My First Drawbridge I Created On Bridge It

I am pretty excited about finally getting my drawbridge to work. I spent several hours on getting this bridge to work. I felt pretty good after watching the cars go across, and than it lift for the boat, and back down. It is sometimes the little things about games I love so much.

It wasn't all happiness though. It was pretty frustrating at first trying to figure out how the hydraulics work, and what kind of infrastructure I needed to build to support the bridge. I saw the bridge collapse so many times, but I learned from every one that did that eventually made it so I built a successful one.

Bridge It Easy Solutions 1-6

I started playing Bridge It last night. It took a few hours to figure out how to make a stable bridge. I finally have the hang of it. I completed the first six easy levels, and will now be moving on to the medium level. I am posting my solutions for all six easy level bridges so be warned the pictures contain spoilers.

The easy level bridges are easy once you figure out what to do. The problem is until you figure it out you will be cussing, and drinking lots of beer. I recommend having plenty on hand before firing it up on your PC.

Bridge It Easy Level 1

Bridge It Easy Level 2

Bridge It Easy Level 3

Bridge It Easy Level 4

Bridge It Easy Level 5

Bridge It Easy Level 6

A Cool Game I Found On Accident

I was browsing through my Google Plus, and saw the announcement of this game from Onlive called Bridge It. I was happy to find out that I was able to buy it without using Onlive. It is a mix between a simulation, and building game.

The game concept is really simple. You are building bridges, and than you can see if it holds up by itself with traffic, earthquakes, and more. You also have a budget of money so you have to strategically build the bridge with a limited budget.  I am just getting started, but eventually you are able to build some pretty amazing bridges as you complete levels, and progress in the game.

I love the game because once again it is a game that makes you use your brain, and put some strategy into how you are going to build a bridge that doesn't crumble. It does get frustrating sometimes though as you keep trying different ways, and it keeps falling down.

Here is a video I watched that got me hooked on Bridge It. The guy demonstrating the game really cracks me up when his bridges collapse, and he starts laughing.

I feel the game is very reasonably priced for the amount of hours of enjoyment I will be getting out of it. Right now you can buy it for $20, and they also have a pretty good demo you can try for free. If you like games that make you think than I highly recommend Bridge It.

Xbox 720 GPU Benchmarks

Today there was quite a bit of talk on Google Plus about the new GPU for the next gen Xbox 360 after seeing the IGN report.  They are praising that the performance will be six to eight times better than the current generation.  Isn't that a bit unrealistic?

I decided to do a little homework, and check out some benchmarks.  I am not so impressed.  Here is an Aliens vs. Predator on max 1080p settings.  The Xbox 720 GPU gets a poor 20 FPS in this benchmark.  How is this better?

http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/2011-gaming-graphics-charts/Aliens-vs.-Predator-Enthusiast,2668.html

I tried to find it on Anandtech, and it probably performed so bad it isn't even listed in their benchmarks.  You can look at some similar type GPU's, and see a 15-20 FPS.

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/GPU11/210

Another interesting claim is it will be twice as powerful as the Wii:U.  I couldn't do a full 1080p benchmark for it, but pretty close, and amazingly the Wii:U is actually three times as good as the Xbox 720 with a 60 FPS.

You can look at what the current Xbox 360 has right here.

http://www.amd.com/us/products/desktop/graphics/other/Pages/x1900-specifications.aspx

Here is some benchmarks for the Xbox 360 GPU.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/rig-run-oblivion,1279-9.html

Counterfeit Cove Final Thoughts

I completed the hidden object game Counterfeit Cove tonight. It went much faster than I thought it was going to.  Do I think it was worth the twenty bucks? Not really. If you look at this screenshot I completed this game much faster than the top ten.

The game really lost its fun factor rather quickly. Every map had about eighty hidden items total, but you only had to usually find about ten each time. The problem is you eventually saw the same map over, and over throughout the game. It made it become very boring even though each time you were finding different items.

You also have multiple duplicate type hidden objects in the different maps so you started knowing what to look for. Also doing the same maps over, and over you eventually knew where most of the items were so the challenge was gone.

The clues from solving each mini puzzle had no meaning while progressing in the game. Once you complete everything you get the final puzzle to solve from all the clues you recovered. It was a huge disappointment to see the ending, and the whole game overall.

I don't recommend buying this game. There are much better hidden object games that have better stories, and puzzles.

The Curious Case Of Counterfeit Cove

My addiction to the hidden object gaming genre is still going strong. Today I took the leap, and spent twenty bucks on The Mysterious P.I.: The Curious Case of Counterfeit Cove, and a few hours later I found myself still playing, and forcing myself to take a break.

