Edward's June 2012 Mix

Edward's June 2012 Mix

I got a few things finished this month. I finished Syberia, the last time I finished a "point & click" adventure was back in 1992, LucasArt's wonderful gem of a game called The Secret of Monkey Island. And even to finish this one I had to have a walkthrough minimized on my task bar, still, no complaints--even as a guided tour the game was spectacular to behold. I also knocked out Clive Barker's Undying. Kinda creepy, (not as much as System Shock 2), but spooky nonetheless. I felt the game got repetitive, but definitely an eerie spookhouse ride. Summer is here, yay! I've been logging some serious miles on the bike. And though I forgot to include its inclusion in the photo, a good buddy of mine gave me an old CD he wasn't listening to anymore. It just happened to be one of my favorite bands. The Birthday Massacre. Goth? Not really. Industrial? hmmm. . . maybe not. But chances are if you like Goth or Industrial music you will love The Birthday Massacre.

1. An American Werewolf in London on Blu-Ray

John Landis originally wrote the screenplay for this cult film in 1969 while working as a "gopher" on the set of the Clint Eastwood movie, Kelly's Heroes. It took him that long to get a studio fired up about his plan to make a movie that was too comedic to be considered a horror film and too horrific to be considered a comedy. This movie is black comedy at its best. The movie was also the first time an Academy Award was given for Best Makeup Effects. The transformation is worth ownership alone. And the movie looks splendid in the Blu-Ray format.

2. Alfred Hitchcock's Shadow of a Doubt on DVD

Alfred considered this his favorite film of all time. He did so all because of the setting: a mass murderer living amongst us in a quiet neighborhood adorned with maple trees and porch swings. Joseph Cotton gives a sinister performance as the murderer hiding out with his sister and her family, and lionized by his niece. There is nothing more disappointing than someone you're close to who ultimately reveals him or herself to be not what you expected. This suspenseful film explores that concept brilliantly.

3. World War Z by Max Brooks

I'm a fourth of the way through this book, and I can already say it's one of the best books I've read this year. It's entirely coincidental that I began reading this (I promise) as all of the crazy Internet posts concerning drug fueled sickos attacking people or indulging in self mutilation are being compared to zombies straight out of the walking dead lore. This book is told in an interview format about a not too distant future in which a plague slowly engulfs the world and produces dead people intent on eating the living. Carmack McCarthy's epic The Road was uncannily quiet. This book is insanely loud. A must read.

4. The Road to Oz by L. Frank Baum on Kindle

This is book number 5 in Baum's magical children's series. Once again Dorothy returns to Oz to see all of her old friends (and to make some new ones.) This time she "accidently" gets to Oz by becoming lost in a cornfield. These books undoubtedly have a repetitive tone, but I still find something captivating in them. And Amazon's Kindle is a wonderful way to become acquainted with them.

5. Star Trek: The Next Generation -- Season 3 on DVD

The first two series laid the groundwork, the stage is set in concrete, and the characters in the series are showing depth in deep gulf levels. More than a few of the episodes revolve around Data exploring venues to "becoming human," and these are done so remarkeably well that my fondness for this series is surpassing my love for the classic episodes. I've had a catch in my throat a few times while watching this season, and the episode "The Defector" concerning a defecting Romulan (or is it a Romulan trick) could easily have stood alone as a movie. "Booby Trap" and "The Offspring" in which Data creates an android who becomes his "daughter" are two episodes I simply did not want to end.

6. Tiger Woods' PGA Tour '08 on PC

Yes, I know. You're getting tired of seeing this one turn up month after month. Well, it's been a long run, no doubt. I have over 120 hours in this game now. But I am in the Q tournament now, and doing fairly well--about halfway through the season. I'm sponsored by Oakley now, and I'm only three guys away from Tiger himself. By this time next month, I should be about finished with the game.

