Where Do I Stand?

It's been a while. Nearly one month ago I wrote a review for the iPhone 6 Plus. I had planned to do more after writing that review, but all the excitement I once had slipped through the cracks. I began to wonder if what I was doing was even worth it. I haven't been secretive about it; I have been wanting to make money from writing reviews about the video games I have played and the tech I have used. I have also been uploading video content onto YouTube since mid-August. Looking back, I was beginning to be desperate. I constantly tweeted links of my blogs and videos on Twitter. I made sure to post my new content on Tumblr. I was doing my best to use social media as an outlet for what I enjoy doing: playing video games and writing about them. I battled with myself to make it a priority rather than a hobby.

Having given it some thought I have come to realize that that thought process was a mistake. I see others with successful blogs and YouTube channels and began to wonder if I could ever compete with them. I'm not sure I can because I can't see myself making this a full-fledge priority. Rather than make it what I strictly do, I will go back to making this blog and my YouTube channel a hobby. If success comes, then great. If it doesn't come, then that's okay, too. I have been placing too much pressure on myself which hasn't garnered much fruit. Reviews and video content cannot come to fruition if I'm constantly bombarding myself with different games to play at the same time. Instead, I'll game like I used to game: for fun.

Recently I spoke with a friend about my gaming habits. I told him that as a child and teenager, I was a better gamer. He told me that he feels he is a better gamer now than he was growing up. I think the spark he has in regards to gaming was alive and well during my adolescent years. It has died down since that time. I even came to the point of selling all my gaming hardware and software because I felt I had lost that desire. It is still there, but I have come to see that there are more important things in my life than video games. I will continue to play them, but I doubt I will ever get back to how I was as a child.

Gaming will be a hobby. It may become a career someday, but for now it will be a hobby as I find what I can do to contribute to this world—what my identity is. That being said, I won't promise anything pertaining to new content on this blog and YouTube channel. If it comes, it comes. If it doesn't, then it doesn't. Right now, I have other things to take care of. New things will come, but they won't come as regularly as I would have liked them to. I've chosen to be okay with that. It wasn't an easy decision, but I am actually okay with that. It has relieved me of very unnecessary stress.

Let's see how long I take to write something new on my blog. Hopefully it doesn't take me another month to write something.

iPhone 6 Plus Review: Four Weeks With the iPhone 6 Plus

Today marks four weeks with my iPhone 6 Plus. To be honest, I meant to write this review two weeks ago, but I am somewhat glad I chose to wait. I wasn't really ready to write this review. The first six days with my iPhone 6 Plus weren't the best. It got to the point that I was flirting with the idea of traveling down to Utah and exchanging my iPhone 6 Plus for an iPhone 6. My wife has an iPhone 6, so I was able to compare my phone with hers. That all changed on the seventh day. Following those six days, I began loving my iPhone 6 Plus.

I never really cared for having a big phone, but I always want to have the better iPhone. Since the iPhone 6 Plus appeared to be the better iPhone, I chose the iPhone 6 Plus over the iPhone 6. I liked that it houses a 1080p display. I was really interested in the optical image stabilization as far as low-lighting photo taking and videos were concerned. Those are a couple of the features that are found in the iPhone 6 Plus that aren't available on the iPhone 6. More on that later.

Rather than talk about software, this review will focus mostly on the hardware of the iPhone 6 Plus. iOS 8.1 will be released on Monday, so rather than talk about iOS 8 (or iOS 8.0.2 for that matter), I will stick to talking about the things that make up the iPhone 6 Plus. I will give my thoughts about the overall performance of the iPhone 6 Plus, as well as what I think about the camera.

When I made the switch from an iPhone 4S to an iPhone 5, I liked the slightly taller size of the iPhone 5. It still felt great to hold an iPhone in one hand. Jumping from an iPhone 5S to an iPhone 6 Plus was a significantly bigger jump. Fortunately, the phone isn't just taller, it is wider. I still like how it feels in one hand, but I can't do nearly as much one handed on an iPhone 6 Plus like I could with its predecessors. I do like how the ends of the phone are rounded as opposed to straight. That does add to how well the phone feels in my hand.

The phone itself looks amazing. I still think that the iPhone 4/4S had the best design, but I have grown to like the design of the iPhone 6 Plus. It isn't the best looking iPhone nor is it the best looking smart phone, but it still has that quality build Apple is known for. That being said, I don't really have an opinion about the antenna lines. I wasn't a huge fan of the glass portions of the iPhone 5 and iPhone 5S, so having these antenna lines instead of the glass portions on the rear of the iPhone doesn't make a whole lot of difference to me. Like I said, I prefer the design of the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S.

As I mentioned before, when compared to the iPhone 6, the iPhone 6 Plus is virtually the same phone. Whereas you get a unique experience with the Samsung Galaxy Note series compared to the Galaxy S series, the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus are nearly identical as far as running iOS 8 is concerned. Instead, there are small differences between the two.

Apple chose to take advantage of the iPhone 6 Plus's size by allowing 6 Plus owners to be able to change the orientation of the home screen. Like an iPad, when you hold the iPhone 6 Plus horizontally the orientation of the screen changes to accommodate for the change in which you are holding the phone. It is neat being able to do that on an iPhone, but I have encountered various problems. Sometimes the phone doesn't change orientation at all. Sometimes the orientation changes without you moving your phone. I'm hoping that the iOS 8.1 update changes that.

