grind your soul

Is the Dynasty Mode anything like NHL 2004? ie: - are you able to view injuries throughout the league, as well as the length of time the player is expected to be out? - is there a file that tracks the trades/waiver claims/releasings/free agent signings that have gone on throughout the league during the year? - is the AAA/AA/A leagues decent and playable, and is the interaction between the three + the majors decent? All of the stuff like this was NOT in NHL 2004's Dynasty Mode, which was incredibly disappointing. I've heard good stuff about this one, but I need to figure out if it's worth $60CDN.

I think the topic title says it all. I'm more into the team management then anything else, which you should keep in mind when recommending one or the other. Gameplay is, of course, a big part of what I want, too [although having the game being incredibly difficult for only a part-time baseball fan to play would suck]. Soo.. which has the better Dynasty Mode, and is the loser's mode good, too? which has better gameplay, and how good is the other's gameplay? How much would you pay for either game? Any help is muchos appreciated. B)

NHL 2004's Dynasty Mode is fucking terrible. It was pretty much the only reason I bought the game, and I was incredibly let down. I still play it a lot, though. The joy of having Wade Belak with 30 goal seasons, and Ric Jackman leading the team in points [as a defenceman!] is just too good to pass up.

Eh. My lines are full of guys with no stamina who play 20 minutes a night. Ric Jackman played 33 minutes and then got injured, but I PLAYED HIM THE NEXT GAME ANYWAY. He's now out for a year.

The Toronto Sun gave it five stars. And then proceeded to list all of the reasons why it sucked in the rest of the review, while still glowing over the awesomeness. It was the weirdest review I've ever read.

The Hives are known well here, as are Funeral for a Friend. I've heard of all of those bands, but - I don't know how popular they are over here.

This year? Uhh.. Off-hand, I can think of.. Every Time I Die [9/10 and 9/10] w/ Black Dahlia Murder [9/10 and 9/10] w/ As I Lay Dying [7/10 and 8/10] w/ Scarlet [5/10 and 6/10] From Autumn to Ashes [5/10 and skipped them the second night] w/ hopesfall [7/10 and 6/10] w/ Most Precious Blood [8/10 and 10/10] Bleeding Through [7/10 and 6/10] w/ Comeback Kid [7/10 and 5/10] w/ Between the Buried and Me [9/10 and 10/10] w/ She Kills [5/10 and 4/10] God Forbid [6/10] w/ Walls of Jericho [8/10] w/ Nora [7/10] Evergreen Terrace [7/10] w/ On Broken Wings [7/10] w/ Embrace Today [7/10] Dillinger Escape Plan [9/10] w/ The Locust [8/10] I'm sure there were more, I just can't be assed to remember them right now. I've seen a TON of local shows, with The End, Courtesy Blush, Abandoned Hearts Club, Arkata, Mare, and other such bands - but they don't count. COMING UP: May 31 - In Flames, Killswitch Engage, As I Lay Dying June 8/9/10 - Burnt by the Sun, Unearth July 12 - Remembering Never, Twelve Tribes, someone else July 6/7 - DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN!!! July [forget] - HELL FUCKING FEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And that's all I can think of. EHHHH.

Talena was all looks, and WHAT LOOKS THEY WERE. She literally learned the bass as they recorded the CD and went on tour for it. Kittie is incredibly basic, and widespread rumours of them NOT EVEN WRITING THEIR OWN SONGS are still going around. Fallon was the most talented in the band, but with the new guitarist and bassist, maybe some more talent has arrived. Mercedes still sucks at drums, though. No stamina. Hmm. I think I have a copy of Spit. First one to PM their address and send me $3 for shipping will get it.

The End [Canadian metalcore] Courtesy Blush [touring Europe this summer - my ex-girlfriend's new boyfriend is in this band, so please - you English folk, go see them on tour, and BEAT THE FUCK OUT OF THE DRUMMER! Muchos fun shall result] Just a note to GGWAB: alexisonfire and Billy Talent suck. They only are where they are because they suck producer dick, not because they're particularly talented [well, not because they're the most talented groups in that style of music, anyway - I guess they have talent, AOF moreso]. The end.

Renberg and Reichel were fucking terrible in Toronto. Renberg played 20 games on the top line with Sundin and Roberts, and generated about 4 points [no exageration] during that timespan. He did precisely DICK ALL the rest of the year. Reichel had a decent year, even though paying him what we paid him is just incredibly retarded. He was a decent defensive player, but sucked a dick offensively. He showed some balls in the corners and wasn't afraid to take/give a hit - then again, playing on a line with Tucker and Domi will do that to you. He still sucks and isn't worth what we paid him, not even half of that.

