Monthly Archives: January 2011

>Gran Turismo 5 Part One

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>I have to admit I loved the earlier version of this game on my trusty PS2. I spent hours trying to improve my lap times, trying out new cars and racing around tracks at insane speeds.

Gran Turismo 5 is the best reason so far to own a Playstation 3. I have logged 2000 miles already which sounds like a lot, but if you are going nearly 200 miles an hour, not so bad….

There are two games here, one call A-spec where you steer the car yourself and B-spec where a computer driver speeds up or slows down or sets the pace at your beckoning.

I admit the B-spec is not as thrilling as driving yourself. Watching and nudging a driver is not exactly exciting but it has one important consideration. The computer driver still gives all his money to you so you can soup up your cars. He gives his cars to you so you can drive them. This is good because it lets you drive faster, better, more fun races.

Why do you care? Hear me out. Why not let the B-spec driver run some laps and make the money while you click over on your big screen to some TV. During commercials change the input back to the PS3 console and your game, see how your driver is doing and if he has finished his current race. If he has finished let him start another one. When the race begins instruct him to keep pace or pace up. Switch back to your TV show since the commercials will start again soon. As I said before, anything the computer driver wins you get to use.

The game is divided into Beginner, Amateur, Professional, Expert and Extreme Series. You or your computer driver must be a certain level to go beyond beginner. Each series has different races, different cars or types of cars that must be driven to enter and if you are skillful, win! Each race gives you or your computer driver experience. The better you do each race, the more experience. Inside each “Series” are 9 different races, some which have up to 6 different tracks to compete on.

You get to start with 20,000 to purchase a car, new or used, and to take it to the tuning shop to add turbo charges, engine upgrades, better tires, noisier exhaust systems, you get the idea here. All this costs money. Racing gets you money, usually the top six are in the money in each race. Of course placing first gets you the most money This is where the B-spec game excels. You can have a computer run races all day with very little input from you to pile up the cash so you can invest in some fine Italian car. And if you tune up your computer drivers car so that it has 30% more horsepower and nice tires, after gaining a few levels it will begin to win those races, making you more money. So you can upgrade your cars. Buy new cars. Put really big turbos in tiny cars for the big fun!

This game was 8 years or more in the making. There are 1000 cars in the game. Only one sports car maker of note is missing. Porsche. Sad but true, they have given another company license to their name and cars for computer gaming. Our loss here, but nothing to really cry about.

That is enough today, part two I will talk about sweet cars, sweet graphics and how to listen to your own MP3′s while racing in GT5.

Ciao baby.

>Looking for your reviews and comments.

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>My decade long gaming pal Tim Lightfoot has posted an extensive lists of games via email he would like for comment and/or review. If you have played any of these leave a comment and I can forward them to him or have him check out the blog.

Anyone have any comments on or tried or have any of these games?

Publisher

Name

Price

Link

Ad Asta Games

Saganami Island Tactical Simulator

44.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-ADASaganamiIslandTacticalSimulator

Ad Asta Games

Squadron Strike Board Game

38.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-ADABSquadronStrike

Alderac Entertainment Group

Thunderstone Card Game

25.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-AEGThunderstone

Amarillo Design Bureau

Federation & Empire 2010 Edition

46.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-ADBFederationandEmpire

Amarillo Design Bureau

Federation Commander: Battleships Attack

19.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-ADBFederationCommanderBattleshipsAttack

Amarillo Design Bureau

Federation Commander: Line of Battle

19.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-ADBFederationCommanderLineofBattle

Amarillo Design Bureau

Federation Commander: Reference Rulebook

10.49

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-ADBFederationCommanderReferenceRulebook

Asmadi Games

Gold Thief Card Game

7.49

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-ASNGoldThief

Asmodee Games

7 Wonders

44.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view%20board%20games&fp=Acc-ASM7Wonders#7%20Wonders

Assa Games

Galaxy’s Edge Board Game

24.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-ASAGalaxysEdge

Avalon Hill

Betrayal at House on the Hill

33.49

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-AVHBetrayalatHouseontheHill

Avalon Hill

Diplomacy – 50th Anniversary Edition Board Game

19.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-BGAHDiplomacy50

Avalon Hill

Risk GodStorm Board Game

36.95

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-BGAHGodStorm

Bandai America

Resident Evil Deck Building Game

22.49

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-BANResidentEvilDeckBuildingGame

