Machiavellian

Okay, so I have teenagers.  We have an Xbox 360.  Teenagers, video games, parenting … it’s the modern era, it is, part of how it is done.

The point of any video game: e.n.t.e.r.t.a.i.n.m.e.n.t.

Did you catch that?  Was it clear?  One more time: E N T E R T A I N M E N T.  (Notice, with a “period”).

Okay, so the games of choice currently are Darksiders and Assassin’s Creed II.  Do yourself, don’t read critique’s of video games, the people who do this, are, well, they are fucking idiots.  They actually take their critique’s seriously, and have some of the most atrocious spelling and writing skills you can find.

So, how about that Darksiders?

War, Horseman of the Apocalypse

It’s a beautifully rendered game, only a touch campy with colors at times.  It is fun, it doesn’t require a career as a “video game player”.  The primary point of it, if you have an intellect higher than a speed limit sign, is the story behind it; as long as the game play doesn’t suck, which it doesn’t.

It has a great fantasy story.  It takes the old Jewish/Christian mythology of the war in Heaven, and twists it; the angels, the demons, the “Creator”, Lucifer, the whole apocalypse ending to all of creation … fantastic fantasy making.  The point of the game is to play it out, and … Oh, holy shit, reveal the story that the game is built upon.  Who’da thunk it!!!  That’s how you get entertained best; a great story, and this game has one.  But you’ll never see that in any review ~ because it appears that video games are made for button pushing morons.  Well, that and critics who don’t know what a storyline is either.

Assassin’s Creed II, same thing; a great story.

This game is set in medieval Italy, the greatest cities, Florence, Venice, Tuscany, Rome.  Has a slew of great Italian historical figures included, which are involved in moving the story ahead.  Hands down, one of the most beautiful games I’ve ever seen; absolutely flawless digital rendering.  The story centers around a fictional/fantasy war occurring through history amongst the Templars and their counter cult, the Assassins.

Again, the game is played to … (wait for it … wait for it …) … to reveal the story!!!  But hey, go read the critics for yourself, don’t take my word for it.

I abhor stupidity; really, can’t stand the criminally inane.

Well, it’s trying to get around to spring like behavior.

I love spring.  Life.  There is a strange fixation through winter time with the nakedness of trees. Cannot stand trees without foliage.  Waiting for the return.

But …

Some of life’s little visitors have been about, starting into their routines.  Like this guy…

These little guys are great, and considering the CCD issues of recent years, it’s even better to see some drifting around, looking for food stuffs.  But as with all things of nature, the little drone’s life expectancy was limited.  Mostly, by this fellow, another of my spring favorites …

It’s just that fabulous circle of life thing.  Unfortunately, humans don’t have the same opportunity to be part of the food chain.