Various musings on various topics

Things That Piss Me Off:Nu-Metal

2011-03-26T19:28:00.003-04:00

Welcome back to another delightful addition of Things That Piss Me Off. I hope everyone enjoyed my column on "Tapout" shirts and that you will openly mock people like the ones I described in that column without mercy. Today I talk about music, specifically Nu-Metal.

As anyone who knows me knows, I love heavy metal. I really like the raw emotion of it. I love the guitars, the blast beats, the vocals and most of all the atmosphere. The other great thing about metal is the amount of sub-genres it has. Thrash, death, black, power, melodic death, folk, doom, industrial, progressive, even metalcore. The genres don't stop there. Bands will combine different styles and use different lyrical themes. Really it is such a wonderfully diverse genre that I truly believe has something for everyone.

Now that we have covered what metal is and why I love it so much, lets flash back in time to about, oh, 1998 or so. The musical landscape in America is changing. Grunge has been dead for four years, 90's rock or "post-grunge" is nearing its peak, no one cares about Hootie and the Blowfish anymore (personally though, I think Hootie is awesome) and boy bands are everywhere. The Backstreet Boys gave way to N'Sync, which led to 98 Degrees, which brought about O-Town, which led to 100000000000000000000000000000000 copycat bands and attempts to import some European group like Westlife. It was making money hand over fist, but mainstream music was missing something. Without grunge around anymore, where was the anger? Sure there were plenty of metal, punk and hardcore bands around but none of them could ever succeed in the mainstream and established bands would have to be signed to bigger contracts. And that was how Nu-Metal was born (I think so at least).

First off nu-metal is NOT metal. It is a clusterf$%^$^ of hard rock, rap, hardcore, no talent and really good marketing. I have no idea who coined the phrase nu-metal, but if I ever found out who did, than that person will receive their own entry into "Things That Piss Me Off." It is a pain when someone asks "what kind of music do you like?" you tell then you like metal and their follow up question is "oh, you mean like, Slipknot right?" "NO, F^$&^%$&^%$&^%$ SLIPKNOT AND EVERYTHING THEY STAND FOR!" is what you're thinking, but "not quite" is what
comes out and then a twenty minute long explanation ensues. Metal bands don't plod along drumming at 3 beats per minute. They don't use a distortion pedal to mask the fact that they can't play guitar, they don't have to remind you of how angry they are every chance they get and they certainly don't write lyrics like:

"Now I know y'all be lovin this, right here, L.I.M.P, Bizkit is right here" (you can't rhyme here with here its the SAME F^%*&^%*& WORD GOD D*^%*^%*^%*&^%*&%*^%!)
or
"If you're 555 then I'm 666, what's it like to be a heretic" (what does that even mean? I get the 666 part but why 555, is that some sort of holy number? Was that Jesus favorite number or something?)

Yea metal bands may be hard to understand sometimes, but they generally write pretty good lyrics. Also, remember that as far as I'm concerned, we live in a world where Metallica decided never to release "St. Anger" so for those of you who are unfortunate enough to have ever heard that piece of garbage album, don't bring it up.

But it's not just the music that pisses me off. Sometimes it is fun to listen to simpler music. I love a lot of progressive metal but sometimes you just want to listen to some good old fashioned thrashy stuff that doesn't incorporate a bassoon and jump between time signatures for no apparent reason. The whole nu-metal fad is so clearly a marketing sham it isn't funny. If Limp Bizkit was so angry, why would they be rapping about nonsense? More importantly, why would they be fighting it out with the Backstreet Boys and Brittany Spears for the top spot on TRL (god rest its soul)? Do you think you would ever see Celtic Frost fighting for that spot? Have you ever even heard of Celtic Frost? Look, the point is that this nu-metal crap was designed to con angsty 13-year-olds into conning their parents into buying them crappy merchandise. Remember too that our parents grew up in the 60's and saw all sorts of weird stuff happen in music. I doubt they were really "scared" when they first saw Slipknot:

Honestly, who would ever be intimidated by these guys(besides the clown of course, clowns are terrifying)? Those masks look like they were made out of construction paper by blind, deaf, quadriplegic, severely mentally challenged monkeys with scissors shoved up their asses and bottles of elmers glue taped to their tails. Like I said, I'm sure our parents saw weirder stuff at woodstock, they just would never in a million years tell us about it.

So, how can you avoid this awful, awful music? Simply avoid the following bands:

Limp Bizkit (WTF is a Limp Bizkit anyway?)
Slipknot (some metalheads will dig "Iowa." Other than that, avoid, avoid, avoid)
Stained (An appropriate name, as this band is a stain on this planet)
Puddle of Mudd (That isn't a puddle of mud, it's a puddle of s%&$)
Coal Chamber (Actually responsible for that "roof is on fire" song. Devildriver is ok though)
Dope (what kind of idiot names himself Edsel Dope? His real name is probably Nancy or something)
Disturbed (At least its good pump up music...)
Drowning Pool (See Above)
POD (Payable on Dick)
Godsmack (God should smack these clowns for making such awful music)
Poweman 5000 (They're an emo band now anyway)
Shinedown (Worst band of the 2000's)
Five Finger Death Punch (*^%*&^%*^%,^%*&$!)
Otep (Do not, I repeat, DO NOT make the mistake I did as a young metal head and confuse them with Opeth. You will be sorry...)
Switchfoot (Not at all a nu-metal band, but they suck anyway)

So there you have it folks. I think everyone knows that nu-metal sucks, so this column may seem skippable, but you'd be surprised at how many people still buy in to this crap. If you want to hear good music, pick a genre and you can find it. There's good rock and rap, good punk and metal, good indie and alternative but there is no good nu-metal (I lie, I am partial to Cold and Static-X).
If you want to hear some really awesome metal, I can point you to a place. All you have to do is click here. Even if you're not a fan of metal, you may become one. If not, good night, good luck, and please "just say no" to nu-metal.

Things That Piss Me Off:"Tapout" Shirts

2011-03-23T22:47:00.005-04:00

Howdy everyone! I'm back and I'm pissed. Last time we talked about one of the worst highways in existence. Today, we move over to the fashion world to talk about one of the most popular brands of MMA (mixed martial arts) clothing lines in the world. I know, who would have ever thought I of all people would ever talk about clothes on this blog.

Anyway, my title is a little misleading. "Tapout" shirts don't piss me off. In fact, I think they are actually quite cool (much cooler than Affliction shirts anyway). So why write a column about them? Well it is quite simple.

You see, there seems to be a common, yet understandable, misconception amongst the uneducated about these shirts. A lot of highly successful UFC fighters wear "Tapout" gear. Rashad Evans, Rich Franklin, Kenny Florian and Frank Shamrock are just a few fighters the company sponsors. You see, I think that people see these guys walk to the cage in their super awesome "Tapout" clothes and think, "wow, that shirt is sooooooooo cool! That must be why these guys are so tough! It certainly isn't the long hours in the gym, the years of studying martial arts or the fact that they have put themselves through physical and emotional hell to get there, it has to be the shirt!" These idiots then proceed to go to their nearest department store and spend their entire paycheck on shirts. They throw away or burn all their other clothes and wear "Tapout" shirts exclusively, thus making them as tough as Rashad Evans, Rich Franklin, Kenny Florian, Frank Shamrock or any of the other fighters the company sponsors and THAT is what pisses me off.

I can think of one individual in particular that was a regular at a bar I attended relatively often. This guy was there almost every single night I was, each time sporting a different "Tapout" shirt. Every time I'd see this guy he looked the same. You know that "I'm too cool to smile or laugh, I'm gonna shuffle through the bar acting all tough because of the way I dress" look. Every time someone would bump into him, he'd throw up his arms like it was some big deal. People like him are popping up everywhere and it sucks. The worst part of it is, when I laugh at these people, someone always comes out with "I don't know man, he's in pretty good shape and look at that shirt, he's like an MMA fighter dude." No he isn't. I can tell he isn't.

Reason #1 I know he and his kind are not fighters: cigarettes. No professional fighter smokes cigarettes. No amateur fighter smokes cigarettes. Hell, no high school wrestler or jiu jiutsu white belt that is even remotely serious about what they are doing smokes cigarettes. Have you ever tried to work out when you smoke? It's hard. Imagine having the most intense workout you ever had while someone is punching you in the face...a lot. That is what MMA is like. Want to try to do it and smoke, be my guest, but don't expect to last long.

Reason #2: Their size. A lot of these posers are actually pretty big. Of course, they are not as strong as they look. Createne may make you look great, it really doesn't improve your strength that much. Besides, have you ever actually looked at an MMA fighter? Sure they are cut and in great shape, but they are never "absolutely jacked." Yeah Brock Lesnar is huge but lets compare his UFC and WWE days: (UFC on the left, WWE on the right)

Wait a minute...thats not Brock Lesnar, its Brock from Pokemon....HOW THE F%$#^%$#^% DID THAT HAPPEN! Whatever, you're gonna have to google Brock Lesnar yourself. The point is that most fighters are relatively trim and don't look like they could pass for Pauly D from the Jersey Shore.

Reason #3: All the guys like that seem to be pretty boys. Fighters are an ugly bunch. Years of being punched in the face will do that to a person. I'm not just talking about pros either. Look at me (or don't if you're smart) I didn't wrestle past high school and I train twice a week at the most and my face is always banged up. I can't even imagine what it is like to train hours on end every day for years. Look at some of the guys in the UFC, especially the veterans. They most certainly on these pretty boys. Trust me, you can tell when someone has never been punched in the face before. They look more like The Situation and less like Wanderlei Silva (I'm to lazy for links, google him).

Wow, that's two, count em two Jersey shore references in one column. Look, if you are going to wear a "Tapouy" shirt, go ahead. Just remember, while it may look great, it doesn't make you tough and it certainly isn't a license to act like a tool. Otherwise, you will piss me off. Tune in next time for a column about something else. I am thinking about doing a video, since my computer has a webcam now. Anyway, all see everyone later

Things That Piss Me Off:Route 206

2011-03-22T22:55:00.002-04:00

Okay its time to start a new column. I really want to write something and I am out of inspiration because I have been bothered by a lot of stupid little things recently. I figure if I gripe about these things on line I will be able to clear my head and write about something else. Since driving on it is fresh in my mind, I will start with quite possibly my least favorite highway ever.

Route 206 is a 130 mile long monstrosity that runs North to South from South Jersey to Sussex county. In terms of distance it is the fastest way to reach my intended destination (Princeton) from my lovely hometown in scenic wherever it is I'm from. It couldn't possibly be faster to travel all the way to Edison on route 287 and then pick up route 1 to Princeton could it?

Well it may very well be. For starters, half a mile of 206 runs through Pennsylvania. You may be thinking "well, if its only half a mile out of 130 and you wouldn't even hit that part driving to Princeton, so why is that a problem?" If you are asking yourself or any other unfortunate soul that may be reading this blog that question, you have either:

A)Never driven for more than a day or so in Pennsylvania, or

B)Never lived in an area of any other state where multiple Pennsylvania drivers may be on the road at the same time.

It's not that PA drivers aren't safe. In fact, they are far safer than us Jersey drivers. However, this is largely due to the fact that they drive really... really... reallllllly...really S-L-O-W. And not like speed limit slow. I'm talking 30 in a 65 slow. I'm not the type to rush, but this is a huge problem when you absolutely must be on time to training for a job that if you don't get, you will default on your next student loan payment.

Part of 206 is known as the Disabled American Veterans Highway. I really think that naming this abomination of a road in their honor is an absolute insult to all of the service men and women who have fought and are fighting for our freedom. But the insults don't stop there. This highway is an absolute slap in the face to anyone who showed up and payed attention to at least five minutes of class of whatever it is you study to design highways. This highway goes through Hammonton, Bordentown, Hamilton, Trenton, Princeton, Hillsborough, Sommerville and Chester. All of these are pretty high traffic areas. Of course a highway running through them would be pretty big right? WRONG AGAIN...ONE LANE. Why is this highway only one lane? Who's brilliant idea was that? It was as if the state or federal government or whoever decided to build this thing rounded up the biggest jackasses they could find and said, "I want you to make this road piss people off as much as humanly possible, no matter what it takes." A single accident, even a fender bender, results in at least a half-hour delay. It's even worse than when there are accidents on the Merritt Parkway. Add in the aforementioned Pennsylvania drivers and you have a headache waiting to happen.

But the worst part of this god forsaken road? Go ahead, take a guess? Potholes, you say? That's a good guess and potholes are a huge problem. Okay, I understand it's the winter and its just wear and tear on the road but some of these potholes are ridiculous. I swear if some of these things were an inch deeper you'd start to see buried treasure or dinosaur bones or dead bodies or something. These huge holes appear every few feet too, with the only reprieve coming in stretches of road that are filled with normal sized potholes that will simply pop one of your tires rather than completely destroy your suspension. Yes, they suck, but the most infuriating thing I drove over is far worse. I can't speak for the parts in Sussex County or South Jersey, but Somerset County has something most interesting on its stretches of 206...speed bumps. That's right speed bumps....ON A F%#&#&^%$&$ HIGHWAY! WHOSE DUMB A^&%*&^% IDEA WAS THAT. WHAT...THE...F$#$^%$#&$%%*^&%&*^%*....ok sorry, but really, why would you put speed bumps on a highway?

Anyway, I'm gonna call it quits for now. I'm starting to get mad again. Check back later for more "Things That Piss Me Off." Expect to see entries on lax bros, Nu-Metal, video game bugs, "Tapout" shirts, and colleges that advertise on TV in the near future. Good night, good luck, and avoid driving on Route 206 at all costs.

My new blogs!

2011-01-05T01:52:00.002-05:00

Alright, my new blogs are ready to go.

For video games and other nerd related topics head on over to gamethingies.blogspot.com

The jocks among you can see my sports topics at jdssports.blogspot.com

don't forget I will still be updating VMVT with other random stuff and top 10s. Also, I will not be removing things I already posted.

Im Moving....Sort Of

2011-01-03T16:31:00.002-05:00

Okay, back in business. Now that my computer has arrived it is finally time to start posting again. However, I am going to change things up. I will start writing two blogs, one for my nerdy interest and another for sports thingies. I will still occasionally update VMVT with random stuff and top tens. Details will be posted when I get the stuff up and running.

Double feature: The NFC AND AFC South

2010-09-06T13:03:00.004-04:00

With the season starting on Sunday, I'm kind of rushed for time. With my recent computer troubles, I haven't been able to post. So, tonight we get a double feature.

NFC South, The Teams:

New Orleans Saints

Last Year:13-3, Division Champs, NFC Champs, Super Bowl Champs (1st round bye, def ARI in second round, def MINN in NFC Title Game, def IND in Super Bowl)

Key Players:QB Drew Brees, WR Marques Colston, T Matt Stinchcomb, LB Jonathan Vilma, S Darren Sharper

Others to Watch:RB Reggie Bush, G Jahri Evans, DE Will Smith, CB Tracy Porter

Once again, the Saints look to have quite the offense. Drew Brees should once again put up some ridiculous numbers. He will be behind an excellent line anchored by Stinchcomb and Evans, have a great stable of running backs including Bush and Pierre Thomas and have one of the league's deepest receiving corp's. The Saints are quite underrated defensively. Vilma is a great player and Sharper has big play potential, even at his age. Tracy Porter looks like he could make the jump to being a top NFL corner. If the Saints can put pressure on QB's they have a very good chance of defending their title.

Atlanta Falcons

Last Year:9-7

Key Players:QB Matt Ryan, RB Michael Turner, WR Roddy White, DE John Abraham, DB Dunta Robinson

Others to Watch:WR Harry Douglass, TE Tony Gonzalez, LB Sean Weatherspoon, S Erik Coleman

The Falcons look to bounce back from a disappointing 2009 season. Matt Ryan should come back strong after being banged up last year. He has an excellent corps of receivers, especially with Harry Douglass back. If Tony Gonzalez can still go, he will add yet another weapon to a potent passing game. All of this should help Michael Turner find running room. The Falcons are a little shakier on defense. 1st round pick Sean Weatherspoon will start as a rookie and Peria Jerry is essentially a rookie as well. However, if the young guys step up, the vets can still play and Dunta Robinson gives a full effort, the Falcons could be a contender.

Carolina Panthers

Last Year:8-8

Key Players:RB DeAngelo Williams, RB Jonathan Stewart, LB John Beason, DB Chris Gamble

Others to Watch:QB Matt Moore, QB Jimmy Claussen, WR Steve Smith, the defensive line

The Panthers are a franchise in flux right now. They seem to have gotten their quarterback of the future in Jimmy Clasussen, but Matt Moore has proven he can win games in the NFL. It will be interesting to see what Coach John Fox does this year and in the future with his QB's. Of course, the running game is still the focus of this team. Stewart and Williams may be the best pair in the game. Unfortunately, it just doesn't seem like the Panthers are quite there on offense. The defense is a bit of a mess as well. Beason and Gamble are great, but there isn't much outside of them. The defensive line will need to step up after loosing Julius Peppers to free agency. The Panthers will be competitive, but I just don't see them as contenders this year.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Last Year:3-13

Key Players:RB Cadillac Williams, LB Barrett Ruud, DB Ronde Barber, DB Aqib Talib

Others to Watch:QB Josh Freeman, WR Arrelious Benn, DT Gerald McCoy, S Sabby Piscitelli

Look at it on the bright side Tampa fans. Sure you will be really terrible this year but at least you don't have to be blinded by frightening bright orange uniforms. But seriously, the Bucs are making the right moves for the future. Freeman, Benn and McCoy all look like they will turn into excellent pros. I have to take my hat off to Cadillac Williams. No matter how many times he gets injured, knocked down or beaten up he keeps fighting on. It's a shame he isn't on a better team. On defense, the veterans Ruud, Barber and Talib should help the young players develop. They will not be very good this year but again, they are on the right track. The Bucs have a brutal schedule and won't win many (maybe not any) games this year. However, a few good drafts could make them into a contender again.

How They'll Finish:

New Orleans Saints:14-2

Atlanta Falcons:10-6

Carolina Panthers:7-9

Tampa Bay Buccaneers:1-15

Now for the AFC South, The Teams:

Indianapolis Colts

Last Year:14-2, Division Champs, AFC Champs (1st round bye, def BAL in 2nd round, def NYJ in AFC Title Game, lost in Super Bowl to NO)

Key Players:QB Peyton Manning, WR Reggie Wayne, TE Dallas Clark, DE Dwight Freeney, DE Robert Mathis

Others to Watch:WR Pierre Garcon, WR Austin Collie, LB Gary Brackett, S Bob Sanders

The Colts look to be loaded once again. Any time you have Peyton Manning under center you are going to contend. The guy is just amazing. The line is great too and he has a bevy of targets to throw to. Garcon and Collie stepped up big last year and will continue to establish themselves as excellent receivers. On the other side of the ball Freeney and Mathis will continue to get loads of pressure on QBs. However, if the Colts want to contend they are going to need another solid season from Gary Brackett and a healthy Bob Sanders. There is little doubt that Indy will be a top flight team in the regular season. However, what they do in the playoffs will be the true test for the Colts this year.

Houston Texans

Last Year:9-7

Key Players:QB Matt Schaub, WR Andre Johnson, DE Mario Williams, LB Brian Cushing, LB Demeco Ryans

Others to Watch:RB Steve Slaton, TE Owen Daniels, LB Darryl Sharpton, S Eugene Wilson

The Texans can just never seem to get over the hump. With the schedule they have this year I don't see it being any different. Matt Schaub seems to suffer from EliManningitus, a condition that causes him to turn the ball over at unfortunate times in games. Steve Slaton was great two years ago and then suddenly couldn't hang on to the football. Turnovers are hard to overcome, even for a team as talented as the Texans. Losing Cushing for the first few games will really hurt. The Texans lack depth on defense. However, their starters are as good as any unit. Mario Williams is an absolute monster and Eugene Wilson is a solid veteran at safety. Still, I can't quite see them stepping up and becoming truly elite yet again. Their schedule is just too tough.