The iPhone 6 Plus has the best screen an iPhone has ever had. I may have taken that from Apple, but I can confirm that the screen is simply amazing when you put it side-by-side to an older iPhone. It even looks better than the iPhone 6's screen. Apple has finally chosen to have an iPhone with a resolution we are familiar with. Like the iPhone 5 and 5S, the iPhone 6 has a weird resolution. Its resolution is 1334 by 750. The iPhone 6 Plus has a 1920 by 1080 resolution and it looks beautiful. I love watching movies on my iPhone 6 Plus that I have purchased through iTunes. The YouTube app was recently updated to take advantage of the bigger screens for the new iPhones, and it is nice that 1080p is finally an option on an iPhone. It may not be the best display in the market, but it is a nice screen regardless of what else is out there.

With an awesome display, who doesn't want a phone that is capable of taking great pictures? This was another factor for me when choosing between the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. Both phones have an 8 megapixel camera, much like previous iPhones since the iPhone 4S. Rather than bump up the megapixels, Apple decided to continue fine-tuning what they already have. The iPhone 6 Plus has Optical Image Stabilization, and that helps the user when taking pictures. I have noticed that the pictures I take in places with low-lighting look great on my iPhone 6 Plus.

Videos also come out crisp and clean especially when my hands shake from time to time. OIS does make a difference in taking pictures and recording videos. Last year, Apple introduced Slow-Mo into the iPhone 5S. That feature has returned on the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus and it is even better. It still records the video in 720p, but at 240 frames-per-second. Slow-Mo videos are amazing to watch on the new iPhones. Even though there is room for improvement, I'm finally getting what I have been wanting from a phone with picture and recording capabilities.

The biggest problem I have with the iPhone 6 Plus isn't so much the phone, but the apps. I knew that there would be some issues running apps on a bigger phone, much like there was when the iPhone 5 came out. There have been quite a few apps that have been updated for the bigger display, but there are plenty that still look blown up or don't even cover the entire screen. The apps that don't cover the whole screen still work, except Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic wasn't really playable for a couple of weeks. They have since updated the game and now it can be played on an iPhone 6 Plus without any problems.

Even though I have had my fair share of problems with iOS 8, the new iOS runs well on the iPhone 6 Plus. Apps tend to load a little faster on the iPhone 6 Plus, and that should be expected with a new phone. The iPhone 6 Plus is a great update for those who still have an iPhone 4, an iPhone 4S, and even an iPhone 5. Unless you're wanting a bigger screen, I think you're better off waiting for the next iPhone if you're an owner of an iPhone 5S. Overall, I have been loving my iPhone 6 Plus and I recommend it to those looking for an upgrade. It really does feel like an upgrade compared to the iPhone 6, but it definitely isn't for everyone.

SCORE:

8.9/10

Comparing the Size of the PlayStation TV With Other Devices

Yesterday, I picked up my PlayStation TV at the local GameStop. I am currently living in Idaho, so when I say local, I probably mean 30 miles away from where I am living.

The box itself is comparable to buying two Apple Airport Extreme boxes attached to one another, side to side. I am not certain how big the standalone box is for the PlayStation TV, so I have nothing to compare it to.

The PlayStation TV itself is really, really, really small. I have seen pictures of the PlayStation TV online, so I had an idea of its size. I'm sure comparison pictures are out there, but I thought I would go ahead and post some pictures I took of the PlayStation TV with other devices I have laying around in my home.

First up is a comparison shot of the PlayStation TV and the PlayStation Vita. You knew it was coming. You knew that the first picture I would take was a comparison shot of the PS Vita and the PS TV. Okay, enough with me telling you what you knew.

The PlayStation TV pretty much covers the screen of the PlayStation Vita. This thing is tiny. It helps that it doesn't have a screen, but the PlayStation TV is also thinner than the PlayStation Vita. I do have the OLED PS Vita, so I don't know how much thinner the PlayStation TV is than the new LCD PlayStation Vita. Still, the PlayStation TV is one tiny machine.

As you can see in this picture, (starting from left to right) the memory card slot, USB 2.0 port, HDMI port, Ethernet port, and A/C port are located on the back part of the PlayStation TV. On the right side of the PS TV (in this photo, the left) is where you place the PlayStation Vita game cards.

I also decided compare the PlayStation TV to the iPhone 6 Plus. The PS Vita has a 5-inch display. The iPhone 6 Plus on the other hand has a 5.5-inch display. I believe it is around 6.22-inches tall thanks to the bezel. That being said, the PlayStation TV still looks pretty small when stacked on top of an iPhone 6 Plus.

The iPhone 6 Plus is also wider than the PlayStation TV. You can't really tell in this picture, but it is definitely not as wide as the iPhone 6 Plus. Again, this device is really small.

Because the PlayStation TV plays PlayStation Vita games, I thought it would be neat to see how much smaller the PlayStation TV is than a PlayStation Vita game case. Generally, cases are somewhat smaller than the consoles they represent, but that isn't the case with the PlayStation TV. Not only did I get a PlayStation TV, I also got my copy of Senran Kagura Shinovi Versus: Let's Get Physical Edition. I chose to use the case for the game to show the difference in sizes between the PlayStation TV and a PS Vita game case.

Lastly, I compared the PS TV to an iPad air. It should be no surprise that the PlayStation TV looks like a dwarf compared to an iPad Air. Then again, I guess it didn't take an iPad Air to realize that. I have a Smart Cover on my iPad Air, but the cover doesn't hide the fact that the PlayStation TV is much smaller than the iPad Air.

