Tuesday, July 3, 2012

June Brewed - Coffees Consumed, Games Played!

Coffee Beans
     Good morning! June marked the start of summer, and I think the temperatures outside confirm that it has officially arrived!  E3 2012 came and went. We now know a little bit more about the Wii U and some of the games for it; Sony showed off two new IPs at E3, and both seem interesting and a bit "different" if that's the word I'm looking for; and Microsoft showed off many of the core games and franchises the Xbox 360 I think has become known for.
     With June having wrapped up, here are a few posts from the month I enjoyed putting together, that you might have missed:
     Zombies Run Nintendo - Zombie Iwata & Zombie Reggie?
     Caffeinated Thoughts on the E3 Conferences - Microsoft's, Nintendo's, and Sony's
     God of War & Punch-Out!! Mixed = Rage of the Gladiator? Arena Hours Debut!
     MarioCare, or ObamaCare? Dr. Mario Online Rx's Reported Hours
     THIS is what the 3DS XL should have looked like.
     A TKO Father's Day Gift! Nintendo Selects: Punch-Out!!

     With July now upon us, what games did I play and coffees did I consume in June? Brew a pot of coffee, and read on!


Coffees Consumed
     June, like May, was pretty simple for the coffees I consumed. All the coffee blends brewed in June were Maxwell House, and the month started us off with the Maxwell House Dark Roast blend continued from May. After we ran out of the Dark Roast, Mrs. Coffee purchased us a container of the Maxwell House Gourmet Roast, and that lasted almost to the end of June. Then there was a coffee emergency, and we ran out of coffee!
     It was last week, I believe Thursday, that I got up and brewed the morning pot of coffee like normal. That afternoon, I brewed another pot like normal, and ended up using all of the remaining coffee for that pot. I brew Mrs. Coffee a cup each night before she leaves for work, but when I used it all that afternoon, it meant no more coffee for that night. It also meant there would be no coffee before I would left for work the next morning.

     What did I do? After getting the little Beans off to bed, I sped to Wal-Mart in a mad coffee purchase run. We fortunately live very close to a Wal-Mart, and I was able to make it back to the house and brew the nightly pot of coffee before Mrs. Coffee left. I ended up grabbing Maxwell House's French Roast in the coffee run.

Do you know what this image shows? I spend too much time on images!
Games Played
     Mario Kart Wii - I played this early in June, racing . While I didn't race but one or two races, our oldest Bean took notice of the game, and I decided to let him give it a try. He was pretty successful at driving backwards, and doing backwards circles, but rarely driving forward.

     PAYDAY: The Heist - I have enjoyed my short time with PAYDAY again, playing it just over an hour on my PC. I really like how Steam shows the amount of time played, and the last date the game was played, as well as any "Achievements" gained in the game. So far, I have 2/51 Achievements on my Steam copy of PAYDAY: The Heist with 75 minutes played.

     Red Steel 2 - I purchased Red Steel 2 in May from Game Stop, after I published the "Did Wii Owners Enjoy Red Steel 2? What Do the Hours Say?" post. I finished the game's story mode on Thursday, June 7. The reported average "Per person" was just under 10 hours, but my Nintendo Channel data was showing my play-time as just over 13 hours. While the game's setting and graphics were well done, and even the game-play was enjoyable, I just don't think the game should have had "Red Steel" in its title. It wasn't a perfect game, with the ending feeling kind of rushed, and I wish there was a way to go back into the main story mode to walk around and complete other missions, but considering I purchased and completed it within 2 weeks, I think shows I enjoyed it enough while it lasted.

     Rage of the Gladiator - I played a few more battles in Rage of the Gladiator during June, using the Wii MotionPlus controls in the game. I created a new file, and am working my way through it using only the Wii MotionPlus controls to see how it goes. So far, I'm enjoying the Wii MotionPlus controls in the game, and appreciate the efforts with the new Wii MotionPlus attack animations put in by the developers. It wasn't something they had to do, but they took the time and made it an option, which I think is great.

     Super Mario Bros. 3 - What happens when I didn't want our oldest Bean playing Mario Kart Wii, because of mainly being paranoid about the game running our system's disc drive? He quickly becomes an expert at navigating the Wii menu, and discovering WiiWare and Virtual Console games, and of course recognizes Mario. So, he fired up Super Mario Bros. 3, and while he can't advance very far in the levels on his own, it has been a BLAST playing through the game with him watching/participating. He instructs me well, and has repeat requests for me to go to the "Dark Castle" and "Castle" in general. He identifies the enemies in the game pretty well, but the default "Castle" boss enemies are all "Koopas", because of the Mario cartoon series on Netflix. So far, we have made it to World 4.

