2013 In Review

The majority of this post contains information that I blogged about throughout 2013. I may have included additional in real life tidbits that haven’t been mentioned previously.

January

I reviewed the Last Resort series finale. I still think it is one of my favourite television series from the 2012-2013 television season. I wrote a couple of blog posts regarding the #SaveBCFIlm campaign, here and here.

February 

I made predictions on who would win what for the Oscars. I got Best Director, Best Sound Editing and Best Original Score correct. I plan on doing them again.

March

The family adopted an Airedale Terrier named Archer (finally)! He’s my little rabble rousin’ shit disturber but I love him for it. Emmadale and him get along famously. I’ve nicknamed him Archer the Turduckendale. MMmmmm… Turducken…

I also went in to write my permittee exam for the director’s guild. I didn’t pass it on the first attempt.

April

I read my favourite novel of 2013, A Dog’s Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron. I even wrote a review about it. I would also read the sequel and the series’ conclusion later in the year titled A Dog’s Journey. Both are really great reads. I have several other novels on my shelf by the same author that I haven’t gotten around to reading yet.

In April I began my annual Stanley Cup prediction series Stanley Is Coming. I think it’ll be making a return this year. Maybe if the Canucks even make the playoffs?

June

I wrote an opinion piece on posting spoilers on social media and what the etiquette should be. Someone even mostly agreed with me. If they fully agreed with me, the fabric of space-time continuum would have been torn into oblivion. Looking at you James!

I also wrote about who should replace Matt Smith as The Doctor on the hit television series Doctor Who. I suggested John Hurt, Wil Wheaton, Alex Kingston, Lenora Crichlow, but I really wanted Patrick Stewart (make it fucking so!). But ultimately the role went to Peter Capaldi.

I also made my second trip to Seattle, Washington to watch my Vancouver Whitecaps FC play the Seattle Sounders FC. Sadly the Caps would lose but I still had a great time with friends.

I also loss a schoolmate and good friend. I’ll miss him.

July

I was super busy with work but I got my first tattoo! Ready to see it? This is it! 

 

It represents the three things that I love: Airedale Terriers, Metro-Vancouver and the Vancouver Canucks. No regerts (hahahahahaha!)…

August

At the beginning of August I trekked to Portland, Oregon to catch the Vancouver Whitecaps FC on the road against the Portland Timbers. They would lose on the road but I had so much fun! I got to drink a lot of craft beer! See a dear good friend and meet his family. Also gotta see Star Trek in the Park! Sadly, I didn’t get to go to Voodoo Doughnuts or Big Ass Sandwich but my friend and I are going again in 2014, so I’ll make sure I get to check those places out. 

Also after the game, a moron from Calgary, Alberta (cheering for the Portland Timbers) came over to our table – my friends and I were minding our own business, having a couple pieces of pizza and he red cards us all. What a wanker! We all gave him a hard time from being from Alberta. What a tool.

I also blogged about the tattoo I got above. Oops, forgot about that. 

I rewrote that permittee exam for the guild and passed! Yahoo!!!

I also signed up for Extra Life 2013.

I also wrote a blog post about who should replace Christian Bale as the Dark Knight and not Ben Affleck.

I also went to Penny Arcade Expo 2013 and had a lot of fun! 

November

I more than doubled my $300 goal for Extra Life in 2013 and plan on doing it again in 2014. I am so pleased with myself and many other Extra Lifers who raised estimate $4 million USD for Children Miracle Network Hospitals across North America. Here in British Columbia we raised an estimate $57,000 for BC Children’s Hospital. I am so happy.

December

I got an Xbox One and wrote my second ever video game review for Ryse: Son of Rome. I think I may do it more often.

Christmas was good. It was small, just family. I miss my Granddad. Miss you Granddad. Christmas, just isn’t the same without you.

 

Review · Ryse: Son of Rome (XB1)

You know when your mother or father warned you not to play with sharp objects? This was this game… And they were wrong. So. So. Wrong.

Ryse: Son of Rome is a hack and slash action adventure video game exclusively available for the Xbox One developed by the German developer Crytek (makers of Crysis). I’ve been pretty excited for this title since I heard about it at E3 2010 press conference. It was planned to be a Kinect only title. It was a title that interested me the most and I tried to keep up to date.

When I heard it was going to be a launch title for Microsoft’s next generation console, I knew it was a must own. I was able to get my hands on the co-op multiplayer experience at Penny Arcade Expo this year as well and knew that I had to get myself a copy of the game as soon as it was available.

I loved the story, it’s loosely based on Roman history, however, I found it kept true to the Roman military tradition, their brutality yet their impeccable organizational skills with a mix of the hierarchy and social class. I give the story a 5 out of 5.

The video game itself was graphically stunning. Beautifully well done using the new CryEngine. The characters, buildings and environments seemed lifelike. I give the graphics a 5 out of 5.

Gameplay, it is a hack and slash so I found that the controller didn’t fully utilize the whole new Xbox One controller. One problem I had even though I hate having a jump button I always seemed to push the ‘A’ button when going up… when it happens automatically. The controls can be frustrating in this game but they are easy to master. . Also the Kinect voice commands are pretty useful and found no problems using them. But shouting ARCHERS SUPPORT ME… confused the shit out of my dog…  Also? Focus. Use Focus. That is all. Sick. I give gameplay 4.5 out of 5.

Now onto playability. I think there is a lot of it. Especially with the co-op multiplayer where you play as gladiators in the Coliseum. It’s a good game to have if your buddy has it too. That way you can kick hordes of other gladiators in the balls. Well, stab them with sharp objects. I also plan on going back and getting the achievements that I am missing.

This game is a must own title if you are planning on getting an Xbox One! I really hope that Crytek develops another game just like this one. So awesomes.

Overall  5/5.