Gamebytes: Ghost Reacon Advanced Warfighter 2 for the Playstation3

By Jeremy HohmanFriday, October 26, 2007 10:25 AM CDT
The year is 2014, you and your team, strapped with the most advanced technology available, are heading into Mexico to stop a civil war. Not very complicated, huh? There is a very nice plot, but do you honestly care? I don’t. Let’s blow stuff up!The equipment itself in this game is very revolutionary to the tactical-shooter niche.The UAV3 is a special camera drone that acts as your eye in the sky. By pressing the ‘select’ button and pulling up your map, you will be able to send your camera-drone by placing the cursor over a designated area and pressing up on the direction pad. Once overhead a target you can lower the camera to spot enemies. A new ability that has been added to GRAW 2 is CFV mode. By pressing the R2 button you will be in first person view of your teammate’s positions. By pressing up on the direction pad you can send them to a specific area or regroup by pressing down on the D-pad. Another piece of equipment is the M.U.L.E—simply put a mobile weapons shop. A shop that you will drive and run down your enemies; on the outside, there is a first person gun camera that allows you to attack enemies without compromising your position. Not to forget and leave out the basics: assault rifles, sniper rifles, smoke grenades, satchel charges, turrets, night vision, and everything you could possibly need to take out a nation of bad guys.On the other side of the spectrum, GRAW 2 can infect players with game burn-out. Gameplay can get a little slow at times by fighting opponents that don’t offer you any challenge, running for periods of time without any action, and dealing with teammates that you can’t put into position without them being seen. Learning the controls of the game will take some practice. What makes them a challenge is in this game they utilize every button; therefore, memorizing what each button does and applying that in the heat of battle can be a little tricky. Using the first person view to control your teammates is cool, but useless. For one you are limited to what you see by not being able to control the camera. Although you can switch between teammates, this still does not help because they will still stand wherever, usually in the open. Using the UAV3 camera is helpful when pin-pointing your target, but be careful. If your UAV is spotted it can be shot out of the sky; once you locate your target, regroup it by pressing down on the d-pad.Six Axis Controls stink! To use them, one must move the base of the controller up or down to move forwards or backwards, tilt the controller right or left to turn in these respected directions. Don’t attempt to use this feature; turn it off in the options screen. Trying to maneuver the M.U.L.E with this is a pain and not very accurate. You’ll wind up getting frustrated and lose the excitement of what you’re supposed to be doing.There is some staggering in frame rate in certain scenes, but nothing too crazy.The audio for the game is not bad, but not the best: speaker distortion was common throughout the game.The graphics for the PS3 are similar if not better than those on the 360.Multiplayer mode offers 32 maps spanning from night to day scenes and lots of options that aren’t available in single player mode. If an online battle is what you’re looking for than this should satisfy your appetite for destruction.Despite some issues, GRAW 2 succeeds in giving you a real feeling of being part of an elite US team. All in all, if you were a fan of the Socom series for the PS2 and looking for a decent multiplayer mode for the PS3, you have found it.Ghost Reacon Advanced Warfighter 2 gets a B-Jeremy Hohman is the writer, producer and host of GameBytes a 30 minute weekly game news and review show. To see Jeremy’s latest pod cast or to rent & play the game reviewed simply go to; http://www.gnfgames.com/

