The (Misguided) View

On Friday Dec 4,2009 the ladies of The View on their  “Hot Topics” segment were discussing how because of the passing of Proposition 8, a measure that banned gay marriage in California, is trying to submit into next year’s polls a proposition banning divorce. This act, as they said, has brought negative opinions from both [...]

Sony PS3 VS Microsoft Xbox 360 (Online Match)

Logic and facts won’t sway fanboys opinions on which system, offline or online, is better; on this post I would like to share my two cents on why Sony PS3’s online service (PSN) is better than Microsoft Xbox 360’s (Xbox Live) service. However, Sony has not only managed to offer the same services – free of charge – but is also innovating, i.e.: Home.

E3 3009 Microsoft Press Conference Recap and After-Thoughts

The event, which started yesterday at 10am, opened with Microsoft’s press conference that lasted about two hours. The conference started five minutes earlier than scheduled due to something “big,” said “big” thing turned out to be rather disappointing – for me anyways – it was the introductory scene for The Beatles: Rockband. Don’t get me wrong, it was great; but I expected something more. Even though The Beatles: Rockband will be released both for the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3, Microsoft has bragging rights because they have exclusivity for the song “All You Need is Love,” which will be available for download, all proceeds will go to charity.
Xbox 360 Games Shown at E3 2009 were: Tony Hawk Ride, Modern Warfare 2 , Final Fantasy XIII (Square Enix), Shadow Complex (Xbox Live) (Epic Games) , Joy Ride, Crackdown 2, Left 4 Dead 2, Splinter Cell Conviction (Ubisoft), Forza 3 (Microsoft Game Studios), Halo: ODST, Halo: Reach, Alan Wake, Metal Gear Solid Rising

Microsoft’s Xbox 360 E3 2009 Announcement
Music is coming to Xbox Live and it’s going to start with Last.FM, there are going to be some improvements to Netflix and Xbox Live Users in Europe will be able to watch live tv through Xbox; Sky (think Fox) is partnering with Microsoft to offer this service without the need of any peripherals. Soon there will also be Live Viewing, where your Avatar can join your friends Avatars in a virtual living room and watch live tv or a movie.
Facebook and Twitter will also be coming to Xbox Live *yawn*. You will be able (through the Facebook app) add your Xbox live friends to facebook and viceversa.
Project Natal has face and voice recognition and it seems like something a kid from the 90’s like me was expecting to see as soon as we hit the Millennium (thank you, the Jetsons for making me think like that), but 10 years later it seems like a reality. Microsoft hasn’t announced a released date, however, they did say it will be compatible with every Xbox 360 that has been sold and will be sold. So far, I’m sold.

The question remains, will this give Microsoft (and the Xbox 360) an edge over the Nintendo Wii?

The 5 Best Network TV Shows that You are NOT Watching

The 5 Best TV Shows that You are NOT Watching 5) Dollhouse (Fox)
Dollhouse is the new show from Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon, featuring in the leading role Buffy’s alumn Eliza Dushku (Buffy’s Faith) as Caroline
Catch Dollhouse Fridays at 9pm on FOX or watch it online at Hulu.com
4) Heroes
At the start of the second half of season three, Heroes has more focused story lines, more time to develop characters and story that we do care about. Don’t trust me, look at HRG’s and Sandra’s fight on the episode: Turn and Face the Strange. Although, Heroes producers, want to make Heroes fan really happy, kill Mohinder and Hiro, and stop killing our favorite blondes, Elle (Kristen Bell), Daphne (Bea Grant) and Nikki/Jessica/Tracy (Ali Larter) – although I’m pretty sure Ali Larter will be back as Barbara next season. Catch Heroes Mondays at 9pm on NBC or watch it online at Hulu.com or at www.nbc.com/heroes
3) 30 Rock (NBC)
It seems like it bares repeating – thought it shouldn’t – how funny Tina Fey is. Just look at her past work on Saturday Night Live (SNL) or the movie Mean Girls and Baby Mamma (although she didn’t write it). Tina Fey is one funny lady and she brings all her wits, charms and smarts to 30 Rock. The show deals with the behind-the-scenes of an SNL type of show where the writers are some lazy goofballs, the stars are starved for attention (which when they don’t get they act out in hilarious ways), the top executive is – well Alec Baldwin – and the page is a southern gullible guy who’s fascinated with television. 30 Rock has a constant spree of guest stars, which although welcomed, are not really needed. The show with or without them is hilarious and it uses their characters and story to their limits and then some. There’s a reason why this show won so many awards and so have Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin.

