I'm of course referring to Borderlands. This game hadn't enticed me until yesterday when I watched a few in game movies of sniper rifles, dual wieldiing maniacs going loose and huge monsters getting the asses whopped by RPG fire - and then of course the most important features today - listen kiddies!
1. No Games For Windows Live!
2. No DRM other then STEAM's system for the STEAM version.

Two good reasons sans the games own features of course. That you can have up to 3 or 4 pals joing in on your game whenever you like to is well... a bonus, an added value...? That I don't think will rock the boat too much. It feels a bit like Sacred 2 - oh yeah and I was how interested in that game? Probably as much as I would be of ice in the antarctics...

Borderland has one feature more that I like - the cartoonish appearance. I like this step and think that it is a good idea since it could mean that the graphics won't look dated too quickly. also, it means you can get away with some graphic absurdities that will look a bit silly when you strive for realism.

also, I wanted to mention that I love the work a guy called WESP - his patch for Vampire The Masquerade - Bloodlines made the Steam version playable. Hopefully it can keep me occupied and see me to the end this time of the vampire saga. Too sad that this is Troika's game. Troika had some brilliant minds - but the department dealing with publishers and time estimations weren't any geniuses...

Amazing, it was a very long time since I played a game through and through. From start to end without starting over or loosing interest somewhere in the middle.
But, here coming from the corner of deception - talks about DRM and activations and very little information made me stay away from the title for some time. Finally I learned that this was mostly with the on-line version. So much for not being open and frank about what they do. They almost missed one sell. (And listening to the business they seem to have such a hard time so every copy should count eh?)
Anyway, Batman Arkham Asylum was bought, and after some real problems installing the game - Fucking SecuROM that makes the DVD loose connections a third into he install. :S
Once installed (thanks to some visits to different websites) the game showed why it is so highly valued. Despite a setup of controls that are way too console friendly - one can make do and struggle to learn because the game and gameplay and story is worth it.
Batman is one of my own favourite heroes, and not the 60's show or the first Batman remakes with Val Kilmer and others as Batman - no I want Simon Bisley's or Frank Miller's Batman. A grizzled, desillusioned crime fighter with only one superpower - a sresolute mind and codex so strong it cna make him push almost any boundary and overcome problems. Batman is a kickass guy in this game. He can take some punches and give as good as he takes - and it is easily done and fun to watch.
This game is a a title you should give a try!
Batman is more a kin to Batman Begins and that is good. The game has some compettetive elements for replay value - and that works too.
I believe most would be able to squeeze out plenty of hours f gaming from this title - if you get to install it that is!

Well I have now sold my two year old Xbox 360 and got a brand new PS3 slim. Why you may ask? I have constantly protested that I don't really like gaming on console, that I much prefer the PC and that controllers make me itchy unless it is fight games or really casual gaming.
Well it is more then that - the PS3 is actually a part of a media hub and possibilities with Blue Ray, supports much more video formats, music on-line etc etc - but most of all - the noise level!

Let's break it down a bit:
Games:
Here the Xbox wins flatout since it ahs more titles - easily and more DLC's - for whomever may be interested in that. But as I have already said - if I'm really in if for the gaming - it is PC hands down that rules the day IMO.

Online communities/store/service etc:
Hmm, Xbox has more - but it is also all of a sudden way "family" friendly with Wii inspired avatars - and sorry, but that is just icky and makes me throw up. I don't need a sim character to represent me. Xbox has another huge flaw - it's points system. You need this and that many points to buy and so many points costs this much in Euro's which is today this much in SKr. Fuck off - I want to know the cost - either tell me directly the Euro cost and charge the card directly or fuck off. On PSN - I see this item costs for example 179.00 SKr. Thank you! WIN!
Another flaw is the Gold member staus vs silver status- only gold members can download this demo, can only do this or that and that costs money money money... FUCK OFF.
Haven't noticed any such shit on PSN - yet...
Layout, I like the more mature and easy no glamour shit PSN as well. Feels strange to praise Sony - but I have to admit it, they know what they do.
Console:
The white vs the black..
Xbox 360 has nothing on the PSN in this regards IMO. It is huge, it has a problematic life with RROD and an overheating 'external' PSU and the fucking noise makes you itch all over when you start it up. No regards here to whether you want to play a game, music or watch a DVD - you have to turn the volume up - a lot! All the cors and everything also takes a lot of space. Not an issue in the geeky playroom, but in a families living room with a small boy interested to chew on everything that is loose and attached equally - there is simply fewer things to watch oout for witht he PSN. Oh and my favourite - after setting the PS3 slim up I asked my wife this:
"Honey, how do you like the noise level now?"
"What, is it on?"
PS3 slim - wins this one hands down - easily. Everything just feels more well done and with quality from the console, cords, controllers are equal match, the extra media controller - PS3 is nicer. Sure, it do take a little longer to actually tune all the extra items with the console - something the Xbox handles with ease, whether it is controller, media controller or your guitar hero guitar...