Tennessee Titans

Last Year:8-8

Key Players:QB Vince Young, RB Chris Johnson, T Michael Roos, DB Cortland Finnegan

Others to Watch:RB Javon Ringer, WR Kenny Britt, LB Stephen Tulloch, S Michael Griffin

Like their divisional rivals in Houston, the Titans are just a bit below the top level. If nothing else they will score a lot of points with Chris Johnson running behind an excellent line anchored by Michael Roos. If Vince Young can keep his head in the game watch out. If he can't the Titans may have issues. Defense was the strong point of Tennessee's surprising run two years ago. This year I just don't see that being the case. The defensive line is okay but it just doesn't hold up to the Kearse/Haynesworth/Vanden Bosch line that keyed the '08 team. Stephen Tulloch looks to break out this year and Cortland Finnegan is great but the Titans D just doesn't look that strong. Of course, if reports are true and the Titans are pursuing Haynesworth, the impact will be huge. I feel that the Titans and Texans are dead even and he could help push Tennessee ahead.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Last Year:8-8

Key Players:QB David Garrard, RB Maurice Jones-Drew, DE Aaron Kampman, DB Rashean Mathis

Others to Watch:WR Mike Sims-Walker, WR Tiquan Underwood, DE Derrick Harvey, LB Kirk Morrison

The Jaguars look as though they are going to take a step back this season. A lot of the problem is their brutal schedule. Unfortunately, it is also because they just don't have enough playmakers. Maurice Jones-Drew can't do it all by himself. To make matters worse for the Jags, his small size and lack of a feasible backup will make him a prime target for injury. David Garrard is solid, but he won't win any games on his own. Sims-Walker and Underwood stepping up will help, but Jones-Drew is the focal point of the offense. The defense has a lot of solid players but no true studs. Kampman comes the closest, but he is still a notch below elite. All in all, I can't see the Jags contending. It's a shame, especially because the franchise is just not drawing many fans.

How They'll Finish:
Indianapolis Colts:12-4
Tennessee Titans:9-7
Houston Texans:9-7
Jacksonville Jaguars:4-12

The NFC West is next. A lot of people are saying it will be the worst division in football. That may be true but the beautiful thing about the NFL is that everyone is a contender on day one...well, almost everyone.

The AFC North:Insert Clever Subtitle Here

2010-08-27T13:10:00.004-04:00

Yesterday we took a look at what looks to be the strongest division in football. Today we move to another stacked division, the AFC North. Cincinnati was the surprise winner last year but can they do it again? Lets see.

The Teams:

Baltimore Ravens

Last Year:9-7, Wildcard team, (Def NE in 1st Round, lost in 2nd round to IND)

Key Players:QB Joe Flacco, RB Ray Rice, WR Anquan Boldin, DE Haloi Ngata, LB Ray Lewis, S Ed Reed

Others to Watch:RB Willis McGahee, DB Ken Hamlin, DB Travis Fisher, S Dawan Landry

The Ravens look like a stacked team this year. Joe Flacco should be able to take the next step this year especially with a receiver like Boldin to throw to. The offensive line is excellent too. Rice is the feature back in the three pronged attack that also includes McGahee and fullback LeRon McClain. The Ravens have long been known as a defensive team but the offense looks like it will be quite strong. Of course the defense will be just as good. Ray Lewis is still a monster even in his 15th season. Ed Reed is a step slower and yet he's still faster than most players in the league. Haloi Ngata is an absolute beast of a defensive end. Any time you can get a 350 pounder that can move you will take it. Rookie Terrance Cody and veteran Kelly Gregg are both loads and either one will be terrors at nose tackle. The key to the season will be the secondary. Veterans like Hamlin and Fisher will have to step up. If they do, this team could go all the way.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Last Year:9-7

Key Players:QB Ben Roethlisberger, WR Hines Ward, LB James Harrison, LB LaMarr Woodley, S Troy Polamalu

Others to Watch:RB Rashard Mendenhall, WR Antwaan Randle El, T Flozell Adams, CB Ike Taylor

Losing Roethlisberger for four games will hurt, but at least the Steelers have games against Tennessee and Tampa that are winnable anyway. When he does come back, Big Ben needs to cut down on his turnovers. Sometimes it is better just to take a sack. Veteran Flozell Adams will step in for the injured Willie Colon at tackle and he must preform better than he did last year. The defense will be the focal point. Having Polamalu back will allow the Steelers to mix up their looks and blitz from every which way. The linebackers may be the strongest in the league with Harrison and Woodley. If Ike Taylor and the rest of the corners can step up, the Steeler defense may be the NFL's best.

Cincinnati Bengals

Last Year:10-6, Division Champs (Lost in 1st round to NYJ)

Key Players:QB Carson Palmer, the receiving corps., RB Cedric Benson, DB Jonathan Joseph

Players to Watch:TE Jermaine Gresham, WR Jordan Shipley, LB Rey Maualuga, DE Antwan Odom

Cedric Benson, Carlos Dunlap, Tank Johnson, Pac-Man Jones, Matt Jones, Rey Maualuga, Chad Ochocinco, Terrell Owens, Frostee Rucker. Any guess as to what those names have to do with each other (other than the fact that they all play for the Bengals)? Give up? Well I'll tell you. They all have the potential to be distractions. Whether their character issues stem from run ins with the law or just attitude in general, the potential is there. That said, the Bengals will be a solid team this year. They may have the deepest receiving corps. in the league and Carson Palmer will spread the ball around effectively. He can only hope this this doesn't tick off T.O. Cedric Benson must keep his head on straight and continue to play well. Defensively, I feel the Bengals are a bit lacking. Joseph is highly underrated, but the Cincy D just seems to be missing something. If Maualuga can take his game to the next level and Odom can continue to play well the Bengals will have a chance. Unfortunately for Cincinnati fans, I think their division is just a bit too tough.

Cleveland Browns

Last Year:4-12

Key Players:WR Josh Cribbs, T Joe Thomas, DT Shaun Rogers, LB D'Qwell Jackson

Others to Watch:RB Montario Hardesty, WR Mohamed Massaquoi, TE Ben Watson, DB Joe Haden

It's hard to look at this team and say anything really stands out other than the fact they need massive improvements. The Browns have that dangerous combination of over-the-hill veterans and inexperienced rookies that usually makes for a bad team. Jake Delhomme will turn the ball over. A lot. Teams that turn the ball over don't tend to win too many games. To make matters worse, the offensive line is a mess outside of Thomas. The defense looks a little better with the massive Rogers in the middle and the outstanding Jackson at linebacker. Still though it isn't enough to truly contend. There are a few bright spots, especially considering the team had an excellent draft getting Haden, Hardesty and former Texas QB Colt McCoy. Add young talent like Cribbs and Massaquoi into the mix and the Browns look to have the foundation of what could turn into a solid team. However, this will most certainly not be there year.

How They'll Finish:

Baltimore Ravens:13-3
Pittsburgh Steelers:11-5
Cincinnati Bengals:9-7
Cleveland Browns:3-13

Well, I really have to pick up the pace with these. NFC south coming tomorrow. The Saints capped a stellar season with their first-ever Super Bowl Victory. They will look to have an encore performance this year. Of course, the Atlanta Falcons will do everything in their power that doesn't happen. The Panthers look to be in bad shape but also look like they could contend with a few moves and a little luck. As for the Buccaneers...well they have cool uniforms. Anyway, check back to see my predictions for this interesting division.

The Saga Continues:NFC North Preview

2010-08-26T15:23:00.003-04:00

In my last post, I previewed one of the more top heavy divisions, the AFC East. Today, I preview what may be the most stacked division top to bottom. Without further adieu, here is the NFC North.

The Teams:

Minnesota Vikings

Last Year:12-4, Division Champs (1st round bye, defeated DAL in 2nd round, Lost in NFC Title Game to NO)

Key Players: QB Brett Favre, RB Adrian Peterson, G Steve Hutchinson, DE Jared Allen, DT Kevin Williams, DT Pat Williams

Others to Watch:WR Percy Harvin, DE Ray Edwards, LB E.J. Henderson, DB Antoine Winfield

The Vikings are a stacked team, especially with Favre under center. Even if he doesn't have the kind of year he did last year, he still improves the team by leaps and bounds. Besides, even if he doesn't Adrian Peterson will most likely pick up the slack. If Percy Harvin can stay healthy and avoid those nagging migraines, he could have a big year. Jared Allen is almost unblockable on defense. Keying on him usually means that defensive coordinators overlook Ray Edwards who is one of the most under rated players in the league. The "Williams Wall" are getting up there in years but they will continue to do what they do best and stuff the run. With strong linebackers in Henderson, Chad Greenway and Ben Leber and an improving secondary that looks to have a healthy Winfield, I see big things for the Vikes this year.

Green Bay Packers

Last Year:11-5, Wild Card Team (Lost to ARI in 1st round)

Key Players:QB Aaron Rodgers, WR Donald Driver, LB A.J. Hawk, LB Clay Matthews, DB Charles Woodson.
Others to Watch:The offensive line, DT B.J. Raji, DB Al Harris, S Atari Bigby

The Packers should be an interesting team this year. I firmly believe that they could win the division but a few things must fall into place for that to happen. First, the offensive line must do a better job of protecting Aaron Rodgers. Another great season will cement his status as an elite NFL QB, but that won't happen if he's always on the turf. Second, B.J. Raji must be the monster in the middle the Packers need for their 3-4 scheme. A nose tackle that can eat up blockers is key in any 3-4. If Raji can step up, he will make Hawk and Matthews that much more dangerous. Finally, the secondary must show that what Arizona did to them in the playoffs last year was a fluke. Their problem is that most of their DB's are either too green or past their prime. I think Bigby is the key here. If the 5th year man out of Central Florida can pick up his game and Harris and Woodson show they can still go, the Packers will challenge the Vikings every step of the way.

Chicago Bears
Last Year:7-9
Key Players:QB Jay Cutler, RB Matt Forte, DE Julius Peppers, LB Brian Urlacher
Others to Watch:WR Devin Hester, RB Chester Taylor, DT Tommie Harris, LB Hunter Hillenmeyer, LB Lance Briggs

The Bears could very easily win some other divisions in the NFL this year. Jay Cutler should have a bounce back season, especially since he will be throwing the ball all the time in Offensive Coordinator Mike Martz's system. The Bears must hope that their big personalities don't clash. I have never been a fan of Martz. I have always felt that he bears a great deal of responsibility for the current state of the St. Louis Rams franchise. He allowed Kurt Warner to walk away because he felt that Marc Bulger was the better quarterback. Warner went on to more success in Arizona and the Rams fell flat on their face (theres more to it than that but I could go on for ever). We have all seen that Cutler has no problem publicly feuding with his coaches. We will see how this pans out. Defensively, the Bears are solid. Having Urlacher back is critical and signing Julius Peppers will help to get more pressure on the quarterback. if Harris, Hillenmeyer and Briggs play like they did during the super bowl run a few years ago this defense could be great. The Bears should keep it interesting in the NFC North this year.

Detroit Lions
Last Year:2-14
Key Players:QB Matthew Stafford, WR Calvin Johnson, RB Kevin Smith, DT Ndamukong Suh
Others to Watch:RB Jahvid Best, T Jon Jansen, TE Brandon Pettigrew, DE Kyle Vanden Bosch

The Lions were the laughing stock of the league two years ago after their infamous 0-16 effort. While they are still not quite back to where they want to be, the Lions are on the right track. Matthew Stafford should develop into a very good quarterback and may even be elite some day. The Lions brought in veteran Jon Jansen to help a weak offensive line, which should help Stafford even more. Calvin Johnson is an absolutely amazing player. If he and Stafford can develop a little chemistry and Smith and Best can run effectively, this Lions team will score some points. The defense is not quite there yet but Suh is an absolute beast. I know the Rams were looking for a franchise quarterback, but I don't know how they could have passed him up, especially since next year's draft should be loaded with quarterbacks (most of whom I feel have better NFL potential than Sam Bradford). This team will be better than their record due to their tough division and brutal schedule. The wait continues for now but the Lions are positioning themselves to become contenders very, very soon.

How They'll Finish:

Minnesota Vikings 13-3
Green Bay Packers 12-4
Chicago Bears 10-6
Detroit Lions 5-11

That does it for the NFC North. The AFC North will be up next and it will be quite an interesting division. The Steelers and Ravens define hard hitting, smash mouth football. Its a brawl any time those teams meet. Throw in the situation with T.O. and Ochocinco in Cincinnati and a re tooling browns franchise and you have quite the volatile division. I really can't wait for football to start.

The Predictions Continue:The AFC East Circa 2010-2011

2010-08-24T02:20:00.004-04:00

Howdy y'all! Wow...I really just typed that. Anyway, here are my predictions as to what will happen in the AFC East this year. Considering the impact of last night's posts I hope this is meaningful. After all, in one night I have proven that my blog is relatively unbiased (by not predicting a 19-0 season for my team) and made myself a public enemy of the city of Philadelphia. (In addition, most of the Eagles fans I know now think I'm an idiot). Anyway, here is my take on the AFC East.

The teams:

New England Patriots
Last Year:11-5, Division Champs (lost in first round to BAL)
Key Players: QB Tom Brady, WR Randy Moss, WR Wes Welker, DT Vince Wilfork, LB Jerod Mayo
Others to Watch: RB Laurence Maroney, WR Julian Edelman, the entire offensive line

Despite all the Jets have done in the off season, the Patriots still look like the class of the AFC East. As long as they have Tom Brady under center, the Pats will always have a chance. The key this year will be the aging offensive line's ability to protect Brady. Matt Light and company may not be as tough as they used to be but I think they are still more capable of doing their job. It will be interesting to see what the Patriots do running the ball. If Maroney doesn't preform, he may be out the door with the depth at halfback. Much to the chagrin of announcers everywhere, I could see 3rd year pro BenJarvus Green-Ellis getting a lot of carries. The defense is highly underrated with Vince Wilfork eating up space in the middle and Jerod Mayo wreaking havoc on opposing offenses. A strong corps of role players rounds out one of the more under appreciated units in the league.

New York Jets
Last Year:9-7, Wild Card Team, (Def CIN in 1st round, Def SD in 2nd round, Lost in AFC Title Game to IND)
Key Players:C Nick Mangold, WR Braylon Edwards, CB Darrelle Revis, LB Bart Scott
Others to Watch:QB Mark Sanchez, RB LaDanian Tomlinson, WR Santonio Holmes, DB Antonio Cromartie

The Jets, while still a notch below New England, will be a force to be reckoned with this year. Rex Ryan will have the defense ready to play, even if Darrelle Revis isn't there. Having a body like Kris Jenkins in the middle makes this defense better but the Jets have proven they can win without him. I really don't understand the Jets decision to get rid of guard Alan Faneca. Even though he's a bit old, Faneca can still go. Sanchez will need to continue in his development for the team to contend. I think the second year pro will improve immensely. In addition, veterans like Tomlinson, Holmes, Edwards and Cromartie will play well and the Jets will have a solid season. With a strong draft and more improvement from Sanchez, gang green could be setting themselves up to be a powerhouse for years to come.

Miami Dolphins
Last Year:7-9
Key Players:RB Ronnie Brown, WR Brandon Marshall, T Jake Long, LB Karlos Dansby
Others to Watch:WR Davone Bess, QB Chad Henne, QB Pat White, LB Channing Crowder

Poor Miami. I really feel like they will make strides this year even though they'll lose more games than they did last year. Their schedule is absolutely stacked with trips to Minnesota, Baltimore, and Green Bay as well as home games against the Steelers and Bears. Add in a tough division and the Dolphins may be in a little over their heads. However, the fish won't go down without a fight. Chad Henne will continue to improve, especially with Jake Long protecting his blindside. Hopefully, Brandon Marshall doesn't become a distraction and helps to develop Miami's outstanding young receivers Davone Bess and Greg Camarillo. Of course, who could forget the wildcat? Though it won't surprise anyone anymore, it is still a Dolphins trademark and no team runs it better. The defense will be solid too with Dansby, Crowder and veteran Charles Grant. These Dolphins may be the best losing team ever assembled.

Buffalo Bills
Last Year:5-11
Key Players:WR Lee Evans, LB Paul Posluszny, CB Leodis McKelvin, CB Terrence McGee
Others to Watch:Actually, nine out of ten physicians recommend that you avoid watching the 2010 Buffalo Bills at all. The tenth either needs to have his license revoked or practices medicine in or around Buffalo...but seriously, RB CJ Spiller, RB Marshawn Lynch, the QB situation in general.

Ladies and gentlemen, meet the worst team in the NFL (probably). Aside from the two corners and Posluszny, there is little star power on this team. Evans has just never had a quarterback to throw to him. Even if he did, it is so hard to throw in Buffalo because of the elements. That said, I think it is time to move on from Trent Edwards. He's had his chances and couldn't get it done. I'd say give backup Brian Brohm a shot. If he doesn't work out, next year's draft class is loaded with quarterbacks and the Bills are sure to have a high pick. The Bills have really been terrible in drafts the last few years. Spiller is a very exciting young player but he is not what Buffalo needed. If nothing else the Bills are building to something. However, this franchise is quite a few years away from being a contender.

Final Standings:
New England Patriots 12-4
New York Jets 10-6
Miami Dolphins 6-10
Buffalo Bills 2-14

Tomorrow we move over to what may be the most loaded division in all of football, the NFC Central. Will old no. 4 bring the Vikings to the promised land? Can Aaron Rodgers and the Packers continue to improve and take the division? Will Jay Cutler live up to the hype and Julius Peppers earn his money? Will the Detroit Lions FINALLY not suck? Tune in for the answers to these and other important questions tomorrow.

2010-11 NFL Preview:The NFC East

2010-08-22T19:17:00.005-04:00

Hi everyone. To get ready for the season, I'm going to preview each NFL division starting with the NFC East. I will analyze what I think of the teams and how I think they will finish. Of course, this is just my opinion. That being said, my opinions are pretty well informed. Anyway, here we go.

The teams:

Dallas Cowboys
Last Year:11-5, division champs (Lost in second round to Minnesota)
Key Players:QB Tony Romo, TE Jason Witten, LB DeMarcus Ware, DT Jay Ratliff, WR Miles Austin
Others to Watch: WR Roy Williams, WR Dez Bryant, RB Felix Jones, T Doug Free

The Cowboys look to be the team to beat in the NFC East this year. Tony Romo may be a notch below the elite, but he is still an outstanding quarterback. Miles Austin has been an absolute revelation for the 'Boys out of (of all places) Monmouth University. DeMarcus Ware may be the best outside rusher in the league and Jay Ratliff is great, even if he can't duplicate his statistical production from last year. As deep as Dallas is, a few things will have to happen if they wish to become an elite team. Roy Williams needs to step up and give the Cowboys what they paid for. Doug Free needs to be able to step in for Flozell Adams and protect Romo's blindside. Still, Dallas should have enough to take the division.

Washington Redskins
Last Year:4-12
Key Players:QB Donovan McNabb, WR Santana Moss, LB Brian Orakpo, CB DeAngelo Hall
Others to Watch:DT Albert Haynesworth, RB Larry Johnson, T Jammal Brown, LB H.B. Blades

The Redskins were horrible last year, but they had a productive off season and have addressed their biggest issues. New coach Mike Shanahan and QB Donovan McNabb will do a lot towards bringing a little consistency to Washington. The run game is great with Clinton Portis being backed up by Larry Johnson and Willie Parker. The defense will be the strong point, especially with a monster like Orakpo and a ball hawk like Hall. Blades has been an excellent role player, and I feel he could be a star if given the chance. The keys to the season will be all of the veteran players the Redskins brought in playing well. I think they will do so and bring Washington back to respectability.

New York Giants
Last Year:8-8
Key Players:QB Eli Manning, WR Steve Smith, DE Justin Tuck, S Kenny Phillips
Others to Watch:RB Brandon Jacobs, RB Ahmad Bradshaw, DE Osi Umenyiora, CB Terrell Thomas

The Giants are in a weird spot as a franchise. They seem to have addressed the huge issue of their secondary by signing Antrell Rolle and getting Kenny Phillips and Aaron Ross healthy. Terrell Thomas seems as though he is ready to become a regular. However, the linebacking corps is very lacking. Three years ago I would have raved about the signing of Keith Bulluck but he is well past his prime. The defensive line will miss Fred Robbins in the middle and have four ends competing for two spots. With Osi Umenyiora already unhappy, I'm not sure drafting Jason Pierre-Paul was the right move. Eli Manning is not an elite quarterback. One minute he looks like his brother and the next he looks like he's Ryan Leaf. Despite the fact that he has great stats, he always seems to turn the ball over at the worst possible time. If the offense is going to be effective, the Giants need to mix up their running backs. Otherwise Jacobs will get too beat up. I wouldn't be opposed to seeing more of Danny Ware this year. As a completely objective writer, I don't feel like the Giants have enough talent to truly contend. I really hope I'm wrong though.