Catch 30 Rock Thursdays at 9:30 pm on NBC or watch it online at Hulu.com.
2) Samantha Who? (ABC)
Samantha Who? stars’ Christina Applegate, as woman who after having an accident wakes up with amnesia to learn that she’s not close to her family, only has one real friend, her ex hates her and that she was a complete bitch. Now, she’s trying to make amends while figuring out who she really is. The show is really funny and the characters are all screwed up one way or the other. Samantha’s two friends Andrea (Jennifer Esposito) and Dena (Melissa McCarthy) act, respectively, as her evil angel/ good angel on her shoulders. I have to say that Jennifer Esposito’s performance is truly outstanding. As good/evil Samantha will say: “give it a go, give a try – or bitch don’t bother and let me be”

Catch Samantha Who? Thursday at 8:30pm on ABC or watch it online at www.abc.com
1) Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
As everyone else has already done, let’s forget that Terminator 3 existed. Now imagine you have watched Terminator 2 – which you probably already did with the new Terminator movie: Terminator Salvation coming out soon – and remember how great movie that was. Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles follows Sarah Connor and John Connor after the events of the second film as they continue to go underground and fight Skynet. A new terminator, Cameron (Summer Glau, shold win an award for her role, flawless) is sent to protect John (Thomas Dekker). It’s easy to assume that a show called Terminator, will feature a “terminator of the week” on every episode and it’s my duty to let you know that they don’t. The show is smart, fast paced and pushes the terminator mythology to a great lengths. This show, also shows us (no pun) how John Connor went from the John on Terminator 2 to the leader of the resistance and the influence that Sarah (a fantastic Lena Headey), his mom, has on him and what she would do to protect him.
Catch Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles Friday’s on FOX at 8pm or watch it online at Hulu.com

Project Runway’s NEW Season will Air This Summer!

After announcing last year that the 5th season of Project Runway would be the last season aired on Bravo – because it would move to Lifetime – all hell broke loose and the status of one of the best reality shows out there was unknown.

Today NBC universal announced that the lawsuit had been settled and the 6th Season will air – on Lifetime!

A statement released today by NBC Universal explained how the lawsuit was resolved:

NBC Universal, The Weinstein Company and Lifetime have resolved their disputes. . . The Weinstein Company will pay NBCU for the right to move Project Runway to Lifetime. All of the parties are pleased with the outcome.”

What do you think? Will you still watch? And on Lifetime?

Nintendo’s Strategy to Make Nintendo DS Owners Buy a DSi

he Nintendo DS comes with two screens, one of them is a touch screen. The Nintendo DS was a complete success, so Nintendo in 2006 released a new redesigned Nintendo DS calling it Nintendo DS Lite. The DS Lite featured a leaner console, brighter screens and better battery life. It sold like hot cakes – hell I even have one! With Nintendo DS Lite, Nintendo, addressed some issues, but didn’t really bring anything new to the table. Now, a few weeks away of launching its new handheld console, Nintendo DSi, Nintendo said that it’s not looking to replace the Nintendo DS, but rather have it as a continuation. Nintendo being a corportation – and as one only thinking of making a profit – has a new strategy: to confuse the hell out of customers and make you buy a Nintendo DSi. DSi project leader Matsato Kuwahara revealed that the company will be releasing two different kinds of DS cartridges. “DSi Cards” will only work on the DSi itself, while “DSi Enhanced Cards” will work on all DS systems, with extra features when played on the DSi.” GDC 2009: DSi Will Introduce Two Separate Cart Types By Steve Watts 1up.com

5 Video Games that Deserve a Sequel

This list contains five video games that:

Received so many sequels that is just repetitive
Overlooked games
Are Retro games
5 Video Games that Deserve a Sequel

