Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare

The first time I really got into Call of Duty was when I started playing on a server with a few friends around May of last year. I was on a laptop running Windows playing Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare at the time, but now I am finally reliving the memories on the Xbox 360 version of the game. Comparing to the latest game in the series, Modern Warfare 2, there are a bunch of changes, some little and some big. First off are the maps in Modern Warfare. I absolutely love the maps in Modern Warfare because they are not so big and not so small. The menu in Call of Duty 4, in my opinion, is a little uglier and more cluttered than the one on Modern Warfare 2. One of the thing I do miss from Call of Duty 4 that isn’t in Modern Warfare 2 is some of the guns I used take longer to get. That isn’t a bad thing, per say, but it was nice to have my favorite guns at an earlier level. The multiplayer was definitely more stable and not as full of hacks as Modern Warfare 2 has at this point in time. All in all, this game is a really good game and definitely something to play around with if you have been stuck on Modern Warfare 2 these past few months.

Apple iPad

At last week’s Apple Media Event, the company finally revealed the tablet PC that has been rumored for a very long time. Out of all the names, they picked the name that I was least expecting, the iPad. There will be 2 versions released, one of them will be a Wifi Only version and a Wifi and 3G version. The Wifi version, set to release in March, will only be able to connect to the internet from a Wifi connection and will be sold in 16, 32 and 64 GB models. The Wifi and 3G version will not only be able to connect to Wifi, but also to AT&T’s 3G network. It will also be sold in 16, 32 and 64 GB models and is set for release in April. The device itself looks like a really cool device, but I think too much was expected from it. Yes, I know Apple is a great company and a lot is expected from them, but it was way over hyped. One of the major let downs, in my opinion is also one of the let downs about the iPhone: limited network connectivity. The only 3G company that it can connect to is AT&T’s which we all know as one of the worst mobile carrier companies in the world. One of the main things I would like to see in the future as well as with the iPhone would be more carrier options. I do plan to buy one, but probably not a first generation model.

AppZapper

If you have ever been on a Mac, then you know that getting rid of applications is very easy. All you do is drag an application into the trash and empty it. However, did you know that almost every application leaves behind some files from that deleted application. Well instead of digging through your Mac for the extra files, why not let another application do it for you? Well, your in luck because AppZapper does just that. On top of having a very nice and simple interface, AppZapper is basically an application where you drag an app or search for an app via its interface and zap the application AND the extra files to the trash. There are 2 options of deleting files: dragging then application into it or using the interface to search through applications, preference panes, etc. AppZapper has a really stable and well designed interface. On another note, it makes a zap noise when you delete an application and its files. I would strongly suggest it to any Mac user, but one of the let downs about it is that it costs $12.95, but it is worth the investment if you don’t want to spend a lot of your time looking for files all over your Mac.

Fable II

About a week or 2 ago, Microsoft released some really popular Xbox 360 games as Platinum Hits and put them at a price of $19.99. One of these games, which I was really interested in getting, was Fable II. I was was hesitant to buy it because, compared to the other games I have, it wasn’t particularly the same. However, I am really glad I made the choice to buy this game because it is a very fun and addicting game. Fable II is a fantasy-like RPG game. The game takes place in the land of Albion, which I believe is based around somewhere in Europe, and you are either a good person or a bad person. That’s your choice, of course. You travel all throughout Albion to different towns and places and complete quests given to you by Theresa, which is the leader of the guild you are in. I am guessing that is what the storyline is because that’s what it came to me as. You also have a dog in the game who follows you around and it tells you if it found either a treasure chest, silver key or a spot to dig. As annoying as it may be, if you ever get to a point in the game where you don’t have the dog anymore, you will realize how important it is. Alongside all the action, you can buy almost  any house, shop, or any other building in the game. If you buy one of these buildings, you can set a rate of interest you receive money at. You can also get married to almost anybody and to about as many people as you like, it is quite simple.  This game is definitely worth the investment, and if this sounds like a game you might like, I suggest you go get it and see all that I explained and more.

foursquare

At first, I thought foursquare was stupid and a waste of time and space on your phone. From what I have heard, a lot of people thought the same thing. However, at the beginning of December, I decided to give it a try and see what the fuss was all about. It is a pretty fun app, as useless as it seems. The main idea of it is that you check-in to places you go and it posts it on either FaceBook or Twitter. Whenever you check in somewhere, you get points. Eventually, if you check in to a certain place often, you may become the “mayor” of that certain place. It is really cool when you go to a restaurant, some people who have previously been there may have left a comment or suggestion about the place. Overall, this is a really cool app and is definitely worth trying out, especially because it’s free.