Philadelphia Eagles
Last Year:11-5, Wild Card Team (Lost in first round to Dallas)
Key Players: T Jason Peters, WR DeSean Jackson, WR Jeremy Maclin, DE Trent Cole
Others to Watch: QB Michael Vick, RB LeSean McCoy, TE Brent Celek, LB Stewart Bradley

Be careful what you wish for because you just might get it. Philly fans are glad to finally be rid of Donovan McNabb and I fail to understand why. Well, I understand a little. He is past his prime and the Eagles were never going to win it all with him. However, Kevin Kolb is not the answer. While he has proven he can be accurate, he has also proven that he will throw picks. I just find it odd that one good game against the lowly Chiefs is enough to make anyone think this guy is the future. DeSean Jackson isn't going to surprise anyone this year. In addition, a lot of the plays he made last year were the result of McNabb extending plays with his legs. That won't happen with Kolb under center, especially with a line as overrated as the Eagles' (outside of Jason Peters, who is great). The defense should be okay. Lots of role players who play hard on every down. If the Eagles continue to play a system similar to the one instated by the late Jim Johnson, they will be fine. He was a true genius when it came to defense. Even though LeSean McCoy is poised to break out and the defense will keep the Eagles in it, this will not be their year. The Eagles' inexperienced quarterback and over rated head coach will be their undoing.

How They will Finish

Dallas Cowboys:11-5
Washington Redskins:9-7
New York Giants:8-8
Philadelphia Eagles:5-11

And there you have it. Tomorrow we will move over to the AFC East. Will the Jets take flight this year or are Tom terrific and the Patriots still the team to beat?

the ten best donuts/doughnuts ever

2010-08-09T01:33:00.005-04:00

As suggested to me on facebook (thanks Mike) I am going to make a list of the 10 best doughnuts I have ever had. This is the kind of thing I think about when I'm at work...anyway, here we go.

10. The sugar raised doughnuts from Centra in Cork, Ireland

Normally I'm not a fan of sugared donuts, but these were just awesome. They were just so light and fluffy. It was weird too because they were just some crappy generic brand. They were easy on the stomach too which can't be said for most doughnuts.

9. Entamins crumb cake doughnuts

Again, they're just store-bought, but these doughnuts always have great texture. They are extremely sweet, and they taste like Drake's coffee cakes on top of glazed doughnuts. These truly are some of my favorites.

8. Krispy Kreme fundraiser doughnuts

These are a rare treat for those of us on the East Coast. While I am biased towards a certain other donut chain that currently employs me, I must say these are the best glazed doughnuts you can get. Its a two-fer, help and organization in need AND get delicious snacks.

7. "Black and White" doughnuts

Thats a chocolate glazed doughnut with vanilla frosting for the record. I forget where I used to get them from, but they were delicious all the time. One of the big doughnut or donut chains should start selling them.

6. That old fashioned doughnut I had in Paris

I don't remember quite what street the bakery was on but I really wanted a doughnut and walked in. The problem was, I didn't speak French and the guy behind the counter was pretending not to speak English so I had to point. Not wanting to accidentally pick something weird, I chose the simplest one. It was one of the most well made doughnuts I ever had. Still wish I went for a more exotic flavor though...

5. Fresh Krispy Kreme chocolate glazed doughnuts

For those of you who have never had a fresh doughnut, you don't know what you're missing. Unfortunately for us on the East Coast, Krispy Kreme is second fiddle to another donut shop. However, out west they churn out fresh doughnuts for all of their patrons. Of course, I had my fresh doughnut in Ireland (I have never been further West than Pittsburgh) but that didn't make it any less delicious.

4. Glazed sticks from Whitney Doughnut and Sandwich Shop in Hamden, CT

A truly awesome local establishment just minutes from my Alma mater, their glazed sticks take the cake as the best item on the menu. Thicker than the standard glazed doughnut, glazed sticks are some of the most flavorful items on any doughnut or donut shop menu. To top it all off, you can order a delicious breakfast sandwich (made with a real egg) and great cup of coffee. Keep supporting Whitney Doughnut QU'ers.

3. Marble frosted doughnuts from the Clinton, NJ ShopRite

I always loved marble frosted doughnuts and these were by far my favorite. They were huge, almost twice the size of donuts from anywhere else. They were so filling and the icing was incredibly delicious. These doughnuts are further proof that you can find awesome desserts anywhere, even at a random super market.

2. M&M's donuts from Clinton Dunkin Donuts

A Boston cream donut with chocolate filling an M&M's on top? Why didn't anyone else think of this? You can only find these donuts at the Clinton DD's and they must be experienced by any chocolate lover.

1. Fresh blueberry donuts

These donuts are just epic. They are perfect in just about every way. That's all that can and will be said.

Sorry it's been a while. I will start my NFL preview tomorrow. I'm going division by division, starting with the NFC East.

UFC 117 Predictions

2010-08-03T15:01:00.002-04:00

It's been a while, but I'm back to posting. I think I'll take a break from video games and do some picks for this weekend's UFC card. It's pretty stacked and I would most definitely order it if you get the chance (although UFC events tend to be pretty pricey). Well, here we go.

pre show (not all fights predicted)

Ben Saunders v. Dennis Hallman

Two guys that are well versed in the submission game. Saunders is a much better striker and must stay aggressive if he wants to win. Hallman is an outstanding wrestler and will be looking to keep Saunders on the ground. However, I feel Saunders has an advantage because he can fight from anywhere. Even if Hallman does take him down, he can still work submissions. I'll pick Saunders by a unanimous decision.

Stefan Struve v. Christian Morecraft

Can't really make a pick because I've never seem Morecraft fight. If he wants to win though, he's gonna have to contend with 6'11" Struve. Should be an interesting bout.

Charlie Brennanman v. Johnny Hendricks

2-time NCAA wrestling champ Johnny Hendricks comes into the fight undefeated. Brennanman is a good wrestler in his own right, but Hendricks is a great wrestler. I think that is the difference here. Wrestlers have dominated in the UFC and Hendricks may be the single best wrestler to ever step inside the octagon. I think he wins by unanimous decision. If he keeps improving his overall game and ability to finish fights, Hendricks could find himself in the title picture at 170.

Dustin Hazelett v. Rick Story

Rick Story has been on quite a role as of late. However, Hazelett is a huge step up in competition. His wrestling background and submission skills make him a force to be reckoned with. Despite that, Story is quickly becoming one of the better all around fighters at his weight. A win here would seriously boost his career and insure a fight with a much bigger name. I take story by TKO in the 3rd.

Main Card

Junior Dos Santos v. Roy Nelson

Much to the dismay of UFC President Dana White, Roy Nelson has proven that he can hang with strong fighters in the UFC. Though his physique is far from impressive, Nelson has tons of experience and knows how to use every ounce of his 263 pounds to his advantage. However, he is taking a real step up in competition. Dos Santos has destroyed everyone in his path in the UFC. The aforementioned Struve, Fedor-Killer Fabricio Werdum, and former title contender Gabriel Gonzaga couldn't even last a round with him. I think Nelson will be a tough test but Dos Santos's reach and striking power will carry him to a second round KO.

Matt Hughes v. Ricardo Almeida

UFC legend Hughes may be past his prime, but the former champion can still go. Almeida is a solid fighter who has yet to face top level competition. I don't think he has quite enough to handle Hughes. He won't be strong enough to stuff his take downs or lock in a submission. I take Hughes in round 3 on a TKO due to strikes.

Clay Guida v. Rafael Dos Anjos

Clay Guida is a good fighter that just never seems to be able to take that next step. Dos Anjos is a young fighter with excellent jiu-jitsu and deceptive power. Both have a common opponent in Tyson Griffin who defeated both by decision in fight of the night performances. I think I will have to take Guida here. He is a more well rounded fighter and his wrestling and ground and pound will keep Dos Anjos at bay. I say Clay by unanimous decision. Dos Anjos has quite the future though.

Jon Fitch v. Thiago Alves

This may be the most evenly matched fight on the card. Both are very well rounded fighters. However, Alves is more of a striker while Fitch focuses on his wrestling. In a fight where both guys can strike, utilize submissions and shoot take downs I will almost always take the wrestler. If Fitch can consistently take down Alves, he will be able to control the pace and out last him. I say Fitch by unanimous decision.

Main Event
Middleweight Title Match
Challenger Chael Sonnen v. Champion Anderson Silva

Sonnen has been doing a lot of trash talking and I'm not sure that is a good thing. Anderson Silva is the longest reigning UFC champion and holds the record for longest undefeated streak. He made a fool of himself in his title defense against Demian Maia but he is still a great fighter. Sonnen was choked out by Maia in the first round the last time they met. Sonnen is a good wrestler and he's very aggressive but he just isn't Silva's caliber. Silva beat Maia without really trying. Sonnen couldn't make it out of the first round with him. If Silva gives 100% he wins by knockout in round 2.

And that is all folks. Check back for the rest of my list and other stuff.

Game #3: Street Fighter II Turbo (Capcom/SNES)

2010-07-23T14:56:00.002-04:00

Nope, no dirt cheap super combos here. No 400000000 hit attacks with the press of a button. No assists crowding up the screen so no one knows what is going on, and certainly no uber-unfair characters like Sentinel. Ladies and gentlemen, this is fighting. Street Fighter II is an icon in gaming for a reason and that is its simplicity. True skill is needed to beat opponents in this game, not playing a higher "tiered" character or being able to exploit a flaw in the game's combo system. While the characters are somewhat unbalanced, a little practice will allow any player to play any character at a high level. The game may be easy to learn but boy is it difficult to master. Perfecting special moves and combos is just the beginning. Truly great players will execute all sorts of cross ups and corner traps to take the win. Of course, if you just want to kick back and have some fun, Street Fighter II is just as awesome. The game can be enjoyed on so many levels against both the computer and human opponents. Great graphics, great control, great sound, and great gameplay help the Street Fighter II series stand the test of time. In terms of technical things, the game is almost perfect. Most of the games in the series are great, but Street Fighter II Turbo (and Champion Edition for the Genesis, which is essentially the same game) are not only the best, but the most timeless.

Pros: Fun and challenging, simple combat system, controls, graphics, sound, A.I, ability to play casually or more seriously

Cons: Hard to say. though I enjoyed the two games that will follow better, this may be the most technically perfect game on my list. I prefer more story driven games, and that is where Street Fighter is seriously lacking, but it just isn't that important in a fighting game.

Game #4: Resident Evil:Code Veronica (Capcom/Dreamcast)

2010-07-22T14:49:00.007-04:00

Code Veronica is the Apex of one of the greatest series' of all time. Players took control of Claire Redfield who is searching for her brother Chris in the aftermath of the Raccoon City disaster. Her travels take her to Europe, where she is captured by Umbrella Corp. and imprisoned on Rockfort Island. The island is soon overrun with zombies and other horrible freaks. To make matters worse for Claire, she has become the target of Alfred Ashford, the heir to Umbrella Corp's fortune. This game is truly the best in terms of psychological horror in the RE series. The visuals and especially the environments are disturbing and add a ton to the scares. Alfred is an outstanding villain and quite possibly the most twisted in gaming history. In terms of gameplay, the controls are spot on (by the way, I have NEVER had a problem with RE's control scheme. It adds to the game. I may address this at a later date because I could go on for a while). There are plenty of challenging enemies and clever puzzles to keep players on their toes. All in all the game is just perfectly executed. Couple that with one of the greatest stories and some of the greatest characters (except for Steve) in gaming and you have yourself an instant classic.

Pros: Great story, scary as hell, great graphics, environments, sense of immersion in the game, overall fun

Cons:Steve, his obnoxious dialogue, horrible voice acting, annoying personality and everything about him (actually the voice acting as a whole could be better

I'm Back...with the ten most overrated games of all time

2010-07-21T01:11:00.005-04:00

Hi everyone. I have been on quite the hiatus, but I promise I will finish my list. Tonight, however, I want to mix it up. I had wanted to a non-game related list but I decided on this one instead. I have thought it over and I came up with what I think are the most overrated games of all time. I don't think any of these games are bad (okay, I think one is bad, but that's it). However, they don't nearly deserve the hype they get. Some are lauded by Internet crowds because they are "cool." Others get pumped up ratings from reviewers without any good reason. Others still just aren't as good as people say. Well, enough talk, here's the list.

10. God of War
God of War is a good game. No, that isn't true, God of War is a great game...for the three hours it lasts. I'm sorry, but I refuse to pay full price for a game I can beat relatively easily in one sitting. Even old NES games that were meant to be played that way take longer to beat than this. It's a shame, because the gameplay is great and Kratos is a compelling character. It would be great if Sony would take more time to make the game longer, add more upgrades and puzzles and go more in depth into the great story. Unfortunately, they will continue to turn out more 2-3 hour games as long as they continue making money.

9. Virtua Fighter IV
When this game came out, all I heard about was its "complex,, intricate fighting system that takes true skill to master." In fact, one reviewer even said he felt he had to "earn his 2-10 record" in the game's kumite mode. Either we played different games or he just sucks, because this game is as simple as a fighting game can be. Most of the "intricate" combos in this game are more trouble than they're worth, and would require having 30 fingers to consistently pull off properly. Sticking to simple moves is the best way to win, even against top flight computer opponents. While the game is fun, it doesn't nearly stack up to its rave reviews.

8. Final Fantasy IX
Ladies and gentlemen, here is proof positive that I am not a Final Fantasy fanboy (though I am admittedly pretty close). It was a toss up between this and FF V. IX gets the edge for it's positively annoying characters. Reviewers were glad to be rid of the "whiny" protagonists of the last two games. Squall, while he was quite the whiner, was at least interesting. I can forgive his being that way because it adds to the story. We won't get started on FF VII, as I could go on all day. In FF IX, we get Zidane. This not so welcome change is cocky, obnoxious and crass. Despite his attempts to be a suave bad ass, he is about as cool as a star trek convention. He reminds me of the kid that picks on people in high school and ends up becoming a bum by the age of 28. Again, Squall is often criticized as being immature, and he is, but no where near as immature as Zidane. Aside from Vivi, all of the characters are contrived and boring. Steiner starts the game as a bumbling idiot, and he ends the game as a bumbling idiot. Honestly, those are the only characters that even see attempts at development. I couldn't even name the entire cast, a first for a FF game. The villain, Kuja, is lame, and never seems to quite know what he is working towards. This especially stands out with the last few games having such strong villains. Reviewers lauded this game for its return to the series's roots. Funny, i missed the parts of the old games with childish, obnoxious, under developed characters, boring settings, lame plots and no challenge were the norm.

7. The Legend of Zelda:Link's Awakening
Okay, so it's a dumbed down, smaller version of "A Link to the Past," and people are trying to convince me it's a better game? Sorry, it isn't. Really not that much to say about this game other than what I already did. A classic example of a game that gets by on the Zelda name, this game is far from the best in the series. It's still a good game, just not great.

6. Super Metroid
This game is awesome, but the greatest game of all time? Not even close. The plot is simplistic, and that is okay, but people continue to find idiotic reasons to pass it off as some deep and moving story. "It's not telling the story that makes the story telling excellent," I once read in a review. That can be true in some instances, but it isn't here, the story is just simple. The gameplay involves exploring a map and finding new items to unlock doors. Sound familiar? Castlevania:Symphony of the Night is the obvious comparison but I have always felt Resident Evil owes a lot to this game. What bugs me though is that critics constantly hammer RE for being a "mindless fetch quest" and praise Super Metroid for essentially working on the same concept. Also, very little actually happens in the game. There are few enemies, none of which are particularly threatening. The bosses, while impressive graphically, are a joke. Symphony of the Night by contrast is filled with challenging enemies and bosses. The controls are a little loose for my liking and the jumping is particularly bad but I feel like that is more a matter of personal preference. Again Super Metriod is quite innovative. The graphics and sound are top notch and the sense of exploration is wonderful, but that isn't enough to make it the greatest game of all time.

5. Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
This is the one game on the list that I think is just bad. I hated the controls, I hated the camera, I hated the combat, I straight up just hated everything. Maybe I was just setting the bar to high because of the ludicrous reviews. Either way, I returned this game fairly quickly. I just could not forgive the horrible control and camera, as it constantly led to early deaths.

4. Gran Turismo
Anyone who has read my list can see that I'm not the hugest fan of racing games. That said few are as overrated as Gran Turismo. The game is a driving sim, and tries to accurately give players the feeling of driving. As someone who finds driving mind bendingly frustrating, I am not a fan of that at all. The game also has a huge stable of cars, just about every make and model you can imagine, and I just don't care. As a man, I love football, playboy and beer, but I never quite understood my gender's infatuation with cars. I am content to do 65 in the right lane in my cheap Japanese sedan. However, if a genre bias contributed to any game being on this list, it is right here. Car enthusiasts and racing fans may be able to see what's so great about this game...but I don't.

3. Splinter Cell
Where to begin with Splinter Cell. We'll start with "Sam Fisher is one of the most complex characters in gaming." No, he isn't. He has the personality of cardboard. It would be different if he were just a cold blooded spy or something of that nature, but he is just boring, and that was before the more recent games. Now he is a poor excuse for Liam Neeson's character in "Taken." At least that film, while a little mindless, was action packed and fun. This game is like a weaker version of the Metal Gear series in every way. The controls are clunky, especially compared to those in MGS. Sam's abilities seem more like novelties than actually useful tactics for dispatching enemies. All in all the game isn't too bad, it's just far inferior to MGS, Deus Ex, and most other stealth games.

2. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater
A fun button masher, yet a button masher none the less. You go off a ramp, you slam on buttons. That's it. Later games in the series added a little more depth with missions, but the core gameplay was the same. This game came out at the peak of the skateboarding fad. I feel like everyone I went to school with played with tech decks, wore goofy skateboard shoes, and thought that they could actually skateboard because of this game. It seems that Neversoft knew that too, because it seems as if they didn't put much effort into the series at first. Generic arenas with randomly placed ramps made up the entire game. Tasks would involve bridging gaps, scoring points, or collecting the letters s-k-a-t-e. The moves all had commands, but if you really wanted a good score, you had to mash buttons until your fingers bled. Was it fun? Kinda. Was it the timeless classic people claim it is? absolutely not. I'm just thankful the skater fad is over anyway.

1. Halo
Before the bashing, before you instantly dismiss this list, please read this last entry. I know some people are Halo die hards but hear me out. Also, I want to say that this is an excellent game. In terms of the quality of games on this list, it is probably second only to Super Metroid and just ahead of God of War. Remember too, that I am talking about the quality of the game, not it's impact on gaming or how many units it has moved. I will start by getting one good thing out there and it is that Halo revolutionized console multi-player games. The first did so for hot seat games and the second for online play. That being said Halo revolutionized absolutely nothing else in any sort of positive way.
Reviewers ranted and raved about the A.I. in this game. In fact, this game has some of the worst A.I. I've ever seen. I remember a review in EGM years ago talking about how your squad behaved like human players. Honestly, I wouldn't have even noticed I had a squad with me had I not been told. The enemies run around like idiots, save for a few occasions.
The control system is different from that of any console shooter ever...and that is a bad thing. Halo brought PC style controls to the console, but it just felt quirky and broken. What seemed so smooth with a keyboard and mouse makes you feel like a chicken with your head cut off on joysticks. This problem now seems to plague every console FPS and Halo started the trend. The sensitivity is also horrible on the look/turn axis. It never seems to work right, either turning too slow or too fast. This feels even worse because the run/strafe axis always feels just right.
The story line was another major talking point. While good, it wasn't particularly great. Again, this wouldn't be a big deal for a shooter had critics not made any mention of it being "the best storyline ever contained in a video game." Maybe I just don't like sci-fi that much, but I don't think that's the problem.
The graphics are top notch and the outdoor environments are absolutely beautiful, but the indoor environments always seem drab and bland. Even when I'm in a major battle, I just feel bored when I'm inside.
Now comes the truly huge problem with Halo. It's a rail shooter. There, I said it. I talked earlier about how this game changed very little for the better. Thanks to Halo, I now feel that every FPS is a rail shooter. You start, you move from major point to major point in the level until you finish with absolutely no freedom whatsoever. Then, you do it again and again until you beat the game. What it boils down to is that the game is just a series of choreographed events. At least in Doom or Goldeneye, you had free reign in the levels, and were able to finish them at your own pace in your own manner. I always felt that this is the main issue keeping Halo from being the game everyone hypes it to be.
Sorry for the rant but it needed to be said. Again, Halo is a game that should be experienced by all gamers. Some of the gun battles are truly epic, the graphics are great and the multiplayer alone is worth purchasing the game. However, it should not be worshiped as it is. It does verylittle that its predecessors Doom and Goldeneye didn't so it can't be called revolutionary (outside of its multiplayer options), and it has far too many glaring flaws to have received the ammount of perfect scores it did.

