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Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII Cloud Strife Pre-Order Bonus

I just found out that the latest Final Fantasy comes out on 2/14. Newegg sent me an email telling me I could preorder it and get a $10 gift card. I figured Gamestop would have a different pre-order bonus and I was right. I'm not sure if or when I'd use a $10 gift card from Newegg, maybe if I decide to upgrade my computer, but I still don't feel like doing that yet. As for Gamestop, "Pre-order Final Fantasy XIII: Lightning Returns to receive Cloud Strife's SOLDIER 1st Class Uniform, Buster Sword, and Soldier's Band! Equip Lightning with Cloud Strife's SOLDIER 1st Class uniform, Soldier's Band and Buster Sword from FINAL FANTASY VII!" So, yeah that seems pretty cool!

... Read All I just found out that the latest Final Fantasy comes out on 2/14. Newegg sent me an email telling me I could preorder it and get a $10 gift card. I figured Gamestop would have a different pre-order bonus and I was right. I'm not sure if or when I'd use a $10 gift card from Newegg, maybe if I decide to upgrade my computer, but I still don't feel like doing that yet. As for Gamestop, "Pre-order Final Fantasy XIII: Lightning Returns to receive Cloud Strife's SOLDIER 1st Class Uniform, Buster Sword, and Soldier's Band! Equip Lightning with Cloud Strife's SOLDIER 1st Class uniform, Soldier's Band and Buster Sword from FINAL FANTASY VII!" So, yeah that seems pretty cool!

Luckily, I found the PS3 demo at the PS Store and am downloading it now. It's a 2GB download and comes with another costume. Also, there's a free theme for the game, which I got an installed. Other than the info I've given here, I know nothing else about this game. I do love Final Fantasy, with VIII being my all-time favorite of the series. I didn’t really like XIII and XIII-2 very much. Although, I did like that metal Chocobo song.

It seems I'm not the only one with even a slight disappointment in the FF series as of late. Those of us who are fans of the series want a FF that kicks ass and makes us fall in love with it. It's not too much to ask since the series itself is quite epic and the fact that it's survived and thrived this long is amazing.

So, what are your thoughts? Have you seen anything about the game that I haven't mentioned here that you want to talk about? Are you going to get it? Well, at least now I know I'll have a game to write about soon and I have about 10 days until I get my hands on it. Luckily, I'll have the demo soon and I also bought Dragon Age Origins Ultimate Collection for the PS3.

*Update*
Quick synopsis: I like the demo, but why does it seem like Snow is a bad guy? He seems to be caught up in Chaos along with a new character. Lightning is apparently the "Savior" sent by God. The end of the world is coming in 13 days and you have to try to save everyone (or whoever you can). Some characters return from the other two games in the series along with new monsters and at least one new character.

Just like FFX-2, you change between costumes. By default I had the "Savior" costume on. You can use the four PS3 buttons (Square, Triangle, Circle, X) to use different moves. With the "Savior", Thunder was used with the Triangle, Attack was with the Circle, Defend was Square, and I'm not sure what the other was. As a Black Mage, Blizzard (or higher level of the spell) was the Triangle, while Attack was still Circle. You can customize the costumes and moves. It doesn't take too long to empty the ATB gauge, but when you do you can switch to another costume and use it's ATB gauge while waiting for the other to charge. There is also an Overclock feature which you can use after some time that freezes time so that Lightning moves (attacks) quicker while the enemy is slower.

The game also connects to social media, like Facebook. There's an app for this game on FB. You can post screen shots and purchase certain items by talking to NPCs (their names are highlighted in blue). I'm looking forward to playing the game when it comes out, but I'm going to wait patiently. The demo said the game comes out on the 11th, but I swore other sources said it was the 14th.

Steam Music: Because, You Know, Steam Should Do Everything

http://media.steampowered.com/img/music/music_album.png

"The Steam Music Beta is coming soon to Big Picture and SteamOS interfaces, with desktop features soon to follow. To express interest in beta participation, join the Steam Music community group. Group members will be invited in waves, until the feature is released to everyone.

With Steam Music, you can now listen to your music collection while playing games. Once you’ve pointed Steam to your local music directory, your Steam Library will include Album and Artist views of your collection."

It seems Steam is getting the ability to play music in Big Picture mode and SteamOS. This should come as good news to people planning on using a Steam Machine as a Media Center. The... Read All

NBA RPG

http://cdn.tss.uproxx.com/TSS/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/nba-2k13-my-career-6.jpg

AdamPFarnsworth gives this a solid "Rad" on the Ghost Scale

This is fun, with very few issues, and is well worth your time.

AdamPFarnsworth gives this a "Rad" on the Ghost Scale

This is fun, with very few issues, and is well worth your time.

I bought NBA 2K14 during a Steam sale, just on a whim, not sure how it was going to play on a PC. But I’m happy to say that I love this game!

There are a few different modes. There’s the normal mode where you just play a game. This is a lot of fun just on it’s own. The animation looks great (although I wish I had a PS4 to *really* get the full experience) and the AI seems to be actually intelligent. There’s also a mode where you’re in charge of a team, but I’ve not played that much yet.

