The Height of the Matter

Skimmed through today's Strait Times and saw this interesting diagram on average (male) height in certain countries:

I don't really care about the main heading that people in the US are shrinking vertically (and probably expanding laterally), but what really interests me is that the average height of Singaporeans is 1.72m, which means that at 1.74m (technically 173.5m), i am a good ~2cm above average.

Cruel as it may sound, any Singaporean guy below 1.72 should probably consider this operation, else you will most definitely be deemed 'below average' and spurned by society. After all, it's only results that matter here in Sinapore.

If you're below 1.65m (the recommended limb lengthening limit is 7cm), you should probably consider migrating to our friendly neighbours up north. We certainly don't want Malaysia or China overtaking us, do we?
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For all of Activision's Guitar Hero 3 buzz, EA's Rock Band looks and sounds altogether like a superior package to GH3. It's being developed by Harmonix, the original developer of Guitar Hero before they sold it to Activision. And it's also the same team that generously donated $2,000 to fansite Scorehero to keep its servers running.

Saw this live stage demo of Rock Band today on Gamespot today. The Fender Stratocaster peripheral which just looks totally awesome (gone are the color-coded keys that made the guitar look like a toy). It also looks almost the same size as a real life Strat.

And the Harmonix staff claims that playing the drums peripheral will actually help you learn basic drumming patterns which will be applicable to real life as well. Considering i'm a hopeless case when it comes to keeping beat and rhythm, this might actually be the most educational game i ever picked up in my life. (in case you were wondering, being able to play the guitar solo for Jordan in-game still does not neccessarily mean you will be able to play a chord on a real guitar).

So i'm definitely getting this game when it comes out. The only problem is, for which console? X360 or (my future) PS3. Herbert will be getting a PS3 so it make sense to get it with him so we can play together. But that will mean giving up a X360's achievement points... Tough decision to make.
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My X360 officially died (red rings of death or ROD) this morning. Called Microsoft Xbox hotline and a replacement set will be ready next Tuesday. Guess this is actually good news since my warranty is up next month and i'll be getting a further 3 years extension from date of purchase under Microsoft's new warranty policy for all ROD problems.

Well it would be 'good' news, except my PC died yesterday as well. I rushed down to Sim Lim and had to replace my power supply and motherboard ($200+ repair..urgh..) so i got it back up the same day. But i'm officially broke for the whole of this month. Probably will have to decline Alex's invitation to Hanabi next Monday.

Where do i begin?

I've only got one thing to say about my new place: Having my own room is too good to be true! I've got so much freedom that i don't even know what i should be doing or how i should spend my time.

But...I still need a 'Do Not Knock' sign to be placed on my door when i sleep. 2 different people actually knocked and woke me up this morning asking if i was awake.

Please feel free to pop by and visit though if you have nothing to do. I'm ~80% done with unpacking (the last 20% will be put up for long-term procastination, most likely) Morning visitations are strictly out of the question though.
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Sad news:

"Microsoft's coporate VP Peter Moore confirmed that Konami's Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots will not be coming to Xbox 360, the game remains as a PS3 exclusive title."

Was hoping that i wouldn't have to get a PS3 but now it looks likes it will be a matter of time (release date for MGS4~ early 2008) before i move on, hopefully the price of the PS3 will continue to fall (the 60GB model dropped $100USD because the 80GB(potentially 120GB) model is coming out and Sony's clearing 60GB model stock)

Gaming on Four Fronts

PC:
Just got C&C 3:Tiberium Wars this morning and Brandon already started playing it. Runs smoothly on his PC at 1024*768 with Medium/High graphics settings so should be no problem on mine as well (we have similiar PC specs except i have more RAM).

Played the first C&C on Sega Saturn (amazingly i still have the game) but in truth i'm not really a big RTS fan. Especially since i prefer real-world weapons to futuristic stuff, so i guess i won't play much of it. Probably just a couple of skirmishes with Brandon just to see what it's like before i go back to my console games.

PS2:
Still in the midst of God of War 2. So far it's proved much more bloody and gruesome than part 1 but ultimately, it's too much of the same action (and moves) from the first game and that's why i'm not really rushing to finish it.

PSP:
DJ Max Portable 2 is out! But...i'm a little hooked to Marvel Trading Card Game so i haven't started on it yet. Spent an hour today just forming a new deck in the game. Man, i miss my secondary school days when all i played after school were (real)TCGs at World of JJ @ Lot 1. But they became too expensive and too many weirdos started playing so i stopped.

X360:
Achievement points are the greatest invention since sliced bread! At least with AP you can check whether someone is bullshitting you when he says he accomplished this-and-that in a game (no prizes for guessing who i'm referring to). And at least i know the hours i waste on a game has a purpose.

Finished my first playthrough on Idolmaster (check out the limited edition package here) and i'm still yet to earn a single AP in the game. BUT! I'm pretty sure i can rack up at least 200AP for my 2nd playthrough thanks to the culmulative achivements. For the record, i only managed to produce a B-rank idol first time through. Have to manage my 52 weeks better and win over 300,000 more fans the next time for a A-rank and 100 shiny AP. I'm selecting Haruka Amami to produce next.

Been switching back and forth between GRAW 1 and 2 (260AP/2days) whenever i get stuck in a particular mission. The Tom Clancy storyline sucks so bad that i can't distinguish the differences between the 2 games. To summarise the plot: Americans= Good Guys; All other nationalities= Terrorists. At least the games are fun and the weaponry real. Still can't be bothered to play on Xbox Live though.

Upcoming Games to look out for:

Forza Motorsports 2: Supposedly the most realistic driving game.

- Forza Motorsport 2 demo will be released on XBL Marketplace soon. Looking forward to that.
- 8 new characters for Marvel Ultimate Alliance to be released this week for $10USD! Told Bernard about the roster and he claims he's gonna buy a X360 when he gets back..We'll see..
- A week after Guitar Hero 2 has been released in the USA, Funz Centre still doesn't have it yet...Grr! 2 more days to payday; please arrive by Tuesday.
- Gran Turismo: HD demo looks awesome on PS3! In addition, there are some interesting games on the PS3 horizon. Pretty tempting.. But the tilt factor will still be the 3 main games i'm interested in and whether they will be multi-platform-ed: Metal Gear Solid 4, Final Fantasy 13 and Tekken 6.