Jade Empire: XBOX exclusive?

I never owned any console post-Nintendo era -that's right, I didn't even own a SNES. Although, sometimes, there comes a console exclusive game that'll make me wish for a console, and Jade Empire are one of those games. Fortunately, BioWare finally looks upon their starved PC followers and decided to release Jade Empire to PC!

This is great news indeed, not only that Jade Empire is coming to PC, XBOX gamers are also getting ripped with their exclusives. First it was with Fable, the much hyped XBOX "exclusive" game, which was also released on PC -with additional features I might add. Now, it's Jade Empire -also with additional features and much better graphics than XBOX.

If only Square Enix would do the same with Final Fantasy X, but I guess I'm asking too much.

Romance in Games

I don't like to watch romantic movies or soap operas because they're predictable and stupid. Although, I always like a little bit of romance in my RPGs. It adds more depth, interaction, story, and experience in your gameplay. Romance in Baldur's Gate II -where three elven women bicker and bite each other just to win your heart- is very amusing, and the same goes for Planescape: Torment.

What I didn't know: it's much more expensive to create a NPC whose romantically involved with the player character since there are more testing, voice overs, scripting, and writing. For that information, I thank the Escapist who released an article about romance in gaming.

10,000 and 3 Days: A Music Review

Tool - 10,000 Days
(9.0 of 10)






It felt like I've been waiting and anticipating for 10,000 days for Tool's latest work to be released. Now that their fourth album, 10,000 Days, is out, it will take me another 10,000 days to listen to it since most of the songs are seven minutes long.

The intro song "Vicarious" will immediately get and hold your attention with a viselike grip. You'll know by then that you're listening to Tool and, yet, something new. The next track "Jambi" sounds very ethereal. "10,000 Days" and "Rosetta Stoned" are the epic power rock in this album. The metal whrilwind "The Pot" is probably my favorite in the album. There also a lot of soundscape fillers, namely the "Lost Keys".

As for the members, they sound that they are in good shape. The ever eloquent Maynard James Keenan sings in a spirit-like voice. The rest of the band still works together in harmony. Daney Carey is a sterling drummer as ever, and Adam Jones and Justin Chancellor still got the old riffs but left some room to dabble and expirement with other things.

The only thing I can complain about Tool is probably the packaging. Yes, it's quite unique and artful, but it's not functional. I can't close the lid, and I can't pull the disc out without damaging it on the staples holding the artful booklet. Other than that, it's a very impressive album.

Other Reviews

Taking Back Sunday - Louder Now
(8.7 of 10)



The title of their new release speaks for itself. It's more louder now with a lot of good guitar riffs unleashed and a little bit less of the emo sound, but the lyrics are still full of it. Most of the songs here, like "What's it Feel Like to be a Ghost?" and "Miami" pays homage to new wave rock. Louder Now, I conclude, is a great Taking Back Sunday album with a whole different approach.

Bullets and Octane - In the Mouth of the Young
(8.3 of 10)



In the Mouth of the Young is produced by Page Hamilton of Helmet, so there's a lot of Helmet influence here but their sound is truly their own. It's energized hardcore -in your face- punk with lots and lots of guts and balls. If you want some fun, pick up In the Mouth of the Young.

People in Planes - As Far as the Eye Can See
(8.7 of 10)



Another UK band which music is comparable with Muse and Radiohead -with a little bit of Dredg. The vocalist sounds like Thom Yorke sometimes, especially in the track "If You Talk Too Much". Although most of their songs are alternative radio friendly, there are some tracks that had cleary undergone expirementation, especially the epic track "Narcoleptic" that showcases great flanging guitar riffs.

Metaverse

I never play online multiplayer games. For me, it's just too hostile. Galactic Civilizations II's Metaverse, however, is of a different sort. Although Metaverse is a multiplayer option, it doesn't put you on a head-to-head competetion with another angst-filled gamer on the other side of the line. Instead, you compete with scores.

Here's how it works. Basically, you just join a Metaverse game and it will directly connect you to their server. Then, after that, you just play as if you were playing a single-player game, without the hissing and bragging of an angst-filled gamer on the other side of the line. After you finish playing a game, you'll be able to submit your score in the Metaverse database. Then the database will calculate the total average of your score and will give you a rank. If you have a high rank, then you can go to the game's official forum and brag about it.

One other thing, you can also join an empire and your scores will be added to that empire. It's also a fun thing. So if you want to build and start an empire, or already have one, I would love to join it.

Anyways here's my Metaverse account. it's not much but I'm working on it.