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The first time I heard Sage Francis, I knew he was good. I knew he was good because I stopped what I was doing, and listened. A well kept secret in the hip-hop underground, Sage has released his seventh official album, Human the Death Dance through Epitath Records. Most of us have not heard of Sage Francis, mainly because most major labels refuse to take a chance on thought provoking music. In a world where “My Humps” and “Buy You a Drank” dominate the airwaves, Sage has little room for error. Human the Death Dance rises to this challenge.
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From the onset of the first track, “Underground for Dummies”, Sage sets the tone for an amazing album with a brief bio. Personal touches are peppered throughout, but the song that caught my ear from the beginning came on track three. “Civil Obedience” explores the rush and frustration of a busy lifestyle, and matches the pace sonically. “Living just a little isn’t nearly enough. Living just a little isn’t nearly justified”, Sage points out toward the end of the song. It is the kind of song that gets the heart thumping while you attempt to rhyme along, but Francis flows with ease and speed while you fumble for the next line.
From this point on, the album reels you in to the more personal side of Sage Francis. “Got Up This Morning”, explores a past relationship. “Good Fashion” is riddled with thought provoking imagery. “Clickity Clack” could be played on repeat for a good hour while driving. The forceful beat marches through the song pushing lyrics with intent. “Midgets and Giants” plays off the current hip-hop scene, from the underground to the double platinum artists. “He’s a rapper thinking battles were a meal ticket, but it came time for the album he couldn’t write real lyrics”, Francis blasts.
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“Broccoli Break” makes absolutely no sense to me, and I am not even going to attempt to decipher it. “High Step” visits the rapper’s former football days, and “Keep Moving” is another good look into his life. “Water Line” is more of a spoken word piece that transitions smoothly into “Black Out on White night”. Together they cast an air of desperation that seems to bond with “Hell of a Year” providing closure to the three.
The last three tracks provide a boost to put an end to what can only be called a masterpiece. Sage Francis may not be the best known rapper in a sea of rappers, but he may just be the best. His lyrics are nothing short of brilliant, his music is the perfect landscape to paint the picture of his soul, and he has no apprehension toward putting it on a canvas to share with us. Sage may just be the answer to a dying genre of music, a genre more consumed with appearance than thought. Music that follows the trends and pushes innovators and intelligence to the side. Yes, someone like Sage Francis may be the answer, but the question is: Would he be willing to save it?
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Written by Jae - Visit Website |
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Have I mentioned that I am not a fan of online gaming? I have, and rarely does a game come forward to change my stubborn opinions. However, the creators of "Massive Assault Network 2" have managed to do just that.
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Without jumping ahead, I should begin with the download and install. These are always important aspects to me, because it sends a first impression to the buyer. The download size is average, and I was delighted to find the game downloaded in a respectful amount of time. The install went in a similar fashion, no hassle, no fuss.
Once installed, I searched through the list of options and found the game could be completely personalized to the player’s taste. Sound and graphics options were numerous allowing you to find a comfortable rendition of "M.A.N. 2". Not only can it be easy on the eyes, but easy on your computer as well.
I began the game by working through the tutorials. I was greeted by a male voice with a funny accent. Although they were tedious in nature, they did provide a glimpse into the inner-workings of the game. The tutorials focus on the basics, and you will need a firm grasp on these if you wish to succeed in this game.
After completing the tutorials, and creating a profile, I moved on to playing the game. Connecting to the server took approximately two seconds, which is worth mentioning because games I have played in the past have rarely met my expectations. Once connected I had my choice, I could challenge someone within the on-line community, or I could play one of the AI opponents. I opted first to play the AI.
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"M.A.N. 2" is a turn-based war strategy game. This means you are expected to recruit units, position them, and defeat your opponent with a series of moves and maneuvers. If you are a stranger to this type of game you may find it difficult at first. If you are somewhat experienced at these games, you still may find it difficult. The difficulty comes in the form of limitations. Some units can move more than others, some terrain hinders the movement of units. After each turn you are expected to recruit on an extremely limited budget. All these factors and others you will find for yourself, make the game difficult in nature, or should I say challenging?
