that is one fuzzy bug

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJnn-wMPU9w

good idea Nintendo

So Nintendo has been "updating" Gamecube games for the Wii by adding motion controls. Then they roll out that version for $50, despite the fact that the graphics are still last-gen, in some cases using the Wii-version motion controls is worse than the original controls, and hey - Gamecube discs are playable on the Wii already! So yeah, I'm less than impressed with the whole idea.

But then Nintendo whips this out and it is GREAT! It is exactly what one would hope for when hearing that they are re-releasing GC games for the Wii. They have reworked the first two Metroid Prime games (originally released for GC) and are bundling them with Metroid Prime 3: Corruption (a Wii title) for only $50 total. This is particularly exciting for me, since I never bought my own copy of #3.

They’ll be packaged together with the 2007 Wii sequel on a single disc called Metroid Prime Trilogy.

Although we’ll have to wait longer than Japanese consumers for the game, which will be available on August 24, the price tag of only $50 for all three critically-acclaimed sci-fi adventures is a much better deal.

I played the Japanese version of Metroid Prime when it shipped earlier this year, and played Metroid Prime 2 later at Nintendo’s offices. The games have been fully upgraded with all of the bells and whistles that the Wii brings — full motion control and 16:9 widescreen display being the most obvious enhancements.

But there are also some smaller upgrades. The “ball hop” — the ability to make Samus Aran’s Morph Ball form jump in the air with a quick flick of the Wiimote — has been retrofitted into both of the earlier games.

Nintendo said the games also have shorter loading times, and some mildly updated graphical effects like bloom lighting.

Badges — achievements for completing certain game objectives — have also been added in to the GameCube titles. The badges for all three games are combined in one overarching bonus menu, instead of being split up per title. This means that you can unlock the same set of bonus materials (artwork galleries, etc.) no matter which game you play.

The Metroid Prime 3 control scheme is fully replicated in each of the classic games — you can adjust the sensitivity of the cursor and turn on “Lock-On Free Aim” if you want more control over your aiming.

http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2009/05/hands-on-metroid-prime-trilogy-brings-entire-series-to-wii/

camping

Matt and I went camping with Emily, Rick, and Luke last weekend at Cleburne State Park. Aside from some major rain, it was lots of fun. Emily and Rick are great camp cooks - they made us some kickass fajitas on Friday night. Matt and I made hot dogs on Saturday...not quite in the same league.

Our major activity on Saturday was a visit to Fossil Rim Wildlife Center. It was very cool. The best part was hand-feeding the giraffes. 

In the gift shop, Emily and I staged a dramatic recreation of the experience.

It was extremely cold for May on Saturday. We were huddled around our fire. The intermittent rain through the afternoon didn't help things either. It got down into the 50s that night! But we had a great time and it was an excellent kick-off to the summer.

Advanced Cat Yodeling

This IS Matt!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxLG2wtE7TM

the great game

Matt and I are going to try and go to 1310 The Ticket's "Great Game" tonight in Frisco.

Have I ever mentioned how much Piper loves bed-making? As soon as she hears me shaking out some sheets, she runs in and jumps onto the bed so that I can make her up in it. So cute.

schooool's out for summer

It was weird being a student again this spring, but overall it was a really good thing. It gave me something to do while Matt was at work all the time, and I learned some things too. Plus, it makes me appreciate summer again in the school sense, because I'm taking a break from classes. I do think I'd like to take the other semester of Anatomy & Physiology next fall. Yesterday I went in to take my last test for A&P, got my usual 96%, and closed the book on that class. I also tried to take my psychology final but the testing center was experiencing problems. There was an awesome resolution to that - my teacher e-mailed me and said that since I had done so well all semester, she was just exempting me from the final, so now that class is over too!

I've had some and exciting things going on lately, in addition to wrapping up school. Cousin Lisa took her first trip to Dallas with Miles and Lyla the first week of May. We had a great time for the three days she was here. Piper and Miles became best friends.

He called her "meow meow" and she was the first thing he looked for whenever we walked in the door. On Monday night she'd had enough for a while and hid under furniture and hissed, but the rest of the time she was remarkably calm and collected, and let him chase her around, pet her, and try and catch her tail. Pene showed some maturity too and was allowed around the children with supervision.

Last Wednesday I entertained Emily while Rick was on a work trip to New Mexico. We went indoor rock climbing at Stoneworks in Carrollton. It was a lot of fun. We almost made it to the top of the 100' climb but we both got stalled at the same point maybe ten feet from the top. If we hadn't already climbed that high, we might have had the ability to power through it, but by then our arms were ready to fall off. We each had a fantastic and dramatic fall, which meant the other person got a fantastic and dramatic catch. Another highlight of that day with Em was playing some Castle Crashers on the 360.

Happy birthday, Pene!

Today Miss Pen is two years old. For her birthday, she got a supposedly sturdy red bone squeaky toy (already ripped) and two bones. In the joyous couple hours before she tore up the toy, I got a quick video of her enjoying herself.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YYuHzqzbrQ

great name

I had no idea that the president of the senate of Nigeria's name is Mr Jimmy Bones! Surely I can trust that man with my financial information in order to receive my USD 1.8 MILLION!