PixlBit

Happy Friday Pixlbit! This is the start of my weekend because I got all of my projects finished and I thought I’d spend the chilly (41 degrees in Sunny So Cal) either catching up on some games or thrift store hoppin’. Anyways I think it’s time to get started with another Quick Hits With Chris

 

GOG’s Freebies and Cheap Games

 

I hope everyone grabbed their copies of Fallout 1, 2, and Tactics from these good people. I decided to check out their site and grabbed a couple of their other freebie games, and just looking at the prices of many of their games I’m starting to think I should get back into PC gaming.

 

While browsing I saw this game and instant flashback to my first year in college when I just got my first computer. I was told no games on it, so naturally I had quite a few games, but this one was the game I was always playing. I would build the city, and then go into the editor and made sure I added all the things I needed without having to pay within the game. Yeah I know it ruined the spirit of the game, but it was so much fun just watching the city grow, parts die off, and watch it expand. I don’t know if I want to buy the game to play again, or for just nostalgia reasons, but so far I’m hold until I can make up my mind. Oh PC gaming, you’re cheap games are making me think about upgrading the current tower connected to my TV to also handle games. Time to use my Steam account.

 

 

Starbucks And iTunes

 

I don’t know if I ever mentioned that I used to be all over the little counter cards that Starbucks had where every week you can get some new freebie from iTunes. It varied from apps to books, and of course music. Well I’ve had the Starbucks app for a couple of months now, where I don’t have to always check out Starbucks for their cards (and not spend $4 on a coffee fueled milkshake). I didn’t check my app for a month but there were a bunch of interesting stuff for your iOS device including some free music

 

 

If you have an iOS device, download this app. I also think every so often there might be coupons, and other stuff to get you to buy the coffee fueled milkshakes. The crème brulee frap isn’t bad.

 

Random TV stuff

I beginning to think this is the only non-singing competition/trivia show I watch religiously. I think it hit its stride, and then I got hit with a “Mid Season Finale”. Ok what the heck is a mid season finale? What happened to “Tune In On January” and leave it as a cliffhanger? Why not just keep the cliffhanger name instead of this new name? C’mon TV people, it’s bad enough everyone has similar shows on TV now, and you decide this is better?

 

Back to the TV show, I saw this on Reddit awhile back and I thought it made perfect sense, especially if Joss is involved. If only they could cuss in Chinese…

 

The Singing Shows

 

The Voice is almost done, and there isn’t anyone from Team Blake. Kind of sucks but that 3-year run was pretty darn good. I think Tessanne is going to win

 

Some of her songs have been hit and miss with me but she is talented. I also think Christina’s singer could have a shot, but it’s Tessanne’s competition to lose

 

 

For the X-Factor, I think Jeff Gutt will win because he has the rock voice, the perfect story of single dad trying to raise his kid, and being cut last year. Carlito has a chance too especially with the teenage girls and similar story to Gutt’s. As for Alex & Sierra, they have some talent but I find them annoying. The X-Factor folks are pushing the “they’re in love” aspect and her voice is a little too squeaky for me. They did have one song last week where they killed it, but I don’t know if they have enough to win.

 

I really thought these guys would win, because Country is the big thing right now, they appeal to teenage girls, and most of their songs weren’t bad.

NBC also has their Acapella singing competition but I don’t really watch it because it goes up against X-Factor. I guess I could watch it on Hulu+.

 

Chris Gives Up Foursquare

 

I used to be all into these Social Media check-in apps like Yelp and Foursquare. They were fun, but then it because a competition with a bunch of yahoos who just checked into everything, while sitting on their couch. In my neighborhood there is a retired guy who checks into everything, and now there’s a new guy who does the same, and checks into roads. ROADS! Who does this? Is that little badge really worth it? I mean it used to be fun to check into a liquor store, and a strip club at 10am as you walked by just so my friends could text me asking what the hell I was up to, but it started becoming a competition. I used to check in because it was fun, but it’s no longer fun for me so I have moved on.

