EB Stone | RedRumSkippy

Yeah, its been a while since I posted here. Its the same old same old. Life gets busy. Gaming and posting to the blog needs to be put on the back burner till I get some free time. Its all good. On the flip side, I've gotten pretty good at Gears in preparation for the new game coming November 7th ...

Anywho, being gamers you all know that this week officially stated the holiday rush of games onto store shelves. I think between October and January last year I bought 14 plus games. I thought this year was suppose to be slower, but looking at the release schedule of upcoming games, I guess its going to be just as busy as last year.

This week Fable 2 was released. I have to tell ya, I love that game! I'm not a huge RPG fan, but this is one game I'm really starting to get into. Check it out if you get a chance.

Far Cry 2. That was the other big release this week. Many of you who I have on my XBL friend list remember us meeting in previous Far Cry games and being part of quite a large map making community, several years ago. Most of us basically left one another on that list, hoping someday there would be another Far Cry game. Our wish has been granted and there is now a new Far Cry game. This one has very little to do with the previous games, as Ubisoft has basically created a whole new IP around the name. The new game is literally built from the ground up. Without getting into a whole review of the game, it plays unbelievably and is one of the better games on the 360. This is not some port of a PC or something thrown together. This is on level with games like Gears, Halo 3, COD 4 and Crysis. Yes Crysis. If you look on any gamer site, they have reviewed the game and are giving it between 8.5 and 9.6 -- It is that good. If you haven't already, be sure and at least rent it, then your more then likely going to buy it.

Anyway, what I'm about here today (don't you love how I get right to the point when I post LOL) is to let you all know that I will be, as in the past, hosting Far Cry dedicated servers. Since the last game, I have replaced my old connection with a new fiber optic network in my home, so the connection is screaming fast. 16 player matches are usually lag free and a good experience when joining the server. To start, Ill be hosting the maps that came with the game in UNRANKED Team Deathmatch games. If you see me online, and in Far Cry, join the game I'm hosting.

Ill also be hosting ranked matches when playing myself. I will send out a notice when doing so. You will have to search the gametypes and look for my gamertag to join the match, as ranked matches cant have invited friends, you'll need to come and find me. Rank matches are the only way to level up in Far Cry 2. You will carry your experience over when playing unranked matches after that, but the only way to get the better guns and more experience is to play in a rank match. Be on the lookout for notices of rank matches being hosted by me and join them.

The map editor in Far Cry is superior to anything that has been in a previous Far Cry game or any other game to this point on a console. I have not yet jumped into it myself, but from looking at the how-to videos put out by Ubisoft, this is one hell of an editor. Literally thousands of pieces can be put within maps, with all the great graphics that are part of Far Cry 2. I can imagine there will be some stunning maps in the future from the FC community.

So, as in the past, and when custom maps start to be made in the weeks and months ahead, I will be hosting the best of the best in the dedicated server. I welcome anyone on my XBL friends list to notify me of when they have completed a map for Far Cry 2. I will certainly try and put it in the mix of maps that I host.

I would think also, as in the past, once the game starts rolling and I get more use to it, Ill be hosting some sort of weekly game with Far Cry 2. Some of you may remember that I hosted something called "Far Cry Tuesdays" which everyone seemed to enjoy. I'm starting to think of some unique twists and ideas I can do when hosting FC2 games in the future. All suggestions are welcome.

The release of Far Cry 2 has certainly brought alot of old friends back together. I have had a blast over the last several weeks speaking with many of you about the upcoming game and then playing in a room filled with some of you on Weds night. Good times people. I look forward to once again, hosting your maps, and playing on them weekly in the future.

Again, all suggestions about the dedicated server, as well as hosting your maps, and weekly game get together's are welcomed. Drop me a TEXT message on XBL.

For those who I have known for some time from the Far Cry community, welcome back my friends, and for those who have never played Far Cry, do yourself a favor and at least go and rent Far Cry 2 ... you wont be disappointed.

See ya in game

Peace

EB

Just released is the trailer showing off a new feature in the upcoming Call Of Duty World At War game - 4 player co op ... Sweet!

