The latest trailer for my most anticipated game so far, Mass Effect 2 just keeps blowing me away. A part of me wishes that this wasn’t a game and instead would just be the next big sci-fi blockbuster hit, but hell, I wouldn’t be as interested if it weren’t for the game play as well.

However, I’m still torn as to what I should get it for, the PC or 360. As it stands now in regards to the first ME, the PC version was a lot more optimized. Highly reduced load times, sharper graphics, a keyboard and the lack of screen tearing has me grabbing towards the PC, yet my beaten save file and the Commander Shepard I know rests on my 360… Plus, there are those damn achievement points. I want to pre-order, but until I know that the 360 version isn’t plagued with graphical issues, I’m just left to wait. Reviews should be trickling in soon online, so hopefully I’ll get to read it before it’s released.

After a lot of playing around with a new web design (and ignoring the unfinished previous one from lack of motivation), I finally got a new design up. The old one started to feel claustrophobic and it didn’t quite turn out like I wanted. I like this one more because it feels more busy I suppose, making it seem like I have more content than I really do. Plus, there’s a lot less unnecessary space. I still think it’s a little empty without a background, but I didn’t want to spend even more time than I did trying to figure out what to put there. I also have to figure out why Firefox isn’t showing my icon. Hopefully that’s the only two things I need to get back to, haven’t found any other problems. Removed the tag cloud and archives since I don’t think that’s all too important, though it’s an easy add if I change my mind. Overall, I’m happy with it, mostly since I can get on with my life now and do some other constructive thing, like… finish my short film or get started on another. I’ll get to them eventually damn it!

The short film is having some issues since the microphone was horrible at picking up sound. It’s usually not this bad so I’m not entirely sure what happened, but I’m going back and editing each track to get the best audio possible, which is painstakingly frustrating. Not only do I have to listen to the same track over and over, but if I listen long enough, I can’t tell if there’s a problem with it or not until I see it with the video. So it’s a little note to self, get a better mic. I’m thinking it might also just be a camera issue. Volume of some sort. I heard it just fine through the headphones, so camera’s volume might have been high while the mic volume might’ve been set to low, if I can even change the mic volume.

Less than a week until school. Last thing I need is more things to procrastinate with.

After seeing this awesome video:

I decided to go ahead and take a stab at my own face as a Navi. Mine’s not as crisps as his since he had a better photo to start with and better textures (and he’s better at Photoshop all around), but I’m satisfied with the results!

If there’s one thing I spent the most time enjoying, it’s video games. Hell, a top 10 might be tough to do considering how much good stuff came out this year. Not sure how proud I am of playing all the biggest titles (minus one or two). I already know what’s taking the number one spot, but there was more than one great game out this year so here it is, in no particular order except for numero uno:

1. Uncharted 2
   This is my number one because this game is just incredible. Graphically speaking, it beat any game I’ve played previously out of the water (except for MAYBE Crysis, MAYBE). Gameplay wise, I was extremely immersed and cutscenes felt so seamless. The Metal Gear franchise could take some pointers. The ending left me a bit frustrated, but getting there was the tits. Yeah, that’s right.
2. Batman: Arkham Asylum
   Holy ball on a stick, Batman! A good game from a franchise that has had so many downs. Licensed super-hero games don’t usually fair well, Batman especially, but this is what happens when you have a developer who cares for the franchise.  This was just an incredible game overall that exceeded all expectations. Can’t wait for the sequel.
3. Assassin’s Creed II
   The first one got on my nerves. It was fun, but so damn repetitive. Pair that with my analness to get gamer points and you got one bored guy that can’t stop being bored because he wants achievements! But enough about the past. The sequel takes all that was wrong with the first one and throws it out the door, leaving the nougaty center and adding a layer of delicious chocolate over it. Question is, where to next?
4. Modern Warfare 2
   Not quite as amazing as the first in terms of single player storyline. It’s essentially a Michael Bay approach to story telling. “Let’s make everything…bigger!” But the gameplay holds up and there are some amazing moments. It’s the multiplayer where things get real fun. And while a lot is left unchanged, it’s really a game that doesn’t need fixing. Do I agree with GameTrailers giving MW2 best game of PS3, 360, PC and overall best game? Hell no. But it’s a good contender if anything.
5. Borderlands
   I had my doubts. This game felt hard as hell to play and I stressed my self out moving forward because I knew it was going to be tough moving on. And then I moved on, and holy hell did this game get good. Once I got some amazing weapons, I was kicking ass and couldn’t stop playing.
6. InFamous
   This one is sadly, a forgetful title. Not that it’s bad, because it’s damn great. But it came out at the beginning of summer where it’s forgotten once the big fall titles hit. But I didn’t forget. This game was fun as hell and a game I played through twice (which is a rare happenstance) just to see myself as good and evil.
7. Torchlight
   A fairly new addition to my collection, Steam’s sale took my wallet and ate it. I bought this for $10 and even though it went on sale for $5 a few days after, I don’t regret spending the money. Not only does this amazing game play on a netbook, but it also looks good on my high end PC. Completely addicted to it right now.
8. Wolverine
   What? Two good licensed games in one year? Better believe it. Wolverine won’t take any major awards, it did get repetitive, and it was based off that horrible movie, but what other game can you see Wolverine get pelted by bullets until he’s a skeleton only to regenerate before your eyes? Only reason why I want a sequel to the movie? To get another game like this.
9. Flower
   I reached for this one as it’s a damn beautiful game and quite the experience, but it’s short and doesn’t offer a storyline or anything. Still, it explores a side of gaming that often goes unexplored, gaming as an art form.
10. Red Faction Guerilla
    GeoMod 2.0 is incredible. Blow up whatever the fuck you want, except rocks. I don’t mean that in a sarcastic sense though I do find it funny that with the first GeoMod, I spent a good time blowing up rocks because that was really the only thing that blew up consistently. Buildings didn’t quite fall down like I wanted. With RFG, buildings will fall and they will fall with a big bang. Though shoot a missle into the wall and nothing. Damn tough rocks they are. Had so much fun with this game that it was hard to back to a game where I couldn’t plow through walls to get to the other side. You mean I have to walk around now? Where are we? 2008? ZING!

