Not too impressed with the PlayStation Plus offerings this month. Maybe I’ll end up surprised?
Playstation
Assassins Creed III Reborn
StandardAs a History / Political-Science major, I was excited over the launch of Assassins Creed III. I even pre-ordered the game (a rarity for me). When all was said and done though, Assassins Creed III was a disappointment. So many ideas, poorly executed, with a game engine that couldn’t do the heavy lifting those ideas required. The end result was a buggy, slow-running mess, and I quit.
The upcoming PS4 remaster of Assassins Creed III has me intrigued. I’m wondering if the game engine has been upgraded? I’d love to play through this period of history. Maybe protagonist Connor has been given some hugs/love to help with his sour disposition? Maybe not. I guess we’ll soon see.
INVERSUS
Standard
4/5 – INVERSUS is a smart shooter that challenges your brain through unique movement and solid gameplay mechanics. A great game to play with your kids and to pull out when friends and family come over.
Title: INVERSUS
Developer: Hypersect
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4
Reviews on: PlayStation 4
MSRP: $14.99
*INVERSUS was reviewed using a code provided by Evolve PR.
Repost: When Cloud Fails
Standard
Final Fantasy VII, in my opinion, is one of the best games ever made. For its time, the graphics rocked. The storyline kept you hunting for answers with great twists. I’m sad to admit, however, that the game became an obsession for me. Looking back, I can see how it helped me escape reality and how that became addictive. It came at a time where I needed to face reality and God and make my faith real. I was participating in the first in-depth Bible study of my life. There were times where I had to consciously make the decision to go read my Bible. At the time, reading the Old Testament in my study seemed rather dull and boring compared to the vivid storyline of FFVII, which I’d consider to be more of a visual and interactive book rather than a video game. The plot of FFVII has its redemptive value which I hope to write about more at a later time. Video games are not bad in and of themselves, but in my specific case, they took a negative turn because it took God’s place in my priorities, thoughts, and heart.
I remember when there were commercials on tv for FFVII. My entire focus became immediately glued to the tv screen every time I as much as thought I heard the music. I still remember it pretty well. An announcer described the daring feats, brutal combat, insurmountable odds, “a love that could never be” (that always got me!), and dashing honor you will encounter as you play. He said something about how you must save the world! Everyone is counting on you! And if you fail… “you can always hit the reset button.”
Wouldn’t it be great if we had one of those? Ah, to have a reset button!
“Oh man, I shouldn’t have said that! Let’s reset.”
“Wow! I can’t believe I did THAT! I’ll just reset.”
“Now things will never be the same …unless I don’t save today.”
Nope. We have no such option. This life is the only shot we have. We can’t go back even a few seconds to undo anything. In fact, you’d be surprised to realize how little control you have over your life. The only control you have is over what you say and do at this exact moment in time. Sure, you can plan, promise, and make provisions for the future. Those endeavors can even be wise, keeping in mind that God’s plans stand more firm. The fact is that the only thing you can change is now.
What shall this sobering reality mean for us then? That we have to make sure we do everything perfectly and in perfect timing? No. Like I said, you’d be surprised at how much you can’t control. We live in a fallen world and we’ll be blindsided by circumstances we never could have prevented. I don’t mean for us to become obsessed about every second on the clock, but I do mean for us to consider how much we are allowing ourselves to be taken by mediocrity. How many Godly things have we put off to do later? How many times have we tried to do something to better ourselves but haven’t taken the time to complete them? How much time do we waste doing things that will count for nothing when this life is over? In essence, how many times have we said to the Lord, “not now.”
Perhaps we fool ourselves thinking our “not now” approach isn’t so bad because it’s not telling the Lord “no.” We have the intention to do what He’s asked of us. After all, doesn’t He look at the heart anyway? If we’re going to lean on that idea, we better take a good, hard look at our hearts. Do we really want to do that thing for the Lord? Do we truly desire that as deeply as God desires it? If not, this message is for you. Stop putting God off. No more of this “I can’t do that now, Lord” attitude! Even if you know you’re not ready for the tasks, He knows your faults and His power is made perfect in weakness. He will do amazing things with your surrendered heart if you desire Him above all other things.
If your heart is indeed in line with God’s desires and His plan, please don’t let this message freak you out and make you rush God’s timing. Perhaps He is asking you to wait. But if He’s waiting on you, you may have a problem. I just ask that we take the time to question ourselves to see if He’s pushing us and whether or not we’re budging.
Consider today. This is the only today you have. What have you not done that you need to do? Be advised – you have no reset button.
PSN Failure: A Senator Calls for Answers
StandardUnited States Senator Richard Blumenthal wrote a nice letter to Sony:
April 26, 2011
Mr. Jack Tretton
President and CEO
Sony Computer Entertainment America
919 East Hillsdale Boulevard
Foster City, CA USA 94404Dear Mr. Tretton:
I am writing regarding a recent data breach of Sony’s PlayStation Network service. I am troubled by the failure of Sony to immediately notify affected customers of the breach and to extend adequate financial data security protections.