Wild Horse Update

Horse Slaughter ban upheld in State of IllinoisOn Friday, September 21st, the US Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit ruled in favor of the constitutionality of the recent Illinois State law that was passed, banning the slaughter of horses for human consumption in the State of Illinois. While a similar state law in Texas shut down 2 of the 3 horse slaughter plants at the beginning of this year, Cavel International in DeKalb, IL continued to slaughter horses under the protection of temporary injunctions while they waged their legal battle. The plant has a couple of legal options remaining that they can explore. For now, however the last remaining slaughter plant in the U.S. has to close its doors. With U.S. plants closed, American horses will simply be shipped overseas to Canada or Mexico for slaughter. America’s wild horses also remain at risk of slaughter. Though they were once protected under the 1971 Wild Free Roaming Horses and Burros Act, they have lost many of these protections throughout the last three decades. The final blow came in 2004 when an amendment opened up full sale authority for wild horses, essentially making them available to the highest bidder. In April of this year, Congressmen Nick Rahall and Ed Whitfield succeeded in passing legislation in the US House of Representatives that would revoke that sale authority and restore some of the protections that the 1971 Act had provided. This legislation still needs to be heard and voted on in the Senate. Until then, wild horses remain at risk. The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (HR 503 and S 311) has been introduced in both the House and the Senate, but has yet to be heard by either in this Congressional session. Despite overwhelming public support, and the fact that HR 503 passed the House by a landslide last year, the legislation is languishing in Committee as we near the end of the session. This legislation would protect both wild and domestic horses from slaughter. You can be a voice for America’s wild horses by contacting your members of Congress today. Ask them to support:· HR 503 in the House· S 311 and a Senate version of HR 249 in the SenateFor information on who your representatives are, or how to contact them, please visit www.congress.org. For more information on Return to Freedom and what we’re doing to protect America’s wild horses please visit www.returntofreedom.org. On behalf of the horses, thank you. Jill AndersonOutreach & Communications DirectorReturn to Freedom, American Wild Horse SanctuaryPh: (805) 737-9246 Fax: (805) 800-0868

Open Field Join-Up,,Almost

I was contacted by a local Doctor about his Two Year Old Filly. Doc had traded this two year old to a local trainer for a horse trailer. The problem was that this filly had no human contact since she was six months old and the trainer could not catch her.

Doc asked me to come look at the horse and see if I could help. She was a beautiful Tennessee Walking Horse and would come up with curiosity but when I would reach out for her she would back up just out of reach or hide behind another horse. I started to walk her down just to see how she would react. No interest in any contact what so ever.

Finally after about a half an hour I decided to separate her from the other horses. I was able to put the other horses up and keep her at bay. When she realized she was in the field alone she went nuts. Screaming and try to climb the gate.

I grabbed a rope and started to push her off the gate and into the field. Now that I had her in the open field I would push her by throwing the rope at her hind quarters. I would have to follow her and keep pushing for over an hour. Finally her inner ear was focused on me like a radar and she started a chewing motion with her mouth, I knew I had her and lightened up a little. It was hot, she and I were both tired and in need of water.

After a five minute break we started again. Same thing, ear focused and chewing of the mouth but I could never get her to bow or come to me no matter what.

Change of method. I roped her from the ground. As soon as the rope hit and went tight she took off burning my gloves. I would follow, Pick up the rope and try light pressure. Off she went. After about a half an hour she started to give in. I finally walked the length of the rope and got my hands on her for the first time. She was still very shy but did not run. After about five minutes I could rub her all over and was able to put the first halter on her of her life.

Once the halter was on I attached a lead rope, she still didn't run, but would not lead. I walked her in small circles bending her and forcing her to turn and follow my lead. She got comfortable but still would not move forward. Next move was to take a lounge whip and hold it behind me in my outside hand and as I would step forward I would flick her hind with the whip. She began to understand what I wanted and complied. By the time we were done I tossed the lead rope over her back and walk next to her. No matter where I went she stayed in step and at my side.

This was truely an exhilarating experience for me. I have accomplised similar in a round pen but never in an open field. I was blessed by this horse and am grateful for the experience.

El.

