.Hack

Lately, I have been playing so much of the playstation 2 game series, .Hack.

I originally started playing them a few years back when I was still in college. I had saw the anime on Cartoon network a few times in the past and thought the idea of it in game form would be so cool. Finding out there were games really made my day! I think my parents bought me the first 2, Infection and Mutation. Unfortunately, it was hard to track down the last two. Part 3 (Outbreak) I managed to find in the used bin at ones of the game stores that weren't transformed into Game Stop yet, but it was months before I could find the final one, Quarantine. By the time I found Quarantine though, I had already beaten Outbreak for awhile now and had gotten a bit bored. So I figured I'd go back to it eventually.

Years later, I got back to it (about at most, 3 months ago). Except I didn't feel like continuing the progress I made before; I barely remembered what happened, plus I missed a lot of stuff in my first playthrough. Going through it all again was a lot of fun, and as I finally beat Quarantine, I noticed it mentioned save data that could transferred. What? But... wasn't Quarantine the last in the game?

No. There's another series on PS2 called .Hack G.U. So...  went a hunting for it! I checked my ever so trusty Amazon and... it's fucking 30 bucks for the game USED!

Fuck that shit, I'm not shelling out that much money for the game, USED! If it was New, I'd probably bend over and take it, but not USED! Looking around, i eventually find a few places that sell it for reasonable prices... except most are freaking sold out. Then i finally find the first two games for 19.99 on gamestop and sigh in relief, and bookmark the page. I decided to put off buying them until the next day cause... well i was feeling lazy. The next day? Website said they were unavailable.

RAAAAAAAAAAAAAGE

But luck was on my side! I checked the site again a few days later and they were back in stock. Well, just the first one. I bought, played it, loved it, and bought the second one just before I completely beat the first. I now am missing on one more in the .Hack GU series... and its price is ridiculous. 29.99 is the lowest i can find that currently has the game in stock. Used. Everywhere else is ass loads more expensive or no longer available. I'm sad that Best Buy shows Volume 3 at 24.99 but has been unavailable for weeks. Don't get me wrong, 24.99 before shipping and handling is still ridiculous, but I'm willing to deal with that.

Now the request for assistance: If anyone can find Dot Hack G.U. Vol 3 Redemption for at MOST 24.99 used, please let me know! I'd like to complete the game! If I cannot, I may just end up renting the final game from Gamefly. Hell of a lot cheaper, but more hassle since it's a subscription service and all that I'd have to cancel right afterwards... Plus I'd rather own the game, personally.

Women's World Cup, Part 2

My prediction of the winners had almost came perfectly true. Japan made it to the finals with USA, and when Sweden and France played, Sweden won. But today, Japan beat USA in penalty shoot outs because USA choked.

There is no reason to be angry with Japan for how they played; they were excellent and took advantage of our mistakes just like any team should do. I am happy for them as this has to be a monumental moment for their country after the earthquake related disasters. It even turns out their original coach had died because of the Earthquake. They won it for their country and for their lost coach.

USA played well throughout the main game. It was when they made it to penalty kicks we just choked. They put the goalie, Hope Solo, in an awkward position by missing 3 kicks. She managed to save one goal to keep us dangling, but it wasn't enough, nor should have been relied upon. I'm proud of them for making it so far, however, and will hope for their success in their next big event... I believe it's the Olympics. I think that their showing in this World Cup garnered them a lot of attention, so perhaps more people will watch their games.

I realize many people say, "it's just women's soccer, it doesn't matter," but that because of the stigmata the media portrays, in my opinion. There much more support for male leagues, which is sad but true, thus gives us less interest in the game. Hell, soccer alone in our country is not exactly popular either (though it's gotten a lot better in terms of interest over the years).

However, I really have no interest in watching most sports. Basketball, Baseball, and (American) Football are completely boring to me (ESPECIALLY american football). Soccer does something different, though. It feels much more exciting to watch with a lot more pressure. It's probably because I grew up playing soccer, though I also did play a little basketball and baseball.

I also have to say, despite this being a Women's World Cup, I felt it was a hell of a lot more exciting than the men's last year. I suppose it is because two phenomenal teams I was rooting for made it to the finals this year. I think I shall be watching more of the Major League Soccer matches on TV though, both men's and women's. I sort of wish we had a co-ed World Cup, but I suppose it could be a bit too much, especially how people would react if a man fouled a women... Still, I think it would be amazing to have and would stop dividing our sexes.

Little tangent aside, congratulations to Japan for your well deserved win in this year's World Cup! :)

Women's World Cup

I have been watching the Women's World Cup since it first started, and it has been absolutely excellent. Last year with the Men's league, every team I rooted for was knocked out (usually to shitty refs, though a few was team's faults). There was also a shitload more drama, because they dive more than the women do for calls.

Women's league, despite not being as popular as the men's has been more true to the sport and the amazing plays. When they get knocked down, they usually won't just hold onto an injury for a call (exception: Brazil), it's get the fuck back up and get back in the game.

At this time, the teams fighting for the gold is USA, Sweden, Japan, and France. Well... it was France, but USA just recently beat them in a great game.

Out of nowhere, Japan managed to beat Germany to make it here, which I am just thrilled about. Japan is my second favorite to win next to USA. Normally, I root for North American teams (cause... I live here :P) and then I root for the Asian countries since I don't recall seeing them in the finals usually.  It also depends how the teams play, if we have sore sports I'll drop them. Japan has been proving to be not only good sports, but offering a completely different playstyle. Unlike teams who specialize in offense or defense... this team relies on tactics. Their offense and defense are rather... average to say the least, which makes every match a tough fight. But they have such good handling on the ball, it gives them a different style of play. In some ways, I wonder if this style was the perfect counter to beat Germany.

USA has been showing so much heart, it's not funny. Our team is so well rounded with all players being of good value (though some have had some bad days) and being very fit gives makes us a force to be reckoned with. I think our strengths have to be about being well rounded, but that might be a biased comment to be honest. We barely beat Brazil, but the ref also went into super retard mode with some calls. It was so bad that the stadium booed Brazil (especially their star player, Marta) every time they had possession. And people were chanting for USA, even the other countries in the stands. It honestly felt like the world was coming together against the enemy (in this case, was Brazil). Oh... and one other thing great about the USA? The goalie, Hope Solo.

This woman is not only nice to look at, but she has such a great demeanor in goal, it's almost like she's a sociopath (and I mean that in the best way possible). Even when doing penalty shots, she stays calm. When she is scored upon, she remains calm too, or brushes it off. The only time I really saw her emote in game was when super retard mode ref in the Brazil game gave her a yellow card for something she didn't do (replay proved, not that it matters to FIFA).

France and Sweden are also in these final games, but I wasn't really rooting for them. I do respect them both, though, and I'd not have too big a problem if they had won (Brazil is the only one I did not want to win because of their attitudes and dirty playing), but I like Japan and USA more. My ideal end ranking for the world cup would be USA in first, Japan in second, Sweden in third, and France in last (I like Sweden a little more than France). I will say I liked how France played today; they had good sportsmanship, played fiercely (2nd half they were dominating us for awhile), and overall did well... I think the rain through them off some though, because in an earlier match with England, they were so freaking fast, I was very worried about them.

As for Sweden, I'm mostly indifferent to them; they beat out Australia, which i was slightly leaning towards over them, but they are good players and I would not be surprised if they beat Japan right now. I do want Japan to beat them, but I'm not going to get my hopes up. 

If USA goes against Japan in the finals, of course I'll root for USA, but I will not have any shame against losing to Japan. I'm sure with all the shit they went through with the Earthquake and all, it would be a great pick-me-up.