I've found one annoyance or bug with NHL09. When goalie Kirk McLean was first called up to Montreal, his very first game could only be simulated. Why? I don't know. Even worse, when McLean was sent back to Hamilton, his first three games were automatically simulated. What the heck?
What is the function of this tidbit of frustration? What purpose does it serve?
It's some kind of Twilight Zone irony when game designers stop people from playing their game.
What could have been floating around in their quirky little minds... Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds?
12 December 2008
11 December 2008
Dr. Horrible
For those that haven't seen this, here's a link to Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog. This video stars Neil Patrick Harris as Dr. Horrible, a villain aiming for world domination... and love.
Harris is great in this video. I've always liked Harris since Doogie Howser, MD, and he currently stars in How I Met Your Mother.
The Sing-Along Blog is divided into 3 acts, with the entire video about 40 minutes or so. There are single 30 second commercials between the acts.
My only quibble is with the ending, but I won't say why because I don't want to spoil it.
Anywhoo, if you have the time take a look -- it's very funny.
Harris is great in this video. I've always liked Harris since Doogie Howser, MD, and he currently stars in How I Met Your Mother.
The Sing-Along Blog is divided into 3 acts, with the entire video about 40 minutes or so. There are single 30 second commercials between the acts.
My only quibble is with the ending, but I won't say why because I don't want to spoil it.
Anywhoo, if you have the time take a look -- it's very funny.
10 December 2008
McLean Sent Down to Hamilton
Goalie Kirk McLean (10-0-0) has been sent down to the Hamilton Bulldogs for "more seasoning".
I don't understand the GM. McLean has a better GAA than Cary Price; McLean also has the most wins and the best save percentage of any Montreal Canadiens goalie.
Ugh. It's late December and the Canadiens have made their way up from last in the league to 6th in the Eastern Conference. I really hope the Canadiens can manage to hold a playoff position so that McLean will still have a chance for NHL post-season success.
I don't understand the GM. McLean has a better GAA than Cary Price; McLean also has the most wins and the best save percentage of any Montreal Canadiens goalie.
Ugh. It's late December and the Canadiens have made their way up from last in the league to 6th in the Eastern Conference. I really hope the Canadiens can manage to hold a playoff position so that McLean will still have a chance for NHL post-season success.
07 December 2008
McLean Update
Kirk McLean is going to have a more difficult time carrying the Montreal Canadiens than Picard with the Vancouver Canucks.
The difficulty is in the number of starts. McLean (5-0-0) wins one game, then Carey Price (4-16-3) loses the next two.
A few observations about game play as a goalie.
The difficulty is in the number of starts. McLean (5-0-0) wins one game, then Carey Price (4-16-3) loses the next two.
A few observations about game play as a goalie.
- I find the "High" camera view the easiest to play. I found "Low" to have poorer depth perception.
- In "Rookie" there is a blue arrow indicating the direction of the puck. In the beginning I just concentrated on centering McLean on the arrow but I eventually realized that made me react to events rather than anticipate them. Keep your eye on the puck!
- Because the camera is behind and slightly above the goalie, when the puck is close in front I can't see the puck because the goalie is in the way.
- Ovechkin has a mean slapshot.
Trapezoid Rule
If you're a hockey fan then you're probably aware of the trapezoid rule, where when behind the net a goalie can only touch the puck within a trapezoid shaped area. This rule was established pretty much because goalie Martin Brodeur is too good at his job.
I suspect Brodeur has mixed feelings about having his very own official NHL rule: the rule acknowledges Brodeur's excellent puck handling but at the same time prevents him from handling the puck.
I wonder if the NHL will retire the trapezoid when Brodeur retires.
I digress. The original intent of this post was to complain about the trapezoid -- goalie Kirk McLean (NHL09 Montreal Canadiens) pounced on a loose rebound to the side and was penalized 2 minutes for being outside the trapezoid.
What the heck!? The puck was definitely in!
