Posted in: Dare to Play the Game, News and Opinions by Michael Durr on July 23rd, 2008
Ubisoft Hacks themselves, Warcraft Achievements & Sonic’s got a Sword? - Welcome to the column that slices off their nose to spite their face known as Dare to Play the Game.
Welcome to another edition of Dare to Play the Game. 50/26/22. I finally did my last pvping for my rogue. I worked my way back up to 20 marks and got my blooming blue ring. The rest of the time was spent in dungeons mostly amassing money & items for my hunter to disenchant. I also finished a bunch of quests for dungeons like RFK or ZF that I just didn’t turn in because I thought it would put me over the 49 barrier. In addition, I went back to work on my blacksmithing and I’m 75% done with the initial Weaponsmithing quest. The blood elf hunter on the other hand amassed a couple of levels just killing peasants in Hillsbrad. His skinning is nearly maxed again (over 200) and his enchanting is still on par with his level (135). I have a feeling when he gets to 29, he is going to be a beast on the battlefield (well against the non-twinks anyway). I’m not super gung-ho for getting to 30 and the mount because as far as I’m concerned the mount limit is still 40 metaphorically speaking. I’m sitting back and having fun, trying not to care too much about my characters. Way too many people take the game so seriously and have to have something done as fast as possible. But then what do you do after that? They never really have an answer for that.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Michael Durr on July 19th, 2008
To be bloody honest, I was never a huge fan of Speed Racer. Actually I spent most half hours watching the cartoon (in college) poking fun at it and wondering how many drinking games could be compiled by just analyzing various components. It was a serious cartoon with some brief comedic relief that did not come off as funny, what was funny was all of the seriousness of driving the Mach 5 and figuring out who this Racer X character was (it was Speed's Older Brother, sorry if I spoiled it). Anyhow, it's 2008. Speed Racer has experienced a resurgence including a movie and a new cartoon series. The movie hasn't done very well but many times the cartoon can be the saving grace. It was supposed to follow a new Speed, with a mysterious past. Ooooo, well as long as no Chim-Chim or Spritle is around, we'll be okay.
In the not too distant future, a hopeful racer who goes by the name of Speed wants to attend the Racer Academy founded by the original Racer bunch. However he knows nothing of his past and finds that his name & lack of friends is a source of much teasing and criticism as he tries to ascend to the top of his class. There are other major players such as Headmaster Spritle (he grew up? I thought he would have gotten run over by the Mach 5 by now), X who is Speed Racer's son and X's girlfriend Annalise, both of which try to thwart the young Speed. Annalise's father, Zile Zazic is the main funder for the school and serves as the evil mastermind and antagonist to Speedy.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Michael Durr on July 19th, 2008
The movies of National Lampoon haven't always had the best track record. On on the good side, we have Christmas Vacation, Van Wilder or European Vacation (Chevy Chase is gold after all). On the bad side we have movies like Senior Trip, Dorm Daze, or Dorm Daze 2 (Wretchedness has sequels?) But every once in a while, you can take a bad movie and suddenly realize that you are holding something that is worse than any National Lampoon movie to date (I don't care what anybody says but Loaded Weapon wasn't half bad). A movie so bad, that even Jonathan Winters or Diedrich Bader could not save it.
Richie (played by Thomas Ian Nicholas) doesn't have the greatest luck in love. His best friend, Sherman (played by Andrew Katos) wants to bed as many chicks as possible regardless of the fallout that might occur. They hatch an idea that involves taking discarded casting call pictures and actually having their own casting call to find their perfect soulmate (or in Sherman's case, just a hot chick or several). However, they have to impersonate having a real film in place before they get any real girls to fall to their claim. They also need an office and resources. They decide to include their friend Glenn (played by Diedrich Bader) who has the office space and resources to make it happen.
Posted in: Dare to Play the Game, News and Opinions by Michael Durr on July 16th, 2008
Xbox 360 Price Cut, New Wolfenstein & Xbox 360 Hard Drive madness? - Welcome to the column that went to E3, got way too belligerent with the Wii hard drive Booth (and later found out one didn’t exist) and was asked to leave known as Dare to Play the Game.
