My First Time Playing Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Beta

I recently found this miraculously in my Steam library, so I gave it a go. This video shows, what I experienced:

To be fair, I like Counter-Strike. But I'm so bad at it. I just can't get better. That's why I love playing Zombie mods or other stuff, that mostly doesn't need skill.
The game itself feels weird. It's no Call of Duty, but neither a real Counter-Strike. Maybe they'll patch some stuff. It's a beta still.

Also I hate the buy menu. God damn console crap.

Project: Backlog - Update #1

So here's my first update on Project: Backlog. As you can see in the above picture, some games disappeared and some are new. Well, only one is new, which is Max Payne 2. I just finished the first Max Payne, so that isn't on the list anymore, but was. I removed three games from the list, because I will never have the intention or motivation to play them. They are just either not my type of game, or are for me personally not motivating enough. These three are Alien Breed 2: Aussault, Frozen Synapse and SpaceChem. All of these were either gifted, or I got a key for free, so I never payed for them. So no remorse there.

Right now I've finished three games. These are Half Life 2: Episode 2, Counter-Strike: Condition Zero Deleted Scenes and Max Payne. I've started playing Sam & Max 102: Situation: Comedy but haven't finished it yet.
So here are small reviews of those games:

Half Life 2: Episode 2:
This game might be old in terms of graphics and gameplay, but it is still a fun game. The story keeps you going and the puzzles and scenarios are great. I've waited so long to play this game and never understood, why everyone wanted Episode 3 so bad. Now I know. How could Valve leave us on such a cliffhanger and then let us wait for almost five years and there's still no Episode 3 in sight. Maybe they'll reveal something at E3, but that's just wishful thining I guess.

Counter-Strike: Condition Zero Deleted Scenes:
I was rather surprised by this game actually. I've played the first mission a few years ago or so and the AI got bugged and then I didn't want to play any further. The campaign leads you different places on the earth, where your help is needed as one member of the responsible special forces team in that area. While the missions vary story-wise, they are basically just 'run and gun' parts, while you of course need to find cover or use a little tactic sometimes. So the gameplay didn't convince me, but the story did. For that price right now on Steam (9.99€) it's alright. You'll get Counter-Strike: Condition Zero and Counter-Strike, so that's a nice deal, while the multiplayer servers are mostly empty. Your choice.

Max Payne:
In anticipation to Max Payne 3, I wanted to play the first two games before, so I know, if it's something I like. And boy do I like it. I can't believe I overlooked this game for so long. The story and the gameplay are both awesome, while the story really stands out. While playing, you get cutscenes in comic book style, telling the story in a different way than usual.

Easily the funniest part in the game.

I don't want to spoil the story other than saying it's really dark. I think the right term for this would be 'noir'. Check this game out, if you haven't. It's really worth it.

Project: Backlog

For too long these games have just been sitting there in my Steam library. Now it's time to finally play them!
All these games are either bought at a Steam sale, or obtained a similar way, when I thought "Hey, this game looks so much fun, I can't wait to play it for 40 hours!". SCREW YOU BRAIN!

As you can see, Half Life 2: Episode Two is already installed and I almost finished it, giving me a good start. After playing these games, I might write a short review, depending on how much fun it was and, of course, how motivated I am to write them.

Wish me luck!

Rumour: Valve works on a Console

Sources: 
http://www.theverge.com/2012/3/2/2840932/exclusive-valve-steam-box-gaming-console
http://kotaku.com/5890275/is-this-a-photo-of-valves-rumored-console 

Rumours have appeared about a console, made by Valve. Nothings clear yet and all is just speculation, but some things are said to be true. For example, the specs of the console have been "revealed", having a Core i7 CPU, 8GB of RAM, and an NVIDIA GPU. This seems to be true, because an employee of Valve posted a tweet on the 2nd November last year, with a picture.

"Built this tiny PC. i7 quad core, 8GB ram, Zotac Z-68 mobo w/ onnboard Nvidia mobile gfx. Runs Portal 2 FAST."

Apparently, the so called "Steam Box" will be made, because Valve wants to establish a new standard in a gaming service, pushing other developers, to create new and innovative gaming devices.

I'm kind of excited for this. Valve pushing boundaries again. But still...couldn't I just buy a normal PC then? It's not a real gaming console after all, but rather a PC, made for gaming. I'm looking forward to more news on this.

For more info, visit the sources mentioned above.

My First Time Playing Modern Warfare 3 (Multiplayer)

The Modern Warfare 3 multiplayer was free to play last weekend, so I though, why not check it out. Lucky for you guys, I recorded my first EVER match in MW3, I ever played. It pretty much shows, why I don't like the game. Not to mention all the hackers, that weren't in this video.

That said, I of course played the game more than just that one match and I have to say: It's not that bad. It was fun to play for that weekend and I can understand, why people play it. But still: I can have all that fun in the older Modern Warfare games too. Not much has changed and the third game feels much like the first one (CoD4).
What I hate about this game though and I think it shows in the video, are the killstreaks. They are stupid and overpowered. The whole game is fun, till someone has to use e.g. the helicopter and be the Terminator in person. That's why I like the Pro Mod in CoD4MW more, than any of the other games.

Steam Holiday Sale Conclusion

The image above shows what I got during the sale. I didn't pay anything for it. I just traded the stuff I got for other games or coal and this was the final outcome. I had several games like Super Meat Boy, Demolition Inc. and Dota 2, which got me these. It's obvious that Valve screwed me on the coupons. Crafted 21 coal and I got 50% Valve three times. The luck I have...

Steam Holiday Sale

It's that time again!

The annual Steam Holiday Sale started again today (or yesterday, I don't know). While there are numerous games on sale, there's also the Achievements we already know from the Steam Summer Camp. Finishing one of the Achievements gets you a present, which can have free games, coupons, or coal. With the coal you enter a chance for the grand prize giveaway. The grand prize are ALL games ever on Steam. That's right! But only one person can get it. The more coals you have, the higher is your chance to win. If you don't want the coal, you can combine seven of them to get another present, which will have either a free game or a coupon. No coal.

Spend your money, or don't. I didn't ;). But there might come that one deal, that takes it all again...like the last few times...GAAAAAAAAABBBEEE!

Steam Autumn Sale

Are your wallets ready?

Todays deals are for example: Portal 2, Black Ops, Mass Effect Franchise, Duke Nukem Forever, ...

I already lost around 20 bucks for the Sam & Max Collection and Terraria...WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO ME GABE???

Anyway, have fun spending your money!

Steamgifts, or: Getting Games on Steam for Free

Getting Games for Free? Yes, there is such a thing!

http://www.steamgifts.com/

People on this site create Giveaways for other people who then can enter it. If you're lucky, you'll be picked out at Random and the Creator of the Giveaway will send you the key, which you can enter on Steam. Of course there are also Scammers on the site, who open Giveaways and don't send the key to the Winner, but they will mostly be called out in the comments and then banned. The site itself is totally legit. You won't get you're Accounts hacked ;).
To register on the site you have to have 50€/$ worth of games on Steam.

There's a FAQ also, if you got any questions, or just write a comment and I'll answer it.

Alucard0691

Super Meat Boy Anniversary Bundle

A sweet deal on Steam this weekend if you're into these games! Plus if you haven't played Half Life 2 yet, it's in the Bundle too! It includes e.g. Super Meat Boy (of course), Bit.Trip Beat, Braid and VVVVVV.
Check it out!