Always the Last To Know

Fri, July 30 2010

I just found out about this awesome giveaway (thanks to SheBlogs.org), hosted by Natural Skin Shop. The aim of this contest it so pit bloggers against one another to drive traffic toward the Natural Skin Shop website. Sadly, I only have one day to participate in this contest but if you, my wonderful readers, were so kind as to click on the links in this post, then I might be one of 9 winners who get a skincare kit! The top 3 winners will also get cash prizes!

So why might I want to win a skincare kit? Simple. My skin sucks. LOL If anyone could benefit from an effective cleanser or facial peel, it’s me. Although, Natural Skin Shop specializes in all sorts of skin types, including Normal/Combination, Mature, Acne/Oily, Uneven Skin Tone and Dry/Sensitive.

As you can guess, these products are all natural (and I am increasingly finding that natural products work much better than commercial products full of chemicals, on my skin) and Natural Skin Shop never tests on animals. If you’re still not sold, you can interact live with their skin care professionals onsite. I love that feature because I am the type of person who always has to ask a ton of questions before making a purchase (I probably asked two dozen before switching to my current webhost d=). They also offer 15% off of your first order, if you sign up for the mailing list.

If you find you do like the products and company, Natural Skin Shop has an in depth web presence, including a Twitter account, Facebook page and YouTube channel.

Disclosure: By writing this post I am qualified to win products and/or cash prize. All views and opinions with regard to the products or company itself are my own and were not influenced, nor reviewed, by the company prior to posting.

Secret What?

Mon, July 26 2010

Puzzle Quest

Sat, July 24 2010

In the past few months, I’ve picked up several puzzle/RPG games for my Nintendo DS from Infinite Interactive. I have had the chance to play and beat two of them: Puzzle Quest Challenge of the Warlords and Puzzle Quest Galactrix. Because they are so similar, I thought I’d do a combined review. Although similar, these are two different games. Actually, Puzzle Quest 2 (the sequel to Battle of the Warlords–the first game) just came out, if I recall correctly.

There are definitely some similarities. Both are puzzle RPGS, so you complete puzzles to battle opponents and succeed at other quests. There are multiple puzzle types for competing different tasks. The gems you clear in the puzzles provides you with magic/mana to attack your opponent. You play a single character, with the option to pick up NPC party members throughout the game. There is a main plotline, with significant quests, and side quests to keep you busy. Depending on your choices of action, you may not be able to do certain quests or the game may end differently. You can purchase or create items to aid you in the game.

Pretty standard. I found it interesting because I like puzzle games. I was hoping these would get me into more complex games (RPGs) so I bought them both. There’s a few differences, though. Challenge of the Warlords is set in the traditional fantasy world with people and trolls and orcs, etc. Galactrix, if you couldn’t tell by the name, has a science fiction theme. They’re both pretty cliche in their own ways but I did find Galactrix slightly more appealing, for whatever reason.

Additionally, you outfit your character with items such as armor and weapons in Challenge of the Warlords, whereas you choose a ship and outfit it with weapons and tools in Galactrix. Again, I preferred the Galactrix method, if only because it’s simpler. Your ship can only handle so much weaponry, CPU and engine technology at once (it varies between ships). I understood that easily and enjoyed working within those confines. If you prefer RPGs over puzzles, then you may just like Challenge of the Warlords more, instead. There are no limits regarding certain “energies,” you have more options when you choose items. I personally felt like I had more opportunities to mess up my character because of this.

Another big difference is the puzzle playing boards. Challenge of the Warlords boasts a square board with grids containing circular gems, not unlike Bewjeweled. The playing board is round in Galactrix and the pieces, hexagonal. Both games require you to match 3 same-coloured gems to clear them from the board. The gems can add to your mana/Energy, experience/Intel, health/shields, money (in Challenge) or Psi Points (in Galactrix). There are also bomb pieces that inflict damage upon your opponent. Each skill or weapon equipped requires a specific configuration of gems to use. For example, you may need 7 red gems and 8 yellows to use a specific gem.

But if you play the puzzles and plan to rely on luck, you’ll probably start losing quickly. The puzzles do require skill and you have to think ahead several turns. You do not simply want to make the easier move. For example, when you get 4-of-a-kind or more, you earn bonuses such has extra gems or turns. You can earn more gems by starting a chain reaction and longer reactions may earn you additional turns.

Psi Points are unique to Galactrix. When you unlock the points (by completing side quests), you have the ability to use them against potential opponents. For example, if a pirate ship wants to attack, you can avoid the battle by using the skill. It’s interesting. I happened to notice that the game frequently froze when I used Psi skills, however.

Challenge of the Warlords offers you the option to capture your opponents and learn their skills (there exists a comparable feature to learn schematics of an enemy’s weapons in Galactrix). You may even use certain enemies as a mount and gain their skills. Additionally, you can train these mounts by beating them in times battles on the puzzle screen. In fact, each game offers some side puzzles that I enjoyed. However, those side puzzles tend to be more necessary to complete the game in Galactrix. Some players might find this annoying. I can see both sides.

In order to participate in any of those additional puzzles in Challenge of the Warlords, you must enter your citadel. You can only do this if you have successfully attacked the city you’re in. Otherwise, you have to go to the nearest city that you attacked to access the citadel. There isn’t anything really comparable to this in Galaxtrix. It’s interesting but kind of requires you to siege cities if you wish to be able to make items or train your mount at any given time.

