YES! After much intense studying, dedication, determination, and hard damn work I’ve completed my finals and now await the final semester grades which should be available online on May 6th 2008. In the meantime I will be kicking back and enjoying actual days off from work without studying, school project deadlines, or late night studying; instead, to replace the school schedule will be gaming with the greatness which is GTA IV!

So, if there are any Xbox360 GTA fans hit me up with a friend request on 360!

Either they are just ultimately testing the strong willed or being entirely cruel and heartless…

Finals are all this week and lo and behold what releases tomorrow? GTA IV! I will strive for excellence on my studies, but as any logical fellow gamer knows GTA IV is going to take over all free time and allow for some mayhem. Here’s to all us loyal gamers awaiting the midnight hour…. tick tock tick tock.

Ohh, Mr. eDigital (Eric McGregor) please prepare yourself for total pimpage during the late hours, because yes I will be owning your ass online!

As some may attest they will clearly know just what next Tuesday or even Midnight will bestow upon millions of people worldwide! GTA IV… the game that has to be the most anticipated greatness or thugness… to hit consoles this year. Are you excited and foaming out your mouth to play? I am looking forward to it, I just hope online is immensely satisfying.

I ultimately do not know whom or what authoritative figure made this call, but my gamer-tag was banned and I’ve owned it for several years; hell, I have even been a proud XBL member since the original Ghost Recon on the Xbox! I sincerely can’t believe that when I go to sign in I am presented with some whacked messaged that my gamer-tag is not in accordance with their policies. Then it offers for me to change it and then the Xbox360 loops in a sequence telling me I can’t change my gamer-tag unless I am signed into LIVE, but I can’t because my gamer-tag is banned… freaking awesome Micro Soft!

What is most puzzling is that if my gamer-tag, XboxDruggie, was out of accordance this entire time why is it only now, years after registering that it is banned? Especially without any warning or even course of action within a timed manner. Just cut me off from the service I’ve paid for upfront.

I really hope there is an amazing explanation because I plan on emailing and calling whatever depart head managers I must to have this explained as to “how” it is out of their accordance of policy!

Also, Mr. Major Nelson, if you happen to read this please enlighten me to this tragedy!

Were you playing a great game of Halo, only to have your Xbox 360 crash on you right in the middle of game play!? Well I’ve had this happen to me, and it was one of the most frustrating things! If you’re a hardcore gamer and you’re reading this article, most likely you are all too familiar with this.

Microsoft offers to fix your Xbox 360 if you ship it to them, but if your console is no longer under warranty, guess who’ll be paying for it!? Personally, I couldn’t think of a worse thing then to send my Xbox 360 away for many weeks or even months! That’s valuable gaming time I’m missing, not to mention that there have been many cases where an owner gets his/her system back, only to find that the console STILL crashes! That’s just not acceptable.

Luckily, there are actually a few things you can do to that may help to fix your console:

The first thing you can do is to make sure that your Xbox 360 has space to breathe. What I mean by this is to make sure that your console is far away from any heat vents or heaters that may increase the temperature of the system. Also, make sure there is nothing blocking the air intake vents on the console. The console already runs very hot to the touch, so making sure that it is well ventilated will help to cool it down, and many times can fix the problems people have with their systems crashing.

Another thing you can try is to grab a small fan or even something like a hair dryer that has a cold setting, and aim it at the vents on the side of the Xbox 360. This can not only help to cool the console, but also remove any dust that surrounds the important computer chips inside.

If neither of these things work, there are actually step-by-step, easy to follow guides all about Xbox 360 fixes.

Click HERE For The Best Guide On How To Fix The Xbox 360 Yourself

2 final days of waiting stand in our way! Though it may seem like an eternal wait… it will pass the time very quickly with some of these ideas:

1) Run to you nearest GameStop and pray you can still pre-order a regular edition… (if you were hard headed not to already)
2) Practice your ass off in some Halo 2 multiplayer
3) Play through Halo and Halo 2 again

Add some of your own in the comments if anyone feels so enticed to!

This contest will literally astound you! Sponsored and offered by Xbox 360 Fanboy:

50″ Plasma 1080P TV
Xbox 360 Elite
Bose Surround System

Talk about an amazing god-like set-up! I could game in style with that goodness! Truthfully, if I was ever so lucky to be “The One” to win that prize package I just might fall out in a coma!

