So because of my job, recent engagement and other plans, BlueGamer.net hasn’t been updated in a while. Not only that, but we haven’t seen a podcast in a while.

I have my PAX badge. I’m even getting the media emails where I could set up interviews for some great content.

But because of other things, I won’t be at PAX this year.

Things will change though, and here’s what’s going down:

By October (most likely), I’ll be in Brazil. My gaming will be limited to my 360, PC Gaming, DS, PSP, and PS3 remote access (and possibly a PS2). I’m not sure how easily I’ll be getting the newer games for each platform, but, TecToy was a huge distributor in Brazil for Sega from the Master System to the Dreamcast. I’m thinking I’ll be able get my hands on these products. Not only do they have a badass portable Genesis, but there were some games produced exclusively in Brazil. Also, word yesterday is that Microsoft is introducing an Asian/Latin America only gamepad with a modified D-pad. So really, I don’t see my gaming habits dwindling too much, but I’m obviously going to try to be out often to enjoy my stay in Brazil. Really. It’s all about Brazil.

While there, I’ll keep this blog updated about my gaming experience in a foreign land. But when I get back, the site will get an over-haul. I’ll be using new software and trying my darndest to make this place look slick. Along with that, we’ll reintroduce the Blucast as well as a Videocast. And my goal is to attend as many gaming cons as possible. My life will be very different at this point, so I should have the time for this – but who knows, things change.

But on to the gaming…

There are an amazing amount of great GBA games I’ve been meaning to play through. The other day I noticed my GBA Micro sitting on the ‘handhelds’ shelf. He’s a cute little guy – I miss using him. So, I set off to Gamestop to see what they had. I picked up Sigma Star Saga, Gunstar Super Heroes, and Blackthorne. All for a total of $15. Sweet, eh? But there are more I’m looking for:

Sonic Advance 2/3
Ninja Five-0
Guardian Heroes
…
Ok, I had a huge list in my head…I guess I need to write this stuff down (or just update it here).

I had Too Human next on my Gamefly queue, but instead got TimeShift. I must have been too late making Too human the only game on my queue… Anyway, Time shift is great. Graphics, Story, Gameplay…great game. But you know what made it underrated? The constant delays and apparently an entire re-design. It turned out great IMO, but you know how game reviewers are with this games. This is one game that I suggest everyone try.

Bionic Commando: Rearmed. Holy crap. I barely remember playing the original, but the game play in this just felt so familiar. So punishingly familiar. TimeShift threw me of course, but I should be back into this one soon enough.

Next gaming plan? Well, my birthday is the 30th. Maybe I can talk my family into getting me Mercenaries 2?

There are a lot of changes going on with me, so I am unable to blog about my gaming as much as I’d like. You see, it takes time to game then to talk about gaming. In order to get these “other” things done, I have to cut one thing out. And I can’t cut out gaming, because then I couldn’t talk about gaming. See how that works?

I’ve been playing a lot. I got Geometry Wars 2, Braid, Geometry Wars DS, Contra 4, Sonic Rush 2, Nanostray 2, Soul Calibur 4, er…some other titles but I’m at a loss. I’ve been playing the Red Alert 3 and Red Faction Betas. Pretty fun. Not much to say yet though.

Braid. I played the demo and didn’t dig it. It turned out to be a clever puzzle game rather than an actual side-scrolling platfomrer. The art and music is fantastic. But…the demo didn’t do it. But I was ridiculed. I didn’t think actually paying $15 just to see what it was like (because apparently the demo wasn’t good enough?) was worth it, but I kept getting crap for it. I was told not to go by the demo. But it’s the fucking demo…it’s what is used to determine the purchase of a game. But I bought it, and I’m still disappointed. People have pointed out that the $15 is nothing…that we buy crap all the time. But most of this crap is stuff people want. How do we know if we like Braid beside the indie hype of a game with a different style than the norm? Does that automatically give it a free ride? This game being cheaper, or just plain free would have been a better idea. More exposure for J. Blow. But this contraversy that has started worked FOR him. So, from a business standpoint, pure genius. Next game of his? I won’t be so quick.

It took the community a long time to figure it out, but people are figuring out that Evil Avatar has been overrun with D-bags. When I used to get crap for speaking up, people are now leaving to start a community elsewhere. I don’t totally blame Evil himself. The community just got too big for him, but I put most of the blame on the community. They took Evil too seriously and didn’t know when to shut up. I mostly feel sorry for BAPenguin. He has done so much for the community…he is a community leader. And he’s actually a gamer, compared to most that run sites. Will he be leaving EvAv? Will all this eventually cool down? For now, most of us our at my sister-site Immortal Machines.

I have some minor site news for my next entry. Stay tuned.