So there you have it. There are some photographs of the PlayStation TV compared to a couple of devices and things I have within my possession. I will do my best to write a review for the PlayStation TV before the end of the month. As of right now, I am liking the PlayStation TV. Let's see if my opinion changes within the next couple of days.


In case you missed it, I also posted an unboxing video for the PlayStation TV. I have embedded it into this post for your viewing pleasure.

What I've Been Playing—Oct 11 Edition

So... this is supposed to be a weekly post, but I messed up last week. I was in Utah with family and friends, so I didn't get on the computer at all. Much to my surprise, I only really played two games the previous two weeks, so did you really want me to write about those two games back to back?

The past two weeks I have been playing Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Senran Kagura Shinovi Versus on the PlayStation Vita. I did play some Madden NFL 15 on the PlayStation 4, and Senran Kagura Burst and Pokemon X on the Nintendo 3DS. Both Burst and Pokemon X are about a year old (Pokemon X is a year old tomorrow, I believe), but I have this desire to write reviews for both games.

I know I wrote a first impression post about Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, but I want to reiterate how good I think this game is. It is quite possibly one of the best games I have played on a handheld. Personally, I can't believe how good this game is. Like I said before, I liked PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale on the PS Vita, so I guess it is no surprise how much I like Smash Bros. on the 3DS. It's a fantastic game. I really can't wait for this game to come out on the Nintendo Wii U. Can November 21 be here already?

Senran Kagura Shinovi Versus is very fun. Levels do get a little repetitive, yet I enjoy the fast pace and the different special attacks that each character has to offer. I also like how many characters you can play as in this game. It will be nice finally being able to know what each character is saying. I pre-ordered my copy from Best Buy. I don't think it will get here on October 14, which kind of stinks, but that is what I get for taking so long to pre-order it. Oh, well. I still have the Japanese version to play anyway.

What have you been playing these past two weeks? Hit me up in the comments section of this post.

It's Almost October 14

There are two things I want that are being released next Tuesday. Those two things are Senran Kagura Shinovi Versus and the PlayStation TV. I already have Senran Kagura Shinovi Versus paid for thanks to a Best Buy gift card I had.

The PlayStation TV still needs to be paid off though. I have been trying to make sure that I avoid spending money on games and anything related to games. I have done a decent job about it. I think I have saved over $800. Yeah... I buy too many games. But I don't play them, let alone review them. Sigh.

Speaking of not beating games, I need to finish Senran Kagura Burst on the Nintendo 3DS. It is the game that really got me into the series and I had forgotten how much fun it was. I played some Burst yesterday as I recorded some gameplay footage for both Burst and Shinovi Versus. I thought it would only be appropriate to make a comparison video of the Shinobi Transformations and intros and so forth. For now, I'm only doing a comparison video for Asuka. I may do more down the road, but I'll see how this goes down first.

Like always, I have been going back and forth in regards to buying a PlayStation TV. I already own a Vita and I love playing games on it. It would be pretty cool to play games on my monitor, but I just don't know if it'll be worth it in the end. I'll continue to think about it. I also have to figure out if I really want to sell the games I have been thinking about selling. Yet another thing to think about. I am running out of time though.

There will be a standalone PlayStation TV unit and a limited edition unit. The standalone PS TV comes with the PlayStation TV system, an HDMI cable, an AC adaptor, and an AC power cord. It will cost $99.99.  The limited edition PlayStation TV bundle comes with everything aforementioned, as well as a DualShock 3 controller, an 8GB memory card, a voucher for The LEGO Movie Videogame for PS Vita, and a USB cable. The PlayStation TV limited edition bundle will cost $139.99.

Are you planning to buy either Senran Kagura Shinovi Versus or the PlayStation TV? Or both? Let me know what you're thinking about doing in the comments section.

First Impression: Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS

I was able to play Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS a couple of weeks before its official release. Because I was a Platinum Club Member, I was able to download the demo a week before everyone else. I had a lot of fun with the demo. The demo showed some promise. Now that I have been playing Super Smash Bros on the 3DS, I confidently confirm that I am in love with this game. It is an awesome handheld experience.

Having played PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale on the PlayStation Vita, I knew what to expect from an all out brawl on a small screen. That being said, I actually preferred PS All-Stars on the Vita over its PS3 counterpart. I don't know if that will be the case once the Wii U version of the game comes out, but I think I will love both of them equally. I just might enjoy it more on a bigger screen is all.

I had been wondering what it would be like to play as Zelda or Sheik since Nintendo chose to make them two characters instead of one. I was also intrigued by the decision to have Samus and Zero Suit Samus be their own characters as well. Much to my surprise, I have yet to play as Zelda or Samus as I have had a lot of fun playing as Sheik or Zero Suit Samus. So far, I think my favorite character in Super Smash Bros. for 3DS is Zero Suit Samus.

That being said, I have also played as Link, Toon Link, Pikachu, and Mega Man. I still have a lot of characters to try out. Gameplay wise, I am impressed how well this game performs on the 3DS. I was worried that I wouldn't like using the Circle Pad, but I have slowly become accustomed to it. It takes some getting used to.

I plan to write a full review of the game some time this month. I will let you know via Twitter where I am at with the review. I want to play the game some more before I give my final verdict of the game. I do have some problems with the game, but again, I will save those concerns for the review.

