Well, I promised them, and it’s finally over: one month of playing UFC Undisputed 2009, and I’m ready to render my verdict as to whether or not all my thinking and head-scratching was really worth the game.

To outline, I like looking at three components I think are key in the Next-Gen world: Gameplay, Online, and Replay.

Spelling it out, Gameplay is essentially the nuts and bolts of the game. If the game doesn’t play well, it doesn’t matter how pretty it looks. Farcry 2, which I pretty much hate because it’s too realistic, falls on the low end of this scale, while Super Mario Galaxy falls on the high end, because its’ controls and use of game mechanics pretty much created one of my favorite Next-Gen experiences so far. I’m not going to bother to go into detail about the game’s mechanics. No reason to, unless it really annoys me. Plus, I’m waiting a month to review a game. Get off your ass and go play the game before I review it!

Online is pretty much the replacement for Multiplayer, but also includes the hard-hitting category of DLC, which is important, as well as server performance and availability of matches for online multiplayer after the peak period of two weeks after release. DLC, naturally, keeps expanding the game. A great example of Online is Left4Dead, which has essentially lag free gaming as well as the excellent Survival mode expansion, whereas Two Worlds, even though I adore the core gameplay, has shitty multiplayer and horrible DLC that not even the upcoming overhaul could possibly fix (Also, the best maps were online-only for it. What gives!?)

Finally, my most important factor in a game is the Replay value. How long is this game going to keep spinning in my drive? What outside factors (Like communities and modding) will keep me interested after release? I point to the Rock Band franchise as a great example. Even though after a full school year of weekly Rock Band meet ups, every September brings a new, fresh library to my band at the dorms which keeps them coming back for more. It’s multiple communities also help keep it alive. A horrible replay game is Bioshock. As much as I think that is one of the best games ever, replaying it simply isn’t worth it. Once you know the story, there’s not much left but scrounging for more background info you can just go find online.

I believe that there is only two accurate ways to rate a game. 1-10 doesn’t mean crap. The real value of a game is how long it stays around. So, I give each game two time-based ratings. The first is how long I think I’ll keep the game before reselling it, which is the fate that befalls all of my games at some point. On average, I keep a game for about 3-6 months, with Rock Band 2 holding top honors at almost a full year of play.

Bit of a pet peeve of mine over the past few weeks has been everyone's bitching. I think a lot of this has to do with the general hope at the end of last November, whole "Obama-Change" expectation and all, but dammit, it's just annoying at this point!

Honestly, everyone freaks when their opposition gets the upper hand! I overhear Glenn Beck a lot. Then I turn around and listen to Liberal pundits (Who all like to freak out equally, by the way!) Everyone wants to bitch about how everything is going to hell, but they can't, or in some cases, won't, do anything to fix the problems they're talking about, or they'll inflate a small problem into something so large it no longer is what it was.

On a more local, personal level, I'm getting sick of everyone lamenting about the economy. Local Amtgarders that read this, you know who you are: Those bitching about their college choices, the lack of jobs, the state of rules, yadayadayada, ect.

The fact is, the age of American Entitlement is over. Get off your gorram high horse and get to it! We cannot change a thing with words, you have to get up and do something about your state of being and just do it. We are no longer in a place or state where we get everything because we won at economics. We have to work now, and get back to that top spot, and nothing changes with a lot of people bitching.

You have to lower your standards. I want to point to a pretty epic quote from Firefly to inspire everyone out of a job right now:

"I reckon a man who can't find work ain't lookin' hard enough"

C'mon guys, I got a job. It took me two months, and copious amounts of World of Warcraft aside, I still got one. That's better than people who it took a year or so to find it. All it takes is getting up and getting out there. I'll tell you one thing: If you tell yourself you have to get to the place you're applying at every day until they give you a job, you'll eventually either get the job, or a firm no that will let you get moving on other prospects.

Better yet, here's a quick list of places you can work that are usually always hiring:

1.) Temp Agencies. You'd better believe a place that hires people to work for other people is always hiring. Google it. You'll find the offices in your area, and you only have to stop in there to get interviewed, right before the job to get orientation and schedule, and after the job to turn in your timecard. You can even set up direct deposit if you need to. Look for a Kelley Services office. Though they do mark you as a rehire for eventually not taking jobs, they treat their people well and make sure they're matched with a good job. Better yet, they sometimes permanently hire people out and give them to the other job, which can give you a solid place to work for longer than a few days.

2.) McDonalds/Fast Food. Everyone's favorite crap food needs people to make it. Though they don't exactly always hold up their end of the bargain, they'll work you till you can't stand the holding cabinet's beeping for decent pay. It's not that bad! I promise, I used to work at one.

3.) Wal-Mart. I haven't worked at one, but usually they require 50+ people, have a pretty open hiring schedule, and always need people. I've also heard tell that you have to watch your availability to make sure you're open for stuff you want to do. I.E. Amtgard. But, they offer pretty good benefits if you can get a job at a Sam's Club, and decent hours at the Wal-Mart end of things. Just do it! Trick is to call and ask for their Personnell department to get a good connection going, and be persistent.

My last category of people who need to stop bitching, one that I frequently belong to myself: People who complain because they can't do something, won't do something, or won't learn something because they're too busy to realize how easy it is. The big annoyance to me right now is people in the UOC who can't seem to figure out submissions. FRIGGIN' LEARN HOW TO MASH BUTTONS. It's not that hard, and neither is the system itself. Just keep at it, and start working a single position, and building up. It also helps to run through Career Mode again with a Jiu Jitsu fighter, just to get used to doing it during Jiu Jitsu camps. You can learn this system, and I promise that it doesn't suck as much as you think.

Now the reason I fall into this group is because I am in the "can't/won't do something" group. Mostly, this pertains to my love/hate relationship with MMA training. I train on/off for MMA, and as much as I say I want to do it, I usually find a way to worm myself out of it. Right now that's bugging me because I live near a pretty good gym that puts out good fighters and I won't go and train with them. GAAH! It bugs me that I won't, even though I want to!

So, because i have the whole of the internet watching, I am going to do it. Flat out. Because after putting this much bitching up online about people bitching, I have to do it so I don't look like a complete pundit.