Pile Of Shame - Video Game Edition

I became aware of the term 'Pile of Shame' through the excellent Gamers With Jobs podcast/website/forums. I do believe the term originated elsewhere, perhaps over at 1up as some have suggested. In my definition, the pile of shame refers to the stack of media I have spent money on, but haven't consumed yet. In these tough economic times, I am going to endeavor to shrink my piles of shame. It makes sense to go back and play games I have already spent money on before spending money on new games. This is partly motivated by a lack of games coming out that really interest me. The only game scheduled for this year that I am dying to play is Dragon Age Origins. My plan is to make that my only video game purchase for myself for the rest of the year. At the same time, I am going to attempt to keep playing the games I already own. So, let's take a look at what games I own, haven't finished, and might possibly play. If you see one of your favorites here, be sure to mention it and I will maybe move it to the top of the stack.

Xbox 360

Fallout 3 Downloadable Content (I have played about 100 hours of Fallout 3, but haven't touched any of the FOUR expansions.)

Fable II (I played quite a bit, but I was mildly disappointed in the game. I need to play it some more.)

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (i have put tons of hours in, but still haven't finished the expansion)

Overlord (half finished)

Banjo Kazooie: Nuts And Bolts (10% finished)

Enchanted Arms (never played)

Just Cause (60% finished)

The Orange Box: Portal (never played)

The Orange Box: Half Life (barely started)

Viva Pinata (not played nearly enough)

Xbox Live Arcade

Peggle

Magic The Gathering

Xbox

Armed and Dangerous

Beyond Good and Evil

Buffy The Vampire Slayer

Grand Theft Auto San Andreas (60% finished)

Oddworld Munch's Oddysee

Oddworld Strangers Wrath

Panzer Dragoon Orta

Shenmue II

XIII (50% finished)

Playstation 2

The Bard's Tale (10% finished)

Bully (50% finshed)

Final Fantasy X

The Getaway

God Of War

Ico

Jak II

Jak 3

Katamari Damacy

Kingdom Hearts II

Klonoa 2: Lunatea's Veil

Shadow Of The Colossus

Sly 2: Band of Thieves

Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves

Suikoden IV

Viewtiful Joe 2

Playstation

Final Fantasy I

Final Fantasy II

Final Fantasy IX

The Legend of Dragoon

Oddworld Abe's Exoddus

Oddworld Abe's Oddysee

The X-Files

Gamecube

iNinja

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (50% finished)

Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door

Tales Of Symphonia (60% finished)

Viewtiful Joe

Gameboy

Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney

Metal Gear Solid

PC

Mount & Blade

King's Bounty: The Legend

Far Cry

World Of Goo

Dark Messiah Might & Magic

Tomb Raider: Anniversary

Mark's Box - August 2009

Has it really been a month since I have posted anything? I have had lots of posts in mind, but I've been too lazy to sit and post them. Or perhaps I was too engrossed in other things...

An update on last month's box: Ythaq was pretty interesting. The story took a bit of time to hook me, but I was drawn into it by the end. The art is quite wonderful. I look forward to more. Low Moon by Jason was quite excellent too. Jason ended up winning another Eisner this year and Low Moon will probably be nominated next year. He really is one of the best in the business right now. I haven't gotten around to Sleeper yet.

This month's box may be one of the best boxes I have ever gotten. There is so much good stuff in it, I really don't know where to start. I don't feature items on here that I have listed in the past, but I will list the stuff I got this week that I can't wait to read. Mouse Guard: Winter 1152, Northlanders Vol 2, Pluto Vol 4, and Red Sonja Vol 6. I really should start reading them all right now. Aside from all that awesomeness there are some new books that look quite cool. Here is the top three:

Echo by Terry Moore - I have no idea what this book is about. Terry Moore wrote Strangers In Paradise for years and I have loved the first few books of that series. He has also done some writing for Marvel that I will be picking up soon. I had a brief chat with him at Comic-Con and he was very nice considering the stuff I was babbling wasn't making much sense. Check this book out on Amazon here.

The Nobody by Jeff Lemire - Jeff Lemire is one of the most celebrated indie comic creators of the last few years. His Essex County trilogy has won tons of awards. I haven't read it, but it should be showing up in a box sometime soon. This story takes the classic character the Invisible Man and drops him into a modern town. Sounds quite cool. Check it out on Amazon here.

Prince Valiant, Vol. 1: 1937-1938 by Hal Foster - Super old school comic strips from the newspapers. This book is huge. I don't think it will fit on my shelves. I love reading comics from way back when and this one looks awesome. The strip lasted for something like 35 years. I am looking forward to an epic tale. Check out a cool review of it here. And it is on Amazon here.

