Update on Vacation Plan

It looks like I got lucky this year. Originally my itinerary was something like this: MSN > ORD > SFO > HKG > ORD > MSN. It wasn't my ideal plan, but since all the other dates/flights are fully booked, I decided to buy the ticket anyway.

I purchased the ticket last Saturday (20th), and this past Monday, I got a call from the travel agent saying that he was able to find a direct ORD-HKG flight on the 7th as well. Even better, he was also able to find me a seat on the 30th (the original date was 29th) as well. At $1155, i think it's a good deal and i am very impressed with their customer service.

More proof this is becoming a gaming blog...

Nowadays it feels like I only blog when there's something related to either Wii or DS. Hahaha...

Anyway, after looking around for several days, I finally got my hands on Capcom's newest Wii game - Zack and Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure. The game supposedly shipped this past Tuesday. Knowing that this is Madison, I wait a day before checking the major outlets for the game. So on Wednesday after work...BestBuy - nope; Toysrus - nope; GameStop - nope; Target - nope; Wal-Mart - nope... and then I gave up. I pretty much repeated the same "shopping" (more like searching) trip Thursday and Friday. Finally this morning afternoon after I woke up, GameStop's site said that they have copies in store (finally!) Rushed over, hand over credit card, game GEEEEEETTTTT!



The guy who works there says that the game is flying off the shelf, I was like.."Yeah, tell me about it"

Anyway, the verdict is this: If you have a Wii, you should not miss this game. In fact, go buy it now! Wait, you should call the stores first to make sure they have it in stock to avoid my fun experience



* Yeah, that stage with the frog bomb? Died 3 times... >_<

Next question: should i rely on local retailers for the 11/5 release of Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn? Or should I buy it online? Decision, decision...

Notice anything unusual?

Below is the search result I got when from UAL for ticket prices between Madison and Hong Kong. Notice anything unusual?

Totally forgot...

that Nintendo was doing there fall conference tonight (in Japan). Hence the blogs are flooded with new Nintendo news... From what I've read so far, it was quite an impressive event with a lot of new information on new games and release dates.

For those who are keeping an eye out for WiiFit, it will be released in Japan on December 1st for roughly $75.

Oh... SquareEnix has a new WiiWare game (think of them as XBox Arcade or Playstation Network) that is a spin-off from the Crystal Chronicles line - Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles: The Small King and the Promised Country. Being a big SquareEnix and FF fan, no complaint there (well, maybe a release date for FFCC:Crystal Bearer would be nice. Also wouldn't mind getting the main FF line back to Nintendo...XD)

P.S. Fire Emblem DS was also announced during the conference. I guess my game lineup for next year will be as packed as this year. Mwahahaha...

Not enough sleep... it's all Link's fault

Bought the newest Zelda game last Friday and have been playing it since. It's the first Zelda game on the DS (which increased my DS game collection to 15) and I have nothing but praise for it. The game is controlled totally using the stylus and yet it feels so natural. I don't think I can actually go back to the old scheme any more.

And with the stylus, some of the puzzles were extremely entertaining. The puzzle on the island with no maps was definitely an amusing one. Without the touch screen input, I don't know how Nintendo could pull off such genius trick. =) There are tons of jokes/funny scenes sprinkled throughout the game. The story is very compelling and not to mention I totally dig Wind Waker/Phantom Hourglass's art direction (cell-shaded cutesy figures). I guess my only concern is that it might be a short adventure (comparing to the 60 - 70 hours I put into Twilight Princess). Now only if Nintendo would let us know when we can expect the true Wii version of Zelda...

Game buying season starts...

with a tiny droplet of water call Dewy. My 9th Wii game:



I think I'll enjoy the game - it's kinda like Kororinpa but with a story and platforming elements. You basically use the remote sensing functionality to navigate Dewy through the various stages and fight bosses. It's definitely not the *greatest* game, but one that definitely fits my gaming styles so it's a nice welcome to my game collection.

Looking at all the game boxes on my desk, it's kinda surprise to see that the number of Wii games I owned is getting close to the number of DS games (Right now, DS collection sits at 14 - but I haven't bought Luminous Arc yet and Zelda DS is coming out October 1st). Apparently I do spend a lot of money into games. XD

Well, I have till late October for Dewy (and i should be fine) before Zack and Wiki comes out.

UGM is finally over

My company's annual Users' Group Meeting is finally over. With the completion of Campus 2 Phase 1, we are hosting almost every single event (except one) in our Verona campus. This means we have around 5000 people around the campus every day this week - pretty crazy. On one hand, it's quite nice to be able to simply walk to the educational sessions instead of taking a bus to the Alliant Energy Center/Monona Terrace; on the other, parking is painful, no excruciating. There are currently around 1500 underground parking spot in Campus 1 - and since we have to accommodate customers who drive, they make some temporary parking spot in the Campus 2 construction site. Parking on gravel (and then walking back to my office) is definitely no fun - especially you are dressed up (Yup - it's the only 3 day in the whole year where the attire is business casual). They definitely need to bring the ice-cream back during breaks. I can do without the lunches, but no snacks, yikes!

We also completed the two final landscaping projects in Campus One: our corporate tree house and the waterfall between Cassiopeia and Deneb. Haven't actually gone up the tree house yet, but the waterfall is quite neat. Here's the Flickr photo set.

Have to Resist the Urge...

Gee... Shooters are not my genre of game, but I am kind of getting hyped up by all the internal media regarding Metroid Prime 3: Corruption. So far the game's getting good reviews and has a strong single player story (key to me as I am not a big fan of online multi-player). The only drawback is that I haven't play Prime or Prime 2 so I might not understand the storyline fully.

Um... decision decision...

Currently listening to...

[This post probably means nothing to my coworkers other than Konphused...kaka]

Leo Koo's Moments
Miriam Yeung's Meridian
Hocc's What Really Matters

Of the 3, I think the least enjoyable is Miriam's. Some of the songs are just too old-style. Leo's good because a lot of the songs are K-able. Hocc's kind of in the middle. Though I have to say 木紋 is my favorite song in all three albums.

歌手：何韻詩 作曲：張繼聰 填詞：黃偉文 編曲：

如果　一手鋸開枯樹　木不會發現痛
不過　日日澆水的我　覺得被挖空
如果　必須結束關係　難扮成從未栽種
讓我　數著年輪　這些年輪　我的心會痛 wo~

畢竟那段如沐春風
早刻進百年長的信
在信中　圈圈緊扣　情感多深厚
前因　非因　錯種

分開簡單　抹去往事極難
幾多溫馨　燭光晚餐
難以用　斧頭一劈　叫畫面飛散
伴侶沒了　記憶會為患
倚星細語　抱月夜談
歷歷在目　錄下年鑑
來年樹倒　身影孤　煙花散
年輪未可推翻　化不~淡
（情長未可推翻　化不~淡 ）

緣慳　但是人非草木　並不會太易慣
刻個　木造的心給我　痛苦未會減
情願　舊事連根一拔　忘滅如燃盡的炭
但我　數著年輪 幾圈年輪　已經濕了眼 wo~

分手與又平復之間
少不過百年零一晚
就怕翻風的一晚　回首貪一眼
回憶急速擴散

就怕新婚的一晚　臨終貪一眼
徒添幾分慨嘆

[Edited] Just noticed it's Wyman's lyrics - no wonder 咁到肉...XD

Do You Have a Friend Looking to Become a Software Developer?

My company recently vastly increased the referral bonus - let say 3 - 5 times more. The catch is that I'll have to refer 3 before 11/30. So if you or your friends interested, let me know. Hohoho~