If you aren't familiar, The Bucket List is a movie in which Jack Nicholas and Morgan Freeman set out to do some tasks before they kick the bucket, aka die. I figure everyones list will be filled with a lot of similar things so I decided to put a twist on it...of course, Gamer style. Without further ado, Matt's bucket list of game related activities in no particular order:

1) Win the EA Madden Challenge - I play in a couple tournaments every year. I really love the Madden series and the competition between the top players is incredibly fun. Mental chess and smack talk at it's best.

2) Own an old Arcade - Pretty vague but I think having an oldschool arcade system in my house would be a nice touch. Don't want to throw a pinball machine, Pacman or any other extremely mainstream ones in there. Something random and fun.

3) Buy another Commodore 64 and beat "Trolls and Tribulations" - This system was amazing but I haven't been able to find Trolls and Tribulations; my dad played it while I was growing up and the game combines a great puzzle wrapped around finger dexterity.

4) Get interviewed by G4tv - Avid fan of the show

5) Buy a 3DO and this gun game I can't remember - 3DO had some really awesome gun games where you used a plastic gun similar to duck hunt. It was an old wild west shootout along with a plane hijacking scenario. Incredibiley difficult. I will need to team back up with Dan or Scott on this one.

6) Create, manage, or be a part of a Worldclass Guild/Clan - This is down the road but I love video game competition. Something magical happens when money is on the line. It's not all about the cash but the thrill of the highest level of skill competing for bragging rights.

7) Help out Newbies in a Video Game for an entire day - We all helped someone out but I want to dedicate a whole day to being someones personal guide/mentor.

8) Leave the game industry a better place than I found it

As many of you know it's hard to stay motivated...especially if you have someone you know that is always a Debbie Doubter (chances are one flashed in your mind, retire them...NOW...I know I have), but it's nearly impossible if you have no goals or a destination..time to change that. Join along with me in my..err, OUR journey to become 'better people'. So what's this all about?

I need to stick to a daily routine thoroughly to be more productive in all facets of my life...so what's the catch?

I will set a daily routine, and if I fail to execute that routine I will pay $5 each day into a jar; this money will then go to buy video games for under privileged kids in my area...I figure the gift of Mario is pretty damn sweet, and I doubt my budget will cure Cancer.

The routine will be as follows:

1) Eat breakfast, Tasks for CharacterPlanet, Workout, Eat Lunch, Yoga, Snack, Tasks for CharacterPlanet, Run, Eat

Although eating seems out of place I can usually skip a day or two without eating because "I forgot" since I was playing Call of Duty or one of those amazingly addictive Kongregate - Gamer Crack games.

*Note* days I hang out with my super smart and sexy girlfriend won't count as sleeping late and pizza binges will be the norm.

I have an income coming in so I can pull this off; if it turns out I'm never missing days, or very rarely I'll up the amount of money to make missing a day more severe. I will commit this routine for a year starting today June 14 2008 to June 14 2009.

Who cares? I do because I love myself but I also would like you to learn to love yourself (if you don't). This is why we do so well in video games...we need to recreate the experience bar and put it over our real life selves to give us the desire to keep on going.

How do you get involved? Set a daily routine for yourself; granted you might only be able to get in a run once a week, or stretch out twice, read a book, spend time with your chiildren, cook a meal for your family, or whatever it is. Write it down, and stick to it. If you don't, you should contribute to the charity fund for whatever amount of money you want...can be as small as a $1. 100% will go to a great cause and help keep you motivated. Comment or Message me in private if you're excited about your new self and helping put games where they belong...in kids laps so they can veg out accordingly.

This isn't anything new under the sun or hard to do...if you have a pencil or pen you can start doing it now...well, go ahead start writing things you wish you had done today but you didn't do..and do them tomorrow, and every tomorrow after that! DO it NOW! No one has to know but you. This is on the honor system so be honest! Oh, and watch out for Debbie Doubter as she will likely give you a "reality check"...tell Debbie to go suck on some little Debbie cakes!

I lost one of my great gaming buddies. He was hairy 2 feet tall and the sweetest pug dog ever...not to mention always hungry for snacks ;)...my baby Goliath - a black pug that had a lot of personality. It's really hard on me because I was only 11 when we got him and now I'm about to turn 25....he lived long but it's always too short when someone goes isn't it? It all doesn't feel real...and death is such an odd thing that we dont' really understand it.

