I’m eating my words…. Starcraft II again

August 5th, 2010

So last week I wrote this about my thoughts on the new Starcraft II game.

So anyways, I was at the Pacific Place mall in Downtown Seattle on Saturday and as I walked by the Gamestop in the bottom of the mall I was overtaken by an urge. Before I knew it I was 59.99 + tax poorer and a new owner of a copy of Starcraft II:Wings of Liberty.

I know, I know all the crap I said in that last entry was so anti-Starcraft II but I saw the sign and it had me feeling all nostalgic and I just couldn’t resist. and OMFG the game is AMAZING. This is one impulse buy that I am totally not regretting. I am, however, regretting the lack of sleep trying to get everything done while spending 8 hours a day playing Starcraft while working on this website and doing schoolwork.

Back to the game, Starcraft II heavily emphasizes the story and it is very in depth. 22 missions with full videos after every mission plus deep back stories for most of the characters. I can really see why the game is so expensive and it is worth the money. I will definitely be getting the other two games, or are they expansion packs, when they come out.

As you would have read in that previous entry I am all about the stories! this game was like watching a 20 hour movie it was GREAT!! if I had to rate it I would give it 4.5 stars out of 5. The other day the my comcast internet went out and since Starcraft II requires an internet connection I was screwed. It’s also really annoying when the game constantly pops up with this warning in the lower left corner about connecting to battlenet and turning achievements back on. The worst is when it temporarily loses connection while you are playing. This huge window pops up in the middle of the screen and the game doesn’t stop! Eh, there’s always something…

Oh I almost forgot! Lost Viking is one of the “secrets” of the game I guess. It is pretty easy to find in the corner of the Cantina. It is one of the best top down shooters I have ever played. I wish they had made more levels for it. Basically you play the game, it has three levels, every time you play the game you get the option of starting over at a harder difficulty.  I have only been able to beat the game once. The second time I got b****ed on the third level. No worries if you beat the game and then leave the arcade machine and start over, it repeats at the original difficulty. In my humble opinion the addition of Lost viking is worth an additional 20 dollars at least. In fact, if Blizzard decided to sell this separately with a few more levels added in I wouldn’t think twice about buying it. It is a surprisingly finished product for a secret game within a game.

But anyways, definitely get the game, ignore that other blog entry of mine. Peace out ya’ll.

EDIT:

It seems that I neglected to mention my favorite and least favorite part of the game in this entry. I really LOVE the Lost Viking easter egg in Starcraft 2 I spent hours playing it haha. I even got a bronze achievement for it, yes I know hours to get bronze, I suck. But really it is a treat.

But the most annoying thing is that once you beat the campaign you are instantly punished because you can no longer go back and play lost viking, it’s like after you complete the campaign the Hyperion is gone for good along with the wonderful Lost Viking Arcade machine. So so sad…. luckily I have a save game right before media blitz! haha.

Oh for those of you none Starcraft 2 owners, Media Blitz is the level right before the last 4 missions on Char. No more opportunities to get back to the ship once you land on Char my friends.

Psych!

July 29th, 2010

Man I just got done watching the Psych episode with Freddie Prinze Junior over at hulu.com. And I must say that, that is probably the funniest hour of television I have seen in the last 6 months. I skipped out on psych for a while but now I am back to it, and I am glad to see the Gus’s character, played by Dule Hill, has grown and isn’t just following Shawn Spencer (James Roday) around anymore.

But seriously, after this episode Dule Hill is, at least for now, my favorite actor. His delivery of all the hilarious lines in this episode were perfect. He had me laughing so hard I had to stop and rest my head on my desk. You would never have guessed that Dule Hill became popular from being a serious white house aide on the west wing. He just seems so at home in this comedic role.  But yeah watch the episode, for the most part the show does not build on previous shows so it is fine to just jump in at season 5.

I am REALLY going to miss Hulu when I am in Asia. All the video streaming sites in the US ONLY work in the US. It makes sense since most of the ads on Hulu would be irrelevant to your every day Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese or Cambodian citizen. But Netflix also does not work outside of the US, I can’t get my head around that one but whatever.

