Reddaye

With the win last night we now draft tenth overall, instead of something like seventh. As much as I like seeing the team do well, and love watching CuJo in his old form...dropping down the draft like this is rather alarming.

Bioware (Edmonton) will be showing off their upcoming fantasy RPG Dragon Age: Origins (360, PS3, PC). Haven't heard anything about info on Mass Effect 2, but I doubt we'll hear anything until after Dragon Age comes out this fall.

According to the game I'm around 20% finished now, and I'm still having a blast. Honestly I'd like to see them add more depth to the drug dealing activity and use it for the next console GTA. Hopefully with more things to spend your money on (like business, gang upgrades, etc). Nice to see rampages make a return too. Nothing beats running through the streets with a chainsaw, hacking gang members up while the clock runs down. This is what always made GTA the most fun for me: over the top antics. Chinatown Wars seems to blend that together with a bit of semi-realism like in IV. Hits a good balance IMO.

That's a good theory Clawson...about the language and such. That kind of thing must be tough, even when you've got other guys on the team who can help you out. All things considered we've got ourselves a good line with Poni, Grabo, and Kulemin. Depending on how well we do in the college/NHL free agent market, draft, and how things develop we've got a line that at it's worst could easily fit in as the 2nd forward unit. Assuming they can continue to play well together. Judging by how terrible the Habs were, a blind monkey and two slabs of steak could score on them.

Looking at last night's game I'm suddenly more interested in Kulemin. Perhaps his woman shitting that kid out has unlocked his potential some how? The guy was aggressive and being involved with the play instead of hanging back. Hopefully he can keep up the play from now on.

Nothing feels better than a win over the Habs. Would have been even better if Florida had won their game tonight.

I've played through a bit more of it, probably four or five missions into it right now. I think the total number of missions is seventy or so. Hot wiring cars using the stylus is absolutely awesome. It seems like such a small thing but it really adds a new dimension to the experience, giving you something extra that the console and PSP versions can't. So far there seems to be three different ways to do it, each of them being completely different and offering their own challenges. The different models of cars/bikes all handle and react differently when they hit things/people. The doors fly open when you hit things, the hood can come flying off. Surprising how much they've managed to cram into this sucker.

When I first heard they were bringing Grand Theft Auto to the DS, I just laughed and expected it to suck. Didn't bother paying anymore attention to it until recently. Watching some previews and reading the reviews it actually seemed to be pretty promising. So I went in to EB Games and used some of my credit to pick it up... ...and HOLY FUCK THIS GAME ROCKS! I'm not all that far into it, but I'm already LOVING IT! The comic book-esque visuals are excellent, and easy to see. Controls are tight and well designed, touch screen is used in creative and fun ways. Pretty sharp writing, with the comic book type presentation during the cut scenes. Really, I'm in shock at how enjoyable this sucker is. It's actually pulling me away from the kick ass Retro Game Challenge for DS I bought earlier in the month. Anyone else playing this? Or thinking of picking it up?

The Band of Misfit Toys, as I like to call the Leafs right now, continue to plug along picking up wins. It was one wild game to watch, that's for sure. Congratulations must go out to Martin Brodeur for such a huge night. To me tying the record is a bigger deal than him surpassing it. Major kudos to Marty, he's a class act all the way.

I'm not sure what Sony is making on PS3s now to be honest. Good point about Microsoft, should have thought of that myself. EDIT: Probably should have mentioned this was a UK thing in the topic title.

Computer & Videogames So, why aren't Sony and Microsoft raising prices because of the economic situation? Aren't Nintendo using last generation technology to build the Wii? You'd almost think that would make it less of a problem for them.

Here's hoping they make the game a bit more like System Shock 2 this time around. Either way I'm pumped though.

Did he actually just score?!

Just imagine where we'd be if we had consistent goaltending all year.

A bush league coach that has taken a team with considerably less talent than the Sens have and had them sit higher in the standings? Sens fans are so cute. Anyways I caught the highlights and like Toe said, you can tell we're lacking that finishing touch when it comes to scoring. CuJo, from what I saw, had one hell of a game. The one Alfredsson goal probably should have been stopped, but the other was a tough deflection in front. He even made a wild looking diving save (although I think it hit the post). I wouldn't be surprised if the Sens passed us in the standings. With our lack of goal scoring forwards we're going to be hurting pretty bad.

The team is in fifth place, just won a game, and they fire the coach? Yeah... No go on the game tonight...fucking blackouts.

I've wondered that myself...but every single Sens home game is blacked out. Something about "this game is unavailable in your region." Not that I really care anyways. When they're not playing the Leafs I couldn't care less if they black the Sens out or not honestly. I'll have to try the game tonight, maybe it'll come in.

According to Leafs Lunch: Mike Van Ryn is out for the rest of the season with a torn MCL. He won't need serious surgery, and will rehab it over the summer. This guy has turned into the new Cola. Jonas Frogren going for an MRI soon, and will likely be down for the rest of the season as well. On a personal note I won't be able to see the Leafs versus the Sens tonight. Local blackout of all Sens games on NHL Center Ice. Normally it wouldn't bother me...but this time it bites me in the ass.