5) Eternal Darkness: Sanity Requiem (Silicon Knights) (Gamecube)

For a console that has been branded as “kiddie-console,” Eternal Darkness, had a mature story that was much needed for the Gamecube. Sadly, even though it was praised by critics, the game didn’t have garner gamers money recognition. Perhaps because it was for a “kiddie-console” where said kids couldn’t have played it – it was rated M for Mature. Maybe if it had been released also on Xbox and Playstation 2 it would have been a success. The storyline spans 20 centuries letting players take on the role of 12 different characters through the ages, from a Roman Centurion to a priest during the period of the Inquisition. What’s fantastic and different is the gameplay. If your character gets hurt, they will start to lose their sanity and weird things are going to start happening – to you! Your television volume will go up and down, your screen will fade to black. In this game, your sanity will be at play! Hopefully one of this game will get a much deserving sequel. 4) Psychonauts (Majesco) (Xbox, Playstation 2, PC)

Psychonauts comes from the incredible mind of Tim Schafer – who will soon release the heavy metal game Brutal Legend with Jack Black – the game was praised and welcomed by critics, but again gamers weren’t too crazy about it – except the ones who did play it. In Pyschonauts you take the role of Rasputín, a boy who has been sent to Psychic camp to improve his abilities and become a Psychonaut, but at the camp something’s gone wrong. People, even students, are losing their brains – literally! It’s up to Rasputin to uncover what’s going on and return the brains to their owners. Each level of the game will take you into the mind of the camp counselors or students, as you know each “brain is it’s own world” and this game welcomes it. From World War types of scenarios to worlds of Disco and clubs, this game will take you anywhere. When it ended, it left the promise for more to come yet no news have been heard. Hopefully Brutal Legend will be a success and Tim Schafer can take another risk.3) Zombies Ate My Neighbors (LucasArts) (SNES)

Zombies ate my neighbors is what I considered the “father” of Left 4 Dead. In Zombies Ate My Neighbors you can choose to play as a boy or a girl and on each video game chapter, which acts like a B-horror film, you try to save your neighbors; these neighbors can be from cheerleaders to babies and that old mean lady. What are you saving them from exactly? Other than zombies you have lizard men, giant antes, mummies, water creatures and even a chainsaw wielding Jason Vorhees look-a-like. What makes this game even better is that you can even play with a friend, yes co-op is enabled – of course offline, we are talking 1993 here! If this game were remade, or had a sequel, today, with all of it’s campy vibe it can truly be a success. 2) Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy (Midway) (Xbox, Playstation 2)

This is one of the best and most overlooked games of the past generation. In Psi-Ops you assume the role of Nick, a soldier who had his memory wiped by the government so he could be captured my Mindgate and infiltrate their base – is there really any other kind – while on the inside you are being helped by a partner who you are not sure if you can really trust. Although the game sounds very generic and the story is somewhat predictable, it redeems itself with gameplay. As the game progresses you will start remembering who you are and what you can do. What can you do? You can move things with your mind (telekinesis), start fires (pyrokinesis), drain minds, control minds , aura view and remote viewing. It’s not only what you do, but how you do it that counts and in Psi-Ops, Midway, let’s you have all the fun you want. Set a crate on fire and then use your telekinesis to throw it to someone else, get on top of a crate and lift it up to reach new levels, why lose your life fighting when you can take over a soldier to do all the killing for you. There are many ways to get things done and it really doesn’t get old. The game was obviously done with a sequel, which hasn’t happened, in mind, leaving gamers without a real conclusion. Honestly, this game done today with what current consoles can do, it will be amazing. Throw that some online multiplayer (I don’t really think co-op is needed here) and Trophies/Achievements and Midway will have a hit. Sad thing is, Midway declared bankruptcy, so this may never happen. 1) Pokémon Red/Blue/Yellow (Gameboy) (Nintendo)

Yes, Pokémon deserves a sequel. I don’t mean more Pokémon Platinum, or Pokémon Silver or Pokemon Gold. I mean a real sequel. One where you get to do more than the same thing over and over again. It still baffles me how kids keep buying the same repetitive game, no matter how it is explained. Pokémon is a very successful franchise and it can take risks of trying something new. They have a bit, for example: Pokémon Ranger, but they can do better. Nintendo, it is time to take chances!