7. Oblivion on PC

Still a long ways away from the ending in this game. I'm over 50 hours in and I've not even started the first quest in the storyline. I'm still struggling to find a damn cure for vampirism. I just need to find some bloodgrass, and then I need to sneak into somebody's humble cottage, steal away to their basement and take a few bulbs of garlic. Easier said than done, in this game, for sure.

8. Neverwinter Nights Gold Edition on PC

Since I finished Syberia I needed a good game to load on my laptop. I had never finished Neverwinter Nights when it came out. I thought I'd give it another spin. I'm glad I did. I forgot how fun this game is! My paladin, "Edward Doogooder" is level 5 now, blatantly destroying all forms of evil in his path, and he's about to step out of the prelude into Chapter One. MMORPGs are an eternal grind, and a constant struggle of one-upping. This game is so the opposite. This is pc gaming at its purest and a testament to the simple fact that I love flying solo.

9. PC Gamer Magazine 2004

It's been a blissful memory overload reading my favorite computer gaming magazine, the entire 2004 year run. With so many PC games now being platform jumpers or Indie games cheaply purchased via Steam, 2004 was pure heydays of PC computer gaming. Doom 3, Half Life 2 and Far Cry (my favorite FPS of all time) ruled the day. Truly, it never got any better than this.

10. Manny's Search by Edward C. Burton

The awful monster of procrastination sunk its gleaming fangs into my buttocks thereby preventing me from working on getting my manuscript to market. Amazon's file scan found six discrepancies with the manuscript. I finally converted it to a workable .pdf file and reran the scan. I've narrowed it down to two issues. Amost there.

Edward's May 2012 Mix

Edward's May 2012 Mix

This has been another busy month, mostly watching DVD sets. I finally finished all of Seinfeld. Good stuff. I’ve been aggressively working out, trying to get the elusive “six pack” abs and bulk up the arms and chest a bit. It almost feels as if I’m playing tug of war with myself. I walk on the treadmill 35 minutes to burn calories, the very calories I need to build the muscle for my upper body endeavor.  I’m still trying to get my book out on Amazon, but I keep running into one stupid obstacle after another.

1. Six Feet Under on DVD:

Many critics regard this as the best television series ever created. I’m not sure about that, but I will admit is has some of the most profound dialogue I’ve ever heard. Allan Ball has produced a dark strangely comedic and morose compelling series based on a family run funeral home. I like the characters, but they sure do drop the f bomb a lot. And it’s too frequent to be effective, unfortunately, delving into the territory of the ignorant or uneducated, although these characters seem intelligent. I guess it’s my own catch-22. I’m working my way through season one, so far so good.

2. Alien Quadrilogy on DVD:

Just finished the third movie, Alien3. Effectively directed by David Fincher (Fight Club, Seven, and a thousand and some MTV music videos) the film returns to its horror roots. I think Sigourney Weaver displayed a broader range of acting capabilities in this, and the characters on the prison planet in which this movie takes place were cast well. From what I read about this movie it wasn’t a big commercial success. Personally, it’s been my favorite of the series. (So far.)

3. Thor by Wayne Smith on Amazon’s Kindle:

Still working my way through this unusually written horror novel. The movie, which has sort of a cult following came out in 1991 and starred Michael Parre as a werewolf hiding out in plain site by staying with his sister and her son. Thor, a German Shepherd, is the family pet. He was more of a minor character in the film. In Wayne’s debut novel Thor is the main character. The whole story is told through the eyes of a dog. It’s a gimmick that works, and Wayne pulls it off exceedingly well. I still find it mysterious that the book is out of print and sells used on Amazon for almost $160.00 but you can get if for under three bucks for the Kindle. Definitely a good read.

4. Syberia on PC:

I’m still tackling this adventure game on my laptop since it seems to run it just fine. Tackling might be the wrong word, since I’m basically “touring” this game. There is no way I could finish it without a web based walk through minimized on my desktop computer. Still, the storyline is compelling and Syberia’s strange and funky world of old trains and abandoned factories makes this trip worthwhile. I can see why it was PC Gamer Magazine’s Adventure Game of the year for 2001.