I really think this hidden object game is very well made. It takes a little more time to find the objects. The game has a ton of content. Initially I wasn't sure what to expect until I started playing the game. The timer shows approximately twenty hours to complete the game, and solve the case. It has over 100 levels, and I think I just finished level ten.

The game really lacks a storyline though compared to the Temple Of Life I completed the other day. I guess it is good to mix it up a little.  I am currently into the game about three hours. It seems I was playing longer than that, but maybe it only tracks the time when actually solving puzzles.

The one downfall I have already noticed is eventually you go back to the same scenarios, but have to find different hidden objects. It is a little easier the second time around because you can remember from the previous time where some of the items are even though it wasn't on your list the first time.

I am really loving the games.  They are so relaxing to play, and also fun.  I see myself playing hidden object games for a while until I burn myself out on them.  I probably need to slow down a little, but it is just so addicting to just solve one more puzzle.  It could get a little expensive buying a new game every couple of days.

Temple Of Life: The Legend Of Four Elements

My new favorite gaming genre is hidden object games. I can't seem to get enough of it. I just love solving puzzles, and using my brain to figure them out. I rarely have to use the hints unless I am really stumped, and can't find it. My newest one I just completed was Temple of Life: The Legend of Four Elements which I found on Big Fish Games.

I love these games because it goes beyond just solving puzzles. It is almost like a single player RPG storyline that draws me in, and keeps me saying just one more puzzle, and I am logging off. Every solved puzzle leads me more into the story, and keeps me glued to my computer.

I thought the game was a really good value for three bucks. They normally run ten bucks, but if you join their game club you can get any game for seven bucks. I think after playing Temple of Life I will be buying some more hidden object games because they are well worth the money, and I am enjoying them a ton.

It took me about eight hours to complete Temple of Life. What else could I do these days for fifty cents an hour to entertain myself?

Hidden Object Games

Thanks to The Tiny Bang Story I have found a new genre of gaming I love. Last night I decided to Google it, and found that PopCap makes a ton of them. I tried out the free 60 minute trial, and enjoyed it a ton.

The games are simple. You look for objects hidden in pictures. PopCap adds their own little twist to them by not directly saying what the object is. They may say something like holds pants up instead of saying belt, and so on.

You also receive a score based on how fast you find the objects, and get penalized for randomly clicking. You can also get hints where it highlights the object, but you also receive a scoring penalty each time you do it.  After completing each scenario you than get a mini-puzzle to solve.

I am really loving these games, but there is one huge drawback. I think the pricing is a bit steep. I find it a bit hard to pull the trigger on a short casual game that costs $20. I know the puzzles include many different scenarios, and over 2k hidden objects in each game.

I know many hours go into making these, but I feel a $5-$10 price is more appealing. I do plan on purchasing the Vacation Quest at the $20 price just to try it out, and see if it lives up to the price tag.

First Time Ever Achievement Unlocked

I finally unlocked an achievement for the first time today.  I am not talking about killing ten wolves, or winning a battleground.  This achievement is much bigger than that.  What is it?

The achievement is quite an amazing accomplishment for me.  It is the very first time I have successfully completed a game.  Yes, I finally finished a game from start to finish.  Luckily it wasn't a long game, and I unlocked it in a mere eight hours of play time.

Yes, I just purchased The Tiny Bang Story last night, and after eight hours of searching for hidden items, solving puzzles, playing mini-games I managed to complete it.  I struggled in some areas of the game, but eventually I would figure it out.

It feels good to know that I solved all of the puzzles.  The game was definitely worth the $2.50 I spent on it.

The Tiny Bang Story First Impressions

The Tiny Bang Story is a great Indie Adventure game. I just bought this off of Steam, and immediately played it for over 3 hours.  It is a hidden object, and puzzle solving adventure game.  If you enjoy challenging your brain than you will really love this game.

There seems to be a never ending amount of puzzles to solve.  Every time you solve one puzzle it unlocks another puzzle you have to solve.  It is pretty addicting as you collect hidden items, and solve puzzles.  You keep just wanting to finish one more puzzle.

I did finally get to a point in the game that it is frustrating.  I am at a mini puzzle part where I have to guide this ship through very tight waterways.  I keep dying, and no matter how far you make it you start from the beginning.  It isn't like I can't figure out how to solve a puzzle.  I just can't manage to maneuver the ship through these obstacles.

I would highly recommend this game.  The price makes it worth every penny as you will get many hours of enjoyment out of the game.

Tera Is Most Likely My Next Game

I saw Tera two years ago at PAX, and it caught my eye back than.  Will it be my next game?  I think after watching the most recent trailer it will be.  I think graphically it reminds me of Aion, and Guild Wars 2. There is something about the game that just draws me in which most games lately haven't been able to accomplish.