Mark's Box - July 2009

Low Moon by Jason - Quite a hefty box this month. It was tough picking my three favorites. Up first we have the new book from Jason. He won the Eisner award in 2007 and 2008 for Best US Edition of International Material (Non-Japan) and is nominated again this year. Low Moon will probably be nominated next year. So, you know the industry types love him and so do I. This will be the next book I start reading. Check it out on Amazon here.Sleeper, Season One by Ed Brubaker & Sean Phillips - I read a couple issues of Sleeper, Season Two awhile back and it was quite excellent. So, I decided to wait until all the trades were released to get the whole story. This story spins off from Point Blank and then moves to Sleeper, Season Two which should be here soon. I can't wait to dig in to the whole thing. Amazon has it here.
Ythaq: The Forsaken World by Christophe Arleston & Adrien Floch - Marvel has struck a deal with a French comic company called Soleil. Marvel is bringing several of Soleil's titles to the US and Ythaq is the second I have picked up. The art looks amazing and I am really looking forward to reading this science fiction epic. Check it out at Amazon here.

Mark's Box - June 2009

Not a bad box this month. Further volumes of Pluto and 20th Century Boys are eagerly anticipated additions to my stack. I shall be reading them shortly. I also finally got my Obama bobblehead that I ordered back in January. And now on to the three new books I am most looking forward to reading.

Ikigami has a pretty cool concept. The Japanese government decides to kill one young adult every day. The lucky person chosen is given notification 24 hours before they are to die. Sounds entirely realistic. I can't wait to see if it is as good as it sounds. Check out a review here.

Sexy spy undergoing some kind of breakdown? Sounds cool to me. Pherone has some great artwork. I hope the story stands up to the coolness of the art. Check out the CBR preview here.

I really cannot remember why I ordered Johnny Hiro. The blurb sounds cool. Maybe it was recommended by one of the two comics podcasts I listen to (Comic Geek Speak or Collected Comics Library). It was nominated for four Eisners, so it should be worth a read. Check it out at Amazon here.

Harry Potter Film Festival

My wife is in the Bahamas for a few days, so I was alone today. What wild and crazy thing did I decide to do with my saturday? A Harry Potter film festival of course!

I will start out by saying that I always hate the movies when I first see them. I spend the entire viewing cataloging everything that is different from the books. Then I spend hours, days, weeks complaining about how the movies are shit. Let's see if they have grown on me after repeated viewings.

Harry Potter & The Sorcerer's Stone (2001) - A relatively enjoyable introduction to the world of Harry Potter. This film is a pleasant viewing experience. The differences from the book are significantly less important to the story than we will see in later films.

The Good: The majority of the cast is spot on to how I pictured them in in my mind. Mr. Ollivander is particularly good in a small role.

The Bad: Professor Quirrell didn't work for me.

Harry Potter & The Chamber Of Secrets (2002) - Another relatively pleasant viewing experience. Chris Columbus really does a fine job at making the first two films good family entertainment. The series would get 'edgy' starting with the next movie. The first two films also feature Richard Harris as Dumbledore. I appreciate Harris' portrayal more after seeing Gambon in the next three movies, but Harris still isn't perfect in the role.

The Good: Kenneth Branagh is quite good as Lockhart.

The Bad: I find Dobby to be mildly annoying in the movies. They really should have made a bigger deal out of how much everyone at the school thought Harry was the Heir of Slytherin. "Make way for the Heir of Slytherin. Seriously evil wizard coming through." The chat with Dumbledore at the end of the movie is way too short. I was very sad not to see Harry receive his valentine from Ginny.

Harry Potter & The Prisoner Of Azkaban (2004) - Probably my favorite film of the series so far. New director Alfonso Cuarón really took things in a new direction and I enjoy most of it. I am not saying it is a perfect adaptation, but the bad things in this one are the least objectionable to me.

The Good: David Thewlis is quite good as Lupin. The trio gets more emotional development than they did in the first couple films. Stan Shunpike is awesome.

The Bad: Harry performing magic outside of school. Draco Malfoy hasn't been developed as a true rival to Harry. Snape also doesn't seem to be getting the screen time I would like to see.

The Really Bad: Michael Gambon was given the role of Dumbledore.

Harry Potter & The Goblet Of Fire (2005) - This one still hasn't grown on me yet. It is bad. I understand the book is huge, but I really disagree with the choices they made on what to keep. In addition, I really hate they way the presented much of the stuff they did keep. Maybe another five viewings and I will like it. Maybe.

The Good: The progression of the Ron/Hermione relationship.

