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Any Diablo player can relate to these: Remember how we used to trick the system and dupe a Ring of Jordan with our 3 1/2 floppies? Or exploit the overpowered poison damage with the Amazon until Blizzard addressed this with a patch? Or that thing with the Necromancer and Corpse Explosion?

Get Ready to Quit DoTA, because here it is, in the (rotting) flesh — Diablo III preview screenshots from Gamespot. Finally, they’re real!

Some highlights form Gamespot’s preview is quoted below, although we suggest reading the entire article for a pretty good overview of what to expect with the gameplay:

With different types of monsters on hand, it’s fortunate that the character classes in Diablo III will be just as epically powerful as you remember. The Barbarian is still a melee specialist (though not without his specialized ranged attacks).

…

The Witch Doctor will have control over disease, can summon pets, and can even control the minds of his or her enemies. We saw a few examples of these different approaches in the game demo: Locust Swarm is a spell that summons a nasty horde of flying locusts that can overwhelm an opponent.

…

Using new skills will be easier than ever in Diablo III, thanks to a new combat system and user interface that seems to put a premium on skill usage over potions. As explained during the gameplay seminar, Blizzard developers felt that potion use was too prevalent in the previous game, resulting in combat encounters that were rarely more than wars of attrition, as the user kept pounding health potions en masse.

…

In Diablo III, potions will still play a part of the action but their importance has been downplayed thanks to a couple of changes. The first are health globes, which drop off defeated enemies and will serve to boost the health of your character and those around you if you’re playing co-operatively. As the developers put it, the idea of enemies dropping health is one that will keep the player moving forward in the game, as opposed to trying to avoid combat.

…

The random scripted events sound like one of the coolest additions to the game. Each playthrough, players will encounter scenarios that are quite different from their previous trip through the game. In one area, you might see a house filled with undead enemies–along with a story about the home’s former residents.

…

On the other hand, we can confirm the game’s release date; it’s the same date as for all Blizzard-developed titles: “When it’s ready.”

So can’t wait. So many games, so little time! And we’re 100% sure this will have a strong online component as well.

Horse + Cliff = LOLZ

First off, this is an ACTUAL IN-GAME SCREENSHOT, and not a retro reference to an old Mega Man game.

This is pure epic! While everyone else is pushing the limits in turning games into cinematic-quality feature films (read: Metal Gear Solid 4), Capcom is going the other direction with Mega Man 9. The Blue Bomber is back to his 8-bit roots, a move that will either make you puke out your lunch or warm your heart. The game will be released through the online distribution networks of Wiiware, XBOX Live and PSN. In this installment, our beloved Blue Bomber will be up against the following Robot Masters:

Galaxy Man
Jewel Man
Magma Man
Hornet Man
Concrete Man
Plug Man
Tornado Man
Splash WOMAN

Yes, there’s a lady master!!

There’s a full length article with page scans to Nintendo Power August 2008 for more details on the Blue Bomber’s 9th installment (technically, not the 9th as Mega Man has had so many series iterations with Mega Man X, Mega Man Battle Network, Mega Man Zero, Mega Man ZX, and Mega Man Star Force).

He may not have Steve Jobs’ reality distortion field, but without him we wouldn’t have the Gates and Windows to the digital age.

Ah, something I’ve been saving for the rainy day. If you were born in the 80’s there’s no need to cull the fandom that was brought about by the popular sentai series: Ultraman, Bioman, Shaider, Masked Rider Black … the list of stuntmen in spandex, plastic and prosthetics probably taught us more about the colors of the rainbow, numbers, (”Red 1!”) and the animal kingdom (usually a bi-ped version of a gorilla, rhino, bat, etc) than our grade school teachers.

So after months of searching, I finally found the Masked Rider series I’ve been looking for on original DVD, Kamen Rider Blade which aired between 2004 and 2005. The series aired in GMA last year as well.

Ten thousand years ago, a massive battle known as the Battle Royal was fought by fifty-two Undead, each representing a species fighting for dominance over all others. The winner was the Human Undead, known as Category Two of Hearts, giving dominion of the Earth to humanity. In the present day, archaeologists discover the sealed Undead, and accidentally set them free. Thus, a new Battle Royal begins.

Having developed the Rider System, based on the Joker’s ability to copy sealed Undead, the organization BOARD equips two young men, who become Kamen Riders: Kazuma Kenzaki and Sakuya Tachibana fight together as Blade and Garren to protect humans from Undead and seal them. Also fighting Undead is the mysterious Chalice, a Kamen Rider whose purpose is unknown. In addition, a young man struggles to free himself from the control of the sealed Undead powering his own Undead-made Rider System, fighting as Kamen Rider Leangle.

The story is, interestingly enough, really funky and overflowing with drama on downtimes with references made towards card games and gambling (i.e. 52 Undead = 52 cards in a deck, 4 Riders to represent Spade, Clubs, Hearts and Diamonds).