Maybe challenging is a better word to describe "M.A.N. 2". It provokes the idea of chess for a new era. The challenge comes from limitation and advantage. It takes time and skill to master the arena, and when you are ready, you will find an on-line community waiting to accept your challenge. There was always a group of people on-line, eager to share a game. Friendly and helpful are two words that best describe the on-line community for "M.A.N. 2". They were always willing to give suggestions and point out what you may have done better. This makes for an interesting and exciting game to play.
Overall, "M.A.N. 2" is a superbly crafted game. Graphics and sound were constructed in a manner that suits the users need, nothing was overdone. Nothing was underdone either, the middle ground was firmly established, and the experience I had with the game was enjoyable. You should bear in mind the game is not what I would call easy, it takes patience. If you have this quality, or seek to find it within yourself, then give "M.A.N. 2" a try. It could be worth the time.
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Written by Jae - Visit Website |
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What could possibly be better than watching The 700 Club? How about watching The 700 Club for two straight weeks completely commercial free?
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Pat Robertson and his gang pulled out all the stops for a fundraising extravaganza. The full cast was invited to participate in this barrage of nonstop excitement, and I cannot think of a time when Pat Robertson was so full of energy.
Hallelujahs and amens were in full effect, as callers from around the country called in donations, sometimes reaching in the six figure range. Not only were these donations, but they were challenges. The challenge to viewers was to match every single dollar, of every dollar given by an anonymous caller.
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So if the challenge was $200,000, a timer would start at the bottom of the screen, and callers would be encouraged to call in with pledges to reach that goal. As the clock slowly ticked to zero, other challenges would come by way of golden tickets, handed to Terry by the shows producers.
“A little fanfare please”, Pat would cry as a drum roll rang out.
“One hundred thousand dollars added to the challenge”. More time would be added, and the money just kept rolling in.
On average, The 700 Club netted $400,000 a day in monthly pledges. Add to that the original $400,000, and we can see why new life, and praise of the holy spirit springs from Pat’s soul. Not to mention, on one particular day the challenge ended at $600,000, and new pledges ended at $647,000.
That equals an outstanding 1.2 million dollars, in one day. We should also keep in mind that The 700 Club is a self described, nonprofit organization, which would suggest this money comes with a significant tax break.
Overall, these past two weeks were fairly uneventful. The stories of the trials and tribulations of poor desperate souls seeking comfort were put forth in an even more obvious manner than usual.
Events of financial woes being overcome by donations to this television show, and spotlighted features of Operation Blessing’s missionary work, were the focus and drive behind a fourteen day telethon. I needed Skinny Wednesday. I needed Bring It On. I needed the usual Pat Robertson spewing forth hatred of homosexuals, and Muslims, and of course, Harry Potter. I did not get what I needed, but maybe it was for the best. Maybe it was time to move on.
Before doing so however, I feel the need for closure. A way to end this series of re-caps, and explain my hostility toward the absurdity that is The 700 Club.
The 700 Club is a charitable organization. They do missionary work around the world, feed the poor, clothe the homeless, and many other benevolent works. But at what cost? The cost is high, and profitable, if you are Pat Robertson.
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For instance, in every village that Operation Blessing either digs a well, or provides medicine to the sick, they also build a church. Members of the village then feel obligated to donate to this church and participate. And by their own reports, The 700 Club makes it well known that the people who are assisted by Operation Blessing, are more than willing to pass their good fortune on to CBN and the show.
But what is most distressing, is the message. The ideas and smoke-screened nature in which the message is presented. For every ounce of good, The 700 Club will back it up with a pound of bad. Consider the repeated attempts to compare the religion of Islam to a delusion, or calling it “dangerous”.
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These kinds of statements can only lead to ignorance and misunderstanding between the two faiths. It is this type of hate filled ideology that has led to the main problems in religion in our present society.
For example, the constant overtures of homophobia, which are in reality, dangerous. Is it not the Christian faith that preaches the philosophy of “judge not”? So why does Pat Robertson feel the need to judge this group on a regular basis? And it is not only this hypocrisy that The 700 Club chooses to prescribe to.
Jesus Christ had said himself, “pray not in public, as the hypocrites do”, yet The 700 Club has chosen the most public of forums to do so, on television.