5. The Somme: Heroism and Horror in the First World War by Martin Gilbert:

The notion you have of machine guns, tanks, mustard gas and rolled barbed wire more than likely came from the bloodiest and bleakest part of World War I which occurred near the Somme River in northern France. This book details all aspects from the generals planning strategies on map covered tables to the lowliest private in the trenches chewing mud, blood and barbed wire. I’ve recently started this book and it’s already changing my perception of that terrible war forever.

6. Seinfeld: Season 9 on DVD: 

TV Guide declared this wonderful series as the best comedy on television of all time. I’m not sure I don’t disagree. It’s been a wonderful run, and oddly, looking back, it doesn’t seem like I watched a complete nine seasons. The old maxim holds true, time flies when you’re having fun. The way it ended with Jerry, Elaine, George and Kramer getting what they deserved for being shmucks was a bit unexpected, but it was a fitting end nonetheless. I won’t watch it again, but this was a great series well worth my time.

7. Clive Barker’s Undying for PC:

This old school classic shooter may not be the scariest game I’ve ever played (not so far, anyway) but it is definitely dark and creepy. The whole dread mood thing going on may pale compared to newer games (Dead Space, Doom III) but playing it with the lights out and a good set of headphones can be a bit unsettling, especially walking through a long dark hallway with moonlight shining in through the windows and gossamer curtains dancing in the breeze, and then a ghost whisper pierces the quietude, “Looook around!”

8. A Perfect Circle: Thirteenth Step on CD:

I’m not a big Tool fan, and to be honest I’m just not that familiar with the band, but Maynard James Keenan’s side project which has pretty much become a lateral project, A Perfect Circle, has made a fine album. Most of the songs seem to be focused on addiction and redemption. I’m not in agreement with Keenan’s personal beliefs (he seems to be atheistic not out of scientific or philosophical self reasons, but purely out of anger) but this album is a great listen. I think “The Noose” is probably one of the most haunting rock songs I’ve ever heard.

Edward's April 2012 Mix

April and March decided to go nutso this year and switch places (it's annoyingly cold here) and that is my perfect excuse for staying indoors this month and losing myself wholly to all sorts of indoor goodness. You will see this has been the busiest month I've had as far as activities. I've been engrossed in good tunes, good books and games that started out good, but sheesh, at this point I just wish they were over with! I'm hopefully two months away from my new uber gaming PC, and when that beautiful day comes that the FedEx man knocks on my door I can't be still playing these old games. 

1. Tiger Woods’ PGA Tour ’08:

Okay, yes, I'm embarassed. I should have been done with this a long time ago. But hey, I'm 3 golfers away from Tiger! It's still pretty much been easy so far. 114 hours so far. Let me see if I can knock it out in less than 120. I am still in the amateur tour. And I'm not sure I'm going to make to the pro tour before I get to Tiger. Oh well, far be it from me to brag (excessively),it will be cool to say I beat Tiger Woods while wearing my K-Mart polyester pants and Wal-Mart windbreaker and using clubs I picked up at U Get Credit Pawn stores while still in the amateur circuit.

2. Thor by Wayne Smith on Kindle:

In 1996 Morgan Creek Productions made a tiny sleeper of a film starring Michael Parre about a werewolf seeking refuge from his blood crimes by hiding out with his sister and her little boy. The movie was surprisingly good, based on a young author's first novel. That novel is now available on Amazon.com for a lowly $157.00. Good luck finding it for much cheaper on eBay. I picked it up for a mere three bucks for my Kindle, however, and it's entertainment value so far has blown away the movie. The novel is told through the eyes of a German Shepherd named Thor, and Wayne Smith should get kudos for his handling of this type of narrative. Smith makes me want to get a German Shepherd! If you're a fan of horror in general or if you love dogs you'll enjoy this amazing novel.

