Three Things I Enjoy At Christmastime

It's that time of the year when everyone seems so busy making preparations for the holiday season. While I'm kind of a humbug during the holidays (I hate how commercialized Christmas has become) there are a few things that I really enjoy around this time of the year . . . and no they aren't some of the more obvious reasons to enjoy Christmas. So as this year wraps up, I wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy new decade! I will see you all on the flipside, 2010 here I come!

1. California Clementines - I love oranges, especially みかん (Mikan) which are known as Satsuma Mandarins here. But there is something truly special about homegrown produce (even though I didn't grow it) and it kind of makes you proud when your state is one of the national suppliers of products like avocados, rice, spinach, apples, lettuce, and oranges. Clementines are really special, their season is one of the shortish, starting in late November and ending in early January. I can't help but get a box of these great little oranges every time I go to the grocery store. It's a sad thing that I can't get them throughout the year but they definitely add to the special time that is Christmas.

2. Twelve Days of Christmas - I hate the song in all honesty, it is one of the most annoying Christmas songs to date. It doesn't help that I can't stand rounds either. But it's fun spotting all the different "Twelve Days of Christmas" themes throughout the holiday season. Whether it be RightStuf's Anime themed Twelve Days of Christmas sale to the Twelve Days of Christmas movie marathon. When you hear this song, you can't help but think it's Christmastime.

3. Christmas Lights - I love watching as a town magically turns into a sea of light. While not as many people put up Christmas lights where I live, there is still something magical when you see a block of houses decorated in the green and red glow of Christmas lights as white reindeer cover the lawns. With next year's Christmas celebrations looking like they might take place in a different area (with much better weather), I might just try and convince my parents to let me go big with the Christmas decorations. Until then, I'll just have to enjoy seeing all the lights around town.

Freezepop Reborn

If you haven't followed the amazingly cool and geeky synth-ish band Freezepop, then you might not notice what's different about this picture. Well, unfortunately the Duke of Pannekoeken, one of the original members, has left the band to work on his own Symbion Project (which is pretty awesome as well). Does that mean that this awesome tech candy music is doomed? Nope, Liz Enthusiasm and the Other Sean T. Drinkwater are keeping Freezepop going while adding two more members to the group - Robert John "Bananas" Foster and Christmas Disco Marie Sagan. Bananas has been playing off and on with Freezepop since 2004 so he's a familiar face while Christmas will be brand new to the band.

I'm definitely bummed that the Duke is gone but I'm glad that both Freezepop and the Symbion Project will keep going. Freezepop has played around with the quartet sound for a while now with guests coming in for certain tracks, so I'm very curious to see how they will sound with this new setup. I know the band is working on a new album and I can't wait to see what they have in store!

Flames Vs. Sharks Review (Dec. 5, 09)

Ugh . . . where do I start with this game. In a lot of ways, I almost wish I didn't spend the money and the time to go down to see the Sharks, that is how terrible the game was. And it wasn't just the Sharks either, but I guess I should start at the beginning. Only eight seconds into the start of the game and fists were already flying, resulting in some roughing penalties and a bit of 4-on-4 play. After that, the game took an amazingly slow pace and stayed that way throughout the whole game. Some of my predictions did come true with the first goal coming in the second off a nice shot from Boyle and redirected right to Clowe, who tapped it in for a 1-0 lead. The Flames scored halfway through the second with a play that started with Jay Bouwmeester at the back end. The Flames would go onto score again in the third and a steller kick save from Kiprusoff sealed the deal. Flat on his stomach, the Kipper was able to deflect the puck out of mid-air with his skate, probably 80% luck but the 20% skill truly showed off Kiprusoff's abilities. One thing I didn't count on was the great work of Sharks defensemen Douglas Murray. He's known for being a tank, try and knock him to the ice and it will be you on the ice instead. He's not known for his great puck handling skills but he definitely showed his ability against the Flames with great defensive plays that helped keep this game from being a wash out.

Unfortunately, the Sharks were unable to rally late in the game and feel to the Flames, 3-2. This would be the second loss in what would be the Sharks longest losing streak in three seasons (5 losses in a row). The losing streak cost them the number one spot in the Pacific Division, the number one spot in the Western Conference, and the number one spot in the league. Because the gameplay of the Sharks was so horrible, I'm going to go over some basic hockey 101 and highlight what they did wrong while teaching you a little bit of hockey lingo.

Faceoffs - Every time play is started, it begins with a faceoff. Whether it's the start of a game or resuming play after a goal, the game always begins with the faceoff. The faceoff is also one of the few times that you truly have a 1-on-1 situation. The concept is simple, the centers from both teams stand in the faceoff circle and wait for the referee to drop the puck. Once it's dropped, they fight to win control of the puck and the game begins. So why is this 50/50 battle so important? Simply because it allows you to gain control of the puck. If you're in the offensive zone, you'll be able to get a quick shot off before the other team's defense has time to get into position. A faceoff win is amazingly important on the penalty kill (when your team is down one member) because it can easily kill off 5-10 seconds. With a 2 minute penalty, a few seconds buys you the chance to clear your zone, make the other team chase the puck down to their end, and allows you to get some fresh legs on the ice. With thirty to fifty faceoffs a game, that equates to seven or eight minutes with the puck (or without it if you lose the draw).

While winning a faceoff doesn't guarantee that you'll win the game, it's a key piece of the puzzle to help put you in a position to win. The Detroit Red Wings have had the best faceoff win percentage in the entire league for the last two seasons . . . they have also reached the Stanley Cup finals in the last two seasons, winning the Cup two seasons ago. The Sharks lost the draw quite a bit against the Flames (Marleau was winning only 25% of his draws) and it cost them time on the power play and the penalty kill.

Penalties - Something the Sharks have been guilty of for quite a bit of time now, taking too many penalties. For those not familiar with hockey penalties: you get two minutes for a minor infraction, four minutes for high sticking with injury, and five minutes for a fighting major. While the common penalties are tripping, holding, charging, and high sticking. Tripping is pretty obvious, you take a guy by getting your stick between his feet. There is also a less common penalty called diving which is given to the player who fake-falls. Holding is given out when a player lets go of his stick with one hand and grabs an opposing player. You don't even have to obstructed an opposing player, the mere action of removing your hand off of a stick can get you sent to the box. Charging is given out when a player goes in for a check on an unaware player. It's a dangerous play that has the potential of getting someone seriously injured. High sticking is when your stick clips a player in the face. Sometimes on purpose, mostly on accident - a player will get called no matter what the reason. You can also get an extra two minutes in the box if the player you hit was cut.

The Sharks took seven penalties (including one fighting major), 17 minutes on the PK can kill a team's momentum and it did for the Sharks. While it didn't cost the Sharks a goal, it did cost the Sharks much needed team in the third to try and rally for a game tying goal.