Welcome to another edition of Dare to Play the Game. 49/24/22. In World of Warcraft News, the patch for 2.4.3 is out as of Tuesday. The real news of course out of the patch is that level 30 characters get mounts, where it used to be that level 40 was the magic number. The cost of the mount training has also decreased, to 35 gold. So the twink bracket that existed at 29 is for most practical purposes is gone, and the 39 twink bracket will actually exist again. I mostly played with my hunter which would explain why he was the only one to gain levels (2) this week. He finished the Ghostlands, took a quick trip to Razorfen Kraul & landed in Tarren Mill to start questing. He should have the 45 gold (35 training + 10 for the actual mount) by the time he hits 30. I just need to skin as much as possible and not dump as much money as I was into my enchanting skill. My enchanting skill is on par with my level (120), but I can always get my 49 rogue to solo anything up to and including Razorfen Kraul to get items to disenchant for mats. Plus, my rogue will be moving past the 49 barrier after this week I would imagine. I’ve pvped enough for the current bracket and he needs to make the first steps so he can start moving towards 60.
Posted in: Dare to Play the Game, News and Opinions by Michael Durr on July 9th, 2008
Episodic Gaming, Irish Anthem screw-up & Pub Games for Fable II? - Welcome to the column that gets drunk & gambles a lot, but not enough to admit they have a problem known as Dare to Play the Game.
Welcome to another edition of Dare to Play the Game. So somewhere in my World of Warcraft experience, I think I burnt myself out a little bit. I was playing with my level 19 blood elf hunter quite a bit, going into battlegrounds and such. I worked up the 20 marks of honor and got myself a spiffy neck piece. However, that was not the end of it. I decided to go back to Ghostlands and finish up questing there. I spent the better part of Friday and some of Saturday, working myself into a frenzy to do so. I gained three levels (to 22) and finished everything in Ghostlands with the exception of killing the elite boss in Deatholme (name escapes me for a moment). Major accomplishments include getting exalted status for Tranquillen (which entitled me to a blue cloak from the reputation vendor) and defeating the two 20 elites that roam Dead Scar & surrounding areas by myself & at level 20. (on separate occasions of course). Notable accomplishments for sure, but it soured my taste on the game because I pushed myself so hard. So I'm taking it easy this week, I will play some; but remember folks we play games to enjoy them, I don't feel like making myself hate it. If that makes sense.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Michael Durr on July 7th, 2008
If you read my recent review of Bender's Big Score, you'll know I wasn't exactly thrilled by Futurama's first dvd movie. But like many things (such as relationships and less than average presidents), you always want to give it a second chance. Bender, Fry, Leela & others are fantastic characters and perhaps with the first film, they just had a bump in the road. We, as viewers know they can do better. They just have to steer clear of disgusting & annoying villains as well as confusing plots. Let's hope that it holds together for the solid ninety minutes and see what pans out.
After the paradox correction of a million Benders creates a rip in the fabric of space, life has tried to return to normal. Fry is in a new relationship with a girl named Colleen. Amy and Kif (Zapp Brannigan's side kick) get married. In a very funny bit, "Deathball" is used to win the right of exploring the anomaly. Upon reaching the rip in space, the Planet Express crew sends Bender out to investigate the situation. However, they quickly realize that electrical beings such as robots get zapped when trying to touch the anomaly but living beings are unaffected and can pass through.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Michael Durr on July 6th, 2008
Futurama is one of my favorite cartoon shows. When it was cancelled a few years back, I went ahead and collected the four fine dvd season sets and proceeded to watch them whenever I had time. Truth is, if you are a nerd like me, Futurama is much funnier than the Simpsons and deserved much more than seventy two episodes. Somebody listened. The people at Fox decided there was more life to Futurama and ordered up four straight to dvd movies which will be cut up among sixteen episodes for a fifth season. The first one is titled: Bender's Big Score. Here is hoping that the plot isn't Bender getting involved with a larger female robot (I think he already did that in a previous episode).
The story starts out where the series kinda left off. It's been two years since the executives at the Box Network have cancelled Planet Express's contract. The executives who made the decision were fired and hence Planet Express was back in business. After a short party where Hermes is decapitated (his head is naturally placed in a jar while his body gets repaired), the crew embarks on a mission to a nude beach planet. The crew decides to take a break and participate in some sun-bathing (au natural of course). There they meet three scammer aliens who convince the crew to sign some petitions and get their email addresses.
