My Top 10 Xbox 360 Games of All Time

 I've already done my Top 10 Original Xbox and Top 10 N64 games of all time, now I thought I'd do my Top 10 Xbox 360 games of all time.  Again, if a few games were part of a series, I'm counting them as one entry, so this one was a bit tougher due to having fewer options.

(Dis?) Honorable Mention: Lost: Via Domus 
It's received mostly negative reviews, but I had to mention it.  This game does give you the same mysterious island feel that the show does, at least to me.  I love exploring the hatch and other various places from the show.  But there are plenty of downsides to this game.  Some of the voice acting is terrible.  Generally, if the actor from the show wasn't used, it was glaringly obvious it was someone different.  Also, avoiding the smoke monster was annoying and difficult.  And there wasn't much payoff at the end. 

Honorable mention: Dead Rising
I was never able to beat this game due to its difficulty.  But I did enjoy the zombie aspect to it.  It just got so frustratingly difficult to keep track of people who were with me at the time and not have them die.  I don't remember how far I got on my furthest playthrough.  Maybe halfway?  I enjoyed watching others play this more than playing it myself.

10. L.A. Noire
I somehow have only played this game through once.  It's such a great game.  It is made by Rockstar, after all.  It's got a great story, and I love the 1940s elements they incorporated into it.  I definitely want to give this another playthough someday.

9. Crackdown (1+2)
The reason I got Crackdown was that I did a playtest of some games for Microsoft, and the way they paid you then was a free game of your choice from their library.  One of the games I chose was Crackdown, and I got into it.  I got the sequel, Crackdown 2, the same way.  I haven't played them much since my first playthroughs, which is why it's low on this list, but perhaps someday.  I loved the way your character upgraded and you could see them getting bigger and faster.  I also loved collecting orbs around the city.

8. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and Half-Blood Prince
It's funny, these games had the best graphics, but they didn't have the charm of the first few HP games.  The explorable castle and its surroundings were absolutely awesome, but both games just lack what made the first few so special to us.  I have beaten each multiple times, while also completing most side-quests and collectibles.  Whenever I reread the series, I usually do a playthrough of the games, including these.  They'll always hold a special place with me.

7. Read Dead Redemption (+ Undead Nightmare)
God, Red Dead is such a great game.  Hard to beat a Western with a GTA engine.  The story is top-notch and one of my favorites of all time, and there is just so much to do in game, from hunting to playing poker to just exploring.  I also have played the Undead Nightmare, beating it, but that's about it.  I definitely want to come back to the original someday, and maybe once I do, I'll give RDR 2 another shot, since I still have yet to play that fully through.

6. Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (+ II)
Being a huge fan of Star Wars video games, of course, I own and played Star Wars: The Force Unleashed.  I love controlling the Force with Starkiller with such ease, tossing around Stormtroopers like rag dolls.  It's got a great story to go along with it, as well, although I don't think it's canon (anymore).  I personally prefer Star Wars: Jedi nowadays, but TFU will always hold fond memories for me.

5. Madden NFL series (07-10, 12, 25, 17)
This one is a bit odd since I skipped a few, but I did get into Madden after they were the only makers of NFL video games.  I had no choice (but I wish I did).  This generally is considered the tail end of Madden's peak.  I invested a lot of hours into these games, and for most (if not all) of these games I did a franchise that went at least a few years into the future (usually as the Seahawks).  I will always hold ESPN NFL 2K5 in higher regard than any of these, but some of the earlier ones had some great soundtracks.  I think Madden NFL 07 would be my top favorite, because not only did it have the best soundtrack, but it featured a Seahawk on the cover for the first time in Shaun Alexander.

4. College Hoops 2K6
Yep, a college basketball game this high.  I love this game.  First off, Verne Lundquist and Bill Raftery are superb as announcers.  They really give the game its college basketball feel.  I played through over a decade of Gonzaga basketball, until one day I, unfortunately, overrode the save with something else and I lost that team forever.  That was not a good day.  I have played it sparingly since then, and it's not hard to get back into.  

3. Gears of War (1-3)
To me, there's no grittier shooter game than Gears of War.  I love how brutal and gory this game is.  The story is very good as well; easy to get into.  I have to play through the three games I own every few years.  Some moments in this series are etched into my memory forever: The final boss in Gears 1, the first time seeing a berserker, doing Cole Train's backstory, using the Hammer of Dawn for the first time, and Dom's death in 3.  So many great moments.

2. Grand Theft Auto 4 and 5
What is not to like?  These are like GTA Vice City and San Andreas but with better graphics, story, and immersion.  I put a ton of hours into these games, mostly just goofing around, but also playing the story missions.  I definitely prefer 5, as you can pick one of three playable characters to play as.  I even got my girlfriend into it a bit, but she only ever goofs off when she plays.

1. Halo 3, ODST, Reach (And 4, kind of)
The first two Halo's were high on my OG Xbox list, so these had to be high as well.  If I had to rank these from favorite to least favorite, it would be 3, Reach, ODST, and 4.  Reach was surprisingly good and had a great story.  But the top dawg is 3.  I invested so many hours into it in its heyday, especially online playing and ranking up.  I played this with my friends as well, one of the few games we got into together.  It was a lot of fun, and I look back on those times fondly.  I wish I could go back to those times.

Top 10 Personal Favorite/Underrated Survivor Winners

 Not long ago, YouTuber Peridiam did a Top 10 Survivor winners list, and I wanted to do the same.  Just like him, these are not who I consider the 10 greatest winners or winning games, but 10 personal favorites.  These are 10 winning games that I really enjoy watching, and I think that most of them are underrated.  This will include the new era and I'll do my best to explain why each person is on this list.  Keep in mind, there are winners like Kim, Yul, Earl, JT, and Boston Rob, who are generally considered some of the greatest winners of all time, so they are not here.  Here's my Top 10 Personal Favorite Winners:

10. Chris Daugherty, Vanuatu
I would love to play a game similar to Chris if I were to ever go on Survivor.  Although, would his game work in the modern era?  Hard to say.  I love Chris's game, and the fact that Jeff has hated on it so much makes me like it even more.  He was the last man standing at Final 7, and weaseled his way to to the title of Sole Survivor.  

9. Natalie White, Samoa
One potential strategy for a winning game is to latch onto a dominant strategic force that isn't playing a great social game.  This is the perfect example of that.  Natalie smartly did not play too aggressive at first, because otherwise, she'd be a pre-merge boot.  Then, she warmed up to the former Galu tribe members after the merge, earning their respect.  Unfortunately, her game is vastly overshadowed by Russell's massive edit, still the largest ever for one player in one season. 

8. Erika Casupanan, 41
Not a fan of this season, although I'll need to rewatch it someday.  Erika's game was a lot like Gabler's two seasons later, but she had a much better pre-merge and she didn't have to rely upon the threats turning on each other--she took care of it herself.  She also convinced Xander to take her to the end.  She kept her threat level low and struck when the time was right, and sat at the end against two guys that weren't as likable as her.  That's all it takes.

7. Mike Holloway, Worlds Apart
I love Mike's game.  He made one fatal flaw, but he did what he had to do to overcome it.  He was still a good social player, just made one huge social mistake, trying to go back on paying for the letter from home at the auction so he could get the advantage.  But from that point on, he did what he needed to survive.  That's the name of the game.  I don't fault a player for immunity streaks, because there's still no guarantee they get voted out if they lose immunity.  Crazy things can happen. 

6. Dee Valladares, 45
Yes, the most recent winner (as of the time of writing this) is on this list.  Dee played such a great game, and I think it's going to be viewed even more positively over time.  She insulated herself with two #1's, both of whom were aware she had a second #1, and neither of whom was willing to vote her out.  She controlled many votes, getting out who she wanted, such as Kendra and Kaleb.  Her winning move of telling Julie about her being the target is one of the most underrated moves, maybe ever.  Dee's a top 5 female winner of all time.  

5. Amber Brkich, All Stars
It sucks for Amber how people view All Stars as "Rob and Amber's season" rather than just her season.  Similar to Natalie White, she latched onto a strategic mastermind (although in a different way) and banked on playing a good enough social game to beat him at the end.  My one fault in her game is Rob basically saving her after the swap with his empty promise to Lex, but I also look at that as rotten luck in her getting swap-screwed, but playing a good enough social game to have someone vouch for her.  Amber was still looked a bit down upon for being Rob's right hand, but she managed to get less blood on her hands, which was enough.

4. Sophie Clarke, South Pacific
Yet another instance of a female latching on to a male who doesn't play the best social game--this time being Coach.  Sophie did what she needed to survive, whether it was appeasing Coach and the cult-like alliance, or that final clutch immunity win.  I need to rewatch this season to get the specifics, but Sophie is an incredibly intelligent player who employed the Natalie/Amber strategy and won, just like them.

3. Todd Herzog, China
Just like Peridiam, I have to give some respect to Todd.  A lot of Survivor fans do regard Todd's game highly, but I believe they don't regard it highly enough.  He expertly navigated the game, at times employing two meat shields in Jean-Robert and James.  He got two girls under his wing in Amanda and Courtney, neither of whom were willing to turn on him.  And then he ends up having one of the best final tribal council performances of all time.  He didn't win individual challenges or use idols, but Todd's social and strategic game makes his game one of the best ever.

2. Aras Baskauskas, Panama Exile Island
My guy, Aras!  I just love this season, and Aras plays a very underrated game.  His tribe easily could've lost numbers or collapsed post-merge, but Aras helped keep them together (along with Cirie and Danielle).  He went toe to toe with Terry and built a solid bond with Cirie that I think was the best thing he did in the game.  And with the fire-making at 4, he had no blood on his hands regarding Cirie's boot.  I just wish Aras had flashier moves, but if he had, others would regard him higher and he might not even be on this list for me.

1. Tina Wesson, Australian Outback
I remember when I first watched AO, I so wanted Colby to win.  But after watching it as a more intelligent adult, I realized how great Tina's game was.  So many moms and older women have tried to replicate her game and have failed.  She was someone who no one wanted to vote out, not even Colby at Final 3 when it was the obvious move.  It's unfortunate her pre-merge game was largely absent from the televised broadcast, but I still believe she played one of, if not the best social games of all time.  She got Colby to take her to the end and then at Final Tribal, not even fight hard to beat her.  You can tell by his reaction to Tina winning that he wanted her to win.  

My Top 10 Nintendo 64 Games

This is my second post in a series where I rank my top 10 games from each console I've owned.  If you haven't seen it, go check out my Top 10 Original Xbox Games of all time.  Anyway, this one will be about my top 10 Nintendo 64 games of all time.  I've only ever owned about 25 or so, but this will focus on the 10 I played most.  If you played Nintendo 64 games like me growing up, you should recognize most or all on this list.  As before, if any had a sequel, they will be combined into one entry.

Honorable Mention: Pokemon Snap
As a huge fan of the first two generations of Pokemon, I had to get and play Pokemon Snap as a kid.  I loved trying to best my previous shots that I had submitted to Professor Oak.  I also loved how the game slowly expanded, adding maps and items to interact with the Pokemon.  Unfortunately, this game is limited, as it sets you on the same linear track for each map.  It would've been cool if they at least had multiple tracks to choose from (each one with Pokemon you couldn't get on other paths).  I was also hoping for a sequel to be released when Generation 2 games came out, but alas, it wasn't to be.  