Big Voorah Productions

Staccabees

13.49

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-STCStaccabeesOrange

Blue Panther

The Colony

16.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-BPNColony

Burley Games

Kamisado Board Game

49.95

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-BURKamisado

Caledea

Caledea: The Epic Strategy Game

22.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-CALCaledea

Catalyst Game Labs

Ergo Card Game

9.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-CYTErgo

Columbia Games

Wizard Kings 2nd Edition Board Game

36.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-COLWizardKings2ndEdition

CrossCut Games

Galactic Emperor Board Game

37.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-GalacticEmperor

daVinci Games

F.A.T.A.L. Card Game

10.49

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-DVGFATAL

Decision Games

Struggle for the Galactic Empire Board Game

34.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view%20board%20games&fp=Acc-DCGStrugglefortheGalacticEmpire#Struggle%20for%20the%20Galactic%20Empire%20Board%20Game

Eagle Games

Attack! Deluxe Expansion

28.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-FDDAttackDeluxeExpansion

Eagle Games

Defenders of the Realm Board Game

58.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-FDDDefendersoftheRealm

Europa Simulazioni

Guelphs and Ghibellines

40.49

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-ESIGuelphsandGhibellines

Fantasy Flight Games

Android Board Game

38.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-FFGAndroid

Fantasy Flight Games

Anima: Beyond Good and Evil Card Game

16.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-FFGAnimaBeyondGoodandEvil

Fantasy Flight Games

Arcana Card Game

16.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view%20board%20games&fp=Acc-AEGArcana#Arcana%20Card%20Game

Fantasy Flight Games

Citadels Card Game

16.49

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-BGFFG006

Fantasy Flight Games

Colossal Arena Card Game

16.49

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-ColossalArena

Fantasy Flight Games

Cosmic Encounter Board Game

38.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view%20board%20games&fp=Acc-FFGCosmicEncounter

Fantasy Flight Games

Doom Board Game

38.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-DoomBG01

Fantasy Flight Games

Dragonheart Card Game

16.49

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-FFGDragonheart

Fantasy Flight Games

Ingenious Board Game

25.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-Ingenious01

Fantasy Flight Games

Mag Blast Card Game

16.49

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-BGFFGMagblast

Fantasy Flight Games

Starcraft: The Board Game Celebration Kit

69.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-FFGStarcraftCelebrationKit

Fantasy Flight Games

Twilight Imperium 3rd Edition Board Game

58.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-TwilightImperium3E

Fantasy Flight Games

Warrior Knights Board Game

38.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-WarriorKnights

Flying Frog Productions

Conquest of Planet Earth: The Space Alien Game

33.49

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-FFPConquestofPlanetEarth

Gary Games

Ascension: Chronicle of the Godslayer

26.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view%20board%20games&fp=Acc-GGSAscension#Ascension:%20Chronicle%20of%20the%20Godslayer

