I thought that you wanted to use your own servers instead of Microsoft’s LIVE servers to improve the gamer’s experience with online games? Why does Battlefield 2 Modern Combat constantly drop me from games? Why does it tell me that the servers are unavailable when I see three other people on my friends list playing online? Why can others hear me but I can’t hear them, while at other times I can hear others but they can’t hear me? Why does this game award an achievement after the game is over, unlike every other 360 game that awards it as soon as it’s earned?

(Don’t try to blame it on my connection either. I know at least one person in another geographical location who has these very same issues, specifically the “can’t connect to game” issues, even while I am playing).

I like this game a lot. I really enjoy playing online. All of my free time (when I am not cleaning up after the cats, the dog, walking the dog, making dinner, etc.) either playing this game or watching Lost. But the issues I listed above are aggravating. I can’t remember the last time I played a non-EA 360 game on LIVE that exhibited any of those issues.

I recently picked up New Super Mario Brothers, and I love the game. It is a nice mix of the original SMB and SMB3 with a little Mario 64 thrown in. I’ve spent at least an hour every day this week, mostly on the bus, playing this game. My only real beef is the music. I never realised how much I liked the music of Mario games, and how important it is to my overall enjoyment of the game. This game’s music is weak and repetitive, and it makes me want to keep the volume down all the time. The only good tracks are in the underworld (remixed from the original SMB) and the rarely played “hit the flag at the end of each stage at the right time to hear the music from the original SMB” one. Some of the mini-games are straight out of the launch title Mario 64 DS, and a few others are brand new. I haven’t tried any of the wireless mini games or versus games, since I have no one to play with. There is no Nintendo Wifi options with this game. Why doesn’t the game support the rumble pack?

I think New Super Mario Brothers is an excellent game. Anyone who enjoys 2D platformers and has a soft spot for Nintendo’s mascot will thoroughly enjoy this game.

There are very few great game commercials out there. Many aren’t even good. Too many are easily forgettable, like Criterion’s Black commercial, or just plain stupid like Sony’s latest line of PSP commericials. Nintendo’s early line of DS commericials were great, and I enjoyed the one and only GameBoy Micro commercial that ever aired (in the States, at least). Microsoft’s Xbox 360 commercials were also enjoyable, in particular the one with the jump ropers.
I’d link you to the commercials on YouTube, but I can’t find them anywhere. However, I do have a link to an awesome Nintendo DS game commercial. The best one ever, you might say. Go to Joystiq and check it out.

I have to wonder… why do I even watch so many commercials, regardless of the subject matter? With two DVRs in the house, each capable of recording two channels at once, and Nad’s beast of a Media Center PC that can record one show, we should never see another commercial ever unless it is on YouTube.com or the movie theather.

This post is named after that unholy, yet oh-so delicious, combination of pancakes, eggs and assorted meats that are packaged as a sandwich and sold by McDonald’s. Why? I’ll get to that.

I went to bed last night without connecting to the Nintendo WiFi Connection, which bummed me out. As soon as I woke up this morning I tried again to connect. I went to Rivals mode and found three others to race! Although I led strong by taking first place on Moo Moo Farm, I was thoroughly whipped in the next three races. The online play was smooth, with no lag, as if I were playing solo.

The bottom screen’s map is perhaps the most useful addition to this game. So useful, in fact, that you can race using it’s top-down view of the track without ever looking at the top screen’s 3D view. Actually, that is absolutely necessary to do when you get inked by a blooper (the top screen is covered in black ink, making it impossible to use).

That map also shows the location of items, opponents, and both stationary and mobile hazards, even the ones launched by other racers! It is extremely handy in dodging and aiming. Remember in previous Mario Karts when the AI would exhibit its omniscience by launching a green shell backward at you right when you were in its path? Well, with this screen, you can do that too!

On the way to work, Nad dropped me off at the train station. I saw a McGriddle in the window of the nearby McDonald’s beckoning me. After paying for one (sausage, egg and cheese, to be exact) I tried out McDonald’s wifi access. My DS connected almost instantly. No configuration or anything. Very nice inded.