Nerdverve

GTA IV Complete–Sometimes it pays to procrastinate

nerdverve — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 15:58:42 +0000

Amazon is listing GTA IV: The Complete Edition, which will include the full game as well as DLC episodes The Lost and the Damned as well as TheBallad of Gay Tony, for only $39.99. This is an awesome price point for those of us who may have waited a looooong time to finally pick this game up (like moi). What can I say? I was a little burned by San Andreas (never even bothered to finish it, I got too bored), and while I really did want to pick this game up I didn’t exactly rush out to get it. Especially when there are games like Mass Effect and Bayonetta out there!

Of course, The Force Unleashed and Fable 3 also drop on Oct. 26, so perhaps I will be procrastinating a bit longer. There’s always Christmas!

When did October become so popular??

nerdverve — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 14:58:15 +0000

Note: I’m not sure why this didn’t publish, but this should have been posted a few days ago. This gives context to why I am calling October Nerdtober.

As I looked at an upcoming release list at GameStop this weekend to figure out exactly how much of my money would be filling their coffers next month, I was dumbstruck by the number of A List highly anticipated titles coming out. (Now there are a lot more but these are only the ones that I am interested in) Oct. 5 is Castlevania Lords of Shadow (A Hideo Kojima Joint), Oct. 26th is The Force Unleashed 2 AND Fable 3.

While 3 is not usually a huge number, considering each game is 60 bucks (unless you spring for the collectors edition for any of these), that’s $180! Is it just me or were November and December previously the hot months for getting in the big releases?? What an expensive month this is to be a nerd!

The first weekend of October brings us the Cloisters Renaissance Faire (thankfully free to enter!). If you happen to be a nerd who drinks you may also be using that weekend to wrap up your Oktoberfest celebrations. Oh and how can I forget the Wizard Con that weekend? Good luck fitting all of that in.
Then the following weekend is the New York Comic Con and all the madness that entails. A weekend pass is $50, Saturday $40, Sunday $30. While yes that is a lot of value considering this year that ticket grants you entry to the NY Anime Festival as well, you know you will be buying lots of little goodies that just scream at your geeky little heart to take them home and adore them. So there goes $100 that weekend.

This kind of makes me wonder why the universe doesn’t have someone noting all of these events on a master calendar. If gaming/ren faire/comic book nerds don’t have a patron god, we need to find one fast and petition him/her to go a little easier on us! I thank he/she for the overflowing abundance of geek outlets next month but at least give my bank account time to replenish!

Welcome to Nerdtober

nerdverve — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 14:55:51 +0000

So, in an effort to be a responsible adult, I’ve decided not to hit Wizard Con this weekend. As much as I love the nerdgasm of a convention, I can’t afford to spend the money for the admission plus comics when I already know this month is just god’s gift to nerds. To make up for it, I will probably purchase a weekend pass to New York Comic con and buy all of my goodies on Sunday (when it’s cheaper because the vendors are trying to move product!). I’ve always wanted to hit up a con in a costume, but I don’t really have any ideas. I may make up a character and go as that, I still haven’t decided. Well I still have a week to think about it.

So if you are hitting Wizard Con, enjoy ,and if you hit that Buffy panel pleaseee take notes! I will be drinking to toast my non existent German heritage on Saturday and then reclaiming my title of Queen of the Mead Kingdom on Sunday at the Medieval Faire at the Cloisters on Sunday. Hopefully I will have many interesting pictures.

Michael Jackson…MMO???

nerdverve — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 17:21:03 +0000

Now I am as big as Michael Jackson fan as the next person (well probably moreso than your average American, but perhaps on the same level as your average European because they respected his genius while he was still alive and didn’t wait until he was dead..doh sorry my rant alarm just went off, I’ll get back on topic now) but even I took the news of a ™developing MJ MMO with a bit of confusion. Titled “Planet Michael” it claims that it will allow you to truly experience MJ’s life as an artist and humanitarian. How in the world are they going to do such a thing? And will it be as good as Moonwalker and include a giant MJ mecha?? Damn, yet another reason I will need to get a new computer next year. If it’s a good game, between that and Knights of the Old Republic I may become a shut-in!

Devil May Cry Reboot

nerdverve — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 20:20:30 +0000

Fresh from the Tokyo Game Show press conference, Ninja Theory has shown a two minute long trailer of their stamp on the DMC franchise. (Which you can see here along with artwork) The new brunette (??!!) Dante is decidely younger, more emo, and dare I say anorexic? Must be the cigarettes, another new habit for the Capcom all star. Judging by the trailer, Ninja Theory is going for a grittier, more realistic feel as opposed to the stylish, grandiose over the top atmosphere fans have been used to.

I’m not a hardcore fan of the series, though I did love the fourth one and I’ve played all of them except for the second one (sorry I just couldn’t stomach it). That being said, who envisions Dante without white hair?? That was his trademark! It looks like they might change his personality from snarky daredevil to something angrier and bitter. It’s still early, I might be panicking for no reason but this is not looking good so far. I’m sure it’ll sell a bajillion copies initially, but this is a really gutsy move to totally reboot the character like this.

Another True Blood Season gone…

nerdverve — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 02:22:41 +0000

Now mind you, I didn’t see the sneak peek of season 4, so I am just conjecturing on what may happen next season. One of my favorite characters, Tara, went through absolute hell this season! I wonder if she is going to go off and lead a lifestyle similar to the one Sam led before cleaning up so to speak. Sam was right, he and Tara are really not so different. The only difference between them is that Sam seems to have kept moving to outrun his past/memories. It should be interesting to see what circumstances will lead her back to Bon Temps (Seriously she’s gotta come back). I can’t see her entirely losing her edge, but maybe she will work at another bar and be the mysterious bartender?