Netflix

I have been a Netflix subscriber for a few years now and I have loved it. For those of you who don’t know what Netflix is, it is like a Blockbuster Video Store through the mail. Depending on what package you get, you can receive from 1 to an unlimited amount of movies per month. The price, ranging at about $6.99 a month for me, is a pretty decent price. They always ship really fast, so you don’t have to wait a very long time. Another good feature for Netflix works if you have Xbox Live for your Xbox 360. There is an application on the Xbox 360 where you can watch any movie on the Instant Queue. If you have a decent Internet connection speed, then the quality is really good, especially if you use HD cables. This is a really great service and if you don’t like buying movies or going to the video store, I strongly suggest you use Netflix.

Half-Life 2

The third game I have for the Xbox 360 is The Orange Box, which is a collection of 5 games made by Valve. The first one on the list is the famous, Half-Life 2. I have begun to play this a week or two ago and have loved it ever since. THe main storyline is quite simple, escape City 17. This game doesn’t really have a map, or any kind of guidance whatsoever. So basically, you are on your own. As much as I like maps and things like that, what makes this game funs is that you have to think yourself on what to do next. It has a pretty decent story line in the sense of time. If I remember correctly, the game is 15 hours long. It is definitely worth the buy, especially for The Orange Box, which is only $20. This game definitely lives up to its title as one of the best games ever created.

Logitech MX Revolution Mouse

One of my Christmas presents was the Logitech MX Revolution mouse. It is probably the best mouse I have ever used, besides the mighty mouse. The mighty mouse was good, but since the scroll ball is a dirt collector, I will have to go with the MX Revolution. It is a wireless mouse that really fits your hand well. I think they call it an ergonomic feel. It runs on 2 AA batteries, but it comes with 2 rechargeable batteries. The batteries it comes with run pretty well because I only had to charge it twice since the 20th of December. The scroll wheel on it scrolls really nice and it has an option where you can scroll it fast, or where it scrolls slower, kind of like it has brakes. It is definitely a good buy that you can get for about $90 to $100 at Best Buy. This mouse works on all Operating Systems without any software.

1 vs. 100

There is a party game that is completely free of charge based on the former 1 vs. 100 show. It has basically the same game rules as the TV show and there is a different primetime game you can play every night. Sometimes there is actually an emcee, Chris Cashman, who talks during some intermissions. The rules of the game are simple, you can either be “The One”, “In the Mob”, or “The Crowd”. Chances are, you are always going to be in the crowd, but you do have a chance to get in “the mob”. If you are in the crowd, you are just like most of the other people, you can answer questions and get points for answering correctly and in a fast time. If you are chosen to be in “the mob” you are able to play against “the one” along with 99 other mob members. However, once you get a wrong answer, you are not able to participate with the rest of the mob, but just for your own personal points. If you are chosen as “the one”, you have to answer every question correctly, or you walk away with nothing. If you are not sure about a question, you can choose to trust the mob, trust the crowd, or trust the top 10 players. If you get it right, depending on how many mob members get it wrong, your prize goes up. The prize is Microsoft Points. It is a really fun game, but not something you can play for hours and hours. It is free to download from the Game Marketplace on the Xbox 360 and there is a schedule as to when games will be going on. Check it out!

Halo 3: ODST

One of the second games I bought for Xbox 360 is Halo 3: ODST. Like Modern Warfare 2, Halo 3: ODST has a pretty short campaign, but still very fun. The story is a prequel to the previous game, Halo 3. The main story of the game is that you land in this city being invaded by aliens and you have to trace down all the beacons left by one of your teammates. On the side you help your other teammates battle a whole group of aliens in a certain area. Towards the end you have to go find your captain in an underground part of the city and bring back an alien engineer with you and get off the planet. The controls took me a little longer to understand than Modern Warfare 2. This game also comes with a Halo 3 multiplayer disk so you can play on Xbox Live against your friends. Overall, it is a good buy and I highly recommend this game.