Anyway, it's not all about being sad..he was probably 111 years old human years. He was always there under my feet late at night when I would play games all night...and keep me warm at night. They better stock up on Shredded Wheat and pizza in doggy heaven :). Love you Goliath....

If you don't have this game then I need to know why ;). I typically don't play single player games but the story, the world, characters, etc just make it feel more than a single player game...almost like you're part of a great script or play...one with lots of violence and curse words ;p The single player game is awesome again just like in GTA III but I have some criticism of the multiplayer.

Granted the multiplayer idea is in its infancy for the series but it feels 'tacked' on or as an after thought to broaden the base of customers that normally don't get single player games. The world rockstar has created shows it will dominate the online aspect of gaming as well...once the world truly becomes seamless and online I'm thinking the Sims meets Secondlife meets GTA...a violent real world represenation online; that is going to be something special. So don't be disappointed about the multiplayer because it's not impressive but the single player game is extremely well done. Maybe custom maps are more fun..this looks like a pretty fun match

I was out walking last night like I usually do...helps me clear my mind and focus on different ideas. So the walk was uneventful till I heard something in some high grass; I thought I was about to get attacked by a bear when out came a little cat crying snuggling up on my leg.

The cat looked lost but it had a bell on it's neck so it was obviously someone's cat. I started to walk to see what it would do and it began following me. I decided to pick the cat up and take it to my house since I didn't want to just leave it when it was crying outside. I only got 25 feet or so when it fought like crazy to get out of my arms...it started to go back from where it came from. I called it but it wouldn't follow me as it looked like it knew where it was going. I actually went back to my house got some chicken to see if it was hungry. It didn't want it and finally I left realizing it must have just been lonely because he/she was bored with me and continued along its way  ;).

Long story short: a random cat came up to me like I was a BeastMaster...fell in love with it, only to have it run away ;(

Thorough overview and Analysis of two titans about to clash:

I understand the need to delay the games because you can't un-relaunch so to speak but we're getting close to both game releases. Age of Conan is set May 20th while Warhammer isn't set yet from what I understand. Will you wait for Warhammer or get Age of Conan since it came out first...or get both since they will be a couple months apart? Some key points of Warhammer.

WarHammer Online: Age of Reckoning

• "Upon entering WAR, players must determine their allegiance and join an army." Now if you played DAoC like I have this sounds very familiar; I think DAoC was ahead of its time and the graphics/bandwith issues made the game unplayable for me at the time compared to a smooth interface of Everquest. The Realm vs. Realm idea is extremely exciting as it makes your team truly allies and your enemies your common problem.

• " For the first time, players can engage in Public Quests" Basically everyone in the area can participate in a PvE setting if they want to. I love this idea of group Realm working towards a goal but can see people "participating" in the event just for experience or tack onto their resume by just being in the area and not actively helping advance. I'm assuming they thought of this and make it so you only get rewarded for what you do during these public quests...but then it becomes more of a full blown Free For All to see who can get the most out of the quest rather than team work. Someone who played Beta will have to fill me in on this.

• Warhammer has a huge following from the tabletop successful game Warhammer. It is a natural transition from one form of game entertainment to the next. We saw this formula work when the successful RTS game Warcraft transitioned into an MMORPG World of Warcraft. There is a formula here for success and Warhammer has the recipe to make another very successful game.

• Possible negatives: Purists from the tabletop version might see some changes as untrue to the original. This will not outweigh those who don't know about the tabletop version or those who understand it needs to change some. Realm vs. Realm: as great and War-like this is some will simply want to PvE and be more casual. If Warhammer tries to be everything to everyone it will fail. The theme is Realm vs Realm with quests that mean more than killing some bear for his fur and handing it in solo.

• The game has "War" in its title. The notion of epic battles, creating empires, and crushing other people is simply badass.

Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures

• "An advanced combat system lets you choose every cut, thrust, and swing in real time." "no two characters are exactly the same" Sound like GuildWars to anyone else? I really love this model of combat and now we get to see it truely on a grand scale versus instancing with GuildWars.

• "Hundreds of unique quests for combat and crafting with extensive NPC interaction and voice acting, immersing you in the living world of King Conan." I think the Public Quests are such a great idea by WarHammer..not sure how original quests for AoC will be. The Voice Acting has me excited as well; first time I heard an NPC talk was in EverQuest when I was in the town of Freeport. It was 3am, and pitch black where I was playing. All of a sudden I heard "Would youl like some fish?" and it freaked the hell out of me. Think I saw one of the beta NPC's that would interact with players. Immersion and interaction will definetly be increased greatly by the Voice interaction. Let's hope the execution is done well with proper acting so it doesn't sound like a computer monotone voice.