Bored with first person shooters on the Xbox 360? Gears of War 2 seem like a million years away? Cant seem to get the hang of Madden 09 as of yet? Looking for something really unique and cool, with a little bit of a challenge? Well, this week I picked up both NHL2K9 and NHL09. Yeah, I'm a hockey freak! And you should be too. Why? Because these two games are not only two of the best sports games made, they show off next gen to the max. Yes, hockey games are that good on the Xbox 360. Both 2Ksports and EA have raised the bar on the creation of hockey on a console this year. I know what your saying to yourself. Hockey? Really? That good and that fun? Yeah, it is.

NHL2K9 By 2K Sports
I played this game for about 30 minutes last night and am in awe. They totally revamped the entire game from the ground up. Those who have played it in the past remember the presentation just sucked. This years game looks stunning. Both presentation and while playing it, this has to be hands down one of the best looking and smoothest running games made for the 360 so far. Rent it and see. You'll be buying it soon after that. Unique to the game this year is that you can have as many as 12 different people on 12 different consoles playing in one game. Awesome. How long have we who love sports games waited for this feature? Forever. Its now here in this game.

NHL09 by EA Sports
In the past, EA hasn't made, in my opinion anyway, a good hockey game. 2K was always king. Until this year. Now, I haven't as of yet played this game. I only got the two of them a day ago. But this game has a unique feature that I'm really interested in checking out. You have the ability to form a team of up to 50 (yeah, holy crap) of your friends and play against other created teams around the world. You create the entire team. From logos, to jersey and everyone has their own stat tracker. You basically create a player, take it online and join a team. You then join leagues and tournaments with that team and start in. Again, all on separate consoles in separate locations.

Now, should you go and buy both these games? Well if your a hockey freak like me, maybe. I'm actually looking for feedback to see how much interest there would be in forming a league in NHL2K9 or forming a team in NHL09. As in the past when I have run hockey leagues, they can be small or big, it doesn't matter to me. I am just looking for people who will actually play, and who love hockey as much as I do.

If you interested in being a part of either a league, a team, or both, send me (gamertag ebstone) an Xbox Live message and let me know, which one your interested in or perhaps both.

You might also want to take a couple of minutes and check out the web sites (links above) to both games, read the feature sets, and check out all the videos that's how off the way these games look and play. Perhaps go and rent each of the games in the coming week and see which one appeals to you more, or maybe both will.

If there is a enough interest, expect that the league / team we form will begin at the beginning of the actual hockey season, which starts in the first week in October.

In the meantime, if you see me online, lets get together and play some hockey!

Peace

Sure, we all wait for the latest and greatest games to hit the store shelves so we can get our hands on them, and be the first to see "what's next" in the world of gaming. If your like most, you probly already have a countdown going on as to when Gears Of War 2 will be released.

More often then not though, there are these empty spaces or "lulls" of time where no games are released for long periods of time. We are in the middle of such a time right now ... That period every year where we have nothing to look forward to until the holiday releases start to roll out in October or November. We have gone and spent all our hard earned cash to reserve our pre orders, and basically have no money left to do anything. Not that we actually have a life and get out of our houses often ... Why? We are gamers, and what we do, is game!

Some may be sitting at home right now trying to think of something to pass the time until we can chainsaw battle in Gears 2 come November. Well, get out the dust rag people and walk over to the shelf and dig into of your original Xbox collection ...

Because THIS SUNDAY NIGHT ... WE RETURN TO TURF! Yes, that's right, we are going back to Halo 2 my friends!

While most of the free world purchased Halo 3 when it hit store shelves last November, months down the road, reports and postings of less then stellar gameplay buy some, perhaps even disappointment from many, it has the hardcore Halo universe fanboys wanting something to get back the satisfaction that many believed is superior to that of Halo 3. The shear spot on killing sprees in Halo 2.