The mode I LOVE is very much an RPG-type experience, called My Career. You start by creating your character; I made mine to look just like me (extremely handsome, of course), and then... Read All

Finally Using Magic in Terraria

https://gamepedia.cursecdn.com/terraria_gamepedia/c/c4/Terraria.png?version=795e0eff272d62ee8fa5e51f2901f9d3

With Spectre Armor and Fairy Wings, my character now looks like a Cheerful Ghost. I decided to give magic a try. It took a little bit of getting used to and figuring out, but Spectre Armor along with a good wand (I have a nice Spectre Staff) make some fun. I'm not sure I can remember ever crafting a suit of armor that didn't have better defense than the one I was wearing at the time, except this time. So, I was concerned about losing a lot of defense, but it turns out that the magic can be quite helpful. Spectre Armor (http://terraria.gamepedia.com/Spectre_Armor) has a very nice set bonus of healing whenever magic damage is done. That means, I get to heal every time I... Read All

jdodson Admin wrote on 02/03/2014 at 11:54pm

Awesome. Before we pop hardmode we build a area around our village that keeps the crimson out. Well, Travis usually does that :D

Awesome you figured out magic. How does it compare to your melee setup?

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 02/04/2014 at 12:10am

Well, I've not bothered with trying to reduce the spread of the Crimson or the Hallow. I don't know that it's really an issue. I'm interested to see if it spreads to the other side of my house. Right now it just seems to be painting my stones red.

That's a good question! As I said, it is sad that my defense is lower, but the magic can heal me, I just have to use it. I found it quite effective against the Paladin because I usually get him in a spot where I can hit him with my magic and he doesn't touch me. He usually spawns in a little curvy kind of place that goes in a vertical direction. Usually, I'm below him and he's trying to get to me and therefore isn't able to reach me, he just keeps trying to get near me, but doesn't go far enough to the left to come down to my level. You know how enemies will do that? Still, against the Mourning Wood, it's not that great since I can't even kill one and one always kills me. I'm tempted to carry both suits of armor with me and change them up from time to time. If I was playing with other players, I could be very helpful as my magic heals players when it hits an enemy. Since I'm the only player in my world, it heals me.

Timogorgon Member wrote on 02/04/2014 at 12:25am

Have you crafted a Golden shower spell? It's really useful during the pumpkin moon event because it pierces enemies, meaning you can hit multiple mobs all at once and heal from all of them. Eventually you'll get a bat scepter or a Razorpine (from Frost Moon) which, although not piercing, are higher damage and rapid fire so they end up becoming better in the long run. Even then I still use the golden shower to stick the Ichor debuff on enemies first.

During the Pumpkin/Frost moon events I also use a Nimbus Rod, which creates up to two rain clouds that also pierce enemies and counts as magic damage (therefore triggering your heal effect). I set the rain clouds directly above me and then stand on a platform directly above the enemies so they will group up under the clouds.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 02/04/2014 at 12:39am

Ah, that's something I was missing! Travis mentioned the Golden Shower, but I didn't look it up. I was looking for a Bat Scepter, he mentioned that, too. I'll have to look into that, thanks. I do have a Numbus Rod. Those moon events are brutal!

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 02/04/2014 at 01:17am

Lately I've been using an awesome Spectre Staff that seems to have a stat of 100 for magic damage. I also have a Quick Nimbos Rod, other Spectre Staffs, and other weapons as well. For summoning, I've been using the Staff of the Frost Hydra (http://terraria.gamepedia.com/Staff_of_the_Frost_Hydra).

I just crafted the Golden Shower, but haven't used it yet. I apparently have another spell that I haven't used yet. It's the Magnet Sphere (http://terraria.gamepedia.com/Magnet_Sphere). I didn't realize I could craft with my bookshelf, I just put it there as decor, so that was cool. I'll give some of these things a try.

jdodson Admin wrote on 02/04/2014 at 04:36am

I want to second getting a Razorpine, that is a great magic gun.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 02/04/2014 at 02:49pm

Using the Golden Shower, Nimbus Rod, and my Staff of the Frost Hydra made my latest Pumpkin Moon event easier. I realized that since the Mourning Wood was killing me and following to my spawn point (my bed in my house) and kept killing me there, that I should move my bed to a higher floor. Since I had to move a table and chair to do so, I ended up creating a new floor to my house. I'm not sure how many floors I have now and I should probably take an updated screen shot of my humble abode. I'm thinking of using a screen shot of my character in Spectre Armor as my new avatar, too, I think that would be real appropriate here.

Anyway, I did die once, but since I spawned at a higher level than usual, I had no problems finding my nurse (on the same floor), healing, and going back out into the fight. I defeated the first Mourning Wood, but the second ended up running away like a vampire runs from the dawn. I wish there was a way to change the time, so I wouldn't have to wait around for night to do my moon events. I seem to recall reading something about being able to do that, but I can't remember what it was, if I did.

As far as I know there is yet one boss I haven't defeated and that's the Eater of Worlds, so I'm thinking about going to my 2nd world (the one with the Corruption) to take that one down. I don't expect it will be difficult since it's not a hardmode boss.