• "An extensive story-driven single player adventure to start the game drawing you deep into the scheming, seduction, intrigue, and betrayal of Hyboria." Looks like AoC is taking a more singular approach to the game versus a joint experience in WarHammer. Some people prefer solo quests, but don't see the point if you're playing online.

• The graphics on this game look amazing. Combat that lets you change the outcome with your skills is a huge plus as well. It reminds me of the system Darkfall Online is attempting but hasn't gotten the widespread support as these big game names.

• Possible negatives: Game does not derive from an earlier version of itself. Not many people know the story of Conan. This can also be a plus though as they are not tied into conventional ways of their fantasy world. PvP seems like an after thought where in WarHammer it is the central theme...you must vanquish THEM, but in AoC it's more open. The Guild Wars approach to character uniqueness/combos can prove to be too overwhelming; I know because I made some pretty useless characters in GuildWars only to find out days of gameplay later. Not a fan of the single player importance...like the approach the whole is greater than the one when I play online.

• The game has "Conan" in its title. Can anyone say Arnold? People love the idea of being a complete badass barbarian warrior tearing through shit.

Conclusion: While I'm pigeon holing each game a bit it's necessary to find out their differences. After all, you are entitled to know what exactly a game is, or wants to become if you are paying for it. WarHammer will become a huge success because it is already a success in other areas of the genre. The Realm vs Realm will make it a tight knit game where friends join each others sides in hours of fun. The combat system doesn't seem revolutionary enough to make someone that has played these games go "WOW" p.u.n intended. The game has excited me enough to purchase it. Age of Conan will become a success, but not as quickly as WarHammer. People that play WarHammer but are not fans of constant Realm combat will join AoC. AoC to me sounds like Ultima Online...very open to how you play, and isn't that the idea of MMORPGs? The fresh approach to skill based combat where a FPS/RPG style such as Dark Fall Online is sure to make the game never get old...always a new way to block and strike someone at different angles. Will AoC feel like a single player game traveling side by side next to strangers or can they bring people together like the Realms of WarHammer...is there enough history/folklore behind Conan to create its own universe? I'm excited enough to purchase Age of Conan. What will I play longterm? As 50% or more of the game is spent in combat whoever has the most dynamic interface will win my time/money. The other 50% is spent with your friends/allies socializing. I want to feel part of a great team taking on my enemies. We'll have to wait and see who can deliver fresh, skill based combat (not hack/slash) with a team you actually care about. I'm a crafting type person as well, but that will have to wait to analyze once I play.

As the title suggests this game a friend linked me breaks all the rules of a traditional game. It is not only a RTS game but also a FPS, role playing game. Just got done playing the demo and it feels like Warcraft from the general's POV. I think I would prefer being down in the action where the real time combat meets FPS style action. Clever and original.

 Savage 2 Trailer

Savage 2 Offical Site

   Should we believe the hype that the Nintendo Wii can be used as exercise? Is this really just a marketing attempt by Nintendo to sell more Wii consoles? The cynical and rational view point is the Wii is no more an exercise piece of equipment than Duck Hunt, but history and results prove otherwise.

    In Fact, when the Wii first came out users were complaining of soreness and fatigue; Nintendo dismissed these claims saying the Wii was not meant for exercise purposes and wasn't as strenuous as people made it out to be. Two years later, and Nintendo is now capitalizing on this unexpected phenomena. Fully embracing the Wii as a possible exercise regimen, Nintendo is soon to be releasing "Wii Fitness" which is a game or set of routines to help the user get in better shape (http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080215181306AAGMYfE). It is the first time the actual game is recognized as an exercise routine. Not to be outdone, hospitals are now ordering the Nintendo Wii's to aide rehabilitation for its patients.

    So what stories are there of results? People like Michael DeLorenzo have reportedly lost 9 pounds in 6 weeks with just playing the Wii. Wii is also helping damaged brain patients to put muscle memory to use while relearning how to use his/her body. Not to mention the endless amount of people too tired or depressed to get off the couch and use "conventional" exercise routines such as running, swimming, or lifting weights (http://www.marketingvox.com/wii-used-for-weight-loss-physical-therapy-026979/).

