More Smackdown and Some Catching Up

11.04.2003

The webserver was down for a good chunk of yesterday, so I had a good excuse to put off posting anything.

After sneaking in a weekend of playing more of Smackdown, I've found that most of the story lines revolve around the world chamionship. I'm in the 2nd season of play and have seen 2 spots so far where the story line could start repeating if I had made the same decision as before (such as forming a faction). Not that uncommon from the other games, but it would be nice to see the stories spread around a little. I'm about to have to try and lose the belts I've accumulated (last night I went from being the US/World/World Tag Team champion to just the lowly Tag Team champion) so I can switch shows and see if the Raw storylines are any different. I don't think they are, but it's one of those things I've got to check.

Work has also been keeping me busy. For the first time in almost 2 years, I now have a work-provided computer (mainly because installing the upgrade version of XP doesn't quite get everything to working - like printers!). I've spent the last couple of days copying apps from the old computer to the new one. It's amazing what all you come to use after years of programming. Even more odd is transferring everything over and then saying "ok, what did I forget?" With any luck, anything I've forgotten can be easily downloaded.

But even downloading and getting everything installed isn't the end of it. I've been a little shocked at how many things I customize. Paint Shop Pro - one of those programs I've been using for almost as long as I remember, has tons of customizations.Tweaked toolbars, custom imported brushes and tubes (which I just remembered are still on the other computer!). Even after loading it, I've still go tto go through and set it up like I remember it, or else I'll be fighting and cursing it each time I use it.

The new computer better kick some ass to be putting me through all of this!

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NWA-TNA Video Game?

10.31.2003

Last night I ended up taking a break from playing Smackdown and settled in for some couch potato, tv watching fun. Yes, I know, I know. I'm shocked about it all too.

I get a lot of search engine hits from people looking for NWA-TNA info. Kind of fitting in for this weeks theme of me spending way too much time playing games, Jarretts group says that there is no wrestling game from EA on the way. Of course, there's plenty of other companies that could provide a wrestling game for them.

Makes me wish my wrestling game (now finishing up its second year of pre-development requirements) was ready.

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Smackdown 5 - Day Two

10.30.2003

I managed to get more sleep yesterday. I limited myself to only playing Smackdown until 9:45 last night (even though I started trying to put the controller down around 8:00). Even on the easy setting, I still manage to get my butt whooped every once in a while, but that's part of why I like the game. The easy mode is good for learning, but it's not so easy that you can always breeze through everything. Of course,the way the career mode lets you build up states, I'm guessing that breezing through the easy mode is an eventuality.

Another day of playing has shown me more things that I like about the game. All the message boards I read before the release of the game were excited because it was going to feature the Elimination Chamber. I got to play in the elimination chamber last night, and I've got to admit it was pretty cool. The story mode intrigues me more and more. The role playing aspect (such as remembering you're a heel) is done really well, although sometimes I'm not sure what to do. For example, I had been feuding with the Undertaker, and had gotten extra experience for creating a "strong rivalry" with him, but at one point he offers to teach me some moves. If I turn him down (as I did the first time) he insults me and walks off. The option came up again later, so I accepted his offer and managed to gain some experience.

I snuck in a home-made story line last night, too. Right when my rivalry with Undertaker started, I had just won the US title, and Undertaker won itfrom me in a 4-way match. I was able to demand a US title match from the GM, mainly because it was the only title for which I was eligible. It may be a stipulation of demanding a match, but Taker showed up with 2 Smackdown icons already charged up, meaning he could apply 2 of his finishing moves at the beginning of the match instead of working his way up. Well, those finishers were put to hasty use and made short work out of me. For the next match, I again asked for a title shot, and it was given to me! Trying a new tactic, I grabbed a chair and started whacking away at Taker, which was working real well until he stole the chair and started whacking back, so I ended up losing that match too. But I was able to again ask for a titleshot, so for the 3rd time I tried a different strategy - lots of clotheslines followed by lots of top rope frog splashes. This eventually got me the win (and my second US title reign!).

The following match was a PPV, 4-way TLC match.Taker won.

After getting involved in the Royal Rumble story line (in which I was eliminated by the freakin' Hurricane!), I managed to recapture the US title (for my glorious 3rd title reign!). After that, I was getting ready to put everything away for the night, but I managed to have a match with Kurt Angle, and nothing makes me smile more than just whacking Kurt with a chair (after all, that's what camtoons are all about.

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Smackdown 5 - Day One

10.29.2003

After playing the new Smackdown for about 6 hours (maybe 7 or 8), I've emerged from my game coma long enough to sleep and do a little work.

But that game is sooooo cool!

It has lots of things I've been wishing for. Body part specific damage. Weight restrictive moves. Some kick ass graphics. Some more immersive story lines than I would have thought.

Yep, not going to be getting much sleep the rest of the week.

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Smackdown 5 - Here Comes The Pain

10.28.2003

The game that I've been waiting for since... well, probably March, is now out. The latest Smackdown for the PS2 came out today. Unlike the other wrestling games I've been catching up on, I'll probably sit down and play this one all the way through, playing different modes that it may have, all while creating my own character.

If you don't hear from me in a week, I'm in a PS2 induced coma at home.

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