10. Super Smash Bros.
I was never that great of a Smash Bros. player, as my friends could attest to, but I still enjoyed it.  My favorite to play as, unsurprisingly, was Kirby, as he was easiest to succeed with for noobs like me.  What I really liked though were the "Break the Targets" and "Board the Platforms" challenges they had for each character.  I liked how each character's challenges were uniquely different and suited them.  I completed most of them, but I think there's a couple I could never manage.

9. NBA Hangtime
This arcade style basketball game was pretty fun.  If I could change one thing, it would be to not have a time limit on the team/player selection screen.  But they had to make it as much like an arcade game as they could, I suppose.  I did once beat every team in the game with a created player.  I also wish the game had famous players like Michael Jordan, Shaquille O'Neal, and Charles Barkley, who were in the NBA at the time, but I think they weren't part of the players union or something.  

8. Pokemon Stadium (+ Pokemon Stadium 2)
Like I said, I was a big fan of Pokemon during the first two generations, so I had to get Pokemon Stadium.  I remember going opening day and spending my birthday money on it.  I distinctly remember it was close to $100, due to it containing the Gameboy cartridge adapter pack.  But I just absolutely loved how you could now play your Pokemon games on a bigger screen.  A screen, also, that didn't require additional lighting.  I spent countless hours doing that.  I also thoroughly enjoyed playing through the gym leaders they had in this game and of course, the minigames, which are still fun to this day. 

7. Star Fox 64
I remember playing this as a kid, but not having a ton of success with it in the single-player missions.  I always get stuck on the same planet.  Eventually, I played it through as a young adult, and I beat the game.  It was the easy path, but hey, I did it.  Maybe someday I'll do a harder path.  Anyway, as a kid, I remember playing multiplayer with my sister/friends and shooting each other down.  That was fun.

6. Wave Race 64
Another great multiplayer game was Wave Race.  I enjoyed the single-player races as well, and the stunt missions were fun, too.  I think I raced best with the girl in the game.  I thought she had the best handling.  But this game did get a bit monotonous at times, as it was basically just riding a jet ski to the correct side of a buoy.  But hey, it's still fun, and that announcer guy really earned his paycheck.

5. Goldeneye 007
Who didn't play the multiplayer version of this as kids?  I remember it fondly.  I also played the campaign many times, although I could never beat it, and I still haven't beaten it.  I have tried picking it up in recent years, only to realize how bad the controls are compared to FPS today, but perhaps someday.  

4. Mario Party (+ Mario Party 2)
I would argue the first two Mario Party's were the best multiplayer games on the Nintendo 64.  I remember putting countless hours into the first, both by myself and with others.  I also remember getting burns/blisters on the palm of my hand from the control stick spinning minigames.  I then (not very smartly) used a pair of batting gloves I owned, but I only ended up ruining those.  As for the second one, I never owned it, but I rented it several times from Blockbuster.  I probably should have just bought it (or asked for it for Christmas).  

3. Mario Kart 64
My girlfriend and I will still to this day whip this game out and do a grand prix together.  It holds up well.  I never had a favorite racer or favorite map, but I still enjoyed it.  I also loved the multiplayer battles they had as well.  I don't think there's been a 2 or 3-year period in my life that I haven't played this game since getting it.  I just have to play it every few years.  

2. Major League Baseball Featuring Ken Griffey Jr.
This may be my favorite baseball video game of all time.  It's close.  It's got an arcade style, which you have to accept.  But I loved playing as the Mariners, mainly because they had such great players at the time in Jr., Edgar, Buhner, Randy Johnson, and A-Rod.  It's a bit too easy for me now, as I can just run up the score on the computer, even with a team full of bad players.  I just love the controls, which in my opinion, hold up well today.  

1. Super Mario 64
How could I not make this #1?  Granted, there is no multiplayer element, but there is no game I have put more single-player hours into in my life.  As a kid, this game did eventually fall to the wayside as I played others (like the ones on this list).  But I still pick it up every few years.  It wasn't until my late teens/early 20s that I finally got 120 stars.  Now, it's no problem to get.  I still see others streaming this game, showing me new ways to get stars, or showing me new glitches, so I have to try them out myself.  A few glitches I have gotten to work are glitching Mips through a door and doing the BLJ (backwards long jump) up a flight of stairs to get into an area I'm not supposed to have access to yet.  Anyway, this is just a game I could see myself playing every decade for the rest of my life; it's just that perfect.

My Top 10 Original Xbox Games

 I want to do a series where I rank the Top 10 games on each console I own or have played, mainly the original Xbox, Xbox 360, Nintendo 64, and maybe a PC or Xbox One.  I have played video games since I was a little lad, and I have developed some favorites over the years.  

First up, is the original Xbox.  I have put so many hours into my Xbox.  I still have the same one my family got in 2001, although I did replace the disc drive a few years ago since it got to a point where it wouldn't open on its own anymore.  Anyway, I'm going to rank my Top 10 Original Xbox games.  These are my opinion, and are mostly based on how much I enjoyed playing each game and how many hours I put into each.  Also, if there are multiple games from the same franchise, I will consider that as a single entry.  Here are my Top 10!

Honorable Mention: The Lord of the Rings (The Two Towers and Return of the King)
I had to technically include an 11th with The Lord of the Rings here.  I've never been the biggest fan of button mashers, which made this a bit difficult for me as a kid.  But eventually, I did get the hang of it enough to put in plenty of hours.  I loved playing battles from the films, most notably Helm's Deep.  They even had a few battles not seen in the films.  And I enjoyed the special features from the films they added for completing certain levels.  I would definitely consider going back to this someday.

10. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
The Harry Potter franchise had a total of four games from the films (plus Quidditch World Cup) come out on the original Xbox, but the only one I really played on the Xbox was Chamber of Secrets.  It's still to this day one of my favorite Harry Potter video games.  I've beaten it several times.  The high amount of loading screens sucks, and dueling in the game is somewhat broken, but it's still enjoyable.  I especially love the open-world aspect and flying around Hogwarts and exchanging beans for items at Fred and George's shop.

9. Grand Theft Auto Series (III, Vice City, and San Andreas)
I have still not played GTA III much, but I put in plenty of hours into Vice City and San Andreas soon after I got them.  I remember when the games first came out on Playstation and hearing about how violent and bad for kids they were.  It just made me want to play it that much more.  When III and Vice City finally came to Xbox, I had to get my hands on them.  I have not played them much in the years since, because the newer GTA's have made these look old and obsolete, but perhaps someday. 

8. Star Wars: Obi-Wan
As a huge Star Wars fan, I've played my fair share of Star Wars video games, including Star Wars: Obi-Wan.  This was one of the first games my family got for the Xbox.  I remember struggling in the game at first, but once I got the hang of it, it was smooth sailing.  I've only beaten the game two times (or so), but I thoroughly enjoyed it each time.  I thought the combat elements and gameplay were better than what critics said.  

7. Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon (And Ghost Recon Island Thunder)
Ghost Recon became my favorite military-style FPS growing up.  I would play this over Call of Duty or anything else.  I loved having two teams and telling the other what to do.  I loved being the sniper and picking guys off from a distance.  The "expansion" Island Thunder was just as good, albeit a bit shorter.  I distinctly remember saving myself into a corner a few times.  That's when you save your game a split second before you die.  There was nothing I could do about it.  And that resulted in me having to restart the level.  Anyway, I definitely want to give Ghost Recon another playthrough someday.  Also, I never played the sequel Ghost Recon 2.  I saw my dad play it and realized it was too different from the original.

6. MLB 2K5
This might be my favorite baseball video game of all time.  I love the ESPN presentation and having Jon Miller and Joe Morgan as announcers.  The gameplay is solid and just about difficult enough.  I especially love constructing teams (trading players, signing and releasing players).  Sometimes I would construct a team and sim them for years to see if I could ever win a championship.  

5. Star Wars: Battlefront (and Battlefront II)
The original Battlefront games are maybe one of my favorite third-person shooters ever.  I love playing in basically every battle from the films and as either side AND as any unit on that side.  It still holds up well to this day.  I did play the remake, but it doesn't compare well to the simplicity of the original.  I loved playing as a Jedi or Sith in the second one, especially the "All Jedi/Sith" mode set on Mos Eisley.  

4. NBA Inside Drive 2003
This is, without a doubt, my favorite basketball video game of all time.  I have played through dozens of entire seasons where I created a team of players from scratch.  The player progression system in this game is one of my favorites of all time, where players earn points for doing well in games, and you can spend those points on certain attributes to make them better.  The created players all kind of look robotic, but there are plenty of customization options.  Plus, the gameplay is superb and I can't knock it.  

3. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (and KOTOR II: The Sith Lords)
I have beaten the first game close to a dozen times, each of which takes me 20-24 hours to do.  So, do the math.  I've beaten the sequel close to half as many times.  It's just one of those games with immense replay value, because of all the different choices you can make.  Of course, the customization options make you want to play as someone completely different each time.  And the story... don't even get me started!  How has no one adapted this into a film or series yet?  The sequel's gameplay might even be a step up, although I think the story lacks.  I just put so many hours into these games, and they might still to this day be my favorite Star Wars video games of all time.

2. Halo: Combat Evolved (And Halo 2)
I'd wager this would be on and likely near the top of most people's favorite original Xbox games.  How could it not be?  When you think of OG Xbox, you think of Halo.  I don't know if I've put the absolute most hours into the first two games (I put in a ton to the third, though), but I have to say my enjoyment each time I play through the campaign hardly ever wavers.  There was simply nothing like playing through the campaign of either of these games in the early 2000s.  

1. ESPN NFL 2K5
My favorite sports video game ever.  It's just perfect.  The ESPN presentation, the gameplay, the roster-building, and the customization options, are all that make ESPN NFL 2K5 my favorite Xbox game ever.  The announcers they used could maybe be better, but they are still super solid.  There's a reason people keep modding this game and adding the current day's rosters to it.  Because it's that good!  And it was $20 at release!  Imagine what 2K sports could have accomplished if they were allowed to compete with EA/Madden to make NFL video games.  Imagine what we could have now, instead of the garbage EA churns out every year.  Such a shame.  Anyway, I still replay this game almost every year during football season because it's simply that much fun.  I love it.

Well, those were my top 10 original Xbox games of all time.  I may soon do a Top 10 for 360 and/or Nintendo 64.  

Apps on my phone and what I use them for

You can tell a lot about a person by what apps they have installed on their phone.  You can figure out where they shop, what games they like, how they connect with people, and how they entertain themselves.  So I thought I would share the apps on my phone and what I use them for.  This isn't every single app, as I'm not counting ones that were already on my phone when I got it.  These are in alphabetical order:

ActiveBuilding - This is for our apartment lease and to check on things with our complex.  I can post and read bulletins and access messages from our leasing managers.  I usually just go on my computer to do these things, but when I'm out and about and I need to check something, I can.

Disney+ - An entertainment viewing app.  I love watching things on my phone.  I've watched a few movies on here as well as Star Wars: The Clone Wars.  

Door Dash - My favorite restaurant delivery app.  They have a lot of restaurant partners that offer free delivery.  I haven't had a problem with them yet (although my girlfriend has).  I'd say I use this once or twice a month.

Drive Safe - My auto insurance, State Farm, offers this program as a way to earn a discount for safe driving.  Combined with a beacon I keep in my car, I can use this app to check my trips to see how safe (or unsafe) I drove.  It tracks my car through GPS so I can see exact routes I have taken, if I happen to drive on unfamiliar roads.