Backchecking - The game of hockey is pretty simple. When you have the put, you try and get into the opposing team's zone and get a shot on goal. But when you give possession of the puck back to the opposing team, you'll need to hustle back down into your zone to defend. Most of the time, your D-men will be their to defend while the other team is rushing into your end. Every so often though, you'll find that your D-men are outnumbered on the rush and you'll need to provide support. In a lot of plays, you'll find yourself behind an opposing player, unable to get in front of him to stop him. So, you'll have to backcheck, which basically means apply some pressure by harassing the puck carrier from behind. A slight whacked with your stick, cutting down the angle in which the puck carrier can make plays from, or simply riding the player into the boards.

Backchecking is a key component of a good defense and usually falls on the forwards, who while they mostly do the scoring, still have a responsibility to defend. That's the thing I really like about hockey, unlike football when you put out your defense or your offence when needed, in hockey, every player has to be able to contribute in every way. Pavelski is a great example of this. He's the center for the second line which means he has to take faceoffs (61% against the Flames). Being a forward means that he is either setting up a play or scoring the goal. But he also finds a great role in the penalty kill for being a great defensive forward, so much in fact that on the power play, Pavelski actually takes the point (meaning he takes one of the defensemen's positions).

Unfortunately, Pavelski seemed to be one of the few players actually backchecking. The Flames were basically allowed free roam of the entire rink. The defensemen were weak on the stick (a term I'll explain in another post), the forwards seemed lazy when getting back to their own zone, and poor point coverage cost them the game. Overall, it was a very boring game to watch and the loss didn't seem to wake the Sharks up much because their next game against the Kings (I caught it on TV when I was down south) looked exactly the same.

Luckily, the Sharks have found their winning ways again with a rolling Anaheim, the Dallas Stars, and a high-flying Blackhawks. The win against the Blackhawks restored the Sharks to the top of the Pacific Division and the Western Conference. Luckily, I was able to catch the Blackhawks game (it was on a national channel, so I still don't get to see the Sharks on a regular basis) and you'll be hearing my thoughts on that game in the new year. Hopefully, this losing streak will be a wake up call for the Sharks to tighten up and get their act together. With only a handful of points separating the playoff pack from the rest of the league, getting into the post-season could truly come down to one win or one loss. I'm just hoping that the five game losing streak won't cost the Sharks dearly in the end.

Three Things I Found Strange On My Trip

It's been over a week since I got back from my annual trip down south for hockey and its taken me all that time to just get everything unpacked and put away. There wasn't too much to report about the trip (you'll be hearing my cold hearted thoughts about the Sharks real soon) since nothing too interesting happened. Went to see some sights, did a bit of work while visiting one of the other locations, as well as hit a few restaurants on the way. I did, however, find a few strange things while I was on my six day excursion.

1. Winter Weather - California is known for having some crazy winter weather, especially when it's El Nino. A few years ago, the rain and snow was so bad that the entire town that I live in was shut off from the outside world for about two weeks. There was no food in the grocery stores, all the fast food joints were closed, and everyone was trapped inside the town. It felt like something out of a Stephen King novel. It almost felt like deja vu while I was down there. A ton of rain and snow covered the area, an area that was supposed to only have light showers that week. Luckily, it didn't pose too much of a problem while I was down there, just a bit of an inconvenience considering I didn't have any waterproof shoes.

2. 7-Eleven's Merchandise - Not the first place that comes to mind when I'm thinking about reserving a game. A slurpie, yes . . . some snacks and groceries, yes . . . but not video games. So, I was kind of surprised when they started advertising a special pre-order bonus for Modern Warfare 2, but I thought "hey, I guess they want a piece of the pie too." Then, while I was down south, I noticed something else kind of odd, something I didn't expect to find there - Anime and Domo-kun. And I'm not talking about the really old Anime or the badly produced stuff that you can find almost anywhere, I'm talking some fairly new titles by some big names. I think it's seriously strange to go to a convenience store and find these things . . . soon I'll be going to the grocery store to pick up the next Ratchet & Clank game.

3. Wii Fit - Now, you may have been wondering what was up with my header picture. No, I don't have a Wii and no I did not catch onto this Wii Fitness craze like so many other (supposedly) female gamers have. Actually, the Today Show made it sound like 95% of female gamers are in their 40s and only do Yoga on the Wii . . . and you wonder why I don't like the Wii. It's not because it's a bad console, Nintendo has done a great job with it. I don't like it because of how the general population looks at the Wii as being the Apex of the video game industry and that everyone, and I mean everyone just plays bowling and tennis. Have I lost you? Okay, maybe I should back up a bit. I had some time to kill while down south so I popped into this really big sporting goods store. You know, the kind with camping gear, snowboards, weights, and Wii kiosks . . . wait, did I say Wii kiosks? Yes, can you believe that an actual sporting goods store had Wiis lined up like some Target store, all advertising the very diverse line of fitness games - and it was placed right next to such personal gyms as the BowFlex and others. This is why I hate the Wii, this weird plague that has spread through the non-gaming populous, warping their views of video games and gamers alike. Turning it into the next fad, like Pokemon or the Pet Rock, where everyone and their grandmother must have one. Soon we'll only being seeing casual games hit the shelves and some fitness game getting the GotY award instead of a game that truly deserves it. If this plague continues to spread, we might even see some of the big video companies like Ubisoft completely shift their focus to casual, tween, and fitness games . . . oh wait, that already happened at E3. Will someone please stop this insanity before I'm forced to strike some praying mantis pose in my living room!

Happy 15th Anniversary PlayStation!

Can you believe that 15 years ago on this date, Sony official entered the video game arena with the PlayStation? I was seven at the time and had no clue about video games and that 15 years later I would be a hardcore gamer. And if you're wondering about the date, it was back in December 3, 1994 that the PlayStation was released in Japan, it wouldn't hit stateside until September 9, 1995 (September 29, 1995 for the EU).

As for me, when did I get my PlayStation? July 1, 1996 because my brother wasn't introduced to the PlayStation until after Christmas of 1995, when his friend got one as a gift. He spent the rest of the year convincing my parents that I wanted a PlayStation for my birthday because my birthday was six months sooner than his. You can imagine how shocked and disappointed I was when I did open that big box to find some weird electronic instead of a giant lego set. That very day, my brother and I hit the local Wal-Mart to pick up a couple of games for the system. My brother of course picked out which games to get, deciding on Ridge Racer and Tekken.

