topham

Thats a pretty good song as far as Nightwish go, do you listen to much music like that? Bands such as Epica, After Forever, and Leaves Eyes? I got Poetry for the Poisoned the other day. I'm not sure what to make of it. It's alright, but the first track is my favourite, and the title tracks are a bit of a let down, but its a good album, but I don't think its up to their previous standard. I have a massive list of albums that I want to get when I have money. On that list is an album thats taken me forever to even find not online, which is the Hinderers by Daath. I love the Concealers and my friend says the Hinderers is better so I'm very looking forward to that. I've tried 3 times today to listen to Clenching the Fists of Dissent by Machine Head, but to no avail, its too long and I keep getting distracted by other people and stop listening about half way through. Oh well.

this is only my first as far as I'm aware... but it might be the first of a long line of drunken blogs...

So I haven't played runescape in a week. But I've done some work in the lab. And its going well. I'll be working and studying this weekend. Which, although it sounds boring I'm really looking forward to. I realise when I get home theres so many different games I want to get. Namely Resident Evil 5, Black Ops, and some others. I really wanna get a ps2 again and get some games for that that i miss. I don't really have much to write as I've been drinking this evening and am not thinking straight. Theres a big seminar tomorrow that i'm going to and looking forward too and my friends are going with me, I actually cant wait. Oh well. Peace

I currently don't want to put much effort into writing as I'm about to take my first warm shower in 3 days, then go to bed, and I really want my shower. I started reading the Scott Pilgrim books as I mentioned before, and am currently getting all my friends here to read them. I've ordered the 3-6th books so when I'm really looking forward to recieving them. I got poetry for the poisoned through the post yesterday and am really enjoying it, but feel its not up to the standard that Kamelots previous album was, but further listenings may change my mind. My work is going badly as I can't get motivated to do more work, but I really need to do some more work and get further as I've not progressed well at al recently. I've only played runescape for 5 mins in the last 7 days I think, and all I did was move to piscatoris to fish some monks to set myself up for 90 fishing. It should be about 11k monks, which every 1k I'm thinking i'll burn 1k Maples to level Firemaking as well, but I might change to 500 monks, 1k maples. Oh well. Peace

Yeah, I was in the Marina Bay Grandstand which was the one where the track goes under, and it was very enjoyable. My friend was watching it somewhere and she said that the lotus team told Kovalainen to keep driving and finish the race. They clearly didn't think it was as bad as it was.

I've just got in from the F1 GP here in Singapore, and it was one of the most exciting races I think I've seen, and I was in a grandstand of about 12-15,000 people, and the atmosphere was incredible, and the race so close. I had such a fun weekend, the other races of the weekend were also brilliant, and the conditions really gave some spectacular races, and some crazy spins. My friends got tickets to the qualifying and other things that were on yesterday so we all got together and checked things out, and it was lots of fun and I met some new people. Also, I bought the first 2 Scott Pilgrim books, and read them, one a day, and then ordered the other 4 to be delivered soon. They are such fun to read, and they are so awesome!! I cannot wait for the movie to be released here at the end of october. My head is in a myriad state right now so I can't think straight so I'm not going to write any more. Peace

=)

I'm excited as its the Singapore GP this weekend, and I'm just about to head down for all the festivites that are going on. I'm very much looking forward to the race, especially as the championship is still so close. I'll be taking my camera/video camera with me incase I see any famous people and I get a chance to talk to them, although I doubt it, but you never know, and also to take pics of practices and qualifying and the race. Edit: Incredible Race, so close in the championship. Was surprised by the local commentary saying nothing on Nico Rosberg the whole race and in my opinion he had a very good race, and was consistent and came 5th, just because he wasn't in the action doesn't mean he shouldn't be mentioned. Some brilliant driving by Kubica at the end as well. Kovalainens car smelt so bad when it came past the grandstand before getting to the pit straight. I had an incredible time all weekend, was a phenomenal race and there was a wicked atmosphere around the city this weekend.

