Entertainment
Dead Rising: Impossible to Play on an SDTV!
Jan 20th
Dead Rising looks like a very cool game…it feels like a very cool game, just from the 10 mins or so playing it.
Unfortunately, since I have a 25″ SDTV- the game is completely useless to me.
Why? As many others are painfully aware (I’m only aware of the issue after a google search)- there is a ton of text on screen involved in talking to people, answering your phone, and getting instructions on what to do and how to do it.
BUT- the game was developed with HDTV in mind, so the text is nearly impossible to read! You have sometimes lengthy conversations with others in the game, but it’s all pointless as you cannot possibly read what it is being said.
Your phone rings, and text shows up as the caller’s voice- also impossible to read. Boxes pop up every now and then to tell you how to do certain things. Even most of this text is impossible to read.
I’ve no idea why a game developer would create a game, not even bothering with the fact that the text might as well be invisible unless I have a brand new $1, 000 HDTV!
VERY frustrating. Worse- Capcom (the game’s developer) has the lamest fixes on the planet- try to set your TV to widescreen? That helps! Except I don’t have a widescreen TV, this the ratio is all screwed up, and this doesn’t make the text any more readable as it is. Will search more sites to see if they came out with a patch for this hunk of junk…
Upcoming Movies: Last King of Scotland/ Zodiac
Jan 18th
It’s about time! I’ve been seeing and hearing stuff about the new film, Last King of Scotland for months. Patrick Stoner (PBS) recommended it at least 2 months ago…I saw it listed in some theatres around the country months ago as well. Finally, it will be released nationwide, and the reviews say it’s fantastic. The performance of Forrest Whittaker’s life. Will definitely be seeing this film this weekend.
Also- I haven’t seen the most recent “Zodiac killer” movie that’s now out on DVD. I will add that to my Netflix list when I finish posting this. But, there’s a new ZODIAC movie out in theatres March 2. I loved Greysmith’s first book, tho I never read the second. I always found this case very interesting and very terrifying.
More upcoming movies on my “to see” list?
Reno 911: The Movie
Norbit (hey, I think it looks funny…)
Smokin’ Aces
The Hitcher
300
GottaPlay Game Rental Service
Jan 17th
I signed up for GottaPlay‘s game rental service the other day- it’s $12.95 for one game out…cheaper than the others from what I saw.
I signed up on Jan 13, which was a Sunday. No mail on Monday due to MLK Jr. Day. I checked my “Gamer Q” just now and they still haven’t sent any games out- I added nearly 20 to my list, and a few of them are really lame games I added simply to see if all the good games were out.
I called their customer service line, and both times I got a message saying they were busy with other customers and to leave a message and my number, and they’d try to call me back as soon as possible. No way Jose- if you offer customer support, I’m of the view I shouldn’t have to leave my name and number like I’m calling a buddy whose late meeting me at the cinema.
They still have yet to reply…this was nearly 2 days ago I E-Mailed them, asking when a game would be sent out, and how I would know when one was sent out.
The thing is- unlike Netflix, for example, and many other services- they don’t have any status on any of their games. There’s no “available,” “short wait,” “long wait.” NONE of that at all. Just a “Gamer Q” that lists your games with a message that says “ATTENTION: For the best possible service, add additional titles to your Rental “Q”.”- a list of your games and buttons to move them up the “Q” for top priority.
I’m a bit concerned already…this doesn’t sound like good customer support from their delay in responding, and the way they leave you in the dark as to what status the games are in is troubling as well.
I’m going on a hunch here- this isn’t going to be a good service. I saw another review where someone said the times in getting games back were fast. He said when he sent out a game on Monday, he’d usually get the next game the next Monday or Tuesday. (this is not fast shipping.)
GottaPlay, on review sites, and on their own site, list that they have 5 shipping centers located around the country, so they have the fastest shipping times. Doesn’t sound like the real world experience is matching up with the hype.
I’ll write on this again if they ever send me a game…
UPDATE: I called once again and finally got through to someone. The lady I talked to said she saw that no games had been shipped, and that she had no idea why no game was sent out. It takes 2 days after signup to send out the first game…if a game doesn’t go out in 7 days, they automatically extend the trial period (it’s a trial period of 10 days for $1)- so, my trial will be extended almost surely…
I noticed their website says they reply to all E-Mails within 24 hours. Unfortunately, that’s not even close to true. I sent two E-Mails and got one reply 4 days after my initial E-Mail! 24 hours? Nope- 4 days. Big difference. Poor customer service in my view. Make no promises of quick replies to E-Mails if you’re 3 days off on the guarantee.
The E-Mail said that they had an influx of new customers and they can’t keep up with game demand. Basically- they can’t send me any games, because they don’t have any games in stock. A VERY bad sign for any business. I will cancel my account and urge others to steer clear of this service. Having low inventory is one thing, but they need to make this clear on their site. They don’t list status for any of their games, they give you no clue as to when a game will be sent, if any games are available, why a game isn’t being sent…that and the slow reply to E-Mail when they promise a 24 hr response time. Calling centers that are so booked they say THEY will call YOU back. Too many problems with GottaPlay. Thumbs down big time.
XBOX 360 Console
Jan 6th
So, I decided to pick up an XBOX 360 the other day…ended up spending nearly $520 after the battery charger and GEARS OF WAR…I went in and had no idea what game I wanted to buy. I was interested in CONDEMNED, but decided to get GEARS OF WAR instead. VERY hard game as far as I’m concerned- you die easily and there doesn’t seem to be tons of ammo lying around everywhere. I read many site reviews, and it seems the game is based on the strategy of being forced to hide behind things a lot and work with the others to attack the weird beast things (not even sure what they’re called- the story is a tad disjointed and not all that clear.)
I also picked up VIVA PINATA, just because I’m cool like that. I’ve played PINATA most so far…it’s actually fairly complex as well. MANY things to remember how to do, LOTS of various resident pinatas to keep tabs on, care for…It’s not the simple kids game the box makes it out to be. Which is good. And bad, when I’m too tired for something too complicated. It’s interesting…there tends to be a lot of downtime doing mundane tasks, but according to reviews of this game, you can delegate these tasks to others eventually. Haven’t gotten to that point- either that or I haven’t figured out how to hire helpers yet!
I signed up for XBOX Live…silly me, I tried to join a casual GEARS OF WAR ‘vs’ game right off the bat, without even playing the game- so I had no idea what controls did what…I quickly left that game! Oddly enough it shows a gamerscore of 50 (it showed 10 after that game but went up today to 50)…and a rep of 3 stars out of 5 I think it is. It actually automatically signs on to LIVE as default…which I guess I should turn off.
Need to pick up CONDEMNED sometime. Tried to PGR3 demo- it’s okay…just like PGR2 (which I have and loved)…but, it seems too much of the same. No radio stations like in part 2, no regular cars to drive, etc.
Not sure about any other games. I need to get an HDTV set- 360 is in HD…you can pick up a $200 HD DVD drive for it, and it’s actually a bit hard to see everything on my 25″ SD set. To bad my electronics are taking over, and I have no room for the 360 outside of the floor in front of the entertainment center itself. Might be worse with an HDTV and a small stand for it- even the smaller stands with limited AV room below run $200 at Wal Mart, I’ve noticed…
Well- off for now.
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