Obsessor's Creed: A Game

I am a casual gamer, but as much as I obsess over some games, I'm surprised this is only my second gaming post since this blog's inception, and although I've only played one version from the Assassin's Creed series of five games, I know I will enjoy the other's when I get around to them.

My infatuation began over two years ago when I attended E3. Ubisoft was promoting the third installment for a future release date of Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood. The big push was that you were able to compete against other players who were also AI assassins.

The basic premise: Be an assassin, plan your attacks, strike without mercy, then either blend in to make your getaway or fight to escape. And depending on which game you're playing, you are an assassin in either: Jerusalem, 1191AD (The Third Crusade), Italy, 1490AD (The Italian Renaissance) or the upcoming The American Colonies, 1775AD (The American Revolution).

It was the fact that you got to play an assassin from the past - with limiting weapons and defined skills - that initially intrigued me about this series. As the assassin, you are sent on vengeful missions across town, traveling over rooftops and climbing structures, or on ground, blending in with the locals or hiring thieves and courtesans to distract guards to reach your target. It is the perfect blend of action pack excitement, puzzle solving, and stealth techniques, which are not usually combined so well in other games. Not to mention that the maps and graphics are just freaking gorgeous. I have only played Assassin's Creed II, which takes place in 1490AD Italy. All the cities you visit (including Florence and Venice) are historically mapped and recreated. Not to mention that many of your targets were actual people during that time period and you can learn about their real life exploits in the game, if you so choose (fun for history buffs). In fact, the final "boss" is the currently popular Pope Alexander VI, Rodrigo Borgia, because of the Showtime TV Series, The Borgias. Although not an obsession, I do enjoy the series (Season 2 being 10x better than Season 1), and apparently the next title in the Assassin's Creed series: Brotherhood, picks up right where Part II left off and introduces Lucrezia Borgia and her brother, Cesare, whom were suspected of having an incestuous relationship. Here's a review of Assassin's Creed II, which goes into far, far more detail:



Every title thus far, with the exception of Assassin's Creed III (because it will not be released until October 2012) has received excellent reviews by both critics and gamers. I'm not recommending plopping down $500 for a gaming system to play these games; however, if you do own a systme that supports this series, I highly recommend doing what I did and test if you like Assassin's Creed by starting with Part II (maybe even Part I). Being a couple of years old now, they're bargain-bin cheap. I hope this series continues on for a while, maybe even going into the future, as long as Ubisoft continues to produce the series without rushing. At one new title a year, I can see them getting sloppy. By the way, if I had any voice about where they should go next, it would be America, 1870 (The Old West).

For anyone who's interested, here's the demo of Assassin's Creed III, the American Revolution years, I waited over an hour in line to see at E3 this year, now available immediately on YouTube . Although it looks good, minus the senseless killing of a deer which bothers me, I think I will probably like Italy better:

I Can't Get "Bad Things" Out Of My Head!



I am not a country music fan... not-at-all.  However, once in a blue moon, a country song will somehow find its way to my eardrums, and whether there is something about the song that somehow speaks volumes to me or I have listened to it so repetitively that I've grown to like it, I do have a couple that I am partial to; one of those being Jace Everett's "Bad Things", the official theme song to TV show obsession, "True Blood".

Yes, this is one of the few shows where I don't fast-forward through the beginning credits because I love the grittiness and roughness of this song.  Now, because "True Blood" is returning this Sunday, June 10th (starred and circled on the calendar) for its fifth season on HBO, I got the song somehow stuck in my head without even having listened to it since the season four finale.  But I'm really not that surprised as it is a catchy little tune, and not hard to forget.  Here it is in "True Blood"s creepy, inbredy, hilly-billy opening credit:



As the story goes, Alan Ball, creator of the "True Blood" series based off the Sookie Stackhouse series written by Charlaine Harris, downloaded "Bad Things" off of iTunes as a filler opening credit song until they found one better.  Well, they never found anything that the executives and creators at HBO liked better.  "Bad Things" seemed to fit perfectly as the "True Blood" theme song (I agree), thus launching the career of Jace Everett who I believe was only a struggling artist at the time.  Moral of the story? - Whether you're an artist of any kind: writer, musician, illustrator... the web is a wonderful place to showcase your work and you never know when an Alan Ball will discover you as long as you have strived for perfection and put forth your best effort.

Now, what happens to all previously recorded songs picked up for TV shows, they must be edited down to fit the show's opening credit format.  Although "Bad Things" really isn't chopped up too badly, here is a link to the full version:

Only 3 days left until Season 5!!!  Yee-haw!

Say It's Not True! (Blood)

Like a flash... a blink of an eye... the speed of light... another season of the gory sexy HBO series, 'True Blood' has come and gone.  The good news... there will be a Season 5, the bad news... well, if you haven't been paying attention, Season 4 is over and it's going to be another 9 long-ass months until June 2012!!! WAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!  (I am not beneath immaturity when it comes to my 'True Blood').  BFF Steve and I even toasted the start of Season 4 with real True Blood drinks (carbonated soda made from blood orange drink) and is actually very delicious.

