2010
Halo Reach Beta Review
After playing Halo Reach Beta for the first time, I was really happy with all the new features that were brought into the game. I love the fact that there are different load-out options for your character that you can chose from at the start of every game. It adds an unexpected element to the game because you could be attacking a player and not know if they will all the sudden start sprinting at you, or flying up into the sky, or turn invisible, or even become invincible! Also, some of the new weapons that got added to the game are great, but I got to say I am already starting to miss the Halo 3 battle riffle. The new DMR is just not the same. But the new Alien Needle Rifle is awesome! I know they are more or less the same weapon, but the needle rifle seems stronger and more accurate every time I use it.
Spartans v Elites
After playing many of the different game types, especially the ones where you have the Spartans vs. the Elites in Slayer I feel that there is a totally unfair advantage. The elites are far more dominant in every way now. The jump higher, they can speed roll around which makes it almost impossible to shoot at when they do (which the Spartans don’t have the option to do), and their weapon are much better. The elites get to start with the plasma pistol, which when charged and fired at an enemy leaves them one head shot from death. And mentioned above the Needle riffle is still in my opinion better than the human DMR. Not only because it seems stronger and more accurate, but also you get to see the enemy explode after they killing shot from the needle rifle.
After playing the Halo Reach Beta for a couple weeks now, I really started getting bored with the game. Maybe its because there are only a few maps and game types that you can plat right now, or maybe its just because of how unrealistic the game is becoming. I feel like more and more Halo fans are turning to Call of Duty because it is far more realistic than Halo. I’m not selling out and going over to the dark side of COD yet. I’m still a halo fan first, and have a little more hope for the real game once it is released.
The Beta still seems very laggy at times and the controls don’t seem as responsive as Halo 3. Also, I am not totally impressed with the graphics. I know its just the Beta so the graphics could be dumbed down a little and could get better once the game is released, but as of right now I was expecting a little more.
All in all I am happy to have a new halo game, and the new load-outs and maps have been fun to tinker around with, but if the real game (when it is released) is no better than the Beta, I think I’ll be playing Halo 3 online still, and maybe even try my hand at a little Call of Duty. Lets just hope the Actual game will take it up a notch from where it’s at now!
2010
HGTV Dream Home: Green Home Giveaway
What can I say? It would be an absolute “Dream” to win the new HGTV Green home! My wife and I are huge fans of the HGTV channel and watch it every chance we get. We get all kinds of inspiration from House Hunters, My First Place, and love watching the House Hunters International. Its great seeing all the different style houses and places to live around the world. We feel a bit sheltered living out in Southern California, because we don’t get to travel too much outside California. That’s why when we saw the new HGTV Green Home giveaway we were blown away with the house and the location! Being a newly-wed couple it has been tough trying to pay our mortgage each month on top of all of our other bills in today’s economy. After all, we are just trying to get by. 
After seeing the New HGTV Green Home on tv and checking out the floor plan and photos online, my wife and I fell in love with this property. Everything is absolutely amazing, from the architectural design, to the colors used in the house, to all the decorating. The house is truly one of a kind, and we would be so fortunate to win such a cool eco-friendly home! And the location is breathtaking, the whole town is so old fashioned and just the type of place the two of us dream of living.
My wife is an shabby-chic aholic, so when she saw all the white wood look and cupboards through out the house (and especially the kitchen) she immediately fell in love with it. Hopefully one day we are fortunate enough to live in a home that looks a lot like this one. With that old fashioned feel, and all the amazing natural light that permeates through all rooms of the house. But all we can say for now is “We Wish!”
We will just keep entering and keep our fingers crossed.
2010
Halo Reach: Banned From Playing Matchmaking Online
Banned From Halo Reach Online? Is it Permanent? How Do I get Unbanned from Halo Reach Online?
Answers Below!
The other night I was trying to play some Halo Reach Beta online, but my internet was acting really weird. Thanks to Time Warner Cable, the damn thing has been so unreliable.
I stated a couple games the other night, just playing Grab Bag Matchmaking, but I was lagging all over the screen and couldn’t seem to kill anyone. I on the other hand would die almost instantly when someone was near. The other really strange part was that my internet strength showed to be full green each time that I spawned. In fact, everyone in all the games that I played that night showed full green bars. So I just tried to play through, thinking that I got a couple Bad hosts. But that wasn’t the case. Something was going on with my internet. After playing each game for about a minute or two, I would get lagged out.
Then I got a warning that “if I quit anymore matchmaking games that I would be banned from playing Halo Reach Beta Matchmaking online.” But I wasn’t actually quitting any games. I was trying to play them, there was just something wrong with my internet connection that night that was lagging me out of the games. Bungie assumes that I was quitting out of the games and banned me from playing.
I called Tme Warner Cable before getting banned to have them reset my internet to see if that would help. They reset it, but I still couldn’t play decent games without lagging around, and getting lagged out everytime. This problem lasted about 2 days before the internet went back to normal.
So you can imagine that I was pretty frustrated with not being able to play any online matchmaking games for 2 days. And furthermore I was pissed off that Bungie had banned me from playing online because my internet provider sucks!
But after seeing that the ban was only temporary I was a little happier. When you get banned from Halo Reach for quitting too much, the ban only lasts for about 20mins or so I think. But you will constantly be reminded during your online play that you will be banned if you quit a game. So this is a little annoying, but its not a permanent ban.