Okay, so I had to do a little reaching at the end. So much for an easy 10. I forgot what came out as downloadable content only and I’m not counting any DLC. In any case, I had a damn good time this year playing video games. I missed out on some big ones like Left 4 Dead 2, ODST and Dragon Age, but in time I’ll get around to them (starting with Dragon Age). And soon enough, Mass Effect 2 will release and so begins what I think will be the most awesome year in gaming. Final Fantasy XIII, God of War III and Heavy Rain just to name a few more biggies.

It’s tough to pick my favorites of 2009 in music, mostly because there’s so much out there that I didn’t listen to. I feel like I’m not giving a fair enough opinion. In any case, the music I did listen to in 2009 was pretty great. There wasn’t a lot of new releases from favorites, but that helped me discover new artists, some I wished I discovered when they had their big release in 2008. This list won’t count any from last year though. I’m focusing on 2009 and whole albums, so here be my list:

1. Bon Iver – Blood Bank
   I don’t know how Bon Iver does it, but his music is soothing to the soul. He makes everything okay, even if the world has gone to shit.
2. Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
   Perhaps one of my more listened to bands this year. They just have this pop sound that makes me happy when I hear their music go.
3. Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion
   I hate to say that I don’t really like the rest of the album other than “My Girls,” but it’s true. Maybe hate’s too strong of a word, but if it weren’t for “My Girls,” this album would not be on my list. And to burst my dream of seeing them live, I watched them on YouTube. They do not sound good live. Still, I love “My Girls,” and one of these days I’ll give their album another chance.
4. Grizzly Bear- Veckatimest
   They surprised me with this album. Their previous works never won me over. Like with Animal Collective, I loved one single off their Yellow House album but was not sold on the rest. But this time around, I was hooked on the entire album. They really got it right with this album and “Two Weeks” became one of my most listened to song this year (and ever!).
5. Kid Cudi – Man on the Moon
   Kid Cudi’s been on my radar ever since I heard “Dat Dat New” which I can’t find anywhere else but YouTube. And then came along Day ‘n Night and the rest of his album. I was impressed with the release and it got me out of my hip hop funk.
6. Jay-Z – Blueprint 3
   I really shouldn’t put this on my list, but I’ve been listening to singles on the radio and I’m getting hooked. I didn’t like the album on first listen, but I don’t know how I missed “Empire State of Mind.” And now I’m getting addicted to “Run This Town” and “Young Forever.” I figured since Animal Collective is on here with only one song I really like, the Blueprint 3 deserves a spot here as well.
7. The Decemberists – Hazards of Love
   So it’s a bit different than the previous albums and it had to take time to grow on me. But once it did grow on me, I couldn’t stop listening to it. In fact, I think I’m listening to it more than any album so far and that’s saying something because I listen to these guys practically non-stop. Though it’s true that I did have a moment where I would rarely listen to them, but then Hazards of Love came out.

Seven? Is that it? That’s all I could really muster up? Well hell, I need to listen to more music. New Years resolution, listen to much more new music. Looking at my iTunes list, it’s really sad how little new music I introduced myself to as opposed to the previous years. I’ll have to work on that. Though to be fair, there’s a lot of 2008 music I discovered in 2009. Though I suppose that says more on what an awesome year 2008 was for music.

Update 1/4: Been exploring some new music and I’m adding ‘Major Lazer’s Guns Don’t Kill People…Lazers Do’ album to one of my favorites this year. It’s a damn catchy album and there’s a lot of variety with the tracks. It’s one that’s I’m listening to over and over because I just can’t stop. Plus, baby crying with autotune = awesome.

Update 1/14: I might have been a bit harsh on Animal Collective. The album is fairly good now that I’ve listened to it more. Though I still stand by my word that they don’t sound good live, if the YouTube clips are any indication.