I couldn’t stand Left 4 Dead.  Not only was the game pointless (no story) there were a few technical issues.  There seems to be two camps on the game – REALLY love it or REALLY hate it.  This last week Valve Software, the producer of the game, said Left 4 Dead 2 is going to drop on 11/17.

Fans are not happy as in a number of ways the 1st game is not even finished and they will have to shell out $50 for another game. Sure, one could just say “don’t buy the new game” but people feel the 2nd game is what the 1st should have been (including all updates and advancements that were promised for the 1st).

Well, someone decided to voice their disapproval and do so using Hitler.  The clip is from a great war movie called “Downfall” (Der Untergang) and subtitled for your enjoyment.  Even if you are not a gamer you may find some humor in this… actually… I would suggest watching it even if you don’t enjoy games as the clip/subs “fit” the tone of the clip (well, that is if you don’t know German)

For ages now, I’ve wanted to change the fluorescent light that is over the kitchen sink. I don’t care for the color of the light and I cannot stand the damn hum the thing gives off. In a age where humanity has virtually eliminated polio, how is it that all fluorescent technology never advanced to the point where it was… actually useful.

Anyway, so I went to Lowes in order to pick up a new light. What did I find… how about a new LCD LED light. Yes. No sound, bright light, cost efficient… and it does not have a hardwired connection point.

The current light is hardwired into the electrical system, the new one that was picked up needed an outlet. That just take the thunder out of the new light idea. Looks like it’s time to head back to Lowes and see what else I can find that will work.

The Morse Theatre

Just down the street from my condo is, or should I say was, a newly renovated theater/restaurant that was intended to kick start the growth on my rather questionable street (well, a few blocks to the west it’s questionable). Today I happened to be passing by and I noted that the theater was closed.

Understand one small point – this establishment opened all of six months ago after a several year, $6 million dollar, renovation project. From what I understand, this was not an issue of economics but of management differences. The backers of the project wanted the place to run in a different manner and the part owner/manager disagreed.

So, they shut the doors.

While I’ve never had the pleasure to see the inside of this place, it was a nice option to have on my street… As for the future of the theater, I’m not sure. Only time will tell.

Team Fortress 2

After my highly disappointing experience with Left 4 Dead, I decided to turn to the old Half-life to bring me back to PC Gaming happiness. I’ve been playing Team Fortress 2 a bit to relieve myself from the pressures of the day.

This is simply a on-line First Person Shooter… get a bunch of people together and start playing. Sure, there is no story to it; however, fun can be found at just about ever turn.

Anyway, going to watch the Blues Brothers shortly.

One of the best ways for me to relax, and by relax I mean completely tune out the rest of the world and find a way to go into my own little world, is playing a FPS. Something about blowing up a bunch of stuff while destroying aliens that wish to take over the world seems… therapeutic. Left 4 Dead, I believed, was right in my wheelhouse. I mean, really, what else could one ask for but running around killing a bunch of mindless zombies infected with some unknown virus.

Left 4 Dead was developed by Turtle Rock/Valve and uses the Source engine (the same engine for Half Life). When the game starts, you could easily get confused…. The intro to the game is so impressive, I honestly felt there were times when I couldn’t tell if I was going to play a game or watch a movie. The graphics are top notch. I had to watch the intro a few times I was that impressed.

The tone was set, I was ready for a brainless, zombie ass-kicking experience.

Left 4 Dead focuses on cooperative team play where the gamer can control other characters through keyboard commands. Sweet. You and three other AI driven characters, who you can control when you need to, attempt to get out of the virus infected city as waves and waves of zombified enemies come at you in seemingly uncontrollable waves.

So, who could ask for anything more in a game? Apparently, I could…

The graphics are outstanding and the game play – the cooperative aspect – is really enjoyable BUT there is no story… there is no point. The game is literally you and three others blowing the hell out of zombies. That’s it. The online game play is equally as pointless… it’s the same damn thing, except now you are play with three other people of which two think they are l337 gamers but are, in actuality, two 48 year old men with no lives that cannot play the game let alone know how to turn on their own computers.

I think I really need to have a point, a story, to my FPS games. I never thought I would be disappointed in a game where I simply killed zombies, apparently I am…

If you want to be a zombie while you play a game then Left 4 Dead is for you. If you are looking for a story, a point… you will want and need to find something else.

Rating: 3.5/10 (simply because there is no damn point)