Yeah, I'm aware of this, as part of my degree I needed to know all 22, which ones were essential and which ones weren't, and what the side chains were. Its probably the most tedious thing i've had to learn as I'm not a fan of the bio side of things.

Cool, thanks guys. I'm not one to really listen to, or understand lyrics, I appreciate well thought out melodies more. Currently listening to Solution .45, their album is good, found out more about Miseration, as much as Jani Stefanovic, who worked on Solution .45s album with Alvestam, also works on Miserations albums with Alvestam, but the music is more straight up death metal, than melodic, but you can hear Alvestams influence in the music and lyrics. I found out about both Demon Hunter and Miseration within about 5 mins of one another as I'm a fiend for just clicking links on wikipedia to see where I get to and tracking my results, and Alvestam appears on Demon Hunters latest. Its all interconnected, which to me is crazy, but gives me lots of joy as I uncover more and more bands and more and more music that I can listen to.

Currently I'm listening to Miseration sporadically, but I can't make out whether they are any good or not. They're another of Christian Alvestams bands, usually pretty good music put out, but I'm unsure of this band. Oh well. Today I've been listening to 5 Finger Death Punch, and am completely loving both their albums, also just listened to The Panic Broadcast for the 14th time since getting it, I really can't get enough of that album. Did anyone happen to hear Order of the Black by Black Label Society? I'm considering getting it when I get home, but I'm unsure as I don't feel confident in the reviews I've read of it, as they seem to be very varied. I'm a fan of BLS so if its anything like their previous efforts without sounding like their just replicating then I'd enjoy it. As for Dream Theater losing Mike Portnoy, I don't know how it'll affect the band, but my favourite album is Images and Words. I think the way they considered they 'evolved' pushed them way too far away from their original sound, which in my opinion was a step in the wrong direction. And as much as I enjoy their newer albums, I think the earlier albums (avoiding the era with Derek Sherinian) were much better. And has anyone else heard anything from Demon Hunter? I know they're a Christian metal band, so I'm a little skeptical of their lyrics, but I enjoyed the track that Bjorn Strid guested on.

So last night I went to the BJJ session, and got choked twice pretty severely due to my resistance to letting myself give up easily. I actually cant remember the result of one of the grapples, but I know I lost, and it was the first loss I'd taken in the club. I'd won my first two, first by guillotine, with terrible technique, and the second by releasing an arm triangle after nearly gassing my arms (and afterwards finding out that i'd nearly made the other guy tap), retaining side control and securing a kimura. The next 3 bouts didn't go so well. Like I said I can't remember the outcome of the first loss, I know I tapped but I have no idea what to, the next came to the same guy, this time by triangle choke, after I accidentally went towards the wrong leg he sank the choke in deeper, I struggled until I was almost ready to go then tapped, I just couldn't get out. The next came to my friend that I'd met and can riff on the UFC with, and after he took my back early, about 3 mins later he finally sank in the RNC, the first person to secure that choke on me, but everyone else last night attempted, but I'd managed to avoid it. During these bouts I got really bad abrasions on my arms that are significantly large bruises right now, and I've done something to my shin, it feels like one of the worst bruises I've ever had, but there is no sign of any skin damage. And in the last bout, when my opponent slid his arm across my face at one point he busted my lip open, which caused there to be some blood around, and my first blood injury in the club. I might have been beaten, but I feel I'm still learning and progressing well, and that nothing can hold me back. Today I played some runescape, and got 80 mining, about 50k exp today, which was good then collected my mtk. I think the motivation is there if i want it, but if not I can be very lazy. I've been slacking at work something atrocious, but I think everything will pick up next week, as I'll be working hard, but tomorrow I'm off to the city centre to enjoy all the festivities of the F1 GP for the whole weekend. I hope to get lots of pics and maybe some videos. Peace Edit: Upon reading a thread in off topic just now, and feeling like that thread is getting nowhere productive, I want to post my ideas here, rather than using a post in that thread. The vegetarianism post in off topic kinda got on my nerves, as people are throwing incorrect facts around about the subject, and some people were posting things that made no sense at all, like one post claiming that if vegetarians aren't eating protein then they need iron supplements. As a chemistry student this sounds preposterous, as protiens are complex carbohydrates, made predominantly of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen, and have nothing to do with iron. And some vegetables contain large enough sources of iron, spinach is the first that comes to mind. So I'm a vegetarian, I've always been a vegetarian, I'm not interested in eating meat, I have no problems with others eating meat, I believe its a choice everyone has. I'm a healthy person, a little overweight by my own admission, but I'm currently on a diet that I've formulated myself, and I'm happy with how its working. I've never had to take supplements, I've never been deficient of anything, and I've never felt that anything is missing in my diet. I don't push vegetarianism on anyone, as I believe doing this perpetuates the pushy vegetarian image that everyone knows of. I've met some people who actively try to get people to stop eating meat, and I found that they're misled with a lot of the facts that they've accumulated, and despise their attitudes towards this. It also occurs that people who eat meat might be unaware of how things work and what goes into the food that they eat. While I know that I'm relatively uninformed of accurate information, I can tell when something isn't sounding right, like many things being posted in that thread.

