Just a quick question about the WoW trading card game.
Hey guys, I just recently picked up my first few boosters of the WoW TCG and I gotta admit, I am a bit over my head. I wanted to know how many of you played and what was a good ratio to use as far as the different card types. Any input would be much appreciated! =D

(Off to watch Epic Movie and see just how worthwhile it is!)

Finish What You Start...

I used to spend long nights with my WoW, strolling through the Barrens or killing the bosses of Strat again and again. Now... now it's just not the same....

I... I thought indecent thoughts the other night. Alone, in the dark, and on the computer I wondered what other MMo's are out there. I wondered what Vanguard would be like, or Warhammer Online, and even if I should give City of Heroes another try. Me and CoH had started so well together but we just hit a rough patch, maybe I should put my WoW aside and give it another chance.

I felt so dirty afterwards. I felt like I had cheated. But... it's not bad to think impure thoughts is it? It's not like I went out and you know... bought a new game.... I am sure everyone gets those same thoughts and still has a wonderful and healthy relationship with their MMo. I figured I could just lay down, have a good nights sleep, and feel better in the morning.

It didn't work that way though.... When I woke up the next day I still had that same feeling, that same longing to go somewhere else and try something new. I even took it a step further that morning. I got online and looked at all the MMo's, especially the ones that had the first month free and even... even a couple of those whores that are free all the time. I looked them over, wanting, no yearning, to make space on my hard drive for them. I even went so far as to delete some old videos and pictures of mine but I stopped because I had to go to work.

When I got home I... I took it that final step. I downloaded EVE Online. I only played it a little bit! I didn't get to in depth with it or anything. But it was too late, I had crossed that line and I could never go back. I tried to justify it, but it wouldn't work. I even tried going back to WoW and playing it more but it just bored me. Before I knew it I had done it again, this time with Second Life.

I think I am going to leave WoW. After my pay period runs out at the end of this month I am not going to renew. We've had some close moments and some good laughs but I think that it's time to move on to new things. I think what I really want in my life right now is to go out and play the field, sample a little of all the MMo's without having to make any sort of commitment.


I'm sorry WoW.... You'll always have a place in my heart....

Finish What You Start...

A true tale of suckiness... straight from the Panda's Mouth..

I know a while back I announced that I was taking over leadership of a guild that I had been co-leader of since it's founding last year. For starters, all of your advice [my WoW brethren] was extremely helpful. I was a model helpful and motivated leader. Sadly, people under me were all secretly applying to other places and were deceiving me. [Go figure Right?!]

Anyway... I'm not bitter, but I figured for laughs I'd do a "How to End a Guild in Less Than An Hour" posting. And here it is.

1. Have people complain that they aren't staying because the former leader was cooler than you
2. Have people constantly withdraw right in front of you
3. Explain to people who are loyal that this ship is sinking
4. Tell the loyal folk that you are willing to help them find a new and better guild.
5. hit /gdisband.

Now I know what you are thinking, and yes, I punked out. When you are a co-leader you have less responsibilities, and I think I liked that better. When you are the leader, everyone looks up to you and expects you to be knowledgeable and able to command an audience. Unfortunately, the kinda audience I can command is, well, none.

The Pandalicious reign of leadership was brief, but it was an experience I'm glad I had.

I'm Out!

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I have been hitting the job market in my new location and I just so happen to make a little boo boo on an application.

I was in a video game store and I decided to fill out the application while I was talking with the guys that worked there. We were talking about the new WoW expansion and I might have applied for the wrong position.

Yes! Coming to a store near you, the Customer Service Paladin! Not only will he aide in all your buying needs but he will also smite the wicked! (Nominal Fee required for any smiting done in or around the workplace.)

Finish What You Start...

It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Pandalicious going to... Wal-mart?

Let me explain, dear listeners and readers of ESH. I do no say this to make fun of Walmart...NO! I in fact embrace them for being completely awesome. Why, do you ask? As Any WoWer would know [And if you don't know, now you do!], Burning Crusades has made its way into hands all over the world.

Pandalicious has a terrific older sister: NinjaSistah. NinjaSistah gave Pandalicious an Amazon.com gift cert. They said that my BC Copy would take longer than they anticipated [YEA -- NO SHIT!] and all that jazz. Pandalicious decides that she isn't very patient and drives at 7 a.m. to the nearest Wal-mart on release day and buys one.

Please don't think she is a fool, because she is selling the copy she is getting through the mail to a WoWer who is down on their luck.

This is why, ladies and gentlemen, Pandalicious loves Wal-mart.

Finish What You Start...

As you know, I don't play World of Warcraft as I can only afford one addiction at a time... but Pandalicious does. So when I heard about a new WoW ad on YouTube, I just had to check it out.

