Rereading Sorceror's Stone

I'm halfway through, and a few things strike me:

1. I really love (yarite) how the first third of the book focuses on Harry's life with the Dursleys. LAAAAAAME.

2. Hermoine really comes off as a bitchy cunt so far.

Bioshock and addictions

So, I finally got around to playing/finishing Bioshock. It was touted as a spiritual successor to the System Shock franchise, but it felt a lot more like a Fallout FPS (we'll see how Fallout 3 measures up later this year). Hilarious bits were pretty much everything involved with the Little Sisters: The pedo-tastic subtext, the enthusiasm with which they go about their task, and the hilarious way they wail when you slay Mr. Bubbles.

It also had a plot twist on the same scale as KOTOR.

And now, let's go watch the bad ending on Youtube...

...Eh.

Hearts of Iron II

Man, I'm seriously obsessed with this game.

I've pretty much played it nonstop for...a week or two? Maybe more? (Time is slowing down for me, but that's another topic of discussion).

I've played three mostly-full games so far: Poland, Nationalist China, and Germany (still in progress). I mean, it's just so mind-numbingly addictive: Building up your armies, researching better shit, out-maneuvering the enemy, and a shitload of alternate history goodness. For example, in my game as Germany, I've completely dominated everything worth fighting in Europe and Russia, and Alfred Landon is enjoying his third term as U.S. President. I'm also preparing to barrage their major cities with H-bombs.

I'm strongly considering picking up the other games in the series.

Top Shtuff of 2007

In no particular order:

Video Games

Supreme Commander -- The game which made me fall in love with RTS games. (Dishonorable Mention: Command and Conquer 3, for almost making me fall out of love). Perhaps I should go and copy all my observations from when I first played from my LJ and post them in here.

Hearts of Iron II -- Published in 2005, I only recently discovered it. It's so fun overturning the applecart of history. Poland forever! (Until I get bored and decide to play as Germany sometime).

Crysis -- Disappointing singleplayer, rather fun multiplayer. It's not a revolutionary game or anything, it's basically Far Cry with prettier graphics. And I don't even get that privilege, what with my minimum specs computer.

Postal 2 -- Another game which came out a few years ago, it's hilariously horrific and offensive fun. Basically, GTA minus the driving parts. It's so fun to dive into a crowd of people with a katana and leave behind a pile of torsos and limbs.

Civ 4: Beyond the Sword -- Yeah, I'm sure you've read tons of reviews fellating this expansion pack. They're all right.



Books

The Oblivion Society -- Good stuff. Stylistically, it's like Shaun of the Dead meets nuclear war.

World War Z -- Okay, this came out a year or two ago, but shit, it's my favorite book and this is my list, so suck it.

24 Declassified -- A series of novels starring Jack Bauer. Go read them.

1632 series -- Over a dozen books in the series. I'm currently working my way through 1634: The Bavarian Crisis, and I seriously wish there was a dramatis persona because damn, there's so many characters I can't keep track of them anymore.



TV

24 -- Duh.

Heroes -- The latter part of S1 was aired this year, so it counts. And I guess the ass-end of S2 as well, though the first two acts were terrible.

Journeyman -- Best show of the year. Fucking NBC cancelling it, fuck.

Life -- Upon reflection, it's alright. I'd take Journeyman over it, though.

Dexter -- A smashing season.



Movies

Hot Fuzz -- From the Shaun of the Dead dudes, duh.

Eagle vs. Shark -- New Zealand's answer to Napoleon Dynamite. I might have mentioned this already.

Casino Royale -- Best Bond ever.



L8r, g8rs.