Not only that, but they take it one step further, they profit from it. I have a feeling that if the Second Coming does happen, Pat, Terry, Gordon, and even Kristi, may have some explaining to do. But that leaves us to question: Do they even believe in what they do?
As Pat Robertson says more than five times an episode, “It only costs two quarters, a dime, and a nickel, to join The 700 Club”. But how much will it cost Pat Robertson to buy his way out of hell?
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Written by Jae - Visit Website |
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Seth McFarlane and his team have done it again, this time blurring the fine line of good and bad taste, in a video game version of the hit series Family Guy (2K Games). The game more than deserves its ESRB rating of Mature, and if you are easily offended, or dwell in the realm of political-correctness, then this game is not for you. This is a video game made by adults, for adults, and fans of the show.
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Family Guy starts with unarguably, the show’s most popular character Stewie. Stewie is, as always, making plans for world domination, when he is suddenly interrupted by his half-brother Bertram. Armed with an upgradeable ray gun, Stewie makes his way through a 3-D environment blasting anything that gets in his way.
At some point in the game, you will switch over to Peter. Peter has suffered a head injury, and now believes his family is being held hostage by a familiar sitcom star. While controlling Peter, you will be asked to pummel the elderly, dancing children, and soccer moms. Peter’s game stays true to the series, and is by far the most politically incorrect segment of the game.
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Last but not least, there is Brian. Brian finds himself accused of impregnating Mr. Pewterschmidt’s dog. In Brian’s game, you will have to rely on your ability to stay out of sight, sometimes using disguises, as you collect evidence to clear your name.
The game also makes use of the popular cut away scenes that are used in the show. Every now and then a character is reminded, “of the time when . . .”, and you are expected to hit a series of buttons to collect some reward. It can be confusinga as they are timed segments, only leaving you seconds to figure out what to do. However, the game provides the option of replaying the segment later.
Family Guy the game does an excellent job of mimicking the series, and at times you feel like you are watching an episode of the show. The graphics are done well, and only slightly resemble what I like to call the “box factor”, where game graphics are done so poorly that every curved line looks like a staircase. In Stewie’s game you may find it difficult to navigate at times. The 3-D environment can be tricky, due to the fact that it is drawn in 2-D, like the show.
Tip: When using Stewie on the more difficult areas, watch his shadow when jumping to make a more accurate landing.
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The creators of the game also made the wise decision of having the game voiced by the cast of the show. Guest appearances by Adam Carolla and Adam West highlight the game, among others. It also appears that the game was completely scripted, start to finish, rather than phrases being taken from the show, and sporadically placed in the game. It can be annoying though, sometimes the characters repeat the same phrases over and over again, and this had me reaching for the volume.
Control of each character is fairly simplistic, and even the average gamer should have little trouble picking up and playing the game. On screen tips can be seen at the start of each character’s game, should you run into trouble. There are however, a few minor glitches in the controls. Peter’s game involves combo moves, and certain enemies can only be eliminated by certain combos.
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I found that if I pressed the buttons too fast, the combo would not register. If I pressed it too slow, same thing. Trying to hit each button at just the right speed proved to be frustrating. Brian’s game could be even more trying at times, because of a lack of consistency. While avoiding being seen by other characters, disguises would disappear.
A screen tip advised that the disguise would come back if Brian moved into the shadows, but rarely did this happen. Disguises would also disappear indefinitely if you were caught, and had to return to the last checkpoint.
These minor glitches aside, Family Guy is a great game, and if you are a fan of the show I would strongly recommend it. It was money well spent, and is sure to provide hours of off-color fun.
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Written by Jae - Visit Website |
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The 700 Club started the week of right by opening Monday’s show with hosts Pat and Terry. After a short update on the Iraq war, Pat made a remark that almost caused my eyeballs to fall from my sockets.
“The Iraq war was a mistake”, he said.
Thank the lord for DVR, because if I had not been able to rewind it, I would not have believed it.
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The show pressed on with a segment called “Money Monday”, and who better to spread financial advice to the masses than the lucrative 700 Club. Pat pulled out his dry erase board and handled questions from the usual studio audience. This group of ten or fifteen listened intently, and even took notes, as the master of finance dished out his advice.