Let me start by saying that Office Space is by far one of the most enjoyable movies I've ever seen. I actually saw it in the movie theater opening weekend in a date [that went very well, mind you] so I can't help but remember it fondly. So when you marry that movie with WoW, how can it NOT be enjoyable?

Finish What You Start...

Anyone know about 12 step programs?

Hello All. Panda here coming to you live from her couch. I've been gone too long and I bet you all thought that it was be because of WoW. Well... YOU WERE ALL MISTAKEN!!!

I have had to come to terms with a secret in my heart. I have a problem with obsession... or rather, I am very prone to become obsessed with stuff. And just what has given me "the craving" this time? Why, it's FFXII!

I AM ADDICTED.
I NEED AN INTERVENTION!
OWWW MY EYES!!!

LOL. Alright, so I exaggerate some, but when I'm not out and about, on WoW, or at school, I'm tucked away in my room playing FFXII until the wee hours of the morning struggling to wake up and make it to classes.

I AM A LIVING ZOMBIE!
MMMM, MORE BRAINS!!! LOL, just kidding.

Is there anyone out there who knows what I'm going through?

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Wow, literally days away from launch some of the PS3 launch titles are no longer ready for g-day. That's Game Day, not Gangsta Day... I will not be held responsible if you decided to roll like 50 cent... that's on you playa!

But just so you know, some of the delayed games were kinda cool. Prepare to be bummed out.

I give you the updated PS3 Launch Title List, courtesy of 1UP.

• Resistance: Fall of Man
• Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom
• Genji: Days of the Blade
• NBA 07
• Sonic the Hedgehog -- Delayed off of launch list.
• Call of Duty 3
• Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion -- Delayed to Q1 2007.
• F.E.A.R. -- Delayed off of launch list.
• Ridge Racer 7
• Fight Night Round 3
• Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WW II -- Delayed until December.
• Full Auto 2: Battlelines -- Delayed until early December.
• Madden NFL 2007
• Marvel Ultimate Alliance
• Mobile Suit Gundam: Crossfire
• NBA 2k7
• Need for Speed: Carbon
• NHL 2k7
• Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07
• Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas -- Delayed until December.
• Tony Hawk's Project 8

So your new g-day launch title lineup looks like this

• Resistance: Fall of Man
• Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom
• Genji: Days of the Blade
• NBA 07
• Call of Duty 3
• Ridge Racer 7
• Fight Night Round 3
• Madden NFL 2007
• Marvel Ultimate Alliance
• Mobile Suit Gundam: Crossfire
• NBA 2k7
• Need for Speed: Carbon
• NHL 2k7
• Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07
• Tony Hawk's Project 8

It's still not a bad list of titles, but the question becomes, are those titles worth all the bull you'll have to go through in order to get a $500 or $600 PS3 on g-day?

Finish What You Start...

Once again, it's new podcast day here at ESH, and this one is a doosy!


Poor Pandalicious and MagicMysticGrl had to deal with NinJaSistah after she had downed an Amp tall boy and a can of Coke... pray for them y'all!

Seriously though, this week the ladies cover everything [and I do mean everything] from the latest Candy Bitch, to an introduction to American manga in the form of Death At Deaths Door, first findings on Final Fantasy XII and the evolution of gaming through console input devices. I won't even mention the Care Bear references, the WoWalicious sweepstakes winner, or why caffeine is good for you.

Just try and figure out where you stand on the punny vs. birate debate.

This is one of our longer podcast episodes folks, but it's funny as hell. Just listen to it already.

Oh yeah, before I forget, congrats to our latest Candy Bitch TimboSteve!

Finish What You Start...

In case the title didn't give you a clue, the clip contained in this post after the jump is totally NSFW so if you are reading this while you are at work, in front of children, or anyone who finds swearing offensive, do not look at what follows the jump!

Those people will be really, really, really not happy with you and give you the stink eye... no one wants to get the stink eye.

Pandalicious screamed at me that I had to watch this clip on YouTube so I hopped over there quick like a damn bunny to see what all the funny was about. I don't even play WoW but I found this video to be freakin' SCHWEET!

Submitted for your perusal:

Finish What You Start...

Calling all WoW gamers! Calling all WoW gamers! Now here this: Pandalicious wants to come to your server!

Hey everyone, Panda here. I've been experimenting on different servers, and I felt that you all got a great idea of what Ninjasistah is like from our interview on AllGamesInteractive... but, what about the Panda? Don't you wish you got to know me better?!

Well now you can. I propose a little contest of sorts not one formally introduced because this is not a contest. All those who are interested, comment to this post. Within you comment give me your toons name, whether you fight for the Horde or Alliance, and your server. When we record this weeks show, I will randomly draw a person's toon and server, and I will personally create a toon on that side and on that server.