Did you get Super Smash Bros. for the 3DS? Are you also planning to get the Wii U version of the game? Let me know in the comments section.

October 2014: What to Get

Each month, there are plenty of things to look forward to. September brought us Destiny, the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus, iOS 8, Hyrule Warriors, and much more. October is shaping up to be another great month in the world of tech and gaming. I will share with you my most anticipated games and tech for the month of October.

The games I'm going to get are as follows:

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS [3DS] (October 3)
Driveclub [PS4] (October 7)
Senran Kagura: Shinovi Versus - Let's Get Physical Edition [PS Vita] (October 14)
Bayonetta 2 [Wii U] (October 24)

The tech I'm looking at getting are as follow:

PlayStation TV (October 14)
Intuos Creative Stylus 2 (mid-October)

These are the games I am considering to buy:

Pokemon Art Academy [3DS] (October 24)
Freedom Wars [PS Vita] (October 28)

October is shaping up to be a great month for gaming. I have been waiting for Super Smash Bros. for 3DS ever since it was announced. I really liked the original Bayonetta and since I have a Wii U, getting Bayonetta 2 was a no brainer for me. The fast pace action is a blast. I love it when a new Wii U game comes out. So far, I have only bought Mario Kart 8 this year for the Wii U, so it is always fun buying a new Wii U Game.

Lastly, I am definitely getting the Let's Get Physical Limited Edition version of Senran Kagura: Shinovi Versus. I have been leaning more and more towards buying game cards instead of digital downloads since I have about 8GB left on my PS Vita memory card. Also, it is a limited edition of the game, so why not?

I'm not so sure about Driveclub. Fortunately, I have a PlayStation Plus subscription, so I will check out the PS Edition first and see what I think about the game. Like fighting games, I like to buy racing games for some odd reason. Very bad habit.

These are the games and products I am probably going to buy. I cannot wait to pick up Smash Bros. on Friday. Sadly, my local GameStop isn't having a midnight launch. Sigh... I'll just have to wait... What are you planning to get this month? Let me know in the comments section.

REVIEW: inFAMOUS First Light

One of the biggest reasons I wanted a PlayStation 4 was to be able to play inFAMOUS Second Son. I really liked inFAMOUS and inFAMOUS 2 on the PlayStation 3, so knowing that there was another inFAMOUS game in the works made me excited. By far, inFAMOUS Second Son had the best gameplay, but I felt underwhelmed by its story. inFAMOUS 2 definitely had the better story (even though I really liked Delsin's personality). In my opinion, it still does, but inFAMOUS First Light is no pushover in the story development.

inFAMOUS First Light has us witness events prior to Delsin's adventure in Seattle. In First Light, we play as Fetch, a support character to Delsin in Second Son. Personally, I had a hard time connecting with Fetch. I wasn't too fond of any of the supporting cast besides Reggie and Augustine. That is, until I played First Light. Being able to hear Fetch's story really piqued my interest in the neon gifted conduit.

Much like inFAMOUS Second Son, inFAMOUS First Light looks amazing. My favorite powers in Second Son were the neon powers. It was flashy, bright, and the powers also made you zip through town like no other power in the game. The motion capturing in the game shows just how much of a difference it can make in body language and facial expressions. It brings more life to the game. Fetch's movements felt fluid while running around through Seattle. It was easy to stop flying through town one way and start going another way. That is an improvement I saw in this game.

Although you only get to visit half of the map that was made available in Second Son, I felt that it was enough for me. Even though we are only given on power in this game, Sucker Punch made sure to hold no punches when it came to Fetch's powers. At times, I felt overpowered, which I absolutely loved. You have to build up to feeling that way, but the more powers I unlocked, the more I fell in love with Fetch's unique neon powers.

Since First Light focuses on Fetch's backstory, it was interesting to see what role Augustine had in molding Fetch into the conduit we meet in Second Son. It also made me think about how Augustine attempted to manipulate the other conduits in her possession. The interaction between Fetch and Augustine was one of my favorite moments in First Light.

I personally enjoyed the story in First Light more than what we were given in Second Son. I felt there was a purpose behind the story. It was more engaging and emotional when it needed to be. The game doesn't last long, but it makes good use of the time it was allotted. And to be honest, I think I would have liked a full-fledged inFAMOUS game starring Fetch instead of Delsin.

Despite liking the upgrades found in this game, I did find it get progressively easier as I progressed through the game. That seemed to be the case in Second Son, which was kind of a shame since I was hoping for more of a challenge.

As far as gameplay is concerned, First Light isn't only one fourth the fun that Second Son was. I think I had just as much fun with First Light even though we were given one power to use. The controls are just as tight as they were in Second Son. The amount of powers in your control are great for a game that is only $14.99.

I really liked playing inFAMOUS First Light. I don't know if I will find myself playing through the game again anytime soon because I feel it is a one time experience. There are challenges in this game to complete if you're looking for some replayability. They aren't too difficult, but they do provide a nice challenge for those looking for something beyond the story. I think I managed to get most of them throughout the single player campaign, but there were some that did provide some frustration.

Lastly, if you have a completed save file of Second Son, you can play through challenges as Delsin Rowe. I thought that it was neat to include him into the game. If you like inFAMOUS, you should definitely get this standalone DLC.

OVERALL SCORE:

8.1/10

What I've Been Playing—Sep 27 Edition

What have I been playing this week? How about I tell you.