3. Tomorrow's Technology and You by George Beekman & Michael J. Quinn

This was actually a textbook my daughter left behind from one of her college Computer Science classes. I started it and couldn't put it down. Being the hardcore gamer I am, granted, I have more than a passing familiarity with much of the material. (I don't know any dedicated PC gamer that doesn't know his or her way around a desktop computer like the back of their hands) but this book has been very enlightening. It's filled with all kinds of great historical footnotes about the beginning of the Internet, and small bio's about the man who invented the World Wide Web, and even touches upon Bill Gates' rather unscrupulous business practices that got him to where he is (and the fact that he may have indeed redeemed himself through his charitable foundations.) Fascinating reading.

4. Eluviam "Copia" on CD:

An ethereal ambient tour de force by solo musician Matthew Cooper. Stunning work, and truly magnicent what this guy can do with a piano. The album contains such wondrous titles as, "Reciting the Airships," and "Indoor swimming at the Space Station." The music is as haunting as these titles evoke. If you get a chance go to Youtube and look up "Hymn #1" and try not to think of the movie, The Road. Beautiful heart-rending tuneage to say the least.

5. Gravitational Pull vs The Desire for an Aquatic Life by Stars of the Lid on CD:

Austin, Texas duo Adam Wiltzie and Brian McCbride are prophets to the electronic ambient music which has become my religion. Hard to imagine a guy playing a single synthesizer note for a minute straight coupled with a guitar on heavy reverb can have the effect it does on me, but I could toss my collection of 200 plus CD's and keep SOTL and be happy about it. Their songs take me back to 1st and 2nd grade, riding my bike to school, racing home to catch Dark Shadows on TV, and Saturday morning cartoons, distant summer lawnmowers and doves sadly cooing on telephone lines.

6. Second Life:

I spent six months of the year 2006 unemployed. But I certainly was occupied. I stumbled upon Linden Labs' virtual environment inspired by the metaverse in Neil Stephenson's epic novel, Snowcrash.  Pablo Picasso once said, "What you imagine is real." Truer words were never spoken especially when it comes to Second Life. The whole world is created by the very occupants who live in the environment. People are agog about Minecraft because of the same conventions, but Second Life was first. Some dismiss it as a 3D chat program, and some a cyber sex simulator, but I've made friends for life in this software program. I've made RL money writing for publications within the game, and the September 2006 issue of Computer Games Magazine published an essay I wrote about a sad but beautiful experience I had within the game. You probably won't get this game, but if you do, its hooks are worse than chocolate meth.

7. PC Gamer Magazine 2002:

Still reading through the year 2002 PC Gamer Mags. This was definitely a good time to be a gamer. Medal of Honor: Allied Assault, Return to Castle Wolfenstein and Ghost Recon (probably my favorite game of all time) had been published, and the top games on the horizon were such wonderful titles as Deus Ex2: Invisible War, Everquest 2, Halo and Rise of Nations, not to mention Doom III,  Rainbow Six 3 Raven Shield (my favorite in the series) and World of Warcraft (which didn't release until 2005). Still, a great time to be a gamer. Ah, times were much simpler back then. 

8. Napoleon: Total War on PC:

I'm still slogging through the European campaign. (On EASY, mind you.) But I'm starting to feel like a staggering old captain who's not seen his family in four years and looking out on the grey horizon from the black dirt trenches at a terrible winter approaching and knowing the damn war is far from over. This game has been fun to play, but frankly I'm getting my ass stomped. I'm about to lose and I don't know whether I'm going to try the campaign again,  hopefully having gleaned some lessons from this epic failure or just delete the game from my hard drive and try something else. I love the Total War games; I just wish they weren't so difficult.  

9. Seinfeld: Season 8 on DVD:

Enjoying this penultimate season of my favorite modern television sitcom. But I do have a confession. I think Season 7 was funnier. It seems like Kramer's physical comedy isn't as prevalent in this season, and George is, well, I don't know . . .different, as if he stepped into a time machine and came back out of synch. Newman has definitely lost weight since the last season. All good things must come to an end, and it's kinda sad really, because I can discern the end of this great show looming in the distance.