I'm sure I'm not the best prize ever but this will also allow me to get to know all of you better. Well, thats all I've got for you today.

Finish What You Start...

Oh great here it comes for all to see. What do I have for you all this time?
You know...Now that I've cracked 60, and have begun my quest for attunements and tier armor and gaining faction, I've noticed that I still have lots of work to do in this game. Now that I'm sixty, I can't be called a "n00b" anymore, but now there is a new word for what I am. Now, I'm "underequipped..." meaning that I am not decked out in any complete set of tier armor.

But my thought is this...

With BC [Burning Crusade, the WoW Expansion] coming out, most of the work that we will do to acquire tier armor will be for shit. There will be greens [Uncommon pieces of armor,weapsons and the like] that will have better stats than tier 0 through 2. Apparently lots of people still plan to keep their tier 3 [which, if I do manage to get, I will hold onto mine as a symbol of PRIDE!!!]

But what do you think about this hussle for tiers that won't really matter once the expansion come out? What do you think about the attunements and the like?

Calling all WoW gamers, I seek your wisdom and knowledge thank you.

Finish What You Start...

In today's news:

• EA expects PS3, Wii shortages
• Take that Wii-mote off your head
• Are some game blogs just advertising?
• Your WoW habit may be imaginary
• The Bad News Go Clubbers

Game maker expects PS3, Wii shortages: The folks at Electronic Arts aren't kidding themselves -- there could be fewer PlayStation 3's and Nintendo Wii's than the manufacturers are admitting. "It's probably going to be just as challenging to find a PlayStation 3 this year as it was to find a XBox 360 last year," said Warren Jenson, electronic Arts' chief financial officer, on a conference call with analysts Thursday. "There are many short term uncertainties. There could easily be hardware delays."

The controller that thought it was a hat: Did you know the Wii-mote controller for the Nintendo Wii started off as something you wore on your head? This and many other facts about the creation of the Wii are featured in this story from the Wall Street Journal. From the article: "The company has sponsored private Wii-playing parties in volunteers' living rooms. At a recent one in the Kansas City suburb of Tonganoxie, Kan., Karlye Weatherford stood and punched the air with her fists, clutching controllers that translated her hand and body movements to the screen. In front of about 50 friends and family members enjoying a catered barbeque lunch, the 29-year-old mother of three knocked out her husband's character after a series of blows. She says she rarely touches the family's Microsoft Xbox 360."

Should "adver-blogs" reveal their company connections? The GameSetWatch website investigates the trend of videogame blog sites that seem to know a little too much inside information about a specific company. Are these sites semi-official company organs? And, if they are, should they have to be labeled as such?

Tired of people complaining about your WoW habit? If so, you need to read this story from the Philadelphia Inquirer. Here's an excerpt: "Temple University psychology professor Donald A. Hantula said he believed the medium was not to blame for dysfunctional behavior by its users. 'I know people who spend 40 or 50 hours a week playing golf,' said Hantula, who is executive editor of the Journal of Social Psychology."

Hikaru No Go, Vol. 4 -- The Ghost in the Net: Now that Hikaru is a full-fledged student at Haze Middle School, he's ready to join the Go Club and enter tournaments. Unfortunately, his team is one player short. Can he convince Yuki Mitani, a fellow classmate, to give up scamming players at the Go Salon and join the team? Aww, heck. Why not?

Finish What You Start...

In today's news:

• Big WoW loser a big winner
• Get the inside numbers on the PS3
• Oops! Amazon did it again
• Scientists blinded by games
• Devlish, yet beatific

Just like Jared and Subway: During the past three months, a blogger named Greg has been Warbiking to lose weight. Warbiking? That's playing World of Warcraft while pumping away on his stationary bicycle. How much weight did he lose? A whopping 41 pounds -- 15 percent of his body weight. He says, "Warbiking is the best of both worlds. I get to do 2-plus hours of cardio without being aware that I'm really doing it. And as I can only play Warcraft while doing cardio (that's a self imposed rule - no cardio, no Warcraft), it's self regulating -- no way am I going to play for 6 hours or something, my legs wouldn't do it."

How many PS3 consoles will your local Wal-Mart get? Blogger dsthunder writes on digg.com: "simply print out the barcode and take it into your local walmart and ask an associate (in electronics) to scan it with the telzon, they can then tell you how many they will get, how many they have, and how many are in their warehouse."

