Shred Central

Okay, anyone who skateboards is really happy because….. it’s the proper weather for it! Finally!

I have recently started skateboarding and I really enjoy it, I am able to do a few flip tricks, and most proudly, I have been able to Ollie 4 decks high. I absolutely love skateboarding now. I am ever so happy to say that I can start again this summer.

If you live in Toronto, do you know of any good spots to skate? I’m always looking for new stairs to conquer or ledge to grind, but it has been getting harder and harder in Toronto. All of the new buildings have this anti-skateboard crap on them. The little metal things that stick up on handrails, making ledges uneven as an “architectural choice” but we know what they are doing.

Either way, that’s my view of the situation. If you know of any good spots or fun things to try while skateboarding, then let me know. Also good hills for longboarding would be cool.

Hey guys

Sorry for not posting anything for a while but don’t fret, I’m still here

Lots of awesome things have happened, firstly I got good at modern warfare 2, second I got an easycap for recording, ended up loving it and bought a hauppage HD PVR! Oh yea, I bought some turtle beaches too

So my buddy Spencer and I figured, oh my god, we could be youtube famous! So, thats what we are doing!

We have 2 videos up, nothing too crazy yet, but I have some sweet games on my hard drive to keep people happy. If you would be so kind as to check us out, you can find us here: http://www.youtube.com/user/LeJiDandmegamonkees

Please sub or watch or something, I’m 99.9999% sure that you will enjoy yourselves

And if you want me to upload something, I’ll try to do it, any challenge I will be happy to take on

Thanks again guys

For all you xbox 360 owners, listen up. One of the world’s biggest games ever just came out with it’s first DLC! For those of you who don’t know what that is, DLC stands for downloadable content. This content comes with 5 new maps….. well kinda… There are 3 NEW maps the other two are old from Call of Duty 4. These new maps are Storm, Bailout and Salvage.  The ones from CoD4 are Crash (YAY!!!) and Overgrown (crap….)

Storm is one of the new maps. It reminds me a lot of Downpour from CoD4, and no it’s not just because of the rain.  The map seems to be a shipping yard that has a bunch of buildings and containers and it looks pretty fun. The map has a lot of areas that look like they will be pretty good. There are two main parts of the map, the inside and outside. What I mean by inside is there is a huge warehouse that looks like there will be a lot of shotgunning to happen here, but it is still open enough for all the other guns to be effective…. except for the UMP… that gun sucks where ever you go. Anyways back to the map. The outside is going to be huge too because there are some tight corners and some open spaces as well. Unfortunately I’m thinking all the tight corners are going to make campers happy…. for all of you who do camp… GET A REAL STYLE OF PLAY! It should be a fun map anyways.

Bailout is the next map in the pack. This map looks to be my favorite so far.  It is an suburban setting that looks to be really fun. I have only played a bunch of crappy game types like Capture the Flag but it was still fun. It looks a little bit like broadcast with all the tight corners and staircases. This one has a lot of tight corners as well, but there are also a ton of windows to look down on people. It’s still to early to tell if people are going to camp from all these windows. I’m really hoping it doesn’t turn into that. This map also has a bunch of long stretches for those cool across the map quickscopes. I also think that this map has a good balance of those tight spaces and those open areas, this one will be a great map, depending on the way the community plays it.

The final map is called Salvage. Salvage is a junk yard. There are crushed cars and small huts in this snowy wasteland. This map is very close quarters and it is beautiful for those spaz attacks that are so cool. This map is great for SMG’s too. There are many tight corners and it looks like it is going to be hard to get kill streaks. I think that you are going to have to move very tactically through this map because people are going to be either hiding or booking it around the corners into tight spaces. Sounds like a good claymore map.

Crash was my second favorite map from CoD4 and it makes me so happy to see it in MW2. It was a blast from the past… with improved visuals. When going through this map again I had a reminder of why I loved CoD4 so much. This map is also a great one for anything. There are those great tight spaces where you can move cautiously with your shotgun or play claymores for those who just book it up the stairs. There are also those long halls for all those non aggressive snipers. This map is just amazing.