Its for this reason that we return this Sunday night, September 21st @ 8:30PM est to the game variant "Make My Day" that was created with Halo 2. Never heard of this game type? You don't know what your missing. Created gameplay that is so mayhem based, that only the strongest Halo players can survive it. Most describe it as downright brutal. Why? Because they can't take the endless downing by their opponent. This is NOT a game variant for the noob or the unskilled. Kills in double figures are rare. Most snub their nose at MMD and have an endless excuse train filled with why they don't play it, when its apparent that they just cant handle the arena's in which MMD is played and their ability to actually survive. Your gonna need a "Steele Set" to survive in this world my good friend!

Make My Day (aka MMD) is shotguns and pistols, in case you were wondering what makes it so unique. Sitting there saying to yourself "That's it? Shotguns and Pistols, WTF, that isn't any big deal ..." Well if that's the case, we look forward to seeing you Sunday night.

We would say be prepared to get the living snot knocked out of you, but if your like most before they play Make My Day, your probly thinking you can own in this variant. Just one thing we should mention. The player running by your limp dead humble body on the street of Turf that was down for the 6th time in a row? Yeah, that will be us, those who have just owned you ... yet again, until you quit. And you will quit rather then stay in the fight. We wont be disappointed you decided to leave our game, just more understanding that your yet another "Great Halo Player (according to you and you only .. a legend in your own mind) that couldn't hack the Make My Day variant, in which we rule! Try not to forget that.

We welcome ANY attempt to prove us wrong ... See you Sunday night 8:30PM est SHARP.

We like to think of the Make My Day arena like our version of Las Vegas. Its a ton of fun to enter, but know before you even get there, you will lose my good friends, and lose badly ... LOL ...

NOTE: MAKE SURE you have all Halo 2 map packs and DLC for the game, BEFORE JOINING. MMD is played on all maps within Halo 2.

Peace

The Madden league has been created!

The wait is over people. Tonight I created the league, and its ready for all members who registered and picked a team to join.

I (along with your fellow gamers) would ask that you all join as soon as possible. Please be sure and check your inbox on Xbox Live for the league info and how to join. Please also be sure to join with the team you registered. Do NOT choose a team you did not reserve.

So, upon creation of the league -- I noticed several things. As much as the online leagues have been talked down about in the EA forums I have read, and the Madden community being downright brutal at times about what the online league system this year lacks, I have to say, in all honesty it doesn't *look* that bad (of course once we get into it, that opinion may change LOL). Its actually quite nice for a first time around for EA. It's pretty well organized and easy to navigate through.

If anyone is going into this season expecting it to be as deep, and as detailed as the 2K online leagues were, forget about it. Its not even close, but it does appear to have all the basics, which when you come right down to it, might actually be better in the long run. After all, with everyone being so busy with other things in life, the straight forward, simplistic approach I think actually might work out better, especially if your me ... LOL ...

Important Note : It appears that as soon as you join the league you can start to play games against others who have joined. Which is GREAT. No waiting for everyone to join. I will say this. Those who fail to play their league games at a steady pace, will be excused from the league. What's "steady" mean? If we are three weeks into this thing and you have played one game in your schedule or you haven't played a single game at all. It isn't fair to the rest of the league members to have to wait come playoff time for you to try and play 22 games in 2 days ... :). I'm hoping for a relatively smooth schedule and everyone will play their games in a timely manner.

That being said, I'm looking forward to having alot of fun with this league, and I hope everyone in the league is as well. My expectations are in check though. The league in its approach technically may be simple, but the running of the actual league I'm under no delusions will be that simple. I expect to have gamers "trying" to glitch the hell out of it. Do us all a favor and save yourself the boot and a one way ticket out of the league and simply don't do it.

Let me take one moment, and one moment only this season to explain to everyone what is a glitch and what is not. This will save you sending me messages to my flooded inbox about people cheating, because such messages are usually deleted if not valid, which in my experience of running these things, in most cases aren't of those people cheating, it comes to down someone whining and being pow'ed by their opponent.

