What do you find yourself doing? Are you playing those games you got as presents? Did you get games as presents? Myself, I'm pretty busy since the new semester has started, so lots of work, but it's awesome work! Other than that, a little skiing, a little dating, not much gaming though. I would like to finish Odin Sphere at some point. By the way, for those who have played the game, does anyone have a translation to the opening song?

cheers,

-avatar!

Just working as usual.  I did have a moment to check out my copy of Gurumin, and it seems pretty fun so far.

I've mostly been working, preparing for a recital I'm doing in February. Today was the first free day I've had this month so I spent it watching television and I'm about to turn the 360 on to shoot terrorists and stuff.

I've actually been pretty busy...Found an old high school friend online on a complete fluke and I'm trying to hook up (and for an added twist...it's a "she" and one I actually knew pretty well, so there's more *ahem* motivation than usual). Not playing much...Just the usual GH2/80's and some Super Buster Brothers/TMNT IV and not regretting passing on the Xbox 360 for Christmas just because I have everything I want right now gamewise (except Rock Band...but I can wait for more good DLC). Just got into The Living End and Gamma Ray, so that's two more bands to "study" and reading my copy of the "Heroin Diaries" from Christmas (I knew Motley Crue was nuts, but even I'm shaking my head at some of this stuff). Lots of football. Getting some stuff together to sell (hint). And at work, we're getting ready to run W2's for 2007, so we've been cleaning up the mess we've made the entire year and preparing to mess up 2008's taxes just as bad for 150,000+ employees. Quite hectic, but enjoying every second of it...Busy work days are a guilty pleasure of mine (as long as I have my iPod on me and a five-star playlist handy). School starts on the 22nd as well.

2008 is off to a good (and busy) start.

Edit: And trying to find a friggin' Wii...My mom's birthday is in March. ;p

January is Birthday Month in my family, with mine, my sister's, my father's (whose B-Day is actually today), and my late grandfather's (miss you, Grampa) all happening in the within its duration. So, lots of cake in my future.
Work has slooooowed down to an obscene degree, and I've taken to sneaking in cryptic crosswords to do on the side whilst I listen to a concealed mp3 player. Evil and loving it.
But ultimately, I'm doing a hell of a lot of gaming. Working through R&C Going Commando, bingeing on Mario Galaxy which has done a lot to amend the damage incurred by Sunshine, and ZX Advent which is completely f---ing awesome (well, except the voices, but some of them are actually pretty good...Aeolus, for one). Also have some 'casual' DS games that are fun diversions (although Left Brain Right Brain - which is more Left Hand Right Hand - makes me feel incredibly INCREDIBLY stupid). And, by way of my almost being tackled before I bought said games myself, I'm 95% sure Contra 4 and Zack & Wiki are coming for my birthday. Yesssssss...

Oh, and before I forget: Headbanging-Condor-With-A-Guitar-That-Raises-the-Dead is my choice for Best 'This Is Why I Love Games' Moment of 2007. FEEL IT!

Chalk that one up for me too, Mr. Avatar. My progress on the game was quite fast, getting through the first two characters' storylines within a few weeks, but the third character is, for numerous reasons, sadistically difficult. If you haven't beaten the third character yet, good luck, brother!

In any event, just started a new position closer to home so I'm not commuting for insane amounts of time each day. So one curtain closes, while another diligently opens for me. Here's hoping it's a great year for everyone!

Happy birthday Mr.Panda!

I'm just back to work. Things are busy so I have little time for workplace naps right now. Presents have been cleared away, though I got one of those iPod Touch thingies which I really like and am spending a lot of time playing with. Also spending a stupid amount of time making ship skins for Wipeout Pulse. It's like a second job.

I've been working on the site rene--- oops, nevermind.

Working, mostly.  But it's actually quite refreshing as I just graduated from college and now have time to finish the slew of Christmas video games (Taiko no Tatsujin DS, Ninja Gaiden Sigma, and The Orange Box). 