So this is how I’m spending my indoors with signal number 3.

“Dude! Look what I have for you,” said Rey. “You’re the first to see this!”

I was with Rey and Ria yesterday afternoon ironing out a few things for BlogBank when Rey left and came back with a cold, cold plastic bag from 7-11.

“This just came out today and it’s available exclusively in 7-11 for the first few weeks for P15.00.”

Wow, Vitwater (not to be confused with the US Vitawater). This is a non-carbonated water drink with vitamins inside. I guess it is similar to dropping an Enervon C tablet into a cold glass of water, heh!

Well I wasn’t really a fan of the flavored water craze but I admit, this one actually tastes okay. Sorta like Gatorade but loads cheaper at P15.00. Well it’s new and has been out since yesterday. Check out 7-11 and try some. Each color supposedly has a different “effect” on you. One has fiber (tropical citrus), another supposedly helps you trim (red kiwi), while the other fortifies you with vitamins (orange). I don’t know what the blue one does - maybe it restores your mana to full, while the red one gives you more health, but with a cooldown of 30 seconds.

Well, whatever those effects are, it’s secondary to me. I think people go for the color and the taste first before the effects. Anyhoo, go check out 7-11. Vitwater is manufactured by RFM.

I’ve been a yearly regular to the insane Mid-Year Microwarehouse Sale. Here are some tips I’d like to share with my readers to help manage expectations when it comes to buying that gadget you always wanted.

When: June 20-21, 2008 // Friday 12nn to 12mn // Saturday 12nn to 8pm
Where: Eastwood City (behind 7-11, beside CyberMall)

The price list is not always accurate
It has nothing to do with the prices - but with the availability of the items. In previous years, there have been complaints from people who have been waiting in line for hours and didn’t get what they want. I guess buyers should really manage their expectations with what’s out there.

It is hard to predict the movement of items. Last year, I was amazed to find a lot of leftover iPods from the sale as well as bunch of Macs. Almost all of the Apple Care plans were wiped clean as the discounts for these warranties go for about 50%. By the end of the sale, a lot of the external speaker solutions for iPods were overstocked and were selling for about P2,300.00. So yeah, you can’t really predict how things will move.

The price list for the 2008 sale is here.

Early geek catches the gadgets!
If you want the bet guarantee that you’ll get what you’re hoping for, be prepared to line up. Microwarehouse has made it more convenient each year by making the venue more comfortable and spacious even for those who are waiting in line. Last year, only a limited number of people were allowed inside the sale area at any given time so those in line could wait outside the booths. It was still very convenient as they provided chairs and the entire hall was airconditioned.

Bring cash!
Credit cards were accepted last year but it’s a no brainer that cash on hand is still best for transactions especially if you don’t want to wait in line. Withdraw cash early on and never on the venue area because by the evening, you’ll be out of items.

Pool resources
If you have friends who are going earlier than you, give them your shopping list and ask them to check on availability. I’m not sure if Microwarehouse can afford to hold items for you so it would be best to give the early bird friends your cash and have them buy for you than to wait for your turn when you do get free time. If you’re working with a 9-5 job, best to have your freelance or management level friends (they are on flexi-time!) to drop by first thing on Friday, which is 12 noon, so still - expect a lot of competition from the offices nearby. Your friends can line up early. You will expect heavy traffic by Friday lunch which will peak in the evening and on the weekend.

I hope these tips help! Most importantly, don’t forget to have lots of fun with your friends on the great deals!

So I was watching Conan the Barbarian (1982 starring Arnold Schwarzenegger) and it prompted me to head over to Funan Digital Life Mall to pick up a a prepaid pass, since I don’t want to use my credit card to pay for a subscription.

it also hit me (doh!) that I should have bought AoC in Singapore as it would be cheaper by roughly PHP 500.00. I guess warranty doesn’t matter as what you’re really buying is the MMO’s serial number. Oh well. The collector’s edition is hot though - SG $199.00 for a huge tome that comes with behind the scenes stuff and the lore of Conan.

It’s almost like an obsession as I hauled myself at every chance I land on Bonifacio High Street as I’ve been pre-listed for an Industry Disgrace for several weeks now. Yup, the Industry Disgrace is Crumpler’s new line of camera neck straps. I had a feeling they would be here in Singapore and my guesses were right. I was able to get two

In SG these things cost betwen P660.00 to P950.00 depending on what “edition” you got. The camouflaged design you see here is the limited edition while the brown and black (I didn’t get the black) were more affordable.

Dear Phoebe, I bought Mac.

Well, not that Mac. But MAC. Managed to find almost everything you ordered at Robinson’s at Raffles. Pretty interesting too - the collection is called Neo Sci-Fi. I didn’t know how to go about buying makeup so I just handed the lady the entire list and the lady gave me a huge LOL while she went through the list.

For the most part of the Singapore sale, almost all participating outlets let go of the GST and luckily for me, the MAC sale was only during the weekend when I landed!