Amazon.com does an oopsie: Friday's short pre-order session on Amazon.com for the Nintendo Wii was just an accident. That's the word from Amazon.com, at least: "During system maintenance on the morning of Friday, October 27, the Nintendo Wii was briefly made available on our Web site for test purposes only and was not intended to be available for pre-order." The posting continues to say that Amazon.com will honor the pre-orders that were successful -- for only one unit per household. The posting adds: "Once we officially begin to take pre-orders, you can be assured that all customers who have signed up to receive e-mail confirmation of Wii's availability will be notified." I can guarantee you that NinJaSistah is not convinced.

Scientists LOVE video games: "It's like hiring an individual tutor for every student. There's a big argument going on now about whether kids are being tested too much or too little. In a game, you're continuously being tested and you don't mind it." That's no fanboy talking -- it's Federation of American Scientists president Henry Kelly, whose organization is hot about using videogames to teach children. According to Newsweek, a report by the distinguished group calls for a new generation of educational games that are as immersive and graphics-intensive as megabudget titles like Madden NFL 07 and Battlefield 2142.

This Ugly Yet Beautiful World, Vol. 3: Red Swarm: Takeru is your typical teenage average Joe -- until he meets Hikari, a beautiful girl who fell from the stars. Immediately Takeru's life turns upside down, as strange creatures and dark forces converge on the unlikely pair. But even while adversity brings them closer, Hikari's mysterious past threatens an even greater danger to Takeru and everything he's known. It's a cosmic love affair with Earth hanging in the balance. Dontcha just hate it when that happens.

Finish What You Start...

What Could I be talking about now?!

Hiya everyone! Pandalicious here, sitting outside of my "Weather and Climate Lab Class" and yes, it's BUTT LOADS of fun... but I'm here now to deliver some GREAT NEWS.

Last night at 11 p.m. I made a jump from little WoW newbie... to SUPER ELITE 60! Sujisan, once a little lvl 16 Night Elf Feral Druid is now a lvl 60 Restoration Druid!!!!!!!!!! w00t!!!!

My WoW itch for leveling has eased, but now Sujisan must travel to serveral instance runs to gather all the necessariy pieces of what is refered to as "tier armor." In the order of things she must gather is Tier 0, then through vigorous battles and money, convert it to Tier 0.5. From that point she can decide to collect her Tier One, Tier Two or the best of the best Teir 3.

As her travels increase I will keep you all informed... and for all the WoW players out there...

DING MUTHA EFFAHS DING!

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In today's news:

• Gamers in a World of Hurt
• There's a sale at Penney's Toys"R"Us!
• Old School comes roaring back
• Sony Reader gets thumbs up
• Monsters, demons and detectives, oh my!

WoW expansion pack misses holiday selling season: Testing on the upcoming World of Warcraft expansion pack got started only this month, and as a result the package won't be available for sale until after the first of the year. According to an Associated Press story, "Gamers will instead have to wait until January to plumb the depths of Outland in The Burning Crusade..."

It's 3-for-2 time at Toys"R"Us: Through Saturday Oct. 28 at Toys"R"Us, buy two in-stock video games, get the third one free! Here are the weasel words: Free video game must be of equal or lesser value to the lowest priced item purchased. Limited quantities available. Sorry, no rain checks. Here are the online promotion rules.

Some gamers putting warp drive in reverse: In an age where a new video game system is close to breaking the $600 mark, some gamers are reliving the good ol' days, buying old game machines in pawn shops for a $20 bill and buying old games for a five-spot. "Maybe it's because they grew up on them," Jim McCauley, owner of JimmyJams Comics and Games in Winona, Minn., told the Winona Daily News. "A lot of college-age guys look at all the new games, but also the old Nintendo games. I see a lot of that. There's a lot of nostalgia going on." The big sellers? Games with Mario and Luigi. One customer says, "They're chick magnets."

Is the Sony Portable Reader squint-worthy? That's the question answered by Tony Salvaggio for Comic Book Resources in his review of the new portable device. Specifically, Salvaggio checked out the Reader for its ability to display manga titles. "Tokyopop has committed to releasing a collection of their Global Manga lineup for release at the launch of the Sony Reader (in fact, an excerpt of 'Peach Fuzz' should come pre-loaded with the Reader)," Salvaggio writes, "and I was able to take a sneak peak at the results."

Tactics, Vol. 2: Supernatural detective Kantaro Ichinomiya and his band of monsters and demons are back! This time, the team travels to Bride Island, Suzuku Temple and Asakusa in search of adventures, monsters and interesting journal articles. Sounds... like... fun.

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And the results are in

Hi All! Panda here coming to you from underneath a hair dryer at my salon. [Yes I am debating trying to hook up my external for a lil WoW play but my hairdresser is looking at me funny] Anyway...I finally got a chance to watch the last three episodes of Full Moon. Now many of you may be aware that I gave a little review about it on last weeks podcast and said at that point that this anime as a four out of five...but would get back to you all with a final verdict, and now...the verdict is in.

