Some Mods I Made in Modnation Racing

Modnation Racers is, far and away, one of the best Playstation 3 games, EVER! I absolutely love everything about it.

In MNR, you get to create EVERYTHING bout the game. It's a kart racer, a la Mario Kart, but you design the kart; you design the mod (character); you design the track. You design everything.

One of the more intuitive design processes is the track creation. There have been games, before, where you can place a straight here, a curve there, and ramp elsewhere. With Modnation Racers, United Front Games made the process effective and even easier: the track forms behind your kart as you drive.

That was mind blowing the first time I saw it.

The kart and mod creation process, though, is even simpler: you start with a base, and then you just choose things to put on it. You choose from bits and pieces offered such as engine blocks (standard racing engines to beating heart engines) for cars and your typical hair and clothing pieces for mods.

Here is where I'd like to display some of my mods based on licensed characters. Enjoy.




Rorschach, of course, with The Comedian's smiley face button.


Super Fighting Robot Mega Man!


Nicole made Homer.


Falco, from Starfox.


Dr. Horrible and Captain Hammer from the musical Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog



Some character's from the Fallout series: a White Glove Society member, Vault Boy, and a Fallout 3 Raider.

Started a New Game of New Vegas.

I started up a brand new game of Fallout: New Vegas, this morning.

It is 10:03 am, and, when it turned it off, my save said I had been playing for an hour and forty-five minutes. It made me realize one of the reasons Fallout is so great:

In that 1 3/4 hours, I had only leveled -up once.

There is just so much to do right from the start. I created my character as I typically do: with ruffled up hair and a manly, overgrown beard. I'm pretty sure I also choose this beard, because I have such a problem gorwing my own facial hair, and I long to be able to have a full beard :( 

I then set out on my quest to find the man who shot me in the head and buried me only slightly alive.

I scoured the area, checking all mailboxes, looking for magazines, items that will increase my stats, when I'm in a bind, as well as any bottle caps (currency) and ammo.

Then, to get a free gun and experience points, I did the tutorial quests that would show a new player the gist of the game, from combat, waypoint following, and item crafting.

I encountered some baddies, including escaped prisoners and giant, mutated geckos. I made my way to the next settlement, a casino town called Primm, and learned that more escaped convicts had taken the town hostage.





After stealing some better armor from the local militia, I headed into town, circling around the central casino as I cleared the area of convicts. I holed up into a general store, where I found a disabled Eyebot lying on the table.

I had all the components to fix ED-E, minus one sensor module that I passed up just outside of town. I retraced my footsteps, grabbed the device, and returned. I found my first, and my favorite, follower, whom gives me a greatly extended radius of awareness, increasing my perception, allowing me to know when other creatures, good and bad, are even remotely close.





That's when I decided to end it for the time being.

What Should I Get This Holiday Season?

I have a new job that I actually enjoy and am actually respected at. Kmart is giving me a ton of hours as compared to my meager fractions at Radio Shack, so I feel I may be in a better position, this holiday season, to make some new purchases.

This November, in particular, is shaping up to be a real problematic month, as far as decision making and priorities go:




Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is coming out, which will likely break records, as its predecessors had. However, I probably will not be puchasing this iteration, just like I hadn't MW2 or Black Ops.

What's disappointing about the CoD series is that they are actively attempting to release a new entry every year. Granted, they alternate developers each year, allowing for at least 2 years development, but this does mean that the games are just churned out as if they were on an assembly line.


I would be more okay with this if they just dropped the campaign. No one cares about it. Just focus on multiplayer. If they would put all their effort behind the only mode people play, it'd be that much better.

 

I am one who firmly believes in the concept of video game addiction, and I do get addicted to this series. It's nothing terrible, but when I had World at War, I was, in fact, neglecting the relationship that would eventually become my marriage. When I realized this is when I decided to, from then on, simply rent or borrow the games. I would, at times, be simply unable to put the controller down, or end my gaming session in a distant mood.




However, the Halo series does not invoke that kind of response, from me. I think I simply enjoy the series more, and end my sessions on a more positive note.

Sadly, though, 343 Studios wants to take the same yearly release approach. Sigh.

With that said, Halo: Combat Evolved: Anniversary is also releasing this November. Halo: CE: A is an HD remake of the original Halo title, a game that I admittedly have played only twice. If this were a remake of Halo 2, I'd think more positively about the purchase.

The thing is, I'd almost be entirely interested in replaying the incredible multiplayer maps, if it were a Halo 2 remake. With that said, the Halo 1 remake is releasing with 8 classic maps from 1, 2, and possibly 3. These maps, though, are to be played along side Halo: Reach players. I believe I read that these maps will be given as a DLC voucher code within the game case, though I could be wrong. This, to me, says that, especially to maximize profits, the maps will be released for purchase for Reach. So this sale is also an iffy purchase to me.