    Now there is no doubt that doing something (flailing your arms when playing Wii boxing is doing something) is better than nothing, but how quality is this time spent? When analyzed the Wii is a pretty ineffective tool to exercise. You will burn about 180 calories per hour playing Wii Tennis(http://www.abc15.com/content/news/webxtra/story.aspx?content_id=a9cadead-16d4-4287-99b8-0aa88afab91f). Let's compare these calories burned in one hour compared to walking. A 200lb person walking 4.0mph will burn 114 calories per mile. 114 x 4 miles = 456 calories burned (http://walking.about.com/cs/howtoloseweight/a/howcalburn.htm). This is more than double the calories burned while playing the Nintendo Wii Tennis, and I'm sure those calorie amounts were recorded from a heavier than 200lb person, and moving about more so than usual game play experience.

    What are we to believe? Of course the motion based Wii is going to burn some calories because you must move about to play. The game doesn't require lower body movements and most of the games I watched being played by my younger cousin were extremely quick, short movements of his wrist; seems the exaggerated movements are not necessary. Once I saw my cousin Michael flicking his wrist to bowl, hit home runs, and jab I realized if you play the Wii long enough you stop playing it like a first time player, and "trick" the motion sensor into thinking its a fast motion, when in fact it's just your wrist snapping.

    If you can't get off the couch, or don't have the motivation to go walk or do some crunches, the Wii is going to help you start to like yourself more if you start to lose weight. Does it deserve to be used as a rehabilitation method? I absolutely believe not. The Wii has become a gimmick and marketed as so many things. The truth is the sensor isn't as advanced as people think. The Wii is a jack of all trades; it's a social tool for family gaming, a fun change from traditional consoles, and perhaps a quick warm up of your muscles, but it is certainly not on Jack Lalanne's workout list.

P.S. if you ever had the olympic mat/duckhunt set for Nintendo now that was a freaking workout...stomping your hands and feet jumping over hurdles...puts the Wii to shame. Nintendo was on to fitness since regular NES ;)

I've been playing lots of FPS games lately. Mostly America's Army cause it's quick paced and easy to get in and get out when I get the itch to play. My clan tag is [CP] before my name ;) *original right?* If you want to play send me a message/comment and we'll set something up.

Anyone playing any obscure games that rule? For some reason I like playing obscure games that are hidden gems haha. Maybe we can meet up on there as well or I could join your guild/clan ;).

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Disclaimer *love fest* I'm always in awe when I talk to someone and find out what they are working on or what they are capable of...For instance Diner Crusaders headed by our active members which need no introduction ;). I once drew a picture in kindergarten but that was the extent of it ;p. I also met a man out west who is very skilled at coding...you ever try to learn some of this stuff? It's mind boggling ;p. Derrick is coding this oldschool UO free shard heavily involved with RP and other cool community things. I have learnt a lot from him about being a site monitor/mod...I think people can take any little shred of power they have and hold it against people. He embraces people and this is what I strive to exemplify as well. People can miss the point of these networks..its not about post count, the coolest leet person or any of that Example of Leet Douchebag
; it's about reconnecting with old friends and making new ones...Ask yourself if you are opening yourself up or staying in your comfort zone? What better way to know/trust someone with a little humilation involved! ;). Define one of your moments of weakness:

I'm going to be brutally honest. I was selling cars couple years back and the wrong car was picked (thanks whoever set this up at the time, /sarcasm) up for a "swap" (if one dealership doesn't have the car, we get it from a partner dealership)...the deal was tanking and I sat there and tried to get them to still do business...looking back it was pathetic and the right thing would be to say we fucked up and move on...but in the heat of the moment, in a moment of desperation you will say anything lol. Borderline begging later, no deal. P.S. car sales is extremely cut throat and anyone involved with sales knows these people aren't snakes (I knew some though) but just people making a living.

Define a moment of gaming greatness: Happened quite recently. I was playing America's Army (AA) and killed their whole team solo...I was afk eating and came back to a dead team (ok, what a crap teammate!) Maybe, for that round ;), so I proceed to flank, grenade, and frag my way till they are all dead (was about an 8 on 1)....I was accussed of hacking and kicked by an over hubris admin (see how power can corrupt) ;).

Now I'm not saying go ahead and make everyone your friend but feel free to jump out of your comfort zone, add someone as a friend or do something out of the ordinary. I felt like a dork posting a sentence that completely sucked ass for Chex's Word of the day, but after I did it I was happy with the end result ;p. I will be uploading pics soon...I'm in the process of growing a grizzly beard and looking like a mountain man...stay
 tuned..and lets hope I don't give in to the shaver like my girlfriend wants me to ;)