Overgrown… (sigh)… I hated this map in CoD4 because it was the only one people camped in, and that game was not known for many campers because once you got your 7th kill, you had nothing left to sit and camp for. In MW2 we have nukes…. I see a camp fest in the future… (sigh)

Anyways, even though the price tag is a little too high, I would recommend for everyone to pick it up ASAP… and for you PS3 and PC owners…. pick it up in a month when you can.

Its no Call of Duty, but it will work.

I picked up a copy of Bad Company 2 when I was on march break after seeing some videos. If you read my blog you can see that I was able to get into the closed beta earlier and I enjoyed that a lot. The final game is better than the beta, a crap ton better. I think the biggest thing is that the folks at EA were holding the good maps back from us when they gave us the beta, but I am glad they did. It makes it way more impressive to be stunned by a map that you now think of as basic compared to the new ones.

The only class I played in the beta and the old Bad Company was the sniper class. I am a snipe-aholic. Easily one of my favorite things to do is to pick off an unsuspecting enemy from 300 meters away, and no other game allows me to do that better than Bad Company 2. The sniping is completely different than MW2 and I welcome the change. The change of pace from running around and aggressively blowing peoples head’s off. I really enjoy the realistic physics though. After a certain distance the bullet drops and you have to change where your crosshairs lay. This is incredibly difficult and incredibly fun. The best part is just like in real life, you can see the bullet a little when it starts to drop. This makes it really fun to change the crosshairs when you need to. It makes you feel like a real sniper.

I also used some of the assault classes. These are really fun too. The scar with the silencer is so much fun. I am excited to rank up and get to use some of the unlocks for the classes. It is hard to unlock new scopes and stuff but it is great that it is in there.

I am really happy with the game so far. I have not played much single player but i can say it is a lot better than the first one. The quirky humor is still there but thats just fundamental part of the bad company series. The gameplay mechanics have been improved and the controls have been changed a slight bit but for the better. I can say that I am really enjoying the campaign so far, I just hope it doesn’t turn into the old one and you end up just blowing stuff up instead of real objectives.

I give EA’s Battlefield Bad Company 2 a 8.5/10

I know what your thinking, Modern Warfare 2 is newer, and there fore superior to CoD4, but I’m not so sure about that. Sure there are brilliant features of MW2 but did they make it too complicated? Recently I wanted a change from MW2 so a buddy of mine and I picked up the old call of duty for xbox. We used to be addicts of CoD4 for the PC and since he got an xbox, we have been addicts of other shooters such as Halo 3 and MW2. Going back and playing the older CoD4 was different and very much a positive kind of experience. Its cool to look back in a franchise and see what the roots look like. The first thing I noticed when going back was that the whole gameplay mechanics were way simpler and it was more of a run around shooter than the more tactical feel of MW2. This gives the two games completely different feels and this makes it cool to go play the older CoD.

Another thing I noticed was how different the maps felt. In CoD4 the maps were a mixture between big and small but always felt like what they were. That may sound strange but when I am playing MW2 I find that the maps feel very large, even when you look at the map and it is quite small. I really enjoy this feeling in MW2. It seems that the geniuses back at Infinity Ward figured out how to perfect maps.

The one thing I missed a little from CoD4 were the weapons. I’m defiantly not saying the weapons in MW2 are not great, I love them, but there is something about the old M40 that I just love, or when you can start out with an AK or M16 and have some great weapons off the bat, it is just such a cool feeling. I really wish they had kept the M40 in MW2, but I guess you can’t have everything.