10. Company of Heroes on PC:

Been playing this a tad, and convinced an online friend to purchase it, and I'm looking forward to playing with her. Despite being PC Gamers Magazine's 2006 GOTY, I still think this game holds up quite well to the test of time. I think it will always remain on my hard drive. I can beat the AI consistently on Normal. Going to be interesting to see if I can even come close when I bump it up to Expert. Still the most fun I've had even when I lose. Grabbing a buddy and playing co-op on Xfire voice or Teamspeak against the AI is a wonderful way to spend a Saturday evening.

Edward's March 2012 Mix

I'm coming up on being a century old and I have to say this has been the most unusual March as far as weather is concerned I've ever experienced. So, my mix this month has been intermingled with getting back on the bike and hitting the fitness center. Every day exudes that tingly wonderful thread of uber excitement like back in high school when you only had two weeks left of school and all you could do was stare out the window and try to keep your joy from bursting out of you like Mount Vesuvias But on the few rainy days we've had and the late nights I have been able to indulge my cultural diversions. And without further ado, here they are:

  

1. Tiger Woods’ PGA Tour ’08: 

I’m still working my way through. I have 5 golfers left until I confront Tiger Woods, himself. It's been a great game. 103 hours so far and I'm beginning to wonder if there is a longer sports game on the planet. I'll keep driving through (pun intended) to get to the end of this thing. I suppose I should relish it because this will probably be the last golf game EA makes for the PC.

2. Dorothy and the Wizard in OZ by L. Frank Baum on Kindle: 

This is the 4th book in the series, and I wasn't prepared for how really dark this series of books is. I can see why it met with the same controversy the Harry Potter books did by the right wing denizens. This particular book finds Dorothy returned once again to Oz by way of a San Francisco earthquake in which she is swallowed up by a crack in the earth. The threat of death ever looms, and Dorothy and her companions (no Toto this time, but a kitten named Eureka) narrowly escape each time (so far.) Good reading.

3. Syberia:

Plodding along on my laptop with this one. I've actually stooped so low as to use a walkthrough, but sheesh, the game would be impossible to play without one. But don't take my word for it, all the forums concur wholeheartedly. Still, it's a tour de force as far as adventure games to, even if I do have to play it like a cheap Dollar General paint by numbers paint set.

4. Adventures in my Youth: A German Soldier on the Eastern Front 1941- 1945 by Armin Scheiderbauer on Kindle:

“Harrowing account of a Wermacht's account of the Russian retreat which was a fighting retreat all the way. The author gets windows glimpses of the life he left at home and what's happening on the Western Front through letters from his parents. Odd how the Germans seemed to almost revere the Americans and Brits in direct contrast to their thoughts of the Russians being almost monsters. This account details the author's reminiscences on from what it was like to kill someone to the dreaded uncertainty of his future as a Russian POW. Powerfully written. The book could have used an appendix of maps. It does, thankfully, have a glossary of German words."  (Plagiarized from my very own review on Shelfari.com. Heh.)

5. The Iceman Cometh by Eugene O'Neal on DVD:

My parents have been hounding me to watch this with them, so reluctantly I went over and sat through it. It's a play created for television in 1960. I'm not a fan of plays (especially televised ones) but Jason Robards was excellent in his role, and it was cool seeing Robert Redford playing a guilt ridden youth driven to suicide. The whole play occurred in a run down bar populated by hopeless drunks filled with lost hope. If you feel like being depressed check this one out.

6. Levi 501 Classic Button Fly Jeans:

Been looking forever for a pair of these classic jeans. My wife found them through JC Penny online. Putting them on for the first time was a sort of homecoming. I suddenly felt very cool again. Hard to believe a pair of pants a peddeler introduced in a mining camp in the 1870's became such a legacy. On a sour note, these pants were made in Mexico. "nihilne sanc­tum est?”  

7. PC Gamer Magazine 2002:

Reading through the year 2002 PC Gamer Mags. This was definitely a good time to be a gamer. Medal of Honor: Allied Assault, Return to Castle Wolfenstein and Ghost Recon (probably my favorite game of all time) were fresh off the burner. These magazines bring back oh so sweet memories.