I like the idea that combat will be more than 1,2,3,4 and 5.  It sounds great that you will be able to dodge attacks, and you actually have to aim to hit someone with your weapon, or spell instead of it being pretty much automatic.  I could learn to hate it too.  I won't really know what I think of it for sure until I am able to have some hands on.

I signed up for the beta today, and can't wait for a chance to try some of the classes out.  The Sorcerer of course will be my first class to try while an Archer, and Priest also sound pretty fun.  It has been a while since I have really been into an MMORPG, but this seems right down my alley.

Hopefully it isn't a Korean grindfest, or it will fall off my to buy list really fast.  I am so done with grinding my life away to get to parts of the game I enjoy which is mostly end game pvp.  I know when I talked with a dev about it two years ago that they were going to make it different, and so I look forward to see how they ended up implementing it.

Wasting Money On F2P MMORPG's

Why does it always end up that I end up wasting money on F2P games?  Once again I invested quite a bit of money into a MMO to instantly lose interest.  Why is it that once I spend money I stop playing it?

I could understand if I did it once, but it is becoming a pattern.  I did it in Archlord, Allods Online, and most recently Realms Online.  I find myself enjoying the game, and feel I have enough time invested that spending some in the cash shop is a worthwhile investment.

I think I still have money on the books in all three games.  It isn't like I can get a refund, but the money is just sitting there.  I added over a hundred bucks to Realms Online after already spending a hundred bucks.  I spent around $15 of it in the cash shop, and $85 is still sitting there.  I have no desire to play the game again.

What made me play the game 24/7 for a month straight, and than suddenly lose all interest?  Is it like using cheat codes in console games?  I know when I would use cheat codes the game would become boring, and I would stop playing.  Is it the same for F2P games?

I did a similar thing in Allods Online a few years ago.  I decided I wanted some perfumes, and a bigger inventory bag.  Two days later I stopped playing just out of the blue.  Why am I buying stuff, and than I suddenly don't care about the game?

I think maybe subconsciously I am thinking about how the game is costing me more than a normal sub.  My brain may be telling me to cut off the relationship now before it becomes a huge money pit.

I just need to now figure out the trigger, and stop that initial spending in a F2P game, and just quit before spending anything.  I don't know maybe in the back of my mind I am not really enjoying the game, but I am trying to convince myself by buying stuff off the cash shop.

Nation Red First Impressions

Over the weekend Steam is offering a free play weekend for Nation Red.  I was looking for a little diversion, and free is a very good price.  The game is a single player, or co-op close combat zombie killing frenzy.

The problem is you can kill only so many zombies before you get bored to death.  It is fun blowing zombies up, but Nation Red reminds me of a smartphone game where after playing a game for 10-15 minutes you are ready to play something else.

I think the game could be a little more exciting playing co-op with friends, and just having a blast killing zombies together while having fun.  I don't see the game ever being played competitively among gamers.

Currently the game is dirt cheap on Steam.  You can buy it for $2.50, or a 4 pack for $7.50.  The price alone makes it worth buying when you just want to have some blood splattering zombie killing fun with friends.

Why Do Gamers Like Dungeon Defenders?

I was gifted Dungeon Defenders recently, and I finally decided to play it.  I never bought it myself because it seems too cartoonish to me.  I figured I would give it a chance since it is a tower defense type strategy game.

I should have went with my hunch.  I couldn't even get into the tutorial.  I am glad I didn't waste my own money on it.  It is nothing compared to the fun I have playing Orcs Must Die.  It seemed way too complicated than it needed to be.  Orcs Must Die is very easy, and straightforward.

It is weird sometimes to see games that players seem to like.  Do players really praise Dungeon Defenders because it is four player co-op?  I know many players bad mouth Orcs Must Die because it is single player. I don't see why there is the hype so much for co-op in games.  I would rather play Orcs Must Die alone for 100 hours than spend one hour playing a co-op with so called internet friends.

It could be that I just like playing games alone these days.  

My First Loss In MLB2K11

Last night I suffered my first loss in my franchise season in MLB2K11.  I am now 3-1 overall.  All it took was one silly pitching mistake.  My Phillies team seems to have a pretty strong pitching staff, and enough consistent batting to be pretty competitive.

I ventured to the store last night, and bought a Xbox 360 controller.  What a huge difference in gameplay. Everything is so much simpler to do now instead of trying to do stuff on a keyboard, and mouse.  You can definitely tell the game was made for use on the controller.