I think that I still enjoy MW2 more because it has gotten so much more to it now like pro perks and better maps (excluding broadcast which was easily my favorite map in the world) that it seems like CoD4 is too basic to go back to. But if you are a Call of Duty fan like myself, then you should go back and try playing CoD4 instead of MW2. Tell me what you think about the two games

I know these games have been out for a while, but they have caught my attention anyways. Snowboard season is here and tons of people have been shredding it up outside, but can we do it in the comfort of our own homes? Two huge games have come out that take completely different takes on the world of snowboarding, kind of like Tony Hawk and Skate.

Stoked takes a more realistic approach to the world of snowboarding, and it’s only for the xbox 360. Right off the bat Stoked has a control scheme that is amazing. Just like in Skate where you flick the right analogue stick which works for it very well. It also has a  nice system for spins. In real life, when you are riding up a huge step down to spin a crazy 720, you wind up. In Stoked you use the left and right triggers to wind up for when you spin frontside, and backside. This is a really cool system that works well. Stoked also allows you as a rider to visit multiple locations and drop in at different spots on a mountain. You can choose the summit or somewhere closer to the bottom. Stoked also has two types of riders you can be: someone who hucks a lot of tricks and spins really quick, or you can be a more stylish person who can hold a grab 3 down a hundred foot drop. This is a super cool system that works for the game as you evolve as a rider. The game seems to have a lot going for it, however this is not to say Stoked does not have its flaws. The problem with most of these sports games is repetition. Stoked is no different. For the first couple hours of gameplay, you learn the basics. This takes way too long and it is too repetitive.  This is a huge flaw to the game because the first time I played it, I was amazed, but I wanted to move on to more fun stuff. This is where Stoked tries to redeme itself. It allows you to be sponsored by some of the biggest names in snowboarding such as Burton and Quicksilver. This is great because you can now pick different boards and expand your character customization. You can also customize your playlist for the game, if you don’t like 80′s funk, then there is no problem, just get rid of those songs. Stoked is a fun game, but only for a short while.

Shaun White Snowboarding came out a while ago for multiple platforms, but I will be talking about the PS3 and 360 versions. Shaun White starts the game really well allowing you to pick multiple locations and customize your character how ever you want. You have a huge library of boards and gear that allow you to make your character how you wish. This game appears fun from the outside, even the loading screens are halfpipes for you to fool around in. This feeling goes away when you realize what the game actually is. This game is a load of crap. The control scheme is one of the weirdest I have used and it does affect the gameplay. When you use the right trigger to ollie, but the rest of the functions are crammed on the face of the controller. The game sufferers even worse when you realize how relative it is. Compared to Shaun White, Stoked looks like most diverse game in the universe. All you do during the game is collect stupid coins. That’s right, coins. This allows you to become a super human snowboarder. Yea thats right, super human powers. You learn by collecting coins to jump 100 feet in the air, speed down a mountain faster than a bugatti veyron and finally break down walls. And don’t expect any story here, you are just simply some dumb ass kid who starts to do jobs for Shaun White. The only place where this game has any point is the soundtrack… but you can pick that up on itunes and save yourself the humiliation of buying this game.

As you can see, the world of snowboarding has yet to be captured for the living room, but at least some companies are making attempts. And the winner is…… gnarshmallow! Yea I know this is neither of the games, is not on a console and the probability of you knowing about it is slim, but that is the beauty of it. Gnarshmallow is a small flashgame that knows what it is, a basic snowboard and skiing game that is amazing fun. You have a top down perspective on a mountain that you can customize. You can pick either a skiier or a snowboarder to ride down the mountain. While there are no real changes between these two characters, it offers a diversity that neither of the games even comes close to. Gnarshmallow allows you to pick from 4 different locations: camp of champions, BC, a terrain park, and Alaska. This is only the beginning. The game has been updated multiple times and improved each time. This game is amazing and I have sometimes chosen to play it even when I have the option of a console. Writing this has reminded me, I want to go play gnarshmallow.