Seemingly vacant from his tips and tactics though, were the ideas that make the 700 Club so successful. Such as, play on people’s emotions and ignorance and convince them to send you money. Fill their hearts and minds with examples of your charitable works, to distract them from your three-piece suits and privileged lifestyle.
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Pat instead gave some very general investing advice, and advised that we all have some cash on hand in the event of a disaster. After the commercial break, we were introduced to Shaun Alexander of the Seattle Seahawks. Shaun was shown to be a “godly” man, who said his first prayer at ten years old.
Instead of going out and partying all night with his teammates, he prefers to stay in his hotel room. I am guessing he spends most of his time reading the little book they leave in the nightstand. Remember Shaun, there is no “I” in team.
Finally, it was time for “America’s Church of the Week”. This week the Trivecca Community Church was honored. Trivecca’s claim to fame comes from their habit of catering to former drug users and prostitutes. They offer services, clothing, food and shelter to the less privileged. Pat remarked, “That’s how the church should be”. I wonder if Pat would feel the same if they allowed homosexuals into the mix.
On closing the show we were left with a verse from I Thessalonians 5:16-18: Rejoice always, pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks; for this is the will of god in Christ Jesus for you.
It was Tuesday, and once again, Pat and Terry were here to host the show. In the opening moments, after a report on European church closings, Pat commented, “This is what happens when you have state-run religion”. Could it be possible Pat and I are coming to agree with each other on some key issues? Maybe.
After the day’s news, there was a report on a mosque being built in London. The mosque was being built on seventeen acres of land, a sort of super-mosque for a growing Muslim population in England. It is not without its critics, and the report focused on its alleged terrorist ties.
Alan Craig of the Christian People’s Alliance made the childish remark, “They should not allow a mosque in London, until they put a church in Saudi Arabia”.
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The commercial break was followed by a piece on actor Alan Autrey. Alan followed the usual path of drugs and alcohol, and eventually accepted Jesus. Alan is now the mayor of Fresno, California, and promises to be obedient to the lord.
“You cannot earn only what god can give”, says Pat.
Next came Beverly from New Orleans, who had been one of the unfortunate victims of Hurricane Katrina. Operation Blessing, which is funded by CBN and the 700 Club, helped Beverly rebuild her home and get on her feet. Terry prodded, “It takes people like you to make this possible, please call now”.
Pat’s segment, “Bring It On”, provided the high point of Tuesday’s episode. When asked: What motivates people more, receiving punishment or earning reward? Pat gave an unusual response that seemed to be more of a threat than an answer.
“Love god and fear god”, He replied, “If you get too familiar with god, he’ll give you a smackdown”.
Anisa, a mother of a fourteen-year-old boy asked a question concerning her young son dating before sixteen. Pat advised her that she was being over-protective, but Terry interjected in disagreement. Terry informed us that she does not allow her children to date, but that they can “go with” each other, which I guess is entirely different.
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Terry went on to say, “Just be happy he’s attracted to a female”. To which Pat added an enthusiastic, “Amen”. Amen indeed.
Tuesday’s biblical wisdom provided by I Corinthians 2:9: No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what god has prepared for those who love him.
Terry was yet again excluded from “Skinny Wednesday”, and Pat’s eye candy, Kristi took her place. A compelling report on vitamin D deficiency was summed up with Pat saying, “If you stay out in the sun all day, the lord will provide it for you”.
Yeah, and skin cancer, thanks.
Next, we were all informed of the digital tsunami that was sure to disrupt our lives in the very near future. It was clear to the 700 Club that Russia and China are already stealing secrets from the U.S. via the internet, and the terrorists are not far behind.
The terrorists are apparently also using this high-tech form of espionage to steal our identities. Just the thought of Osama Bin Laden using my credit card to buy cigarettes and gas, had me ready to sign up for the Marines.
Skinny Wednesday continued with Pat and Kristi bragging that more than 54,000 people signed up for Pat’s shake and salad recipes, and introducing Dr. Monica Reed. Dr. Reed gave viewers advice on how to live your life as they lived in the Garden of Eden. I think Dr. Reed may want to read the rest of the story, to see how it ends, before making that suggestion.