DVD Netflix - Netflix originally started out as a DVD through the mail subscription service.  I still to this day to subscribe to this service, as they offer more content this way.  They just came out with an app in the past year so that I can add movies to my queue on the go.  

Fandango - The main service I use to purchase movie tickets.  With reserved seating more common than ever, buying tickets in advance is now the way to go.  When I have to do that, I use the Fandango app.

Harry Potter - Officially called "Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery", this app came out in April of 2018.  It's a Harry Potter role-playing game.  I've put quite a bit of time into this game as it's the mobile game I have played most the last two years for sure.  I am currently taking a break from it (because of lack of content), but I will get back to it someday.  

Hulu - I use this to watch various TV shows, mostly.  It's one of three streaming apps I have on my phone.  

iHeartRadio - A music streaming app I like, although I don't use it that much at all.  May remove some day.

IMDb - As a long time user of this site (since 2005, I believe), I love going on IMDb and checking movie and TV show casts.  Whenever I see an actor I recognize in a TV show or movie, I go on here to check what else I may have seen them in.

Imgur - I use this to upload images and memes so that I can share them with others, either directly or on social media.  

Instagram - Social media picture app.  If I take an interesting picture, I'll generally put it on my Instagram profile using this.

Layout - I use this fairly rarely to make a photo collage for an Instagram post.  They can make a collage of up to 9 photos in one, which I've used to celebrate different occasions.

LivexLive - This formerly was "Slacker Radio", and yes I believe it came on my phone, but I do have the option to remove it, if I so choose.  But I don't because I really like it.  I use this to listen to music fairly often.  My favorite are the countdowns (or "count-ups") they do.

Meme Generator - I use this to create memes, obviously.  I usually do that for people's birthdays to post on their social medias.

Mercari - This is an app I installed recently.  It's like eBay, but a little more user friendly.  You can either buy or sell basically anything.  I have posted a few items to sell that haven't sold yet, but hopefully will some day.

Messenger - Officially "Facebook Messenger", this is the app I use to communicate with others most often.  

MLB - The official MLB app.  I use it to check the scores of Mariners games and get updates on their games, for example scoring changes and final scores.

Netflix - The third of my streaming apps.  I use this to watch various movies or TV shows when I'm not by my TV.  

NFL - The official NFL app.  I use this to check on NFL scores and news, but also to watch NFL games through the NFL Game Pass.

Pedometer - This is the best pedometer app to see how much you walk each day.  It will keep track of all your days and give you charts and reports on your step totals and distance covered.

Reddit - Perhaps the app I spend the most time on now.  Reddit is good for checking up on the latest news and memes.  There's a subreddit for literally everything, so if you have an interest, others do too and you can share posts and comment on them with others.

Rocketbook - Another newer app I got.  I recently purchased a Rocketbook after seeing their pitch on "Shark Tank".  It's basically a reusable notebook that you can very quickly upload scans of to your computer, Google Drive, email, etc.  I used this app to take a scan of my rough draft list for this very post.

Roku - I have a Roku on my TV in the bedroom.  I use the Roku app primarily to turn my phone into a remote, usually when I can't find my actual remote.  Works pretty darn well.

Safeway - My most often shopped grocery store, so I use this app to get coupons, discounts, and to see what's on sale.

Seahawks - As a huge Seahawks fan, I have to have their app.  I often have this app open during games to check stats, and I also use it to watch post game press conferences.  The app will also send me Seahawks news when it's official.

Smith Bros - A bit over a year ago, my girlfriend and I signed up for Smith Bros Dairy delivery, which is a dairy company that delivers dairy products and other food items to your home on a weekly basis.  They recently came out with an app so we can check our orders, add items, all from our phone.

State Farm - As a State Farm Insurance customer, I have to have this, right?  I don't use it much, but I like how they have our insurance cards on here in case I ever need to provide proof of insurance and I can't find my paper card.

Tasty - The app I most use to find new recipes.  I love how there are videos for every recipe, which really helps with cooking.  I use this whenever I am having trouble deciding what to make for dinner.  You can of course save recipes to make later or to make again.

Venmo - I use this to send and receive money between friends.  Not much else to it.

Wells Fargo - My banking app.  I use it to check on my recent transactions, my account balance, and to transfer money.

Xbox - I use this to check my Xbox achievements, generally.  Or to see who is online.  Don't use it much.

YouTube - The app I spend on most (besides Reddit) would be YouTube.  I most often watch YouTube videos on my phone rather than my TV.  

YT Music - My main music app.  I like how they track what you listen to and give you those songs again, so a personalized playlist.  And you can look ahead at the playlist they generate for you and if there's a song coming up you don't want to listen to, you can remove it.  


Well, that's all the apps I have on my phone.  If I install any others, I'll try to remember to add them here.  

Fortnite Stereotypes

I'm a huge fan of Dude Perfect's "Stereotypes" series, so I thought it would be cool to describe some Fortnite gamer stereotypes.  These are obviously exaggerated, just like the ones Dude Perfect does.  Some of these, I will admit to being at one time or another.  And I will say after each one if I ever am that stereotype when playing Fortnite.  And hey, maybe Dude Perfect (or someone else) could make this into a video one day.  Here are the Fortnite stereotypes:

The Hardcore sweat: A player that is button-mashing like crazy, spamming 90's and just has to kill as many people as possible.  Shows him killing everyone he can, even people that are emoting or trying to get away.  And of course, sweat is pouring down his face the whole time.
Is this ever me?  No.  One, I'm not skilled enough, and two, even if I was skilled enough, I think it's just kinda sad IMO.

The Architect: All they do during games is build things.  They show a player having built the Taj Mahal or something similar.  Or a player that's constantly in Creative mode making new maps.
Is this ever me?  Rarely.  I'm not hugely creative.  When I first got into Fortnite I built a few things in the now-defunct Playground mode.

The Mobile Player: Someone who gets made fun of for playing on mobile.  They explain how they don't own a good enough PC or current console.  They constantly struggle with building and aiming.
Is this ever me?  I have played Fortnite on mobile, but only to accomplish challenges that require two players (i.e. revive a friend in a match).  But I relate to the gamers that don't own a PC or new enough console, as that used to be me.

The dancer: All they do during a match is dance and emote.  They get into a squads game and their teammates get frustrated with them.  This person also encourages others to emote with them.
Is this ever me?  Only if I'm bored in a match and waiting for something to happen.

Moneybags: Someone who buys all the skins and everything else in the item shop.  They get asked when they're ever going to use a certain skin, and they just reply "I dunno, I just like having it."
Is this ever me?  I've probably bought more skins than I need, but I really do limit myself.  I only have 50-some skins, mostly from the Battle Passes I've purchased.

The Rage Monster: If you watch Dude Perfect's stereotypes, you knew this was coming.  This is someone that rages at the end of every match.  They throw their controller (perhaps into the TV).  Or if they're on a PC, they smash their keyboard against the wall, throw their monitor, and chuck their PC out a window.
Is this ever me?  Yes, and more often than I'd care to admit.  Although I don't damage my possessions... much.

The AFK but somehow ends up winning: The player that is away from their game for most of the match, but at the end they finally pay attention and they win.
Is this ever me?  Sometimes I'll start a game, hide, and get something done like chores.  I have won one or two of those types of games, so yes, this can be me.

The person who always dies early: They go for a chest at the same time as someone else but can never get the gun.  Perhaps someone asks them why they don't land somewhere less crowded.  They just respond saying, "Nah, man, you gotta land in those hot zones.  That's where it's at."
Is this ever me?  I try to avoid those kinds of places, so not really.  But on occasion I will die early, regardless.

The Challenge Completer: Players who just play to accomplish challenges.  It shows someone going to ridiculous lengths to complete a challenge, perhaps ignoring their squad.
Is this ever me?  Yes, quite often.  As I usually play solo and don't really care if I win or not, I often go for the challenge even if it hurts my chances of winning.

The Camper: Shows a player who camps in a bush the entire match.  They get asked, "How is that even fun?" And they just respond, "Well, I always get top 10, do you?"
Is this ever me?  Yes, but really only when I go off to do chores or other tasks.

The Sneak: They sneak around like some kind of stealthy secret agent.  When they see another player they instantly hide until they can no longer see them.
Is this ever me?  Yes, fairly often.  Part of the fun to Fortnite (IMO) is being sneaky.  I get a bit of a thrill when I'm able to sneak past or hide and some other player doesn't notice me.

Things Epic Games should add to Fortnite

Yes, another Fortnite post.  I've been thinking of a lot of things that could be added to the great game that is Fortnite: Battle Royale.  From vehicles to weapons to items, the possibilities are almost endless.  What hasn't been added to the game yet that could be?  Any Epic Games employees that on the off chance may read this: Please consider these!  Thanks!

Vehicles
Hovercrafts - With the addition of Slurpy Swamp, Hovercrafts would be perfect for that area.  They'd be perfect over any water area, but would work well on land too.  They could be in addition to or replace boats.  They could hopefully seat an entire squad if need be.

Jet Ski's - Again, with water vehicles, you might think of Jet Ski's.  These could seat two players.  The driver would be allowed to shoot but only when not on the gas (Similar to with swimming, you can only shoot when stationary).  What would be cool is to have a player with a grappler be able to water ski behind the jet ski.  They could also implement this with boats.

Snow Mobiles - Next Christmas season when the map undoubtedly gets blanketed with an entire layer of snow, that would be a great time to introduce Snow Mobiles.  They would work just like Jet Ski's, but on land.  And they would go faster over snow terrains than anything else.

Motorcycles - Another two-person vehicle idea is a motorcycle.  These would work like snow mobiles but be a bit faster and get more air off jumps.  I would love to see another vehicle in the game capable of getting serious airtime, and players could try to set high scores with stunts.  As for the appearance of the Fortnite motorcycle, I was thinking something like the motorcycle from the game "The Operative: No One Lives Forever", as seen here.

Items/Weapons
Bear Traps - This would be a seriously devilish item.  You would place them down and, knowing some smart players, they could probably disguise them pretty well.  Then, if an enemy player steps over it, they get caught.  This item drains their health (not shield) 50 HP over 5 seconds (10 HP a second), and traps them in that time as well.  But after that five seconds, they get to free themselves.  But if they step in another, which there very well could be right in front of you, the same thing happens (which would then kill them unless they healed in between).  This could really hurt a player's chances, especially if they step in one in the storm.  One cool thing they could possibly implement is if you're able to spot it before stepping in it, you can pick it up and set it yourself.

Shuriken/Throwing Stars - Just Google an image of Shuriken if you don't know what they look like.  You could carry maybe a stack of ten.  Imagine throwing five of these in a manner of 3 seconds and taking perhaps close to 100 HP off of your opponent.  If they ever have a ninja themed season, this is a must.  It would also be cool to be able to reclaim any Shuriken/Throwing Stars if they miss an enemy.

Bear Bombs: This could be changed a bit, but my idea is a stuffed teddy bear that you can set up.  It looks a lot like the other stuffed teddy bears in the game, with some subtle differences.  If an enemy gets too close, it explodes and does a ton of damage.  This could be something else in disguise, but imagine setting one of these up in a crowded POI.  In order for this to not be too overpowered, it could start beeping like a bomb a few seconds before it goes off.

Targeting Beacon - I don't have the best name for it, but this item would be a one time use (or 2-3) and would tell you for a few seconds where all of the enemies are.  They would display as red outlines and/or be displayed as red dots on the map.  This may be an item only included in Team Rumble or 50 vs 50 (if that ever comes back).