Which Tyr album? I prefer their more recent one, By The Light Of the Northern Star, but Land was also brillliant. I'm currently waiting on Poetry for the Poisoned to be delivered to me, which I am very excited about.

So I've been trying to get motivated to play runescape a bit more, but due to my real life I'm having problems trying to find time, but thats good, right? Well, runescape is one of the two games that I have to play here, so its nice to relax and play. But, I'm also trying to loose weight and get it better shape, but that seems to me to be taking over my life. I'm struggling to find a balance between the 2, and the work that I'm also carrying out, not to mention my poor financial situation, aren't really helping. My lab work is alright, although things are still not being as good as they could be. My motivation for getting in better shape is that I want to have something to show from being away and working hard at things, and so far I've lost 20 lbs, and am now 11 st, which I am very pleased with, but I still know I could loose more. Fueling me for my work is the desire to get a paper published this year, and have get a high mark for my project report. But I'm having a hard time trying to figure out a reason to motivate me to play runescape at all. In other news, I have a 3 day weekend coming up for the Singapore GP, and am very much looking forward to it as it looks to be an exciting event happening. Also, UFC 119 is coming up, and I'm looking forward to one of the fights specifically, but it looks like the whole card should be thoroughly enjoyable. Peace

I saw Resident Evil: Afterlife at the weekend, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I really enjoy the series. I was so confused at the beginning until I remembered the end of the previous film. I really wanna see Scott Pilgrim Vs The World, but its not out here for another month I think.

Not much to say. My grandfather died yesterday morning. Made me sad, not really done anything worth mentioning, just trying to deal with it being so far from most friends and family. RIP Grandad. Peace

Currently: Five Finger Death Punch, A Perfect Circle, Kamelot, Soilwork, and Marillion. Not as diverse as it could be, but definately more diverse than it has been recently.

Thanks, but I didn't get the fletching cape, but I do like my shiny trimmed attack cape.

at least I reckon it is. I achieved 99 fletching yesterday morning, and on the way got 86 smithing, which is nice. I'm now working on 80 mining, from 79. So things are going well. But I now have much less time available as I realised I should be working harder, as i've been slacking a little. I finished my gymnastics classes this evening, and started brazilian jiu jitsu yesterday. In the BJJ class I managed to submit the club president after a well fought 8 mins, although I'll admit that my horrible technique caused way more damage than I realised at the time. I also grappled with another of the club members, submitting him twice, once with an armbar, and once with an omoplata. I used an arm triangle from the bottom as a sweep to gain top position then mount in one of the bouts, but didn't finish the bout with the submission as again my technique in some moves is poor. My back pain is subsiding, as I'm constantly doing stuff to keep me active and strengthening the area thats been feeling rubbish. My lab work is going ok, although I still haven't got any further in my reactions, but am hopeful my key reaction will pick up soon.] peace