Ladies and Gentlemen......Pandalicious gives Full Moon
5 out of 5! And here is why. [HUGE SPOILER ALERT]

For once I loved the ending. [what follows is a typographical reinactment from earlier today. SCENE: Pandalicious outside of Weather and Climate class]

Panda staring at her Mac laptop screen
*Panda Gasps*
*Panda Cries*
Enter random guy

RG: You alright?
Panda: YES...MEROKO BECAME AND ANGEL AND MISTUKI LIVES AND TAUKTO GOT A SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE!
RG: .........ok

-Fin-

This one gets 5 out of 5 people. Two gold ones because overall the series is just great. Two dark blue ones because it's a sad emotional rollercoaster up until the end, and one maroon candy because the story just drags you in because it's so rich and good.

Enough said.

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I wonder what I'll say?
Many players of online games are in fact subject to some major harrasment, girl players included, but in the online sensation that is World of Warcraft, it is encouraged between the Alliance and Horde Clans.

When I first started playing WoW I figured that the Alliance was good and the Horde was in fact evil. Many Alliance players claim that they would never play Horde characters. I can only speak from the Alliance side since my first "Main" is in fact a Night Elf Druid. But as I've continued to play, small truths have made themselves known.

Firstly
- The more serious players tend to play Horde characters over Alliance characters.

Secondly
- Not all Horde members will be cruel or mean to Alliance players. Now mind you, 98% of them will, but there are some players that just like to play the game and do not get caught up in the whole atmosphere of the tension between the clans.

At first I thought the Horde was in fact Evil, and Mean, and down right out there to make Sujisan's [my NE Character on Thrall] WoW experience a short one, but I've been blessed with running into more horde characters that are willing to kind of help me more than hinder me.

I feel the Horde has been misunderstood.

They may have been evil and dark and such but they had no intentions of sticking around the Alliance's area. Apparently, even though my infomation on the matter is limited, the Horde races or some of them were fighting something called the "Buring Legion" so that they could return home, and after winning, just didn't return. They tend to mind their own business unless an Alliance character comes along and labels them evil... and thus they become evil because of the torment.

Maybe I've been thinking about this for too long... lol

Over all, Pandalicious likes the Horde...
Until they Kill me... again...

That's all I have for you today
JA!

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Who would have thought that even possible.

Hello All, Pandalicious here once again delivering interesting news, OR rather what I feel is interesting news.

As most of you are NOT aware of, I have an infatuation with medieval times. I'm obsessed really... the jewelry, the fashion, the bloodlust, all share a deep intimate part of my "normal" everyday life. It isn't something I'm going to grow out of, though I'm sure many people wish I would.

Getting back to the point, the other morning, I gathered a small group of pals to travel with me to the "local" Ren Faire known as King Richard's Faire. It comes around this time of year and I've only recently started attending it. I would eventually like to go to the Robin Hood Faire, which is a lot closer in distance but much smaller in size. [and a lot cheaper too!]

Did I dress the part? HELL YES! I had on my giant skirt... slightly peasant top adorned with my double black and red velvet cloak, and what I've labeled my "battle staff." [BTW It has an attack rate of 120-205 dmg over 25 seconds and a buff that boosts Intellect by 5 ^^ (WOW JOKE)]

Magic Mystic Girl was with me yesterday, and I would never have made it there without her. [Alas, I do not posses an innate sense of proper direction analysis... go figure.]

We got there just fine, and me and my group and Rennies just enjoyed the day. The most interesting fact of the day was that while checking out the Coat of Arms, I was shocked to look upon to samurai!! They were authentic too! I had to bow and pay them respect because it was a crowning achievement. There were a few warlords too and all anyone could do was stare.

It was the right era just wrong place. But I'm sure [as were many others] that they knew that.

I wonder why they don't have Japanese festival faires like King Richard's Faire? I know people would flock to em just like Ren Faires. Would you go to a Japanese Festival Faire?

Thats all I've got for you today!
Ja!

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In today's news, Atari wows them with an opera featuring bunnies and Robotech hauls home an award.

Nabaztag, You're It: Atari recently presented the Nabaztag Opera, featuring 100 Nabaztag devices, at the WIRED NextFest 2006. Created by the French company Violet, Nabaztags are the first, interactive wi-fi enabled "smart rabbits" that also double as interactive personal companions. Here's how the Atari news release described the opera: "Composed by artist and programmer Antoine Schmitt and music composer and film director Jean-Jacques Birge, the opera is a musical and choreographic partition in three movements, transmitted via wi-fi, playing on the tension between the music ensemble communion and individual behavior to create a strong and involved showpiece." But did it have a good beat?