Someone auto snapping the ball to the wide receiver? A known glitch, by EA, and everyone else, that will get you a loss, and if I cant do that (because I haven't seen the ability to reset a game as of yet, as none have been played, but I'm hoping there is a way to actually do this?), you'll be thrown out of the league. I, along with many of you returning for online leagues have expressed over the years zero tolerance for glitchers. Its not needed, it ruins everyone's enjoyment of a friendly league and nothing should ever be taken that seriously where you have to cheat to win at a video game. Grow up and play fair. 

Someone snapping the ball to their QB and running around the backfield till a receiver is open. NOT A GLITCH. You might call it cheese play or crap, but this is not a glitch. Some might even call it a QB scramble? Spend your time learning to defend against it, and less time complaining to someone about your opponent doing it, especially when that someone is me :).

We all see the difference here right?  Just play the game straight up. We have all been at this way to long to spend endless amounts of time with glitchers and people who will do anything to win at a video game. Don't ever think your that great at this (or any other) game that you aren't going to be beat. Your going to lose, face it and deal with it. If two adults cant get together for an hour and play a friendly game of toss the ball around the field, then both of you get out of the league. If your that concerned about your online stats and impressing people, this league isn't for you. None of us are impressed with anything your doing, especially if that's cheating.

Ok, that's one moment we will all never get back, but something that needed to be said.

So ... game on people! Join and start to play now!. The best of luck to everyone. There are 28 league members. How awesome is that! The league is set so that you must play each league member once. This means each of us must play 27 games. Its going to be a long season, but a really fun one too. I look forward to seeing each of you on the field and playing against you. Try not to beat me down too much. I said I would admin the league, I never said I was any good at the game ... LOL ...

As always, any questions or suggestions you have, don't hesitate to drop me a note. Have some mercy on me though, and be reasonable in your questioning, suggestions and requests.

Welcome to the league! Play fair, play hard and have a great time!

Peace

Well, it took a bit, but yesterday EA released a roster update to Madden 09. This is the update we have all been waiting for and now that it is out, I can generate the league and we can get this brawl started!

Now, a couple of things to point out. For those who have been around online leagues in the past, this may be old news, and for those new here, it should be something you pay attention to. In the past, once a league is created, ALL OWNERS MUST JOIN WITH THIER TEAM BEFORE A SCHEDULE CAN BE GENERATED. I would ask that once I set up the league that everyone join as soon as they possibly can, so we can start the season. Its going to be a long season, almost 27 games for each player, and we have waited a while for this update to arrive, so everyone is pretty anxious to get going I'm sure. So PLEASE, once I send out the information, join the league as soon as possible. Much thanks in advance from myself as I'm sure the rest of your fellow gamers.

That being said, hopefully we will have a schedule generated within a week and we can get to playing. Yes, we need to be respectful of everyone's schedule, and that they may not join as soon as I create the league, as they may have work schedules and other things going on in their lives where Madden is not the sole priority ... I know, like what your asking .... LOL ... Anyway, I think a week is a reasonable amount of time to expect that everyone will have joined, and the beat downs can begin :).

Teams are now locked. You may no longer switch your team. The time has passed, you had plenty of time to do so, and received several notices that you were able to. Here is the final list of teams and gamertags that own them :

ebstone : New York Jets
Vilehook : Dallas Cowboys
Gamebreaker81: New England Patriots
mambonuts : Green Bay Packers
yankeepa : Miami Dolphins
Hell Monkey : Philadelphia Eagles
Trippl3 : New York Giants
Sir Ottis : Tennessee Titans
Joe Da Fan : Washington Redskins
Spaceba11s : San Diego Chargers
ITEN355 : Jacksonville Jaguars
Loki75 : Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Zito9420: Kansas City Chiefs
ae5730119 : Minnesota Vikings
kcoyle : Oakland Raiders
MFCorleone TFK : Indianapolis Colts
Rogue Barron : Pittsburgh Steelers
Illmatica247 : New Orleans Saints
BuzZzrD : Chicago Bears
Eatcha Beeva : Denver Broncos
Arizona Cardinals : Greenone
GRUBBS62 : Baltimore Ravens
gosensgo2008 : Cincinnati Bengals
Arriba la rasa : Carolina Panthers
NO12CHAMP : San Francisco 49ers
lRosettaStonedl : Buffalo Bills
ONaB33Rrun : St Louis Rams
SICKSIX6 : Cleveland Browns

The settings for the league will be as follows. Again, everyone had plenty of time to discuss and give their feedback as to how they wanted it.