Honorable Mentions

Final Fantasy V: "A wonderfully addicting job system..." which requires insane ammounts of grinding. Besides, only about 6 of the 20 jobs are worth using, and the story sucks.

The Sims: It's life. Thats it. I can just live life every day. Maybe I should play fewer video games and go do something.

Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask: So far inferior to Ocarina of Time, yet so heavily praised.

Space Invaders: By far the most boring of the "classic" games

Super Mario Bros. 2: If I said Doki Doki panic was a terrible game, I'm sure I could get people to agree with me. But god forbid I told someone Mario 2 was terrible...wait a minute...

Well, there you have it. Disagree? I'm always open to new suggestions. Who knows, maybe I just missed something. I have a history of doing that.

Game #5:Mega Man X (Capcom/SNES)

2010-04-29T15:23:00.004-04:00

The greatest side scroller ever released. Mega Man X took one of the NES's biggest series and brought it into the 16 bit realm. Despite being released early in the system's life cycle, MMX has some of the greatest graphics of its generation. Players control X, a more advanced version of mega man. All of the enemies are now based on animals and each has a unique power and an excellently designed level. The game features some of the best abilities in the series. All of the bosses weapons are extremely useful. The game is challenging, as even with the right ability the bosses are hard. However, it is not mind numbingly impossible like the later MMX games for the PS1. Really, simplicity is key. The game follows such a simple formula...and yet it is so great .

Pros: Level Design, challenge, graphics and sound, old school fun

cons: may be a little too old school for some

Game #6:Lunar 2:Eternal Blue (Working Design/Sega CD/PS1)

2010-04-27T17:49:00.003-04:00

The first Lunar game was great. The second was even better with its more expansive quest and better story line. Although the game is set in the same world of Lunar, just enough changes have been made to make it feel fresh and interesting. While the cast of characters are every bit as quirky as their counterparts from the first game, they are a bit stronger when it comes to more serious moments. Gameplay wise, traditional RPG elements are mixed with strategy to create an interesting battle system. It allows for more strategy than the 1st game and the ability to combine crests to create new magic also helps (PS1 version). The graphics are beautifully done 2d style animation, and the sound is awesome. Oh, and the final boss battle of this game may be the single best of all time. (Note: The PS1 and SCD versions were fairly different, but the same game at their core. All screens from the PS1 version)

Pros:Story line, long, epic, awesome extras and epilogue, graphics, unique characters, great boss battle, challenging

Cons: Some level grinding may be needed

Game #7:Super Mario 64 (Nintendo/N64)

2010-04-22T13:38:00.002-04:00

No one really knew what to expect when Mario made his first trip into 3d. Sure, we had all seen stills, and they looked awesome, but how would the game control? How would the levels be structured? When Nintendo unveiled the new N64 controllers, people became even more skeptical. A joystick? On a console? When the game finally did come out it was the only one released with the N64 at launch besides the below average Pilotwings 64. Super Mario 64 was an instant classic. It revolutionized gaming and single handedly established the 3d platformer. Its style was borrowed by Crash Bandicoot, Gex, and Rayman, but none of those franchises could quite live up to Super Mario 64. The controls are spot on, the graphics are awesome and the worlds are huge and well designed. This game is truly great.

Pros: Great level design, strong controls, expansive, addictive, balanced challenge, unique

Cons: Camera can be awkward at times

Game #8:Deus Ex:The Conspiracy (Eidos/PC)

2010-04-08T02:01:00.003-04:00

On this list we have seen some outstanding RPGs and some awesome first person shooters. However, no game blended the two genres like Deus Ex. Set in a bleak American future, you control JC Denton, a half man half machine in the service of the government. What starts out as a campaign against a terrorist organization turns into something much more. The game's graphics were a little dated for their time. However, they don't detract from the game in any way. The drab, depressing environments perfectly convey the atmosphere of the game. Perhaps the greatest aspect of the game is the fact that players can choose the way they play. Sneak around and pick locks, hack computers and manipulate enemies or just blow stuff up. The RPG style level up system allows players to customize JC's abilities to their liking. This game is a true classic, and a must play.

Pros: Awesome story, open ended gameplay, great environment, good controls, unique

Cons: again, not many. Graphics, could use more developed characters

Game #9: Doom (Id/PC)

2010-04-01T15:26:00.002-04:00

Few games have impacted the social or gaming landscape like Doom. Politicians hated it, calling it a "murder simulator" because of its emphasis on killing and its then-revolutionary graphics. It is almost comical to look at Doom and say that now, but as a game it holds up great. The story casts you as a space marine stuck on a military installation on Phobos (one of Mars's moons, for those who don't know). Your base has been overrun by horrible demons and it is up to you to blast your way out. Your journey will eventually take you to the farthest depths of hell to do battle with horrible creatures. The visuals are flat out disturbing and really make you feel as if you are indeed battling your way through the underworld. The gameplay is simple with either a mouse or keyboard. The game was even ported onto just about every console imaginable, with the PS1 version being the best. Doom was truly a pioneer, and is still a blast to play almost 20 years later.

Pros: Simple, yet fun, great level design, disturbing atmosphere, balanced difficulty

Cons: A little mindless

Game #10: The Legend of Zelda:A Link to the Past (Nintendo/SNES)

2010-03-31T16:10:00.003-04:00

(Eds note: I know its been a long time. I promise this will get finished)

When the Legend of Zelda was released on the NES, it became one of the standards by which epic games were judged. The series' first foray onto the SNES again redefined the standards with better graphics, bigger worlds, and more gameplay variety. All of the dungeons no longer look the same. In fact, they are huge, expansive, and challenging. The graphics are top notch for the SNES. As Link, players must explore two huge worlds filled with dangerous monsters, all while solving puzzles and looking for hidden items. It was released on the Game Boy Advanced with a four player mode and Gamecube compatibility, but the original has a charm that few other games can duplicate. If you can, play through this one. There is a reason it is in the top 10.

Pros: Epic quest, awesome dungeons, challenging puzzles and bosses, great graphics, control, sound, unique environments, true challenge, not "artificial" challenge

Cons: Not many. Weak character development, little direction

Game #11: WCW vs. NWO:World Tour (THQ/N64)

2010-02-28T19:25:00.003-05:00

Quick pro wrestling history lesson. In 1995, Ted Turner wanted to do something to compete with the WWF (now WWE). They tried every bizarre gimmick, every weird shtick, and every washed up wrestler. It didn't work. To make matters worse, the company's new million dollar man, Hulk Hogan, was becoming fed up with his role in the company. That's when head booker Eric Bischoff had an idea; turn the beloved hulkster into a bad guy. It worked like a charm. Hogan and the NWO made WCW the main power in pro wrestling. Playing off the success of the angle on TV, WCW worked with THQ to make this awesome game. Wrestling games were a tough sell on the 16 bit systems. The N64's 3d graphics made players feel more like they were in the middle of the ring. WCW and NWO stars, along with other created superstars made for an impressive roster. The grappling system was simple to learn, but difficult to master. Players could pull off their favorite wrestler's moves with ease. This game was incredibly addictive, even for non wrestling fans.

Pros: Addictive, great graphics, awesome multiplayer, huge roster, grappling system

Cons: characters are almost too balanced (5'6 Rey Mysterio can body slam 7'1 Kevin Nash?)

Game #12: Metal Gear Solid (Konami/PS1)

2010-02-13T19:32:00.003-05:00

You are Solid Snake. As an elite special forces operative, you have been asked to rescue the president and stop a potential nuclear threat. Standing in your way, thousands of terrorists armed to the teeth, and a stable of warriors with supernatural powers. Even for a badass like snake, the odds are slim. Instead of running and gunning through it all, you must use stealth. The Alaskan base is full of dark corridors and air ducts which snake must use to accomplish his mission. The gameplay is unique, and the control is flawless. Graphics are amazing and the sound (which is critically important in this game) is ultra realistic. To top it all off, the story is full of twists and turns, and is on the same level as plots of top notch RPGs. Whether you play the PS1 original or the Gamecube remake "Twin Snakes," MGS is a must play.

Pros: Unique and completely original, awesome story, (almost) technically perfect

Cons: Parts of the story don't make sense, can drag a little at points

Game #13: Final Fantasy VIII (Square/PS1)

2010-02-10T14:41:00.005-05:00

I said when I began this list a long time ago that a story is the most important part of an RPG. I always say that RPG's are like interactive novles. The story in Final Fantasy VIII is one of the best in history. It follows the story of 18-year-old Squall Leonhart, a student at Balamb Garden. As a mercenaries, he and his friends are sent on missions throughout the world. He meets a young woman named Rinoa, and the two fall in love. The game follows the two in their quest to save the world from a hidden enemy, discover their mysterious past, and make their budding relationship work. The story does focus a lot on teenage angst and frustration, so it does become less relateable (but no less awesome) for older players. All of the other characters are well developed and add a lot to the story. The translation is excellent and the graphics may be the best on the PS1. Overall, this games story sets it aprt.

Pros: Epic story, awesome graphics, good character development, unique

Cons: too easy

Game 14: Mega Man 3 (Capcom/NES)

2010-02-09T17:11:00.002-05:00

The best of the NES Mega Mans and one of the games that got me into gaming. MM 2 gets most of the praise but I feel that the level design in 3 is just so far superior. The bosses are unique, even if some of them are a little ridiculous. The controls feel as though they have been improved as well. The simple addition of sliding added so many dimensions to the gameplay. The difficulty is the best in the series. It isn't ridiculously difficult, but its not a breeze either. The "skeleton" levels that appear after the initial bosses are defeated are the epitome of perfect "challenge, not cheapness" levels in gaming. It can be difficult to really elaborate on what makes older, simpler games so great. This can be said of any NES game in the Mega Man franchise (or MM9, which was not eligible for the list because it is technically a new generation game) . 3 is simply the cream of an excellent crop.

Pros: Good Graphics, balanced challenge, addictive gameplay, overall fun

Cons: A little repetitave, some odd bosses

Who Dat? It's Joe's All Decade Team

2010-02-07T23:44:00.003-05:00

Well, this decade in football has essentially come to an end with the Saints' Super Bowl victory over the Colts tonight. I really wanted to make and all decade team, but tonight's game was important in my decision for a few things, so I decided to wait. A few things first. This was an historic decade for Super Bowls. Five teams made it to the big game for the first time ever (New Orleans, Seattle, Arizona, Carolina, Baltimore). The decade saw two of the biggest upsets in Super Bowl history with the Patriots defeating the Rams, then having their undefeated season spoiled by the Giants just a few years later. The Steelers moved into a three way tie with San Fran and Dallas, and then surpassed them in 2009 by getting their 6th Super Bowl win. Overall there were more good games than bad ones (only NYG v. BAL, TB v. OAK, and NE v. PHI stand out as stinkers and only the 1st was truly awful). All in all, a good decade. Lets hope there's more great football in the next 10 years. Without further interruption, Joe's all decade team.

Offense

QB: Peyton Manning (IND)

Even with a loss tonight, Peyton is still the man. Brady missing a year really hurt him. Brees rode the pine at the beginning of the decade so I have to give it to Peyton.

RB: LaDanian Tomlinson (SD)
Faulk and Alexander were stronger at the beginning of the decade and Peterson and Johnson were better this season, but no one was as dominant throughout more of the decade than LT.

FB: Mike Alstott (TB)
Touchdown vulture or not, few fullbacks participated in their offense by running as much as Alstott. This gives him the edge over Tony Richardson, now with the Jets.

WR: Randy Moss (MINN, OAK, NE), Marvin Harrison (IND)
Even his time in Oakland couldn't keep Moss off of this list. He has been such a dominant receiver. To me, Marvin Harrison was the best of the decade. Great in every phase of the game as a receiver. Others considered were Terrel Owens, Chad Johnson, Hines Ward, Andre Johnson, and Reggie Wayne.

TE: Tony Gonzalez (ATL, KC)
Simply put the best tight end this decade. Great pass catcher and blocker. Played the whole time, which gives him the edge over Antonio Gates and Dallas Clark.

T: Johnathan Ogden (BAL), Orlando Pace (STL)
Ogden was an absolute bulldozer. Really helped clear the way for Jamal Lewis all those years. Pace was instrumental in helping protect Kurt Warner and clear the way for Marshall Faulk.

G: Alan Faneca, (PIT, NYJ), Steve Hutchinson (MIN, SEA)
Quite possibly the two best guards to ever play the game. The fact that they played at a higher level for more of the decade gets them the nod over Larry Allen.

C: Kevin Mawae (TEN, NYJ)
Another absolute bulldozer. Mawae was and still is one of the hardest working men in football. He is a first ballot hall of famer. He was an elite center for the whole decade, which pushes him past Shawn O'Hara and Jeff Saturday

Defense

DE: Michael Strahan (NYG), Dwight Freeney (IND)
Strahan set the single season record for sacks in the decade. Probably could have played another year or two. Freeney is one of the best edge rushers I've ever seen. Strahan was a lock, but Freeney's big play ability gets him the spot ahead of Jason Taylor. Julius Peppers was also considered.

DT: Vince Wilfork (NE), Casey Hampton (PIT)
These picks may be surprising. Hampton and Wilfork don't have the stats to match some other DT's of the decade. However, their presence in the middle allows their teams to run the 3-4, and few teams ran it as well this decade as the Patriots and Steelers.

MLB: Ray Lewis (BAL)
One of the best defensive players ever to play the game. Few linebackers can take over a game like Lewis. A punishing hitter, he gets the slight edge over Brian Urlacher.

OLB: Derrick Brooks (TB), Joey Porter (PIT, MIA)
Brooks terrorized ballcarriers throughout his career. He was a great end to end player, and one of the best linebackers in history. Porter may have a big mouth, but he can back it up. Longevity pushes him ahead of DeMarcus Ware.

CB: Champ Bailey (WAS, DEN), Ty Law (NE, NYJ)
The definition of shutdown corners. Bailey continues to play at a high level even today. Teams often simply avoid throwing his way altogether. Law always came up huge. Terrorized Peyton Manning in the playoffs. Darrell Revis is great, he simply has not had the longevity of the others. Chris McAllister, Al Harris, Asante Samuel, and Patrick Surtain were all close.

S: Troy Polamalu (PIT), Ed Reed (BAL)
Polamalu can cover an entire field by himself. We saw this year just how important he is to the Steeler defense. Reed is a ball hawk. Few players can make bigger plays. This was a great decade for safeties, as Darren Sharper, Adrian Wilson, Rodney Harrison, Brian Dawkins, and John Lynch are all on the outside looking in.

K: Adam Vinatieri (IND, NE)
An absolute lights out kicker. The guy has icewater in his veins. Could really kick, and was deadly accurate. David Akers and Mike Vanderjagt were the closest competition.

P: Shane Lechler (OAK)
Few punters could pin their opponents deep like Lechler. Has an absolute cannon for a leg. His talent is often unnoticed, as he plays for a terrible team. I noticed enough to put him ahead of Jeff Feagles.

RET: Devin Hester (CHI)
An absolute terror returning kicks. Shattered all sorts of records just two years into his career. In my opinion, his sheer dominance puts him ahead of Dante Hall.

Team of the decade: New England Patriots
The Colts blew their shot at this title tonight. Three super bowls, an undefeated regular season, and the ease with which they rolled over opponents make the Pats a lock they won with defense and offense, as juggernauts and underdogs, and with or without Tom Brady. They were well coached and they always played hard. That is what truly set them apart. They did miss the playoffs twice in the decade, which would have opened the door for the Colts had they not lost tonight. Pittsburgh was the only other team in the conversation.

Game #15: Star Ocean:The Second Story (PS1, Enix/Tri-Ace)

2009-12-31T19:43:00.004-05:00

A little known RPG, Star Ocean: The Second Story, was the sequel to a game released only in Japan. It followed the story of Claude Kenni, a young member of the intergalactic fleet of Earth. After his ship is attacked, Claude finds himself on an underdeveloped planet. There he meets Rena Lanford, a native girl from a small village. Players can choose to play from the perspective of either Claude or Rena, and will get a different sense of the events depending on which character they play. How you play will effect which party members will join you and which won't. You can enter into private actions to gain more insight on your party members and learn and perfect a variety of skills, from alchemy to forgery. The best part though is the combat system. Part active time battle, part action rpg, Star Ocean has quite possibly the most unique RPG gameplay of all time.

Pros: Expansive quest, great battle system, strong and interesting characters, variety in gameplay, original and unique

Cons: World Map has an awkward perspective, very little direction

And BTW, no posts for a month. Sorry, This list will get finished.

Game #16: Heroes of Might and Magic III (PC, 3DO)

2009-12-01T20:01:00.009-05:00

Heroes II appeared on thist list because it was a classic, epic strategy game. Heroes III appears in the top 20 because it improves upon its predecessor in just about every way. The graphic improvments are obvious, especially in battle. However, perhaps the most important is the improvment of the A.I. Computer players no longer seem to have such a huge advantage. The difficulty is a lot more balanced and managing your army is a lot less clunky. The two expansion packs add even more awesome features with new campaigns, classes, and artifacts. Speaking of the character classes, gone are the generic knight and wizard from Heroes II. Heroes III offers unique towns to keep players interesting. A random map generator puts this game over the top as one of the greatest strategy (and multiplayer) games of all time.

Pros: Addictive gameplay, strong (but not cheap) AI, interesting campaigns, multiplayer

Cons: Slow Pace, learning curve

Game #17:The Legend of Zelda:Ocarina of Time (Nintendo, N64)

2009-11-21T23:40:00.006-05:00

Zelda's first foray into 3d produced one of the single most memorable adventures of all time. Players once again take control of Link. However, they begin the game with Link as a child. After a mysterious encounter with a Forrest spirit, the young Link is thrust into a quest beyond his wildest dreams. Players must shift back and forth between the world of child and adult Link in order to save Princess Zelda from the clutches of the evil Gannondorf. The revolutionary Z-targeting system made sure that the right enemy is always in your sight. The dungeons are brilliantly designed and expansive, if a little unbalanced. The graphics were excellent for their time and the game throws out all sorts of different challenges to keep the player interested. Really the game is hard to explain in words...so go find it and play it, you won't be disappointed.

Pros: Epic Quest, High replay value, well designed levels, excellent controls, strongest storyline in the franchise

Cons: Unbalanced challenge in some levels (water temple)

Photos courtesy of: gameinformer.com

(Sorry again about lack of photos, more cpu trouble)

Game #18:Super Mario World (Nintendo, SNES)

2009-11-20T23:28:00.007-05:00

Mario was a gaming legend long before this game was released for the Super Nintedno. He had had his legacy cemented by the awesome Super Mario Bros. 3 for the NES, but SMW took him to whole knew heights of gaming. Once again, Princess Peach (or Toadstool as she was known in those days) has been kidnapped and its up to Mario to rescue her. Unlike its predecessors, this game had a battery backed save function, and it was more than necessary with over 70 levels of side scrolling goodness. The level design is the best in the series and the bosses were challenging and creative. There are hidden exits everywhere, and even the hidden levels have hidden levels attached to them. The game also introduced Yoshi to the series. Shockingly, this game eventually came free with the SNES. Of course, the game would have been more than worth paying for.

Pros: Awesome level design, Huge and Expansive, Traditional Mario action, Great Graphics, Overall fun

Cons: Can Get Repetitive

Photos courtesy of 7wentyfour.com, brutalgamer.com, ign.com

Game #19: Final Fantasy 6 (Square, SNES)

2009-11-05T14:04:00.004-05:00

Initially released as Final Fantasy 3 on the Super Nintendo, the game was the 6th installment in the series in Japan. The game follows the story of a mysterious young woman named Terra, who is a slave in the service of the empire. They plan to use her powerful magic to shape the world in their own image. After she escapes on a routine mission, it sets off a huge series of events which sees a group of heroes born, an empire fall, and one of gaming greatest villains come to power. In fact Kefka is so evil, he manges to succeed where some many other villains fail. That's right, he successfully destroys the world in an amazing, dramatic ending. What makes the game truly stand out though is that it is only the ending of the first half of the game. A truly great RPG with an awesome story, some weak character development is all that keeps it below some of its predecessors.
Pros: Awesome story, ATB system, Graphics, Epic 40+ hour quest, Dungeon design, Several Legendary RPG moments

Cons: Weak character development, Drags on at the end, several useless characters

Games 29-21...Getting close to the top

2009-10-20T15:42:00.013-04:00

Well, since I messed up on the 1st one, there will only be 9 games this time. As I said, starting with game 20 each game will get its own individual post. Here we go.