The Nielsen Ratings Will Kill Your Favorite Show

After being on hiatus for three weeks Gossip Girl aired new episodes on Monday, March 16, 2009. The next day TV Guide reported that the new episode didn’t bring many viewers. The post called Ratings: Once-Hot Gossip Remains Lukewarm is part of their “thing” to be a serious entertainment magazine, which influences producers a lá Entertainment Weekly – with it’s Fallen Heroes story – taking jabs at Gossip Girl and “how to fix it.” As long as it’s not American Idol or Dancing With the Stars of course!Well, yes some do – thanks to DVRs, but lately a lot of people are watching shows online. Why do you think last year’s writer’s strike happened? They wanted royalties for online shows. When you go to CBS.com or ABC.com to watch your favorite shows you have to watch them with: “limited commercial interruption,” which means someone’s making a profit. The Nielsen ratings are TV Networks tool in order to sell their shows to advertisers. “Yes advertise here, our show is watched by 20 million viewers – unlike the other network that only gets 2 million at the same time.” TV shows like Lipstick Jungle, Pushing Daisies, Dirty Sex Money and Eli Stone were cancelled because of low viewership, but who’s there to say they didn’t have viewers? Nielsen ratings do count DVR views, but only gives a maximum of a week after the show was original aired to be accounted for. This is semi-understandable given that if Macys’ advertising a “1 Day Sale” and you watch a week later you won’t be informed on time to make a decision. However, there are reports of the Nielsen Ratings not being as accurate as they want us to believe they are.The Nielsen ratings use three systems to acquire their data: People Meter Set-Tuning Meter Diary.

Don Imus has Prostate Cancer

Today on his morning radio show, Imus in the Morning, Don Imus announced he had stage II prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of men’s deaths in the United States. In 2008, there were 28,000 deaths last year and the American Cancer Society estimates that in 2008 there were about 186,320 new cases of prostate cancer diagnosed in the US. Recent studies links heavy drinking to prostate cancer. Imus has been sober for two decades now, but before he did some heavy drinking and drug abuse. There’s not an exact answer on what causes prostate cancer, but experts seem to believe that a combination of factors may play a role, including heredity, ethnicity, hormones, diet and the environment.The treatments for Prostate cancer are: External beam radiation therapy (EBRT), Radioactive seed implants, hormoney therapy, radical prostatectomy, Robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostactectomy (RALRP), watchful waiting, Chemotherapy, Cyrotherapy, genere therapy and immune therapy.Key factors for prevention, as with everything else, are healthy eating habits and excersice.

Video Games Are Blamed on Germany’s School Shooting

t. Yesterday, March 11, 2009, a terrible, horrible, horrendous news were broadcasted on how a 17 year old in Winnenden, Germany shot and killed 15 people at his school.

As CNN “casually” reported that:

“Police said Thursday that 15 guns had been found at the killer’s home and violent video games. The guns belonged to Kretschmer’s father, who was a gun club member.” German killer’s warning: I’m going to give them hell

This is not the first time that after a tragedy is pointed out that the killer was a “gamer.” Video games are blamed now for everything, they are the easiest scapegoats for parents, teachers and responsible adults to avoid guilt. Video games have been blamed for: children’s early death, to killing your parents,to two students being injured by their own stupidity, to being blamed for Virginia Tech, for animal atrocities , for bad driving and – even – for poor family relationships.

Why is it easier to blame video-games?

Other than not admitting guilt and feeling that you had no wrong doing, well. . .
As luck would have it, powerful lobbies would have too much to lose. It’s weird that in this democracy, special interest lobbies are the one’s who truly create and affect policy – not the will of the people – and this is why until we can accept that Gun Control should be a number one issue in every country, but it’s easier – and less controversial – to blame the media.

In all of this cases of horrendous violence, these murderers had easy access to guns – either to purchase or just to steal from their parents – that’s the real issue and that’s what we should focus on.