     Groovin' Blocks - This is referred to as "The puzzle game.", by the oldest Bean. I played a few rounds of it, and beat one or two of my older high scores, but I'm not very good with keeping the beats in the game, and getting the "points multiplier" to go/stay higher.

     Uncharted: Drake's Fortune - This was a game Keith, of the now semi-retired RespawnAction.com, gifted me. I had played through I believe the first six chapters in the game last year, and wasn't sure how much more I had to go. I randomly decided to give it another go in June, and not only stuck with it, but finished the game on June 20th. If you have a PS3 system, or are looking at getting a PS3 system, I would highly suggest picking up Uncharted: Drake's Fortune. I have now added the sequels of Uncharted: Drake's Fortune to my "Video Games Wish List". I watched the credits all the way through the night/morning I completed the game, and was very surprised to re-learn the game was originally released in 2007. I guess because I didn't get my PlayStation 3 until 2009, I didn't really pay attention to when it was originally released before, but was very impressed with the game considering it was released that early in the PS3's "life".

     Punch-Out!! - This was one of my Father's Day gifts this year, and I have been enjoying my time with the game. I actually won the belts from the Minor, Major, & World Circuits in June, completing the World Circuit on June 30th. My reported time for the game was showing up as 5 Hours 32 Minutes, but that was without starting the Title Defense mode, and only completing two Challenges against Glass Joe in the game's Exhibition mode. You can see me box against Glass Joe in the game's Exhibition mode, in a video from the June post on the game. I have started the game's Title Defense mode now, and getting laughed at by Glass Joe is absolutely hilarious, and almost humbling!

     Bit.Trip Runner - If there is a case for free demos helping "sell" a game, this could possibly be one. I had downloaded the Bit.Trip Runner WiiWare demo last year, but never really gave it a chance. After our oldest and I started our SMB3 adventure, I thought, "I wonder if he only had to push a button to jump, and not concentrate on running also, it would be easier for him?", and that's how I ended up giving Bit.Trip Runner another try. Our oldest knows the name, and now recognizes the menu screen, for Bit.Trip Runner, and Commander Video is known as a "ninja" in our house. While I have not downloaded the FULL version of Bit.Trip Runner, I did look it up on Steam, and I also have been thinking about just adding the entire collection on the Wii, Bit.Trip Complete, to my "Video Games Wish List". Our oldest Bean has given the game a few tries, and can hop over at least the first obstacle, though not every time.

Questions/Thoughts
     What video games did you play in June, and did you perhaps try any new coffee blends/roasts in June (like our French Roasts blend), or just stick with the regular coffee blends? Out of the games you played, would any of them come highly recommended from you, like I would definitely recommend at least Uncharted: Drake's Fortune?
     With me writing out more thoughts on the games I played during the previous month, and the ones I have completed, I may start breaking these posts up into a "Coffees Consumed" and a separate "Games Played" post, so there isn't as much of a WALL-O-TEXT. Also, if anybody has any questions about the games I played in June, or even the coffees I consumed, feel free to leave a comment below or contact me by emailing me at, Scott(@)CoffeeWithGames.com.

18 comments:

  1. Good mornin', Mr. Coffee. :)

    Pretty good list of games played you had there. Glad you enjoyed a few titles there I liked as well in Red Steel 2, Punch-Out! and Uncharted. Like you, I didn't try Uncharted until quite some time after it released, but I liked it enough that I picked up (but still haven't played #2).

    I really did not love Bit.Trip Runner. I blame it on... my general 'meh' toward most (but not all) platformers.

    Nothing coffee-wise for me. just been too hot lately, so my caffeine comes in soda form. Game-wise? Quite a few I guess. I'm sure I'm forgetting some but:

    PC:
    - Game of Thrones
    - Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers
    - Diablo III

    Xbox 360:
    - Mass Effect 3

    PlayStation 3:
    - Outland
    - NBA Jam: On Fire Edition
    - Naruto Ninja Storm 2
    - LA Noire
    - White Knight Chronicles 2
    - Elemental Monsters Online

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  2. I enjoyed the post Scott! I tried the demo for Rage of the Gladiator but never really got into it. I might give it another try one day. The way you talk about your son playing games on the Wii menu, reminds me of my 4 year old. He recognizes the channels and ask to play the games. He is good at Super Mario Galaxy 2, not so good at VC titles. Lastly, I hope to purchase Punch Out here in the next few weeks, we'll have to see how that goes.

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  3. First: "Nothing coffee-wise for me. just been too hot lately" BOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    "I really did not love Bit.Trip Runner. I blame it on... my general 'meh' toward most (but not all) platformers."
    Very interesting. Did you play the WiiWare version? I saw in my search on the game, it is also on the 3DS via the Bit.Trip Complete set, but some of the consumer reviews seem wide ranging on the 3DS version of the game-set.