There are more differences between the games but, for the sake of length, I’ll start to wrap this up. I have several major complaints about both games. The gems are so small in Challenge of the Warlords that I often wound up touching the wrong one with the stylus. Because it happened so quickly, I’d lose a turn for making an incorrect move. My major complaint in Galactrix is that the puzzles take a long time. There’s this little animation whenever you clear gems from the screen that adds just fractions of a second to each turn. They really add up, however. Some people prefer this because the matches can be over so quickly in Challenge of the Warlords that you might as well not even play it. Lastly, there are a ridiculous number of save and load screens in Galactrix, which also adds to the time you spend sitting around bored

In fact, a lot of my complaints about both of these games seem to center around the fact that there is a happy medium that both somehow miss. The games go too quickly in Challenge of the Warlords but too slowly in Galactrix. Different puzzles types aren’t as accessible as they could be in Challenge of the Warlords but the frequency becomes an annoying in Galactrix.

Ultimately, I enjoyed the game play of Galactrix better but I enjoyed the ending of the other. I found myself skipping through some of the interactions in the game, so I actually made a decision that ended the game without my realization in Galactrix. The plot had fewer options in Challenge of the Warlords so I easily knew where to go and what to do and why (to defeat the boss). It’s a shame because I feel like the plot of Galactrix was slightly more interesting.

Neither Puzzle Quest game was perfect but neither was horrible, either (foreshadowing: they’re both amazing compared to II’s other title: Puzzle Chronicles). You can bet I’ll eventually pick up Puzzle Quest 2. Indeed, as soon as I publish this, I’m going to check out the new website.

Upcoming!

Wed, July 21 2010

A Night With the Silver Stars

Sun, July 18 2010

I’m apart of some networks that connect me with different products and services to review. Last week, Ryan and I were able to attended a Silver Stars game, for free, thanks to One2One Network and the WNBA.

The Silver Stars are the local WNBA team so we headed to the AT&T Center right here in San Antonio. Now, I’d never been to any professional sport before so this was a really neat opportunity that I wasn’t about to pass up. We had no trouble grabbing tickets from will-call and there was a purse check on the way in but it was pretty lacks, otherwise. I was pretty “star”struck with the venue itself. It was big. And there was lots of screens and marquees and colours, inside.

When we got to our seats, there were already encouraging signs printed for the audience to hold–as well as some super long balloons. Ryan enjoyed playing with the balloons, as did all the kids at the show. This was definitely a family event and it was great. It didn’t have an aggressive or violent feel like some sports do. In fact, Ryan made a comment about how he saw one of the players attempt a shot but miss. She was smiling the whole time! I noticed that the teams, who were obviously competing against each other, seemed to work together in a way, too.

Anyway, the Silver Stars played the Connecticut Sun and, because it was a home game, the Stars had their mascot and cheerleaders. I’m not going to lie, most of the photos I took were of the mascot. The Fox is freaking adorable! And whoever plays him? Was really good. He was on the sidelines, in the seats, playing with kids, leading dances, shooting t-shirts and slam dunking the ball (in between the two halves). And he was adorable!

Now, basketball is one of those games that is just easy to understand. Even if I hadn’t played in fifth grade (I know, it’s a hilarious idea!), it’s so easy to understand the rules. The game started with the Sun playing on the side of the court that was closest to us so we got to see them practicing beforehand. They switched halfway through, though! One thing I noticed, was that the Silver Stars were great at passing. Sometimes a player on the other team seemed to want to do everything. I’m sure that the cooperation of the Stars is part of the reason they won!

I paid special attention to Becky Hammon who was listed in the “program” as a nominee for the Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Award from ESPN. She played pretty much the whole game, if I remember correctly. It’s also interesting because she’s “only” 5’6″ (I checked online afterward). Some of the players are easily a foot taller than I am! LOL

Aside from the game, which was fast paced and enjoyable, we stopped to grab food from the venue and get some merch. I picked up a pink shirt for my sister. In between the quarters, they had lots of activities with The Fox. At one point, he challenged the ESPN camera man to copy a trampoline/slam dunk he’d just done. The guy accepted and did it easily. A couple members of the audience were picked to play some parachute catching game and it was fun to watch them fall from the ceiling. The sponsors held a bunch of little cell phone texting games, too. I think I won a soda from the local gas station chain but my phone sucks so it wasn’t awesome enough for me to go through the hassle to redeem it.

After the game, we headed backstage because the WNBA provided us with autograph passes. This was definitely not the highlight of the evening as only one player was signing anything and I don’t even think she’d played in that game. Nevertheless, she was nice and I had her sign the shirt for Samantha. It was over pretty quickly. Line up, say “hi” and take the elevator up to the ground floor kinda thing. I would have liked to see a player or two more there.

The whole thing was a little out of my comfort zone but I’m so glad I got the opportunity. Ryan is even considering going to another game in the future which is hilarious because he totally resisted against going in the first place. He thanks me later!

If you’re at all interested, I totally encourage you to go and bring your family! I have a promotional code for discounted WNBA Tickets for my readers when they purchase online: WNBABLOG. I also believe One2One Network and the WNBA are offering opportunities like this to bloggers in other areas so don’t hesitate to sign up yourself!

More pictures after the cut! (more…)