Edit: They introduced a flare gun, which pretty much is how I described my "targeting beacon".   There's one thing they included!

Portable Slurp Showers: This isn't my idea, as I saw it on Reddit a while back.  Basically, it's the Slurp version of campfires.  They would get stored in the spot where traps go, and you could set one up anywhere and it would slowly heal your health/shield, just like standing in Slurpy Swamp does.  They would last for 100HP probably, and steam would rise from it, just like smoke rises from campfires.  Alternatively, this could be called "Shield Showers" and work the same way, but only for shield.

Shield Kegs were added in Chapter 3, and it's fairly close to what I described.  They don't go in the trap slot and don't have to be placed on a build, but they do incrementally heal your shield just like a campfire does for health.  

Portable Zip Lines: This may not be possible to implement, but imagine pointing at a spot on a mountain and the end of a zip line gets shot there, and from where you are standing, you're able to use the zip line to go up the mountain without having to use any materials.  You might say this sounds like a grappler, but this would have a much further range, could only be used once, and could be used by enemy players unless you destroyed it.  Basically, it would be you, the player, setting up a zipline, and possibly allowing other players to use it.  If either end of this portable zip line was on a build that got destroyed, the devs could decide if either the zip line gets destroyed, or it just falls down.

Other
Gold Material - I thought with all of the gold teasers for Chapter 2, Season 2 that Fortnite might be introducing a fourth material, gold.  Muselk even did a video on using only materials from gold items, thinking the same thing.  I think it would be cool if Epic added a fourth material even stronger than metal, and gold would be a good option.  Diamond would be another option if they wanted to go that route.  But this fourth material would be even harder to find than metal, and its builds would be even stronger than metal.  To see a player spamming gold builds would just make anyone's jaw drop.

That's all I have for now, but if I think of anything else I will be sure to add it here.

How to Win at Fortnite

After playing the game of Fortnite for a year and a half now (all on a console, btw), I can safely say I know what it takes to win.  Do I always have what it takes?  No, but I've now won 22 (I keep updating as I win more games lol) solo games, including eight games this since the start of Chapter 2.  Yes, adding bots to the game has certainly helped, but you still have to overcome human opponents.  I know 15 wins is nothing to be impressed with, but that's because I don't usually play to win.  I play to have fun and to try do new things in the game each time (and beat challenges).  If I set my mind to it and played to win, I bet I could win a lot more.  But if I were to do that, I would rage at the end of every loss and it would not be good for my blood pressure.  But I do know what it takes to win.  This is it.

- Get good loot somehow someway: It's very hard to win a game of Fortnite without good loot (Good loot meaning good weapons, shields, utility items).  That means probably landing in a named location, or get lucky and land somewhere where no one else is.  If you land near people, you have to do what you can to either continue looting there (and hope they don't see you or leave you alone) or you have to engage them and take their loot from them by defeating them.  Often times the victors of big named locations make it far and have a good chance of winning.  If you can ever manage to be the last player standing in a named location, you're off to a great start.  If you get screwed on loot, look for air drops and try to get to them quickly before anyone else.  Fishing is also an option if you're desperate for at least a rare weapon or shields.

- Be selective in your battles: I previously had this as "being aggressive more than defensive", but I don't think that's an effective strategy.  An effective strategy is picking your battles.  If you witness a fight and one of the players is eliminated, quickly swoop in and try to get an easy elim if you can, since the surviving player is likely low on health.  If you're looting or moving through the map and a player attacks you first, you either need to find someway to get the advantage back by firing back quickly or gaining high ground.  If you are outmatched, there is no shame in running away and using whatever utility/mobility items are in the game to get away.  Just recently, I won a game having run away from multiple players because my health and loot were not ideal, yet I was able to slowly build it up throughout the game and get the victory royale.  

- Learn how to build quickly: This is something I am still working on as it's harder to do as a console player.  But those who know how to "Crank 90's", which is creating stacks of builds with four complete walls and floor/ramp, are the ones who have a distinct advantage.  Being able to get a height advantage is huge, and the best (and usually only) way to do that is through out-building your opponent.  Even if you aren't able to do that, at least be able to quickly build up a defense if you get shot at and be able to spam builds if you're constantly getting shot at.  A lot of pro players suggest to practice builds in Creative mode, which I have a little, but probably should do more of.  And to go with this, you'll need materials to be able to out-build someone else, so if you can't get them from someone else, you'll have to farm for them a bit.

- Learn the map: This comes with experience, but there's almost always something to be learned about the map every time you play.  Maybe it's a chest location you weren't aware of, maybe it's a good sniping or hiding spot.  And with experience, you can find out which drop locations are heavy in loot but light in players dropping there, which for many is ideal.  The more players drop into a location, the less likely you'll come out of there victorious.  Whenever there are significant map changes (as there was for the start of Chapter 2), study the map and perhaps even go into Creative mode to learn where things are.  And don't drop into the same location every time, because the zone will rarely focus in on your drop zone, and you want to keep track of a number of different locations.

- Adjust your gameplay to the game's current set-up: Epic Games makes a lot of changes to Fortnite.  For example, in Chapter 2 Season 1, there were basically no mobility items.  Therefore, players had to adjust their game and loot for less time if they dropped in a location outside of the first zone.  Or, they could fish, stock up on Floppers, and just recover from storm damage once they do eventually get in.  Know what items and weapons are currently in the game and adjust your gameplay accordingly.  Know which weapons are better than others, and know which items and weapons are trash and should never be picked up unless you're in the most dire of circumstances.

- Play both Team Rumble and Solos/Duos/Squads: One thing that has helped me is playing both Team Rumble as well as Solos/Duos/Squads.  Team Rumble is a great opportunity to work on your shooting, aiming, and even building, since there are unlimited respawns.  It's also a good opportunity to see how you fare with each gun in combat.  Some people like the regular assault rifle, some prefer the heavy or the burst.  Find out what works best for you.  Team Rumble is also good for working on your sniping, which can come in handy in solo matches.  On the flip side, you don't always want to play Team Rumble, as you won't learn (or you'll forget) how to be sneaky, and you can develop a bad habit of just rushing into battle.

- Don't get caught between two players: In solos, the worst thing that can happen is getting caught between two players.  Obviously, it's every player for themselves, but if you're the closest opponent to two different players, that puts you at a distinct disadvantage (a 1 vs. 2, essentially).  This is especially problematic if they are the only two opponents left in a final zone.  In the final zone, position yourself so that the zone is behind you and any opponents are in front of you.  Never position yourself in the middle of the zone if you can help it.

- Pray for an easy final opponent: I'll be honest, a lot of my recent wins have had an easy opponent in the final two with me.  One opponent fell into a trap I set, another dropped down to my level and basically let me kill him, and another tried pickaxing a wall I was behind even though there was an open doorway and I was able to rush him and take him out.  Each time I was at a distinct disadvantage.  The first game I was low on health, the second game I never found or used shields all game, and the third I was also a bit low on health.  Yet I won each time because my opponent made a careless mistake.  Sometimes, you just need to get lucky.  I can't even begin to count the amount of times I made it to the final two before my first solo victory, and thus I was the other person's easy final opponent.  Each time, it seemed like my opponent was significantly better than me.  Even if you're not terribly good at the game like me, you're bound to get lucky and get an easy opponent at some point.

- Watch others: One thing that really helps is watching professionals or experienced players play the game.  Either you can watch on YouTube or Twitch, or without even having to go to a different app/device, you can spectate players in the same game as your own.  If you die, you get the option to spectate whoever killed you.  Often times I've sort of died "on purpose" so that I could spectate.  Watch what others do, their habits, what they do in certain situations, and try to emulate them.  Or, you can try a Squads game and watch your teammates.  But don't die on purpose then.

Fortnite's a great game, and despite the lack of updates and changes in Chapter 2, I am still playing it.  Some day when I can keep my cool, I may try to play aggressively and see if I can possibly win two matches in one day for the first time.  I will say if you never win, it can get pretty disheartening and not be quite as fun.  I didn't win my first solo match until about 300 games in.  It takes time and practice and determination.  If you follow my advice and put in the time, you'll be winning matches in no time.

Five Star Wars Video Game Ideas

Star Wars is a series filled with excellent video games.  A few of them I even consider my favorite all-time video games.  I have thought of some ideas (realistic ones, so no KOTOR III, although you better believe I'd want that) of games that someone should make.  There may have even been rumors about a few of these, so I may have had some insight on a couple of these.

- Star Wars: The Mandalorian Video Game
How can a video game not accompany this awesome show?  In the very first episode I thought this would make a great video game.  You would complete various bounties across the galaxy, and each time you would be able to earn beskar/credits to spend on new armor, guns, and upgrades.  It doesn't have to be based on "The Mandalorian" AKA Din Djarin, but it could be.  You could be another Mandalorian.  Although it would be cool to have "The Child" with you on missions like on the show.  One thing I thought of was it would be cool if they styled it as like a Star Wars version of "Destiny".  You can choose different missions on different planets, and sometimes try to find various items.  And it would be a great opportunity to have an open world Star Wars game.

- Star Wars: Battle Commander
I don't have the clearest idea for this game, but simply put I see this as a modern version of Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds.  It would probably be PC only.  You would gather resources, build up an army, and then attack an enemy.  There would be elements of the sequel trilogy in this.  You wouldn't control the actual army, (like where they aim), but you would be able to tell them what to do.  It just would be cool to have a more realistic-looking Star Wars strategy game.  I'd also like it if they let you simulate different scenarios to see who would win, such as 50 Gungans vs. 5 Droideka's, or 100 Clone Troopers vs. an AT-AT. 

- Star Wars: Casino Games
It's not the best title, but it's the best I could come up with.  I could see this as an Android/iPhone app.  The game would feature all of the board/card games from Star Wars, including Dejarik, Pazaak, Sabaac, and others (Maybe slots?).  You could have a profile, and try to accumulate credits by winning games.  And they could include different locales you could play games at, from Canto Bight (obviously) to perhaps cantinas on Tattooine or Coruscant.

- Star Wars: Stormtrooper
There have been countless Star Wars games where you fight against Stormtroopers: The Jedi Knight series, Battlefront, The Force Unleashed, and Jedi: Fallen Order.  But what about playing as a Stormtrooper?  Sure, you can do that in Battlefront, but I'd like a game where you go through the training of being a Stormtrooper.  You rise through the ranks and are forced to do some morally gray actions.  Then, when your character has had enough, they desert the Empire and fight as a renegade/outcast.  This could even be about a Clone Trooper or a First Order Stormtrooper if the developers wanted.  But being a character that we get to know in the suit would be pretty cool.  And of course, the ability to pilot a speeder, AT-ST, or even AT-AT would be pretty darn cool (from a first person perspective).  Basically, I'd like to see a Star Wars: Republic Commando, but from a Stormtrooper's perspective.

- Star Wars: Battle Experience
Again, don't hold the title against me.  This one I see as a Virtual Reality Game.  Once Virtual Reality or something similar becomes more common in households around the world, they could make this game.  You put on the VR headset and you get instantly immersed into a Star Wars battle.  Imagine VR and physically feeling like you're in the Battle of Hoth, the Battle of Endor, the Battle of Geonosis, or the Battle of Naboo.  I would just be in heaven.  I believe VR video games will be fairly common some day in the not so distant future, and they would have to make a Star Wars game to go with it.