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A second segment featured some suggestions on stress relief that included scented candles, living with trees, and some new age music. I was surprised Pat allowed this considering new age religion, and nature worship, are among his long standing enemies.
The Bring It On segment of the show was dedicated to health questions in the spirit of Skinny Wednesday. One viewer asked what he should do about his wife believing she is fat. Pat advised that this was a preliminary to Anorexia, and even advised a personal trainer.
Someone may want to advise Pat about what can happen when a woman with low self-esteem, gets a hunky male personal trainer. Several times through Pat’s answer, Kristi had the audacity to interrupt him, and he promptly set her straight.
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Wednesday’s words from Proverbs 9:10-11: The fear of the lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the holy one is understanding. For through me your days will be many, and years will be added to your life.
Thursday was Pat’s opportunity to reiterate his stand on the Iraq war by proclaiming, “Ladies and Gentlemen, I was opposed to this war from the beginning”.
Short reports on this and other recent news were followed by a piece on Ron Luce, and his group called “Teen Mania”. Teen Mania is a super-cool group of adults working to mold the minds of the young.
It is Ron’s belief that 24/7 access to provocative media is the cause of teenagers’ disinterest with the Christian faith. I guess it could not be the recent reports of rampant pedophilia by the most trusted members of the Christian church, or the continued perversion of great man’s message, being used to suit the needs of morally bankrupt men.
It must be Marilyn Manson and repeated episodes of Friends. In a moment of great irony, an interview with one of the youth pastors was back dropped by a poster that read in large letters: BRAINWASHED.
Continuing with the awesomeness of the day, the next segment featured pro skateboarder Richard Moulder. Richard sold his G.I. Joe collection at an early age to buy his first skateboard, and went on to become a pro. However, something was missing from Richard’s life.
One day while packing his bong in his backpack, Richard decided to throw a bible in with it. The rest my friends, is history.
After a commercial break, short reports on a Chinese family that was provided with water by Operation Blessing, and a comedian who overcame sexual abuse followed. The show ended with Bring It On.
During this question and answer segment, Pat fielded a question from Leo, whose friend had converted to Islam. Leo asked if he should pray for his friend even though his friend was angry with him. Pat smiled, and advised Leo to ask his friend if he knew for sure where he was going to go when he died.
Pat added that Islam was, “a delusion”, and Leo should pray for him in the meantime. Lastly, Pat was asked if eating in a restaurant with a Buddha statue was advancing Buddhism. Pat shared a story in which he found himself at an Indian restaurant, and a statue of Shiva stood in the lobby. “I did not want Shiva and his cobras in my dinner”, Pat exclaimed, and left it at that.
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Thursday, we were treated to a verse from John 4:10: This is love. Not that we loved god, but that he loved us and sent his son as an atoning for our sins.
Pat took Friday off, so we were forced to endure Gordon and Terry for this episode. There was a brief report on terrorism, followed by an introduction to Governor Mike Huckabee. Mike was out promoting his book, “From Hope to Higher Ground”, to the good Christian world.
After some inspiring thoughts from his book, Mike went on to share some thoughts on the political situation in the country, mainly the Hurricane Katrina debacle. This was open cue for Gordon, “If it weren’t for the Christians there wouldn’t have been any help”, he declared adding, “The Christians didn’t get any credit”. I ask you Gordon, is the president not a Christian?
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A quick commercial break was followed up with a report on Darfur, and George Clooney’s efforts in the region. Later we were introduced to Paul and Jason. Paul was a drug addict who was saved from destruction after buying a used car, and Jason was an opera singer who apparently had his voice removed by the lord. How and why would the lord do this? I guess the lord creates extravagant accidents to dole out his lessons for all humanity.
In Jason’s situation, he and a friend were carrying a glass table, and it broke slicing Jason’s throat, and nearly severed his head. Eventually, but only through the constant prayer of his entire community, Jason regained his voice. While that covered the how, it did not cover the why.
So why did this happen to Jason? Gordon said, “It was god’s way of reminding Jason, his talent was not his own."
I quickly said a prayer to the lord myself, I said, “Lord, if you ever would like to teach me the values of humility, please, don’t cut off my head. Rather, send me an e-mail, or a phone call would be nice."