    Diablo III...well, I had a good conversation with a friend, in which he told me the game was/is terrible and how he doesn't see how they released it the way they did. And that conversation led us to our idea of a video game release we have joked about for years...but the public is not ready for it.

    I have been tempted at picking up some sports titles for dirt cheap here recently, and NBA Jam is one of them on my list...not sure though.
    LA Noire had me interested before it released, but I haven't really looked at it since then. If the other games were in human form, sitting next to me in public somewhere though, I honestly probably wouldn't recognize them...except maybe Mass Effect 3 and PERHAPS Magic: The Gathering if it was dealing Magic cards.

    Thanks for stopping by with the comment and feedback! OH! The banner games image in the post, I almost went with an image like your main image to show off all the games...but didn't want to spend another 3 hours figuring it all out.

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  4. "He is good at Super Mario Galaxy 2..."
    That's interesting to hear, as I think I reported on last month that our oldest ran around in Jett Rocket a good bit, and seemed to really enjoy it. He didn't complete the level, but was able to walk/jump around, and enjoyed just swimming around the island in the demo for it. I wonder if the 3D land is easier for them to pick up on, because it's less about timing, and more visual maybe?

    As for Rage of the Gladiator, I have another video/post going up here shortly on it, via a request, and Punch-Out...well the Title Defense mode is great, and makes the game worth the $20 if you're one for a challenge. Haven't even really gotten further into the Exhibition mode yet, or even the Balance Board controls, but I think this is a great game for the Nintendo Selects lineup, especially if you enjoyed the past Punch-Out!! games.

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  5. ROFL @ the booo. I should have seen that coming.

    I actually played Runner on the PC. I picked up that and Beat last summer during the Steam sales and liked Beat better.

    I'm not real far into LA Noire, and it's one that's always looked 'interesting', but I got it super cheap (like $9 used) recently, so I decided to pick it up.

    I'm actually enjoying Diablo III, bu it's hard to explain. I like it when I sit down to play it, and can soak away hours, but it's not one of those titles I feel compelled to run over and play to completion either. It's not a title that just nags at me until I get back to it, you know?

    And LOL - I can't say I blame you for not trying a collage image like that. I figure I'll do another one during my next update to my site's appearance. Have a nice 4th!

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  6. "...but it's not one of those titles I feel compelled to run over and play to completion either. It's not a title that just nags at me until I get back to it, you know?"
    I have a few games sitting around that sound like that. They are there, but not nagging me to play them, but when I do play them, I will play them for a few good hours and enjoy them.

    Then might now touch them again for a while...kind of what happened with Uncharted: Drake's Fortune. Played it, got up to chapter six, but when I stopped, I didn't feel like I HAD to go back immediately, but when I did...I jumped back in and really enjoyed it through to the end.

    As for the collage, Mrs. Coffee and the Beans, got me a new photo program for Father's Day I have been trying to learn.
    Almost each image I have done on the site since I got the software, I have tried to use the new photo program for in some fashion to learn new stuff. Still have a long way to go before I'm comfortable with it, but it's pretty incredible some of the stuff I have seen it do so far.

    Thanks for stopping back by!

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  7. My main games last month was Atelier Meruru, Mario Tennis Open and I finally got around to playing The Witcher 2 on Xbox 360.

    I used my Wii once for Fortune Street, I think. Pool lil' fellow.

    This month is looking up for my disused consoles - Gravity Rush on the Vita is divine, and Project Zero 2 on the Wii. Double win!

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  8. I had to restart my files on most of my games and I have been playing Tri, Xenoblade and I recently started back on Tatsunoko vs Capcom. Tatsunoko vs Capcom can be a pain in the hands to play if you are trying to just jump in and play for a while without getting used to the game at the default difficulty setting. I am working on different SnS sets now in Tri and trying to finish offline with a Pellet gun setup that I made. Almost one with it. Xenolade I need to get back to and I play when I can play for a long time in a day but that doesn't happen much.

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  9. That was quite a wall, but am not sure about breaking it up. Wonder how much coffee-centric discussion there will be?

    Anyway, I know you're shocked, but it was Melitta as usual and the Amazon subscription service is working well. For the record Chalgyr, it's never too hot for coffee and never too cold for, well, a cold one.

    That's a pretty good list of games there. Looking forward to RS2 sometime soon and will have to get back to BitTrip Runner too. I think I have the full version on steam with the demo on WiiWare, but I can't remember. I just can't get into the other BitTrip games, but I do like runner. It should be interesting to see how Runner 2 turns out for the Wii U and it was looking pretty cool the last I looked. (and yes, even more ninja-like)

    June was a fairly wild month with house hunting and lots of work. It felt like I didn't get much gaming in, but from a quick few of my 3DS history it's actually looking pretty good.