Those are my Top 5 Star Wars video game ideas.  I really hope at least one or two of these are made.  If they are, I will definitely buy them and play them.  It will be interesting to see years from now how close these games are to happening, if they ever will.

I'm Sorry, but Fortnite Failed with Chapter 2

I have previously shared my love of the game "Fortnite", which I play on the Xbox One.  It's a game I have played off and on for the past year and a half now.  Back in October, Epic Games decided after Season 10... no, sorry... Season "X", that they were going to go to Chapter 2, Season 1, instead of a Season 11.  I guess this kinda makes sense...?  ... if they don't want to have Season numbers get too high.

But it's how they've handled this "Chapter 2" that is alienating a ton of Fortnite players, myself included.  They have delayed Season 2 of Chapter 2 twice now, their updates have been few and far between, it's way too hard to move around the map, and Fortnite streamers/YouTubers are struggling to find ways to make new and exciting content.

When Chapter 2, Season 1 was first released, it was supposed to end at the end of December.  Then, it was pushed to February 6.  And just recently, Epic Games pushed it yet again to February 20.  I understand they want to make sure Season 2 is polished and ready (and they're switching game engines apparently), but I think in the end this may do more harm than good.  I am not the only Fortnite player who long ago lost interest in the current season.  What was the theme, anyway?  In recent seasons, we had a futuristic theme, we had a time travel theme, we had a lava/volcano theme, and we had a snow/airplane theme.  This season has been rather theme-less and boring.  And this boring season keeps getting prolonged.  The new map definitely took a while to get used to, but at this point, it's already lost interest and made a lot of players yearn for the old map.  Boy, if Epic Games loses a huge chunk of Fortnite players between October and February, they should know why.

Perhaps worse than not having a clear theme to the current season is not having many updates.  What new items/weapons were introduced?  Bandage bazookas... um... harpoon guns... fishing rods... and those were all introduced at the beginning of the season.  There was Winterfest and the Star Wars event, which were nice.  Lightsabers were in the game, which was cool, but of course only for a limited time.  People really wanted a lightsaber pickaxe, yet Epic Games did not listen to their players.  Ever since, Fortnite has just been adding challenges, but not introducing anything new into the game.  It's getting to the point where these challenges feel like work instead of fun.  Most of the updates, while being few and far between, were just minor tweaks to the game and didn't really add new content. 

The thing I personally hate most about the current season is the lack of mobility items.  Mobility items are any items you can store in your inventory and that can help you move faster across the map, or you can use them to get away from an enemy you know you can't beat.  Past mobility items included balloons, impulse grenades, rift-to-go's, shadow bombs, and bounce pads.  There is not a single mobility item in the game at the moment (Harpoon guns do not count).  To top it off, there are no land vehicles, and the only vehicles are boats.  I'm glad they introduced boats, but I did not want that to be at the expense of every land vehicle.  Where are ATK's?  How about drift boards?  Anything?  Getting around the map has never been harder, and to make matters worse the zones that spawn on the map have often been towards the edges of the map, so if you landed on the opposite end, unless you spend little to no time looking for loot, you're screwed.  Yes, players can swim as well, but unless you're swimming with a current, you're not going much faster than sprinting.

Content creators that play Fortnite are struggling, big time.  Muselk has admitted to struggling to come up with ideas for videos.  Lazarbeam barely plays Fortnite anymore, and in a recent video of his, he pleaded to Epic Games to give us updates and new things.  Lachy has resorted to doing "Fashion Shows", which is critiquing people's outfits and emotes.  These three guys I follow are struggling to come up with content because Fortnite is not introducing new guns, game modes, or changes to the map.  These YouTubers/streamers rely upon the game for updates so they can make videos that they can then make money off of.  This is their livelihoods, and I think Epic Games has sacrificed too much to try to make a great Season 2.  I guess the silver lining is that it forced content creators to get creative, but they are fully capable of doing so with routine updates.

All I can say is this next season better be worth the wait.  I played a lot during the Star Wars and Winterfest events, but I have played only a little since.  It's just the same thing over and over.  Epic Games has delayed Season 2 of Chapter 2 by almost two months.  There is going to be a lot riding on how well the next season is received and how well it performs.  If there are bugs or if the changes aren't received well, we may look back on the introduction of Chapter 2 being the start of the end of Fortnite.  I hate to say it, but the next season may make or break the future of this game.  Some streamers and YouTubers have already speculated that the game is dying or dead, and if Chapter 2 doesn't live up to expectations, there won't be any speculation anymore.  Epic Games won't completely stop adding to Fortnite, but a lack of players could result in even fewer updates and events.

Fortnite Appreciation Post

A free to play game that works on virtually every video game console, including PC.  Who would've though that would exist?  Not me.  But it does, and it is called Fortnite, made by Epic Games.  The regular Fortnite Battle Royale games pit 100 players against each other in a fight to the end to see which player or players can outlast all the rest. 

I got into Fornite around the late summer of 2018.  Now Fortnite has what they call "Seasons".  Just like with the rest of the world, Fornite has four seasons per year that change about the same time ours do.  Each season has a different theme, and introduces a significant change in the map.  I got into Fortnite in the middle of Season 5, playing it on the Xbox One. 

The map stays the same for each game, but will get updated every few weeks, and especially with each new season.  This way, players can get accustomed to the map, knowing where best to find loot, hide, and how to navigate it quickly.  Also what's cool is the map is filled with named locations that have alliterative titles, such as "Tilted Towers" and "Dusty Divot" and "Junk Junction".  And with each game there is what's called a "storm".  The storm will start out as a circle that takes up somewhere around 1/3 of the map, but then get smaller and smaller until there are no players left.  If you are outside of the circle in the storm, you take health damage.  Navigating to get inside the circle is something players must do to succeed. 

As for me as a player, well to put it nicely, I am not the best.  I have won squad games (being carried).  And just last season (Season 7), I got my first solo victory.  It was a huge accomplishment, and for the longest time I felt like I was never going to get a solo victory.  It took me over 300 games to get it.  I now have two solo victories, getting another one fairly recently.  The most kills I've ever gotten in a solo game is 4, to my recollection, which was also my second victory.  And the most kills I've gotten in any game was a Team Rumble, 9.  So yes, I'm not too good at Fortnite, but I am totally fine with that. 

There are mainly two strategies you can take with Fortnite.  One, you can be aggressive, attack everyone you come across, and try to get as many kills as possible.  The other one is being sneaky and relying on stealth, hoping those skills will progress you as far as you can before you are forced to engage other players.  I am in the second group.  Not since my high school days playing Halo have I been somewhat decent at killing other human players, I will admit.  But, with experience I have become very good at being sneaky and avoiding other players.  I'm not ashamed to play this way; it gives me satisfaction to know I progressed further in the game and have a better placement in the game than a lot of the more aggressive players. 

My favorite thing to do in the game is completing weekly and daily goals.  These goals can range anywhere from landing at a certain location, to getting a kill with a certain type of weapon, to doing a dance in a certain spot.  Accomplishing these goals unlocks items in the Battle Pass, which includes skins (outfits), emotes, loading screens, and more. 

So I don't think I'll ever be a great Fortnite player, but I'm ok with that.  There are millions of kids and young adults around the world who spend WAY more time on the game with me and do better than me.  I just don't think I'll ever devote THAT much time to the game.  It's just a game and a way for me to relieve stress, which I'll admit sometimes it has the opposite effect. 

MASSIVE NFL Preview 2017!

Well the 2017 NFL season is just around the corner, so it's time for my annual predictions!  First up, it's ten surprises of 2017.  These are ten random things I predict to happen in the NFL in 2017 (going to 2018) and all should surprise you to some extent.  Here are my Ten Surprises of 2017:

1. The Browns will beat a 2017-18 playoff team
I don't know who, whether it be the Steelers, Bengals, or someone else, but they will. 

2. The Seahawks will have a better road record than home record
Perhaps the home field advantage is wearing off?  Either way I see a lot of winnable road games and a few home games where they could be needlessly overconfident.

3. More than one well respected coach will get the axe before season's end (Pagano, Arians, Harbaugh)
Those are some possibilities; it could even be Marvin Lewis of the Bengals, although I picked them to make the playoffs.

4. All four NFC division Champs from 2016 will be at most a game back of the division crown again. 
The Seahawks and Pack should repeat, while the Boys and Falcons face tough competition in their division but should hang around until division's end (and possibly get a wild card).  You may not think this is a surprise but go back through the years and see what happens to some of the division winners.  Every time there's at least one that has a drop-off.  Not this time.

5. The leading rusher will be someone who was not a starter last year (and not a rookie). 
I don't know who, but someone will come out of nowhere to lead the league in rushing.  Ok that's not a huge surprise.  Sue me.

6. A number one seed will lose their first game
I feel like for the past 4, 5 years the #1 seed in the playoffs has ALWAYS been in the conference championship because they ALWAYS win the divisional round game.  And why not, it's always against a 4 seed at best, at home, and the team is rested after having come off a bye.  This time it will hurt a team.

7. For the first time in five years, the AFC South will have a wild card team (and thus two playoff teams)
The AFC South for a long time has been known as one of the worst divisions in football.  Not anymore.  They are a division on the rise (Jags, Titans improving, Texans should still be good, Colts are hit or miss).  Not since the 2012-13 season have they had more than a lone playoff participant. 

8. Roger Goodell will have no choice but to start fining those who sit for the National Anthem
Ok, this is more politically related, but at some point Goodell must realize those players choosing to sit during the National Anthem are hurting the league's image--big time.  Any action that causes that much damage to "The Shield" should be heavily finable.  Yet, he has tried to ignore it, hoping it will go away, but alas it does not appear to be.  He will have no choice but to try to defend the league's image. 

9. The Patriots will clinch their division in Week 13
This may not seem like much, but it's VERY hard to clinch your division with still a quarter of the season left, but the Patriots might just do it. 

10. There will be zero instances of a wild card team having a better record than a division winner
It seems like usually there's a wild card team that does really well (10-6, 11-5) but they don't win their division because someone got even more wins.  While there probably will be a 10 win wild card team or two, none of them will have a better record than a division winner.  They'll have the same or worse. 

Now onto my Win/Loss predictions for each team, starting with the AFC East, moving west, then doing the same for the NFC:

* = Wild Card

AFC East:
1. New England Patriots: 14-2
2. Miami Dolphins: 8-8
3. Buffalo Bills: 7-9
4. New York Jets: 3-13
Summary: The Patriots may go undefeated, but as defending champs too many teams will be targeting them and odds are they'll lose a game or two in the regular season.  The Dolphins won't struggle with Cutler, but they won't flourish, either.  The Bills did nothing in the offseason to make me think they're going to end their North American major team sport playoff drought.  The Jets, meanwhile, will more than likely be a bottom 3 team in the AFC.

AFC North:
1. Pittsburgh Steelers: 11-5
2. Cincinnati Bengals: 10-6*
3. Baltimore Ravens: 7-9
4. Cleveland Browns: 4-12
Summary: This is the Steelers division to lose this year.  But the Bengals with John Ross will be scary on offense and hard to stop (Think Tyreke Hill and the Chiefs last year).  The Ravens are still lacking a running game (Curse of Ray Rice?), but still have a decent defense, and the Browns will show marginal, if any, improvements.