I hope he gets the message. Gordon and Terry must be reading my re-caps, because they went all out on the healing process on Friday. They went on to heal, an artery blockage, left knee pain, a severe case of AD/HD, tear duct issues, an ear infection, a massive torso injury, and a concussion. They also removed the fear of a woman of the Islamic faith who has been secretly watching the 700 Club. Too bad they can’t cure her delusion.
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Written by Jae - Visit Website |
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Now correct me if I am wrong, but the purpose of a video game demo should be an attempt to convince me to buy the game. Let me start with Panzer Elite Action-Dunes of War (JoWood Productions).
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First off, the game demo is a 454MB download, and even with a cable connection it takes over an hour. Then comes the ten-minute install, time enough to break for coffee. Nevertheless, I suffered through both of these painstaking efforts and gave the game a fair shot. I was soon to be disappointed once again upon learning the demo only allows you to play an online multiplayer game.
I am not exactly a fan of online gaming. I prefer to be trounced by a sophisticated computer, rather than a prepubescent teenager hell-bent on baiting me into a “ripfest” with a few of his buddies. Still I pursued, only to find no one was online to blast me into oblivion. Great, now I can get used to the controls, and maybe have half a chance.
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The online version of this game is basically, “capture the flag”. You and your tank start on one end of the map, and your opponent, if one exists, starts on the other. Each person tries to get to the opponent’s flag without being destroyed by the other. I won, of course.
The graphics and sound of this game are superb. The game play is even and consistent. I had little to no trouble getting used to the controls, keys a, s, w, d, move the tank, and the mouse turns the turret. You fire your weapon with the mouse button.
The game did not seem to be joystick compatible, at least, I could not find it on the options menu, although, it may be in the full version of the game. I did try on a couple of occasions to find some online cohorts, but to no avail.
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The big question is, would I buy this game? The answer to that question is a very confident, no. The game may be, in fact, a good game. However, I have no way of knowing this for sure, due to the poor construction of the demo.
Next on my list for the evening was Aquanox (Fishtank Interactive). The Aquanox demo had a considerably smaller download size. The install went smooth, but toward the end, a window popped up asking if I wanted to run a recent news program. I foolishly assumed this would be an update program providing patches or other updates for the game.
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Once I clicked ‘yes’, my spyware program interrupted to inform me that a malicious search engine was invading my computer. I have owned this computer for over a year, and downloaded numerous programs. This is the first time this message has shown up on an install, and made a horrible first impression for the game.
I blocked the program and continued on. Once the game loaded, I checked the various options screens for controls and other game functions. I was happy to see I could use a control pad, but unfortunately, it would only cover half of the controls. If you choose to use your keyboard for this game, nothing short of a basic typing class will enable you to play the game.
I chose to use my controller for the basic controls, ignoring the others for the time being.
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The game begins in an underwater environment and you are asked to pilot a futuristic warship. You also have a few wingmen to guide through the game, shouting out your objectives while reminding you to hurry up. I did my best, but the controls are so complicated, that I spent the majority of my time crashing into rocks and underwater buildings.
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I figured I would get used to them eventually, so I turned down the sound ignoring my wingmen, and tried to familiarize myself with the controls. Not more than ten minutes into the game, it crashed. So I started over, and it crashed again.
After five or six crashes, I was fed up, and removed the game from my computer. To be fair, I checked online to be sure this was not a compatibility or system requirement issue. It was not. My computer had more than enough of everything to run the game.
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After five or six crashes, I was fed up, and removed the game from my computer. To be fair, I checked online to be sure this was not a compatibility or system requirement issue. It was not. My computer had more than enough of everything to run the game.
As I have already stated, the purpose of these demos, are to invite you to spend your hard-earned cash on the game. So far, these games have done nothing even close. My advice: First, allow me to play the game, and allow me to play enough of the game to get me interested.
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Second, do not attempt to download spyware on my computer. Knowing my game play habits is not going to sell more games. A consumer being comfortable installing your software is going to sell more games.
This brings me to my final demo, Bubble Blitz (Binary Sun). For all its simplicity, Bubble Blitz is the perfect game demo. I was able to play the game, and with a relative amount of ease. In this game, you are asked to combine a series of colored bubbles, and click them away with your mouse.
