10:57PM

Silent Hill Homecoming for the most part. Only just started but its pretty good so far. And i may start Devil may Cry #1.

WRE @ Dec 19th 2008 11:34PM

LBP and L4D. That's all for me.

Aaron F @ Dec 20th 2008 12:20PM

Someone needs to make an L4D level for LBP!

Dirk Dorkelson @ Dec 20th 2008 12:22PM

I'll be augmenting my L4D with Banjo-Kazooie Nuts & Bolts. Those two games rule, and they're perfect counterpoints for one another.

WRE @ Dec 20th 2008 12:51PM

I would say that LBP and Banjo complement each other better than L4D and Banjo, but I'm intrigued by the association. Please explain.

Dirk Dorkelson @ Dec 20th 2008 4:02PM

Banjo: Bright, colorful world; forces you to think about the challenge ahead of you, then carefully craft the perfect vehicle.

L4D: Grim, zombie-infested world. Shoot everything that moves. Run!

Both games are quite hilarious in their own way, although there's an underlying tinge of sadness to Banjo, as the creators take subtle digs at how none of their recent games have sold, and this one probably won't either.

Together, Banjo and L4D scratch nearly all of my gaming itches. Except the strategy itch. For that, there's Culdcept Saga. Those three games are all I played all week while I was on "vacation." (I had an extra week to burn, and a wife who couldn't take off work.)

Little Big PSN ID: johnnynumber5 @ Dec 20th 2008 12:05AM

Grinding away at Persona 4 & Disgaea Absence of Justice. In between that I will find some time for LBP, Resistance 2 & will hopefully finish Prince Of Persia.

Markez (Anti-Panda Death Murder Squadron) @ Dec 20th 2008 2:52AM

How're you liking Prince of Persia? I noticed the game got great ratings, but it seems to have slipped under the radar in a lot of the gaming media. I haven't ever played one of the games in that series before, so was thinking at some point of trying that one out. Lord knows when I'll get through my backlog...

Little Big PSN ID: johnnynumber5 @ Dec 20th 2008 12:28PM

Markez,

I never played the other Prince Of Persia game before this one either. I think it's a beautiful game that is a technical marvel in allot of ways. My only problem is the difficulty level is essentially non existent. There are a few semi-difficult parts but the control setup and sidekick who always saves you nerfed the difficulty. I guess it's the same as the sands of time in a way in that it allows you to never die. It's really a glorified button masher albeit an incredibly fun and beautiful one.

Of the 16 or so games I have bought in the last 5 months I would put this one near the top but would actually recommend Mirrors Edge or Dead Space ahead of Prince Of Persia. It's much better than Assassins Creed IMO.

Courtney @ Dec 20th 2008 12:11AM

With all the great titles out, I got a weird retro kick this week and tracked down Grim Fandango and the fan-made English translation of Mother 3. Also bought World of Goo. So I think I'll spend some quality time with my PC, which hasn't happened for awhile.

And, of course, continuing to remodel my house.

Abscissa @ Dec 20th 2008 12:15AM

If you call those games "retro", then you must be *very* young.

Courtney @ Dec 20th 2008 2:12AM

Old enough to have owned consoles since the second generation of home machines.

Grim Fandango is now ten years old, and by gaming standards, I do consider it retro.

Mother 3 is so reminiscent of Earthbound in style and play, that it is a retro experience. Something does not need to be old, to be retro. Something brand new can be referred to as retro if it conjures up the same associations. Like the new Sam and Max episodes are a retro experience for me.

I just happened to buy World of Goo this week, it wasn't directly tied to the retro comment.

Abscissa @ Dec 20th 2008 12:11AM

"Chrismahanukwanzaka": That was a funny joke the first couple years people were using it. Now it's just annoying.

Flame @ Dec 20th 2008 12:39AM

Gonna pop in the lovely game called fallout 3 and destroy all of megaton. First ill kill the towns folk then blow it up. I love games that let me be evil. Then probably pop in Chrono Cross. I love it but never finished it, same with Xenogears.

deaftly @ Dec 20th 2008 1:08AM

I'll be living my life (its now or never)*

*take that kelly!

The Dark Wayne @ Dec 20th 2008 2:22AM

I'm trying to get some achievements for Left 4 Dead. The "dont be healed" one wouldnt be hard at all if the AI didnt always try to heal me. You'd also be surprised at how hard it is to go an entire campaign without shooting a teammate, especially these dumbshit AIs. I'll probably give up and play Spider-Man Web of Shadows or Rise of the Argonauts instead

Bowser Rogozhin @ Dec 20th 2008 6:31AM

My PSP still hasn't been replaced, the guy who smashed it has done a Carl Lewis on me. If you see a chubby white guy, skinhead, two studs, both nostrils, make sure you call me. His name's Billy. He's fast though, runs like a rabbit.

Flower, Sun, and Rain and Fallout 3. Fallout is a little brown.

Donald @ Dec 20th 2008 8:17AM

I just got my first Christmas gift, and let's just say that I'm making a note here: Huge success.

Other than that, more portable goodness.

tidefan94 @ Dec 20th 2008 9:41AM

Fallout 3
Gears of War (trying to beat Horde on Day One)
Team Fortress 2
This year I've been trying to avoid buying too many holiday games (especially after last year, never beat half of them).

tmacairjordan87 @ Dec 20th 2008 9:42AM

My options up until my b-day and christmas (both within 3 days of each other) are limited to FF 12 or nothing.

However, after x-mas I'll have a psp to go along with the new WoW expansion, Farcry 2, Gears 2, Fable 2, Mirror's Edge and PoP. So I have to hold out for a few more days :(