Elderscrolls V: Skyrim is due out the same month. I have never played an Elderscrolls game, before, but Bathesda, the developer, made Fallout 3 and allowed Obsidian to use the same tools to make Fallout: New Vegas. These games (especially F3) are simply amazing, and I'd like to get into their other games. Skyrim looks to be mezmerizing, and I am considering this game to be a must have.




However a game that is no mere consideration, but rather a must buy for every single person alive, is the Metal Gear Solid HD Collection. Collecting MGS2, 3, and Peace Walker in HD, this anthology (that I believe will be a budget title) is going to blow me away.

I have been incapable of playing my Playstation 2 titles ever since my PS2 had been stolen sometime in 2007 or so. I eventually got a PS3 (in anticipation for MGS4), but they no longer manufactured backwards compatible PS3s, which meant I could not play my PS2 games.

I am SO excited to return to MGS2, my favorite of the series. I just cannot wait to paint the deck of the tanker red with blood, climb the crows' nest, and take pictures of my handiwork. I do hope this will allow you to export your in game pictures to the hard drive. I also cannot wait for the explorative feel MGS3 gave me as I trekked from jungle to cave to swamp to mountain to etc.

Such a great series.




I also think the Playstation Vita will be touching down in November, but I could be mistaken. If I were to ever get that, though, it'd probably have to wait until my birthday, in April.

So, those are the most hotly anticipated November releases. I cannot wait for MGS.

Hm, I think I'm going to add a Christmas list to the side bar. Never too early, right?

Link to the Past in Magic: The Gathering

A Gamesradar contributor has fashioned himself faux MTG expansion involving the third Legend of Zelda iteration, A link to the Past.

I have never really been into the fantasy card game, but some of my friends (including the previously blogged about Steve) have thousands upon thousands of cards.

The creator has, in fact, gave the same treatment to the first two Zeldas, as well.

(LoZ | Zelda 2)

Here are some stand out cards (In my opinion, based on scant knowledge of worthwhile card attributes):

Started up World of Warcraft

Per my friend's request, I joined the Bonechewer server. I started playing a bit, just doing what I assume to be the tutorial process.

Sadly, I am afraid I have not given the game a proper chance, as I got bored by the time I hit level 3. However, this may also have to do with me coming off of working 32 hours in 3 days.

I was tired, so I called it a day, at that point. I'll continue to try it out, though. Afterall, it's so popular for a reason right?

Funny story: I downloaded WoW, because my best friend, Steve, was holed up in a hospital, due to his leukemia. He was able to come home, yesterday, which is wonderful, because now I get to actually see him. I'm telling him my progress, and he replies, "Yeah, I'm thinking about cancelling my account."

That bastard!

I'll still try it out, though, to see if I like it.

Revival

So, I just stopped posting.

I got bored of it, like so many other wannabe bloggers do. Now, I've restarted, like so many other wannabe bloggers.

Let's see if I can make this work, again.


Fun fact: If I ever decide to get a tattoo, this is a contender.

So, to start anew:

My name is Aaron Miller, and I love video games.

Some of my earliest memories are of video games. In fact, my 3 earliest memories that I can recall at the moment are:

1. I was once sleeping, and rolled off my brother's bed. I fell and landed on a Star Wars toy that sliced my nose down the center. I still have a scar. It was not pleasant.
2. I remember going to my aunt's house, one winter (I remember wearing a winter coat). We were there to pick out a kitten from a new litter one of their cats had had. I remember being so happy to see all these tiny puffs of fur. That day, we took home my first pet, Snow Ball.
3. I was woken up one night, probably by older brother, because my oldest brother beat Super Mario Bros 3. I was so upset he didn't wake me up to watch him beat it. He was my hero, though.

I like several types of games. I enjoy being nostalgic and going back to play classic games such as Earth Bound, Lemmings, Blackthorne, and the like. I also like modern shooters. Halo moreso than CoD. I find them to be more team oriented. I also greatly enjoy party games like Lips, Scene It, etc. I enjoy some RPGs, as well. Mostly WRPGs, such as Fallout 3. That game blew my mind, and may be the greatest gift I ever received (aside from the replacement PS3 I got, this past Christmas)

I like everything in between, as well.

A little over 2 months ago, I married a wonderful woman named Nicole.




Nicole actually enjoys gaming, as well. She loves Fall Out 3 and has recently begun playing L.A. Noire. She is my life. I love her.

I had request my best friend, Steve, to be my Best Man at the wedding, as is typical. Fortunately, despite my friend's illness, he was able to attend. He has since had to go back to the hospital.

Ashamedly, I must admit that I do not have my license >_>. I require other people's (Nicole's or Steve's mom's) schedule to coincide with mine if I want to visit Steve over in Chicago.

I have just started a new job at Kmart, and they like to give me lots of hours, which is a good thing, but it means I have less a chance to see Steve. So, I am now currently downloading World of Warcraft, because Steve is an avid addict :D




Anywho, I am going to try to keep this up. I'll find a way to say something interesting.

Peace.