MGS4

It's not often I read a book, listen to music, or see a movie and afterwards feel that I have just witnessed a masterpiece. It's an amazing experience when it happens. It's the kind of thing that makes you feel fortunate to be alive, simply to have been present for the opportunity.

Even less frequently than with music, film, and literature - this kind of experience happens while playing a game. You may be laughing at me right now, but the medium is definitely becoming an art form along the lines of those previously mentioned. If you don't believe me, you need only check out Hideo Kojima's magnum opus - Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots.

On the surface the game raises the bar to the stratosphere. Developers will be hard pressed to build anything this polished in the next few years. Once you start peeling away the layers and embracing the story, you easily see that this is a passionate work or art, a work of love, and more than just a game.

For those of your with a PS3 at home, you finally have a reason besides Blu-ray to own it. :)

Lastly.... Raiden is straight up the coolest character ever. He may even give Hiro, Cloud, or Anakin a run for their money.

Xbox 360 Part 2 (.5?)

I reverted back to using component cables, just to get my Optical DD5.1. I had hoped that a second issue I was experiencing would also be solved. However... it was not. I've since opened a repair order and will be sending my 'box back to the repair facility.

For those unaware of the issue, read about it here. I figured this was an HDMI handshaking issue. If the 360 doesn't see something on the end of the AV cable, it won't boot up. I never had this issue with my non-HDMI/non-Elite, so I assumed it was handshaking (component has no handshaking, instead it just completes a circuit - if the Xbox can't see that then I say it's busticated). Oh well.. I finished Assassin's Creed and got a few hours of Call of Duty 4 in before packing it up.

Unfortunately I also finished Uncharted: Drake's Fortune on the PS3 as well as Final Fantasy 1 on the PSP. Sandy picked up a new one for her DS called "Professor Layton and the Curious Village" that's promising. I borrowed it from her for a few hours, and the puzzles are a lot of fun. Layer 5 also made Jeanne D'Arc on the PSP, which I absolutely loved. Hopefully this will be as good. I suppose I always have good old Eternal Darkness to keep me busy. I guesstimate that I am about 60% through with it. The combat system is just so dated that I am having a hard time becoming super absorbed.

Now just to not jones for some Mass Effect while it's gone... and I'll be golden.