Ironically, I only played the PlayStation to spite my brother, saying that since it was mine I had rights to play it first. I spent hours practicing my skills at both games so I could beat my brother when we went head-to-head. Now, the Ridge Racer series and the Tekken series are some of my all time favorite games. It's funny how a birthday present that wasn't even really for me has become my biggest passion. So, even though I hate to admit it, I have to thank my brother for getting me a PlayStation all those years ago.

じゅごしゅうんえんおめでとう　プレイステーシュン！

Childish Things

I've always enjoyed assembling things. I was never very good at drawing, painting, or other artsy stuff when I was a child, but I was very good at constructing models and other such things. I have put a few model cars together and a lot of different Ganpura as well but I really found my niche when I was introduced to Legos. I had tons and tons of Legos everywhere from Pirates to Knights and a huge collection of the Star Wars series. They were my favorite toy growing up and I could spend hours just building, destroying, and rebuilding my sets.

A few things have spurred this blog on, one is the fact that I was asked recently what I wanted to Christmas and I really couldn't think of anything. I've already pre-ordered all of the games I wanted and I buy the movies and CDs I want when I want too. I did however do a little flashback when I was little and would always ask Legos. It was always Legos, my Christmas list was basically a rundown of the latest Lego catalog. My parents even commented on how they wished I was little again because it was easier to shop for me back then.

The other reason why I'm writing about Legos is because I was recently at a toy store picking up some toys for a toy drive when I saw some of the new Lego series. And they happened to be Pirates and Knights! I cannot explain how excited and how disappointed I was in that moment because when I was little, I started playing with Legos right when they were discontinuing those series . . . my two favorite themes of all time, especially Knights (no wonder why I love Oblivion). I felt cheated, I wanted to buy all of the sets and then time travel back to my glory days of Lego building.

Unfortunately, my time with Legos was short. Soon I was hearing things like "you're old enough to stop playing with toys" and I eventually moved on to video games. Though video games have truly become my いちばん (number 1), I still find myself missing the old days of constructing something with my own hands. I have found an interesting solution to my dilemma of still wanting to be a kid and having fun - Piperoids.

The concept is simple, you get a kit filled with paper pipes and some instructions. Cut where it says, put it together, and poof - instant cool looking robot dude. They are fun and look pretty cool, plus I have a good excuse to use when I'm putting one together. First, their made of paper so I can do the whole "it's modern origami" statement. There's also the fact that they are designed and made in Japan . . . and we all know that anything from Japan becomes instantly cool in the eyes of "people my age". Plus, their robots, how awesome is that?

So if you find yourself in the same boat as me, still wanting to be a kid and have fun when you're supposed to be "choosing your career and starting your future", then you should definitely pick up a Piperoid kit. Their fun and unique . . . and they will help keep your inner child occupied while you play the "adult".

Black Friday Reformed

Today is the day after Thanksgiving (at least in America) . . . today is Black Friday. *shutters* I have only made the mistake once of going to the mall on Black Friday. I live in a small town, bare 28,000 people, probably closer to 32,000 when you add in the surrounding rural towns. "How bad could it be?" I thought to myself . . . HA, was I wrong. It took almost an hour on the highway to travel the distance what usually takes 2 minutes. The parking lot was so full, that cars were parking in the empty lot, commonly known as "the homeless camp". A day that's supposed to kick off the Christmas shopping season as well as all the Christmas spirit only seemed to bring out anger and frustration as the mall was literally bursting at the seams with people. After finally getting a parking place, which played out like a vicious game of spoons, the line just to get into the mall took almost a full 20 minutes.

I don't like crowds. There is a good reason why I don't like crowds and that is I'm not a tall person. My eye level is usually wear people hold bags and coffee. A trip to a busy place usually results in me weaving and dodging out of the way of "GAP" bags (which are way too big to begin with) and mall food. Add in about 40% more people into that crowd and you get one tiring day. Ironically, neither my father or myself actually bought a gift that day because of the shear pandemonium that was going on around us. Once we pulled out of the parking lot, I breathed a sigh of relief that I survived.

That experience happened a few years ago and I swore I would never go shopping ever on Black Friday again. Because of that, I've found myself not really paying attention to all the massive sales and hype that goes on around this so-called-commercial-holiday. One thing I have been noticing in the last two years or so is what the online retailers are doing to hype Black Friday. They can't do door-buster sales or open their doors five hours earlier than usual . . . they're online, it's the same old shopping experience as the day before . . . or is it?

Amazon probably had one of the more interesting Black Friday sales, timed deals opening every hour on the hour with a limited amount available. Once sold out, the item reverted back to its original price. I was shocked at some of the deals going on, like the complete series of 24 for $99.99 - if my math is right, buying all seven seasons should come out to around $349.99 - wow. That deal sold out in less than 30 minutes. The best thing about it . . . you didn't have to wait until Black Friday to get the deals, they started early Thanksgiving morning.

I have to admit I was curious about all the deals and ended up getting sucked in a bit as I left the computer all day on Thanksgiving, refreshing every hour just to see what new deals they were offering. While, I didn't actually buy anything from Amazon, I did cash in on some deals at RightStuf.com which is the site I buy my Anime and Manga from. I got a pretty good deal in fact too.

I'm grateful for the Internet and all the online retailers letting me enjoy the spirit of Black Friday without having to tackle some old grannie for the last copy of Uncharted 2 or some other blockbuster item. Plus, I don't have to worry about getting trampled to death either . . . a plus anyway you look at it.

Sony Alpha DSLR-A200

I've had my DSLR camera for almost a full year now and it's taken me that long to use it to its fullest potential. One of the things I love about Sony's Alpha line is their ease of use. The menu is easy to navigate, the dials are in convenient places, and best of all - you don't have to have any previous knowledge of SLR cameras.

The difference of clarity is amazingly drastic between my Sony Cybershot and my Alpha-200. I was shocked to see what the 10.2 megapixel APS CCD image sensor can do. The basic kit came with a standard 18-70mm lens as well as the option to pick up the 75-300mm, which I took. Being able to really zoom close to take that great shot is a must when using a DSLR and once you've taken a few, you'll never want to go back to a "pocket" camera again.

If you have used SLR cameras with a high powered lens, you know that the more you zoom in, the more you have to hold still - unless you want to get shutter blur. Another thing the Alpha-200 solves with its SteadyShot technology that helps guarantee a blurless picture. The A200 provides JPEG and RAW formats that can be saved to a Compact Flash Card or a Pro Duo (with the use of an adaptor).

The best thing about the A200 is that it is a member of Sony's Alpha Series, meaning that it is compatible with almost all of the Alpha accessories. Everything from leather grips, lens filters, camera bags, studio flash setups, and every other kind of camera accessory you can think of. There are a few downfalls to the A200, including its size. While smaller than most of the other Alpha Series DSLRs, you still can't put it in your back pocket while you walk around . . . and you will definitely look like a tourist when you hang it around your neck (something I refuse to do). The camera is also expensive, while Sony no longer carries this model (they moved to the A230 which I've heard is a great model but an unnecessary upgrade) you can find the A200 at other big electronics stores for around $300-$400. Add in lens protectors, batteries, and a bag . . . you're looking at spending at least another $200-$400 in accessories.