As you may already know, I have been playing Senran Kagura Shinovi Versus Versus. How did I manage to get a copy of the game before its imminent release? I'm just that important. Okay... not really. I bought the Japanese version of the game through Play-Asia.com. If you can't wait for the English adaption, you can always order it from there. I've even made a hyperlink for you. How nice am I? The version I am referring you to is $39.99—much cheaper than the $70+ counterpart.

It is a very fun game. I'm still getting the Western version so I can understand what the heck is going on. I'll make sure to write a review of the game as well midway through October.

Since Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition was on sale a couple about a week ago, I thought I would see if anyone was online. I'm not sure how many people bought it while it was on sale, but I managed to get an online Trophy, so that was nice. I don't think I will be getting a Platinum though. I should have focused on the multiplayer first. It is just too bad that it isn't that good. The single player campaign was fantastic.

I also had Madden fever. I played some Ultimate Team mode and managed to beat two teams. When your overall score is a 68 and your facing the Green Bay Packers, the odds aren't in your favor. Sadly, that was the case. I'll have to face them another time. I think I lost 9-0. I need to get better at Madden.

So there you have it. That's what I mostly played this week. Being in school limits the time I have to play games, but apparently it hasn't stopped me. Oh, I also played some Hyrule Warriors. I will embed my "Let's Play" video in this post. I like what I've played so far.

Senran Kagura: Shinovi Versus First Impressions

Months ago, I imported Senran Kagura: Shinovi Versus from Japan. I liked Senran Kagura Burst, so I thought I would give the Vita version a go. A part of me didn't think that Shinovi Versus would make it to the West so soon, but that part of me was obviously wrong. But, I digress.

I really like Senran Kagura: Shinovi Versus. I am not sure why I had waited so long to try it out. I don't understand any Japanese (which may be part of the reason why I found it difficult to start playing), but I have managed to figure out combat since it seems to be similar to Burst on the 3DS. I guess I will find out if I am right about that once it is released in the US.

I have played about an hour and a half of the game so far. There are three schools to choose from. I don't know the other two schools, but I believe the one I chose was Hanzo Academy. The game is a lot of fun. I like that it isn't a side-scroller beat-em-up like Burst. The camera is a little out of control sometimes, but you kind of get used to it after a while. I will continue to share my impressions of the game until the full Western release. At that point, I will write a review for the Western release of the game. I'm looking forward to that.

REVIEW: WD My Passport for Mac

I have been wanting an actual external hard drive for some time. I knew that I wanted a portable external hard drive, but it had to be USB 3.0. I had it narrowed down between a Seagate external hard drive and the WD My Passport for Mac external hard drive. I ended up going with the Western Digital external hard drive since Fry's didn't have the other hard drive. I will admit that I am not disappointed with my purchase.

The external hard drive is a lot smaller than I thought it would be.  While laying horizontally, the external hard drive stands 0.60 inches tall. It is 3.23 inches in depth and 4.35 inches in width. Not only is it quite small, it is pretty light, weighing 0.30 pounds. The WD My Passport for Mac definitely met the criteria for the portable hard drive I was looking for.

I thought the read/write speeds were relatively good. I generally get between 60 to 75 mb/s write and 80 to 95 mb/s read speeds. I have transferred a lot of videos and I really like how quick the transfers are. I transferred a 16.73 GB video in about 4 minutes. I eventually want to get a Thunderbolt external hard drive, but USB 3.0 is definitely meeting the needs I have at the moment. As you know, I have been using an enclosed hard drive to get most of my data transfers done. It is USB 2.0, so videos of that size would take what felt like forever to transfer.

As far as complaints are concerned, it would have to be the cable. I wish the cable were a little longer. It isn't a big deal, but when you're wanting other things within your reach instead of the external hard drive, it becomes somewhat of a hassle. I still manage though.

I managed to acquire the external hard drive that looks much like a MacBook Pro. I really like the design of the external hard drive. I ended up going with 1 TB for now. I felt that that would be enough for me as of right now and that has proven to be the case.

OVERALL SCORE:
8/10

Gaming Slump

Friends, I'm in a slump—more specifically, a gaming slump. Pretty sure that the title gave it away.

The number of games I have in my collection is sometimes overwhelming. Sadly, that doesn't stop me from buying a game I want even though there's a good chance I won't play it right away. When I turn on any of my consoles or handhelds, I sit looking at the UI while I contemplate which game I should play.

About an hour ago, I turned on my PS3 to play The Last of Us. I managed to play two multiplayer matches and then I chose to quit playing. Is it because I am getting older? Is it because I am losing interest in video games? Is there not enough time in my life for video games?

Here are my answers to those questions: Yes, I am getting older. No, I am not losing interest in video games. In fact, I am discovering new interests with video games. There is enough time to play games. I may not play them nearly as much as I used to as a teenager, but there is time.

As I write, I think I am beginning to understand why this gaming slump is happening. The overall reason is this: I am not playing video games the way I used to as a teenager. During my pre-teen and teenage years, I shifted over to the PlayStation brand. Games like the Final Fantasy series and Metal Gear series really caught my attention, and I first experienced them on a PlayStation. When we got a PlayStation 2, I played Gran Turismo for the first time and owned my first Naughty Dog game (Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy). I began having new experiences on the PS2 that I didn't think were possible while playing on the original PlayStation.