Posted in: Dare to Play the Game, News and Opinions by Michael Durr on July 2nd, 2008
No Piracy for Crytek, Free Rainbow Six & Diablo III? - Welcome to the column that cares about you as the consumer but asks that you don't let the other consumers know about our torrid affair known as Dare to Play the Game.
Welcome to another edition of Dare to Play the Game. Rule #1 for this week, if you aren't a twink in the 10-19th level World of Warcraft Warsong Gulch battleground, be prepared for many many deaths. I have a level 19 blood elf hunter and after my main Lantanador (who is level 49) had so much success in the 40-49 WSG battleground, I figured I would give it a try with my hunter. HAHA, yeah. I usually have the same # of kills as I do deaths. My first battleground with my hunter was a slaughter. I managed 4 kills and died 15 times. Fifteen. At one point I got killed by the same guy five times in a row. My second effort was a lot better as I killed 6 and died 8 times. But then you might ask, don't twinks (or people who buy insane enchants and pay ridiculous amounts of gold for gear that is solely used for the purpose of succeeding in battlegrounds) exist at any level battleground? True, to a point. At level 19, the difference between somebody who is twinked and somebody who is not twinked has a much more noticeable difference than say one would at a level 49 battleground. I can do pretty awesome in the 40's bracket with good gear but if I only have good gear in the 19 bracket, I can get owned because I don't have amazing gear. Anyhow, safe to say I'm just trying to have fun with the early brackets and not worry about dieing so much. I am after all, earning honor and marks which will be used towards at least one very nice piece of armor.
Posted in: Dare to Play the Game, News and Opinions by Michael Durr on June 25th, 2008
PS2 Edutainment, Disney goes Rockband without the Band and the Beginning of the End? - Welcome to the column that knows the end is near when it's mentioned in the mainstream press as informative & witty known as Dare to Play the Game.
Welcome to another edition of Dare to Play the Game. I don't feel like crap anymore. Unfortunately, now my girlfriend feels like crap. So that means I'm feeling like crap by proxy I suppose. WoW update: 48/22/18 and I will be sick of Blacksmithing quests very soon. A man should not have to mine this many mithril bars in one sitting . One hundred and twenty bars of mithril (not to mention 40 bars of iron, 5 bars of truesilver & 4 citrine) to get 3 lousy blacksmithing recipes. Well they aren't lousy, but I'm not sure they are worth the effort either. My question is what the heck are they doing with the mithril bars? The quests are given in Stranglethorn Vale which is one of the worst places to mine (I've done most of my mining in a combination of Hinterlands & Thousand Needles). If this was a regular person and not a NPC, I would think I'm bankrolling his blacksmithing skill. I mean if all I had to do was handout three recipes and get in return hundreds of bars and entry trinkets, I would be one rich mofo.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Michael Durr on June 23rd, 2008
Spoof movies have been wearing on me for the last few years. Complete travesties such as Date Movie & Epic Movie have soured my look on a favorite genre of mine. Where were the Mel Brooks classics or the Scary Movie series that I remember so well? Smart comedy and well done jokes about movies we have come to love. So, I'll admit when I saw the Comebacks on DVD, all I could see was red and think the torture that was Epic Movie. I wanted to believe it could be as smart and zany as Blazing Saddles or at least in the same league as Scary Movie 3 or 4. I would hope that director Tom Brady would restore my faith in this once awesome genre.
Freddie Wiseman (played by Carl Weathers) visits the long forgotten Lambeau Fields (played by David Koechner), a coach whose only attribute is losing when it counts. Freddie convinces Lambeau to coach the Heartland State football team. Once Lambeau gets there, he struggles to put together a winning team. The team consists of various characters and stereotypes such as Trotter (played by Jackie Long) the pompous Terrell Owens wannabe, Lance Truman (played by Matthew Lawrence), the baseball pitcher turned quarterback, and Jizminder Featherfoot (played by Noureen DeWulf), the female kicker who should be in Bend It Like Beckham.