If you want to be able to take studio quality photos without having to go to photography school, this camera's for you. The A200's ability to go from a basic camera to a full-fledged professional camera is amazing. I absolutely love the A200 and all of the great features it offers. It makes taking great pictures as easy as pie.

Jayme Versus Victory

I have two friends, Jayme and Victory . . . and every time I do anything, I have to choose between the two. I can never be with both, it always has to be one or the other. It's not an easy choice because both are such great people. Different in their own ways, they each offer something unique and I always hate having to choose between the two.

Jayme is a really nice guy. He's on the shorter side but he makes up for it with his determination and dedication. He's a great hockey player, working his way up from the minors and now plays on the top line of the San Jose Sharks. He's also into skateboarding, winning a few tournaments and even beating Danny Way. He's an experienced farmer with years under his belt at growing various crops and raising livestock. In his spare time, he enjoys racing his red Mazda 8 and a few other cars. He vacations in a villa next to a lake and invites all his friends out for barbeques on the patio. He's also an experienced explorer, mage, and knight - surviving years in some of Tamriel's harshest areas.

Victory is a girl you don't mess with. She's tough but she's also always willing to help someone out. She is a sharpshooter for the Rainbow Organization, specializing in small team infiltrations and tactical raids. She's also an accomplished guitarist, getting into the rock and roll hall of fame with her band, Boom Boom Riot. She flies to Japan and snowboards in her spare time as well as being a mercenary for hire. Her vacation spot is at a cabin in the mountains where she entertains her guests. She also has a lot of knowledge about the Washington D.C. area, surviving in the capital wastes after nuclear war broke out.

I'm sure by now, you realize that Jayme and Victory aren't real people, they are my alternate personas in a wide variety of video games. I still have the same dilemma as I stated above though, choosing between the two. In most games, you don't get a choice of gender, and I grew up playing as the male protagonist. I had heard about Lara Croft when I was younger but it wasn't until Primal on the PS2 that I actually got my first chance to play as a female character. Because I'm so used to playing as a male character, when I get the chance to choose gender, I often find myself leaning towards creating a male character rather than a female character (in case you haven't read my bio I am a female gamer).

In almost all of the games I listed in the bios of Jayme and Victory, I had the choice of choosing genders. In Skate 2 I chose to have a male character but in Fallout 3 I went with the female character. You'd think that I would always take the opportunity to play as a female character because I don't get the chance very often. And yes, gender does matter when you're playing a game. How would you like to play as a female for 90% of your games. Trust me, it gets awkward when you're male character kisses his love interest or trying to explain to your friends that you don't know which wife to choose in game. And I can't help but break into fits of laughter when I'm writing my blogs for Harvesting Hyde, as I try and explain my male character's various love interests.

It's more than just awkward moments though, the gender bender problem I've had with video games goes back to when I started playing games around age ten. I have literally grown up role-playing as male characters to the point where I almost prefer them to the dumb-downed female characters you find nowadays. It's kind of odd when I relate myself better to Nathan Drake (who is a really cool character) than I do with someone like Nariko. In multiplayer games, I find myself choosing male characters like in Skate 2. I do have female characters in games like Rainbow Six Vegas 2 and in Rock Band, but I discovered a very interesting trend that I didn't even know was there - both female characters wear masks. Even my female character in Fallout 3 (which is a single player game) wears a mask, though that is more out of necessity.

And if I generally choose male characters for multiplayer games, why did I go with a male character in Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. I could have gone with a female character but a female character just didn't seem to fit into my image of knights and mages. There are a lot of female characters in fighting games, but they are always so over the top, if you know what I mean. Realistic female characters are hard to come by, granted male characters like Kratos don't come around very often, but I could see Nathan Drake being a real person. But what of Lara Croft or someone like Ivy from SoulCalibur? Then there's PlayStation Home, the only place where Jayme and Victory exist together. Why? Because when I'm using a female character in Home, the harassment is non-stop, so much so that Victory is confined to the walls of her apartment while Jayme is free to roam the world of Home.

If you're a male gamer, you might take for granted how good you have it. I love to get into my games and really get into the story, so much so that I almost feel like I'm the characters themselves. But it's hard at times, when the character you are trying to connect to is a womanizing hunk of adrenaline (Ezio from Assassin's Creed 2) or a weak woman who doesn't know how to handle a gun (Faith from Mirror's Edge). In all honesty, I can't really name any female protagonist that wasn't geared towards the male audience or completely watered down. While I understand that the male audience is a lot larger than the female audience for video games, still the misrepresentation of video game protagonists is amazing. Actually, according to the ESA, 40% of gamers are women and that women over 18 (34%) represent a larger proportion of the gaming community than males under the age of 17 (18%).

For now, it looks like I will just have to deal with always playing a male character or a female character that I don't like, at least until a true representation of the female population is presented as a protagonist. While, I still have the dilemma of choosing between Jayme and Victory every time I start up a new game, at least I have the choice now unlike in the years worth of games that I grew up on. So if you're a male gamer, be thankful that you don't have to tell your friends that you're having a hard time picking your new husband or having to sit through a make-out session with a guy.

You Need More Than Just Faith

A game concept never heard of, stunning visuals, an amazing soundtrack, and heart-stopping action - so what happened to a game that should have revolutionized a genre but fizzled out just as quickly as it appeared? EA DICE's attempt to shake the very foundation of the platforming genre shows that you need more than just faith to accomplish the task.

First-person platforming . . . why didn't anyone else think of that before 2008 when Mirror's Edge was released. It adds so much more drama and action than a third-person platformer could give you because you are seeing everything up close and personal. Running and jumping for your life never seemed so fun . . . at first. The main flaw I found in Mirror's Edge is the very thing that sets it apart from so many other games, it's first-person camera angle. Bullets are flying and there are guards everywhere as you try to get off of the rooftop. In the first few levels, the path you are supposed to take is pretty obvious by the brightly colored red door but as you progress through the game, it seems so do the colors because soon there is a lot of red, blue, yellow, and any other blinding neon color that shows up in the game. I like neon colors, but put bright neon colors with blinding white backgrounds and I start to get a headache. Having a first-person view limits how much of the level you can see and in turn limits the options that you have. I found myself getting lost countless times as I tried to avoid bullets and guards as I searched for an exit.