To get to my point, I was playing games to play games. Things really changed a little after my family got a PS3. We got our PS3 a year after it was released. At the time, there weren't Trophies. I didn't even know what Trophies were until I got Uncharted: Drake's Fortune. I managed to get Platinum Trophies on Uncharted: Drake's Fortune and LittleBigPlanet. I've actually gotten the Platinum Trophy twice on Uncharted: Drake's Fortune because I began using a new PSN name.

Trophies, to a certain degree, began to be an obsession for me. My focus shifted from playing games to obtaining Trophies. I have mentioned through various posts of the small competition a friend and I have about Platinum Trophies. That hasn't help with the obsession I found myself trapped in.

More often than not, I encounter a situation in which I look at how long it would take to Platinum a game prior to buying the game. Not only that, but I can't justify myself playing a game from yesteryear because they don't have Trophies. That makes writing reviews hard when I don't make an effort to play a game from the past. In fact, even wanting to write reviews for the games I have has been contributing to my gaming slump.

In reality, Trophies don't really matter. I made the unfortunate conclusion that they did, but they really don't. I will still want to increase the number of Platinums I have in my Trophy list, but I will do a better job of not making it a priority. After all, I am a gamer. I play games to play games. Trophies (or Achievements for that matter) are just a nice appendage to the world of gaming. I'm glad I took the time to write this.

I don't expect my focus to instantaneously shift back to the way it originally was when I first started gaming, but I will make it a goal. I will continue to obtain Trophies and I will continue to write about games, but I will remember what my focus: playing games to play games. "Let's play a game."

REVIEW: Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes for PlayStation 4

Since E3, there have been quite a few game series I have been obsessed about. Metal Gear Solid is one of those series. I have been a huge fan since I played and beaten Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes on the Nintendo GameCube. (Fun fact: I haven't beaten the original Metal Gear Solid. I need to do that.) I can remember tricking my mom into buying me Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty for the PS2. I still feel bad about that, too. As you can see, I have a history with Metal Gear Solid. There is more, but I will stop for now.

Going into Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes, I knew I wasn't going to experience a six to ten hour story. I also wasn't expecting to beat the game in an hour. Taking place a few months after the events of Peace Walker, Big Boss finds himself having to rescue both Chico and Paz from an American black site on Cuba. As with any Metal Gear game, Big Boss must infiltrate the base without getting caught. Unlike recent Metal Gear games, there aren't too many cutscenes in Ground Zeroes.

The thing that bothered me the most about Ground Zeroes was how abrupt the ending was. I was expecting more gameplay during the main mission, but it comes to a sudden halt. I also felt that a lot of what you see in the cutscenes were shown at E3 2013 and in subsequent videos prior to the release of Ground Zeroes. The small amount of gameplay really makes it hard to justify its current price point on any of the consoles.

Having played MGSV on PS4 and PS3, I am really impressed by how much better the game looks on PS4. I originally bought the PS4 version of the game, but I wanted to see how different it looked, as well as played, on the PS3. Both games felt the same despite having a couple actions mapped to different buttons. The biggest difference was in the quality of the game. Ground Zeroes looks good on PS3, but it looks great on PS4. I really can't wait to get my hands on The Phantom Pain.

If you are familiar with a Metal Gear game, then you will know that the objective of the game is to avoid any confrontation with the enemy. Ground Zeroes is much like Peace Walker, as you will receive a grade after you complete a mission. In Ground Zeroes, there is the main mission known as Ground Zeroes and then there are side-ops within the mission itself. The side-ops missions are pretty fun. They also add a little diversity to the main mission of the game. Sadly, all the missions take place on the same base. Enemies will appear in different locations and the weather may be different, but other than that nothing else changes.

There are some neat features in this game, such as a Reflex feature. If Big Boss is spotted by an enemy, the game will slowdown so you can take the enemy out by any means necessary to prevent him from notifying his comrades of your location. You can also pinpoint enemies by using your binoculars. It can be really helpful when you want to know where an enemy is when you're trying to sneak around them.

Ground Zeroes is a lot of fun, but it's downfall is the length. MGSV: Ground Zeroes will cost you $19.99 on PS3 and Xbox 360; on PS4 and Xbox One, you will have to pay $29.99 for the game. It definitely is the best looking Metal Gear Solid game and I really like the new stealth mechanics thrown into the mix. I just wish there was more to Ground Zeroes than what we ended up getting. We are being constantly told that The Phantom Pain is 200 times bigger than Ground Zeroes, but I don't know how impressed I am about that considering how small Ground Zeroes is. I liked it, but my only wish is that it were a longer game. Who doesn't want more Metal Gear?

OVERALL SCORE:

7.5/10

inFAMOUS Second Son

When Sony showed off a new inFAMOUS game during their unveiling of the PlayStation 4, I nearly exploded with excitement. It wasn’t enough that they announced the PS4 to the world—another inFAMOUS game was the icing on the cake—a delicious PS4 cake. Now I want cake…

One year later, inFAMOUS Second Son is finally released for the PlayStation 4. I managed to get my copy the day it came out. With great anticipation, I loaded the game into my PS4 and waited as the game started. Being familiar with Sucker Punch games, I knew that as soon as I hit the Start button (well, in this case the Options button), something grandiose was going to happen. Much to my surprise, it wasn’t nearly as explosive as when you start the original inFAMOUS.