Professional Gamers

Professional gamers

By RACHEL ADAMS, The Daily NewsWednesday, August 22, 2007 1:04 PM CDT

Growing up, Elliot Holland and Chris Jefferies always envisioned their dream jobs simply: playing video games all day long.Honing their skills on games like Atari's “Pong” and Nintendo's “The Legend of Zelda,” the Bowling Green friends heard people say over and over again that their pipe dreams wouldn't come true - that, in the real world, no one gets paid to move fictional characters around a screen.That was before Holland, 23, and Jefferies, 21, were guaranteed a $30,000 contract, plus bonuses based on performance, to be “World of Warcraft” professionals for the Championship Gaming Series, a professional gaming league that aims to be the first of its kind to have salaried players. The duo, who call themselves “Ensane,” won the honor by placing third in a “World of Warcraft” arena match at BlizzCon, an early August event in Anaheim, Calif., by Blizzard Entertainment, makers of the game.“It is really exciting,” Holland said. “I do feel like we're pioneers in this field. ... We are really kind of paving the way for the whole industry.”Holland first started playing “World of Warcraft” - a massive multiplayer online role-playing game, or MMORPG - three years ago, convincing Jefferies to join him a year later. When Blizzard introduced an “arena match” feature, allowing teams of players to fight other teams to the pixellated death, the roommates formed a paladin/warlock combination team and started practicing.The two play “all the time - too much, if you ask my mom,” Holland said. “We play every day, at least several hours a day. ... It's good to stay on top of our game.”Eventually, Blizzard began offering arena tournaments - where teams compete for cash prizes - for teams of five and three, Holland said, but not for pairs. A few months ago, however, a friend mentioned that the Championship Gaming Series planned to offer a tournament for “twos,” qualifying rounds for which were held online in America and Europe. Team Ensane placed in the top 70 teams in the United States, then moved up to the top eight, qualifying them for a trip to BlizzCon on Aug. 3 and 4.At BlizzCon, the winning teams competed against each other on computers hooked up to large screens that aired all the action, Holland said. He and Jefferies faced DnT, a team favored to win, in a round that drew gasps and cheers from the crowd with each move.“We gave them a pretty good run,” Holland said. “We got down to the wire at the end. It was pretty close, then one of their players pulled out a pretty clutch move. ... We definitely had the most exciting game there.”The two enjoyed the star treatment lavished upon them at the event - fans asked for their tips on gaming, they were issued “Pro Gamer” ID badges and received paid airfare and entry into BlizzCon.“On eBay, tickets for BlizzCon were selling for about $600, last-minute,” Jefferies said. “We had our own lounge as well.”The pair will fly to Los Angeles in November to play in the Championship Gaming Series World Championships, then in 2008 will be matched with one of eight teams across the nation. Previously, the teams were comprised of 10 members, each an expert on one of several different console video games, but next year the teams will expand to include two “World of Warcraft” experts - in one team's case, Holland and Jefferies. They're not sure yet which team they'll be assigned, but they do know one thing: Life with the Championship Gaming Series, while it may be fleeting, is going to be awesome.“Do what you enjoy - don't let someone tell you, you have to do something else,” Holland said. “There's always going to be a way. You can make things happen.”Both Holland and Jefferies say their families are proud of their accomplishments - but, as exciting as the prospect of getting paid to play video games is, they acknowledge the need for a backup plan. The duo plan to stay with the Championship Gaming Series as long as they can, but they know the deal may not last forever.“The best part is, you get to go for what you really want, and if you have a plan B, you're never going to be hurting for anything,” Jefferies said.

Gamebytes: Mario Strikers Charged for the Nintendo Wii

Gamebytes: Mario Strikers Charged for the Nintendo Wii
by Jeremy HohmanFriday, August 17, 2007 1:32 PM CDT
Mario’s back in action and taking full charge on the Nintendo Wii. Have you ever wonder what soccer would be like if you were a Nintendo character? Well now you get your chance with Mario Strikers Charged.This new addition takes soccer to a whole new level with crazy playing fields and some off the wall power moves. Each game has two five player teams that play on fields half the size of a traditional soccer field. With all the different variables that make up the game you will see soccer from a very different perspective. For instance each character has there own special abilities that allows you to confuse or completely dominate the competition. One example is Mario can grow a hundred times his size and rampage the pitch while Wario sprays off a mist and disorients players on the other team. You will have a choice to pick your captians which include Mario, Luigi, Wario, Donkey Kong, etc. Each character that you select has different fake out moves and abilities, so get used to your character and see which one suites you best. You can also perform Mega Strikes which allow your character to jump in the air, perform a massive kick, and send the ball at the goalie at warp speeds. The opposing player must stop the strike or risk multiple goals. The controls of the game are not that difficult to learn, but they do take some practice. Once you get the hang of it you’ll be hitting Mega Strikes no problem and terrorizing the apposing team. And don’t forget to check out Strikers 101 mode which includes 10 lessons that teach you the basics such as using power ups and completing Mega Strikes.I give Mario Strikers Charged a certified A+

Jeremy Hohman is the writer, producer and host of GameBytes a 30 minute weekly game news and review show. Jeremy is currently traveling across the U.S. hosting gaming competitions for GameZnFlix at the Midnight Gaming Championship 2007.To see where Jeremy will be next, and to play the games that were reviewed, simply go to http://www.gameznflix.com

Wild Hogs

Wild Hogs was absolutely hysterical. I LMAO the entire movie. This is one for the library. Rent it, watch it and I know you will want to buy it.

