So the countdown has begun. With less than a week until Christmas the flurry of last minute shopping will keep this week very busy for some. Luckily I have all my shopping done and now I just have to wrap all those presents.

This weekend I finally got a chance to check out Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories and while I only played for a very short time I am digging it. The whole card aspect of the game is very strange and foriegn to me, but I am adapting. I can’t really think of any other games that I have been wanting in recent months so my Christmas list was completely void of video games. I know that is rare so what games are you hoping to score for Christmas that you haven’t acquired already?

You have probably been wondering where I have been the last few days. Well, work has been busy and when not busy at work I have been doing some graphics work. Storing GBA games has long since been a pain since they come in paper boxes like all Nintendo games up until the Gamecube. DS owners will notice that the DS cases sport room for a DS game as well as a GBA game. Someone on the CheapAssGamer forum decided it would be cool to order a few extra cases from the [url=http://store.nintendo.com]Nintendo store[/url] (Go to Parts & Accessories. Click the DS. Click Parts & Accessories again and you are looking for Game Card Cases). They run $1/each, a set of 5 for $4, or a set of $10 for $7. Ordering 20 cases will set you back about $18.

Now you have cases to put your GBA library in, but they are plain. Aha, here is where the graphics work comes in. A few of the forumers started making GBA inserts from the GBA boxes. Simply scan them in, resize them, and fit them into a template and done. So I took the liberty of doing all my GBA games and helping out with hosting the inserts. They have come out quite nice. You can check out the [url=http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=39299]thread[/url] for more info and you can see my repository of inserts [url=http://www.snackbar-games.com/cone/images/gbacovers]here[/url]. Not all of those are my work, but quite a few are.

If you are into graphics and have a scanner and some GBA boxes lying around and are interested in helping out, let me know and I will get you started.

Yeah! There is absolutely nothing going on right now! The only game left to buy before next year is Mechassault 2. Everything else has been released. Next years line up should be good, starting out with Republic Commando in Feb. Ok that game looks freaking sweet! But who knows, the public might hype it up so much, that some folks may not like it. So here is a word to the public, don’t hype up games you might ruin it for elite gamers. *No names being mentioned*

Spike TV is having their video game awards right now. I am very impressed with how the show looks and how it is presented. The gamers look cool, not lazy, not nerdy, but cool. I will update you after it is done with the winners so the debating can begin.

Oh yeah, its hosted by Snopp Dogg, that’s fucking cool.

Update:

Winners are in

GTA San Andreas – Game of the Year
Burnout 3 – Most Addicting Game
Madden 2004 – Best Sports Game
Fable – RPG of the Year
GTA San Andreas – Best Soundtrack
Halo 2 – Best Designers
Game Informer – Best Gaming Publication
Gamespot.com – Best Gaming Site
Call of Duty: Finest Hour – Best Military Game
Might and Magic – Best Wireless Game
Half Life 2 – Best PC Game
The Chronicles of Riddick: EFBB – Best Game Based on Movie
Samuel L Jackson in GTA, San Andreas – Best Performance
Mortal Kombat: Deceptions – Best Fighting Game
GTA San Andreas – Best Action Game
Half Life 2 – Best Graphics
Nintendo DS – Best New Technology
Metroid: Zero Mission – Best Handheld Game
City of Heroes – Best MMO

I have been checking gaming forums, and they are tearing this show to shreds, which I expected. However, I didn’t think it was that bad. I mean it’s for the masses. If your on this site you more then likely know the dealings of our industry, so you might not agree with a lot of the winners. As far as a show, not bad, not too bad at all.

Oh and I am prepared for any Motley Crue slams I receive, dammit, sometimes my love for hair bands is my downfall.