New Robotech Film Wins Award: Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles won the Best Animated Sci-Fi Feature Award at the 2006 International Horror and Sci-Fi Film Festival. The award will be presented at the October 28 screening in Phoenix. Distributor FUNimation's news release describes the film: "A heroic cast of returning characters, led by Scott Bernard and Vince Grant, fight to end a decades-long struggle against an enigmatic alien race known as the Invid. However, the mysterious disappearance of the legendary Admiral Hunter will unfold in a treacherous mystery that could tear apart our young heroes and threaten their very survival!" Although The Shadow Chronicles are not available on DVD yet, here are a number of Robotech DVD's now on sale.

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I was tooling around on of my favorite anime sites the other day and I came across a Top 100 list. Immediately I started checking out all the anime on the list that I didn't know, and here is the hidden gem I discovered. For the record, I would just like to say that this is the most blatantly erotic anime I have ever seen and it still manages to not be porn. ::Claps Hands:: Bravo, Sousei no Aquarion, Bravo!

A legend has been passed down from the ancient Alisia Kingdom, the Holy Genesis book records the tale of the legendary hero Apollonius who, 12,000 years ago, together with princess Serian and the Element Users, operated Aquarion and fought against the Shadow Angels.

Holy Genesis Era, Year 0011, the earth was destroyed in the Great Catastrophe and the remaining humans are under attack by the Shadow Angel race of Atlantis, resurrected from a sleep of 12,000 years. Civilization is nothing but wreckage, but the remaining humans are still being hunted by the Cherubim Soldiers. Captured humans are turned into decorative flowers for the Tree of Life. Through uniting their hearts, bodies and spirits as one, pilots are able to combine their individual Vector mecha into one giant Aquarion mecha. Although there are a dozen or so 'elements'(pilots) for the vector ships there are only three of them, so only three people can fly at one time.

Here's where the sexual element enters in. When the mechas combine the characters are shown naked bathed in a bright light and they always say things like, "So Powerful" or "I'm Burning" and at one point Silvia even yells "I'm coming!" when they join. The pilots talk about their first union as if they were virgins talking about what it's like to have sex. "How was it?" In the first few episodes Apollo forces his unions and by the other characters' reactions it hurts when it's forced, even though it is still very pleasurable. Although the show isn't particularly sexual in nature otherwise, any scene in a simulator or in the mechas themselves is highly sexual and involves blushing, high excitement, heavy breathing and the occasional climax.

Now the best part is that it's always a threesome. Aquarion has three parts, Vector Luna, Vector Mars and Vector Sol, when they are combined one of the craft is the head. There are three different Aquarions depending on which Vector is the head, and apparently, considering Silvia's reaction being the head is a whole nother sexual high. She's all oh, wow so THIS is what it's like to be the head.

I totally recommend this series for anyone who is amused or entranced by 'sexual' situations. After just the first few episodes even my normally unruffle-able self is flushed/blushing. Also of note, the ending song for episodes 2-13 "Omna Magni" by Yui Makino is now officially my favorite anime theme song.

I rate this anime a 5/5
1 Silver for Mecha, 1 White for Wing-ed Angels Out to Destroy the World and 3 Dark Pink for that "tingly feeling" you get right after a good mecha melding. Honestly though, I've been totally distracted by the sexuality, maybe I'm just frustrated(>.<), but this is a very solid anime with a good basis and believable characters. So even if you aren't a sex fiend there is still plenty this anime can offer you, cuz I mean technically they aren't having sex, they're just enjoying themselves a bit too much. People are allowed to have fun aren't they? Even if they're supposed to be concentrating on saving the world... Right?

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I missed this one because I haven't watched the episode yet, but looks like NBC's The Office paid homage to Call Of Duty in their episode this week.

I watched the clip [love to Kotaku for the heads up] and laughed my ass off. First of all I think The Office is hilarious, but secondly the clip is just perfect... I know some of these types of people in real life man! I just cracked up laughing.


Submitted for your approval:

I think it's great that more television shows are filtering in video game references in appropriate places and among appropriate demographics. It makes sense that the people in this office take a little time out to play some office Call O' Duty... they are in the right demographic to WANT to play that game during the day if and when they can get away with it. Hell, if I could get away with playing some games while at work during the day I sure as hell would! And it makes sense to me that the fine folks over there at South Park Studios would do an episode where they featured WoW... Matt and Trey are gamers [when they can be] and the are aware that the majority of their viewing audience is mostly on WoW so it only makes sense to feature the game somehow in an episode. They get more recognition from their existing viewer base and can probably bring in some new viewers as WoW players who never watched a single episode of South Park tuned in to see this episode. A win-win situation for them. Bravo guys, bravo!