29. Legend of Legia (Prokion, PS1)

A little known game that follows the story of Vahn, a young man that is chosen by a mystical force to rid the world of the mind altering mist that fills it. Along with his allies, Vahn must revive sacred trees that drive the mist away and rescue the people of the world from their zombified state. Perhaps the best part of the game was its unique combat system. Players can choose to strike with their feet, hands, or weapons. Entering the correct combination will activate special moves, which themselves can be chained together. A strong sequel was released but it just didn't quite live up to the original.
photo courtesy of gamespot.com

28. Madden Series (Electronic Arts, PS2, XBox, Gamecube)

A series that transcends gaming itself, Madden is loved by nerds and jocks alike. The game went 3d in 2001, and made video game history. Sliders could be adjusted to give players a more arcade feel or a complete simulation. Season mode evolved into franchise mode, which allowed players to build created teams or NFL franchises from the ground up. The game's online play allows you to play against any one, any where, any time. What could be more fun guiding the Giants to a win over your Dallas based opponent's Cowboys? The fact that you can make money doing it. Madden is a game that can pay if you're good.

photo courtesy of gamespot.com

27. Super Mario RPG:Legend of the Seven Stars (Nintendo, SNES)

Nintendo teamed up with Squaresoft in one of the most unique video game projects of all time. Once again, Bowser has kidnapped the princess and it is up to Mario to get her back...then comes the twist. A gigantic sword falls from the heavens, crashes into Koopa Keep, and sends Mario, Peach, and Bowser flying. Mario must journey around the world RPG style, stomping on an assortment of enemies and meeting new allies. All the allies are unlikely, but none as much so as Bowser himself, who joins Mario on a quest to reclaim his castle.

photo courtesy of themushroomkingdom.com

26. Earthbound (Ape, SNES)

Earthbound was a huge move away from other RPG's of the time. It ditched the medieval setting for a more modern one. Players ate cheeseburgers instead of herbs to recover health and fought with baseball bats instead of swords. The rolling HP meter added a huge element to combat. Fast players could heal their party members before they collapsed, or win battles as they were taking critical damage. The story followed a young boy named Ness, who has been chosen to save the world from the villainous Gygas. To do so, Ness must visit the "your sanctuary" locations around the world and receive their powers. A great comedic game, it gets serious and touching at the end.

photo courtesy of guineapig119.com

25. Resident Evil 4 (Capcom, PS2)

Capcom decided to give one of its flagship series' an overhaul for its fourth installment. Players had complained about the non interactive environments, the camera angles, and the awkward controls. Although RE 4 essentially took the series out of the survival horror genre, it brought it to a whole new level. Leon Kennedy returns as the main character. Now a government agent, Kennedy is asked to investigate rescue the president's kidnapped daughter. Although he doesn't find any zombies or tyrants, what he does find is far worse. The controls are spot on, and the game throws hordes of enemies at you. Although a great departure from other games in the series, RE 4 is still a classic.

photo courtesy of gamespot.com
photo courtesy of roningamedeveloper.com

24. Soul Caliber (Namco, Dreamcast)

Soul Caliber was a huge revolution in 3d fighting games. It's 8-way run allowed for true 3d combat, something which other games in the genre had failed miserably in. The game is full of unique characters who all play differently. In addition, players can unlock all sorts of hidden ones. The graphics are beautiful, and the gameplay is addictive. Soul Caliber is probably the best 3d fighter ever. The characters are very well balanced... well Kilik is a little cheap...

photo courtesy of gamerscoup.com

23. Might And Magic 6: The Mandate of Heaven (3DO, PC)

Although PC style dungeon crawlers have all but disappeared from the gaming landscape, it is hard to ignore M&M 6. The game boasted a huge graphics update from its predecessor. Players control four characters whom they create and assign them different jobs. To advance the game players must defeat monsters to gain money, treasure, and experience. You start on relatively friendly terrain fighting goblins and thieves, but after hours of completing quests and leveling up, your characters will find themselves against dragons and devils. The game requires both FPS skills and strategy, and is filled with unique dungeons. The huge quest will keep players busy for hours on end.

photo courtesy of coolinfo.com

22. Pokemon Red/Blue/Yellow (Nintendo/Gamefreak, Game Boy)

Gold and Silver may have had more monsters and better graphics, but they just did not capture the magic of the original. Pokemon was a hugely revolutionary RPG when it was released with its addictive collection and battling of monsters. You start with one of three iconic pokemon on your quest to become the league champion. Along the way you must collect badges from gym leaders and battle team rocket. The dungeons in Red/Blue/Yellow were much better designed than those in Gold and Silver. This, combined with the better A.I. put the originals over the top.

photo courtesy of screwattack.com

21. Resident Evil (Capcom, Gamecube)

The game that came so close to the top 20...really I wish I had time to make a huge tribute to each of these 100 games. This one in particular, because then all the readers would be able to get a true feel of how awesome the graphics in this game are. The lighting, the shadows, everything. Of course, gameplay and story are far more important and this game has those as well. Players guide either Jill Valentine or Chris Redfield around the Spencer Mansion while solving puzzles and blasting zombies. A remake of the original PS 1 game, the GC version kept the core gameplay while making a few changes. A new and truly terrifying boss with an awesome backstory has been added. The dialougue has been cleaned up (no more "master of unlocking" here) and the cutscenes allow for players to get a grasp of the excellent story. Oh... if you ever do pick this game up, make ABSOLUTELY SURE that all zombies you kill are in fact dead...

photo courtesy of gamespot.com

Get ready... the top 20 starts tommorow

Games 39-30

2009-10-19T18:04:00.013-04:00

Finally, the list HAS COME BACK to VMVT.com! Okay, lets not get too dramatic. I said I was going to finish and I will. Besides, I need something to pick me up after my complete failure to jinx the New Orleans Saints last week.

39. Final Fantasy X (Square, PS2)

Perhaps one of the greatest stories ever told in a video game, Final Fantasy X was the first in the series released for the PS2. It told the story of Tidus, a young man who has been sucked into a mysterious world. There, he meets the love of his life Yuna. He also learns that the people of that world are terrorized by Sin, the ultimate force of evil. In their 40 plus hour quest, Tidus and Yuna learn the true nature of Sin, and why their plans to live happily ever after may not work out in the end...

photo courtesy of listal.com

38. Grand Theft Auto 3: Vice City (Rockstar, PS2)

The sequel to one of the most revolutionary and controversial games of all time, GTA: Vice City follows the story of crook for hire Tommy Vercetti. You do odd jobs for criminals throughout a huge and expansive landscape. Of course, it is the sheer amount of stuff one can do outside the missions. Steal a car, run down pedestrians, or create a huge incident in town. It is all part of the best open world adventure ever released.

photo courtesy of wired.com

37. Final Fantasy Tactics (Square, PS1)

FFT is quite possibly one of the most addictive games ever released. It combines the job system (more on this in the overrated games sidebar) with an outstanding battle system. The strategy gameplay may seem simple at first, but the later maps will eat players alive who go in without a plan. Really the only problem in this game is the translation. I am pretty sure the story is good. Unfortunately, the translation from Japanese is so terrible I have no idea what it is about.

photo courtesy of vgtribune.com

36. Maniac Mansion (Jaleco, NES)

Maniac Mansion was way ahead of its time when it came out for the NES. Players select from a cast of kids who each have a unique ability. Your job is to guide your team through the mansion of a mad doctor and stop his evil plan. However, you must avoid traps, in addition to the doctor and his wife. The mansion is huge and expansive and there are plenty of false clues and trick items. This game was a stepping stone towards today's survival/horror games and is still fun to play.

photo courtesy of sirchumpsalot.com

35. Chameleon Twist (Sunsoft, N64)

Yet another game that got absolutely no press when it was first released. Maybe it was the trippy pastel visuals and colorful, kid friendly environments that put critics off. Regardless of what they say (whoever "they" are) Chameleon Twist was an awesome platformer. Use your tongue to defeat enemies, gather items, and swing from platform to platform. Sure the camera was trouble at times, but that doesn't stop this underrated gem from being an awesome game.

photo courtesy of IGN.com

34. Azure Dreams (Konami, PS1)

Azure dreams put players in the shoes of Koh, a young monster hunter determined to reach the top of the legendary monster tower. Along with your monster Kewnwe, you must work your way through randomly generated levels filled with evil monsters. Of course, you must also collect treasure to help build your family's house, your hometown, and your reputation. There is also the matter of your social life, as there are tons of eligible bachelorettes in town. This game is awesome, addictive, and can consume your life if you let it. I have a file with over 70 hours and still have not finished the game.

photo courtesy of rpgdreamers.com

33. Pac-Man (Namco, Arcade)

A true classic in every sense of the word, pac-man has been a relevant name in gaming since the 70's. The game is simple. Eat dots. Avoid ghosts. However, it is easier said than done. Without strategy and skill it will be impossible to last on the higher levels. And to think the game was initially going to be called puck-man. Too much vandalism on arcade cabinets forced the name change. (if you can't see why, well...) It is amazing how things like that happen.

photo courtesy of consoleclassics.com

32. Goldeneye:007 (Rare, N64)

Goldeneye changed the way console gamers viewed first person shooters. The N64's control stick made it easier for players to control James Bond as he did battle with the treacherous Trevelyan. Levels were based on the environments in the movie and were well adapted to suite the game. Players could blow enemies away with little trouble on the lower difficulty levels, but the game requires the use of 007's stealth skills on the higher levels. The multiplayer was also a huge revelation for console gamers. Up to four players could choose from a bevy of weapons and take each other on. Really, the multiplayer puts this game over the top.

photo courtesy of ohgizmo.com

31. Civilization 2 (Sid Meier’s Studios, PC)

Perhaps the single most addictive game of all time. You start with one settler. You must build cities, improve them, build improvments and manage your society. You can choose to make friends with your neighbors or take them over. The game ends when you have either reached the moon or conquered the world. The A.I. is excellent, but the game is more than fair on all but the highest difficulty levels. Really simple at some levels, extremely complex on others civ 2 is an awesome game.

photo courtesy of intelligames.com

30. Half-Life 2 (Valve, PC, XBox)

Half-Life was awesome. Half-Life 2 was even better. The story picks up with right where it left off, with players taking control of Gordon Freeman after the Black Mesa incident. HL2 has even better environments, better graphics, and better gameplay. The story is excellent too. I won't spoil it though, because this is a game that must be played.

photo courtesy of interactive.edu

NFL Week 6 picks

2009-10-16T11:40:00.002-04:00

Again, I've been really busy lately. Here are more abridged NFL picks. I really need to rebound from my 8-6 week last week.

Bengals over Texans
Packers over Lions
Jaguars over Rams
Ravens over Vikings
Saints over Giants
Steelers over Browns
Panthers over Buccaneers
Redskins over Chiefs
Eagles over Raiders
Cardinals over Seahawks
Patriots over Titans
Jets over Bills
Falcons over Bears
Broncos over Chargers

byes: Colts, 49ers, Dolphins, Cowgirls...er, boys

NFL Picks (Abriged)

2009-10-10T16:56:00.002-04:00

Sorry I haven't had much time to update recently. I really don't have the time to break down every game this week. I will still make picks...here they are.

Ravens over Bengals
Bills over Browns
Redskins over Panthers
Steelers over Lions
Cowboys over Chiefs
Giants over Raiders
Eagles over Buccaneers
Vikings over Rams
Falcons over 49ers
Cardinals over Texans
Patriots over Broncos
Jaguars over Seahawks
Colts over Titans
Jets over Dolphins

I went 12-2 last week if anyone cares.

The top 50: 49-40

2009-10-06T22:15:00.013-04:00

Well, we are sill going with the list. I hope that people have actually been reading this...

49. All Star Baseball Series (Acclaim, N64)

Acclaim released the first installment of the All Star Baseball series in 1999 on the Nintendo 64. It revolutionized the way players swung the bat with its then-unique targeting reticle. Player batting stances and pitching windups were motion captured, another reason that this game felt like a true simulation. It was the first really good baseball game to include both the MLB and the MLB players association licenses. Even my dad was totally addicted to this game... it's a shame the series never truly evolved.

photo courtesy of coolrom.com

48. Donkey Kong Country 2 (Rare, SNES)

Donkey Kong Country was more than good enough to make this list. Its sequel was even better, with bigger, better levels, more worlds and even greater challenge. Donkey Kong has been captured and it is now up to Diddy Kong to rescue him. Diddy's new partner Dixie adds a whole new dimension to the game with her ability to glide and bridge big gaps. All of the extras give DKC 2 a lot more depth than most action games.

photo courtesy of 8bitx.com

47. Starfox 64 (Nintendo, N64)

Star Fox 64 was the first game to feature the rumble pack, an accessory that made the N64 controller vibrate. While the peripheral may have been pointless, the game itself was awesome. Players control Fox McCloud in his quest to battle the evil overlord Andross. Players can travel through all sorts of different environments blasting through hordes of enemies. The easy levels will become no problem after a little experience, but the hard ones are a major challenge for any player. The game does a great job of creating atmosphere too.

photo courtesy of neogaf.com

46. Lunar: The Silver Star Story (Working Design, Sega CD)

The Sega CD console was short lived and full of awful titles, but this game was an exception. Players take the roll of Alex, a young man looking to break away from the dull small town life he lives. Along with his girlfriend Luna and best friend Ramus, Alex sets out in search of a better life. After a chance meeting with a legendary creature, the three learn just how important they are to the future of their world. The game has an awesome battle system and an epic story. It is also one of the most challenging RPGs of all time.

photo courtesy of romulation.com

45. WCW vs. NWO revenge (THQ, N64)

It is hard to believe that WCW, a company that is no longer in business, was kicking the tar out of the WWF in the ratings in 1998. This game only beat its WWF counterpart on the list by a few spots, mostly because of its grappling system. Different combinations of three buttons allowed players to unleash an arsenal of moves with each wrestler. In addition to the huge list of WCW wrestlers, players could select from competitors who are based on Japanese stars (they absolutely LOVE professional wrestling in Japan). The best part though...hitting your opponent over the head with a steel chair.

photo courtesy of coolrom.com

44. Street Fighter 3: 3rd Strike (Capcom, PS 1)

The sequel to the most popular fighting game of all time, Street Fighter 3 added a whole new dimension to the fighting system. Players could now parry and use super moves, a new feature to the series. Aside from series mainstays Ryu, Ken, and Chun-Li, SF 3 introduced a whole new cast of characters. Perhaps most notable was the new boss Gil, who was an unbelievable challenge. This game would have been higher, but the imperfection of one of the new features holds it back. A player that is good at parrying can easily parry every single strike you throw at them...and that is just no fun.

photo courtesy of shoryuken.com

43. Timesplitters 2 (Eidos/Free Radical Design, PS2)

This shooter was released around the same time as a certain other overrated first person shooter. The game's story may have been awful but the levels were expansive and challenging. Timesplitters also added tons of little challenges and extras to keep players coming back for more. The map editor could have been a little better, but it was still fun. LAN play allowed for linked games between different PS2s. Truly and underrated classic.

photo courtesy of nintendospin.com

42. Resident Evil 2 (Capcom, PS1)

During the first Resident Evil, players learned that the T-virus had been leaked into the Midwestern town of Raccoon City. The town's entire populous has been turned into zombies and have destroyed everything in site. To get the game's full experience players must play through twice, once as Claire Redfield and again as Leon Kennedy. Both characters have unique back stories that are fleshed out throughout the game. RE 2 had a little more action than its predecessor, but it didn't detract from the horror.

photo courtesy of tech.uk

41. Final Fantasy 4 (Square, SNES)

Known as Final Fantasy 2 in the United States, it is actually the 4th game in the series. It's active time battle system became a staple of the series for years to come. Sure the system was a little flawed, but it was extremely revolutionary for its time. The story was pretty awesome too. Few games had as much character development as FF 4. It is easy to legitimately feel attached to the characters. Although most of its sequels are superior games, the fact that FF 4 is so high on the list shows how great the series is.

photo courtesy of ps2fantsy.com

40. Chrono Trigger (Square, SNES)

Chrono Trigger put yet another unique spin on the RPG genre. A freak accident sends Chrono and his friends back in time. Players travel from time period to time period exploring the world at different points in its development. Critics raved about the battle system which incorporated the active time battle system along with double and triple team moves. Random battles were replaced by contact based ones which was a huge plus for many players. All of that combined with awesome graphics and production make this a truly great game.

photo courtesy of benford.com

Games 59-50

2009-10-05T00:09:00.013-04:00

It looks like I am going to have another good week with my NFL picks. I hope everyone else has a great week with my list. Here goes.

59. Pokemon Gold/Silver (Nintendo/Gamefreak, Game Boy)

If you claim to have never heard of this game, you are a liar. Everyone knows they gotta catch 'em all, and the gold and silver versions made that even tougher. 100 new monsters join the original 150. The graphics push the Game Boy to its limit, with some of the best graphics the handheld has ever produced. The quest is even bigger and more expansive. After beating the new masters, you must return to the gyms from the first game and conquer them again. Really though, Pokemon is just so addictive.

photo courtesy of consoleclassics.com

58. WWF Smackdown 2: Know Your

Professional wrestling was all the rage in the mid to late 90's. Ted Turner's WCW battled Vince McMahon's WWF for ratings supremacy every Monday night. In addition to putting on some great TV, both companies put out some great games. Smackdown 2 is easy to pick up and play. However, it is incredibly difficult to master. There are tons of different wrestlers and match types, and the season mode allows you to work your way toward any title you please. A create mode lets you put yourself in the game and chase the world heavyweight belt. This game is great fun, even if you never liked wrestling.

photo courtesy of snesorama.com

57. Tetris (Nintendo/Bullet Proof, Various)

Alexi Patinov was just messing around on his computer in the Soviet Union when he created Tetris. The game is simple. Make rows, clear blocks. It is so unbelievably addictive that you can play it for hours. A lot of people don't even see it as a video game anymore. It has graced just about every device with a screen that has ever been created. Tetris is truly a title that transcends gaming. Some people would put it at the top of their list. I really like to see a lot more depth in my games...even if they aren't nearly as wonderfully addictive as Tetris.

photo courtesy of somecontast.com

56. Super Smash Brothers (Nintendo, N64)

I had always wondered what would happen if Yoshi got sick of Mario riding on his back and challenged him to a fight. When Nintendo released Super Smash Bros, I got to see. The game pits some of Nintendo's most memorable characters against each other in combat. Up to four challengers can battle each other at once with items galore dropped into the fray. Combat is streamlined, with special moves coming from single button presses. It's okay alone, but transcendent when playing against buddies. One of the greatest multiplayer games ever.

photo courtesy of gamespot.com

55. Metal Gear Solid 2 (Konami, PS2)

Metal Gear Solid 2 was one of the most highly anticipated sequels of all time. The game brought the series onto the PS2, and had some of the system's most outstanding graphics. However, the game still retained the awesome stealth gameplay of its predecessor. Fans were upset when series mainstay Solid Snake was replaced as the main character. The whiny and obnoxious Raiden may not have been that likable a character, but his presence did not cause the gameplay to suffer. The story tries to over do it at times, but it is still a great game.

photo courtesy of smashgamers.com

54. Heroes of Might and Magic 2 (3DO, PC)

A strategy game for the PC, Heroes 2 was truly awesome. Players take control of a castle and build their army of creatures. A team of Heroes patrols the world map, looking for resources, and battling enemies. Players can tackle a full campaign or just play an individual scenario. Up to 6 players can play at once, and with the right map games can become quite epic. Many a night as a kid was spent trying to out duel my friends in this game.

photo courtesy of juegomania.com

53. Mario Kart 64 (Nintendo, N64)

Yet another great multiplayer title. A huge hit when it came out, Mario Kart 64 improved upon the original in almost every way. It improved the controls and it's 3d graphics finally allowed the player to truly get the sensation of speed that the 1st game lacked. This game took full advantage of the N64's 4 controller slots and quickly became a household name even among non gamers. It is still popular in dorm rooms even today.

photo courtesy of nintendocity.com

52. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (Konami, PS1)

A unique game in a series that has had little innovation, SOTN is often considered to be one of the greatest games of all time. It is easy to see why as the game creates atmosphere like very few others can. No longer can players just Rambo through the castle. The game is set up like Super Metroid, but SOTN is just so far superior. Why so low if it's so great? Two reasons. The 1st has to do with the Super Metroid gameplay mechanics. We will talk about this on the most overrated games list. Second, it's too short. I beat the game in 5 hours. A game as epic as SOTN should have been longer. God I hope they release another castlevania like this.

photo courtesy of destructoid.com

51. Fighters Destiny (Ocean, N64)

Fighters Destiny was one of the most unique fighting games of all time. Instead of trying to deplete the opponents life bar, players must score points to win fights. Knockdowns, ring outs, and specials will all lead to scores, but getting them is easier said than done. The game offered an awesome multiplayer experience. Players could earn moves and risk them against each other. Unfortunately, this aspect never really panned out as not many people bought the game. It's a shame too, because it is one of the best fighting games out there.
photo courtesy of 1up.com

50. Half-Life (Valve, PC)

Half-Life comes in at the halfway point of our list. Players control Gordon Freeman, a scientist trapped in the monster infested Black Mesa compound. Half-Life was hugely revolutionary as a first person shooter. Before it, FPS's gave players one goal...kill everything that moves. Half-Life incorporated some awesome puzzles as well as an excellent story line. This game was so good that even a mod of it became one of the most popular multiplayer games in the world. Counterstrike was not eligible for the list, as I have never played it, but if it is even half as good as Half-Life it would be a serious contender.
photo courtesy of laupert.ws

2009-10-03T19:03:00.014-04:00

Just like the 5 dollar footlong, my list is still going strong. Hey, maybe I could get Michael Strahan, Justin Tuck, and Jared to sing the theme song for my list. Oh wait, my list doesn't have a theme song...oh well.