It has been reported that on April 20, 2011, Sony’s PlayStation Network suffered an “external intrusion” and was subsequently disabled. News reports estimate that 50 million to 75 million consumers – many of them children – access the PlayStation Network for video and entertainment. I understand that the PlayStation Network allows users to store credit card information online to facilitate the purchasing of content such as games and movies through the PlayStation Network. A breach of such a widely used service immediately raises concerns of data privacy, identity theft, and other misuse of sensitive personal and financial data, such as names, email addresses, and credit and debit card information.
When a data breach occurs, it is essential that customers be immediately notified about whether and to what extent their personal and financial information has been compromised. Additionally, PlayStation Network users should be provided with financial data security services, including free access to credit reporting services, for two years, the costs of which should be borne by Sony. Affected individuals should also be provided with sufficient insurance to protect them from the possible financial consequences of identity theft.
I am concerned that PlayStation Network users’ personal and financial information may have been inappropriately accessed by a third party. Compounding this concern is the troubling lack of notification from Sony about the nature of the data breach. Although the breach occurred nearly a week ago, Sony has not notified customers of the intrusion, or provided information that is vital to allowing individuals to protect themselves from identity theft, such as informing users whether their personal or financial information may have been compromised. Nor has Sony specified how it intends to protect these consumers.
PlayStation Network users deserve more complete information on the data breach, as well as the assurance that their personal and financial information will be securely maintained. I appreciate your prompt response on this important issue.
Sincerely,
/s/
Richard Blumenthal
United States Senate
Source: Richard Blumenthal
When Cloud Fails
Standard
Final Fantasy VII, in my opinion, is one of the best games ever made. For its time, the graphics rocked. The storyline kept you hunting for answers with great twists. I’m sad to admit, however, that the game became an obsession for me. Looking back, I can see how it helped me escape reality and how that became addictive. It came at a time where I needed to face reality and God and make my faith real. I was participating in the first in-depth Bible study of my life. There were times where I had to consciously make the decision to go read my Bible. At the time, reading the Old Testament in my study seemed rather dull and boring compared to the vivid storyline of FFVII, which I’d consider to be more of a visual and interactive book rather than a video game. The plot of FFVII has its redemptive value which I hope to write about more at a later time. Video games are not bad in and of themselves, but in my specific case, they took a negative turn because it took God’s place in my priorities, thoughts, and heart.
I remember when there were commercials on tv for FFVII. My entire focus became immediately glued to the tv screen every time I as much as thought I heard the music. I still remember it pretty well. An announcer described the daring feats, brutal combat, insurmountable odds, “a love that could never be” (that always got me!), and dashing honor you will encounter as you play. He said something about how you must save the world! Everyone is counting on you! And if you fail… “you can always hit the reset button.”
Wouldn’t it be great if we had one of those? Ah, to have a reset button!
“Oh man, I shouldn’t have said that! Let’s reset.”
“Wow! I can’t believe I did THAT! I’ll just reset.”
“Now things will never be the same …unless I don’t save today.”
Nope. We have no such option. This life is the only shot we have. We can’t go back even a few seconds to undo anything. In fact, you’d be surprised to realize how little control you have over your life. The only control you have is over what you say and do at this exact moment in time. Sure, you can plan, promise, and make provisions for the future. Those endeavors can even be wise, keeping in mind that God’s plans stand more firm. The fact is that the only thing you can change is now.
What shall this sobering reality mean for us then? That we have to make sure we do everything perfectly and in perfect timing? No. Like I said, you’d be surprised at how much you can’t control. We live in a fallen world and we’ll be blindsided by circumstances we never could have prevented. I don’t mean for us to become obsessed about every second on the clock, but I do mean for us to consider how much we are allowing ourselves to be taken by mediocrity. How many Godly things have we put off to do later? How many times have we tried to do something to better ourselves but haven’t taken the time to complete them? How much time do we waste doing things that will count for nothing when this life is over? In essence, how many times have we said to the Lord, “not now.”
Perhaps we fool ourselves thinking our “not now” approach isn’t so bad because it’s not telling the Lord “no.” We have the intention to do what He’s asked of us. After all, doesn’t He look at the heart anyway? If we’re going to lean on that idea, we better take a good, hard look at our hearts. Do we really want to do that thing for the Lord? Do we truly desire that as deeply as God desires it? If not, this message is for you. Stop putting God off. No more of this “I can’t do that now, Lord” attitude! Even if you know you’re not ready for the tasks, He knows your faults and His power is made perfect in weakness. He will do amazing things with your surrendered heart if you desire Him above all other things.
If your heart is indeed in line with God’s desires and His plan, please don’t let this message freak you out and make you rush God’s timing. Perhaps He is asking you to wait. But if He’s waiting on you, you may have a problem. I just ask that we take the time to question ourselves to see if He’s pushing us and whether or not we’re budging.
Consider today. This is the only today you have. What have you not done that you need to do? Be advised – you have no reset button.