AFC South:
1. Tennessee Titans: 10-6
2. Houston Texans: 10-6*
3. Jacksonville Jaguars: 6-10
4. Indianapolis Colts: 5-11
Summary: The Titans should contend for a playoff spot and division title with Mariota back and healthy.  The Texans will be scary good with Clowney AND Watt healthy, but I still worry about their quarterback position.  The Jags just can't seem to get over the hump and a new coach won't help.  The Colts will struggle as it seems Luck won't be ready for the start of the season (Maybe not until Week 7 or 8). 

AFC West:
1. Oakland Raiders: 12-4
2. Kansas City Chiefs: 9-7
3. Denver Broncos: 8-8
4. San Diego Chargers: 5-11
Summary: The Raiders are many people's pick to unseat the Pats in the AFC, if it happens.  The Chiefs are still solidly built, but with an aging Smith and Mahomes waiting in the wings, will there be a QB controversy?  Denver still has a great D, but are still looking for the answer at QB (It's not Siemian).  And the Chargers just lost their two rookies and may struggle to find passion for their play, playing in front of only 30,000. 

NFC East:
1. New York Giants: 10-6
2. Dallas Cowboys: 9-7
3. Philadelphia Eagles: 8-8
4. Washington Redskins: 6-10
Summary: The Giants will be hungry after the disappointing Wild Card playoff loss last year.  There's very little chance the Cowboys can repeat last year's regular season success, but barring massive injuries they will compete for the division title.  The Eagles should improve in Wentz's second year.  The Skins... well to be honest I'm not quite sure.  Perhaps Cousins will be distracted with all the rumors flying around, or the injury bug will hit them. 

NFC North:
1. Green Bay Packers: 11-5
2. Minnesota Vikings: 8-8
3. Detroit Lions: 8-8
4. Chicago Bears: 4-12
Summary: This division is the Pack's to lose.  The Vikings would have to play near perfectly.  The Lions will remain competitive more than likely, but still have plenty of holes.  The Bears are still another year away or so, and they still may not have their future QB.

NFC South:
1. Carolina Panthers: 11-5
2. Atlanta Falcons: 10-6*
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 10-6*
4. New Orleans Saints: 7-9
Summary: This may be the most exciting and competitive division in the NFL.  This division is always won by someone unexpected, so I'm going with the Panthers.  They still have Newton and a Top 10 D.  The Falcons should remain very competitive.  The Buccaneers have a bit of hype, but there's no way they're going to win this division easily.  The Saints, meanwhile, would be the only team I'd bet money on to not win the division. 

NFC West:
1. Seattle Seahawks: 12-4
2. St. Louis Rams: 8-8
3. Arizona Cardinals: 6-10
4. San Francisco 49ers: 5-11
Summary: The Hawks have a favorable schedule and play in a weak division, so they should go 5-1 or 6-0 against their division foes.  The Rams should improve under new Head Coach Sean McVay and in Jared Goff's second season.  The Cards are in no man's land and it might be time to move on from Arians/Warner.  The Niners may improve, if slightly.  But there's no fixing that mess in San Francisco overnight.


Awards:

MVP: Derek Carr, Raiders
Offensive Player of the Year: Aaron Rodgers, Packers
Defensive Player of the Year: JJ Watt, Texans
Offensive Rookie of the Year: John Ross, Bengals
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Reuben Foster, 49ers
Coach of the Year: Mike Mularkey, Titans


So the Seahawks finish 12-4?  Let's see how they get there.  Here are predictions for each game (Which usually are off a lot, but it's still fun)

Week 1: At Green Bay Packers - Win, 21-17 (1-0)
The Hawks haven't won in Green Bay since the last millennium, in Mike Holmgren's return to Green Bay after leaving their to become the Hawks head coach.  That's got to end.  The Hawks will have a good defensive game plan, certainly better than last year's game.  Aaron Rodgers and co. will attempt a last second Hail Mary but it will fall short. 

Week 2: Vs. San Francisco 49ers - Win, 24-13 (2-0)
The Hawks offense may struggle against an improved 49er defense at first, and the game may be close until the end, leaving Hawks fans wondering if they might blow this easy victory.  But in the end the Hawks D will step up and the offense will score a last minute TD to put it away. 

Week 3: At Tennessee Titans - Loss, 22-21 (2-1)
In the heat in Tennessee, the Hawks lose their cool (Literally and figuratively) and a costly mistake costs them the game.  The Hawks had their only perfect year against the AFC in their entire history last year, and that is highly unlikely to repeat, so a loss to an AFC team is almost inevitable. 

Week 4: Vs. Indianapolis Colts - Win, 31-10 (3-1)
Odds are Andrew Luck won't be playing in this game, which is a shame, because it was supposed to be a showcase of the Top 2 QB's from the 2012 draft.  With that said, the Hawks should have no trouble taking care of a down on their "Luck" (haha, get it?) team. 

Week 5: At Los Angeles Rams - Win, 19-17 (4-1)
This probably won't be a pretty game, but the Hawks need to end their struggles with the Rams on the road.  There are a lot of lessons the Hawks could learn from last year's game in LA, and as long as they play smart and efficiently, they should win.  Won't be easy, though.

Week 6: BYE

Week 7: At New York Giants - Win, 26-18 (5-1)
The long travel shouldn't bother the Hawks too much, and the game is at 1:25 Pacific Time so that should help.  Richard Sherman should (And probably will be) stuck to Odell Beckham Jr. like glue, frustrating him.  The Hawks have good history in Metlife Stadium (Super Bowl XLVIII) and should continue it.

Week 8: Vs. Houston Texans - Loss, 21-12 (5-2)
JJ Watt and Jadeveon Clowney, if both healthy, may have a field day against our porous offensive line.  Our team could be tired from their long trip back from New Jersey and I could see a letdown game here, despite the Hawks probably being favored. 

Week 9: Vs. Washington Redskins - Win, 28-21 (6-2)
No way will the Hawks allow two straight home losses in a row, especially in back-to-back weeks.  It won't be particularly easy (But then again, what games are?), but the Hawks have done well in recent years against the Redskins and that should continue.

Week 10: At Arizona Cardinals - Win, 20-14 (7-2)
The Hawks will want to do anything to avenge for last year's tie in Arizona.  I don't see the Cardinals as a strong team this season so it should not be as difficult as some of their other games.  So long as the offense gets some rhythm going the defense will  do its part.

Week 11: Vs. Atlanta Falcons - Loss, 31-23 (7-3)
Both teams will want revenge in this game, the Falcons for last year's regular season game where a missed PI call probably cost them the game.  And the Hawks for last year's playoff game.  I don't see the defense being able to keep up with the high flying Falcons defense all day long. 

Week 12: At San Francisco 49ers - Win, 21-16 (8-3)
This game won't be as easy as we think, as the 49er defense with the crowd behind them will give the Hawk offense trouble.  But in the end, talent will win out and the Hawks will come out on top. 

Week 13: Vs. Philadelphia Eagles - Win, 27-24 (9-3)
Again, this game won't be easy.  But it is Prime Time at home, and we have the more experienced quarterback.  A last minute field goal or defensive stop will key the victory for us.

Week 14: At Jacksonville Jaguars - Win, 34-17 (10-3)
The Hawks are flying high after this victory, which should be in a very mild weather game.  The offense has their best game of the year against a defeated Jaguar defense, and they perhaps clinch a playoff spot in this game.

Week 15: Vs. Los Angeles Rams - Loss, 27-18 (10-4)
A week after the offense has one of their best game, the defense has one of their worst and the Rams continue to be able to beat the Hawks at least once a year.  I expect the Rams to have a better 2nd half than first so they may be playing some really good football at this point.

Week 16: At Dallas Cowboys - Win, 28-24 (11-4)
A game that will almost assuredly have playoff implications, the Hawks and Boys will go back and forth, but in the end the Hawks come out on top thanks to the more experienced roster and a line that will be much improved by season's end.  This game could potentially be the one that costs the Cowboys a shot at the NFC East division title.

Week 17: vs. Arizona Cardinals - Win, 20-6
Hard to say if this game will mean anything to either team.  But I would be willing to bet money that Carson Palmer will not be playing in this game (either due to injury, struggles, or simply wanting to give another QB experience).  Even if Russell and some of the starters sit, I see a victory here. 

Well, that's how the Hawks go 12-4.  7-1 on the road and 5-3 at home, which is unusual but not impossible.  Now for the Seahawks leaders and team awards (that aren't obvious):

Rushing Yards: Rawls (2nd is RW)
Rushing TD: Lacy
Receptions: Baldwin
Receiving Yards: Baldwin
Receiving TD: Graham
Sacks: Clark
Tackles: Wagner
Interceptions: Thomas
Team MVP: Wilson
Team unsung hero: Wilhoite
Team Rookie of the Year: Pocic


Now for the playoff predictions to see how the Hawks (and the rest of the NFL's playoff teams) do:

Wild Cards
AFC:  Bengals at Steelers - Steelers win
A rematch of the game two years ago the Bengals blew.  But the Steelers have too much talent and will be at home, again. 
Texans at Titans - Titans win
The Texans have done decently in the playoffs recently... at home.  This game will be on the road however, by virtue of a tiebreaker, and the Titans win by a narrow margin.

NFC: Buccaneers at Giants - Giants win
Experience will win out as Eli and co. put away the young Bucs.  Also, they will want to avoid losing in the wild card round two years in a row.
Falcons at Packers - Packers win
A rematch of last year's NFC Championship game this time takes place in the wild card round.  I don't see the Falcons offense doing much in the Green Bay cold. 

Divisional Round:
AFC: Steelers at Raiders - Raiders win
Still haven't had a road team win in the playoffs.  Should be a very close and exciting game between two teams with some of the best fanbases.  The Steelers have experience but perhaps may lack the drive that will get the Raiders to the next level.
Titans at Patriots - Patriots win
Doesn't it seem like every year the Patriots get an easy matchup in the divisional round?  Last year it was the Osweiler-led Texans, and a few years back it was the Tebow-lead Broncos.  Well, that pattern continues as the Pats get the Titans and Mariota in his first playoff run.  Should be an easy win for the Pats.

NFC: Packers at Panthers - Packers win
Finally, a road team wins.  The Panthers defense won't be able to stop Aaron Rodgers, just like the Cowboys defense couldn't stop him last year. 
Giants at Seahawks - Giants win
I can't remember the last time the Seahawks lost in the Divisional Round at home.  Must have been in the 90's or 80's.  But it is bound to happen.  The Hawks always play tough in the playoffs but I feel the home field advantage is starting to wear off.

Conference Championships:
AFC: Raiders at Patriots - Patriots Win
Hard to imagine the Patriots not making it to the Super Bowl if they get the number one seed.  And Derek Carr and the Raiders should be proud if they get to the AFC Championship game; it means they took a step forward.

NFC: Giants at Packers - Packers Win
A rematch of last year's wild card game.  Again, cold weather, and again, the Pack move on. 

Super Bowl LII: Patriots vs. Packers- Patriots win, 30-27
I have wanted this Super Bowl matchup for so long... and I predict it finally happens.  It would be a showdown for the ages.  I predict the Packers to get a last second or minute TD to make it 28-27 (still in favor of the Pats) and on the PAT it is blocked and returned for 2 pts.  A few last second heaves from Aaron Rodgers are incomplete and the Patriots win yet again, solidifying Belichick and Brady as the two best in history.