69. Mike Tyson's Punchout (Nintendo, NES)

A lot of people forget that before he was biting ears and getting hideous tattoos on his face, Tyson was the baddest man on the planet. He was a great fighter (well, he had a great record) and this is a great game. You guide little mac on his quest for the world heavyweight championship. You fight a variety of different (and strange) opponents leading up to the final test, a one on one battle with Iron Mike. Punchout's arcade style boxing experience is as addictive as it is fun.

photo courtesy of punchoutcheats.com

68. Mortal Kombat 2 (Midway, SNES)

Speaking of arcades, few cabinets had as much presence in 90's arcades as MK 2. The sequel to one of the most violent games of all time, MK 2 upped the ante with more characters, more moves, and more brutality. Of course, the A.I. was improved too. No longer was it possible to simply throw Sub Zero's ice ball over and over again. The computer opponents were a real challenge. Still the game is at its best when playing against a buddy.

photo courtesy of xboxking.com

67. Beyond Good and Evil (Ubisoft, PS2/Gamecube)

Highly touted by casual fans and hardcore gamers alike, BGE is considered a cult classic. It's easy to see why as the game is full of challenging puzzles and awesome action. Of course, the game's true lore is its environment. It does such an excellent job of making the player feel like they are actually in an alternate world. Unlike a lot of "cult" games, BGE is extremely polished. The graphics are outstanding and the control is spot on. This is one of the newer games on the list, so pick it up if you can. It's a must play.

photo courtesy of justadventure.com

66. Donkey Kong Country (Rare, SNES)

Donkey Kong had already established himself as a household name when DKC was released. The arcade sensation got a face lift, a new friend, a few expansive levels, and an awesome game. DKC starts players out slow, but its later levels are some of the most challenging in gaming. It's real challenge too, not "hard because the controls are awkward and stupid" challenge that plague so many games today. It lacks a little variety, but that was true of most side scrollers. That doesn't make DKC any less awesome.

photo courtesy of photobucket.com

65. Silent Hill 3 (Konami, PS2)

The third entry in the Silent Hill series takes the cake as its best. The story picks up 17 years after the events of the 1st game. You control Heather, the daughter of Silent Hill 1 protagonist Harry. Against her will, Heather is sucked back into the twisted world of the town of Silent Hill. It is up to the player to guide her through all sorts of disturbing locales crawling with horrible fiends. SH 3 continues the excellent story of the first game and answers a lot of questions that had been posed. I could spoil the story for you...but I won't The soundtrack is great too.

photo courtesy of videogamecritic.com

64. Shadow Hearts 2: Covenant (Midway, PS2)

A great sequel to a great game that flew under the radar, SH2 is an excellent RPG. A direct sequel to the first game, you play as a young man named Yuri who is mourning the death of his girlfriend Alice. After his home is raided by German soldiers, Yuri has a curse put on his soul. The story really is about a young man's struggle with his inner demons. Of course, Yuri has the ability to transform into those disturbing demons of his. I really liked the fact that this game was set in the real world during a real historical event (Europe, 1915 during World War I). SH2 isn't exactly historically accurate, but it is an awesome, underrated RPG.

photo courtesy of gametour.com

63. Star Wars Shadows of the Empire (LucasArts, N64)

Shadows of the Empire was one of the first games released for the Nintendo 64 at the end of 1996. Set between "The Empire Strikes Back" and "Return of the Jedi," Shadows puts you in the shoes of Dash Rendar, a mercenary hired by the rebel alliance. You travel through huge levels battling all sorts of imperial forces along the way. Perhaps the weirdest thing about this game...no Darth Vader. Your enemy is the evil Prince Xizor, an Imperial sympathizer. Nonetheless, Shadows is a classic.

photo courtesy of juegomania.com

62. Amplitude (Harmonix, PS2)

This rhythm game by Harmonix is actually a sequel to the cult hit frequency. Your goal is to turn on tracks by timing button presses perfectly. Much easier said than done. Amplitude contains blistering tracks from musical genres ranging from House and Techno to Nu Metal (sorry Slipknot, you're not a metal band). The graphics are bright and trippy, and hard to ignore. Of course, the best players will stay strong and focus on the task at hand. I almost forgot, this game was the basis for some other franchise. What was that called again? You know, the one with the guitar... ah, I'll never think of it.

photo courtesy of spectaclerock.com

61. Kirby’s Adventure (HAL, NES)

Kirby floats onto the list with this awesome entry. Seven bright, colorful, and fun levels challenge everyone's favorite powder puff in his quest to stop King Dedede. The levels are excellently designed and Kirby can suck up all sorts of enemies to take their powers. It's tough to call this a platformer, since Kirby doesn't really jump so much as he floats. However, it is a great side scrolling action game...one I still play to this day.

photo courtesy of retrojunk.com

60. Super Mario Bros 3 (Nintendo, NES)

I am sure a lot of fanboys will hate me for putting this game this low. It is widely considered in the top 20 of all time and for good reason. SMB 3 blows its predecessors out of the water. The graphics are outstanding for the NES. The level design is awesome. The game is a great challenge, especially the final two areas. Do I think it's a bit overrated? Sure. But it is still outstanding, and should be experienced by everyone.

photo courtesy of Vox.com

Oh great...More Video Games: 79-70

2009-10-02T19:12:00.011-04:00

Normally I struggle to follow through with things. Looks like my readers are lucky...this list will probably get finished. Here we go.

79. Mega Man 2 (Capcom, NES)

Everyone has to start somewhere. The second game in the series vaulted Mega Man from interesting new title to video game superstar. MM 2 expands on the first game in every way with more levels, cooler powers, and better graphics. The game is also noted for having some of the greatest music of all time. That is a huge compliment to an 8 bit game as sound technology was very limited at the time.

photo courtesy of sydlexia.com

78. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Sega, Genesis)

Another 2nd entry from another video game icon who also happens to be blue. Sonic 2 makes the list for its awesome level design and blistering pace which was a welcome change at the time. However, Sonic 2 added a little more strategy than its predecessor. Try a mad dash through the Chemical Plant level and it will lead Sonic to a watery grave. I said there will be spoilers, knowing that I will give away some plot twists for games. Here's a spoiler about my list...this is the only Sonic game that made it.

photo courtesy of pricegrabber.com

77. Tecmo Super Bowl (Tecmo, NES)

This was one of the first football games to include real NFL players. It was also the first to really give players an experience that even remotely simulated football. Players could guide their team through a full NFL season on a quest for the Lombardi trophy. Excellent cutscenes allowed players to watch big events like sacks and TD passes in more detail. It's still fun today, even if just to see how different things are in the NFL now. The Patriots are awful, the Buccaneers still have those ghastly orange uniforms, and Joe Montana and the 49ers are seemingly impossible to beat...my how times change.
photo courtesy of almost athletes.com

76. Mega Man Legends (Capcom, PS1)

This guy again? Well, this game is quite a departure from the rest of the Mega Man series. Mega Man's nemesis Dr. Wily gets a much needed vacation in this game. Instead, the blue bomber is forced to contend with the Bonne family a clan of robots seeking a legendary treasure. Of course, its your job to stop them and claim the treasure for yourself. From a third person perspective, you guide Mega Man through a huge maze of Labyrinths while battling vicious enemies. There is a ton to explore and enough extras to keep players interested for a long time.
photo courtesy of softpedia.com

75. Kingdom Hearts (Square, PS2)

Square took a huge risk with this game. Pairing the characters from the Final Fantasy series with Mickey Mouse? What were they thinking? Well whatever they were thinking the gamble paid off big time. Of course, it is the awesome battle system with outstanding targeting and tight controls that sell this game more than the characters from either franchise. The gameplay is a hybrid of Final Fantasy and Zelda and the styles blend flawlessly. Regardless, who wouldn't want to battle the armies of darkness alongside Donald Duck?

photo courtesy of springboard.com

74. Dance Dance Revolution Series (Konami, PS2)

Yet another crazy idea, this time from Konami. A video game that makes you move? Your job is to time your steps with the arrows on screen. Sound simple? Think again. DDR throws all sorts of crazy steps at players. Jumps, freeze arrows, and 16th notes will confuse all but the best players. But boy are those good players fun to watch. Really, they are quite a sight to behold.

photo courtesy of ehow.com

73. Harvest Moon 64 (Natsume, N64)

Yet ANOTHER crazy idea. This game is about farming. Yes, farming as in planting crops and milking cows. You have inherited your father's dilapidated homestead and are tasked with bringing it back to life. You must manage your funds, expand your house, and turn a profit off of your land as best you can. You can go through life single or try your luck with one of the eligible young ladies in town. Unlike games like SimCity, you don't have to micromanage insignificant aspects of the farm, which makes Harvest Moon much more entertaining. Oh yeah, you can get drunk and pass out too.

photo courtesy of thetanooki.com

72. Secret of Mana (Square, SNES)

Okay, back to more normal game concepts. You play as a nameless protagonist who is banished from his village for removing the mana sword and unleashing a horde of monsters. During your journey, you find that you have been chosen to save the world. You hack and slash your way through armies of monsters in lush, beautiful landscapes. Secret of Mana also boasts some of the toughest boss battles in gaming. Even though the story lacks a bit, the gameplay more than makes up for it.

photo courtesy of minutillo.com

71. Diddy Kong Racing (Rare, N64)

Diddy Kong Racing is a very simple game. It is also extremely addicting. Choose from one of eight racers to control in DKR's unique adventure mode, a mix of Mario Kart and Mario 64. You travel from world to world collecting balloons for winning races in one of three vehicels. Of course, the game throws other challenges like time trials and battles at you to keep the variety coming. Plug in "jointventure" on the cheat screen to play adventure mode with a buddy. It's one of the most satisfying multiplayer expiriences in gaming.

photo courtesy of juegomania.com

70. Winning Eleven Series (Konami, PS2)

We close today with Winning Eleven, a top notch soccer sim from Konami. Though it may not contain as many teams as the FIFA series, Winning Eleven is far superior in game play. Players control like real players, so trying to stop on a dime will get you nothing. Just like in real life, you must learn how to pass with precision and when to make runs. Just sending a player at a defense and letting them make a move is futile, even if you have the ball at the feet of Christiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi. Add in awesome graphics and great atmosphere and you have the best soccer series of all time.

photo courtesy of gamespy.com

Ten more games: 89-80

2009-10-01T21:38:00.012-04:00

Okay ten games down (well, 11) and we have already have quite the list. Well, here we go with ten (well, 9) more.

89. Vigilante 8 (Actvision, PS1)

Twisted Metal essentially created the car combat genre when it was released in with the first wave of PS1 games. Vigilante 8 put a new spin on the genre when it came out towards the end of the systems life cycle. Set in the 70's, V8 ditched the more imaginative vehicles of Twisted Metal for real life rides. It also gave players a more balanced selection of characters. With excellent arenas with plenty of stuff to destroy, it can be hard to put this game down once you pick it up.

Image courtesy of romulation.net

88. Fatal Fury Wild Ambition (SNK, PS1)

SNK made tons of fighting games in its heyday. In fact, its Neo Geo system (which was a miserable failure) was almost entirely populated by fighting games. This PS1 edition of the flagship Fatal Fury series is also the series best. All of the characters are unique and every one has an interesting backstory. The fighting isn't at all complicated...and that is a good thing.

Image courtesy of ign.com

87. Mega Man X7 (Capcom, PS2)

X7 was the Mega Man series' first foray into 3d...sort of. The game switched back and forth from traditional 2d and unique 3d. Were creative and brilliantly designed, even if some of the bosses weren't. Many critics despised the 3d levels, but I felt they were fresh and different (especially in a series the same people criticise for not having originality). The series is a favorite of mine, so I was a huge fan of all the references to old games in the series.

Image courtesy of thunderboltgames.com

86. Duke Nukem 3D (3D Realms, PC)

"It's time to kick ass and chew bubblegum...and I'm all outta gum." With those deep and moving words, Duke Nukem begins his quest to save the world from the alien hordes that threaten it. The game boasts impressive graphics and really lets the player feel like they are blasting their way through L.A. The levels are all well designed and the enemy A.I. is much improved over FPS's that proceeded it. Of course, I couldn't talk about DN 3d without mentioning Dukes awesome one liners. "Come Get Some!"

Image courtesy of imagehost.org

85. Legend of the Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon (Konami, N64)

Goemon isn't a big name in the states, but he is huge in Japan. It is easy to see why in this game, as the quirky humor may be lost on the American gamer. Goemon and his friends travel through Japan, trying to prevent Spring Breeze Dancin' and his peach mountain shoguns from turning the nation into a European style theater. Yup, that really is the plot. Couldn't have made that up if I wanted to. Still, the 3d platforming action in this game is awesome. The environments are exciting and well designed and the game gives a good level of challenge. Shaky camera angles are the only thing that keeps this game so low.

Image courtesy of nintendolife.com

84. Mortal Kombat Deadly Alliance (Midway, PS2)

Mortal Kombat made its first trip onto the PS2 with Deadly Alliance. It was a rousing success and made significant improvements to the series. All of the fighters have three unique fighting styles that chain together seamlessly. The folks at Midway returned to the more serious aspects of MK, ditching the silly finishers and quirky attacks of MK3. To add depth, they added unlockables. Lots of them. Hundreds and hundreds of coffins in "the krypt" contain all sorts of extras. It will keep players coming back for a long time.

Image courtesy of testfreaks.com

83. The Legend of Zelda (Nintendo, NES)

The game that started a legendary series. It was one of the first games to allow players to save to a battery in the cartridge. This was a huge development at the time. Another huge development was the sheer amount of depth Zelda contained. Players guided Link around a huge map filled with 8 massive dungeons to explore. The fact that it is still fun today is a testament to how fun it is.

Image courtesy of bitmob.com

82. Dynasty Warriors 4 (Koei, PS2)

The Dynasty Warriors franchise has always been known for its huge battles. The battles in DW 4 are the biggest and best of the series with hundreds of enemies on the screen at once. Past games in the series have always felt a little repetitive, but this entry offers a little more strategy. Plus, getting 1000 kills a stage is disturbingly rewarding.

Image courtesy of testfreaks.com

81. Kagero: Deception (Tecmo, PS1)

In case you couldn't tell, I love games that are unique. I must say I had never played a game like Kagero before and I've never played one since. Your goal is to kill intruders in one of the multiple locations you have been tasked to defend. Your only weapons are traps which can be set in different rooms. The A.I. is excellent, so enemies won't just walk into your traps. You have to deceive them...I guess that's why the game is subtitled "deception."

Image courtesy of imageshack.com

80. F Zero GX (Nintendo, Gamecube)

This installment of the top 10 will end with one of the most interesting racing games of all time. F Zero is a futuristic racer that moves at a lightening fast speed. Players race hovering vehicles along beautifully designed courses packed with twists, turns, loops, and tons of other obstacles. Unlike in other non-sim racers, there are no weapons. The only way to win, manage your boosts, cut corners tight, and make clean passes. When all is said and done though it is the sheer sensation of speed that puts this game over the top.

Image courtesy of n-europe.com

NFL Week 3 Predictions

2009-10-01T13:13:00.004-04:00

I hope everyone enjoyed my first 10 games. I also hope everyone noticed that I went an awesome 13-3 in my picks last week. With that, here are the picks for week 4

Lions @ Bears
The Lions finally got the monkey off their back with a big win over the Redskins last week. However, this week they are actually playing a team that can score in the Chicago Bears. The Lions play so hard every game, and this one will be no exception. However, I think the Bears are just too much. Jay Cutler will play alright, and I just don't think Matthew Stafford will be able to do much against Lance Briggs and co. Closer than you think, but I still take the Bears.

Bengals @ Browns
Maybe I was wrong about the Bengals. Their defense actually looks pretty solid and Carson Palmer looks like he is on his way back to elite status. On the other hand, you have Cleveland, who have looked positively over matched in every game this year. I could see them not winning a game this year. Cincy in a blowout.

Raiders @ Texans
JaMarcus Russell is awful. 68 yards per game is absolutely unacceptable. Period. I think that the Raiders need to seriously consider moving on. Houston didn't look very good on defense last week. They really need to pick up their run defense. They will be facing and excellent back in Darren McFadden, but the Raiders have a sub-par offensive line. If Matt Schaub can continue to preform at the level he has, the Texans will win. Even if he doesn't, the Texans will still win this game.

Seahawks @ Colts
Seattle is just not the same team without Matt Hasselbeck. Seneca Wallace is a very good quarterback, but he just doesn't fit the system. The defense is good, but they are playing against an offensive juggernaut in their home stadium. Peyton Manning has never looked better and Pierre Garcon has been a revelation. I think the Colts keep rolling with a win at home.

Titans @ Jaguars
The Titans are in a bit of trouble. 0-3 is a bad place to be and it makes this game a must win. Chris Johnson is awesome. The O line is awesome. The quarterbacks...not so much. Kerry Collins can't get it done anymore and Vince Young never could. The Jaguars played pretty good against the Texans last week. One problem with the Jags is that they lack a vertical passing game. That will allow Tennessee to get all sorts of pressure on the QB. Titans win and avoid a disastrous start.

Giants @ Chiefs
Last week I talked about the Giants playing nonchalant games against weak teams. Honestly, I think they could half ass it against the Chiefs and still win. (Note to any Giants player who may somehow, someway read this, "could" and "should" are very different). Kansas City is that bad. Eli Manning has improved by leaps and bounds when it comes to turnovers. A shutout is impressive, even against the Buccaneers. The Giants have a legitimate shot at two in a row... they demolish the Chiefs.

Ravens @ Patriots
What a great game. Both teams are coming off huge wins. The Browns may be awful, but Baltimore absolutely handled them. The patriots avoided a 1-2 start against a great Falcons team. I think the Ravens are a better team on paper. Last year they were a great team with a quarterback that did little more than manage games. They still have a great running game and stout D, but Joe Flacco is now a difference maker. Still, he is not quite in the same league as Tom Brady just yet. Having seen the Jets defense just a few weeks ago will help the Pats better prepare for Baltimore. I think New England wins this game. If the Steelers continue to play poorly, it may be the only one the Ravens lose all year...

Buccaneers @ Redskins
The Bucs, hoping to get a shot in the arm after being shut out, will bench Byron Leftwich in favor of Josh Johnson. Normally this would be a bad move, but the Bucs' poor offensive line can't protect Leftwich, so the mobile Johnson is the better option. The Skins are coming off an embarrassing loss, and need this win badly. I think they will get it. Jason Campbell still looks good, he just needs to get the ball in the end zone. Maybe this game will build his confidence. Redskins win.