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As you eliminate a series more, and more replace them, and so on. Before the start of the game, you are greeted with a menu screen that allows you to choose your bubble style, window, and sound.
Once you start the game, you will be encouraged by a poorly dressed character whose head flies around the screen. You will see phrases such as, “GOOD MOVE”, or, “WOAH”, or my personal favorite, “WHAT WAS THAT?!”.
The game ends when you run out of bubble combinations of two of the same color. It is highly addictive; I found an hour had quickly passed by before I tried to convince myself that this was definitely, my last game.
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Whether you are trying to quit smoking, or just killing down time at the office, Bubble Blitz is the perfect game. The demo offers to let you use the game twenty times before you buy it, which is more than enough.
My only criticism of this game is the price. Twenty dollars is a little steep for such a simple game, and Binary Sun could probably move more product if they charged, say, ten dollars. Nevertheless, one thing is certain, Bubble Blitz will be getting my money well before Panzer Elite and Aquanox.
If you like this site, Donate to help keep us going!
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Written by Jae - Visit Website |
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After watching a full week of The 700 Club, I have come to one, very important conclusion. There is an excess amount of people talking to God, and I feel incredibly left out of the loop. Monday’s episode opened with Terry and Gordon. I almost turned the television off in disgust. Where in the world was Pat Robertson?
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It felt like watching pre-season football; the second stringers of the Christian world. Nevertheless, I suffered through this bland episode and prayed for Pat to return. Gordon advised us to start the New Year by giving to The 700 Club, and we were treated to tales of great hardship. These hardships were only overcome, of course, by becoming a 700 Club Gold Member.
Gold members (insert Austin Powers joke here) give forty dollars a month, and receive Pat’s four hour DVD, Foundations of the Faith. By doing so, you will put yourself in the great graces of the Lord, and given whatever your faithful mind can grasp. If you do not believe me, ask Raji and Maties who were actually told by God himself to join. It seems the more they donated, the more they were blessed with real estate success.
The episode closed on healing prayer in which Terry and Gordon cleared select viewers of blurry vision, rage, and a sinus headache. A man named George also received fifty thousand dollars.
Monday’s words of inspiration came from Lamentations 3:22-23: “Because of the lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions, never fail. They are new every morning, great is your faithfulness.”
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Tuesday my prayers were answered. Like a beacon of televised light, Pat’s shining face stared at me on my couch. Pat was apparently on a prayer retreat in which he was receiving many messages from God, and he was ready to share these messages with me.
God had showed Pat that this year would be a year of extraordinary miracles, and heaven would come down to Earth. Unfortunately, this would not last, because in the second half of 2007, evil people would do evil things. There will be chaos and terror attacks. Not to be the minister of gloom and doom, Pat remarked, “But don’t be afraid, if you get blown up, you go to heaven”.
Way to see the glass half full, Pat. After the commercial break there was a tribute to Harald Bredensen, Pat’s friend, who had passed away over the holidays. Pat shared a few heartfelt stories with Terry, and described Bredensen as one of the founding fathers of The 700 Club.
Next, we were introduced to “John the Rocker”. John was the lead singer of the group Head East, who brought us the hit single, “Since You’ve Been Gone”. After taking the advice of a seedy band manager, John sought a wilder, lead singer image through heavy drug use. After a small bout of suicidal tendencies, of course, John was saved and now is a Christian Rock singer.
Finally, the show’s usual healing was replaced by Pat’s favorite segment, “Bring It On”, in which Pat answers and gives advice to viewer questions. The highlight came from a question posed by a girl named Steph. Steph wanted to know if it was wrong to be attracted to a Muslim.
“No, of course not”, Pat replied and added, “DO NOT marry a Muslim . . . it is a hellish situation, and you will have no rights”.
Tuesday’s words came from I Thessalonians 3:12: “May the lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all”. Unless of course, it involves marrying a Muslim.
Wednesday is “Skinny Wednesday” at The 700 Club, and skinny hosts, Kristi Watts and Pat Robertson, greeted me. Terry was absent from this episode, I am guessing, because she is not skinny.