After a long summer of no classes Fall is here and so is the Fall term for college! I’m so ready for another great semester of expanding my brain and knowledge. Just more college credit hours to go toward my major in education; as well as, building a solid foundation for my future! The only downside of today is…. Bioshock releases for the 360 and PC! So, I’ll just have to wait until I get home this after noon to play; although, I may even have to wait until 9PM when my sweetheart gets back from her class, because she too wanted to play through the game with me!

Life is good for those whom try!

I’m quite lucky as I was sold on the Crackdown game; yet, not only for the fact of the Halo 3 Beta, but also because the game seemed to offer up a slew of goodness from what I had read. Well… Bungie had confirmed a release day for the Halo 3 Beta, May 16th! It’s been 11 days since the release and I’ve practically played everyday from the 16th until today. That alone lends to proof that it is still as addictive as the previous installment, Halo 2. Graphics have taken a huge leap forward; I just can’t fathom the reasoning for how anyone can substantially claim that the graphics aren’t much better than Halo 2! The new toys (Bubble Shield, Power Drainer, Grav Lift, etc…) are quite entertaining along with a new tactic of how to play. The maps are well designed and laid out, and the vehicles are great as well; so, then, what is missing to make it an amazing game that is tipping the charts of excitement?

I believe that it’s really all just boiled down to a sequel with nothing flamboyant enough to push it over the edge like Halo 2 did. That’s not to say it won’t sell a zillion and one copies shortly after release, but I personally feel it is lacking something to give it a great edge over amazingness. I could be wrong and it might just be me… but I’m not impressed.

On the other hand, Shadowrun intrigues me much more and hope the devs have tweaked it immensely since the beta days…
That is one game I can see me playing for a good long while to come. Plus, it arrives next week!

Life can be very good! I have been promoted at my job and I’m moving to another store; although I’m not too happy about the part of moving to another store I am ecstatic about the promotion! Thank you Jeff & Kevin!!! It’s a great feeling to have my hard work being recognized and appreciated.

This past semester which ended on May 4th went great and I pulled away with 2 As and a B! I look forward to enrolling into Fall term for another slew of classes to tackle and leave with great grades.

My sweetheart is still as beautiful and amazing since the first day I laid eyes on her face. She believes in me and her positive beliefs push me through all the hard-ships to succeed and shine through; I love you sweetheart.

Ahh, gaming… what’s new? HALO 3!!! The beta dropped on the lucky people that were in the know of how to get in. crackdown was my ticket. I’m slightly impressed, but I am awaiting some more finalized details of content, total online maps, modes, new features, and video controls. Although it does look much more purtier over Halo 2, it needs to offer more… in my opinion.

I am selling my motorcycle, I know I’m going to miss it badly; and, I’m hunting for a vehicle I can afford and trust for reliability. I wish I could keep my zoom zoom toy, but it’s just not feasible for transportation, it’s great on gas, but when if it rains I can’t show up to work looking like a drowned rat! Hopefully eBay will be my savior in the hunt for a good car that I can depend on.

Well… peace out!

Yea, I would so much like to still be on Rainbow kicking some serious ass, but duty calls and responsibility engages strongly. I will be on after work though! So, come get some!

This is awesome news! It’s been reported of two new maps hitting GoW on the 10th and prior to the new maps a killer update that fixes the main gripes or actually ONLY gripes I have about he game. Though, as morally correct as it is the update also stops buddy ranked games by removing the names from the server list in ranked matches searches.

All details is courtesy of Joystiq: Update & Maps.

Yesterday marked a very interesting day for myself. I started off by only getting roughly 30 minutes of sleep due to my obsessive need for gaming and studying. I’ve been participating in two very unique, I think, Apple Mac communities that are just fun and overall enjoyable. Mac Heist & MacAppaDay, are the computer candies that I indulge with at that moment; both are giving away free software! Although, Mac Heist is doing it with an ingenious twist of puzzles and games online that you decipher.

