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Today in Geek History (or “What that Ready Player One book made me do.”)
0So I recently read a book called Ready Player One. In it, there is a reference to the very first Easter Egg in a video game – the classic Atari 2600 quest game Adventure. I remembered hearing stories about it, but I never got to chance to do it myself.
Today that all changed.
While cleaning the office and repacking games from the Retrocade, I decided to hook up the Atari 2600 to a 42 inch plasma TV (yes – it can be done) and play the game until I found the legendary hidden screen.
Well, I can now mark this off the bucket list.
CONCLUDED #1: Bioshock 2
0So there are a few stories I’ve mentioned on my blog which have concluded recently (but) I’ve been too busy to share. This week, though, I am intent on passing along these quirky little tidbits if it kills me. The fact that I went to bed last night at some ridiculous hour could very well contribute to my expiring while typing… so don’t think that last comment was a joke. Hence the segue into my first story (which is actually a very VERY recent conclusion to something):
Joey Snackpants turned me on to Gamefly earlier this year – and I’m happy to report that they are well worth the cash. I have zipped through a number of games recently including Uncharted 2: Among Thieves on the PS3 and Bioshock 2 for the XBox 360. Had I bought just those two games and solved them, I would have dropped somewhere to the tune of about $120. That’s more than 60% of what I pay for my annual Gamefly membership. In short: GREAT WAY TO SAY MONEY.
So why am I taking the time to write about Bioshock 2 and not Uncharted 2? Well, Uncharted 2 was a great game and I had a blast playing it. It was very pretty in hi-def on the 56 inch TV and my wife enjoyed watching it being played (because, as all the reviews have said, it feels like you are watching a movie.) It is a game truly worthy of your time if you have a PS3. Bioshock 2, though, has some very strong ties to a book I read this year: Atlas Shrugged.
Let’s get something out of the way: I never played the first Bioshock. I had it queued to ship before Bioshock 2, but Gamefly sent part two first so I just ran with it. I took the time to read the story online so that I could figure out what was going on, and it seems (much like Uncharted 2) like a very “cinematic” story.
I had heard about the links to Atlas Shrugged, but some of it was MUCH closer that I was expecting. Andrew Ryan is a failed John Galt – and the tour of his museum rings eerily identical to the famed radio speech that John makes in the book. There are other smaller nods, too, including the splicers constantly referring to the “dog eat dog” mentality, a business act that (in the book) sets up the proverbial beginning of the end to the machine of the world.
Recent world events prompted me to read Atlas Shrugged. If popular media is now also looking towards the book for source material, it makes you wonder how close our society is really getting to the “fictional” world that Ayn Rand shared back in the lated fifties.
(Insert creepy “something to think about” music here.)
Thought Of The Day, January 1, 2010…
0I really wish I could get XBox to play music while I play Resident Evil 5 online against people. Nothing says pop culture like the “Glee” soundtrack while blasting the ever living shit out of zombies.
Just sayin’
Final Fantasy XI Beta Testers…
010 years ago
For those of you who haven’t heard yet, they’re looking for Beta Testers for the American release of FFXI on PS2 & Windows PC.
Preparation underway for the North American release of FINAL FANTASY XI
Square Enix USA is now accepting applications for the public beta test program for FINAL FANTASY® XI, the latest installment in the world-renowned FINAL FANTASY series and first massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) for the series. Preparation is underway for the North American release of the title, which will be available for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system and for the PC. FINAL FANTASY XI is the world’s first major cross-platform MMORPG, allowing players to connect to and communicate in the same exact world regardless of their gaming platform.
For the first time ever, players from around the globe will unite in the world of “Vana’diel” where they can personalize their characters, play at their own pace, form parties and alliances with other players, and embark on multiple adventures through vast environments. Players will also become immersed in an expansive, original storyline that includes quests and boss battles. They can participate in missions either alone or with other party members and acquire skills such as alchemy, leatherworking, jewel crafting, fishing and many more. Various communications tools have been incorporated into FINAL FANTASY XI to assist communication between players, including easy-to-use chat and messaging systems.
Requirements for the beta test program are:
NOTE: You may apply to only one version of the Public Beta test. An undisclosed number of players will be selected and notified of their acceptance. Please review the requirements below for the PlayStation 2 and Windows® platforms before selecting the appropriate application form. Applying to both versions of the Public Beta may completely disqualify you from participating.