Stupid ref.
I suspect Brodeur has mixed feelings about having his very own official NHL rule: the rule acknowledges Brodeur's excellent puck handling but at the same time prevents him from handling the puck.
I wonder if the NHL will retire the trapezoid when Brodeur retires.
I digress. The original intent of this post was to complain about the trapezoid -- goalie Kirk McLean (NHL09 Montreal Canadiens) pounced on a loose rebound to the side and was penalized 2 minutes for being outside the trapezoid.
What the heck!? The puck was definitely in!
Stupid ref.
06 December 2008
Introducing Kirk McLean
Currently LW Jean-Luc Picard is the points leader by a 30+ point margin and goal leader by a 50 goal margin at the mid-point of the season where the Vancouver Canucks currently lead the league. With Picard starting the Canucks have won 29 straight games.
Picard averages 3.5x goals and 4.6x points per game. His highest points in a game was 13 (7 goals, 6 assists) and Picard's most goals in a game was a triple hat trick.
Posting all this is not so much to brag (I'm playing the Rookie/easy level, after all -- speaking of which, after playing 75 games Picard becomes "Pro". Is that Pro as in the next skill level? That would be neat) but to provide some info as to why it's become a trifle boring; there's no challenge anymore.
I don't want to start all over again because I've played almost 50 games with this player -- it would be a waste. Plus, Picard is a sure fire way to Stanley Cup success, a fail safe in case other avenues fail.
So... I'm turning elsewhere to indulge my competitive spirit... to an alternate NHL universe where stand-up goalie Kirk McLean joined the Hamilton Bulldogs of the AHL for the 2008 season. After 10 games (10-0-0) with a 2.42 GPG and a 93.5% save percentage McLean was called up to the Montreal Canadiens.
Calling McLean up so early must partly be due to the fact that after 16 games the Canadiens are rock bottom at 30th in the NHL -- McLean's first game in a Canadiens uniform will be to put an end to an 8-game losing streak (the Canucks, by the way, currently are 1st place in this NHL-verse).
I hope it's been the Canadiens goalies Price and Havlak that have been leaking and not the D-men. McLean at 19 is unusually young for a NHL goalie -- I wouldn't want him to be emotionally scarred after being crushed in a poor game.
Can Kirk McLean revive the flailing and failing Montreal Canadiens?
Picard averages 3.5x goals and 4.6x points per game. His highest points in a game was 13 (7 goals, 6 assists) and Picard's most goals in a game was a triple hat trick.
Posting all this is not so much to brag (I'm playing the Rookie/easy level, after all -- speaking of which, after playing 75 games Picard becomes "Pro". Is that Pro as in the next skill level? That would be neat) but to provide some info as to why it's become a trifle boring; there's no challenge anymore.
I don't want to start all over again because I've played almost 50 games with this player -- it would be a waste. Plus, Picard is a sure fire way to Stanley Cup success, a fail safe in case other avenues fail.
So... I'm turning elsewhere to indulge my competitive spirit... to an alternate NHL universe where stand-up goalie Kirk McLean joined the Hamilton Bulldogs of the AHL for the 2008 season. After 10 games (10-0-0) with a 2.42 GPG and a 93.5% save percentage McLean was called up to the Montreal Canadiens.
Calling McLean up so early must partly be due to the fact that after 16 games the Canadiens are rock bottom at 30th in the NHL -- McLean's first game in a Canadiens uniform will be to put an end to an 8-game losing streak (the Canucks, by the way, currently are 1st place in this NHL-verse).
I hope it's been the Canadiens goalies Price and Havlak that have been leaking and not the D-men. McLean at 19 is unusually young for a NHL goalie -- I wouldn't want him to be emotionally scarred after being crushed in a poor game.
Can Kirk McLean revive the flailing and failing Montreal Canadiens?
02 December 2008
Eddie Murphy, in Absentia
I was browsing Amazon for blue-ray discs and I saw that Coming to America (1988) had been released on BD.