Halo 3, is there anything else that needs to be said? This game is going to literally going to sweep the gaming community! Halo 2 was mind blowing successful; Halo 3 will only build on that power even farther. I’m not quite sue how well the story was/is for the first two Halo’s, but I did enjoy Halo 2’s untouchable online gaming! I can only imagine how far or what Bungie is cooking up for their final game in the trilogy. Well, I’m sure for anyone that is aware and pretty up 2 date around the gaming community knows Bungie released a 60 second CG trailer and opened up registration for Halo 3 beta! The registration is accessed over at Halo 3.com; as for the trailer can be downloaded via Xbox website or through the Xbox Live Marketplace.

Finally, I took the chance to get that dreaded test that millions of people feel they are so invincible to… HIV/AIDS. I don’t have any inclinations of being positive, just really a reassurance purpose. I recently did a research paper on AIDS and focused on prevention tactics and methods. I had learned a lot of interesting information and took the test myself to see where I stand. My father fell victim to the AIDS epidemic back in 1996 when I was 16; he chose to do drugs so it lead him down his early death bed. So sometime around the 18th I should be able to get my results… it’s nerve racking “not knowing” for certain, but this is the only to know.

I swear it feels like I was just typing up some sort of babble to fill-up my Wordpress database with a post. Though it has already been a full nearly 10 days! I really want to keep daily posts going… my intentions are at least good, right? I’ve thought of posting for future dates… sort of like pre-readiness posts, but I don’t like that plan because it seems faked and non sporadic.

I have no real ground breaking info to spill right now… most recent positive aspect was that I made a 96% on my computer class’s quiz. Aside from he small time quizzes I am blessed with the opportunity to look forward for finals! I’m ready I do believe.

I know what I’d like to talk about… the tensions that have stemmed from online gaming competition. Even I included, because I must be honest with myself, become extremely hostile and vehemently nasty talkative. Is it from that single goal: desire of being the winner? I can vaguely recall younger childhood days when gaming was just simply “fun”! Never the need to impress the world’s leader-boards with some highly insane digits of rank. Then there is this newly adapted achievement system that eggs gamers on to push even harder. Must it all be about who is really the best? What happened to just enjoying the glory of art in the game designs and stories themselves? Naturally I don’t think anyone appreciates losing, but it seems to have gotten significantly out of control within online regards. Racial remarks are spewed out without any remorse, shallow and possible sincere life threats are nastily spoken across the voice chat, and even creative name calling towards elders and children of all ages; there is zero respect for others online. I even seem to lose control frequently to partake in the charades of trash talking. After all is said and done I sit back and think damn… I stoop to some low levels to not hold my integrity at a higher level.

I don’t agree with games, their very self, make people violent, but I am starting to consider that the competition strain within games can make people mad. How can we regenerate that forgotten passion for games that held us all bewildered with joy and fun once again? Appreciating what games offer and not focusing on being #1 is where we all need to start.

Can anyone relate to such moments or turmoil while online? Be honest with yourself, because I hear it all the time online…. don’t play some saint you are not.

Tensions have been peaking recently with one main dilemma — Insurance company, with corporate crap, that irks me; it’s just a load of games and truly not in the victims’ best interest of an outcome. So it seems to me…

job…. Job… and JOB!
Yes, I have to apply myself in “good faith” for the insurance company; proving my lack of abilities due to my injury from work last year. I feel like a questioned criminal; and, I’m the one suffering with pain. Wonderful corporate controlled world we live in…

School is Cool!
English Composition research appear date gaining some very quick speed on me; I will be working grudgingly on this over the up coming weekend. I know that my topic of choice is broad enough it’s just a mater of piecing it all together in a fashionable and understandable manner.

Games!
Yes I do enjoy my gaming and I hope to be 80 years old one day with a controller stuck in my hands, fragging it up. Gears of War released recently and I’m hooked on this next-gen digital drug! The campaign is griping, online is addicting, and overall it just blows anything away! EPIC did an amazing job with this game… and all I do, besides drop my jaw and drool, is contemplate if games can get better than this??? Time will tell.

Love! Romance for Sweetheart!
Yes, my baby girl, Erin, is my truly and loving one. I constantly dream of us in our house, kids, everything that lovers do! This woman is simply amazing to me; she brings so much joy and happiness into my heart. I’m doing my best to love, please, and keep her so happy. I really look forward to the days when we graduate and have degrees; then, we can obtain respectable jobs in good fields. Christmas is going to be lonely without her this year; hopefully it’ll only be our only Christmas apart. She better stay warm and safe.