Now, I'm not one of those gothy types who just loves all things vampires.  Personally, I think the 'Twilight' series is an abomination to vampire films and films in general (no, I haven't read the books and have no plans to do so). But don't misunderstand, it's not the whole teenage/vampire thing I have a problem with.  I actually really enjoy the CW show 'The Vampire Diaries' for its surprisingly good writing and unpredictability.  I'll give you a moment to stop laughing............ done yet? No?............... There are many things I feel makes 'True Blood' special, but what I think I enjoy most about the show is its intentionally, unintentional humor and the brilliant characters: Tara, Sookie, Jason, Pam, Bill, Russell, Lafayette, Eric, Sophie Anne, Andy, Edna, Alcide, Hoyt, Jesus, Arlene, Sam and more... all portrayed brilliantly by exceptionately talented actors like they were born for these parts.  Here's an example of what I'm saying...

Now compare it to...

I'll say it again... EXCEPTIONAL!!  Rutina's quick and slick deliveries also skimmed 15 seconds off the clock!  A 'true' example of one of my favorite quotes:  "funnier, faster, louder".

It should also be known that, except for the most recent book, I've read every Sookie Stackhouse novel by Charlaine Harris, and although there are some similarities to Mrs. Harris's series, the mega-genius Alan Ball, has created a dynamic world which improves the novels by leaps and bounds.  Mr. Ball has taken the series' foundation and turned it into something the novels should have been in the first place (no offense Mrs. Harris); however, by doing this, each new season of the show is pulled further away from the adapted novel, eventually making the books only shadows of the HBO series.

Anyway, hats off to HBO, Mr. Ball, Mrs. Harris and the everybody on the 'True Blood' team for making Season 4 my favorite season yet.  I cannot wait to see if they introduce any new "supes" in Season 5 because if memory serves, novel 5 doesn't have any.  But Mr. Ball, if you're reading this (yeah, right) and are looking for a new "supe" idea, might I suggest a season of blood-sucker vs. blood-sucker (ie, vampire vs. chupacabra)?  EPIC!

The AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING Race

For all who truly know me, know what a "The Amazing Race" fan I am; in fact, 'fan' does even begin to describe me, so I'm just going to say it... 'whore'.  Yes, much better description!  I am a "The Amazing Race" whore.  I cannot get enough of this show which has been on the air, on CBS, since 2001 about teams of two people, who have some form of preexisting personal relationship, racing around the world in competition with other teams filled with Speed Bumps, Detours, Roadblocks and U-Turns.  Producer Jerry Bruckheimer has created this flawless game show of people being put into extraneous circumstances that test their knowledge, skills and relationships for a chance to win (insert Dr. Evil voice here) One Million Dollars. Just announced today are the 11 teams who will be competing in its 19th Season, which you can see here.

Of course, it should be of no surprise that it is an obsession of mine to be a participant on this show and have even applied twice.  The first time was for Season 8 when the producers decided to do a "family" season with teams of 4.  My mother, sister and her then boyfriend created an audition tape and sent it in, but we never heard back, granted sister's boyfriend lost his passport which was a prerequisite for applying so nobody was surprised when we didn't hear.  Unfortunately, I no longer have a copy of this audition tape; otherwise I would post it, but I DO have the audition tape when I applied with my other sister, Vanesa, which was about two years ago.  You can enjoy the awkward attempt here:



Alas, we didn't hear from CBS again.  I guess I just wasn't meant to be on this show (crying, bawling, destroying priceless pieces of furniture).  But I do not hold a grudge because this show is too perfect to stay mad at.  In fact, back around 2007, before the Hollywood screenwriters strike, rumor was that CBS had planned to pull the plug on the show despite receiving five consecutive Emmy Awards for Outstanding Reality-Competition Program.  Why CBS wanted to commit this felony, I do not know but because of the lack of scripts being written due to the writer's strike, reality television had a sudden rebirth and The Amazing Race was saved (ultimately ending up with 7 consecutive awards from 2003 - 2009).  I think I may have been the person routing for the writer's strike for this soul reason. 

Anyway, as a small addendum to not being cast on the show, I would like to point out that The Amazing Race has influenced a real reality game by LARF, Inc., who has developed a part scavenger hunt, part self-guided tour, part race in the greater Los Angeles area called The Amazing LA Race, which anybody can participate in.  Now, I haven't tried it yet, but it's at the top of my "to-do" list.

And my connection with the show stretches further than trying to be an Amazing Racer.  Myself and friend Steve had the pleasure of meeting a team that has appeared on the show twice now, most recently on last seasons 'Unfinished Business' show, the black and pink goths Kynt (Kent) & Vixen, while we were at Comic-Con two years back.  Here's the pic, but I think the guy taking the picture was even more star struck than either of us because he could not stop his hands from shaking, which is why the picture's blurry:

Not only does this show get my vote for Favorite Reality Show of all time, but it also receives my coveted Best Theme Music of all time as well (Note: No physical award will be given).  The theme music is absolutely amazing (pun intended) and always gets my blood pumping and makes me want to scream like being in the back row of a Madonna concert so she can hear me.  I even have said music on my iPod.  If you don't believe how awesome this theme music is, just have a listen while watching last seasons opening credits:



So ultimately, if you haven't watched The Amazing Race yet and I haven't over-hyped this show for you (which is impossible to do), then be sure to catch episode one of Season 19 this Sunday, September 25th at 8:00pm on CBS, and let it be known that Season 20 has already been confirmed for Spring of 2012.  Guess who's going to try to be on that season?