Needless to say, I didn’t mind the quiet beginning. I was interested to see how Delsin Rowe would fit into the picture. Delsin is very different from Cole. Before the game’s release, we were safe in assuming that Delsin loves his powers. Cole, on the other hand, was troubled with his power. I like the direction that Sucker Punch took with Delsin. If we had another Cole, then there wouldn’t have been a need for a new character period. I would have wanted to see Cole instead of someone who acts and plays like Cole, but isn’t Cole.

For the first time in an inFAMOUS game, Second Son takes place on the west coast—Seattle, Washington to be precise. The previous two games took place in Empire City and New Marais. Despite being models of real cities (Empire City being New York City and New Marais being New Orleans), Second Son is also the first to use the actual name of the city it represents. Living on the west coast myself, I will admit that I have never explored Seattle. I have driven through it, but I am not familiar with the city.

I didn’t expect inFAMOUS’ Seattle to be an exact replica of the actual city, but that didn’t stop me from being impressed. It was really cool seeing where their inspiration came from. inFAMOUS’ Seattle is beautiful. Even when there aren’t any enemies to fight, it is just nice to be able to venture around the city and be mesmerized by how detailed everything is. From Delsin’s character model to the trees and the NPCs and the buildings, everything is stunning. inFAMOUS Second Son is definitely the best looking game I have seen on the PlayStation 4.

inFAMOUS Second Son takes place seven years after the events of inFAMOUS 2. Delsin, the main character of the game, is of Native American descent and lives in the Akomish reservation. We are quickly introduced to Delsin as he is vandalizing a billboard. Delsin and his brother, Reggie, are complete opposites. Reggie, the local sheriff, arrests his brother on a regular basis because of his acts of vandalism. The beginning of inFAMOUS Second Son is no different. As Delsin attempts to evade his brother, a unbeknownst power awakens within Delsin. It is then that Delsin begins to have the time of his life. To make Delsin even more enjoyable, Troy Baker was the man chosen to bring Delsin’s character to life. Baker does a fantastic job as Delsin. He makes the character very likeable, despite the fact that Delsin can be a jerk and a punk sometimes. Travis Willingham portrays Delsin’s brother, and the two do a great job as acting as one another’s brother.

Even though I was pretty fond of Delsin and Reggie, I had a hard time with the story. inFAMOUS Second Son isn’t quite as good as inFAMOUS 2. You had a sense of urgency and despair in inFAMOUS 2. The supporting cast can also be a little forgettable. I often found myself trying to remember what Delsin’s purpose was in the game. Second Son’s shining moments are most certainly in the gameplay department. I enjoyed the story, but it falls short of the great story that was told in inFAMOUS 2. In spite of my problems with the story, inFAMOUS Second Son is a great game and I never once regretted my purchase.

As I have stated countless times, gameplay is where Second Son shines the most. And I’m not just talking about the flashy powers that Delsin gets. Second Son is a lot of fun. Some of the missions get a little repetitive (there is only so many times I want to use my DualShock 4 as a spray can), but more often than not I found myself loving Delsin’s powers. I felt that Second Son truly allows you to “enjoy your power.” From being able to shift Delsin into smoke to the agile abilities gained through neon powers, Second Son does a profound job of demonstrating how awesome each power is.

inFAMOUS Second Son also uses the DualShock 4 in a way that isn’t annoying. I never felt forced to use the touchpad and most of the controls made sense. I’m just glad that I never had to use the DualShock 4 to guide a projectile.

Being an open world game and much like its predecessors, Second Son features a karma level. You can choose to play the game as the hero or as the villain. Whenever I am given the opportunity to make choices in a game, I tend to play as the hero first. It is interesting to see how Delsin’s persona differs in the choices he makes. He may be a jerk, but I never thought he would do half of the things he would do choosing the evil karma.

I may have had some issues with the story and its characters, but inFAMOUS Second Son really is a great game. As far as gameplay is concerned, it is the best in the series. The use of multiple powers is pretty awesome and quite beautiful to behold. Second Son’s Seattle is a sight one has to see in order to believe. This game does a great job of utilizing the power of the PS4. From fluid gameplay to amazing lightning, inFAMOUS Second Son is a worthy successor to Cole’s legacy.

OVERALL SCORE:

8.8/10

REVIEW: Mophie Juice Pack Helium for iPhone 5/5S

Towards the end of November, I bought my fiancée and I each a Mophie juice pack helium case. I liked the idea of being able to charge my phone without having it connected to the wall for two to three hours. Another incentive was the fact that it was on sale. Usually priced at $79.95, I managed to acquire our cases for $55.95 each. Yet another reason to be thankful for Thanksgiving week.

My case is blue and her case is pink. I thought about getting the green case since I have this thing about getting green cases for my Apple products. In the end, I choose the blue one. Regardless of the color, the case does what is supposed to do: charge your phone.

The Juice Pack Helium comes in metallic black, metallic silver, purple, green, pink, red, or blue. It is the thinnest of the Juice Pack cases and comes packed with a 1500mAh battery. I'm pretty impressed by how thin this case is considering that it comes with a battery inside of it. Not only is it thin, it is also pretty light. The case alone weighs 2.44 oz. The Juice Pack Helium will provide up to 80% more battery life. This case will work for both the iPhone 5 and the iPhone 5S. I have the iPhone 5.

Included with the Juice Pack Helium are a micro USB cord and a headphone adapter. Because the headphone jack is so far into the case, you will need the headphone adapter to plug your headphones in to listen to music or whatever you are watching. I am grateful they included it. It is possible to insert your headphones into the headphone jack, but there is always the possibility that you aren't completely plugging your headphones in.