Here's the provided list of actors on Amazon: Arthur Adams, Leah Aldridge, Don Ameche, John Amos, Louie Anderson, Paul Bates, Vanessa Bell, Ralph Bellamy, Stephanie Clark, Vondie Curtis-Hall, Mary Bond Davis, Allison Dean, Victoria Dillard, Frankie R. Faison, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Birdie M. Hale, Arsenio Hall, Helen Hanft, Shari Headley, and Samuel L. Jackson.
Notice anyone missing? I'll forgive you if you've never seen this movie, but guess what? The main star of this movie, the actor that portrays the character around which the movie is based, is missing.
Where art thou, Eddie Murphy?
Even stranger, let's take a look at the description of the Trading Places (1983) BD on Amazon:
Denholm Elliott, Dan Aykroyd, Maurice Woods, Richard D. Fisher Jr., Jim Gallagher, Anthony DiSabatino, Bonnie Behrend, Sunnie Merrill, James Newell, Mary St. John II, Bonnie Tremena, David Schwartz III, Ralph Bellamy, Don Ameche, Tom Degidon, William Magerman, Alan Dellay, Florence Anglin, Ray D'Amore, and Bobra Suiter.
Even if you've never heard of Trading Places, one guess as to which actor is missing. That's right... Eddie Murphy.
Not to diminish their contributions, but someone took the time to include actors such as Mary St. John II and David Schwartz III yet failed to include the actor in the lead role (co-starring with Dan Aykroyd)?
Am I the only one that thinks this is odd?
Anywhoo, I submitted Eddie Murphy's name for both BDs. Nevertheless, being the most recent inclusion Murphy's name won't even show up on the main product page of a movie he's the top -- or sharing the top -- billing.
Oh yeah, though I've never watched Shrek the Third, shouldn't Mike Meyers at least be one of the only five voice actors listed on Amazon's main page for the BD?
Guess who else isn't listed. Eddie Murphy.
Here's the provided list of actors on Amazon: Arthur Adams, Leah Aldridge, Don Ameche, John Amos, Louie Anderson, Paul Bates, Vanessa Bell, Ralph Bellamy, Stephanie Clark, Vondie Curtis-Hall, Mary Bond Davis, Allison Dean, Victoria Dillard, Frankie R. Faison, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Birdie M. Hale, Arsenio Hall, Helen Hanft, Shari Headley, and Samuel L. Jackson.
Notice anyone missing? I'll forgive you if you've never seen this movie, but guess what? The main star of this movie, the actor that portrays the character around which the movie is based, is missing.
Where art thou, Eddie Murphy?
Even stranger, let's take a look at the description of the Trading Places (1983) BD on Amazon:
Denholm Elliott, Dan Aykroyd, Maurice Woods, Richard D. Fisher Jr., Jim Gallagher, Anthony DiSabatino, Bonnie Behrend, Sunnie Merrill, James Newell, Mary St. John II, Bonnie Tremena, David Schwartz III, Ralph Bellamy, Don Ameche, Tom Degidon, William Magerman, Alan Dellay, Florence Anglin, Ray D'Amore, and Bobra Suiter.
Even if you've never heard of Trading Places, one guess as to which actor is missing. That's right... Eddie Murphy.
Not to diminish their contributions, but someone took the time to include actors such as Mary St. John II and David Schwartz III yet failed to include the actor in the lead role (co-starring with Dan Aykroyd)?
Am I the only one that thinks this is odd?
Anywhoo, I submitted Eddie Murphy's name for both BDs. Nevertheless, being the most recent inclusion Murphy's name won't even show up on the main product page of a movie he's the top -- or sharing the top -- billing.
Oh yeah, though I've never watched Shrek the Third, shouldn't Mike Meyers at least be one of the only five voice actors listed on Amazon's main page for the BD?
Guess who else isn't listed. Eddie Murphy.
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