AvastYeBilgeRat's blog

What an exciting time to be a console gamer!  Here we sit, bookended by the PS4 launch last week and the XB1 coming tomorrow.  I myself pledged to sit on the sideline for a few months, thinking I'd give the "system sellers" time to be created (and that I wouldn't be able to find a system anyhow) but that I'd eventuall go XB1 because of the functionality beyond gaming that it offers, and maintain my gaming PC to experience some indie/MMO/PC-centric content.

"How Microsoft's engineers created the world's first broadband-connected game console, based on interviews with the people who made it."

There is a fantastic longread by Russ Pitts over on Polygon that delves into the inspiration and history of how XBL came into existence.  A great read.

GREAT NEWS: Yes indeed, yours truly AYBR is back from the underworld!

NOT-SO-GREAT NEWS: My old blog posts are all double-posted and I didn't pre-order either a PS4 or a Xbone! /firstworldoldgamergeekproblems

...because this one is mine.

...because this one is mine.

Not sure how many of you are progressive music geeks as much as I am, but if you're any familiar with the genre AT ALL, then you of likely already know about the shocking departure of Mike Portnoy from Dream Theater (one of the premier modern progressive metal outfits of the last 25 years). Dream Theater is known for almost single-handedly sustaining and recreating progressive music during a time when glam and alternative were ruling the day.

Not sure how many of you are progressive music geeks as much as I am, but if you're any familiar with the genre AT ALL, then you of likely already know about the shocking departure of Mike Portnoy from Dream Theater (one of the premier modern progressive metal outfits of the last 25 years). Dream Theater is known for almost single-handedly sustaining and recreating progressive music during a time when glam and alternative were ruling the day.

Derek (DSmooth) already voted an emphatic "YES" on Twitter as I wondered out loud whether or not making the trip up to PAX is worth it to a non-industry, white-collar, everyman gamer who loves the activity but doesn't have near enough time in his life to enjoy it as fully as he might want. I'm curious to hear others' thoughts on the subject before I book the trip or punch myself in the face when March rolls around as PAX (East) rolls around and I'm still in NC, wishing I was there. Essentially, my hesistancy boils down to the following:

Derek (DSmooth) already voted an emphatic "YES" on Twitter as I wondered out loud whether or not making the trip up to PAX is worth it to a non-industry, white-collar, everyman gamer who loves the activity but doesn't have near enough time in his life to enjoy it as fully as he might want. I'm curious to hear others' thoughts on the subject before I book the trip or punch myself in the face when March rolls around as PAX (East) rolls around and I'm still in NC, wishing I was there. Essentially, my hesistancy boils down to the following:

I'm sure most have already seen this by now, but just by some slim chance you're stumbling across this and have not seen the gameplay footage from the new Bioshock title (coming in - dammit we have to wait for it - 2012), set aside 10 minutes and be blown away. This game is going to be EPIC!