My List and Review of all of the Video Games I have owned

The following are all games I have owned for the following consoles: N64 and Xbox.  I share a quick thought on my experience with the game and give it a rating out of 10 (in parenthesis).  The rating reflects how much I enjoyed the game (with only a slight influence on the quality of the game) over my lifetime of playing it.  I will add more consoles as time goes on, including Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, PC, Gameboy, and PSP.  Finally, each game that is bolded is a game I feel I beat/completed to its fullest playing ability.  If it was a sports game, then I played a full season with a team in franchise/season mode.  Without further ado, the games from the first console I ever owned, the N64.

N64:

1. Super Mario 64 (10) - One of the launch titles for the N64 and one most consider to be one of the N64's best.  I wasn't able to get all 120 stars until a few years ago, but this game, despite being 17 years old now, is still really fun to play.

2. Pilotwings 64 (6) - I don't think I ever really fully enjoyed Pilot Wings.  There's a lot of monotonous soaring and gliding involved.  The challenges were certainly challenging enough.  I've played this so little recently that my memories of this game are becoming few and far between.  Might have to play it again someday.

3. Wave Race 64 (8) - My friends were more into this game than I was growing up, but I still enjoyed it.  I wish there would have been more race courses and more racers.  Nintendo should come out with a Wave Race Wii (although that's a tongue twister). 

4. Star Fox 64 (8) - When I first played this as a young child, it scared me.  I also never was able to fully beat it.  This game was too difficult for me.  But I sure had fun in the multiplayer with my sister and friends.  Update: I played this game recently and beat it, twice.  Unfortunately, I wasn't able to beat it on the hard path, but I took the easy and semi-hard paths.

5. Mario Kart 64 (10) - This is a game I still play a lot today (See my girlfriend and I play it below) and despite only 8 characters and 16 tracks, it still is so much fun.  This will forever be my favorite version of Mario Kart. 
6. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (7) - This game would get a 10 from me if it was about the game's quality, but it's not.  I was never able to get into this game as a kid.  I never became a fan of the Legend of Zelda series.  Someday I will put forth actual effort.  I did play this as a kid, but always got stuck at the same part. 

7. Mario Party (9) - The first Mario Party is hands down my favorite.  As a kid, the game I'd always suggest to play with others was Mario Party, and for good reason: It's a fantastic multiplayer game.  It's even a serviceable single player one as well.  The reason it is a 9 and not a 10 is because of the control stick spinning mini-games which caused several blisters on my hand as a kid (and caused me to ruin a pair of baseball gloves I had). 

8. Turok: Dinosaur Hunter (6) - This was the game I was most afraid of as a kid.  Perhaps my parents shouldn't have gotten it, given its Mature rating.  I often just watched my dad play.  But it had its moments.  I especially enjoyed using cheats to get all ammo.  Some of the guns you were supposed to get later in the game were AWESOME.

9. Turok 2: Seeds of Evil (5) - I never really played the single player version of this, something rare for me.  I mostly played this with my dad and sister in multiplayer mode.  I loved the Cerebral Bore, which caused an opponent's head to explode.  But other than multiplayer, this game held little for me.

10. Xena: Warrior Princess: The Talisman of Fate (3) - Again, a game in which I never really took advantage of single player mode.  Just played multiplayer... with my sister.  I never wanted to play this, but my sister sure did. 

11. NFL Quarterback Club '98 (6) - Boy football games in the 90's sucked.  I tried playing it recently and oh my word.  I got some use out of it.  The one thing this game holds is the ability to look and see past players and see how good (or bad) they were.

12. NFL Quarterback Club '99 (7) - I played this game slightly more as it was newer.  I really liked Mike Patrick and Randy Cross as announcers.  But again, football games have come a long way since then.

13. Major League Baseball Featuring Ken Griffey Jr. (10) - This might be my favorite baseball game ever.  Sure, the graphics are awful now, but the controls are ridiculously easy and this was when the Mariners were good.  The game also has a heavy favoritism towards the Mariners, having been made BY Nintendo, which I don't have any problem with, obviously.

14. Goldeneye 64 (9) - Considered one of the best N64 games.  The part I had the most fun with was multiplayer, playing it with my friends and family.  I can't give this game a 10 because it was too difficult for me at times (I was stuck on the "Control" mission for the longest time).  I did eventually beat the game on Agent mode, but never got to the Aztec level.  Oh well, maybe someday. 

15. NBA Hangtime (9) - An arcade game turned into an N64 game, and it worked.  To this day I love seeing players from the 90's like Dennis Rodman, Shawn Kemp, Dikembe Mutombo, and Scottie Pippen.  I just wish players like Michael Jordan and Shaq could have been in it.  I give it only a 9 because it's pretty much the same thing over and over and it does get tiring after a while. 

16. NBA Live '99 (5) - Again, sports games have come a long way since the 90's.  I never really enjoyed this game, as I enjoyed NBA Hangtime more.  But finally being able to beat Michael Jordan 1 on 1 was one of my biggest video game achievements as a kid.

17. Pokemon Stadium (9) - This was, as far as I remember, the first video game I purchased with my own money.  Bought it at K-Mart of all places, and it cost around 70 dollars(!) at the time.  However, I did get my use out of it, playing my Red, Blue, and Yellow versions of Pokemon on there and of course, the mini games.  Just can't give it a 10 because I just felt like the game was missing one thing--and the battles aren't as impressive as I thought they'd be.

18. Pokemon Stadium 2 (8) - The follow up to Pokemon Stadium was almost as good, as many sequels are.  The mini games were again good, but it was hard to figure out the mystery gift thing and in the classroom, having to answer certain questions and do certain battles was very tough--too tough for a 12 year old kid.

19. Hey You, Pikachu! (2) - I give this my lowest rating because it just downright sucks as a game.  It's got an interesting mechanic where you tell Pikachu what to do, but that only worked some of the time, and the gameplay got rather boring real fast.  There's no real ultimate goal or quest in this game.  I think I (or my parents--can't remember) paid close to 100 bucks for the entire package of this game--what a rip-off. 

20. Bomberman 64 (7) - Ah, Bomberman.  This was another one of the games I got more multiplayer use out of.  Laying bombs and then kicking them at your friends?  So much fun.  The single player missions were a bit too difficult for me, but I did eventually beat it after much determination.  I can't say I really enjoyed this game.  Part of the reason I played it was because it was one of only a few games I had at the time.

21. Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2 (7) - This is one of those games that takes a while to get the hang of.  But when you do, it gets really fun.  It sucks having to do a lot just to unlock 1 or 2 courses in the game (You only start out with 1), but the level designs were great for skateboarding.  And I did once pull off the 900.  Never really beat it and unlocked all the levels though.

22. Mario Tennis (8) - One of my favorite Mario games as a kid.  But there's only so much you can do with a tennis game.  It's basically just hitting the ball back and forth.  I liked the wide selection of characters, but on the harder difficulties, it would just take FOREVER to beat them.  Oh well, I still enjoyed it. 

23. Super Smash Bros. (9) - A game I put a lot of time and effort in, especially in beating the "Break the Target" and "Board the Platform" games for each character.  Sure, the Smash Bros. series has come a long way, but the original will always be my favorite. 

24. Pokemon Puzzle League (7) - Even when I'm into Pokemon, not really into playing this game too much.  However, when I was into this game, I was good and enjoyed it immensely.  Some of the harder levels... wow.  How can they expect a kid, or anyone, to beat them? 

25. Diddy Kong Racing (6) - For whatever reason, I always preferred Mario Kart over this, more than likely because I liked the characters more.  However, this game did have fun mechanics and came out with multiple vehicles before the Mario Kart franchise did.  It sure has been a while since I played this.

26. Pokemon Snap (8) - For a game where all you do is take pictures, it's surprisingly fun.  They unlock levels and the ability to throw food or pester balls at the perfect pace.  They were only able to include about half of the original 151 Pokemon, probably due to the size capacities of the N64 games.  Some of the shots I got were not too far off from being close to world records.  I would've loved to have seen another Pokemon Snap game, perhaps for the Wii, but would it work with motion control?  Hard to say.

27. Star Wars Episode I: Racer (4) - I recently got this game at a bargain store, and I haven't played it much yet.  It was surprisingly tough, even for an adult.  I will give this another go someday, perhaps after watching Episode I again.


Xbox:

1. NFL Fever 2002 (8) - I really liked the NFL Fever franchise.  I really wish they had been able to continue it, but unfortunately EA Sports won the sole rights to NFL players and their likenesses.  At the time, I really thought other games were better than Madden.  This one was no exception.  The players weren't really scaled right, but I had a lot of fun creating players (usually based on kids I went to school with) and of course, playing with the Seahawks. 

2. Star Wars Obi-Wan (8) - Pretty much Star Wars Episode I with some before and during battles.  You play as a young jedi Obi-Wan (duh) and you play in certain battles such as rescuing the Queen in Naboo and fighting against Darth Maul.  This would have to be one of my favorite third person Star Wars games ever.  The controls are a bit hard to figure out at first, but once you get the hang of it, it's not bad.  The graphics, however, do not hold up well today.

3. NBA Inside Drive 2002 (6) - Didn't really play this game much, as I've played its successor much more over the years.  The only thing it has better than the 2003 version is the intro. 

4. NBA Inside Drive 2003 (9) - To this day I still play this game.  For some reason, I can't get into any other basketball game.  I love the antics of Kevin Colabro, Marcus Johnson, and Kenny Smith as announcers.  Plus, creating players and getting them experience and making them better is really fun and easy to do in this game.

5. Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell (7) - I've always found this game too difficult for me.  First time I played it, I got stuck a few levels in.  A year ago or so, I played it again and got a lot farther, but still couldn't beat the game.  Maybe after a while I'll try a third time to beat the game.  Fun to play for sure, but a bit too difficult for me.

6. Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon (9) - What's not to like? The Campaign mode is fun, but the actual gameplay is awesome and simple enough.  I've beaten the campaign mode at least 10 times, each time still as fun as the last.  Multiplayer was fun while it lasted, too.  I wish the campaign was longer, but it has good replay value.  One thing I don't like: Some of the Dossier missions are downright impossible--recon on elite, firefight on elite using only a demolitions guy... I mean... wow.

7. Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Island Thunder (8) - Had all the same, great features the original Ghost Recon had.  The campaign wasn't as long or enjoyable, but still fun.  I think there were some bugs in this game.  But the thing that hurt this game was that it was basically just an expansion to Ghost Recon, but it was marketed as its own game.

8. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (8) - Good continuation in the Harry Potter video game series.  Too many load screens bogged the game down a bit, but nothing beat free roam around the castle on a broomstick, being able to collect an infinite number of beans and trading them for prizes from Fred and George.  I think I've only beaten the game twice, so it's hard to give it anything higher than an 8. 

9. Halo (10) - Arguably the best original Xbox game.  When you think Xbox, you think Halo.  This game kicked ass and its only fault was lack of multiplayer, which was implemented in its sequel.  I don't think I'll ever like a first person shooter series more than Halo.  It was a huge part of my adolescence.

10. Halo 2 (10) - This game had a lot of hype and it certainly lived up to it.  The story mode wasn't as compelling but multiplayer was everything I expected and all the new features and weapons were amazing.  Energy sword FTW.  I still enjoy playing out the campaign every few years.  I even owned the PC version and played it on my PC as well.

11. Grand Theft Auto III (6) - This game came packaged with GTA Vice City when they were first released for the Xbox (see below), and I preferred Vice City, so I never really got into this version.  Maybe someday?  All I can say is I probably haven't put forth even 10 hours into this game in my life. 