Bills @ Dolphins
T.O. couldn't keep his mouth shut, but at least he tried to do the right thing. Trent Edwards looked off last week and the Bills offense really just looks out of sync. The Dolphins took a huge hit with the loss of Chad Pennington. Still, they are a run first offense. After close games against three awesome teams, I think the Dolphins finally get on the board with a win here.

Jets @ Saints
The game of the week. If there were still questions about the Jets, they have been answered this week. Gang green is for real this year. Their defense is outstanding and Mark Sanchez will be a star. Still, I think that the Saints are really showing that they are a complete team. Their defense has stepped up big and that will be the difference. Saints win.

Cowboys @ Broncos
All of the sudden, Denver's win against Cincinati looks significant. Denver is 3-0 and looking good. This will be their first true test of the year. Dallas will be without Felix Jones, but Marion Barber will be back. Tony Romo will continue his improved play. Again Kyle Orton is great, and the Broncos look like a pretty good team, but I have to pick the Cowboys.

Rams @ 49ers
The Niners will be without their star in Frank Gore. The Rams defense has looked pretty good this year, but they are still outclassed. If it wasn't for old no. 4's late game heroics my prediction about Shaun Hill last week would have panned out. Hill plays well again and leads the Niners to a win.

Chargers @ Steelers
Another good one. The Steelers absolutely must have this win. Ben Roethlesberger needs to make better decisions and his receivers need to hang on to the ball. The defense has looked underwhelming in the past 2 games. They really miss Troy Polamaulu. The Chargers really don't have as much urgency in their game. They know their division isn't the strongest and can make up ground later. I will take the Steelers.

Packers @ Vikings
Uh oh...we knew this was coming. At least Brett Favre will get a test run against his former team at home before he has to play the at Lambeau. The Packers D has not been very good this year, but they are steadily improving. I think A.J. Hawk and the secondary will have more than enough to match what Favre brings to the table. However, they will not be able to contain Adrian Peterson. Vikings win.

Okay, so I may or may not have Internet tonight. If I do, games 89-80 will be coming up... if not you have to wait till Friday. Later

A VMVT exclusive: Joe's 100 best videogames ever

2009-09-30T22:43:00.018-04:00

Okay, so here is the list. 10 Games at a time for 8 days. The top twenty get their own post. Before I begin a few rules. This is my opinion. Mine alone.

-It is based on both how much I enjoyed the game AND how well made I think it is.

-Graphics will be judged relative to their time period.

-I hold different genres to different standards. I.E. The story is the most important part of an RPG, whereas it is insignificant in a fighting game

-I am not influenced in any way by popular culture or other lists. I read a similar list in a magazine some years ago and their number 1 game doesn't even make my list. In addition, I don't care what ratings games got.

-Sports games will be listed as series' rather than individual titles. I.E. Madden is simply listed as Madden, not Madden 02, Madden 03, etc.

-There will be spoilers.

-PS3, XBox 360, Will, PSP, and DS were not considered. I haven't spent enough time with them to really do so.

So, without further interruption...

100. Gauntlet Legends (Midway, N64)

The list kicks off with one of the most fun multi-player games of all time. The Nintendo 64's four controller slots made it easy for friends to pick up and hack their way through hordes of baddies. The game is so chaotic and fun that it almost always makes for a good time. The graphics aren't great and it loses a lot in single player but Gauntlet Legends is the perfect game to kill off all of those lazy nights

courtesy of gamershell.com

99. Jumping Flash! (Sony, PS1)

Jumping Flash! was quite edgy for a first person shooter. Of course, it was edgy because it eschewed demonic hordes and vicious monsters in favor of cuddly bunnies. You play as a mechanical rabbit who has to jump and shoot his way through trippy, colorful levels and it is awesome. One of the first Playstation titles, Jumping Flash! is proof that game play is what counts, not gore.

courtesy of gamespot.com

98. Parasite Eve 2 (Square, PS1)

Some fans were a little stunned when RPG giants Squaresoft took a shot at a survival horror title. The were relieved when the game was awesome. Its sequel is even better, with a better story and bigger monsters. Detective Aya Brea reprises her role as the lead character, and is thrust right back into battling gruesome monsters. The game itself is extremely unique, mixing traditional survival horror with RPG elements.

courtesy of flickr.com

97. Ape Escape (Sony, PS1)

Before Ape Escape, gamers were often left wondering "what the heck is the right analog stick for anyway?" After Ape Escape they had an answer. The game was revolutionary for it use of the right analog stick. Use it to steer a boat. Use it for radar. Use it to catch monkeys... in fact, who cares about the unique game play, spot on control and awesome level design, all a game really needs is monkeys.

courtesy of youtube.com

96. Digimon World (Bandai, PS1)

Yea, that's right, Digimon. You know, those tamagotchi like things that actually PRE-DATE Poke'mon (in the United States anyway). Most people who picked up Digimon world looking for an easy kiddie game were probably shocked at how challenging this game is. You raise your Digimon and take him through beautifully rendered landscapes. All the while, you must build up your town with other Digimon who have valuable skills to offer. Just don't get too lost...there is a huge world to explore.

courtesy of neoseeker.com

95. Fur Fighters: General Viggo’s Revenge (Acclaim, PS2)

This game got almost no publicity when it came out. Many reviewers bashed it, but few had good reasons. Cell shaded graphics were a huge gripe, but I thought they were excellent. The level design is some of the best I have ever seen. You play as five different animal characters, and you must use all of their unique abilities if you want to complete the huge stages. Mindlessly running through them won't work, because you are sure to miss something...kinda like the way I missed the boat on thinking this game was bad. Prepare to see it again in my "10 most underrated games" sidebar.

courtesy of gamespot.com

94. Tekken 3 (Namco, PS1

Tekken was another average fighting game series until its third installment. This game took the series to new heights with better graphics, more challenged, and better balance among its characters. It had so many hidden fighters and awesome extras to unlock it could keep you playing for hours. Despite all that the best part of the game was the most important...the fighting. The tighter controls made part 3 much less of a chore than its 2 predecessors.

Courtesy of baixatudogames.com

93. X-Men 2: Clone Wars (Sega, Genesis)

I must confess I was never a huge X-Men fan. When I was little and my cousin purchased this game I was a little upset. He WAS a huge X-Men fan, and I knew he would never give me a turn. He was nice enough to let me play since the game was two player, and I grudgingly accepted. We played for 8 straight hours, eventually falling asleep with the controllers in our hands. X-Men 2 has crisp graphics and awesome environments. The sound is outstanding, which was a rarity on the Genesis. You could play as all sorts of different X-Men with each with different powers. You really need to think about your decision though as levels throw different challenges at you. One level would be best suited to Cyclops' ranged attack, while the next would require a more "hands on approach" with Wolverine. All in all, a great side scroller.

photo courtesy of bingegamer .com

92. 3Xtreme (989 Studios, PS1)

Like X-Men, I never really got into the skateboarding craze. I did, however, get into this awesome racing title. You choose between bikers, boarders, or rollerbladers and compete against a whole slew of opponents. You can race to win or take your time and pull off cool tricks. There are also more unlocakbles in this game than you can shake a stick at. Add in awesome courses packed with shortcuts and you have yourself a great game.

courtesy of gamefaqs.com

91. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: the Arcade game (Konami, NES)

Speaking of things I wasn't a huge fan of...would mean I was in no way speaking of the Ninja Turtles. They were awesome. Their show was awesome. This game is awesome. You chose your favorite turtle and set out to rescue the kidnapped April O'Neal. Along the way, you fight through hordes of foot soldiers and other enemies. The graphics are excellent for the original Nintendo and the enemy A.I. is surprisingly good. All the challenge (believe me, there is a lot) leads up to an epic finale, a showdown with Shredder in his patented TechnoDrome.

courtesy of neoseeker.com

90. Fight Night Series (Electronic Arts, PS2)

We close out this installment with an awesome sports sim from EA. Around the year 2000, EA sports' "Knockout Kings" was a franchise in trouble. It was in need of a breath of fresh air and boy did it ever get it. EA ditched the traditional contols in favor of a bold new system. Players would manipulate the control sticks to make their fighters throw punches, block, and dance out of danger. The gamble payed off big time, and fight night was born. Add in the fact that players can both re-create classic fights and play as today's top pugilists and you have quite an expirience. "Fight Night" has captured the heavyweight championship of video game boxing titles and dosen't look like it will lose it any time soon. (Side note:I really wish Mike Tyson were in this game) courtesy of ing.com

The Streak is over!!!! Congrats to the Detroit Lions.

2009-09-27T20:34:00.004-04:00

The Lions finally snapped that embarrassing 19 game losing streak. They may not win another game this season, but it doesn't matter. They have proven that they will not lay down for anyone. In my humble opinion, that makes them true winners, even if their record is 1-15 this year. Again, congrats to the Lions on getting one in the win column. Not a single one of their players will read this, but I'll say that I'm rooting for them anyway...as long as they aren't playing the Giants.

NFL Week 3 Picks

2009-09-24T12:35:00.003-04:00

So for the record, I went 10-6 last week. I am absolutely thrilled that I missed my pick for the Giants-Cowboys game. Here are the picks for week 3.

Chiefs@Eagles
Even without Donnovan McNabb, the Eagles are the far superior team. Their defense may be overrated, but that doesn't necessarily mean bad. After getting smoked by the Saints last week, they will be playing with a chip on their shoulder. As predicted, the Chiefs looked awful against the Raiders last week. They will look even worse against a fired up Eagles team. Philly wins.

Packers@Rams
The Pack got upset by Cincinnati last week, and it looked like a typical Packer loss from last year. No one seems to play bad, they just don't win. St. Louis' defense looked pretty good against the Redskins last week. Of course, their offense looked terrible. The Rams will play hard at home, but Aaron Rogers will play well, and the Packers defense will step up. The Pack is the pick.

49ers@Vikings
The battle of the backs. You would be hard pressed to find two better running backs than Adrian Peterson and Frank Gore. Of course, both will be going against outstanding defenses. Even Gore will have trouble busting through the "Williams Wall," and if any defender can track down and tackle Peterson, it's Patrick Willis. I think the deciding factor in this game will be the quarterback play. Now here's the shocker...Shaun Hill outplays Brett Favre. Niners win on the road.

Titans@Jets
I was way off on the Titans/Texans game. I was sure the Titans would win in a slugfest, but in the end they lost in a shootout. Their defense is still great, they just had a bad day. Defense won't be the problem against the Jets though. Kerry Collins can't handle being blitzed. Rex Ryan and the Jets defense love to Blitz. Collins will be sacked multiple times and Mark Sanchez will continue to play well. I'll take the Jets.

Falcons@Patriots
This will be a great game. Tom Brady was definitely not himself last week. I don't think I have ever seen him miss receivers like he did last week. The defense played pretty well, but it was all for naught because the vaunted offense couldn't handle the Jets' pass rush. Matt Ryan is getting close and closer to elite status. As I said last week, I have picked Atlanta to represent the NFC in the super bowl. Still, it's very un-Patriot like to turn in back to back duds. Home field advantage is the difference, I take the Pats.

Jaguars@Texans
Last week I kind of ripped into Matt Schaub. Sorry Matt. Still, I'd like to see more consistancy out of the Texans QB. I'd also like to see more than 22 yards per game from Steve Slaton (who is my fantasy RB for the record). The entire Jacksonville franchise is in a state of flux. They really just can't sell tickets. They looked outclassed by Arizona in the 1st half, but rebounded in the second. Maybe that will carry over into this week. I take the Jags here in week 3, even though Houston is the better team on paper.

Giants@Buccaneers
As a Giants fan, there are four things that plague Giants teams, regardless of their records. They are 1)poor tackling, 2)lousy play calling, 3)untimely turnovers, 4)lack of motivation. Problems 1 through 3 seem not to effect this years team. It's the 4th I'm worried about. The Giants always seem to come out and nonchalant games like this, which usually ends in them losing. I don't think it will happen this week. The Bucs have a young head coach, who may be a little overmatched. Perhaps more importantly, Byron Leftwich isn't a mobile quarterback. He will get to know Osi Umenyoria very well in this game. Giants win.

Redskins@Lions
For the 1st half of their game against the Vikings last week, the Lions looked good. That's right, you heard it, the Detroit Lions looked good. Of course they went on to lose the game. The Redskins did not look good at all against the Rams. Sure they shut them down...but it's the Rams. Washington's offense can not score in the red zone. They just can't. Here is my controversial pick of the week...get ready...get excited...prepare to be shocked...the Lions, yes THE DETROIT LIONS win this game.

Browns@Ravens
Cleveland is just awful. They really look overmatched. Even the Broncos looked far superior to them and Denver really isn't that great. Baltimore won a great game against the Chargers last week. They are a really great team, especially now that Joe Flacco has proven he can carry the team if he has too. Of course, he won't have to against the Browns, as Ray Lewis and the D will have a field day. Ravens win.

Bears @ Seahawks
The Bears pulled the upset of the week against the Steelers last Sunday. Jay Cutler is a good quarterback. He lacks one thing in his game...maturity. When Matt Hasselbeck went down last week, the Seahawks season may have gone with it. I just can't see Seneca Wallace stepping in and beating a good Bears D. Even on the road without Urlacher, Bears win this one.

Saints@Bills
In an absolutely shocking turn of events, Terrel Owens has kept his mouth shut. We will see how long this lasts. Probably not long because the Bills are walking into a buzz saw. I know I said the Eagles defense was overrated last week, but I meant that they'd allow in the high 20's or low 30's in terms of points. However Drew Brees shredded their secondary and the Saints even established a run game. 40 points later, they had themselves a blowout win. Unless the Bills D comes up huge, Brees has another stellar performance. Saints win.

Dolphins@Chargers
Poor Miami. Their schedule is absolutely brutal. After two close losses to super bowl contenders, they face yet another test in San Diego. They really need to come up with some sort of wrinkle in their offense if they want to win. Unfortunately, I don't see it happening. Miami will keep the Chargers offense at bay, but in the end San Diego hands Miami yet another close loss.

Broncos@Raiders
Ugh...what is that smell. Oh yea, right...its the AFC West. The Raiders won ugly, as predicted last week. If they want to win again, they need to have better play from Darren McFadden. JaMarcus Russel is a lost cause. The Broncos have looked very good this year...weird. I think Kyle Orton leads his team to another win. The Broncos will be 3-0...wow.

Steelers@Bengals
The Steelers will not be happy when they travel to Cincinnati to take on their division rivals. Losing to the Bears isn't going to do anything but make the Steelers angry. You wouldn't like them when they're angry...especially if you were the Bengals. Chad Johnson best keep quiet before this game as he may end up getting hurt. Carson Palmer will keep Cincinnati in it, but the Steelers win.

Colts@Cardinals
The Indianapolis Paytons...er, Colts, have a true test in front of them this week. Kurt Warner showed that he isn't quite done yet in his performance against Jacksonville. All in all, this game will be an exhibition on how to play the quarterback position. While I think Payton will have the better game statistically, I think Arizona's offense is much more well rounded. I am picking the Cardinals at home.

Panthers@Cowboys
The Cowboys had their night spoiled by the Giants last weekend. Tony Romo played terribly, even if one of the interceptions was a freak play. Carolina made it respectable against Atlanta last week, but I still think they are in for a long season. That long season will continue Monday night in Dallas. Cowboys win.

Wow, that took me a while to write. Later.

The next list: Ten Places I want to see before I die

2009-09-23T16:57:00.004-04:00

So here is my next list. Again, no fictional places. I will also not include places I have already been (London may be my favorite city and I must get there again before I die). So, here it is.

10. Toronto, Canada
I have heard a ton of great things about Toronto. Everyone who has been there always raves about how clean it is, how nice the people are, and how much fun they have. For this sole reason, I put Toronto on this list. All I have seen of Toronto is the inside of the Rogers Center, and I must say I do love that stadium...could just be that the Yankees always seem to dominate there though.

9. Machu Picchu, Peru
The Incas have an absolutely fascinating history. While many of their landmarks were wiped out by Spanish Conquistadors, this beautiful ruin stands to this day. As someone who has done a fair amount of research on the Incas throughout high school/as a history minor, I would really like to experience this cultural landmark first hand.

8. Seattle, Washington
Despite the fact that I hate rain, something about this city has always fascinated me. Seattle seems to have a futuristic quality about it that is impossible to see in any other city. Again, maybe its just the space needle or the weird neon green trim on the Seahawks' uniforms, but that won't stop me from making a trip to the pacific northwest. I almost forgot, its the birthplace of grunge (you know, all that depressing music from the early 90's). That is awesome.

7. Los Angeles, California
Okay, not all of LA, maybe just Hollywood. I'd like to spend one night, just one, living in some famous actor's house. Maybe I would even get to be an extra in a movie. Either way, I've never seen the walk of fame in person and I'd love to see a movie in Mann's Chinese theater. Plus I've heard the food in LA is absolutely awesome.

6. Juneau, Alaska
Again, not a huge fan of the cold, but Juneau is just too unique a city not to visit. To access the town, one must park their car and take a ferry. It's just like Venice (would be on the list, but I've been there already) without the gondolas (which are a huge ripoff, 80 euros a person, wtf). The nightlife in Juneau is supposedly great as well. Like many small cities, I have been told that you get the thrill of being in a city with a more community feel. And who knows, maybe I will run into Sarah Palin while I'm there...

5. Las Vegas, Nevada
If you need any more explanation than the fact that I love poker, you have been living in a cave for most of your life.

4. Berlin, Germany
Few towns combine history with modern life like Berlin. Berlin is a city that has been through so much. It is strange to think that in our lifetime, it was divided into two separate cities. Even though most of us were too young to remember when the wall came down, it is still a powerful image every time I see it. Germany has a great bar culture on par with that of Ireland (again, been there). In addition, the people there have a reputation for being some of the world's most friendly.

3.Gothenburg, Sweeden
Islam has Mecca, Judaism and Christianity have Jerusalem, and heavy metal has Gothenburg. This town has produced so many awesome bands that it now has its own unique style of music. Its melodic metal still rocks hard, yet is more accessible to the masses than more traditional styles like death and thrash. Of course it doesn't matter to those who actually live in Gothenburg. Heavy metal albums from all sub genres sell like hotcakes while Lady GaGa and Miley Cyrus sit on the shelves and collect dust. It's almost like an alternate reality. A totally awesome one.

2. Rada Ruska, Ukraine
Okay now everyone is looking at me like I'm crazy. This is the town my family and I can trace our heritage back to. Honestly, I can't tell you a thing about it other than it does still exist and it is very close to the Polish border. I wonder if I still have relatives there? Wouldn't that be crazy.

1. Tokyo, Japan
I have always been infatuated with Japanese culture. Despite being a huge metropolis, Tokyo is overflowing with it. Just outside the city, one can find ancient shrines and Shinto temples. Inside the city, one can find great nightlife and a bevy of quirky Japanese attractions. Just once I want to use one of those vending machines that sell pizza. Not a golfer, but I'd love to play the course that the Japanese have built around Mt. Fuji. If I could get into E3 (entertainment and Electronics Expo) it would fulfill a dream of mine, but I don't know if that will happen. There are just so many things to do there, and I plan on visiting as soon as I can afford it...maybe when I'm in my 60's.

Another top ten list down. I don't have one in mind for the next one. Stay tuned for my NFL week three picks tomorrow. Also, my top 100 games of all time series will be starting soon. I will list games 10 at a time until I reach the top 20. Each of those games will get their own post. Later.

My first top 10: Top ten Men I'd like to be

2009-09-21T19:05:00.003-04:00

Here we go, my first top ten. These are ten guys I just really would like to be. However, I have a few rules. No fictional characters, (otherwise Homer Simpson would be 1 through 10) no deceased persons, and no religious icons (I.E. Jesus, Mohammed, even Buddah is out for this one). Also, by no means do I like, agree with, or idolize any of these individuals, they are just all really charismatic, smart, or respected, something I wish I could be.

10. Bill Gates-entrepreneur/computer wizard
"Be nice to the freaks and geeks in your school, you may end up working for them one day." Even if you don't work for Microsoft, chances are you own a piece of hardware or software created by this geek/multi billion dollar business mogul. But Gates hasn't let the money go to his head. He wants to give away his entire fortune before he dies. Now that is truly impressive.

9. James Hetfield-musician
Metallica are truly heavy metal pioneers. The managed to go mainstream and still at least keep some of their edge. Even if St. Anger was the worst album I've ever heard, few musicians can top the music Hetfield and his crew were able to produce in the 80's. Despite all of this James remains humble and respectful to his fans, even if certain other members of his band have not.

