I’ve never been the type of person to stop and watch cut-scenes in computer or console games. I suppose it’s always been a lack of patience thing. This changed when I started playing the latest instalment of Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto (aka GTA IV) The gameplay may be great but it’s the actual story that makes the game well worth it.
Like fellow blogger Darren, I’m only a short way through the game. There are so many little quirks in the game that make me smile.
Niko Bellic (the Serbian lead character in GTA IV) reminds me way too much of someone whom I know at work. Right down to the Balkan accent and sometimes “interesting” fashion sense.
Smacking into taxis with a car causes some drivers to say “Stupid Malaka”. Gotta love irate Greek taxi drivers
Multiplayer is awesome. I can safely say that GTA IV multiplayer on Xbox Live puts boring old MMORPGs like World Of Warcraft to absolute shame.
There’s something about that Michelle girl
Electro Choc would have to be the best in-game radio station this side of Liberty City
GTA IV gets a 10 out of 10 from me. Best Xbox 360 game ever. Best GTA ever and dodgiest Balkan accents ever! Love it!
All it takes is twenty fours. Just one day. Can you survive not switching on your computer for one entire day? Shutdown Day 2008 happens on May 3, 2008. Flash mobs and other hijinx have been planned for this one day of the year where participants say NO to switching their computer on for a good twenty four hours..
I’ll be doing my bit by saying NO to firing up the laptop after a hard day at work and weeding through the 100+ RSS feeds I’m subscribed to. The time spent being glued to the tiny screen will be better spent catching up on some reading and good old fashioned letter writing.
If you can say NO to a day of Facebook, blogging, World Of Warcraft, firing up iTunes, jumping onto MSN/YiM/ICQ/IRC then you’re doing your bit to a happier, healthier lifestyle!
A recent email that fell into my inbox stated that I don’t update this weblog enough. Truth is, I haven’t had much to write home about of late. My energy levels have been close to zip, zilch, none after I come home from work and the majority of any (in)sane thought gets thrown into my paper journal.
Seeing as I dig making lists as much as the next person, feel free to knock yerselves out with a couple of my belated Top Fives for March.
Top Five Things That Are Pissing Me Off At The Moment
World of friggin’ Warcraft (I call it ‘Wowsies’) - I am so over having to deal with people that spend the majority of their waking hours playing the stupid game and ignoring their other responsibilities.
Facebook applications that insist you invite 20 people in order to receive the answer to some stupid quiz question. Ditto goes to people that keep inviting me to some stupid group so some other Facebook clown can be inducted into the Guiness Book Of Records.
Microsoft Windows Vista - I’ve got Vista Business installed on my ASUS Laptop and I swear to high hell if I see another message telling me that Windows Defender is busted, I’m going to install Ubuntu on this machine. (Kain, I totally sympathise with you, mate. Vista is bad)
Connex Melbourne - The trains never run on time, customer service is appalling and charming little mixups at Southern Cross Station are really doing my head in (yes, I really DID want to travel to Watergardens instead of going home)
Top Five Interweb Timewasters
Facebook (email me if you would like to add me as a Facebook freak….errr, friend)
Pinch punch, second of the month. No returns. Ok, ok, so I am a day late. March kinda slapped me in the face yesterday and with that then end of the calm before the storm. It’s been nothing but zoom, zoom, zoom…..AAARGH in the life of Maria. I’ve always bitched about there not being enough time in the day to get things done. I never realised how busy life can get once you score a small promotion at work for simply knuckling down and not faffing about.
I’m now a Sales Coach at work. All the bouncing around like a lunatic, drawing up strategies to get results and being extremely vocal at my desk has paid off. I now have an excuse to bounce around and be annoying. If it gets results, it keeps the powers that be happy and if the powers that be are happy, I can ruddy well pay the bills and buy food.
Yay for capitalism!!!
It hasn’t all been work, work, work though. I recently discovered the aural and visual cocaine that is Audiosurf. It’s the trippiest puzzle game this side of Sudoku. You control a little spaceship that rides along a highway that is constructed and controlled by the type of music that’s playing. I highly recommend this game if you love games that are musical and pretty. You can purchase Audiosurf from Steam.
If I could describe last month in a youtube video, this would be it.
All it takes is twenty fours. Just one day. Can you survive not switching on your computer for one entire day? 
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