Guards . . . another thing wrong with this game. I love the fact that we get the rare opportunity to play as a female lead, an Asian one at that. But unlike Lara Croft and Nariko, Faith doesn't know how to fight or how to shoot a gun. You have a better chance of survival if you flee rather than try to pull off the awkward combo or steal a guard's gun. Speaking of which, the concept seems simple enough to disarm a guard. As you are fighting, the gun will flash red and if you time it right, you can disarm him and deal a knock-out blow all in one move. The bad thing for me trying to pull off this move is that I don't see the color red very well. I'm not color blind but the thing that's colored red has to be over a certain size for me to actually see it. Like, if you write something in a red pen and hand it too me, the paper will literally look blank because I just can't see it. Same thing happens when the gun flashes red, I don't even see it. So I found myself just hammering the button hoping to get lucky and time the move correctly.

Then there's the story. I won't go into any detail about the story, probably because there really wasn't enough of one for me too. My main problem is how they presented the story, by using these cartoony cut-scenes that look like they were taken from an episode of Kim Possible. I thought this was one of the worst things about the game. It totally takes you out of the world and destroys the continuity of what you've just been playing and what you are now watching. I almost felt like I was watching a commercial, something totally disconnected from what I was just doing. You don't see great story driven games like Uncharted and Assassin's Creed use a different art style in their cut-scenes nor do you see those games change perspectives on you either. I think the game could have been much better if they had just kept the art style and perspective the same throughout the game and the cut-scenes.

While it isn't all doom and gloom for Mirror's Edge - the gameplay is fun, the time trials are probably the best part of the game - there were so many things that just seemed to go wrong. Poorly designed levels, frustrating combat, poor story, cramped jumping puzzles, and other minor flaws just ruin the best parts of the game - momentum. Though the team has confirmed that it's working on a sequel, I don't have enough faith in them to pick it up.

Drekfully Disappointing!

• Title: Mirror's Edge
• Developer: EA DICE
• Publisher: EA Games
• ESRB: Teen
• Original Release Date: 11.11.08
• Original Platform: PS3, PC, X360

My New Addiction?

Wow, that's all I can say. I've had experience with digital comics before from Marvel's offerings to NBC's Heroes series. Both work really well on the computer: it's easy to zoom in and out, bookmarks are easy to create, and most of all the art looks amazing. When Sony announced that it would be offering a digital comic reader on the PSP, I was pleasantly surprised by the news. The PSP is a great platform and with Sony's push for more digital content for the system, it only made sense to expand outside the realm of video games and movies to something bigger. I was cautiously optimistic about the idea, I loved the fact that I would have access to the old classics as well as the hordes of new generation comics. There were some things that had me questioning how successful digital comics would be on the PSP though. First off, the screen is a lot smaller than a standard PC screen. How were they going to make a page fit on the PSP without diminishing the integrity of the art? It's a ratio thing, a comic book page is taller than it is wider and the PSP's screen is wider than it is taller. What about navigation? How would they combat navigating a comic book page to both allow the reader to actually see the art in each panel as well as read the text.

After updating my PSP's firmware to 6.20 (I can't believe we've gone through so many already) and downloading the newest PSP feature - I found my answers. It's stunning how well it works. When I opened the first issue of the Astro Boy movie adaption comic, I found the art looked gorgeous. The PSP's screen really shows off every color and detail. The controls were easy to use and actually made sense. Unlike some features and games, navigating around the comic was easy and the button mapping made perfect sense. Though, you can't customize the controls, there are two variations that work very well, nothing as ridiculous as having the jump button as triangle.

You have your basic page advance and page back, a zoom in and out, as well as a great "snap back" button that returns you to autoplay. Autoplay, genius at work. I've worked with a few autoplay features in comic readers that are absolutely worthless but the PSP offers a very functional autoplay feature. Every time you advance (by either using the directional button or the shoulder button) it automatically scrolls over the panel and text. With panels that are large, it will zoom out to show the panel then zoom in to show the text. It is amazingly well scripted to show every detail and in order as well. With some of the action scenes, you even get a bit of camera jolt to add a dramatic flare. If, at any time, you want to zoom in or scroll about the page you can, then just use your "snap back" button to return to the panel and start the autoplay again. You can also adjust the scrolling speed, just in case you want to really examine every detail.

Another fun feature is the ability to play music while you read by hitting select and then selecting either a single song, album, or playlist from your XMB. Your comics are also sorted into categories for genre, series, recently added, and unread. Though the actual comic store isn't available yet, there are a number of codes to try out the reader, including four for the NA territory (click the header photo for the link to a list of all the codes for all the territories). Though, I don't know how they are going to price the comics once they do open the store later this December, I do know that I am hooked and I want more . . . a lot more. By far the best digital comic reader I have worked with, I have no complaints except for the fact that I can't buy any new comics yet. Hopefully, they will have a reasonable price plan (unlike some other items in the PSN Store) up and running in a few more weeks. My only question now is, "When are we going to get some Manga?"

Flames Vs. Sharks Preview (Dec. 5, 09)

Since I don't have the ability to watch hockey on TV anymore (and I'm still crying about that) I find that I have less opportunities to write any hockey focused blogs lately. Thus, I decided to do something new for this season, game previews of the match-ups that I will be watching live from the Tank in San Jose. I'll be at three games in total this season and my first trip down is only a few weeks away.

On December 5th, the Calgary Flames will be rolling into San Jose for the first meeting between these two teams this season. there are some pretty big underlying stories between these two teams, the biggest underlying story comes from two seasons ago when these big guns faced each other in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. It was a rough and tumble style that was played through six games, each team winning three and forcing the game seven. There were a lot of heroes on both sides and a lot of scape goats as well. One notable event that changed the course of the series was a gigantic hit on then captain Patrick Marleau which resulted in an injury. Yet there was no retaliation from the Sharks, a moment that many sports journalists deemed as the defining moment of the series. The Sharks ended up losing that game as well as the next, and then found themselves with their backs against the wall in a do or die situation - game seven. Another hero would arise in game seven and that hero was the great Jeremy Roenick who is now retired. Getting the two goals from JR was enough to put the Flames away and advance the Sharks to the next round.

While the Flames and Sharks didn't meet in the playoffs last season, their regular season meetings were filled with sparks caused by a bitter rivalry that has been forged by the playoff battle. This will be a different game between these teams because of the drastic changes on both sides. Out of all the players on both sides, I chose two from each team as the players that could make or break the game.

Jay Bouwmeester is known as a premier defensemen, capable of both scoring and stopping a goal. We haven't seen much of number 4 because last season he was a member of the Florida Panthers. Now, in the Western Conference, Bouwmeester is looking to make a huge impact on the way the defensive game is played. He's a very capable player and is paired with one of the most feared defensemen in the west, Dion Phaneuf, the big number 3 himself. Both play on the penalty kill, power play, and everywhere else. This pair can be lethal and will have to be shut down if the Sharks want to win.

