The Daily Bleven - Staypuft Edition: 5/22

So it is true - we are grown ass men. It is true that we are also slackers I suppose - not that anyone has ever accused of that to our faces ;)

So here it is - The Daily Bleven 5/22- Staypuft Edition:

I am not like everyone else - I suppose that I have always known this fact - but it is especially stark in contrast in a few key decisions I have made relating to video games. 

Batman: Arkham -

The first was around the Batman Arkham series of games. I simply dont like them; the mechanics are clunky to me and the idea of running away from mobs trying to get them to forget I was there as a gameplay turn-on turns me off completely. I know that people love those games and I know that they are critically acclaimed but they are trash to me. Utter garbage - the running joke with SmittyD is that I keep the copy of Arkham City I bought (just to be sure that the problem wasn't isolated to the first game) simply so that I can disrespect it as a ritual. I wont ever trade it in because that would be me putting it to productive use. I will keep it, and neglect it...

Diablo 3 -

I do not love this game. I do not love anything about it. I suppose that I do not specifically feel venomous hatred toward any particular aspect of it either. However I do find it lacking; popping loot pinata's (Thanks Tycho for the useful metaphor) just is not really that exciting. It really could be simply that the Auction House has ruined it. The fun part of that game (I suppose) has to do with character development but since I dont think any of the mechanics are particularly engaging it comes down to loot. There is no loot in the game worth a damn to be honest. All your loot really comes from the Auction house. So the gameplay becomes super grindy as you are trying to build up a large enough pool of gold to be able to buy the next useful upgrade for your needs. The wife and I have found in the game-world literally 2-3 pieces of loot (between us) that we have equipped. None of it particularly better than what was affordable on the AH at the time we equipped it but at least we did not have to leave the game to go check...

What's worse for me is the idea of the game being "harder" which really means increasing the likely hood that you are going to die from NIL to something closer to FREQUENTLY just makes me think how unappetizing it is to introduce any sort of delay or trouble into the game. It is annoying enough that I have to port back to town to empty my bags but having to go back to town because I was dead and pay some of this gold I am trying to grind to fix the stuff I am wearing seems double unappetizing.

I got Diablo3 included with my WoW annual pass and I have to say that my basic plan for the next week is to be sure I get the valor points, LFRs, and DS10's I need to keep my toons current. If I come up with some spare time I may play Diablo3 a little bit...

The Daily Bleven -- May 1

I just watched the new trailer for Dark Knight Rises, and I have to admit that I liked the hell out of it. It immediately made me wonder who would win the box office race between it and the Avengers. But, truthfully, which ever one wins, we all win as the viewing audience. The big loser will be Warner Brothers, because they'll be tasked with finding a director to replace Nolan for future Batman movies. Good luck with that. That said, I really hope that the inclusion of Catwoman doesn't screw up the movie.

The time is upon us, and I'll be going to see a special preview of the Avengers tomorrow night. With that finally out of the way, I'll be able to focus all of my desire on Starhawk.

Due to the overwhelmingly positive response to the Hulk in the aforementioned Avengers movie, there is talk that there may be another solo Hulk movie in the works. To tell the truth, I kind of hope not. Let's just let the Hulk be an awesome part of something bigger, rather than the main attraction. At least, that's how I feel before seeing the Avengers.

A new trailer was released for Metal Gear Rising, and I don't know what to think. Kotaku said it looked like a bad acid trip, but I think it's even worse. Wait and see, I guess.

Speaking of Kotaku, they've reported that Dead Or Alive 5 will feature see through shirts. I remember my first time playing the first DOA, and turning the boob jiggle all the way up; the fact that this was even an option was amazing. In short, it was hilarious and awesome. Good to see (I guess) that Team Ninja is still spending so much time taking care of the digital boobies. Or maybe it's creepy...I can't seem to decide.

Skyrim's Dawnguard dlc will be coming out this summer. Looks like I'll have even more fun when I finally break down and buy Skyrim.

In Starhawk news, beta testers will be getting a cosmetic perk in the form of a glowing gold hand. Also, beta testers who were also Warhawk players will get the Warhawk paint set for vehicles which is exactly what it sounds like. Dylan Jobe has stated that these items will never be re-released or sold, so this is a one time good deal. No word yet on how these gifts will be distributed. Needless to say, this is pretty cool.

The Daily Bleven --April 24

The PS Vita will be getting Skype video and voice calling later today along with the regularly scheduled PSN update. I don't think that's going to sell any systems for Sony, but I guess it's a nice feature for people who already have or plan to get a PS Vita.

I used to be a big reader of Top Cow comics back in the day, so when I found the Artifacts miniseries on sale, I jumped on it, because it was supposed to be a good jumping-on point for new or lapsed readers. Here's the deal: it is bad. The art isn't great, the writing is so-so, and the whole story is just a thinly veiled universe reboot. The worst part has to be the editing, though. The editor is supposed to look over a story, make sure it makes sense, and make sure it flows. Comics are a visual medium, and by all rights, you should be able to look at only the art, and get a decent idea of what's going on. Not nearly the case with Artifacts, because the artist makes nearly everyone look identical. I actually had to re-read pages once I realized that there were two separate characters talking. I don't know, maybe what came after Artifacts was great, but Artifacts itself was terrible.

A new G.I. Joe: Retaliation trailer hit the web today, and it still looks good, but there is little chance that I'll see it in a theater since the last movie stank so bad. Maybe some good reviews will change my mind.

There's apparently an 8th Avengers clip online, and I have no idea how that looks because I refuse to view it. I'm all for advertising a movie, but 8 clips and 5 trailers just spoil too much in my opinion. That said, I'll be first in line to see the actual movie.

Speaking of trailers and the Avengers, there will supposedly be a new Dark Knight Rises trailer playing in front of the Avengers. Seeing as how I've only seen one other trailer for the new Batman movie, I approve watching this new one.

Sin City: A Dame To Kill For has started filming. Awesome.

James Cameron and Google execs are backing a company called Planetary Resources located in Bellevue, Washington. This company plans to start mining FRIGGIN ASTEROIDS in as little as four years. Where do I sign up?

Sony released a new trailer for Sorcery today, and that game continues to look good. On May 22nd, it looks like I'll finally have a use for the peripheral that I bought a year ago. Speaking of which, since Move is required, I wonder if Sorcery will have a major impact on Moves sold. For Sony's sake, I hope so.