8. Memoir from an Antproof Case by Mark Helprin:

I'm engaged in this tome about a man whose adventures and misadventures have led him from everything from being billionaire to being a pauper, of being shot down as a WWII fighter pilot (twice) to carrying out a multimillion dollar bank heist. Helprin's metaphors and use of language makes me grin all over. If I could only write half as well. Sheesh. "I was not constructed to celebrate the senses. I could never celebrate anything. Nor have I ever wanted to, as celebration has always seemed to me to be the merely mechanical replication of a vital moment that has fled."

Edward's February 2012 Mix

This has been a most interesting month to say the least. I finally finished King’s Dark Tower series. Like I’ve said before, I didn’t harbor much love for the characters with their dark moody mean ways, but had to find out what happened in the end. And I must admit the last 100 pages of the book made it all worth it. I also finished Dirt 2 this month. It only took me 90 hours total. Codemasters does it right, great game and highly recommended. Well, no, scratch that. They’ve since released Dirt 3. That’s the one I’d pick up. I tackled the original Fallout this month, but it crashed on my laptop and wouldn’t reload. I’ll try it again at a later time (probably when I finish Oblivion) on my desktop.

 

1. Tiger Woods’ PGA Tour ’08:

I’m still working my way through. Moving right along now, though. I’m dominating in the amateur tour and mowing down the professionals like crabgrass with a Bush Hog. I have the feeling Tiger will not be such a pushover, however. Still looks like I’m on solid course to finish the game this year. 

2. Battlestations: Pacific:

An RTS played with an Xbox controller. HUH? Whoever heard of such a thing, but guess what? It works! This is a strange hybrid of a game, really. It has all the elements of an intense war game, but also the excitement of a real time strategy game with a blend of simulation. You can command, calling all the shots from a standard satellite like view and you can jump into any plane, submarine, ship, or AA station at any time. The game is brutal, but doable. I’m struggling in some missions, but the payoff makes me feel like king of the world. Good stuff. 

3. The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick:

The year is 1962. Japan and Germany kicked our asses in World War II. Jews live in hiding with assumed names and changed faces. And slavery is legal. The continent of Africa has been used to continue the Nazi’s human experimentation to the point of near genocide. Probably the most controversial science fiction novel I’ve read in a long time. Philip K. Dick won a Hugo for this work. It’s a good story, but Dick is not my favorite writer by any stretch. His most famous Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep which was turned into the beautifully done film, BladeRunner is testament that a movie really can transcend the book that spawned it.  

4. Alien Quadrilogy on DVD:

Just finished the second movie, Aliens. It’s definitely an adventure movie more than a straight horror flick like the first one directed by Ridley Scott. James Cameron created this one, and after having watched it along with the “behind the scenes” disk it makes me wonder just how fun it would be to work 14-16 hour days with Sundays off (but not all Sundays) for 10 months straight. And to top it off, Cameron was like the worst boss in the world. I thought Scott was bad, but looks like Cameron was much more the perfectionist. The end result paid out though. Aliens was a great film.

5. The Wizard of Oz Omnibus on Amazon’s Kindle:

I recently picked up a Kindle, and I’m loving it. My first purchase was The Wizard of OZ The Complete Series by L. Frank Baum. I started these books when I was a kid but never got to finish them, and now not only can I enjoy them discretely (without looking like a weird old geezer reading a children’s book) but I got the entire collection for a mere 95 cents on Amazon. The book is already a 180 degree difference than the movie which obviously saccharined over everything. So far, sad and depressing. Yay! Just my kind of book!

6. Syberia: 

I haven’t played an adventure game in years, a lot of years. Hmmm . . .actually 2005, I think with Funcom’s venerable The Longest Journey. Great game, but I never finished it. Now I’m tackling another adventure game on my laptop since it seems to run it just fine. The game involves an American attorney who ventures to Europe to execute a will involving the takeover of a toy company that manufactures clocks and “automatons.” When she arrives she discovers much more than meets the eye. So far, the game has one of the most odd and memorable opening scenes I’ve seen in a game in some time. The sole heir to the toy company’s funeral coach somberly ambulating to the cemetery with an entourage of automatons and wind up toys leading the procession.