So when training last week I tweaked my back, and it gave me no end of trouble for the evening, and then the day after I thought everything was fun, but then today, my back went again, and I'm still suffering through it. It's probably the most painful its been, but I plan to keep training and making sure I can continue on and make my back stronger so that the pain disappears. I was at tae kwon do today and that was fun, I started kickboxing yesterday and tomorrow I start Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, which I am very much looking forward too. My lab work is becoming infuriating, but I'm hopefully gonna get some results soon that will be useful, and then I will get on with finishing my work. Hopefully in the next few weeks I can plan out all my holidays for the rest of the year which could be very exciting. I realised over the weekend how much I was missing people back at home, but how little some of them actually care, which gave me a realisation that I don't know why they're friends with me. Peace

I posted on the thread about it earlier in the day, I thought that it'd been interupted due to someone not being able to do their list and there not having been a list for a while, so I went for it.

I no lifed most of the weekend, now I only have 90k arrows to make. I've got 98 fletching and 85 smithing now, and I'm less than level 900k to 99. I've only got 5k bars left to smith, and then I can leave this task behind. Things have been going well, and I've written a big long post on my favourite video games. I also went to collect my GP ticket only to find out its not available until the week of the GP. So I wasted about 4 hours going into the city. I was also looking for some new albums, but I didn't find any of them. I've done no work all weekend and its been awesome. I've not really done much this weekend, but things will be better this week. I feel motivated, and am looking forward to doing lots of stuffs.

Thanks =)

What do you mean by that?