Not to fear, the Sharks have their own top 10 defensemen in Dan Boyle who came from Tampa Bay last season. He has done wonders for the Sharks, having the second highest plus/minus rating. He's also 7th in the league for assists and 2nd in points among defensemen. One other great thing about 22 is that he can flat out skate. You usually only see great dekes in video games, but Dan Boyle can deke a player right out of his skates, and he can do it often. Two of his four goals were scored in a one on one situation where he deked around the defensemen and faked the goalie. Beautiful, beautiful goals.

With the Flames killer defensive abilities, you'd think that the credit would go to the defensemen, nope that honor goes to Miikka Kiprusoff, literally one of the best goalies in the league. He's in the top ten for wins, goals against, save percentage . . . you name it he's there. Oh, did I mention that he used to be a Shark too . . . the number one goalie for the Sharks actually. He and Nabokov were schooled by the same great goalie coach, the late Warren Strelow. As always, when the Flames and Sharks meet head to head, the game becomes a great showdown of goalie talent. Almost like in the old west, where quick draw competitions ruled the scenes, so will these two prestigious goalies.

Out of all the Sharks offensive talent: Joe Thornton, Dany Heatley, Devin Setogushi, Joe Pavelski, and others - the one that I think could truly come out as a hero is Patrick Marleau. He's on a record pace for goals this year and is number 2 on the Sharks team for most points and he's only a point below Thornton in first. Not only can Marleau score goals (13 so far), he knows how to score the big ones. The ones that tie up the game or seal the deal. So, I'll be looking at Patty when it's clinch time to come out big.

I can't express how excited I am to go see a live game . . . I haven't seen them play since the first of October. It has seriously sucked not being able to watch the games on TV, and radio gets a little hard to follow but what I have seen/heard has been great news. The Sharks are sitting on top of the league right now and we're only a quarter through the season. With the Olympics coming up and things like the trade deadline, the Sharks might not be on top forever. But I know they will make it to the playoffs, the only question is what happens after that. The Flames are also high in the standings so I'm sure we'll see them again soon in the playoffs, maybe even in the first round. Either way, this game is much more than just a regular season meeting between two rivals. This is a spark to ignite a bitter rivalry that could ultimately lead to one big showdown come the post season.

It Just Keeps Falling . . .

Year: One
Season: Winter
Day: One

All hopes seem lost! The first snow fell on the Ninth Day of Fall, killing what little grass I had that survived the typhoon . . . and it’s been raining and snowing since! I can’t believe it; we haven’t had a clear day since Summer! I only have five bales of Fodder left and I have had to take drastic measures including rationing the Fodder. I have also spent my entire 2000g savings as well as the 3000g I earned from my sales to Van.

I managed to plant some Potatoes though I’m afraid that all this snow and rain is going to kill them before they get the chance to even sprout out of the ground. My income has been severely cut as well now that Miel is only giving me 1 Normal Milk a day, that means I’m only making around 200g a day. A poor amount considering I was making around 1000g when I first started the farm. At least all the eggs from the Chickens are helping to make up some of the loss. What’s more, I have to propose to someone soon, I’m not sure if I can even keep the farm going through the Winter let alone provide for a family. I know that if I can just survive for nine more days, once Spring comes I’ll be saved. I just have to survive for nine more days . . . hopefully I will be able to do it.

Year: One
Season: Winter
Day: Two

Some good news for once! Though it’s still raining and snowing constantly, there have been a few things on the farm to be happy about. Mitsuki is an adult now, what a cute Chicken she turned out to be. Everyone is doing well, especially Nanao, who gave me a Golden Egg! A few more of these and I might be able to buy enough Good Fodder for the rest of the Winter! My Potatoes also have seemed to survive all the rain and snow; it looks like I’ll have a Winter harvest after all. I’ve also decided on who I’m going to propose to and plan on doing it on the Seventh Day of Winter. With Van coming tomorrow, I think I’m going to manage to survive my first Winter on the farm!

Year: One
Season: Winter
Day: Three

I woke up this morning to a strange “mufu” sound. I knew it wasn’t Miel or any of the others and was puzzled by this occurrence. As I did my daily routine, I could swear that I still heard that sound and it seemed to come from the North Pond. When I went to sell some goods to Van, I asked him if he knew what it was. He laughed at my worried expression when I spoke of the strange sound and told me that there wasn’t anything to worry about. That the sound I heard came from a creature called Mukumoku who came to the valley during the Winter and left in the Spring. He told me that I should introduce myself to the creature and when I did, to make sure I gave it a flower . . . apparently Mukumoku was very fond of the many flowers in Forget-Me-Not Valley but because he came in the Winter, he didn’t get to see many.

After I returned to Hyde Farm and put all of the goods I bought from Van away, I searched the Storage Room for my stash of Happy Lamps I picked last Summer. After some time, I finally found them and headed to the North Pond. I slowly approached and tried to be as quiet as I could until I stepped on a twig and broke it. Immediately, I heard a loud “MUFUMUFU” which startled me and I quickly turned to head back down the road only to find a giant white fuzzy thing standing in front of me. There is no animal I know of that even resembles this creature. He was tall and stood on two legs with his arms hanging so low that they brushed the ground. His fur was a mixture of whites and grays, and the hair on top of his head stood straight up like a stock of wheat. His face was pink and his eyes were bigger than Miel’s, it felt as if he was going to stare a hole in me. I held out the flowers and he quickly grabbed them with his four-fingered hand. He let out a soft “Mu” sound as he smelled the flowers. Then to my surprise, he quickly shoved the bouquet into his mouth and started to chomp away. He let out another sound which I took to be a “mmm, this is good, thanks” and slowly lumbered back towards the pond. I couldn’t help but wonder as I lay in bed, what that Mukumoku was. I’m just glad he like the flowers I gave him or it could have been me that he ate.

The Argument For The Return Of The Musical

If you look through my family's movie collection, it tells a lot about our personal likes and interests. My collection of movies is easy to spot. Spider-Man, X-Men, and Star Wars are all there. You can even find the two Mortal Kombat movies (hey, I liked them) in my collection. Among the shelves of discs are a few war movies scattered about as well as my collection of Disney movies . . . which I still sometimes watch. My father's collection is made up of the comedic genius of Monty Python as well as comedy movies like Wild Hogs (which is a movie I still refuse to see). Then there's my mother's collection, seemingly out of place among all the action-packed thrillers and big laughs - the musical.