Having 80% extra battery life has been great, but I wish I had gotten the Juice Pack Air or the Juice Pack Plus instead. They would have cost more money, but having to charge my iPhone around 20% is kind of a pain. I usually wait until I am at 5% to 10% battery life.

My experience with the Mophie Juice Pack Helium hasn't been great either. Lately, my phone has been dying around 15% to 25%. That makes absolutely no sense to me. I have also made sure that it wasn't my phone by charging it the old fashion way. Doing so has had my phone last down to the wire.

I can't say I recommend buying the Mophie Juice Pack Helium. As light and as thin as it is, 80% more battery life doesn't cut it. If you are wanting a case that can charge your iPhone 5 or iPhone 5S, then I recommend looking at the Juice Pack Air or the Juice Pack Plus. They are a bit more expensive and there aren't as many color options, but they both cover your phone completely. The Helium doesn't cover the part of the phone where the volume buttons are. It isn't that big of a dael, but why not have your case cover your entire phone? Also, the Air only weighs 2.68 oz, so it isn't like it will weigh much more than the Helium case.

OVERALL SCORE:

6.2/10

REVIEW: Tomb Raider Definitive Edition for PS4

Ever since I played Tomb Raider on the PlayStation 3 I have wanted to write a review for the reboot. It was the first Tomb Raider game I have ever finished. It wasn't my first Tomb Raider game, but the reboot of the franchise has made me a fan of the series and of Lara Croft. I have only really played Tomb Raider: Underworld and a demo of one of the PS1 Tomb Raider games, and this version of Tomb Raider is much more intense than either of those.

Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition is the re-release version of the Tomb Raider game we got last year on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC. When I played Tomb Raider on the PS3, I thought the game looked fantastic. I immediately pre-ordered Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition for the PlayStation 4 the moment I found out about its imminent release. I loved playing the single player story and I had been itching to play it once more. I never expected to play it on PS4, though.

Developed originally by Crystal Dynamics, Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition was optimized for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One with some help from Nixxes Software and United Front Games. The PS4 version was done by Nixxes Software and the Xbox One version was done by United Front Games. I have only played the PS4 version of the game since I don't own an Xbox One.

If you played Tomb Raider last year, then you are already familiar with the story. Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition is Lara Croft's origin story. She is on her first expedition in a search for the lost kingdom of Yamatai. Following her gut, Lara suggests that the team head east of Japan and end up shipwrecked on an island. Separated from from her team, Lara must struggle to keep herself alive, as well as the others. This is when Lara's wits and skills are put to the test.

Much like last year's version of the game, I still enjoy the story that is being told in Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition. It hasn't changed, and I am okay with that. Camilla Luddington does an amazing job portraying Lara Croft. She is by far the best voice actress in the entire game. Although the supporting cast is still a letdown in the PS4 and Xbox One versions, Luddington is still able to hold the game's story together.

Where Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition shines are in the graphics and the enhanced controls. When I played Tomb Raider on the PlayStation 3, the graphics blew me away. I know that it looked better on PC, but I mostly game on a dedicated gaming console. That being said, I wasn't sure how impressed I would be. I once owned Madden NFL 25 and that game failed to impress me. It didn't look much better than the PS3 version of the game. Battlefield 4 and Lego Marvel Super Heroes do look amazing on the PS4, but I feel as though Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition does an even better job of taking advantage of the next-gen hardware. The game runs at 6o frames per second. Its natural resolution is 1080p. Everything about Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition is simply breathtaking. It has been several months since a game has made me want to stop playing and simply take in what I was looking at. The last game to do that for me was The Last of Us. The game runs silky smooth. The character models looks fantastic. It has taken me a while to get used to Lara's new face, but I like it now. She looks more realistic, and even looks more like her voice actress.

The controls feel tighter in the re-release as well. If there was one thing I didn't like about Tomb Raider last year, it was the controls. For some reason it felt somewhat difficult to maneuver Lara during certain points of the game. That hasn't been the case for me in the re-release. I haven't had any trouble playing the game as far as controls are concerned.

I also feel that the Quick Time Events aren't as difficult to perform in Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition as they were in last year's game. I often found myself dying because I kept screwing up on the QTE moments of the game. There is a learning curve, but I don't feel it is quite as steep as it was before.

Like other games, Lara acquires new weapons and equipment to further aide her as she searches for her team and a way to survive the island they're on. The equipment she acquires can be pretty awesome. I won't say too much about it. You will just have to find out for yourself.

I never really got to play any multiplayer when I bought Tomb Raider on the PS3. I hadn't heard too many great things about it. I have played online a couple of times, but the lobbies are pretty dead. There aren't many people playing online. I am hoping it is because they're busy playing the story mode. There isn't anything great about the multiplayer. Honestly, I am only attempting to play online for the trophies. Once I have all the online trophies, I probably won't play online. There aren't many modes to choose from. What makes it worse is that when you find a game to play, there aren't many people to compete with. I wasn't sure why they included multiplayer when Tomb Raider came out last year and I'm still unsure as to why it was ever thought of.

Aside from the weak multiplayer, everything else is great about the game. The visuals are definitely the best part of the game. Everything from Lara's hair to the plants blowing in the wind. It all just looks great. I definitely can't wait for more Tomb Raider. Until then, I will continue to play Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition on the PlayStation 4.

OVERALL:

8.5/10