I know it has been a while since you were all updated (there really hasn't been anything to report), but here is the latest on the upcoming Madden 09 league.

When Will the League Finally Begin?
Probly the most popular question in my XBL inbox. The answer is simple. As soon as the latest roster update is released by EA. I don't think that anyone wants to play with a roster that may include players that have been cut from your team, as well as any transactions that were completed in the final days of training camp or the preseason. I'm in hopes that this roster update will be released this week, now that the actual NFL season is underway. Once that roster update is released, I will generate the league and we will be ready to play.

NOTE: The roster update is final, and we will begin after that is released. Again, it is not in my control as to when, where, how, why etc in respect to the roster update and its release. It looks as though this weeks stats, as well as injuries, will or at least should be included in the roster update.

I want to thank everyone for their patience and waiting for the update to be available. As always, if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to send me a message.

What Teams Are Still Available?
The following teams are still available to be taken as of Monday 9.08.08

Houston Texans
Buffalo Bills
Detroit Lions
Atlanta Falcons

Again, as a reminder, you CAN switch your current team that you own, with one that is available up until the roster update is released. You may NOT switch your team once the roster update is out, even if we have not generated the league or schedule yet. So if you want to switch your team, I would suggest you do it now.

Owner List Update
There have been a couple of additions to the league as well as a couple who have dropped from the league. here is an update list of owners and their teams as of Monday 9.08.08

ebstone : New York Jets
Vilehook : Dallas Cowboys
Gamebreaker81: New England Patriots
mambonuts : Green Bay Packers
yankeepa : Miami Dolphins
Hell Monkey : Philadelphia Eagles
Trippl3 : New York Giants
Sir Ottis : Tennessee Titans
Joe Da Fan : Washington Redskins
Spaceba11s : San Diego Chargers
ITEN355 : Jacksonville Jaguars
Loki75 : Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Zito9420: Kansas City Chiefs
ae5730119 : Minnesota Vikings
kcoyle : Oakland Raiders
MFCorleone TFK : Indianapolis Colts
Rogue Barron : Pittsburgh Steelers
Illmatica247 : New Orleans Saints
BuzZzrD : Chicago Bears
Eatcha Beeva : Denver Broncos
Greenone : Arizona Cardinals
GRUBBS62 : Baltimore Ravens
gosensgo2008 : Cincinnati Bengals
Arriba la rasa : Carolina Panthers
NO12CHAMP : San Francisco 49ers
lRosettaStonedl : Seattle Seahawks
ONaB33Rrun : St Louis Rams
SICKSIX6 : Cleveland Browns

Thanks again to everyone, and hopefully we can get this thing going this week.

Peace

For those who have been around this web site for a while, you might remember something from last spring called "Weekly Gaming" also known as A**hole Free Gaming (or "AFG" ... for short).

What is this? Well, run and organized by gamertags ebstone and RedRumSkippy (which is one in the same person), "weekly gaming", or "AFG", is a group of gamers that gathered each week to play a variety of online console games (on the Xbox 360 platform, for the most part). The group, numbering more than 100 at times, was made up of gamers who enjoyed an atmosphere of fun, yet competitive gaming, all the while making friends to add to their ever growing list on Xbox Live friends. To this day, many of the friends that were made through those sessions remain playing with one another.

So whatever happened to the weekly sessions? How come they seemingly disappeared and this web site went stale? The question has been asked alot over the past several months, and now we have the answer. Its pretty simple ...

Life got busy, which sometimes happens, as it did for ebstone / RedRumSkippy. We have all been there. The sessions and its organizations seemed to fall to the wayside. Gaming had to take a back seat to several other, more important things in life. I know, like what could they have been more important? ... LOL ... Never the less, we are happy to say that Weekly Gaming is back my friends!