It's a running joke in my family that you should never get sick, because if you do, my mother will make you watch Hello Dolly! to help you get well. I can't tell you how many times I've seen that movie, at least 200, and it pains me greatly to think about it even now. I haven't been that sick in a long time (knock on wood) to keep me from school or work so I haven't had to watch Hello Dolly! for a few years now.

I was brought back to my childhood when I watched one of Disney Pixar's latest movies, Wall.E. Why? Because Wall.E seems to love Hello Dolly! and the music is played repeatedly throughout the movie. I couldn't help roll my eyes and make a gagging motion to my mother when we watched Wall.E in the theaters. But I noticed something else, that the majority of the people in the audience didn't even recognize the music. You can't blame them, when was the last time Disney truly did a musical? Mulan was probably the last good animated musical and it was brought back in the 2007 movie, Enchanted, but it's not the same as it was decades ago.

I was raised on the great movies of Judy Garland, Bing Crosby, and so many others. Every Christmas, we watch White Christmas and Holiday Inn, and every Easter it's Easter Parade. When I was little I loved them. The catchy tunes, the beautiful costumes, and the fun stories fed into my imagination. Yet, as I got older, I started to see how unrealistic musicals were. How many times have you been at the park or the grocery store when someone broke out into song? Singing when you are happy or in love never happens in the real world, usually. As I moved away from Disney movies and the old time musicals, I replaced them with sci-fi and adventure films. Admittedly, my first action movie (Cliffhanger) I watched was a movie I wasn't supposed to even see, that's what you get when you have your older brother baby-sitting you. As I fell in love with Star Wars and Jurassic Park, my tastes evolved and I left the musical behind. But now that I've been fully fed on as many action-packed movies as I could stomach, I find myself coming full circle and returning to the movie genre that raised me.

I'm horribly tired of action movies. I didn't see a single summer blockbuster last summer and I have finally just watched X-Men Origins: Wolverine (which I am trying hard to forget). They are full of pretty explosions, violence, profanity, and nothing else. It's not that I dislike big car wrecks or violence in movies, but I only enjoy them when they have a purpose . . . and that purpose should be to further drive the story. The overuse of violence, drugs, sex, and profanity has me wondering if they just add that in because they think it will help sell the movie. What happened when movies could be good and clean? I find myself missing the rose-colored innocence I had when I used to watch Disney greats like Aladdin and the Lion King or musical classics like In the Good Old Summertime.

There are three movie trailers I've watched recently. The first is for the movie 2012 which talks about the end of the world and is taken from a Mayan calendar prediction. I can't seem to find any real fuzzy feelings from that movie. The next one is a comedy with Hugh Grant called Did You Hear About the Morgans? It's a comedy about a troubled married couple who witness a murder and get put into witness protective custody. Out of all the movies it has the "nicest" story but I find it sad that as a society we are used to things like divorce and murder. The last movie I have to admit I was most shocked about. Legion is a story about how God losses faith in humanity and sends his angels to deliver punishment. A lone angel defies God and comes to earth to help the humans. I'm not going to get into how this is wrong scripturally but I will mention this. If you take this into context with the Bible, the fallen angel come to save humanity is satan. It's a sad time if the devil is portrayed as the savior of man and God as the destroyer of man.

The musical hasn't been completely lost on my generation, two great films come to mind in Moulin Rouge and Chicago - both musicals and both won many awards. Still, the content of the classic musical seems to have been lost. Musicals used to portray people helping people. If someone dropped their books, a passing stranger would stop to help. If you broke something, you would pay the person back. Simple acts of kindness that don't seem to be seen in movies anymore, at least in the same light. Maybe it's time we revive the good old fashion style that used to dominate the movies. This post comes a little over a week after one of the worst crimes this year happened in Richmond, CA. At Richmond High's Homecoming dance, a 15 year old girl was gang raped outside of the school while dozens of classmates sat by and watched. Only one person called 911 to report the attack, a girl who didn't even witness the crime. Her friends told her about the guys bragging to them about the attack and she then called the police. Though you can't blame movies or the media for events like this, they definitely reflect the changes that have taken place in our society.

When was the last time someone held the door for you or helped you get an item you couldn't reach at the grocery store? When was the last time you held the door open for someone else? While movies don't teach you everything, they sure help to enforce which behaviors are right and which behaviors are wrong. So while I do still enjoy those heart-racing blockbusters, I find myself turning more and more to those classic musicals with old school values. Where happiness was something you created not bought, when you could find a friend in your neighbor next door or the stranger at the store, and a time where you could measure the happiness and love a person felt by how much they sang. Maybe more mothers should have their kids watch Hello Dolly! when they are sick.

A Glimpse Into The Future?

I was watching TV a few nights ago when a Windows 7 commercial popped up. No, not the one with the cute little girl but one with a "father like" figure talking about the features of Windows 7. In all honesty, I wasn't paying attention at all to what he was saying. I have Vista and it sucks but not enough to make me fork out a few hundred to change. Like with most commercials, I tuned him out and started to examine the background. Like what furniture is in the so called room, what the guy is wearing, things like that. Then I noticed something interesting, the three laptop computers that were running Windows 7 were all Vaios. As the guy walked around the house, the radio that was playing was a Sony, there was a Sony Bravia on the wall, and it was hooked up to Sony's Dream Home Theater system.

Hmm, I thought. Interesting . . . it got me thinking about how it's ironic that with the huge rivalry between the PS3 and Xbox 360, we gamers tend to forget that the companies behind our beloved game consoles have agendas in many areas of technology and their paths cross many times. It's true that Sony's Vaios are equipped with the latest Windows iteration (of course what PC isn't?) and Sony Ericsson has a few Windows Mobile phones out there. The street doesn't go one way though, Microsoft has used Bravia TVs for the past three years to showcase their games at all the major video game conventions. Microsoft even recommends Vaios as one of the best laptops to purchase. Sony and Microsoft even teamed up and did a special technology tour endorsing both companies technologies.

With video game analysts and commentators constantly calling for and speculating on a "one world console", it got me thinking what Sony's and Microsoft's console would look like. Would they call it the "PlayBox" or the "XStation"? Would it rely on third-party games only or would Sony's strong coalition or first-party developers be invited on the ride. Could you imagine what would happen to Nintendo? I have to admit that I greatly enjoy the console war. Yeah, it gets childish and petty, but in a way it's like watching a great sports rivalry. You get to root your heart out for the team you love while thousands of others join you. In an instant you gain enemies and friends alike, people who are complete strangers to you yet you share a connection that you can only get by being fans or rivals of a shared interest. While I don't think Sony's and Microsoft's agendas will ever be able to mesh together, it does get you wondering how real the console rivalry is. It's almost like a couple that bickers constantly at dinner yet is holding hands underneath the table.

Disaster Strikes . . .