7. Napoleon: Total War:

Still whittling away in the European campaign. It seems each turn pisses another country off and causes them to declare war on us. But Napoleon Bonaparte shall prevail! Well, I hope he will. I still have much to do to own the whole of Europe, and time is passing. We shall see.

8. WarCraft III:

I thought I was done with this after finally finishing the Orc campaign. Nope. Now I’m faced with the plight of the Night Elves. Looking forward to getting it over with. One definitely gets his or her money with this game; it has so much to offer. I’ve not even tackled multiplayer (and I won’t.) Unfortunately, I had to utilize a cheat code for two missions in the Orc campaign. Hopefully I won't have to resort to such henious methods in the Night Elf campaign.

Edward's January 2012 Mix

1. Tiger Woods’ PGA Tour ’08: 

After two years of playing this I’m ready to beat it. I’m still only in the amateur tour, but making good headway. I’ve beat 4 pros, and have 7 more until I take on Tiger himself. This has to be one of the longest sport simulation games out there. Just maybe I’ll finish it this year.

2. Dungeon Siege: Legends of Aranna: 

I finished the original game last year. It was good, but got a bit monotonous at times. Orientation got a bit convoluted, but I stayed the course and finished the game despite a pretty tough last boss fight. Legends of Aranna is the expansion and seems to be an almost Siamese twin to the original game with some noticeable improvements: much easier navigation, armor set loot drops (yay!) and smarter AI characters. I’m about 2/3 of the way through it and it’s been a most enjoyable romp.

3. The Dark Tower: Book VII by Stephen King: 

I’ve been reading this series the past few years. I’m glad it’s over after this. Furthermore, this will be the last King book I ever read. I simply haven’t got the thrill for his stuff anymore. Christine, ‘Salem’s Lot, The Dead Zone, Pet Cemetery and The Shining were his great works. And nothing he’s written since has captivated me like those did. The Dark Tower has held my interest, but in actuality I don’t like the characters at all. They’re all assholes with no redeeming qualities. Okay, Oy, the small coatimundi like creature that accompanies the main characters has captured my affections, but the rest of the party: meh. I am somewhat anxious to see how the plot goes though. It’s interesting how King introduces himself and his RL mishap with the van that almost ended his life as elements of the story. It’s just too melodramatic and over the top for me. I once knew a guy, an over the road truck driver, who read this series over and over. To each his own, I suppose. Reportedly, King has announced on his website another addition to this series sometime this year. I think I’ll pass. 

4. Alien Quadrilogy on DVD: 

This DVD set is a masterpiece, no doubt. It’s composed of 9 disks of the four movies and tons of special features. I’m a big fan of Ridley Scott, and oddly I had never seen the first movie. I was impressed to say the least. Released in 1979 this movie was advanced. I’m looking forward to watching the other movies in the series, though I’m told none compare to the first two.  

5. Inception on Blu-Ray: 

The family got a Blu-Ray player from Christmas from Mrs. Claus. I knew the upgrade from DVD was an eventuality, but I wasn’t quite prepared for this—WiFi with the ability to stream Netflix movies, whoa! The first Blu-Ray disc I watched was Christopher Nolan’s Inception with Leonardo Dicaprio. I don’t see how these screenplay writers do it. I’d think you’d need a Master’s degree in mathematics or logic just to create such a movie as this. Imagine having the ability to enter into peoples’ dreams and alter and influence them through their subconscious which ramifies into RL decisions. Now imagine being able to do that to politicians and CEO’s. If you like the Matrix movies you’ll find this movie especially entertaining. 