GMT Games

Men of Iron: The Rebirth of Infantry in 14th Century Wester Europe Board Game

24.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-BGGMTMenofIron

GMT Games

Samurai: Warfare in 16th Century Japan Board Game

22.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-BGGMTSamurai

GMT Games

Sword of Rome Board Game

45.49

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-BGGMTSwordofRome

Golden Laurel Entertainment

Galactic Destiny Board Game

39.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-GLEGalacticDestiny

Gorilla Games

Who Would Win? Board Game

12.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-GORWhoWouldWin

Gozer Games

Collateral Damage: The Anime Board Game

25.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-GOZCollateralDamage

Gryphon Forge Games

Wizard’s Gambit Card Game

12.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-GFFWizardsGambit

Gryphon Games

Roll Through the Ages Board Game

22.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-GFGRollThroughtheAges

Immortal Eyes Games

Conquest of Pangea Board Game

27.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-ConquestofPangea

Immortal Eyes Games

Terra Nova Board Game

19.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-TerraNova

JKLM Games

Chelsea Board Game

26.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-JKLChelsea

JKLM Games

City and Guilds Board Game

25.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-JKLCityandGuilds

JKLM Games

Medievalia Card Game

19.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-JKLMedievalia

Jolly Roger Games

Barbarian Kings Board Game

23.49

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-JOLBarbarianKings

Khyber Pass Games

B-29 Superfortress Board Game

47.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-KPGB29Superfortress

Mayfair Games

Ablaze Board Game

16

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-MFGAblaze

Mayfair Games

Lemming Mafia

28

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-MFGLemmingMafia

Minion Games

Those Pesky Humans

33.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-MNIThosePeskyHumans

Petroglyph

Guardians of Graxia Board Game

39.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-PTGGuardiansofGraxia

Petroglyph

Heroes of Graxia Card Game

23.49

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-PTGHeroesofGraxia

Phalanx Games

Mesopotamia: Cradle of Civilization Board Game

35.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-Mesopotamia01

Phalanx Games

Naval Battles Board Game

19.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-BGRGGNavalBattles01

Portal Publishing

Stronghold Board Game

84.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-PORStronghold

Privateer Press

Grind

45.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-PIPGrind

Queen Games

Castelli

46.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-QNGCastelli

Reiver Games

Carpe Astra Board Game

25.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-RVGCarpeAstra

Rio Grande Games

Antike Board Game

38.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-BGRGGAntike

Rio Grande Games

Asteroyds Board Game

38.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-RIOAsteroyds

Rio Grande Games

Barnyard Critters Board Game

8.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-BGRGGBarnyardCritters01

Rio Grande Games

Castle for All Seasons Board Game

35.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-RIOCastleforAllSeasons

Rio Grande Games

Hamster Roll Board Game

48.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-RIOHamsterRoll

Rio Grande Games

Imperial 2030 Board Game

38.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-RIOImperial2030

Rio Grande Games

Masons Board Game

25.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-BGRGGMasons

Rio Grande Games

Puerto Rico Board Game

27.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-BGRGG004

Rio Grande Games

Ra Dice Game

19.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-BGRGGRaDiceGame

Rio Grande Games

Race for the Galaxy Bundle

67.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-RIORftGBundle

Rio Grande Games

Ricochet Robots Board Game

17.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-BGRGGRicochetRobots01

Rio Grande Games

Robber Knights Board Game

19.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-BGRobberKnights

Rio Grande Games

Royal Palace Board Game

25.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-RIORoyalPalace

Rio Grande Games

Space Alert Board Game

39.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-RIOSpaceAlert

Scimitar Games

Sector 41 Board Game

25.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-SRGSector41

Stratus Games

Gold Mine Board Game

22.49

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-STTGoldMine

Stupor Mundi

Goblins Board Game

17.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-GIOGoblins

Three Crowns Game Productions

With Sword and Shield Card Game

21.49

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-3CGWithSwordandShield

Twisted Winds Ltd

Ants! For Queen and Colony

36.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-TWLAntsForQueenandColony

Valley Games

Container Board Game

38.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-BGVGContainer

Valley Games

Hannibal – Rome vs. Carthage Board Game

49.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-BGVGHannibal

Valley Games

Master Builder Board Game

36.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-VLYMasterBuilder

Valley Games

Supernova Board Game

45.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-VLYSupernova

Valley Games

Titan Board Game

45.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-BGVGTitan

White Wolf

EVE: Conquests Board Game

48.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-WWPEVEConquests

Wiggles 3D

Yikerz! Board Game

13.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-W3DYikerz

Worthington Games

Arctic Survival Board Game

20.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-WOGArcticSurvival

Worthington Games

BloodLust Card Game

19.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-WOGBloodLust

Your Move Games

Space Station Assault Card Game

9.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-YMGSpaceStationAssault

Ziggurat Games

World War IV: One World, One King Board Game

51.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-ZIGWorldWarIV

Z-Man Games

A Conclave of Wyrms Card Game

9.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-ZMGAConclaveofWyrms

Z-Man Games

Agricola Board Game

44.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-Agricola

Z-Man Games

Arimaa Board Game

25.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-ZMGArimaa

Z-Man Games

Ascending Empires

35.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-ZMGAscendingEmpires

Z-Man Games

Burrows Board Game

16.49

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-ZMGBurrows

Z-Man Games

Genji Card Game

12.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-ZMGGenji

Z-Man Games

Gheos Board Game

16.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-Gheos

Z-Man Games

Pandemic Board Game

22.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-Pandemic

Z-Man Games

Pocket Battles: Celts vs Romans Board Game

9.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-ZMGPocketBattlesCeltsvsRomans

Z-Man Games

Primordial Soup Board Game

33.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-PrimordialSoup

Z-Man Games

The Swarm Board Game

33.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-ZMGTheSwarm

Zombie State Games

Zombie State: Diplomacy of the Dead

36.99

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_boardGame.php?viewType=view board games&fp=Acc-ZSGZombieState