barely fatal

Last week I wrote that I finally ordered a new PC. Today, I am still waiting. While all components are available now, the shop obviously has problems with logistics. On top of that, they don’t answer my emails, and when you call the (not-so-cheap) hot line, all they say “Sorry” and give you no information whatsoever. So great.

I saw Fantastic 4 last night. I expected it to be some light-weight wannabe X-Men clone, and that’s what it is, unfortunately.

In other news, the weather sucks and Christmas is approaching at warp speed. This year will be over before you notice, wanna bet? I really wonder if I’ll have my new PC by 2008 *growl*.

Talking ’bout the Orange Box: Episode Two is awesome! It’s hard to believe how they tuned up the 3-year old HL2 engine. The facial animations look so real … and the game features a garden gnome, so it wins by default. I wasn’t exactly a HL2 fanboi, but I’m enjoying this plenty now.

Team Fortress 2 is a lot of fun, too. You know I’m usually not a into comic graphics but in this case, they hit it right on the spot. It looks just right and consistent, it plays very fast, it’s a frag fest — it has a steep learning curve, though. I suck at it, so I have to say that. Six maps only, but they all play well, fast and loud. Not an epic game, but perfect for a few short rounds when you’re bored.

All in all, I can recommend that box without doubts or thinking. Although the cake is a lie.

Yes, I bought the Orange Box and now I own Half-Life 2 twice. While that sucks, I bought the box because of Portal and Team Fortress 2. Portal is really great, I can hardly recommend it enough. I beat it in four hours, so yes, it’s short, but it’s still worth it. I didn’t buy HL2: Episode One when it came out, so I have a fun time with that one, too. I haven’t even started Team Fortress.

And it runs perfectly smooth on my old PC. Yes, I finally ordered a new one. It looks like it’s gonna be a while before all the parts become available – you gotta love it, eh. Anyway I ordered a brand-new GeForce 8800 GT with it. You just can’t beat the bang/buck ratio at the moment. And it will enable me to play Crysis when it comes out later this month. Yes it’s a golden November for gamers. I still don’t understand why all studios release their top titles at once and then nothing for the next 6 months, but that’s how it always was.