8. Matt Groening-cartoonist
He may not be as rich as Gates or rock as hard as Hetfield, but Matt Groening is a true genius. He is responsible for creating "The Simpsons," the single greatest television show of all time (this thought will get its own post later). Say what you want about other shows, but how many of them have single handedly caused words to be added to the dictionary. Well that about doose it for this...spellt that rong...D'oh!

7. Brad Pitt-actor
Even at his age, ladies still love Brad. Though I am not a huge Angelina Jolie fan, Brad always seems to make the headlines. He has starred in countless blockbusters, including the legendary "Fight Club," and the campy but still fun "Mr. and Mrs. Smith." He plays all sorts of roles and even produces movies. Just awesome.

6. Barack Obama-politician
Now I just want to say that with this ranking, I am in no way saying I either agree or disagree with any of the man's politics. One thing that you can't deny is that Obama is a hell of a public speaker. He has a loving family, legions of supporters, and a pretty sweet gig as leader of the free world. Whether he does that job well or not will be for us to judge at the end of his Presidency, but it is hard to argue that Obama is a charismatic dude.

5. Derek Jeter-Baseball player
Mr. clutch, the Yankee captain, whatever you want to call him, number 2 is number 5 on this list. Jeter made his major league debut at the age of 18. At 31, he is the Yankees all time leader in hits and doesn't plan on stopping any time soon. He has 4 world series rings, and was a major contributor on all of those teams. Jeter can always be counted on to deliver with the game on the line. Still one of New York's most eligible bachelors, Jeter has been romantically linked to Mariah Carey and other celebrities. Unlike his teammate A-Rod, however, he has never let that get in the way of his career.

4. Bruce Springsteen-Singer
Remember folks, I am from New Jersey. Bruce is a rock and roll legend, and may be NJ's most well known native. Unlike other folks who like to hide their Jersey Pride, Springsteen proudly calls the garden state home. To this day, Bruce can still preform 3 plus hour sets, something people half his age struggle to even think about. His music is excellent too, as he has released very few "bad" songs. And hey, if you've been at it as long as Bruce, your bound to have at least one dud.

3. Will Smith-Actor
Now where would our planet be were it not for Will Smith. We would have been obliterated by aliens years ago. All kidding aside, it is Smith's most recent performances that have really pushed him up the list. His hijinx as "The Fresh Prince" would have put him near the list. His action hero antics in "Men in Black" and "Independence Day" would have gotten him on, but it's his work in "Pursuit of Happiness" and "Seven Pounds" that really put Smith over as someone who can do it all. Oh yeah, Jayda is a beautiful woman too, even if Wicked Wisdom is the worst band ever.

2. Tom Brady-Football Player
Question: when does a team sport become an individual one? Answer: when Tom Brady is under center. Few people in professional sports can single handidly change a game like Brady. He can pick apart even the best defenses like they are made up of third string pop warner players. One doesn't go into Pittsburgh (believe me, they love their football out there) in the winter, in the playoffs, against a 15-1 Steelers team and come away with a win unless they have ice water running through their veins. Three super bowl rings are an impressive accomplishment, and being linked to Giselle more than makes up for that one GIANT loss...sorry, that was uncalled for.

1. Johnny Depp- Actor
Classy, confident, smart, and a hell of an actor, Johnny Depp is the man. He plays such a diverse amount of roles and plays them all well. No matter what, his characters always seem to stand out. Captain Jack Sparrow steals the show in the "Pirates" films and his role as John Dillinger in "Public Enemies" took the movie from below average to good (and try as I might, I still can't grow that beard...dammit). He can be down right creepy as Willy Wonka or take on a serious role like his character in "Blow." He also gets brownie points for looking like Kurt Cobain in "Secret Window," but his most underrated performance (I think) was along side Christina Ricci in "Sleepy Hollow." Ladies want Johnny and men want to be him...and this man is no exception.

I hope you find this list informative and interesting. Whether you do or not really doesn't matter, because I will continue to make top ten lists anyway. Top 10 places I want to visit before I die will be next...unless of course someone suggests something better. Later.

Boy was I wrong

2009-09-20T17:58:00.002-04:00

Well my picks for UFC 103 were way off. It's okay, I'll try to do better the next time. Stay tuned because I will have some good top tens comming up...I think.

More Previews: Joe's picks for UFC 103 tommorow

2009-09-18T19:16:00.002-04:00

Okay so not everything on this blog will be about sports, but a lot will be. The card for UFC 103 is a little underwhelming, so I forgot it was tomorrow. Also, I won't be picking all of the fights, just the most significant ones

Rafael Dos Anjos v. Rob Emmerson

Both good fighters, not great. Dos Anjos loves his leg kicks and is excellent on the ground. I think Emmerson, who has equally strong leg kicks and good takedown defense, will keep the fight standing. Dos Anjos needs to get this fight on the ground but I don't think it will happen. Emmerson by KO in round 2.

Drew McFedries v. Tomasz Drwal
Both guys are comming off TKO wins. Both are powerful strikers, and this will more than likely end up a brawl. If either fighter gets mounted...its going to be lights out. Of McFedries' four losses in the UFC, three were by submission. I feel that Drwal will land his fair share of shots, but he will have to submit Drew to win. I don't see that happening, so I will go with McFedries by a tko stoppage due to strikes in round 2.

Efrain Escudero v. Cole Miller
This fight will be quite different than its predecessor. Escudero, an outstanding wrestler, will put his skills to the test against Cole Miller's Jiu Jitsu. Miller has only one UFC loss, while Efrain has never tasted defeat inside the octogon. I think Escudero will be able to take Miller down at will and controll the fight on the ground. Miller will have his share of submission attempts but in the end I see Escudero winning a unanimous decision.

Tyson Griffin v. Hermes Franca
Franca is a very well rounded fighter. He can stand and throw with the best of them, but has an excellent ground came as well. Griffin has not finished a win since his debut, a submission victory. However, his two losses came by decisions as well. Again, Tyson will take Franca down and work a ground and pound offense. Because he is so dangerous on top, Franca will have to focus more on defense and less on his submissions from the bottom. I'm taking Griffin by strikes in round 2 but I won't be surprised if Hermes catches him with a submission.

Josh Koscheck v. Frank Trigg
Koscheck is comming off of a TKO loss to Paulo Thiago back in February. This will motivate the All American wrestler against Trigg, who has not fought in the UFC since 2005. Trigg will be in good cardiovascular shape, as he has been working in pro wrestling since then, but I have a feeling his skills will be rusty. A good grappler in his own right, Trigg will get out wrestled by Koscheck and Josh will win with a TKO in the 3rd round.

Martin Kampmann v. Paul Daley
Kampmann has always impressed me. Striking is his forte but he is excellent on the ground as well. I must say I have never seen Daley fight, as this will be his UFC debut. All I know about him is that he is English, which more than likely means he has been training at the wolves lair with Quinten Jackson and Michael Bisping. Training is great, especially with fighters like that, but I think Kampmann will be too much for him. Kampmann by KO in round 1.

Mirko Cro Cop v. Junior Dos Santos
Cro Cop has had a disappointing career after his much hyped UFC debut. However, he is comming off of a TKO win. Dos Santos has absolutely destroyed both of his UFC opponents, and I don't see this fight being much different. Cro Cop has lost to both Cheick Congo and Gabe Gonzaga, both of whom I feel are far less dangerous than Dos Santos. Junior wins by KO in round 1 and takes another step towards a shot at heavyweight champ Brock Lesnar.

MAIN EVENT

Rich Franklin v. Vitor Belfort
Franklin is comming off back to back impressive preformances. After losing a split decision to Dan Henderson, Franklin won unanimously against Wanderlei Silva. Like Frank Trigg, Belfort has not fought in the UFC since 2005. If Franklin wants to win this fight, I think he needs to keep it standing. Vitor's Jiu Jitsu is too strong, and Franklin is only okay on the ground. However, I think Franklin has enough wrestling ability to stop Vitor's takedowns. Franklin by Unanimous decision.

There you have it...I hope I get at least one right.

NFL Week 2 predictions

2009-09-17T12:57:00.005-04:00

So I probably forgot to mention I love to do this type of stuff too. I will be picking NFL games every week. I always kind of thought this out in my head but now I'm writing it down. Anyway, I will start with my predictions for division winners and playoffs. Keep in mind I made these picks BEFORE week 1.

NFC Division champs

East: Giants

South: Falcons

North: Vikings

West: Cardinals

Wildcards: Saints, Cowboys

AFC Division Champs

East: Patriots

South: Colts

North: Steelers

West: Chargers

Wildcards: Ravens, Jets

Super Bowl: Steelers over Falcons

With that here are the picks for this week.

Panthers @Falcons: The Panthers look downright terrible against the Eagles last week. Jake Delhomme's time may be up. Turnovers will always, ALWAYS ruin a team. Carolina really needs to start planning for the future, as I see them having a high draft pick this year. Atlanta looks great, and Matt Ryan is the real deal. The Falcons win this one handily.

Vikings @ Lions: It won't be hard for the Lions to improve this year. They will win a game, maybe even two or three...but this won't be one of them. Adrian Peterson will steam roll the Lions D, Brett Favre will manage the game, and Matthew Stafford will be running for his life from the Vikings pass rush. Vikes win.

Bengals @ Packers: The Bengals have been a trendy pick among some sports writers and I don't understand why. Carson Palmer is still psychologically damaged from his injury in that playoff game. Chad Johnson (I don't care what the law says, that's his name) is still an upper echelon receiver, but he has lost a step. Oh yea, their defense isn't great either. Shutting down the Broncos just doesn't impress me. Although I didn't pick them, I could see the Pack playing in the playoffs. The defense looks revitalized and Aaron Rogers is a few steps away from greatness. Pack Wins.

Cardinals @Jaguars: The Cardinals got a wakeup call with last week's loss to San Fransisco. I think they will come out swinging against the Jaguars. Kurt Warner will rebound and have a good game. This year Jaguars may be the best below .500 team to ever play in the NFL. Their division is loaded. I can't see Maurice Jones-Drew not missing at least one game this year. All it will take is one 300 + pound defensive lineman to fall on him. David Garrard may not single handedly win you a game, but he won't lose it for you either. Cards in a close one.

Raiders @ Chiefs: Ugh... this game is going to stink. Both of these teams stink. JaMarcus Russel stinks as a quarterback. On person involved in this game who doesn't stink is Darren McFadden. The Raiders will, or rather should, feed him the ball and grind it out. Kansas City's D won't be able to stop him, an their offense is in a sort of flux...although they put on a great performance against the Ravens. I still take the Raiders.

Patriots @ Jets: It's official, Tom Brady is back. His late game heroics saved the Patriots from a humiliating defeat on Monday night. The Pats offense no longer looks otherworldly, but it's still great. Their defense, however, is getting up there in years. The Jets nabbed the best quarterback in the draft in Mark Sanchez. Playing at USC, which runs a much more NFL style offense, is great preparation for the NFL. If more teams keep playing that stupid spread option, we may end up seeing a day when the majority of NFL quarterbacks come from USC. I digress. The Jets are good but the Pats are too much for them this time around. Pats this week but they best be careful for the next meeting...

Saints @ Eagles: Yea it was against the Lions, but 6 TD passes is impressive. Drew Brees leads the NFL's best offense against an overrated Eagle defense. Philly's D is all about the scheme, and it's a scheme I think Sean Payton and his staff will figure out. If Kevin Kolb starts, the Eagles offense is in trouble. He will never be a great QB in the NFL. Even against a mediocre Saints defense, Brian Westbrook will likely be seeing eight men in the box. If McNabb does play, this is a much closer game but either way, Saints win.

Texans @ Titans: The highly touted (at least in some circles) Texans got shut down by a pretty good Jets defense last week. This week, they face a really good Titans D. Matt Scahub has a live arm...but has trouble with turnovers. He will throw multiple picks in this game, as the Titans D will have their way in Houston. Kyle Vanden Bosch and Jevon Kearse will create problems in the backfield and Cortland Finnegan is a truly great corner. The Titans offense will do just enough, as Tennessee will win an ugly one.

Rams @ Redskins: The Rams may be the worst team in the NFL this year. Immobile, old, quarterback + bad offensive line = disaster. Stephen Jackson will have a hard time running all year behind that crew as well. The Redskins are in a tough division and need this win. Albert Haynesworth will terrorize the Rams and Jason Campbell will have a good day against a weak Rams D. Redskins Win.

Buccaneers @ Bills: The Bucs are not ashamed to admit that they are re-building this year. They are still an alright team and I always liked Byron Leftwich as a QB. They also have a solid ground game with Cadillac Williams and Derrick Ward. Buffalo put on a great performance against the Pats on Monday night...and then Terrel Owens opened his mouth. Why do teams waste their time with this guy. Trent Edwards is young and talented, but the issues will become too much for him later. Right now though, I think Buffalo wins this game...and despite dropping three balls, T.O. will complain about not getting thrown to.

Seahawks @ 49ers: A battle between two teams that look rejuvenated. Matt Hasselbeck looks like he hasn't missed a beat. T.J. Houshmandzadeh (I don't care if it's spelled right or not) really gives him a great option at receiver. Frank Gore is a truly great back. He can really do it all. The niners have a good defense that is right on the cusp of being great. Seattle has a good defense that is on the decline. I take the 49ers in a close one.

Steelers @ Bears: A lot of people don't realize how much Troy Polamalu (once again, don't care about spelling) means to the Steelers defense. He can cover the deep zone by himself, which allows Pittsburgh to throw everything and the kitchen sink at opposing teams. Without him, they go from being an otherworldly defense to just a really, really, good one. That should still be more than enough to shut down cry baby Cutler and Chicago's offense. Matt Forte will have a decent game, but it won't be enough. Oh yea, the Bears won't have Brian Urlacher... Steelers win.

Browns @ Broncos: Another match up of abysmal teams. Here's the thing about former Patriot assistants. They are great coaches and football minds, but they tend to be very arrogant. It is their way or no way, and they will continue to force their system even if it doesn't work. McDaniels and Mangini will factor more into this game than any one player. Despite the fact that things are not great in Clevland, I think the Browns win this game. Mangini is the more experienced coach, and he has a good young QB in Brady Quinn. Kyle Orton is underrated, but the rest of his team stinks and Brandon Marshall will not give a full effort. Browns win.

Ravens @ Chargers: Two really good teams meet in San Diego. Joe Flacco proved last week that he can do more than just manage games. Willis McGahee and Ray Rice are a great 1-2 punch in the backfield. Ray Lewis and Ed Reed may be a step slower, but are still great on defense. The Chargers bring a rejuvenated LaDanian Tomlinson and a great QB in Phillip Rivers. Although their defense is improving, I still don't think they quite stack up to the Ravens. Baltimore wins a barn burner.

Giants @ Cowboys: The Giants over payed for Eli "I always throw picks at the worst possible time" Manning, but are still a great team. Brandon Jacobs is a beast and Ahmad Bradshaw is the perfect compliment. The offensive line could be the best in the league. Their defense is interesting, as an outstanding front four is often offset by a below average secondary. The Cowboys have two underrated receivers in Roy Williams and Miles Austen. Tony Romo is a great quarterback who would be elite if he just cared a little more. The Giants always struggle to cover Jason Whitten and their 3-4 scheme on defense always confuses Eli "I can't read a defense to save my life" Manning. As a Giants fan it pains me to say that I think Dallas wins in their new stadium. The 'boys better be careful when they visit the Meadowlands in December though...

Monday night Game; Dolphins @ Colts: To me it just seems like the Dolphin's haven't made any improvements this year. Their run last year was impressive and they are still a good team, but the wildcat won''t surprise anyone anymore. Chad Pennington can manage games, but his arm leaves a little to be desired. The Dolphins have a good defense, but not good enough to stop Payton Manning. Colts Win.

Check back next week for more predictions. Don't forget to check back for updates, including the 1st top 10 list coming tomorrow. Oh, I also forget to mention my project. I will be listing what I feel to be the top 100 video games of all time. I will accept reader input too, so if you have any suggestions, leave a comment. Later

Welcom to my blog

2009-09-16T17:53:00.000-04:00

Ello-Hay everyone. Welcome to what is sure to be and interesting experiment in this new blogging thing. Before I begin I just thought I'd introduce myself. My name is Joe Shust. I'm a senior journalism major at Quinnipiac University and the Campus News Editor for "The Quad News." You may or may not have seen me around campus, I'm kind of easy to miss. I have tons of acquaintances here at the Q but very few really close friends. I am originally from Annandale New Jersey, a small town in Hunterdon County (since no one, not even people from NJ, seems to know where that is I will include a map eventually).
In my spare time I like to play video games. I don't play as much as I used to but I still play a lot. I don't just play to kill time either. I really like to explore all of the nuances of what different developers do with different games. I like to listen to music too. Heavy metal is my favorite but I will listen to anything that's good. I am a huge mixed martial arts fan. I was a wrestler for a long time and I still have a passion for the sport, even though I was never any good. O yeah, I am the chapter president of Alpha Phi Omega, a co-ed community service fraternity at QU (not to be confused with Alpha Chi Omega, a sorority or Alpha Xsi Omega, which I believe is the name of the psych honor society, they really should have thought about it more when they named these things).
Anyway, I am going to cover a number of topics in this blog. I will give my thoughts on a lot of things, but I usually stay away from the hardcore stuff (politics, religion, etc.) Not that that stuff isn't interesting, I have my opinions, but I think that more people (myself included) need to apply more common sense to those things before we can really talk about them. Therefore, the only really intense things I will touch upon will be entirely fact based things. My focus will be lighter things, anything from my thoughts on things to how my day was. I will talk a lot about my interests, and I absolutely love top 10 lists. Just remember that they are just my opinions (though all opinions will be backed up with facts). I may also subject you to some of my fiction writing. Like wrestling, it is a passion of mine even if I'm not good at it. Finally, don't hesitate to comment on anything. Anything, be it positive feedback or not. feel free to ask my thoughts on things or request a top ten list. Well, thanks for reading. So remember, enjoy life, take it easy, and don't forget to come back.

Various musings on various topics

Things That Piss Me Off:Nu-Metal

Things That Piss Me Off:"Tapout" Shirts

Things That Piss Me Off:Route 206

My new blogs!

Im Moving....Sort Of

Double feature: The NFC AND AFC South

The AFC North:Insert Clever Subtitle Here

The Saga Continues:NFC North Preview

The Predictions Continue:The AFC East Circa 2010-2011

2010-11 NFL Preview:The NFC East

the ten best donuts/doughnuts ever

UFC 117 Predictions

Game #3: Street Fighter II Turbo (Capcom/SNES)

Game #4: Resident Evil:Code Veronica (Capcom/Dreamcast)

I'm Back...with the ten most overrated games of all time

Game #5:Mega Man X (Capcom/SNES)

Game #6:Lunar 2:Eternal Blue (Working Design/Sega CD/PS1)

Game #7:Super Mario 64 (Nintendo/N64)

Game #8:Deus Ex:The Conspiracy (Eidos/PC)

Game #9: Doom (Id/PC)

Game #10: The Legend of Zelda:A Link to the Past (Nintendo/SNES)

Game #11: WCW vs. NWO:World Tour (THQ/N64)

Game #12: Metal Gear Solid (Konami/PS1)

Game #13: Final Fantasy VIII (Square/PS1)

Game 14: Mega Man 3 (Capcom/NES)

Who Dat? It's Joe's All Decade Team

Game #15: Star Ocean:The Second Story (PS1, Enix/Tri-Ace)

Game #16: Heroes of Might and Magic III (PC, 3DO)

Game #17:The Legend of Zelda:Ocarina of Time (Nintendo, N64)

Game #18:Super Mario World (Nintendo, SNES)

Game #19: Final Fantasy 6 (Square, SNES)

Top 100 Video Games #20: Twisted Metal 2:World Tour (Singletrac, PS1)

Games 29-21...Getting close to the top

Games 39-30

NFL Week 6 picks

NFL Picks (Abriged)

The top 50: 49-40

Games 59-50

Oh great...More Video Games: 79-70

Ten more games: 89-80

NFL Week 3 Predictions

A VMVT exclusive: Joe's 100 best videogames ever

The Streak is over!!!! Congrats to the Detroit Lions.

NFL Week 3 Picks

The next list: Ten Places I want to see before I die

My first top 10: Top ten Men I'd like to be

Boy was I wrong

More Previews: Joe's picks for UFC 103 tommorow

NFL Week 2 predictions

Welcom to my blog