Daylight Savings

Does it serve any purpose in the modern world other than to throw off your entire sleep pattern? No? Didn't think so.

I've gotten back into the PC games I was playing since my rig is back up to speed. I've noticed Brothers in Arms has dropped to $29.99 pretty damn fast, and I can't say I'm surprised. I'm not sure why the reviews for this had such high scores but it's pretty formulaic. The squad control is good but the actual missions, action, and level layouts at mediocre at best. It doesn't help that it's only the 2332403rd WW2 FPS to come out in the last few years. They've already overdone it with Vietnam too. "Modern" conflicts are being beaten to death too, although Battlefield 2 does in fact look amazing. I can't say making a sci-fi shooter would be much more innovative either. It seems like after Call of Duty, Unreal Tournament 2004, and Half-Life 2 there isn't much more to do in terms of FPS gameplay, but hopefully somebody can at least come up with a tone or setting that hasn't been done a million times already.

Doom 3 Ressurection of Evil, Star Wars Republic Commando, and SWAT 4 are next, whenever "next" happens to arrive. I certainly hope Ressurection of Evil is much better than Doom 3's single player campaign which was fucking dreadful. It's funny to once again see console sites giving such a poor FPS high marks. It's like "fun" doesn't even enter into the equation anymore.

Valve has done a lot of things right. Half-Life 2 was amazing. CS Source is great. HL2DM is digital crack. And Steam is great for anyone who isn't too dumb to know how to use it. But there's two things they could have done a lot better. First, Day of Defeat Source shouldn't be taking this long. I paid for the Steam Silver package six months ago, and shouldn't have to wait this long for the final component of it to be activated. Secondly, the HL2DM map contest results are dreadful. Not only are dm_underpass and dm_avalon old news, they aren't even all that good. Maps like dm_island17, dm_six, and dm_torque are much, much better. If the goal was to publicize the release of some old fan created maps in order to get CS addicts to invest time in HL2DM, I'm afraid it's probably going to fail. It's a shame too because I'd like to see some low-ping servers with a steady rotation of some of the really amazing maps that have been made. Although I have to give props to Valve for not releasing a $19.99 add-on disc with half a dozen lame ass maps and no bot support. Valve makes people wait for too long. Valve mishandles publicity and public relations at every turn. But when the game is finally there and it's time to play, you're in for nothing but the best. The map releases that have been provided so far, along with the addition of the stun stick and SLAM bombs make Bungie look pathetic.

I'm just getting started on the "Trial of Hades" in God of War. Great game, I just wish I had the time to progress in a more timely fashion. The camera positioning during the swimming sequences could be a bit better. Poseidon's Trident may keep you from drowning, but it doesn't do a damn thing against all those crushing traps.

I still want a PSP.