Year: One

Season: Fall

Day: One

It’s still raining, but not as heavily as before. I was able to get all of my crops planted quickly, just in time to see the incubated egg hatch! It was a bright yellow Chick that I named Kanade. She’s so cute and fluffy! It will take a week or so before she is fully grown and begins laying eggs. I think I have found a great way to create some revenue with these chickens, something that I definitely need right now.

Year: One

Season: Fall

Day: Six

It’s been raining non-stop since the Eighth Day of Summer. The last few days have been the worse with a major storm moving in on the valley. All this rain has completely stunted the growth of all the grass in the field and now I truly have a Fodder crisis. With Miel, Ryutaro, and Koharu – they all eat around five bales of Fodder a day and right now I only have enough Fodder to last me until the end of the season. If this rain doesn’t stop soon, I’m going to be in big trouble. Luckily, there was a little bit of good news, Kanade is now a beautiful, fully grown Chicken and I incubated another Fertilized Egg a few days ago, which should be hatching any day now.

Year: One

Season: Fall

Day: Seven

The egg hatched and it was another female! I named her Mitsuki and she seems to get along with well with Nanao, Jing, and Kanade. I also harvested my first Yams of the season as well as planted Strawberry Seeds for the first time. Unfortunately, it wasn’t all good news today; I had to tap into my savings to buy some Good Fodder because the rain has still not stopped. 250g each! Considering I only make around 800g a day, it’s going to be difficult to keep up with the Fodder demand.

Year: One

Season: Fall

Day: Eight

A huge typhoon has just hit the valley and has caused the river to rise considerably. I’m worried about flooding but Vesta has reassured me by saying that the river usually only breaks its banks farther towards the beach. Still, I can’t help but worry about this storm. Van was brave enough to make the trek from town to Forget-Me-Not Valley. I was surprised to see his shop set up in the middle of all this rain, wind, and lightning. He simply laughed and told me confidently that he has never once not made the trip over the mountain. I admire his courage and hope to draw upon it as we move towards Winter. I did have a productive day at Van’s Shop. I was able to sell a lot of the fish I had been catching, including a Huge Colombo and Huge Nyameme. All in all, I earned 3000g from my sales to Van. I’m hoping this money will go a long way towards keeping Miel and the others fed.

It Was Over Before It Began

You may have been wondering what happened to all of my hockey talk considering that the first month of the 2009-2010 season is almost finished. I was horribly excited about the start of the new season. A time to forget about the awful early exit last year and focus on a new beginning. With great additions like Dany Heatley, Manny Malhotra, Jed Ortmeyer, Scott Nichol, and Kent Huskins. Plus the new rookies Jason Demers and Ben Ferriero as well as a few call-ups from Frazer McLaren and Logan Couture. Plus a few rookies from last year finding a more permanent home at the Tank including Brad Staubitz, Jamie McGinn, and Ryan Vesce - this Sharks team looks drastically different from last year. They still have the big guys in Thornton and Marleau but that's about the only that's the same. Marleau isn't the captain anymore, now the "C" belongs to Rob Blake with Dan Boyle and Joe Thornton wearing the "A". Fan favorites Jonathan Cheechoo and Milan Michalek are gone as well as Brad Lukowich, Christian Ehrhoff, Brian Boucher, Marcel Goc, Mike Grier, Travis Moen plus a few of the prospects. There have been so many trades that I actually had to look up who was all gone and who was new. It's hard enough just trying to remember all the new guys' numbers so I can find them on the ice . . . which brings me back to the question on why I haven't done any serious hockey blogs for the new season.

I had originally planned to do a full write up on what I thought about the new Sharks team after I watched four or five games. The season opener was against Colorado on a night when they retired long time captain Joe Sakic's number 19. A team written off from the beginning, the Avs had something to prove and proved it that night with a 5-2 win. Ironically, they are number 1 in the Western Conference, after almost every major sports writer said they would be the worst team in the league. As for the Sharks, they looked pretty bad in that game. Chasing the puck all the time, the defense didn't know which way they where going and Nabokov let a few pucks go by that he should have had. It was a bad start but the Sharks seem to always start the new season with a loss. So I was hopeful that the next game, they would look better and be more prepared . . . that is until I realized I wouldn't be able to see the next game or the rest of the 81 games left to play.

That's right, no hockey, none whatsoever because they decided to change the channel that the games are aired on. Originally, the games were shown on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, the channel I get. This year, because of the high demand of hockey games, they increased the coverage by almost 50% more games. Showing almost the entire season except they had to move what channel they show the games on to Comcast SportsNet California. Yes, I do live in California but for some reason I don't get CSN California . . . does that make any sense? Not to me it doesn't and I was devastated . . . seriously no hockey for nine months. That's almost an entire year ruined for me. So I checked with Direct TV and Dish Network to see if I can change because there is only one cable company here. Direct TV charges a premium because of the area I'm in and Dish Network doesn't even cover my area. So I tried NHL's Center Ice Live, a streaming service that shows up to ten games a day. I thought, "this is great, I can watch the Sharks now!" I was wrong . . . you see Center Ice Live is designed for people who live outside the normal broadcasting area for a team. If you're a Flyers fan and live in New York, you can see the Flyers play. If you're a Kings fan and live in Tampa, you can see the Kings play. If you are a Sharks fan and live in California . . . you cannot see the Sharks play because you are in the broadcasting area for that team and they block you out. So, after I got my $160 refund, I examined my other options and found that I'm left with the radio coverage.

The radio coverage is not what I call ideal for hockey. I love the announcers and the quality you get, but trying to visualize a game like hockey is hard and not as enjoyable as watching it live. My only salvation is Versus, which is a national channel that covers a wide range of hockey games, four of which are Sharks games and two I have already seen. I'm also going down for in December and March to watch the games at the Tank. Originally, I was only going to see two games, but the March date ended up having a back-to-back game so I'll be able to see three live now. Five games . . . that's it . . . when last year I saw 82. Ah, the cruelty.

As for the Sharks progress in the first month of the new season, it's been good, not great but good. They are sort of in the middle of the pack for standings with 7-4-1 record. While some of those losses were really bad some good things did come out of them. Like Dany Heatley finding his scoring groove and Patrick Maleau proving that he doesn't need the "C" to keep scoring. The Sharks have also shown that they can come back from almost any deficit, winning a great game against the Rangers after going down 0-2 early in the game. Their win against the Flyers also proved that they can rely on rookie back-up goalie Thomas Greiss who stopped 37 shots to get the 4-1 win, finishing out a six game road trip with four wins and two losses. As the season progresses, you can see the Sharks start to build up some momentum and I have no doubts that they will make the playoffs once again. Once they are in the playoffs, now that's a different story. I'm just disappointed that I won't be able watch their journey live.