Hohman Strikes Again with Darkness

So you think your not afraid of the dark
by Jeremy HohmanThursday, August 2, 2007 3:55 PM CDT
So your not afraid of the dark, well The Darkness just might change that. Based on the comic book series by Top Cow Productions; it’s a definite change in FPS games we’ve come to know.The Darkness is similar to most other first person shooters except you have special dark powers that allow you to take on multiple enemies without even using your guns. You’ll start off as hit man Jackie Estacado, who’s sent to live with his sweet old uncle Paulie, who shows him the ways of the Franchetti crime family. When money goes missing, Uncle Paulie blames Jackie and wants him killed by mob goons using any means necessary. The plot thickens as on Jackie’s twenty-first birthday, Uncle Paulie plants a bomb that nearly kills him. After his near death experience, Jackie gains some unique powers from the dark side and begins to take his revenge against Uncle Paulie, using his new dark powers. With these powers: you have the ability to sneak up on your opponents, refill your dark powers by devouring hearts, and summon darklings, small ghouls that help Jackie do his evil deeds. You also have the ability to switch between Jackie and his dark manifest of himself by hitting the left bumper button. The key to replenishing Jackie’s darkness power is to stay out of the light by destroying all the sources of light. As you advance in the game, make sure to use your tentacles to surprise unsuspecting enemy, unlock doors, and crawl through tight spaces. If you’re looking for a traditional first person shooter game with a sinister spin, then The Darkness is for you.The Darkness gets a C+ in my book.Jeremy Hohman is the writer, producer and host of GameBytes a 30 minute weekly game news and review show. Jeremy is currently traveling across the U.S. hosting gaming competitions for GameZnFlix at the Midnight Gaming Championship 2007.To see where Jeremy will be simply go to http://www.gameznflix.com/

Average Day At The Ranch

Spent most of the morning mucking stalls and riding new starts. Hours of riding in circles wore me out. Time for siesta. Just recieved new movie in the mail from www.gameznflix.com , Shooter. Should be a good movie. If I don't nap through it, I will post a review.

Met a beatuful girl at the horse sale this week, I hope she is as true to her beliefs as she says she is. I really don't have time for fake or shallow people in my life. I can tell by the way she is built that she spends alot of time in the saddle, there is nothing like the way a cowgirl fits in her wranglers. The question is does she like to work the horse or just show up. Time will tell. I will let you know. El

Round Pen and Ground Work

I have always been one of those that just gets on the horse and rides it out until the horse gives in. I have always said I can ride as fast and as far as the horse wants to run. Well.......My body isn't what it used to be and I had to find a more body friendly way to start my horses. Thats when I found the Round Pen, Monty Roberts, John Lyons and Pat Perelli. Now I'm no fool, I believe in non-resistant training, I have seen it work in my round pen, I don't totally believe what these guys do at a seminar is what they do at home. However, consistent Ground Work has saved whats left of my body. Cicely is a nine year old Mustang mare adopted from the BLM and was taged as a problem horse. I believe she was too old to be taken from the wild. The first time I tried to approach her she charged me and tried to pen me against a stall gate, which I very quickly jumped over.

It took three weeks to get her used to me and to let me work with her. The very first time I worked her in the Round Pen she responded just as Monty Roberts said she would. I was so excited I pushed the Saddle on her and almost got trampled. I backed off worked the program taking it slow and easy. I let her show me how far she was ready to go. We worked three hours a day for three weeks. When felt comfortable enough to mount her, there was no resistance, no buck, no run just total trust.

Read the books and work the process and most of all take your time. This will save your body for later years.

Games for Lunch: SSX Blur

Games for Lunch: SSX Blur

Just Another Day In Paridise

Wow!!! What a weekend. The boys and I threw a hell of a party. We ran through 23 cases of Miller Lite and had two band playing into the night. Only one girl got sick and there were no fights. The party was validated when the Cops showed up, they were nice and left us to our party. A good time was had by all.