I'd like to see more video gaming references cross over into the mainstream. The NFL has been using the Madden games to do play analysis on the oft occasion for a few years now, and that seems to be working very well for them... but I'd like to see more shows that present the 18-30 spectrum a little better. Not every teenager is into extreme sports and bling as MTV would have you believe, nor are they acne-riddled bashful timebombs of fury... no, there is a middle ground people, and it's called "normal."

There are normal people out there, that play games. TV programs need to reflect that a bit more, and I think that's why I really enjoyed this clip from The Office, they are just normal-ish people, playing a game.

Do you have any tv show that you love that you think should feature some video game references? Comment and let us know!

Finish What You Start...

In today's issue of our daily news report, play a little TotemBall, beat Cartman at a game of WoW, get put on the disabled list by the newest gaming sensation, try to sit through just one more Pokemon movie and buy the second volume of Basilisk.

TotemBall Available Today on Xbox Live: Playing with your Xbox Live Vision camera just got a little physical now that TotemBall is available on Xbox Live Arcade. The gesture-based game uses Xbox Live Vision to control the characters in the game. Help Pterry the Pturtel uncover all the musical totems while grooving to your own totem beat. The game is offered for FREE on Xbox Live Arcade, starting today at 4 a.m. Eastern time, 1 a.m. Pacific time.

South Park Kids Make Love, Not Warcraft: As Douceswild reminded us in yesterday's news, tonight's first episode of the tenth season of South Park will feature the kids playing World of Warcraft. Here's a sneak peek.

Nasty Injur-Wii: Microsoft's U.S. Xbox 360 chief Peter Moore loves the Nintendo Wii and believes dual platform ownership of the two systems could reach 40 percent. However, in a story on the Next Generation website, he warns about the Wii, "The controller is innovative but it remains to be seen how innovative your shoulder will feel after an hour's play." Could the Wii result in rotator cuff injuries, as suffered by major league pitchers? Below is an example of the damage that could be suffered internally by a voracious Wii player:



Seems Like 88: Continuing the long-running series, Pokemon Movie 8: Lucario and The Mystery of Mew has just been released. The DVD package also contains "making-of" footage, an hour-long TV special and a mini-comic book. Buy it here, if you dare.

Available Starting Today: "The passions of the past quickly reignite as one scroll seeks to undo two powerful tribes. Death is on the wind, and the storm continues unabated." That's the description of Basilisk, Vol. 2, The Spoils of War, which just became available in the U.S. today. This limited edition includes an exclusive Japanese insert, collectible cards and original Japanese features.

Finish What You Start...

There's a new .hack game coming out, aren't you excited? I can hear you sighing and shaking your head as I write this. Now I know, just as well as the next person that .hack is getting a little old, what with 4 PS games, 3 novels (and a novel series), 2 anime, 3 OVAs, 2 manga, an online roleplaying game and a collectible card game, but I'm confident that .hack//G.U. will be different from .hack//SIGN, .hack//INFECTION, .hack//MUTATION, .hack//OUTBREAK, .hack//QUARANTINE, .hack//Liminality, .hack//Legend of the Twilight, .hack//DUSK, .hack//AI buster, .hack//AI buster 2, .hack//Another Birth, .hack//GIFT, .hack//ZERO, .hack//ENEMY, .hack//fragment and .hack//XXXX.

I'll start with a little introduction for those of you who are reclusive, blind, deaf hermits who live under rocks in a remote area of the moon and have managed to avoid encountering any of the .hack franchise. The basic plot is that due to a worldwide computer virus epidemic, there is only one OS that anyone uses, Altima OS. Altima has created the largest MMORPG in history, creatively called 'The World.' The game is hugely popular, with over 4 million users signing up at its launch. Each of the .Hack titles focuses on a series of bizarre events known as the Twilight Incident, in which players actually sustained RL (real life) damage when their characters were hurt. Multiple users are put into comas while playing the game. Most of the .hack storylines focus on a group of anomalous AI including Aura, Morganna and Aura's daughter Zefie as well as the system errors and bizarre occurrences in "The World".

In the original 4 title game series, you play Kite and Black Rose, two typical snot-nosed school kids as they investigate the net. Kite accidentally dies when a data error causes a high level monster to spawn in a low level area. Aura appears, revives him and when he wakes up he is wearing a bracelet that allows him to 'Data Drain' enemies (basically hacking the program to reset the level of the enemy.) Kite and Black Rose run around trying to find Aura, figure out what has happened to the unconscious players and defeat what I call 'glitch monsters' or monsters that have infinite HP and can only be defeated with the data drain. That is also what most of the other .hack titles involve, little kids trying to save 'the world.' Urg, Retch! Uh, that is... I mean, yay!