This is my list. A list of games that I've enjoyed hundreds of hours playing. And games that I'd thoroughly recommend anyone to give a try. Like most things in my life, I avoid anything to do with it until I start playing, so I don't read reviews and have no expectations of games which leads most of my gaming experiences to be positive. Also, I've owned a PS1 and PS2, as well as xbox 360, so don't complain if theres not much diversity in the consoles. Also, my writing ability, in my opinion, is very poor, so I might repeat a point or completely omit something that I found good or bad about the games, or not explain well something to do with the games. Honourable Mentions: Burnout 3/Revenge, Kingdom Hearts, Dynasty Warriors 3, Lylat Wars. 14. Wet (Xbox 360) The lowest game on my list is maybe the most recent game I'll mention. Wet, a game that I find completely enjoyable, as long as I don't try to play seriously and I want to have fun. I was on my third replay before I left my xbox, and wasn't getting tired of finding new acrobatic ways to kill the bad guys. The story is simplistic, but entertaining, and the graphics aren't great for a modern game on a modern system, but the game is fun, and that's what I was looking for when I got it. 13. Tekken 3 (PS1) The original PS1, my first console, and one of my first games. I have fond memories of this game, which, as far as I can remember was the first game I completed fully. What made this stand out to me was the Tekken Force Mode, a side scrolling, near 3d experience, although dificult to control at points, was thoroughly enjoyable and offered a real challenge at points. Also, the amount of characters to unlock, and my hunger for completion really pushed me to see this game through. This game is probably my earliest gaming memories. 12. Gran Turismo 3 (PS2) I'll be honest that I never played GT4, and as such, can't compare its quality. But this game had so much to do, I never got all the cars, or finished all the races, but always adored the amount that I still had to do. After returning to this game I found a new love for it, not because I wanted to drive fast, but after I'd learnt to drive actually driving like you'd expect to drive properly, which was refreshing and drastically lowered my laptimes, thoroughly destroying the competition in most of the races. Although I never completed this game, I still feel I achieved enough in it to not feel the need to return unless I really want to play it. Its graphics were smooth, especially for a launch title for the PS2. 11. Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (360) This game had an incredible campaign and the online multiplayer was my first experience with online gaming, aside from Runescape. Now I'm not the best person at first person shooters, however I do adore playing them, see my number 1 game, but this game felt incredible to play. The story was gripping, and the combat felt dangerous. I'll admit I never completed the game on veteran, but did complete it on hardened, which in my opinion is good enough. I got rather close to the end on veteran, actually, I was on 'No Fighting in the War Room', but kept got stuck at moving forwards during the section where the path splits into 3 briefly. Stuck infuriatingly close to the end is annoying to say the least, however, the campaign was very well put together, and I had a lot of fun times online playing with my mates in one of the best online games released. 10. Zone of the Enders (PS2) A tremendous game, with incredible game play, combined with a compelling story (if a bit short in my opinion) with some incredible graphics for the PS2. This game was about a child who pilots a large robot, initially accidentally, but then proves to be a natural at using this frame. As you're using a flying robot combat is from all 3 dimensions, with detection of the enemies being their immediate view, so sneaking up and beating them quick was always an option if you were crafty enough. With continually advancing story, which grew more and more interesting I could not put this game down until I completed it, and while I still had my PS2 I bought it once, traded it in, then a few months later bought it again, as I realised how brilliantly put together this game was. I think this game is one that everyone should play at least once. 9. Assassins Creed 1 and 2 (360) Yes, the both of them. These game opened my eyes to what is possible now with games, with the large open worlds that can be climbed all over. Now I'll admit that the second one was better in every way, but the first was the first game I took the time to 1000 point and I'm proud and glad that I did. Although finding those last flags was soul destroying, the rest of the game, the combat, the large maps, the ability to go anywhere, and the story was the nearly the best I've experienced on the current console generation. The setting of the second, the colours and liveliness, and additions to the combat, made the second more enjoyable and more fun to play. Also, the fact that water didn't kill in the second one was a marked improvement over the first as it shows the improvement in the engine that they were using for the game. 8. Dirge Of Cerberus (PS2) The most incredible 3rd person shooter I think has ever existed. Stylish, exciting, and furthering the story from Final Fantasy VII made this one of the most exciting game I played ever. The weapon customisation I really enjoyed, but something I missed the first time I owned the game was the amount of mini-games and things outside of the main story that there are to do. Now the story is wicked, due to it being based on Vincent Valentine from FF7, and with little knowledge of FF7 I still found this game enjoyable, I have since then played FF7, and appreciate this game even more. Now the combat in this game, handles incredibly well for a 3rd person shooter, better than the next game I'll talk about, but it was everything together that made me think this is a game that everyone should play. The story, the characters, the graphics, the style, the customisation of weapons, the amount of stuff to do and the overall experience was phenomenal, and I actually want to re buy a PS2 so that I can further complete this game and more of other games on this list. 7. Fallout 3 (360) Another relatively new game, but one that grasped my attention for hours. I completed the main story twice, once rushing through, just trying to see what it'd take to finish and completed it in about 20 hours, at a pathetic low level. I tried again from the very beginning, starting with looking for all the side quests, really exploring the whole map, and enjoying my time playing the game. This time, I got to about 60 hours before even stating the main story, which I think is how I should have played this game to begin with. With the ability to upgrade weapons, and the need to raise certain skills to do different things like upgrading weapons, being able to heal more among other things this game really appealed to the completion freak in me, but before completing the main quest I experienced a large problem, that the level cap is actually too low to do everything in the game unless you buy an expansion. Anyway, I'd completed the whole game at about 90 hours, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I liked the idea of the wasteland and the way the game was set up, although the graphics weren't great in my opinion, the game was very enjoyable and a lot of fun was had playing it. I also found this game terrifying in the Deathclaw Sanctuaty and surrounding areas, mainly because I was listening to Daath, at night, with no lights on, in headphones, which made for a truly spooky experience. 