Updates

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Well i finished Half-Life Episode 2. I think it was the best game, the story was basic but the encounters and terrain was top-notch and original.

I playing more Fallout 3 now, it is great as well. I forgot how well bethesda makes its games interesting and immersing. For example, i was in this robot repair center. I read a memo on a computer from his friend, telling him to watch out for the robots and that he had some spare pulse grenades in a box under his desk. he hid the key behind his computer. So i use this random bit of information and walk around the office to another desk. Sure enough there is a locked box at the bottom and i find the key behind the old computer. That is pure gaming right there, if only other companies had the same creativity.

New Books, New Game

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Hey folks. I finished The Illustrated Man a few days ago. An instant classic in my opinion. My favorite story was The City followed by Zero Hour.

Now I'm reading the second book in Asimov's Foundation series Foundation and the Empire. Its awesome. I forgot how well Asimov writes about politics and intrigue.

And in my video gaming life; I picked up Starcraft again. Its fun, no doubt about that. I am terrible though slowly getting better. I play zerg and my favorite strategies are hydralisk and lurker armies. Currently im playing the zerg campaign. Its much different from online but still enjoyable to defeat AI written over 10 years ago.

Half-Life 2 Episode One

Image by Matt Brett via Flickr

Is much creepier.

In the picture >
That's a zombine. Combination Combine soldier and zombie... Very scary to fight hordes of the things in abandoned subway plazas.

In other news. I'm reading Ray Bradbury's The Illustrated Man. I like it, very simple but gripping short stories. My summer of sci-fi keeps getting better

Half Life 2 Completed

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Ah its so cool, the citadel is an amazing, creative final level.

SPOILER





The organic gravity gun is a brilliant final addition. And when you are in the transport rail hangers, the scripted visuals are awesome... And whats up with G-man? Is he perhaps the creepiest character in video game history?

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END SPOILER

So basically, the game rocked. The best parts include the atmosphere of City 17, the eery streets of Ravenholm, the antlion mechanics, vortigaunts, the voice acting, the simple but intense scripted sequences and of course, the man of the hour, Gorden Freeman.

Now on to episode 1 and 2 (the orange box is the best)

Video Game Update

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So im some 10 hrs into Half-Life 2 on the 360. It rocks, the enemies get harder and the environment has become ultra chaotic. I have all the weapons (i think) so its just a matter of picking the right one for each encounter and laying waste to the waves of enemies. Its interesting that there seem to be two types of enemies. The humans that protect the citadel, and the aliens (who come from the other dimension of xen if im correct?). The universe that valve creates is very original and keeps me entertained and intrigued.

In addition, i must recommend this web-comic. Rather short but very funny for the nerds and geeks among us.
http://www.erfworld.com/book-1-archive/?px=%2F001.jpg

Summer; Posting Return

Ok, well, i haven't posted in a while as school just slowed me down. But i finished my exams and such so here's to a summer of Sci-fi and nerdom!

I picked up The Orange Box by Valve for my 360 during exam week. Best choice in a while. I beat portal in one sitting, and the advanced levels the next morning. It is incredibly funny and creative. Its going up there with Tetris and World of Goo as a top puzzle game. Speaking of Tetris, i also beat that game on my gameboy, specifically mode b, speed of 9, level 5. The easter eggs at the end include a minuture folk band playing Tchaikovskey's Trepak and then a random U.S. space shuttle launching into orbit. It felt good.

Now i'm on to half-life 2.