6. Manny’s Search by Edward C. Burton:

Amazon has the manuscript. I thought it was ready. Amazon sent it back with some formatting issues. The old 8.5 x 11 format typed up in MS Word just doesn’t cut it. I have to resize everything and save it as a .pdf file. What I really need is a crash course in desktop publishing. Amazon will take care of all this for me for a lofty fee, or I need to get off my lazy butt and learn the craft and do it myself. I do have the cover completed though thanks to my friend, Michael Tran.

7. Oblivion:

I panned this game back in 2006 because I was too busy with Second Life and World of Warcraft. Boy, what a fool I was. I’ve played some pretty deep RPGs, The Witcher, Fallout 3, and Mass Effect. And I must say this one delves even deeper yet it’s amazingly transparent. I recently quit Icewind Dale because of a game crashing bug and the fact that the mechanics were so hard. This game is the easiest RPG I’ve played. It’s depth is nothing short of incredible, like a reviewer in PC Gamer this month said about Skyrim, Bethesda put a whole freakin’ country in a box—likewise with Oblivion. What a way to spend the winter!

Edward's December 2011 Mix

1. Napoleon: Total War:

Playing on Easy setting this is still one of the most difficult strategy games I’ve ever played. And when I see some of the Steam achievements available I’m like, how in the hell?? Some of them seem utterly impossible. I’m about midway through the game now, on my first campaign to conquer the whole of Europe. Brutally difficult, but maddeningly addictive in one of those all too familiar “just one more turn” kinda ways, and then suddenly 3 hours have flown.

 

2. Warcraft III:

It’s kind of embarrassing that I never played this when it first came out. In a way though, I’m glad. This is the WoW world right before vanilla WoW came into being, only viewed from a near top down off the shoulder view. And it’s nice to go back and see how the storyline evolved into 2005’s mammoth game that took over the world. This, however, is a strategy game. There are no difficulty sliders, but it’s a very doable game. Suprisingly, the graphics still look pretty dang sharp despite its 2003 release. I finished the human campaign and am now playing the second campaign, the undead. So far so good. 

3. South of Broad by Pat Conroy: 

I still occasionally pull a Pat Conroy book from my shelves and read paragraph long passages out of it. Prince of Tides was absolutely magnetic, and probably inspired my own writing in more ways than I can tell. This story concerns a boy dealing with the suicide of his brother who was a few years older, and sort of a local sports hero. “My brother was so handsome that I could sense my mother’s disappointment every time she looked at me.” This novel is filled with such gem sentences that I find myself stopping to read over and again. 

4. Star Trek: The Next Generation DVD: Season Two: 

I was so much more a fan of the original Star Trek. ST:TNG’s first season didn’t impress me too much. But in watching the second season, something has changed. I’ve gotten to meet The Borg, and Q has made an impromptu appearance. Is there anybody with a bigger ego in the universe? And characters I didn’t particularly care for in the first season, I’m starting to really become attached to in this season. Yes, I even have an attraction to Whoopie Goldberg’s “Guinan.” 

5. PC Gamer 1998 issues: 

I’ve been reading through my old issues of PC Gamer again. 1998 was when games were starting to get really good again after the late 80’s foray from EGA graphics to VGA. From 1994 to 1997 we had to endure such atrocities as “full motion video” and games that cost $60.00.  But 1998 saw StarCraft and Half Life come to fruition. It was a great time to be a gamer. 

6. Manny’s Search by Edward C. Burton: 

I’ve had two phone calls with editors from Amazon’s CreateSpace now. I’m taking out all of the typesetter marks I put into the novel and simply doing my own italics and special marks. I have a few friends working on a cover design. It’s all shaping up well. Hopefully by the end of the month or early next month Manny’s Search will finally be in print.

7. Torchlight: 

I almost dismissed this as a casual game when this game first came out, and now I’m glad I didn’t. It’s basically a Diablo steal with bolder and more campy graphics. And what other RPG lets you send your pet back to town fully loaded with your extra inventory loot to sell to vendors. The game could probably use a mechanic which gives a better sense of direction, but it’s a crazy click-fest. Highly recommended for fun factor alone.