    3DS:
    - Super Mario 3D Land (HOLY CRIPES, I FINISHED IT!)
    - Mighty Switch Force
    - Mario Kart 7
    - Pushmo
    - VVVVVV
    - The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
    - Zelda: Four Swords Anniversary Edition
    - Super Mario Land 2 - 6 Golden Coins

    Demos:
    - Order Up!
    - The Amazing Spider-Man
    - Kingdom Hearts 3D
    - LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes

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  10. "Mario Tennis Open"
    I'm debating on using my Club Nintendo coins for the VC Mario Tennis actually, as for Atelier Meruru don't know much about it, but have heard a decent amount about The Witcher 2.

    On Project Zero 2, I saw one of your tweets on the game I believe...something about scary/terrifying/awesomeness?

    Thanks for stopping by!

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  11. "I had to restart my files on most of my games..."

    !!!!!!! Wii system die? Some neighbors have had that happen, way too many times, which makes me very, very, VERY paranoid for our system.

    Interesting you mentioned Tatsunoko vs. Capcom, I was looking at its data just last week again. I think it was around 20-ish hours averaged.

    Xenoblade, while hearing many great things on it, just hasn't grabbed me, even with the trailers/videos I have watched on it. I'm still hoping for Pandora's Tower though...

    Thanks for the comment/feedback! If I decide to hop back on Tri, I'll drop you a message and perhaps record some footage when we go out again.

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  12. "Wonder how much coffee-centric discussion there will be?"
    Not what you say, but how you say it...
    http://www.coffeewithgames.com/2010/03/drink-of-choice-when-gaming-400-cups.html

    Perhaps I could start flame titling those posts for hits though, "Call of Duty Sucks without Coffee!" and then not even mention COD, but just talk about coffee. :)

    "Anyway, I know you're shocked, but it was Melitta as usual..."
    !!!!! Wow, that's insane. Melitta. I would have guessed something like the real deal coffee, Yuban, or even GV. But no, sticking with Melitta like a great spokesman does. How much stock do you have in the company?

    "I think I have the full version on steam with the demo on WiiWare, but I can't remember."
    You have it on Steam.


    "Super Mario 3D Land (HOLY CRIPES, I FINISHED IT!"
    Ummm, that is not supposed to be allowed with your site name, BUT, that being said, what'd you think of it? Worth the $$$$?

    I have the VVVVVV demo downloaded on Steam now, and plan to give it a try here soon (soon being before the end of 2012?), because of THIS, http://www.nintendonation.net/2012/06/interview-magnus-palsson-from-souleyese.html#comment-568024490, interview that you spotted as well.

    Overall though, with your demos up there, you got time with 12 games in June, I would say that's pretty good especially with thinking you hadn't originally.

    Thanks for stopping by, and leaving the comment and feedback! Greatly appreciated!

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  13. If you're keen to check out my review, it's here: http://www.otakugaming.com/2012/07/review-project-zero-2-crimson-butterfly.html

    You should give the Atelier games a shot, if you like JRPGs, Coffee. They're a lot of fun, and there aren't many traditional JRPGs left out there.

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  14. After hearing those Project Zero 2 tweets I'm interested in learning more as well. Good to hear about some quality titles still for the Wii.

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  15. "Coffee is for real men while COD is [insert flame-war insult here]". That's not a bad plan really.. :)

    Melitta: I know, I should own some stock or get paid for my loyalty. Actually it's more out of laziness that I don't spend time looking for or trying other coffee. I know Melitta is going to be consistently good or at least a known flavor and don't want to spend time messing with other stuff.

    BitTrip: Yeah, that's right. Didn't want to pay $15 on WiiWare so I use my 360 controller on Steam.

    For Super Mario 3D Land I think it's worth the money and I did pay $39+tax I believe from BestBuy. I'm more into the 2/2.5D areas, but the 3D ones are really good as well. Generally it's a fairly easy game and gives you an invincibility tanooki suit after you die so many times plus plenty of 1UP opportunities. I did use the suits at a few points where I could have made it without, but was short on time or patience with the level.

    It appears to have at least one more set of worlds this time where you rescue Luigi so there's quite a bit of content for the money.

    Good luck with VVVVVV! The newer verions (steam included I think) have a great feature with levels created by others in the game community. That's some serious (and difficult) extra content by Magnus and many others. Great value for the money.

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  16. " Actually it's more out of laziness that I don't spend time looking for or trying other coffee."

    For us, it's more of sticking with the big containers at a cheaper price, though I'm not brave enough just yet to switch to the Great Value coffees. BUT! I have looked at it quite a few times, just haven't pulled the trigger on it yet.

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  17. I'm addicted to those imported Nestle 3 in 1 coffee sachets.

    Ok, they have a bit more calories (still less and cheaper than a drink at Starbucks) but they are really nice to down as an inbetween drink if I want something sweet, but not pop-sweet. Less sugar too.

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