The last line of the show is dangerously hilarious, I would not recommend watching it if you have a heart condition.

peace out!

Asia Trip Itinerary

July 28th, 2010

As I sit here listening to Florence + the Machine – Cosmic Love, I have had a thought. Perhaps I should post my itinerary for my upcoming trip to South East Asia, Hong Kong, Beijing, and Shanghai so here it is!

Seattle, USA (SEA)
Seattle International (SEA)
Sun 12 Sep 2010, 1935 hrs (7:35 PM)
Vancouver, Canada (YVR)
Vancouver International Airport
Sun 12 Sep 2010, 2023 hrs (8:23 PM)

Vancouver, Canada (YVR)
Vancouver International Airport
Mon 13 Sep 2010, 0205 hrs (2:05 AM)
Hong Kong (HKG)
Hong Kong International Airport
Tue 14 Sep 2010, 0610 hrs (6:10AM)

Hong Kong (HKG)
Hong Kong International Airport
Tue 14 Sep 2010, 2110 hrs (9:10PM)
Phuket (HKT)
Phuket Airport
Tue 14 Sep 2010, 2340 hrs (11:40PM)

Phuket (HKT)
Phuket Airport
Tue 21 Sep 2010, 1250 hrs (12:50PM)
Bangkok (BKK)
Suvarnabhumi International Airport
Tue 21 Sep 2010, 1410 hrs (12:10PM)

Bangkok (BKK)
Suvarnabhumi International Airport
Mon  27 Sep 2010, 1125 hrs (11:25AM)
Siem Reap, Cambodia (REP)
Siem Reap International Airport
Mon  27 Sep 2010, 1235 hrs (12:35AM)

Siem Reap, Cambodia (REP)
Siem Reap International Airport
Thu 30 Sep 2010, 1330 hrs (1:30PM)
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (SGN)
Ho Chi Minh City Airport
Thu 30 Sep 2010, 1430 hrs (2:30PM)

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (SGN)
Ho Chi Minh City Airport
Mon 04 Oct 2010, 1200 hrs ( 12:00PM)
Danang, Vietnam (DAD)
Da Nang International Airport
Mon 04 Oct 2010, 1310 hrs (1:10PM)

Danang, Vietnam (DAD)
Da Nang International Airport
Wed 06 Oct 2010, 1420 hrs (2:20PM)
Hanoi, Vietnam (HAN)
Noi Bai International Airport
Wed 06 Oct 2010, 1530 hrs (3:30PM)

Hanoi, Vietnam (HAN)
Noi Bai International Airport
Wed 10 Oct 2010, 1010 hrs (10:10AM)
Beijing, China (PEK)
Beijing Capital International Airport
Sun 10 Oct 2010, 1445 hrs (2:45PM)

From Beijing we will be taking a train south down to Shanghai for the World Expo. After the World Expo we will take a train back Southeast to Hong Kong.

Hong Kong, China (HKG)
Hong Kong International Airport
Thu 30 Dec 2010, 1810 hrs (6:10PM)
Vancouver, Canada (YVR)
Vancouver International Airport
Thu 30 Dec 2010, 1330 hrs (1:30PM)

Vancouver, Canada (YVR)
Vancouver International Airport
Thu 30 Dec, 2010, 1500 hrs (3:00PM)
Seattle, USA (SEA)
Seattle International Airport (SEA)
Sun 31 Dec 2010, 1550 hrs (3:50PM)

There you have it. That is where me and my girlfriend will be traveling in the fall. I am almost done gathering all the stuff that I need for the trip and will start practicing my backpack packing! Aren’t you jealous!

Man this song is AMAZING it makes me feel like I can do anything! this Florence + the Machine lady/group/whatever it is, is amazing. At least they are in this song. Half the song she is right on the border between yelling and singing it is amazing to listen to. Go ahead and make fun of me if you must but it is one of the few songs that strike a chord in my brain. anyways enjoy the map I will work on creating a google maps page. But for now I will get back to working on this events calendar.

Peace.