I really like the witch angle for Lafayette. It kind of makes sense for him, the way they’ve been shaping his relationship and experiences with Jesus. So next season, I hope that we don’t have witches randomly thrown in for no reason *cough, like the werewolves*

And Bill…jeez he just went a little psycho didn’t he?? I can’t tell if he really loves Sookie or not, or if the both of them have just had too much of each other’s blood. It was very interesting to see Godric (who I really missed!!)again, which makes me wonder if the afterlife and the nature of vampiric souls will come up next season. Eric, I have to say was not so smart in the end. Points to him for telling Sookie the truth (and wrapping up that whole storyline), but seriously, leaving a 3000 yr old vampire to simmer in his hatred and madness until he can break free? He should have just killed him, screw all that you don’t want him finding peace bullshit. If he were truly ruthless that’s what he would have done. I was very surprised at that outcome.

Well of all the things they will have in Season 4, on my short list of must haves are :More Naked Eric scenes and More Naked Alcide scenes. With these two things I can deal with any amount of odd storylines or random creatures thrown in *cough*frakking werewolves *cough*

Chicks Dig the Sith

nerdverve — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 17:51:18 +0000

OMG, Have you glimpsed the beauty of the Collector’s Edition of The Force Unleashed 2???
Drool here
The USB drive is that perfect mix of cute and evil that drives a girl wild!! I must say, I’ve never bought the collector’s edition of any game (being a cheapskate prevents me from spending $80 on a game), but this set is oh so tempting. At the very least I will be pre-ordering the normal version, because the first TFU was just incredible. Definitely the best Star Wars game I’ve ever played. Also, probably the first action game I played where I dropped my controller and yelled at the top of my lungs when one of the coolest characters EVER showed up for a fight (sorry being vague in case you have not had the pleasure of playing this game yet).

I hope there is another Darth Vader level. Yes I know Anakin really lost a lot of his badassery once he got put into that suit, but still I enjoy being The Dark Lord of the Sith. Sigh, Darth you will always be my hero.
October 26th cannot come soon enough!!!

Entertainment Weekly’s 100 Greatest Characters

nerdverve — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 14:32:56 +0000

So of course, all the buzz this week is about this list (readable here http://popwatch.ew.com/2010/06/01/100-greatest-characters-of-last-20-years-full-list/
I am largely happy with the list, if only because Buffy is at number 3 (though she should be number 2). My main gripe with this list is HOW THE HELL CAN EDWARD CULLEN BE ON THE LIST WHILE THE GREATEST WOMAN OF ALL TIME IS NOT ON IT??

Of course, when I say ‘the greatest woman of all time’ your mind automatically says “Xena?The mighty princess forged in the heat of battle?” And you would be absolutely correct!! First of all, Xena should be number one on the list and Homer should be…I don’t even care what number, because all pales in comparison to Xena. Who cares about donuts when you can have mass destruction and the lamentation of your enemies that Xena did so well?? Not only did she usher in a new age of televised female empowerment, she toppled then syndicated powerhouses like ‘Star Trek’ and ‘Hercules’. It’s especially surprising as Buffy was often mentioned right alongside Xena when culture analysts were poking and prodding at the seeming trend of female ass kickers.

Now to take a totally different turn,(mainly because my love for Xena will only end up with me foaming at the mouth)some additions I also found curious were Nathan Drake of Uncharted and Kratos of God of War. (Again, you pick Kratos, an angry Greek who took it to the Gods and not Xena???ARRRGH!!)Of all the videogame characters you pick, why these two? What global recognition do they have? Why not Ryu, headliner of the world phenomenon Street Fighter series, or Super Mario, pretty much the mascot for video games to the world at large for the last, well, forever. Methinks, these writers are recent gaming fans (not that there’s anything wrong with that, everything needs new blood to survive) though once they ‘forgot’ to include Xena on this list their insanity became apparent to me. NO XENA??SERIOUSLY???EDWARD CULLEN??? Sorry, I usually have meds for these kinds of outbursts but ever since the prevalence of Edward Cullen my dosage just doesn’t seem to be cutting it anymore.

Thundercats????!!!!

nerdverve — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 18:03:29 +0000

Best news of today! Thundercats is getting a new series!! http://tv.ign.com/articles/109/1094318p1.html My 6 year old self is jumping up and down and looking for my old Thundercats sword! (Yes, I was a strange little girl who wanted to be Lion-O and had the sword and belt).My current self is wishing for a shirtless Hugh Jackman to play Lion-O in the eventual live action movie. Both selves are currently nodding in approval.

Mass Effect Movie?

nerdverve — Tue, 25 May 2010 03:13:57 +0000

Ha, of course as soon as I finish writing about Mass Effect 2, I find out the producers of The Dark Knight and Spiderman a are teaming up to make a Mass Effect movie! Now honestly, I think it will be crap, based on the track record of most videogame based movies. However, I do have a casting suggestion. Most likely Jacob won’t be in the first movie but having seen Just Wright (yeah I go see romcoms ocacasionally…well when they are free anyway),Common needs to be Jacob. Let him put on another 20 lbs of muscle and don the skin tight black and white body suit and look longingly at the camera while the Reapers crush humans down into raw genetic paste.

I really don’t care who else is in the movie because as I said, I bet it will suck so I will most likely wait for dvd on this one. Wait, no I take that back, please don’t put Megan Fox in this movie! I know she needs a paycheck after getting put out on her ass from the Transformers series, but let’s put her in a movie I most likely will never see. Like anything directed by Uwe Boll.