Requirements for PlayOnline Public Beta version for PlayStation 2
- PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system
- Network Adaptor (for PlayStation 2)
- Internet connection (56k or greater)
Requirements for PlayOnline Public Beta version for Windows®
- Pentium® III 800Mhz
- Windows® 98/98SE/ME/2000/XP
- DirectX® 8.1 (included)
- 32MB Direct3D compatible AGP video card
- 128MB RAM
- CD-ROM drive
- 5GB of free hard drive space
- Internet connection (56k or greater)
Players who would like to be one of the first to explore the world of FINAL FANTASY XI can apply for the public beta test program on the Square Enix USA website http://www.infoyouaskedfor.com/r.cgi?=m3619_960245
FINAL FANTASY XI will incorporate new features as well as retain familiar ones from the FINAL FANTASY series. Fans of the series will be pleased to find that both versions of FINAL FANTASY XI will contain the same award-winning visual style and deep, progressive storyline that has made FINAL FANTASY one of the top-selling and most popular video game series in the world.
Silly Video Game Stuff
610 years ago
Ryan posted this recently and this is the first chance I’ve had to do it… and I’m also trying to learn the whole link/truncate thing. If it didn’t work, I suck and I’m sorry.
Top Ten Video Games:
10. Tetris (NES)… Old skool rules!
9. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (PS2)… guns, strippers, & 80s tunes. Yes!
8. Warcraft II (PC)… Back when we’d still just connect PC to PC via a modem. Dial-up Internet was still an hourly charge!
7. Resident Evil 2 (PSX)… First game to truly scare me. Damn those dogs!
6. The Legend of Zelda (NES)… Still the most fun of them all.
5. Tekken Tag (PS2)… You can never get bored beating the crap out of friends on a game.
4. Final Fantasy IX (PSX)… A truly epic video game with a well developed story.
3. Sam & Max Hit The Road (PC)… You have to play it to understand.
2. Final Fantasy X (PS2)… The pinnacle of the FF series. Perfect balance of fantasy and scifi.
1. Ms. Pac-Man (Arcade)… 20 years later, everyone still plays this. It never gets old.
Favorite game character (male):
Max (Sam & Max Hit The Road)
Favorite game character (female):
Metroid
Favorite game company:
Squaresoft… A game studio that works like a movie studio, tried to be a movie studio, and learned to stick to games.
Favorite game mascot:
The goofy stick figure from LucasArts.
Favorite game system:
Modded PSX
Four favorite game series:
Pre-3d Mario, Final Fantasy, .hack, & Tekken
Favorite fighting game:
Tekken Tag
Favorite RPG:
Final Fantasy X
Favorite adventure game:
Legend of Zelda
Favorite side-scroller:
Super Mario Bros. 2
Favorite party/multi-player game:
Gauntlet
Favorite survival horror game:
Resident Evil 2
Favorite game storyline:
Sam & Max Hit The Road
Favorite game ending:
Metroid (NES) second ending… he’s a she!
LEAST Favorite game ending:
Metroid (NES) second ending… he’s a she!
Favorite game intro:
Kingdom Hearts.
Favorite game music/soundtrack:
Pac-Man Fever
Favorite game song/tune:
Mortal Kombat
Favorite game villain:
Clyde (from Pac-Man)
Favorite game hero:
Max (Sam & Max Hit The Road)
Favorite game heroine:
Pick any female character from DOA Extreme Volleyball… And she’s my hero.
Favorite movie based on a game:
Mortal Kombat
Either Or! 2D or 3D?:
2D
Resident Evil/Biohazard or Silent Hill?:
Resident Evil
Onimusha or Tenchu?:
Neither
Zelda or Dark Cloud?:
Oh, please… I won’t dignify this with an answer.
What do you think is the most over-rated game?:
Final Fantasy VIII
Game you’d like to see be made into a feature film (animated or live action):
Zelda
Game series you want to continue:
Kingdom Hearts
Game series you want to end:
Street Fighter… Let it die. Please.
Game series you want revived:
Sam & Max
Game you’d like to see rehashed with new graphics and features:
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Import game you wish was translated and released in your respective country:
Space Channel 5 Part 2
Game you can play for hours, on end, without ever getting bored:
Tekken Tag
Game character you’d shag if he/she/it were real:
Ulala… And those of you in the know can just smile 
Game character you’d use as a punching bag if he/she/it were real:
Michael Jackson (Space Channel 5)
What do you think is the hardest game ever?:
Mary Kate & Ashley Olsen’s Crush Course… Oh, the pain it took to get through it.
Have you ever yelled at a game?:
Yes… Mostly when I remember that I forgot to save.
Here’s another scenario: you’re going to be sent to a remote island for six months, and you can only take one console and one game:
Super Nintendo & Ms. Pac-Man… Cartridges won’t scratch from the sand.
Xeno-Cinema
410 years ago
Ken was right. This fucking game is nothing but one long movie so far…
Everyone keeps raving about how good it is, but the bad English dubbing is starting to grate on my nerves. Granted I’m only about 45 minutes into it (with about 10 of that being ACTUAL GAME PLAY,) but it’s still kind of annoying.
I’m sure it’ll get better. It does look pretty though.
Special thanks to Shannon’s parents and sister for getting me the game for Easter. 