12. Grand Theft Auto Vice City (8) - Played this quite a bit once GTA came out on the Xbox console.  I don't think I fully completed all of the missions, but I came close.  Fond memories of this game.

13. Grand Theft Auto San Andreas (9) - I don't think I spent as much time on this as GTA Vice City, but I enjoyed it more and most every gamer of GTA would agree it's one of the strongest in the series.  The map is larger, you do more exciting missions, and it's just a better quality game.  I'll definitely play this some more in the future.  The graphics don't hold up that well, however.

14. Midtown Madness 3 (8) - For some reason, we got rid of this game and I no longer own it or can play it.  But one time we did own it and it was a lot of fun.  I remember playing the first Midtown Madness games on the PC many years ago, and this game for the Xbox was just as good.  Good selection of vehicles.  Just been a while. 

15. Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic (10) - This is in competition with Halo and Halo 2 as the Xbox game I have spent the most time on.  I really have no complaints about this game.  The story is so compelling it could (and should) be made into a movie.  To this day I still play it and I may never grow old of it.  I have purchased and played the mobile version of this, and may just play it there in the future out of convenience.

16. Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords (8) - This game actually improved slightly in gameplay and mechanics, but fell way short in story and characters.  I still love playing it and have beaten it many times as well, but I always feel dissatisfied when I finish it.  Like someone who just finished their plate of food and is still hungry.  The game was obviously rushed out, which it shouldn't have been.  People have been petitioning long and hard for a KOTOR III, but that may never come. 

17. Star Wars Battlefront (8) - I was thrilled about this idea of a game: Being a stormtrooper, Wookie, or even Trade Federation droid and fighting in some of the most famous battles in Star Wars.  It worked pretty well, but was almost too simple of a game. 

18. Star Wars Battlefront II (8) - This game had improvements from its predecessor in graphics and gameplay, but I can't say I enjoyed it more.  Loved being able to play as famous Jedi, but flying in planes was way too tough and some of the game types still don't make sense to me. 

19. All-Star Baseball 2004 (7) - Not my favorite baseball game ever, but it had its perks.  Creating your own team was fun, and the actual gameplay was pretty good, and the graphics were good, especially for its time.  Thom Brennaman and Steve Lyons weren't the best choice as commentators, though.  However, I loved the feature of exploring the unused ballparks they had in the game.  I would listen to the voiceover guy talk about the ballparks and that was entertaining enough by itself.

20. Major League Baseball 2K5 (9) - Up there as one of my favorite sports games... ever.  I've played multiple 162-game seasons on this game (usually as the Mariners, of course), and the display and graphics still hold up pretty well to this day.  Jon Miller and Joe Morgan as announcers?  Perfect choices.  Also, you can't beat the ESPN presentation for this game.

21. Bicycle Casino (6) - Enjoyable when I feel the urge to gamble and play casino games, which is rare, however.  But I could spend hours playing Texas Hold 'Em in this game.  It's just very basic with nothing really that stands out.  I never had enough patience to build up a lot of money in this game.

22. NHL Hitz Pro (6) - The only hockey game I've ever owned, really.  And I did enjoy it, for the most part.  It was too easy to score goals, and upping the difficulty only allowed the computer to score a ton of goals.  What happened to low-scoring contests?  Then again, this was made by Midway, who also made NFL Blitz.  I liked creating the Seattle expansion franchise most of all.

23. Medal of Honor Frontline (7) - Another game we've gotten rid of but I remember owning, Medal of Honor Frontline had a more war-like feel than any Call of Duty game I've played.  Very good difficulty.  Graphics kind of lacked and some tasks seemed weird, but I enjoyed it.  I recently re-bought this game and tried playing it, but it was surprisingly difficult.  I'll try again someday.

24. Destroy All Humans (5) - Played this a bit when we first got it, and it was fun, but it has very little replay value and doesn't hold up well today.  I've thought about giving this game another shot someday. 

25. Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (8) - Definitely enjoyable with cut scenes from the movie.  I don't like the controls too much, basically making it a button-mashing game, but it holds up well today.

26. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (8) - Difficult, but fun and even longer than Two Towers.  I like all the characters you can play from.  Whenever I finish watching the Lord of the Rings movies, I have to play the games. 

27. Test Drive Off-Road Wide Open (5) - I had to look this game up because not only did we get rid of it, but I couldn't remember the title.  Found it, and one of the few things I remember was being able to race a Dodge Durango, which was the family car at the time.  This game was fun, but it didn't give me too many reasons to go back and play it, which is probably why we got rid of it.

28. ESPN NFL 2K5 (10) - Somehow, I forgot this game and I had to put this up a month after my original blog post!  This might be my favorite NFL video game of all time, and I forgot it.  The ESPN format is brilliant, with Chris Berman and his half- and post-game shows.  The announcers could be better (Who are Dan Stevens and Peter O'Keefe?)  But this game, to this day, stands up well even to the current Madden.  Imagine if EA hadn't won the monopoly to the NFL, how much this series of football games might have advanced.  And the best part about this game?  Even at release: It was just $19.99.  Yeah.

29. NASCAR Heat 2002 (8) - This is the only NASCAR game I've ever owned, but I sure enjoyed it.  Yes, it's just taking a bunch of left turns, but navigating past cars was fun enough.  I most had fun causing havoc and causing other drivers to spin out and crash.  I did an entire season and won, which I think counts for beating the game.

30. Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (7) - I have beaten the game once, but it was not that enjoyable.  It's a lot of button mashing just like The Lord of the Rings games.  But the alternate ending where Anakin kills Obi-Wan is almost worth the price of the game, if you can get that far.

Now there are a few games me or my family owned that I either spent little to no time playing, but I will list them nonetheless:

31. 007: Agent Under Fire: I expected this to be near as good or better than Goldeneye.  I was wrong.
32. America's Army: Rise of a Soldier
33. Harry Potter Quidditch World Cup: Boring after a short while
34. Half-Life 2
35. NCAA Football 2005
36. The Sims 2: There's a reason it was made for the PC primarily
37. Star Wars: The Clone Wars
38. Tetris Worlds
39. Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter
40. Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon 2
41. Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon 2: Summit Strike


Xbox 360:
1. Backbreaker (5) - This game was fun to do the Gauntlet or whatever it was called, where you have 100 levels to evade or juke past defenders all the while staying inside certain boundaries.  It's animations were excellent, although the gameplay was limited.

2. The Bigs (3) - I just couldn't get into this game and don't know why I got it.  I guess it's fun to see the players all jacked up and cranking home runs at ease.

3. Call of Duty: Black Ops II (7) - I mainly got this game to play online with one of my friends, which I only did for a little bit.  I like the Call of Duty games, just never been a big fan of them.

4. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (8) - I beat this game because the storyline in the Modern Warfare games is my favorite of any CoD series.  I didn't play much online, however.

5. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (8) - I think I beat this game twice.  It's a heck of a lot of fun.  I did play a bit online, probably the most of any CoD game I've ever played.

6. College Hoops 2K6 (10) - This is the only College Basketball game I've ever owned because nothing for me will top this.  I got over a decade in to the franchise mode with the Gonzaga basketball team before I accidentally overrode its save with something else 😭 Boy that was not a good day.  The fact that you could edit any incoming players and make them better made it easy to keep on playing.

7. Crackdown (8) - I remember I got this game for free after doing a play test study for Microsoft way back when.  I wasn't sure I'd enjoy it, but I certainly did.  It was fun increasing your guy's attributes and leaping tall buildings in a single bound.

8. Crackdown 2 (9) - They improved Crackdown even more with its sequel.  I don't remember either game a ton, but I certainly want to replay them someday.

9. Dead Island (6) - I've played this zombie game a bit.  I wanted a zombie game to play a few years ago, one a bit more realistic than the one below.  But it was only okay.  I did not get very far at all.

10. Dead Rising (7) - Boy was this game tough.  I loved the story, which is what gave me motivation to keep trying.  I always thought they should have made this into a movie.  But I just couldn't get past certain parts.  When you just couldn't avoid getting attacked by a zombie over and over, that was very annoying.

11. Game of Thrones (4) - I got this game shortly after getting into the TV series, and I just can't stay focused to play it.  The better game is the Telltale Games version.

12. Gears of War (9) - This would probably be 2nd to Halo as my favorite shooter franchise of all time.  Playing as Marcus Fenix and battling the Locust horde just is so much fun.  I love the story too, and think it would make an interesting movie or TV series.

13. Gears of War 2 (8) - I give this a slightly lower rating, but it's still a great game.  It's often forgotten, being sandwiched between the first and third (which some consider to be the best).

14. Gears of War 3 (10) - What a great game.  The part that will always stand out to me is when Dom sacrifices himself to save Marcus and the rest, set to an instrumental of "Mad World".  I legit cried my first time playing through that part.  I will forever argue it's one of the saddest moments in video game history.

15. Grand Theft Auto IV (9) - Boy I loved playing as Nico in beautiful NYC.  The story of course, was really good.  My favorite mission was the bank robbery.  I also loved doing different challenges after beating the story mission.  I didn't get to 100% completion, maybe close to 80%.

16. Grand Theft Auto V (10) - Rockstar Games hit it out of the park with this one.  Three playable characters this time, all uniquely different.  The story was again top-notch and there's so much replay value in this. 

17. Halo 3 (10) - What more can you say?  Halo 3 is considered to be peak Halo.  The online experience, for once, was the highlight for me.  They introduced Forge which allowed players to create and share their own maps, which even I did a bit.  There was the Arby N the Chief series, which mainly related to this game.  I remember checking my stats online at Bungie.net constantly.  Good times.

18. Halo Reach (9) - This was an interesting game, to have a prequel to Halo.  I certainly enjoyed it, and I felt like it had the perfect difficulty.  I played it online a little bit, but not like Halo 3.  I loved the ending where your Spartan character fought to the bitter end at the Fall of Reach.

19. Halo 3: ODST (8) - Probably one of the weakest in the Halo series, but still a very solid game.  I thought it was cool playing as a soldier and not a spartan, for a change.  It definitely got tough in parts, but doable.

20. Halo 4 (8) - This was enjoyable and fun, but it just doesn't feel like Halo for some reason.  This was after Bungie sold the game to 343 Industries, so that has something to do with it.  I don't think I ever played it online.

21. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (9) - One of my favorite Harry Potter games ever.  It has the most open-world aspect to it of any HP game at that point.  I enjoyed finding all the hidden crests and even playing games with other students. 

22. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (8) - A very similar game to OotP, but for some reason, I just didn't enjoy the game quite as much.  Odd, because I enjoyed the book version more.  I definitely want to give this game another try some day because it's hard to remember what it's like.

23. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (7) - I think this game did away with the majority of the open world element, and in my opinion, lacked a bit as a result.  It's not the gamemakers fault, as the story didn't have the students in school.  Again with HBP, hard to remember, will have to play again someday.

24. LA Noire (10) - One of Rockstar's best.  They sure captured the 1940's Los Angeles so well.  Trying to figure out if people were telling the truth was equally challenging and fun to do.  This game definitely deserves a replay, and I will have to do that soon.

25. Lost: Via Domus (7) - I think this game gets a bad rap.  Yes it's short, simple, and slightly contradicts the show, but it's still enjoyable.  I hated avoiding the smoke monster; it's repetitive, annoying, and there's way too much of it.  Also, some of the voice actors were nothing like their TV show counterparts, mainly Charlie, Sawyer, and Locke.  But it was so cool being in the hatch and exploring it.