6. Jade Cocoon (PS1) Jade Cocoon was a strange game, a game that received little to no recognition, and a game many people I know never had even heard of. Needless to say I thought it was a gem, with some graphics that were good for the PS1, and game play that was epic, and a fantastic story that left me wanting more. It focussed around a village that had become under attack and had became cursed. Your character becomes quickly held in high regard by the village as son of a famous master of the cocoon, which is the ability to capture monsters. In the 4 forests that are found at a hub nearby with each needing a key obtained as you advance through the game. The idea is to capture and merge the monsters to become powerful enough to see the end of the curse on your village, at least thats what I can remember of it. Throughout the game there there were different challenges that arose, and different routes along the paths to the forests, leading to different monsters being encountered. The diversity of these monsters and the way the game was put together, the graphics and the cutscenes made this game unforgettable for me, and I implore anyone who has a PS1 kicking around and can find a copy to give it a try. 5. Final Fantasy X (PS2) 220+ hours on one file, still unable to beat Penance, but one of the greatest stories ever told in a video game. If it wasn't for the infuriating memory card problems of the PS1 VII or VIII might be on this list, but no, X, a masterpiece, an eclectic soundtrack, a decent combat system, a gripping story, all with incredible graphics. I think this game is the best FF I've played, and maybe the best one made. I'm still working through 3 and 4, and yeah, where they came from are good, but I think it all came together in X, although the combat system wasn't as good as it could be, the hours I put into this game and the familiarity I have with it when I load it up really give me a good sense of why I love this game. And for what its worth, I think out of all RPGs with turn based/active time battle systems, that X-2 has the best battle system I've ever come across. 4. SSX3 (PS2) In my opinion this game is the best snowboarding game thats been created. It's not accurate to real life, and its completely over the top, which is the reason I love it. I can't listen to AFI's Sing the Sorrow album without being reminded of it, as most weekends I'd play this game while listening to that album. I really enjoyed the brightness, the flamboyancy and the sense of accomplishment in this game. Also, this was the first game I played online, with the PS2s horrible online services with rubbish internet connection, it was a harrowing and daunting experience, and I'm glad that online gaming has evolved. What I enjoyed about this game was the tracks, the ability to go nearly wherever, and the whole mountain races. I'll admit that I never got a gold in the total mountain downhill, by about 20 seconds I think, but I'd tried relentlessly to beat this game, and had gold and platinum medals in al the other events. Also, there were a wide variety of characters, the aerial movesets were insane, and the customisation of characters and boards was phenomenal. This made this game one of my favourites of all time. 3. Metal Gear Solid (PS1) In my mind this is the perfect game. But at number 3? why not number 1? Here is why. While this game is amazing, it's not as fun as the two that are higher. The Story for this game was wicked, the characters were good, the gameplay was brilliant, and the play time was spot on. The change in areas was insane for such a big game, it never felt like you'd gone too far, but upon looking back at what had gone on both story wise and actual distance it was great. Upon playing it again recently, I realised how easy some sections were, and how tough some bosses were, and how brilliantly the game flowed. Although, that being said, I did get to Psycho Mantis in about 3hours 30 mins, which I swear was more difficult when I was younger. Overall definitely one of my favourite games of all time, but I don't know many people that never played it. 2. Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped (PS1) Everything about this game was fun. The music was goofy, the characters were wacky and the levels were crazy. The way the game played was good, and it really had an effect on me. It was this game specifically that got me hooked on gaming properly. Its everything anyone should look for in a fun game, fun and good game play. I still remember all the bosses, and have found the same with other Crash games, that the 4th boss is the hardest, but that they usually give the best reward, the bazooka =). I remember finally getting 100% on this game, only to find out online, when the internet was slooooow, that it went to 104 or 105%. Needless to say, hours of fun went into this game, and it's a game that I believe is one of the best of all time. 1. Timesplitters 2 (PS2) My ultimate first person shooter, and one of the best created games ever. Maybe the best PS2 game ever made. Great graphics, fun gameplay, chaotic, brilliant, entertaining campaign, fun missions, hundreds of arcade challenges, and incredibly difficult hard mode, and hundreds of unlocks. The game had depth, it has my favourite multiplayer game modes, the arcade challenges were solid, some were near impossible. I feel wrong putting this game at the top of my list for the simple fact that I never completed the game on hard mode, and that I never unlocked everything, as there was so much to do, and some of the challenges were so ridiculously difficult, that I tried so many times but never finished even medalling in all challenges. However, party games, between me and my friends at parties with a multitap were insanely fun, chaotic, and downright crazy. We all loved playing this game. Oh, and who can forget about the zombies, and monkeys!! In my opinion these top 3 games are all equally deserving of the top spot on my list, but Timesplitters 2 will hold the top spot because of the multiplayer and the chaos that ensues everytime I play it. Thanks for reading. Peace