SAY THANK YOU, SEAN. SAY IT.

The game is hard as fuck to get around in, especially if you haven't played CM before. To whoever said "It's just a copy of CM with different stats", um, well - the interface and engine are the same as CM. The actions of players/coaches, and in-game stuff are completely different. But the engine is the same as CM. Mostly everything will be fixed, as this beta version is actually quite old, apparently. There have been numerous updates since. Having the coach do your duties is a terrible thing, especially in pre-season. The coach makes horrible line combinations, and sends down regular players to the farm, making them eligible for waivers [which means you'll probably lose them]. The beta version isn't so impressive, and certain things will suck terribly in the full version, but it does have me frothing at the mouth for the full version. NOW NOW NOWWWW/ PS - for those who want a direct download, as opposed to a BitTorrent d/l: http://www.edinburgh-capitals.com/downloads/ehmbetademo.exe

I AM SO FUCKING STOKED FOR THIS BETA DEMO. EHM BABY! YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHH! *fucks off of EWB to play*

What's your personal favourite pick for the best title of an album/albums? I've gotta go with two: 1] Justin Timberlake's "Justified". I don't know why, but this title is the SHIT. There's just something uber-awesome about it. I was blown away that such a mediocre artist had such a good name for a CD. 2] Ed Gein's "It's a Shame That a Family Can Be Torn Apart by Something as Simple as a Pack of Wild Dogs" Sheer brilliance. Annnnd.. go!

In Canada, we already have a gay network. I think it's called PRIDE or something like that.

So do a lot of others. But emo is a very broad category. Bands like Poison the Well are considered emo/screamo, even though their music is much heavier and vicious than bands like FATA and Boysnightout. I personally don't care what you call a band, as long as they sound good. And FATA was good before they released "The Fiction We Live", which was just a fucking terrible, terrible CD.

Add "Losing My Grip" by Avril Lavigne to my list. It's weird seeing the bands people consider to be "bad" these days. I don't like Tool, but they're not a "bad" band. They just don't appeal to me. Lamb of God is NOT A BAD BAND TRISTY I WILL KEEL J00!!!

The RUNDOWN. Fucking bad-ass. 7.5/10

Eh, NHL in the States is going to suck big time next year. ESPN trying to cut their schedule in half and NBC not broadcasting that many games = no hockey for Yanks. Fortunately, I'm Canadian and thus can live and breathe hockey.

blink-182 - Dammit, Josie, and Man Overboard Linkin Park - Crawling Disturbed - Stupify d12 - Fight Music Pink - Most Girls Edit: blink-182 - Stay Together For the Kids Stone Temple Pilots - Interstate Love Song Britney Spears - Toxic That's all I can think of off the top of my head.

California, Gracefully by Every Time I Die.

Ozzfest will be better this year, with some actual decent bands playing it, but it still won't be worth what they're charging for it. Sabbath will sell it the fuck out, though.

Poison the Well - Tear From the Red Poison the Well - You Come Before You As I Lay Dying - Frail Words Collapse Lamb of God - New American Gospel Black Dahlia Murder - Unhallowed Most Precious Blood - Nothing in Vain silverchair - Neon Ballroom Foo Fighters - The Colour and the Shape Nirvana - Nevermind

McCabe had a better season than Pronger, Brewer, and Regehr. His +/- compared to the other two shows that he is NOT a defensive liability, as you claim. He may be a bit over-rated by some, but he had an outstanding year, and was one of the top five defencemen in the NHL, easily. Pronger has more experience than McCabe, which is fine for his inclusion. Redden had about as good of a season as McCabe, which is fine. I don't understand how Brewer and Regehr got chosen over him, though. McCabe is also an incredibly steady performer. He played steadily underpar last year [6 goals, 30 assists or something], and he played steadily amazing this year [53 points, I believe, second in NHL d-man scoring]. McCabe had two absolutely terrible play-off games, which is probably the top reason for his exclusion. He choked in two high-impact games and it cost his team dearly. Buuuut, he's not there now, and knowing his luck, he'll be passed over again, should any of the already-named defenders not be able to participate.

Hell yeah! My boy Nieminen with the backbreaker! The Smilin' Fin does it again!!!