First thoughts and impressions....

    OK, so this is my first blog entry.  My first blog entry anywhere, ever.  I'm not certain of what it is that i want to write about, I just seem to have some sort of attraction to want to do something.  It may not even turn out, but I feel like I should at least try something new.

    I suppose these things (blogs) are meant to be about me, or at least the ones I'm writing anyway, so I'll start off by introducing myself.  My name is Rob, I'm 29 years old, and I've been married for two years now.  I don't have any children of my own, and never will thanks to a visit to the doctors' office a few months ago, but I do have a 15 year old step-son.  We have two dogs and a nice average house in North Carolina that we have yet to truly get organized from moving in over a year ago.  I am an electrician by trade, and my wife is a real estate agent.

    A week ago, the anticipation was building.  It was Monday, September 24th, and the countdown was nearing it's end.  I went and picked up my buddy that got me hooked on Halo back so many years ago, and off we went to stand in line.  We met several interesting people waiting outside and talked with them until we were let inside.  As others were coming out, we started laughing at them for running from the door screaming and yelling like idiots.  Then it was my turn to go in.  I turned to my buddy and said, "If your not in the car by the time I turn the key, you might get left here", and went in.  A few minutes go by, and I come out of the store, grinning ear to ear.  I ran and screamed and yelled all the way to the car.  We got in, drove home, and immediately began our setup sequence.  Big screen on, source selected, 360 powered on.  Final call was made for bathroom break, smoke break, and snacks.  A quick trip to the bathroom, didn't quite finish that last smoke, and drinks and snacks were on the table.  The disc was placed in the tray.  The time had arrived.  After years of 'hoping this would be there' or 'that shouldn't be there anymore', no longer meant anything.  We were ready to see it for ourselves.  The tray loaded, whined and buzzed a bit, and we were met with the all to well known chanting of what was (is, and will be) Halo.  Halo 3.  We started an easy campaign to re-train ourselves to the new controller and button layout.  Six and a half hours later, we were victorious.  On easy.  If you didn't know about this yet, if you complete the game on easy, you get nothing.  Nada.  Zilch.  Not an achievement worth a piddly 5 points or even a pop-up text saying "HaHa, fooled ya!  Now step up like a real marine and get back in there!"  Sorry if that's a spoiler, but that info should be on page 2 of the book, right after "...video games have been known in the state of California to cause...", ahhh, you know the rest, something about evil vampiric sheep hunting in largely populated areas.  So, a quick 3 hour nap, and it's time to load up again.  All we ended up doing was seeing what could be launched from the man-cannons.  That is a true way to waste a lot of time and have an even better time doing it.

    A couple of days pass, and i start to venture out into the world of "online gameplay".  So, at this point, the only other online gameplay against stronger competition I have participated in has been racing in Burnout Revenge.  And, just like Halo, timmies everywhere.  Another day passes, and I recall hearing something about gaming clans, and immediately began a search.  Towards the top of my results was this 2old2play.com.  First thoughts were, 1- just how old are these guys?, and 2- wonder if i could fit in?  So, a day of scanning and reading the forums, trying to catch some idea of what this clan stuff was about, and I was very intrigued.  A large group of people over a certain age and of all varying skill levels amassed in one particular location for one common purpose- better gaming.  I was quickly welcomed to the clan "Halo Brigade" by, first and foremost, Nomad, followed by others.  The very next day, I logged onto XBL and had a few friend requests waiting.  I played a few games here and there with several different clansmen throughout the rest of the night, and had a great time.  Of course, I got the crap beat out of me in most matches i was in, but even that was fun just trying to see how long I could survive.  I think I even respawned once only to be instantly killed again by an unknown assailant.  Absolutely fantastic.

    First thoughts and impressions of the game?  Instant classic, all-time favorite, and virtually unlimited replay value.  First thoughts and impressions of 2old2play.com?  Great site.  Love it, love it, love it.  First thoughts and impressions of my fellow clansman (and clanswomen!) in Halo Brigade?  Let's just say I look forward to showing you all just how many different ways I can die. 

truktrix