The game .hack//G.U. is much darker, and from what I've read, it sounds awesome. Basically it's 2017, 7 years have passed since the end of the original .hack games. ALTIMIT OS has been replaced by ALTIMIT MINE OS and The World is now The World R:2 (WHOO, now those are some Big Changes.) After a group of players set off a Cataclysm (oops) the game lost most of its data and was shut down, until R:2 came along. Because the original "The World" accounts couldn't be recovered the RPG lost many of its origional players, and a new population took over. Ok, in order to understand R:2 here's a reference: Take WoW (which was recently recorded as having 6.6 million paying subscribers) and double it, make all the servers PVP without the aid of alliance and horde groupings, and you've got The World R:2.

It is a bit post apocalyptic, think Mad Max. Instead of players helping each other explore the endless litany of dungeons, the players are busy killing each other and competing to survive. PK (player killers) abound and it's damn hard for an honest gamer to survive. The worst of all is Tri-Edge, a notorious PK who will unhesitatingly and wordlessly destroy any player that crosses his path. However, one day one of his victims falls into a RL coma just after getting PKed, and Tri-Edge draws the attention of Haseo, a famous PKK (Player killer killer.) Unfortunately, not even Haseo can't defeat Tri-Edge and his level 133 character is data drained to level 1 and stripped of all equipment. You heard me right, the bad guy, who looks like an evil twin of Kite, is the one who wields the all powerful Data Drain. Bit of a turn around from the original. So what does it mean to The World that Kite, Shugo and Tri-Edge all have the same character design and all three are chosen to wield the data draining bracelet?

What G.U. stands for is never officially and definitively declared, but supposedly there are 12 or more refrences to things that could be G.U. within the game. True to .hack form //G.U. will not be a single game, but is a trilogy that will be completed over the course of 2007. Also true to form there will be an accompanying anime. According to Newtype

"...the entire experience is more online RPG-like with more action-focused battles, a more robust skills set, and group attacks that get your entire party involved... just pop into a town area or designated battle area out in the field and you'll find scads of PKs for Haseo to hunt down... not to mention an almost startling graphical upgrade."

The first volume is being released this October from Namco Bandai Games for the PS2. If you are too lazy to play the game you can still get to know the characters by watching .hack//Roots an anime currently airing in Japan that covers Haseo's exploits prior to being downgraded.

Game and anime trailers for .hack//G.U. and .hack//Roots can be found at Cyber Connect 2's official web site or through the .hack hub site

Finish What You Start...

Ok, who didn't see this one coming?

Hello all, finally arising from the ashes is me Pandalicious, and when I haven't been slaving away on homework or running myself up a wall, I've tried to play some WoW. Emphasis on tried, but this list ran through my mind and I thought I'd share...

YOU KNOW YOU PLAY TOO MUCH WOW WHEN.....

1. You inspect another characters gear, NOTICE it's tier three and you nearly have an orgasm.

2. You walk into your least favorite class and see in your mind yellow writing that says "You are now Hated With World Civ I."

3.You are eating and drinking at the same time and believe that you are recovering mana and health over a period of 30 sec.

4. You find yourself dancing the same way that your character on WoW does. (happens more w/ night elf girls FYI)

5. When you go to a new place you happen to blurt out (on accident) "Discovered Northshore Mall: gained 560 exp!"

6. LEEEEEROY JENKINS!

7. You know that Arathi Basin isn't a giant tub in some remote place.

8. When you fall down or trip you wish you had bubbled yourself so it would absorb the damage.

9. All you ever talk about is WoW, and when you aren't talking about, you are thinking about how you are going bring it back up in conversation.

10. You notice that your boyfriend and all your friends start playing the game so they can spend time with you.

Please guys, feel free to add more if you know of any! ^^

Finish What You Start...

Sorry I haven't been posting, it's been a crazy past couple of weeks. But I'm back from Vegas and my house has internet so now I'll be back here writing mildly entertaining works that you only read so you can get candy. I feel like such a tool....

So part of what I saw in Vegas was the Star Trek: the Experience in the Hilton Hotel and Casino. I was a week short of going to the Star Trek convention but fear not, I grabbed a really interesting sounding tidbit. Apparently there is a Star Trek MMO in the works. Now this isn't gonna be your run of the mill WoW style "I am gonna hit 2 buttons and level to 60" MMO. This baby is hard freaking core. Say you chose to be an engineer, there is a HUGE interface in which you actually have to sit there and fix an engine problem by moving around a system of vents and some other stuff. According to what I have read you will not only have a crew of live people for your ship, but you will be able to take them onto land for expeditions.

There isn't too much info at this point but you can see everything they have available at here (NinJa, I can't get the stupid thing to work as a link... Fix it!! lol )

all fixed says the NinJa *poof*

Finish What You Start...