The Bad: I really, really hate the way the Barty Crouch Jr. stuff was handled; both the story changes and the actor who played him. The Death Eater attack at the Quidditch World Cup is a total joke. Why is the Goblet of Fire so huge? Gambon is completely awful as Dumbledore. Why is the pensieve so huge? The first task is portrayed in a really awful way. The Weird Sisters. Moaning Myrtle trying to see Harry's dick through their whole conversation. Neville saying, "I killed Harry Potter." The Grindylow attack on Harry. The lack of obstacles in the maze aside from the bushes. Ralph Fiennes is okay as Voldemort, but I am not too happy with the way the films portray him. Once again, Harry and Dumbledore need to chat more at the end. Brendan Gleeson is pretty awful as Moody. The way Sirius talks to Harry in the fireplace is all wrong.

Things I Really Miss: Dudley eating the Ton-Tongue Toffee. S.P.E.W. Harry learning to fight the Imperius Curse. Priori Incantatem is not explained at all. Dumbledore's disagreement with Fudge at the end of the book really should be in. It sets up the coming battles.

Harry Potter & The Order Of The Phoenix (2007) - When I first saw this film, I nearly walked out during the opening scene. Today was my second viewing and it was still completely awful. JK Rowling has said this is the "best one yet." I respectfully disagree.

The Good: Luna Lovegood.

The Bad: Harry takes his wand out to threaten Dudley with all Dudley's friends standing there. International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy, anyone ever heard of it? Soon after there is a broomstick flight that goes right down the Thames. Right next to a touristy boat. Hello?! Secrecy! Harry's frustration at being deprived of information all summer was really under-developed. Harry should have been much angrier when he finally arrived at Grimmauld place. The smear campaign against Harry needed to be explained a lot more. Mrs. Figg. I don't like the decor in the Ministry. Harry's battle of wills with Umbridge is not developed enough. Harry's dreams. Gambon again. The Weasley Twins disrupting exams. Grawp. Umbridge breaking into the Room of Requirement. The battles at the Ministry. Harry hearing the prophecy at the Ministry. Harry handing the prophecy to Lucius! Probably the shortest Harry/Dumbledore chat ever.

The Things I Really Miss: Harry hiding in the bushes trying to hear the news. The cavalcade of owls delivering letters after the dementor attack. The muggle dueling after the quidditch match. All the rooms in the Department of Mysteries. Weasley is our king. Snape's Worst Memory. Ron and Hermione becoming prefects! The Quibbler.

As you can see, it is easier to write more when the movies suck. Hopefully I won't have much negative to say about the three remaining movies. We shall see.

Mark's Box - May 2009

Holy rising hemlines, Batman! My box was chock full of excellence this month. I could list something like eight titles and they would all be great. The top three were still pretty easy to select. I have a sneaking suspicion that you may see some of these titles on my year-end best of list.

Greg Rucka has joined the small list of writers who are instant buys for me. He hasn't disappointed me yet. I read volume one of Queen & Country a while ago and it blew me away. I turned right around and ordered the next two volumes which showed up today. After I finish the book I'm currently reading, this is the next one I will start. Check out Oni's Queen & Country page here.

Warren Ellis is another writer that hasn't disappointed me yet. I got three Warren Ellis books today. He really writes a lot of stuff. My favorite series of his so far is Freak Angels. Volume two just showed up and I will be reading it right after I finish Queen & Country. Freak Angels is a free webcomic, but I have never read it online. Check it out here.

Marvel Masterworks: The Avengers, Volume 1 finally in trade paperback. This is the old school Avengers from the 1960s written by Stan Lee. Last month I got the first X-Men volume, so I am happy to see my Masterworks collection growing. Check out Marvel's Avengers page here.

Pruning the DVD Collection

I've got a reasonably large dvd collection. Probably larger than most people. I own somewhere around 500 dvds. Unfortunately, most of them have been gathering dust. I decided to severely limit my new dvd purchases about a year ago. I have still picked up a couple, but the collection has not grown significantly in the past twelve months. Now it is time to prune.

I have been using Netflix and Netflix instant more and more in the past year and I am sure other streaming or downladable movie solutions will find their way into my house. So, why do I need these racks of dvds gathering dust? I don't. There are some dvds I won't part with. I went through my collection last night and looked most of them up on the SecondSpin.com database to see what they would give me for them. I found 100 titles that I feel reasonably okay about getting rid of. I am far too lazy to list them all individually on ebay, so I prefer to send one box off and get some cash in return. I have used SecondSpin in the past when I sold off all my cds.

So, 100 titles down and my dvd collection is still too big. I can't wait until the time comes when I can pay $1 to watch any movie streamed or something like that. Chances are I will still hold on to some dvds, but the fewer the better.

If  you'd like to see what I have left, my library is online here. Change the 'shelf' to dvds.