The show opened on a report of the best and worst prepared cities for a terrorist attack. My city did not make the list for either, which I found disappointing, considering Niagara Falls is one of the largest power centers in the country. This report was followed by a series of news briefs, with Pat commenting in between, a courtesy not extended to his son, Gordon.
After the commercial break, Skinny Wednesday continued with Pat’s, “Stuff Yourself Silly” diet. Pat and Kristi showed us how to make a delicious protein shake, which Pat himself seemed to have trouble holding down. Next, our hosts showed us how to make a nice healthy salad. Pat and Kristi exchanged some playful, flirtatious banter that included Pat crying out, “BAM”, as he added ingredients. Look out Emeril.
After stuffing themselves silly on, uh, salad and protein shakes, Pat and Kristi stressed the need for exercise. Vedda Stencil from Fantastically Fit provided the entertainment, with some “smart” exercise tips. Unfortunately, Pat did not participate, and you could imagine my disappointment.
Vedda also stressed the need to connect the body and mind with scripture, quoting Isaiah 55:2: “Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength? Why pay for food that does you no good? Listen and I will tell you where to get food that is good for the soul”.
She never did tell me where, so I grabbed a bag of chips. Skinny Wednesday closed with a viewer’s e-mail.
Thursday it was back to Terry and Pat. The show opened on a very brief report on the Democrats’ new found control of Congress, followed by a segment on the “Blue Democrats”, a group of conservative-moderates who make up an outstanding twenty percent of the new Congress.
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Mike Ross, who formed the Blue Democrats in 1994, says, “We are dedicated to building a new democratic party that will look like your Grandfather’s democratic party”. Kind of a contradiction of terms, Mike.
Later in the show we were introduced to Mike and Kathy. Mike and Kathy owned their own small business in South Carolina, and like most small businesses, struggled in the first few years, but low and behold, the voice of the Holy Spirit sent them a message. It seems the Holy Spirit could help Mike and Kathy, but not until they doubled their tithing to the church.
Once this was done their business flourished. Mike and Kathy are long time 700 Club gold members, and Terry invited the audience to be just like them. After a final commercial break, Pat concluded the show with, "Bring It On".
Trudy put Pat to the test with a question regarding people who do evil in life, but then accept Jesus on their deathbed. Trudy wanted to know if they suffered consequence in heaven, to which Pat replied, “Not according to the Bible . . . .everything is forgiven, and that’s a comforting thought”.
A comforting thought, indeed.
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Thursday brought us some words of inspiration from Psalm 119:105: “Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path”.
Pat took the day off Friday, and Gordon and Terry handled the reigns for the final day. The show began with some discouraging news of another possible nuclear test at the hands of North Korea, but quickly moved on to a story about IHOP. No, not the International House of Pancakes, but the International House of Prayer.
This is a group of extreme Christians in Missouri who hold prayer services that last 24/7, and seems to be very popular with young adults. I guess they do not know about AD/HD in the Midwest.
Next came an interview with the infamous Dr. Laura. For those not familiar with Dr. Laura, type ‘homophobic’ in your favorite search engine and her name is sure to show up. Anyway, Dr. Laura was on the show today to talk about her new book on healthy marriage. She offered some interesting tips to women on how to accomplish a successful marriage.
First, she said it is the woman’s job to set the tone, because men are easy.
“Feed them, make love to them, let them go out and play basketball”, she advised.
You forgot clean the house and have many children, Dr. Laura. The show continued after Dr. Laura’s book tour to include some flu season tips for parents, and ten-year-old Christina.
Christina’s ruptured eardrum caused her a great deal of pain and suffering. She almost thought she would lose her hearing, but then God whispered a sweet nothing into her little ear, and what exactly did god say to a ten-year-old child?
“If you call The 700 Club, your ear will be healed”.
I hope you asked your mom’s permission first Christina. Gordon and Terry closed the week by healing an ear infection, marriage problems, curvature of the spine, and the ever-painful sinus headache.
How long does aspirin take to work? If it is less than an hour, I would strongly suggest it as a substitution to watching this show. It may be quicker, cheaper, and not come at the price of one’s own soul.
Finally, we were left with a chapter of Phillippians 4:7: “The peace of god, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
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Written by Jae - Visit Website |
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