Starting after the labor day holiday, we will be returning to a schedule of your favorite games on a regular and more organized basis. We will start slow, perhaps one or two sessions a week. As always, you'll be able to drop either, ebstone or RedRumSkippy an Xbox Live message and suggest a game, or simply make a suggestion of any kind to improve the experience in general we all share and enjoy.

Also, as in the past, there will be the usual reminders sent before each gaming session so you'll know what games are being played on what nights. Also be sure and keep an eye on the web site here for advanced notice (right hand column under "Gaming Schedule") on upcoming and special events. If your not on ebstone's or RedRumSkippy's friends list, be sure and send a Xbox Live friends request.

To get things rolling, we are going to be playing Unreal Tournament 3, this coming Tuesday September 3rd at 8:30pm est with your host ebstone. Now, this game is one of the latest releases that has been overlooked during the summer months. Do yourself a favor, and on the way home from work on Tuesday, if you don't already have it, go and rent it for the night and join us for some quality fragging in some great arenas in futuristic worlds!

Until Tuesday, here is hoping you all had a great summer, its good to be back gaming full time, be sure and visit this site often, and I hope to see you in many of the upcoming weekly sessions!

Peace

This morning gamer ApRiL pAiN claimed the Seattle Seahawks for the upcoming Madden 09 league. There are now just 4 teams remaining to be "adopted" by someone out there. Will we get a full league of all 32 teams? With exactly a week left till the actual opening of the NFL season, time is ticking away. How great would it be for the first time since most of us have played online football to have all 32 teams participate in a league?

The following 4 teams are available :

Houston Texans
Detroit Lions
Atlanta Falcons
St Louis Rams

If you know anyone that would want to part take in our league, have them send gamertag ebstone an Xbox live message with their team selection.

Preseason Game #3 Announced
We will be having our 3rd preseason game next Weds, September 3rd at 9PM est. All those registered league members wishing to participate in the game, please send a TEXT MESSAGE to gamertag ebstone stating "I want in on Madden Preseason Game #3 on Weds 9.3 at 9PM est" ... You'll receive info back on your opponent the day prior or day of the game.

Peace

With less then 2 weeks left before the opening of the season, we only need 5 more team owners to have a complete league! I'm in hopes that registered league members are looking over their Xbox Live friends list, and are out there pushing the the league to get those remaining league spots filled! Lets go people, have your friends "adopt a team" and join us this season in Madden!

The following 5 teams remain & need owners :

Houston Texans
Detroit Lions
Atlanta Falcons
St Louis Rams
Seattle Seahawks

Does Someone Have The Rocks?
Now, when making the list of remaining teams, and looking over those that were already taken, I got to thinking why people pick the team they do when entering the league?

Some might pick the team they do because its their home town (example, myself and being from New York. I've been a Jet fan since the day I was born -- screw them there Giants! LOL). Others may simply pick a team in Madden because its serves them the best chance to win in the game. Kind of like the person who grabs the grenade in Gears of War for the "No Skill Kill" and you all know who you are! ... LOL ... Still, when looking over the remaining teams, one cant help but notice, 3 of the 5 are the bottom of the barrel when it comes to league talent. Although I am a bit surprised that the Rams and the Seahawks are still available.

No doubt everyone plays to win to some extent. Most play for fun. But how many play to impress? Many when it comes to league play "claim" to be good in Madden, but how many really are? How many can back up the talk and walk the walk? Once the league starts, so does the trash talk. Game one, its put up or shut up. In the end only one can stand. Being someone who has run many an online sports league with the Xbox, I have yet to see someone have the rocks to take the Houston Texans and win a league I run with them. Now that would be impressive, would it not? Is it impossible? Certainly not. Could it be done without cheating? It certainly could. Will it happen this year? Not sure. Someone has to take them first.

I don't recall saying anywhere someone couldn't have a second gamertag and take another team, did I? ... LOL .. You all love Madden as much as you say you do?

Who has the rocks? Anyone? We shall see ...  

Peace