One frustrating thing about the game is the menu navigation is horrid along with basically a useless manual.  I have had to figure out most controls on my own.  I still haven't figured out how to pinch hit for my pitcher.  I have looked at every button mapping setting, and see nothing.  It seems the internet is lacking in any help figuring stuff out too.

I need to just focus on playing the game though.  I suffered my first loss because my first three games I only used one pitcher the whole game.  I felt with having a bullpen of middle relievers, and closers that I starting feeling guilty not using them.  The one time I decide to bring in a closer to finish off the game he gets rocked, and I end up losing the game by one run.  I am sure if I would have just stuck with my starting pitcher for a complete game I probably would be 4-0 right now.

I am really enjoying the game so far.  I love the strategy involved.  I am really digging the pinpoint accuracy for pitching.  It makes it feel like you are really on the mound.  It definitely beats the old days of pitching a fastball straight down the middle, or a curve ball.

Mixing It Up A Little

The last week, or two I have been eyeing a new game to buy.  I decided to go back to my childhood days where I played only sports games with my brothers on Intellivision.  The games have come a long way since those days, and the gameplay seems so realistic.

I had a hard time deciding on which game to buy.  Was it going to be basketball, football, or baseball?  I love watching basketball, and football on TV, but I seem to be pretty bad at playing those sports on video games.  I decided on baseball which is odd because it is the only game I play where I hate actually watching the sport on TV.

I just understand baseball more than trying to figure out one hundred different plays which I still don't understand in the football, and basketball games.  I purchased MLB2K11.  The games have changed so much since the last time I played a baseball video game.

I was a little confused initially.  I had a hard time trying to figure out the controls.  Did I tell you how much console ported games drive me crazy? Eventually I figured out how to pitch, and bat.  The first game I didn't even realize that I wasn't actually choosing, or controlling my pitches.  It drove me crazy to see four, or five pitches with numbers next to them.  Unfortunately in the PC version those numbers don't mean squat.  The key mapping is just strange.

I have played two games into my franchise season now, and I am 2-0.  The pitching on the Phillies is pretty strong.  I have only allowed a few hits so far, but the control is so crazy with trying to aim the pitches with WASD.  I am definitely going to buy an Xbox controller for my PC tonight.

I like the challenge of trying to throw a perfect game, no hitter, or just winning the game.  I have always liked playing the season instead of just random one time games.  It gives me something to work for by trying to have a great record, and making the playoffs.

MLB2K11 is a great game.  I have already invested over five hours into the game today, and plan on trying to play at least two more games in my season tonight.  The only thing I find annoying is all the announcer talk in the game.  I have to play with my headphones laying on my desk otherwise I may want to punch Phillips, and Kruk in the mouth.

Social Media Burnout and New Years Resolution

The new year is upon us, and I figured I would address my social media disappearance.  I left rather abruptly from Google +, and other social media.  I confided in one person, and even with his convincing I decided it was best to leave for a while.

Social media was ruling my life.  I was spending countless hours reading streams and timelines.  I reflect back these last few weeks without social media, and it really made me think.  Why was things making me so angry, and annoyed?  Was I following people that normally I wouldn't talk to in real life? Were most of the people in my circles really my friends?  How many haven't even noticed I left, and uncircled everyone?

After disappearing a few weeks ago I realized that I am not missing it at all.  I am a happier person.  I don't have to read all day of people praising games that are pure garbage.  I can now focus again on my blog, and the original reason I created it a few years ago.

My main purpose of my blog is to talk about games, and stuff that I am playing.  I was getting way to sidetracked with social media, and totally losing my focus.  I spent so much time on social media it left me no time to even play games it seemed.  I just want to have fun playing games, and write about it.

I can now write posts on my blog, and not worry about anything but myself.  It feels good, and I wonder why I held on to social media for as long as I did.  I don't see myself going back in 2012.

Another Phase Completed Of My New Minecraft House

I have been spending many hours removing blocks, leveling land, planting grass, and so much more in Minecraft.  My new Minecraft House is progressing very nicely.  It puts my old Minecraft house to shame.

I have basically completed the outer walls, built a watch tower, and another building inside the walls. I spent a huge amount of time removing blocks on the outside of the walls to give a cleaner, and more polished look to my Minecraft House.

I still am undecided on my tower.  The look just isn't doing it for me.  It just looks to plain, but adding windows on all of the tower wouldn't really make it a lookout tower.  I may have to brainstorm a little bit, and think of a better design.

I still have two sides of landscaping to complete. It is really time consuming removing blocks to make it level.  I tried using tnt, but it just doesn't give me the results I am looking for.  It also gives me nightmares every time I set off some tnt that I am going to blow up all my hard work.

I recorded a really short video showing the transformation of my new Minecraft house.