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A Link Between Worlds

Azurephile gives this a solid "Rad" on the Ghost Scale

This is fun, with very few issues, and is well worth your time.

Azurephile gives this a "Rad" on the Ghost Scale

This is fun, with very few issues, and is well worth your time.

Quick Overview

Recommendation: Good game 3D Zelda game

Short (30 hours or so)

Available with a download code in some 3DSXL models

Spoiler-free story intro: As young Link, you find out that an evil mage is turning some people into paintings and collecting them. There's a reason for the people he's collecting and he's after Zelda, too. Later you learn that he is from another world called Lorule and the princess there, Hilda, needs your help. During the game you'll go back and forth between worlds by turning into a 2D painting and walking into cracks that can be found on the world.

Detailed Review: Last night I finished The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds. It was... Read All

jdodson Admin wrote on 02/03/2014 at 11:55pm

Link Between Worlds is being sold as a sequel to Link to the Past which makes it pretty interesting to me. About how many hours do you think you sunk into it until you completed it?

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 02/04/2014 at 12:04am

I'd guess around 30, but that's just a guess, I'm not really sure.

jdodson Admin wrote on 02/04/2014 at 12:06am

Whoa, that's not a small amount of time. BUT I guess compared to Terraria it's pretty miniscule.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 02/04/2014 at 12:12am

Absolutely! I might have spent around 20 hours on it, I'm not sure, but it was just over too quickly. I know I played Pokemon X a little bit longer, or at least I'm sure I did anyway.

Now I'm sitting here, not at all sure of what to play. I'm tempted to go to Gamestop, but there are only a few things I have in mind to play next. I don't know what to do, grrr, I hate this feeling. LOL

Timogorgon Member wrote on 02/04/2014 at 12:26am

*cough*cough*Grand Theft Auto:Online*cough*cough*

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 02/04/2014 at 12:37am

Hahahahahaha. Yeah, I need to do that. I haven't been able to get on and play since we've had a lot of no school days due to the weather and my son has been here in my room most of the time. It's kind of hard to get on and play with you due to the time difference and you doing the same (not playing GTA with a kid around).

Timogorgon Member wrote on 02/04/2014 at 06:13pm

Yeah, by the time I can get on GTA it's usually after 11pm eastern time, so that's pretty late to start playing. You might have better luck meeting up with @Travis, as he's on the east coast as well. Still, if you're ever up late on a Friday night or something let's cause some mischief in Los Santos. :D

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 02/04/2014 at 09:31pm

Hehehe, well I'm usually a night owl.

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Pacman Mashed Up With A Slot Machine!

A very cool video that explores the random paterns of enemies and more in The Legend if Zelda.

Online Shenanigans

Don't worry, the car isn't mine.

Me and a buddy were messing around on GTA:O last night and decided to snap a picture after we had successfully robbed a couple convenience stores and then lost the cops.

Other highlights include:
Successfully stealing a commercial jet and landing it in downtown Los Santos, only to bump into a tree which inexplicably caused the jet to blow up, killing us both.

A high speed car chase that took us around the entire outside of the map. Good thing it was a lot of fun, because the pay out for this mission was terrible. :P

Failing miserably trying to break into the military base. Turns out they really don't want you getting in there.

Trying our... Read All

Prison Architect: Alpha 17 - Armed Guards & Forestry

Prison Architect Alpha 17 dropped today and the guys at Introversion have an awesome video showcasing the new goods. This update sees in inclusion of armed guards and a new weapons locker room type. If you decide to add armed guards to your prison it comes with a cost in that during each riot the prisoners will try and get access to the weapons locker. In the Alpha 17 showcase video the rioting prisoners went straight for the weapons locker and proceeded to arm themselves, which i'm my estimation would end that particular prison.

They also added a new forestry zone that gardeners can tend to that grow trees creating another way your prison can make money in the long... Read All

I Hack, I Slash, I Loot!

Hack, Slash, Loot is part of the Humble Weekly Rogue-like bundle and I have been enjoying it so much I decided to show it off with a gameplay video. I randomly rolled a Wizard and went my furthest yet in this play-through. Hack, Slash, Loot is a great little rogue-like that weighs in at only 9 megs!

If you are looking for a really fun armchair hack-n-slash, this game is for you. Hack, Slash, Loot is available right now on Linux, Mac and Windows and you act quick-like, you can pick it up as part of the Humble Weekly sale. The developers have also made a demo of the game for download on the games website.

https://www.humblebundle.com/weekly

http://hackslashloot.com/

Shadowrun Returns to get Dragonfall Expansion

"Shadowrun: Dragonfall is a new campaign expansion for Shadowrun Returns. This thrilling full-length campaign takes players to the city of Berlin and is packed with new features, characters, environments, weapons, cyberware, enemies, and other enhancements to the Shadowrun Returns experience. Shadowrun: Dragonfall will arrive on February 27th, 2014 for Windows, OSX, and Linux and will sell for $14.99. It's currently available for pre-order on Steam, and a DRM-free version will be available on GOG.com."

Shadowrun Returns is a really neat isometric turn based action game that I picked up in the last Steam sale. If you love games built on top of a plot centered narrative... Read All