 

Chris Checks Out His Video Game Social Media Pages

 

I really need to update my Backloggery because I most likely missed a bunch of games but I’m getting back into logging my latest finds, and whatever Android game I’m playing at the moment. I think the only part of it that is updated is all my classic plastic stuff

 

If you’re on there, add me as a friend: backloggery.com/goaztecs

 

 

I also started checking my Raptr account more frequently just to see where I stand with my gaming (mainly the 360 stuff). I also noticed I put in a lot of time with racing games. Good thing it doesn’t keep track of PS3 time because I’m scared to see how many hours I sunk into NCAA Football. Just like Backloggery, if you have a Raptr account I’m GoAztecs.

 

Pickups!

 

Games

 

I finally found some games at the local Thrift Store. I think this store will be my go-to for games because they never fail (and it’s on the border of a rich neighborhood). It was in the glass case at the front of the store, along with a stack of N64 carts, a SNES, with two controllers, one of the controllers was still sealed in box. Not a bad deal for $20. I left it because I don’t need it, and hopefully a game fan and not eBay guy gets a hold of it.

Back to my game, this is one game I’ve been wanting for a while. It’s not rare, but I’ve wanted the old UFC games.

 

 

I’ve been patiently waiting for this game, and it’s really good. I also feel that Rovio has gone nuts with the in-app purchases. Good luck trying to sell that $50 in game car, maybe some kid is going to hit buy making some parents extremely angry. If they would release a game for $3-5 bucks, and not have ads, or these in-app purchases I would gladly give my cash. It’s a solid racing game. Anyways more on my thoughts about it in a later blog.

 

 

For you iOS folks, this is free. I download it, but I will probably start playing it when I get a new iPad. I loved playing the Lego Star Wars games, and hopefully this isn’t too different from the console versions.

 

 

This game finally got it’s Christmas update with a bunch of new goodies, and new community game. I like the update, and I am back to running out of room for the new stuff (which is a good problem to have).

 

They also have this guy to go along with Homer’s Mr.Plow.

Call Me Mr. Plow

That’s my name,

My name again is Mr. Plow

 

On the 360 there were a couple of games for 2-4 bucks, so I added them to Mount Backlog

 

There were others but I already have them on the PS3, so there wasn’t any reason to buy them again. I probably would have if they offered something new or different.

 

Movies

 

It came out on Tuesday, and there were like three or four different versions at various stores. I went with the Target version because it came with the soundtrack. I think Walmart had extra featurettes, and Best Buy had different featurettes (it’s becoming like baseball cards with the different options). Target was also selling the vanilla version on Blu-ray at the same price as the steelbook. Normally I don’t care about steelbook versus regular case, but in the steelbook you get a physical copy of the soundtrack/as well as the regular stuff, how do you pass that up?

*Chris Rants: Ok so I get the CD Soundtrack, pop it to upload to iTunes, and it’s the edited version. C’mon movie studios, slap a parental sticker on the case, and not give me an edited soundtrack. Like my friend said “Is the movie edited? No? Then neither should the soundtrack”

I need to add the digital version to my iPad. When I tried on Tuesday, the site was slammed.

 

Music

When I bought Fast 6, I also picked up

 

Donald Glover’s err Childish Gambino’s new album, and I have to say I’m really enjoying it more than the first album.

 

 

I added to the Christmas Playlists. Jersey Boys is crap, Temptations isn’t bad. Thank goodness Jersey Boys was cheap, and an Online Return.

 

Some thrift store music finds

 

I really need to check my CD list. I already own a copy of this

 

I added some new Jazz to the library. I really liked Wynton Marsalis’ Joe Cool’s Blues. It’s a fun album, and I look forward to listening to this album as well.

 

Some vinyl I found for $1 each

 

A digital album I bought on Google Play, with some credit I still have

 

And finally when I went out grocery shopping, I stopped at Toys R Us to see if they had the new Batman Lego set (they did, but at $5 over retail…pass) but I did see that they had their Lego Minifig pens on Clearance and I picked up the one minifigure I never added to my collection

 

 

I didn’t buy these but I do like them

 

I saw these on SDSU’s online store. State is pushing the Ron Burgundy stuff hard, and I thought the ugly sweater was funny. I’m probably going to pick up the shirts around my birthday.

 

Well Pixlbit, I am hungry, and I am ready to enjoy my Friday.

 

That’s all for now, more later!

-Chris