You can play it for the small price of your free time right here: http://www.gnarshmallow.com/

A while ago EA games created the Skate franchise and it has easily been my favorite, and the favorite of everyone who enjoys skateboard games. Everyone has heard of the Tony Hawk games but those are button-mashing boring and very tired. The new one tries to keep up with EA’s Skate but even with an expensive $120 peripheral, it falls short of its competition.  The controls are probably where the game loses the biggest interest. On easy the game plays itself, and on hard, the peripheral is not accurate enough to provide control to the player.  Quite frankly, this is no surprise. Tony Hawk has not been a great series in the past but it has generated a ton of money to allow us to play the next addition in this terrible franchise, this is due to the fact we have had no other options, but now we have Skate.

When the first Skate came out I was amazed at the graphics, physics and especially the controls. The graphics are great, even by our standards today. The physics are realistic and you don’t find yourself jumping 100 feet in the air off a simple Ollie. The controls are where the skate series stands out. Instead of pressing buttons for tricks, you control your board with the right analog stick and grabs are with the triggers. This has a learning curve, but it is not so bad that you give up. Once you get it down, you can pull any trick you want with accuracy and it works very smoothly.

In Skate 2 the graphics were improved yet again and we were able to get off our boards! I know, doesn’t seem like a very new important update but it means we can now set up lines the way we wanted them by moving around objects. This is an amazing game with tons of replay ability that has kept me playing it even now.

Coming in March is Skate 3. This game boasts about community and they are starting to create skate crews. This is  basically a group of people who skate together. This looks like it will add a lot to the franchise and it has easily become one of my most anticipated games of 2010.

trailer:

Thats right, another Battlefield game. I have been one of the ones who is privileged enough to gain a beta key, and even with all the work going on, I can still find enough time in my day to have a round or two of Bad Company 2. I have probably played 7 or 8 hours of the beta and I can honestly say that it might give Call of Duty a run for its money.

I will just start by stating quickly that these are two COMPLTELY different takes on the war genra. Call of Duty is all about close quarters battles with some high tech gagits to allow you to complte your mission. Battlefield has always been a little more basic and you have not had that crazy thermal scope for sniping 30 metres away. Currently I am a huge sniping fan, any game with a sniper in it, i will most likely be using it, with the exception of Killzone 2 which takes a million hours of playing to unlock it. I can honestly say this is one of the best sniping experiences I have played. There is some pretty cool features such as bullet drop and wind variables. I think that this makes the game way more challenging and way more fun to play. After my hours of gaming I am finally able to accuratly determine the range my target is at and aim effectivly to ensure that my target is stopped dead in its tracks. I think this adds a really cool layer to the game and veteren players will be able to keep comming back to refine their aim.

The other really cool feature is the leveling up of classes as well as a general rank. Everything you do adds to your overall rank however when you use a kit you also accumulate points towards new scopes and other additions. This adds a cool feature to the game where you can not only look at someone’s overall rank, but also judge how good and how often they use a certain class.

Battlefield Bad Company 2 is shaping up to be a great multiplayer experiance and if they keep in the direction they are going, Modern Warfare 2 could have some competition.

In the last little while I have been intrigued with some interesting, not exactly traditional skateboarding moves. I have realized that some of this stuff is really cool. William Spencer is a skateboarder who incorporates free-running moves with traditional skateboarding moves. So if you think that jumping off a building with a skateboard is all you can do, try doing a moving handstand and then jumping off the building onto your skateboard.

This video is the first one I have seen of his style and it is amazing. He does everything from fall on his… umm manly area.. to jump from one skateboard, over a ledge, and land on another. You have to watch this

Some of you may have heard of a little game called Modern Warfare 2, a next generation shooter by Infinity Ward. Modern Warfare 2 is probably the most wanted game in the world right now, it sold 5 Million copies the first day it was released, This is almost double Grand Theft Auto 4′s previous record.