Just finished Folklore and what a great game that was!  Sure, it may be "Pokemon for adults" but people forget just how fun Pokemon is to begin with.  Oh, and the soundtrack was decent.

I doubt I'll ever finish Odin Sphere. Sure I appreciate what it's trying to accomplish, but it's just too repetitive for me.  Maybe GrimGrimoire or Persona 3 will offer something more...

I just continue to work on at my job as a commercial writer for a radio station, and I'm just continuing to play on the games I was before:
- Final Fantasy VI Advance
- Guitar Hero III
- Heavenly Sword (I've been taking my time)
- Super Mario Galaxy
- and I just picked up Rock Band today for the PS3

I finished the first 4 characters, and I know what you mean about Oswald. I think he's the most annoying character, as well as the least developed of them all, and yes also the hardest to play. The only good thing he's got is high hit points, and he attacks very quickly. The 4th character was the easiest to play, and her story is very nicely done. The last character also promises to be very good. I know, the game play does get repetitive, but each character has his or her own set of challenges, and so far the story, music, and graphics have been so well done that I don't mind it.

cheers,

-avatar!

Also, my dog died suddenly a few days ago.  Probably should have mentioned that in the above.  Not the best way to kick off 2008.

Working.

Aw, that sucks man. Really sorry to hear that. My dog will be 17 this year and I have no idea if he'll make his birthday but I know that he's been my best buddy for the last 16 years. Dogs are great and it's a really hard thing to deal with when they die. Hope you had some good times.

No, no. I meant Princess Mercedes. For numerous reasons, she's just awful compared to Gwendolyn and Cornelius!

Really? I actually found her to be the easiest character to use! I would just mow down enemies and dismantled bosses... how interesting!

cheers,

-avatar!

I recommend getting a Codebreaker and turning on the "Infinite POW" and "Infinite Ammo" codes for Odin Sphere.  The game is more playable this way.  The POW/Ammo gauge drains way too quickly for the action-oriented gameplay.

Still trying to fit some games in between classes; trying to finsih Odin Sphere myself; on the sixth, final chapter; those final bosses are tough. Worst thing, I'm probably going to have to level build all characters except Velvet...and that means I'm probably going to have to go through each character's chapter in its entirety before I find good level-building territory: that's the one thing I don't like about this game.

Also been kind of toying around with Valkyrie Profile 2. Something about the game just reminds me of FFIX somehow; probably just the largely medieval setting.

Nah, I think it's part of the challenge. My view is if you need to "cheat" in order to finish a game, then the game's not worth it. Odin Sphere is worth the time. Besides, it's really not that frustrating, although there are a few challenging boss fights!

cheers,

-avatar!

Agreed wholeheartedly. Ain't a game alive can kick my ass and keep me down for the count.

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Lessee...

1) writing for RPGFan, as usual. Lots of soundtracks to review.

2) gaming: I've really gotten into GH3. The very first time I played the game, I said "let's see if I can win things on expert." Turns out I could, so I've been playing through the game on expert. I don't even own it, I just play it in a kid's dorm room.

But yesterday I beat "One" (the Metallica song), and I've also been able to overcome the dreaded intro to Fire and the Flames (DragonForce). I can get 30% of the way through the song before I fail. I'll have to go into "practice" mode to learn the solos.

I've also played a lot of FFXI. And I got Wild Arms on PlayStation Network, I'm working on that for an RPGFan "retro" review.

3) my wife's going to give birth any day now. Second child for the win! All indicators say he's very healthy, and I'm super happy about that!

4) work as usual ... residence life director on campus ... blah.

Ramza

Congrats!  I know I'm still debating on a second child, even though we'll probably end up having one sooner or later.  I think I was so traumatized by the sleepless nights with the first one that I don't want another one. 

Sounds like you have a pretty full schedule as it is... good luck!

Thanks.  Mine was eight and a half, and I was expecting him to live to about ten, but that's how it goes I guess.  We did have many good times.  I was thinking the other day just how many things happened during his short lifetime.  I can't even imagine what it must be like to have a dog for as long as you have.