To CliffyB and Astounding Team,

This game is undeniably wickedly kick ass! This game delivers sincerely with well thought execution. Although I haven’t yet beaten the game’s campaign I will stake pride in saying, “I will”; and, that is something that I never did for for Halo. Halo couldn’t hold my attention as well as GoW does. No, I’m not trying to jump on any bandwagon with the comparisons of Halo and GoW, but it’s a given. I’m glad to say that GoW just might have me sell my Halo 2 now!

Thanks again for a great game and PLEASE be generous to your fans by keeping DLC coming. Here is a simple list of features to consider also:

1. Remove “‘X’ Weapon Taken” from opposite team… (sort of gives positions away)
2. SQUADS! Microsoft needs to chill with the restrictions because this game NEEDS SQUADS!
3. Ability to jump over obstacles w/o having to cover first
4. Expand Host Options to change game type after room is created… (from Warzone to Execution)
5. Voice Issue when people join and you can’t hear them talking…
6. In-Game voice indicator from teammates… (know who is talking without pushing LB)

These are just suggestions that I hope are being considered or even soon to be implemented with a patch. The more options the more covered people’s gaming styles will be.

Rock on EPIC… ROCK THE FUCK ON!

Sincerely I don’t think, other than name alone ” Playstation”, Sony’s PS3 has anything great to offer this new generation of gaming. I try to stay as up-2-date on all aspects of technology and what is hot; I’m not quite sure out of the three systems (Xbox 360, PS3, or Wii) which has the “best: hardware straight up. I’m quite sure it isn’t Wii, and it is between the PS3 and Xbox 360, now though, how well developers can utilize the hardware is another story.

I’ve owned a 360 since launch and have had some bumps with the initial release, but since then been running smoothly and easily. I even stream media to my Xbox360 from my Apple G4! With 360 nearing the 1^st year anniversary, Xbox Live will host HD movies, TV and other great stuff to their already proven Xbox Live Marketplace. Beyond simple download-able content is the games, games, and more GAMES! Oblivion, Splinter Cell: Double Agent, Gears of War, Saints Row, Call of Duty 3…. all amazing in their wn right, others better than some. What does PS3 serve its gamers?

Then, after reading some articles about PS3’s weaknesses about iPod support, console packaging options, or lack of 3rd party titles it all just seems like this launch isn’t, well, ready. Okay, Sony has one good thing, the “Playstation” name, but truthfully that has never wooed me into a purchase of one of their consoles.

All I know is that I’ve been gaming for the past (almost) year with next-gen games with the Xbox360. So, out of this battle who will come out on top, Sony or Microsoft? Nintendo will have its strong fan followers snag up the Wii or even the Wii60 dual console purchasers for the price of one PS3. Sony you don’t impress me, not in the least. I will however provide your company with the $600… only to flip it on eBay with a pretty profit, so thanks for something — a quick dollar.

As simply as I can express it…
I just am blown away by this games take on 3rd person shooting. The camera is brilliant, the action is non-stop, and the game mechanics are spot on. I am truly 110% impressed with this game. I would believe it is very safe to say that this game is a system seller! No, it might not be as respected or known as the Halo series, but it holds its own very well. This game actually entices me to play the single player campaign which Halo couldn’t even do; I’m always more intrigued by online gaming.

I would love to stay and fill you in on all the greatness, but I must be going back to the 360 to mow down some locusts!
GoW (Gears of War) Owns All!

Quite funny how I’m a frequenter of the GameFAQS message boards and roughly 90% of the users have praised this cooling accessory; finding it severely humorous… really. Simply, if ‘know-it-alls‘ would just heed Microsoft’s warnings and keep the console in a well ventilated area, the Xbox 360 would function just fine.

Nyko’s Intercooler may burninate the Xbox 360 - Joystiq

Here you go you Halo freaks! I know this game is going to hit hard once released next year! Hopefully Bungie and Micorsoft can devise a nice flow of tidbits to tide all the faithful fans until this thirs installment the epic series. I never got into the single player story of this game, but there were plenty of dedicated hours in Halo 2’s Xbox Live sessions!

Halo 3 info leaked: new weapons, vehicles, features & Collectors Edition detailed [update 1] - Joystiq