So modern warfare 2 has been out for a little while now so I have had the chance to play through the campaign,  a good chunk of spec ops and some multiplayer action. I think that I can rightfully say the game has exceeded it’s enormous hype. This game is probably my favorite one to date. Each section needs to be looked at individually to show you how amazing this game is.

The Call of Duty franchise has been known for its renown campaign. Between intense action that flows as well as a Hollywood movie, to its intense plot with some twists you don’t want to miss. First, the story is brilliant, old characters come back, new ones are here and your mind will be blown with the crazy scenes of shock and betrayal. After finishing the first Modern Warfare in 2007,  I was deeply intrigued  in its story and I couldn’t put it down for more than a few minutes to eat and do homework. The second game tops the story from the first, it picks up quickly and throws you right in the action. There is one level in particular that stands out, it is about the third one into the game. There has been a huge controversy about this level, so much that Infinity Ward actually gives you the option to skip it.  In this level you bust into a Russian airport and kill what seems like hundreds of unarmed civilians, this can be deeply disturbing to some viewers. Russia actually demanded a recall on the game so Infinity Ward could completely remove the level. Other than the one level, the game is unquestionable. It takes you from the middle of the Atlantic ocean on an oil rig, to Washington DC. This vast change of scenery helped the game keep my interests peaked on every level. The single player campaign is absolutely amazing.

Call of Duty 4 Modern Warfare is still in the top 10 most played games on Xbox Live. Modern Warfare 2 goes above and beyond the amazing action from the first game. The multiplayer feels like an old friend with a makeover, for any of you wondering, this is not a bad thing. I feel like this time around, IW got it right. The game’s multiplayer is another feature that keeps people coming back for years. The new weapons, perks and killstreaks provide veterans with a reason to keep coming back, while giving the new players something to look forward to. The weapons in this game are deep and very customizable. You can add anything from a silencer for stealthy gameplay, to a heartbeat sensor to see those tricky players hiding in the shadows. The route to unlocking each attachment is full of fun too. They have challenges that ensure that players to all they can to try to achieve that goal. These challenges can range to killing 10 people with an M16, to getting nuked by the other team. There are a few new additions to the action that put it above its predecessor, these include deathstreaks, and the customizable call signs which is new to the series.  Deathstreaks are there for the new players taking on old veterans. These include coming to life with 3 times the health for the next death, to dropping a live grenade when you die. These add a way for the new players to enjoy and get back in the fight. Call signs are one of the other customizable features of multiplayer. When you kill someone, your call sign shows up on their screen telling them who killed them. It also shows up when you do something good like shoot down the enemies UAV. This ensures that no good deed goes unrecognized. Some of the call signs are hillarious like Joint Ops is a call sign with marijuana leaves in the back ground. These are another part of the multiplayer that will keep people coming back.

Spec Ops is the new feature to Modern Warfare 2. It throws you and a co-op buddy (can be played solo, but i wouldn’t recommend it) into some of the hardest gameplay i have ever seen! I think that this is one of the great additions to the series that we can look forward to coming back again and again. Spec ops takes some of the most amazing levels out of the campaign and redesigns them so it has a new feel to it. One of the coolest ones is the Overwatch mission. This mission has one partner in the sky with an AC-130 gunship raining bombs down on the people below, while you partner tries to reach a location far away, did i mention that you only have a few minutes to get there? This mission took my and Spencer over an hour to complete because it is so challenging. IW really out did themselves this time and it feels very polished. I think that we can look forward to spec ops in games to come.

The last part that adds to the game is the visuals. They are beautiful! It is ridiculous at how amazing these graphics look. It is one of the best looking games I have ever played. I think that the reason they can make them look so great is the new texture streaming technology. This means that instead of the game loading all of the textures with the level at the beginning, it loads them as you advance, allowing the processors in your console to really work hard on the visuals around you. This adds a amazing feel to the game that ensures that you really get into the game.

Modern Warfare 2 is easily my favorite game of this year and you should pick up a copy as soon as you can.

Modern Warfare 2 gets an easy 10/10