I don't recall saying we should bring Nik back for 4-5 million a season. In fact I'm glad we traded him considering that's how much he wanted. I like the guy, but I wouldn't bring him back for that much. 2.5 to 3 million tops. Cammalleri would be a good pick up, but not for Iginla money like the rumors are saying he wants. He's having a career year this season, but look at who he's been playing with. Who do we have on our roster right now to make him as effective a player as he's been in Calgary? When you're paying someone an Iginla like salary I'd be expecting a high output. That being said, if Cammy wanted less money I'd say we should gobble him up for sure. With the cap dropping during the 10/11 season, we really need to watch salaries. I'd like to see Bouwmeester, but it'll never happen. If he doesn't want to be in Florida because they can't compete, why would be want to come here? We probably won't be ready to seriously compete for at least three to four years. All IMO, of course. EDIT: Stralman and Oreskovic have both been called up from the Marlies. I'm excited to finally see Oreskovic...the guy supposedly hits like a freight train from what I've heard.

I think that was the overall problem anyways, wasn't it? Nik wanted like four million a season for his extension and Burke wouldn't pay it? That's what I remember hearing anyways. Similar situation with Dominic Moore, who's becoming popular in Buffalo for his work ethic and skill.

I think the loss of two of our bigger offensive pieces reared it's ugly head last night. I know Roloson has been on a tear this season (and good for him, I like Rollie) but we should have been able to get at least one more goal. I like how every game Roloson loses his stick, and sometimes his mask. Tough to see your team out work the opposition and still not get the win. Also, Ben Ondrus needs to stop with the fighting...it was nice the first game he did it, but now he's just over doing it. I like that the guy has spunk, but he's not much of a fighter. Glad to hear Nik is getting along well in New York. He'll now suddenly become a worthwhile player in the eyes of non Leafs fans just because he's on a different roster. I hope he does well, and would like to see him back someday.

I guess I'm getting the feeling that people (who I talked with) went into the movie expecting it to be your typical action packed comic book movie. Of course Watchmen isn't exactly action packed (unless something was changed) so they left disappointed. That, and I keep hearing Dr. Manhattan's dick is hanging out for most of the movie. Maybe that bothered a few people.

I haven't had a chance to see this yet, and maybe won't at all depending on how long it stays in theaters here. So who here HASN'T read the book, yet enjoyed the film? Everyone I talk to has hated the movie but none of them read the book beforehand. I'm getting the impression the book's multilayered plot may be a bit too much to try and contain in a movie? I'm even seeing reviews that go on about how the movie is actually meant to be homoerotic? What the fuck happened? Did Snyder make some massive changes, or are some people just completely fucking crazy?

This year was supposedly a 'transition' year for 2k hockey. A new team has taken on the work load, scrapped the old code, and started to rebuild. - Firstly they tried to copy EA's skill stick system and it just doesn't work. It's slow and unresponsive, and honestly pales in comparison to the style they used in 2k8, which was a hybrid of using the right stick to stick handle, while you used the bumpers and triggers to pass and shoot. - There are a lot of glitches that cause the Franchise mode to freeze, especially if you use the trade finding feature. - All Free Agents ranked above 80 overall are automatically erased from the database the moment you start a new Franchise. - Obviously the visuals are lacking, although they always have been. This year though the players look like they have no padding on at all. - AI suffers from trying to drive through the middle nine times out of ten. No where near the level of AI in the previous games in terms of intelligence and quality. - Pinning against the boards is now automatic, instead of player controlled. - No patch has been, or will be released to fix the issues. - No roster updates. None coming. Those are the things that quickly come to mind. They basically had six months to make a hockey game from scratch and you can feel it. 2k has led the way with simulation hockey on consoles for years, but this year they've dropped the ball and taken a step backwards. NHL 2k8 still remains, in my opinion, the best hockey game you can buy. Since it has quite a learning curve, which turned some people off, 2k decided to strip everything back and try to make it more user friendly. The only thing is that they haven't even done that right. It feels half finished and rushed while NHL 09, despite it'd flaws, shows love and refinement.

Well basically when you go to take the draw you pull the right stick in the opposite direction of the player's hand (left handed player you'd pull right, right hand you pull left) to draw back your stick back. When the puck drops you press the stick in the other direction to try and swat the puck back to your defensemen. If you timed it right, and the player has enough skill you can cleanly win the draw. If your timing is off both players will lock together and you'll have to wiggle the right right to try and win by kicking the puck back with your skate. At that point your wingers can come in and try and get the puck and make it a winger win. Players can be thrown out of the circle if you move your stick too soon. If you mess it up two times a winger will have to come in and take the draw instead. It sounds more complicated than it actually is, but it looks and feels completely authentic. Even forces you to mix your centers between lefties and righties if possible. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YWdzAKvlHQ As far as fighting goes, 2k9 has basically nailed it. 2k8 had a really good fighting system, but 2k9 managed to do it better. Maybe the only thing 2k9 did better at all, aside from puck physics. It's the Wii version, but the fights all look the same. Just the controls are different (obviously). 2k has been light years ahead of EA when it comes to realistic hockey. Too bad 2k9 is basically a total disaster. 09 is the superior game by far, even with it's flaws.