The extra things you can do with it.
What can you do but play games on the Xbox? Watch photos - check, watch movies - semi check - it is a disaster to get the media center thingies running, it is slow and connectivity is iffy. And well it supports just that much. PS3 - if you don't like the PSN edition - kick in the yellow dog... endless possibilities almost. Too bad you still have to wait for them to access the entire power of the PS3...

Still, basicly the PS3 seems to follow the more accepted computer standards then the Xbox- something we are not too familiar with comming from Sony - they have always mastered the fuck you we are charge of your life attitutde - only beaten by Apple - but now the roles are different. Xbox is supporting less formats and items then the PS3. Hmm, who could have believed.

Well, if you are a gamer - and you do like the controller to rule your life - there really isn't an option to go all out for the PS3 yet. Titles and DLC's are less common then on the Xbox 360 - but if you are like me - likes quality, wants ot fo be silent, efficient and having opportunities - just because - and also wants it to look good in the living room, the PS3 is the shit! Espacially if you do the heavy gamiing on a monster PC. ;)

Well, summer is over - almost and back int eh saddle again. New headset toy - yeay, same ol' computer. Still, not that many new games. Got the latest Call of Duty, then downloaded the Fallout pack on STEAM. Most new games are either activation restricted or plagued by GFWL logins an whatnots.
Had been looking forward to Batman, but he surfs the brown-river of Pooh for all I care right now. I was looking over Mass Effect and Bioschock on steam to see if they had removed the CP crap, one had but the price was the same as for a brandspanking new game so no thank you. ME might be fine but I'm not paying too much money to interact now and then in a scripted movie with choices. Too many games from Bioware have been like that. Come on Bioware - make a movie from scratch instead, I promise I would go see it no doubt, but when I'm in charge - behind my 22" monitor, with graphical gaming beast chewing Xbox 360's I want a game.

So, I have withstand that crap that is GFWL - and been playing some Dawn of War 2. All of a sudden some achievements flashes by and I'm like "meh" o I care? Hell no - my commander just received a Hellfire gun what do I care about some crappy achievement telling me that I killed an enemy or otherwise made something they deemed achievable. I don't stop I play the game, not bragging about it.

Still haven't gotten over the disaster that is Street Fighter, yeah I know many probably like it, but I don't. I still feel cheated on the manual and have since started to check most games on STEAM to see if they comes with a PDF guide or not. How hard could it be? All manuals are made digitall to begin with so just load it up there - DAMNED - but sometimes it is like people actually are getting high on doing things the wrong way. If someone says, annoyed that I didn't search the galaxy first and on my own:"hey you can download it from snippetimyass/manuals/22323232/shitfaced/manualstreedfighterdagamemanual.html I say: "Fuck you and fuck your argument - I paid for the shit and I expect to be treated as a paying customer and paying customers have one thing pirates don't: a paid ticket to whine and scream and blog an actually carry every little bit of critisiscm foward as the end of the world news shit! That is the way of being a consumer. I shall expect to be treated right and fair - and if someone doesn't - I get to whine and roar!

At least if I skipped buying a game with actications because then I might end up pleading on a pay-your-ass-and-soul-to-talk my heart out to get another activation. No thank you - I will try to stay in control over my gaming, just for a few more years - when it gets too bothersome - I just quit this shit and go back to readin books full time and surfing shitty games on Facebook or whatever.

Well, they do start to appear, the games with no DRM at all, only a certain key to activate on line experience and multi player play. I like it, I like it a lot. Hopefully, more people will like it, and also I hope that the trend to keep these games a bit down in price will prove an equally good strategy. Games that are about 5€ cheaper then your average AA title and no DRM is heaven for me, and i can buy that with a mediocre+ review. Why? Because I may like it and may find something - and at a lower price and no DRM hassle - I'm prepared to take a chance.

Now, I would like to see more comments of not only chilling your computer with 30+ C outside but yourself as well...

A few tips for the warm summer night gaming:
1. Cold beer - may also make you go outside and skip gaming and enjoy the warm summer night... ;)
2. Coke or your favourite beverage + ice + a lemon. Nice and good.
3. A huge, and I mean huge fan, not a set of 20 mm's ;)
4. Make a waterproof computer and sit your ass down in a hot tub with cold water.
5. Find an classic good old game that you love so much that heat won't touch you! ;)