<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?><oembed><version><![CDATA[1.0]]></version><provider_name><![CDATA[Grinding Down]]></provider_name><provider_url><![CDATA[https://grindingdown.wordpress.com]]></provider_url><author_name><![CDATA[Paul]]></author_name><author_url><![CDATA[https://grindingdown.wordpress.com/author/mylifecomics/]]></author_url><title><![CDATA[Our latest and greatest videogame&nbsp;purchases]]></title><type><![CDATA[link]]></type><html><![CDATA[<p><img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="1687" data-permalink="https://grindingdown.wordpress.com/2011/01/17/our-latest-and-greatest-videogame-purchases/shopping-bags2/" data-orig-file="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/shopping-bags2.jpg" data-orig-size="500,345" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}" data-image-title="Shopping-Bags2" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/shopping-bags2.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/shopping-bags2.jpg?w=500" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1687" title="Shopping-Bags2" src="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/shopping-bags2.jpg?w=500&#038;h=345" alt="" width="500" height="345" srcset="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/shopping-bags2.jpg 500w, https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/shopping-bags2.jpg?w=150&amp;h=104 150w, https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/shopping-bags2.jpg?w=300&amp;h=207 300w" sizes="(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" /></p>
<p><a href="http://gingercurls.wordpress.com/">Tara</a> and I went shopping over the weekend. I bought jeans and two flannel-infused shirts that go well with&#8211;wait, what? You don&#8217;t care about the good deals I got on clothes from Kohl&#8217;s? <em>Hmph.</em> I see how it is. Bunch of anti-fashionistas. I guess you&#8217;d prefer me to talk about all the many videogames purchased this weekend. I guess your wish is about to get&#8230;granted!</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Warning:</span> this list of games bought is going to blow your mind. Can&#8217;t say from what. Surely not the total awesomesauce. Maybe more from the randomness, the WTFs. Steel yourself!</p>
<h3>Paul&#8217;s Purchases</h3>
<p><img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="1688" data-permalink="https://grindingdown.wordpress.com/2011/01/17/our-latest-and-greatest-videogame-purchases/assassins-creed-brotherhood_cover/" data-orig-file="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/assassins-creed-brotherhood_cover.jpg" data-orig-size="354,500" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}" data-image-title="assassins-creed-brotherhood_cover" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/assassins-creed-brotherhood_cover.jpg?w=212" data-large-file="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/assassins-creed-brotherhood_cover.jpg?w=354" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-1688" title="assassins-creed-brotherhood_cover" src="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/assassins-creed-brotherhood_cover.jpg?w=212&#038;h=300" alt="" width="212" height="300" srcset="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/assassins-creed-brotherhood_cover.jpg?w=212&amp;h=300 212w, https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/assassins-creed-brotherhood_cover.jpg?w=106&amp;h=150 106w, https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/assassins-creed-brotherhood_cover.jpg 354w" sizes="(max-width: 212px) 100vw, 212px" /></p>
<p>It was selling for a cool $39.99, and the Internet will <em>not</em> shut up about how good it is. Haven&#8217;t touched the multiplayer except for the tutorial level. Oh, I tried. Waited for 15 minutes to have it log me into a new session&#8230;and then summarily kick me out. Boo-hoo. Single-player is a much improved performance over the original<strong> Assassin&#8217;s Creed</strong>. Never got to play<strong> Assassin&#8217;s Creed II</strong>. Anyways, if anyone wants to help me give online multiplayer a try, my Xbox Live Gamertag is PaulyAulyWog. Please?</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="1689" data-permalink="https://grindingdown.wordpress.com/2011/01/17/our-latest-and-greatest-videogame-purchases/halo-3-odst-cover/" data-orig-file="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/halo-3-odst-cover.jpg" data-orig-size="300,410" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}" data-image-title="halo-3-odst cover" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/halo-3-odst-cover.jpg?w=220" data-large-file="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/halo-3-odst-cover.jpg?w=300" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-1689" title="halo-3-odst cover" src="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/halo-3-odst-cover.jpg?w=219&#038;h=300" alt="" width="219" height="300" srcset="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/halo-3-odst-cover.jpg?w=219&amp;h=300 219w, https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/halo-3-odst-cover.jpg?w=110&amp;h=150 110w, https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/halo-3-odst-cover.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 219px) 100vw, 219px" /></p>
<p>It was dirt cheap. I&#8217;ve played maybe an hour of it and also tried Firefight by myself. I&#8217;m a smidge above a vacuum. Meh.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="1690" data-permalink="https://grindingdown.wordpress.com/2011/01/17/our-latest-and-greatest-videogame-purchases/the_hobbit_frontcover_large_xghic9gatosxr0u/" data-orig-file="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/the_hobbit_frontcover_large_xghic9gatosxr0u.jpg" data-orig-size="354,500" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}" data-image-title="the_hobbit_frontcover_large_xghIc9gAtosXR0u" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/the_hobbit_frontcover_large_xghic9gatosxr0u.jpg?w=212" data-large-file="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/the_hobbit_frontcover_large_xghic9gatosxr0u.jpg?w=354" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-1690" title="the_hobbit_frontcover_large_xghIc9gAtosXR0u" src="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/the_hobbit_frontcover_large_xghic9gatosxr0u.jpg?w=212&#038;h=300" alt="" width="212" height="300" srcset="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/the_hobbit_frontcover_large_xghic9gatosxr0u.jpg?w=212&amp;h=300 212w, https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/the_hobbit_frontcover_large_xghic9gatosxr0u.jpg?w=106&amp;h=150 106w, https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/the_hobbit_frontcover_large_xghic9gatosxr0u.jpg 354w" sizes="(max-width: 212px) 100vw, 212px" /></p>
<p>Oh man. Where do I begin? Actually, let&#8217;s just keep this short. Now that we have our Nintendo Wii set up in the Leaky Cauldron, I&#8217;d like to catch up on some GameCube games I never got to play. Such as <strong>Pikman</strong> and <strong>Windwaker</strong> and <strong>Luigi&#8217;s Mansion</strong>. All in good time though. And I believe I&#8217;ve also previously mentioned my obsession with all things <strong>Lord of the Rings</strong>. Now, here&#8217;s the real tough question; did this version of <strong>The Hobbit </strong>cost me $1.99, $2.99, $3.99, or $4.99?</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="1691" data-permalink="https://grindingdown.wordpress.com/2011/01/17/our-latest-and-greatest-videogame-purchases/legend-dragon-wii-cover/" data-orig-file="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/legend-dragon-wii-cover.jpg" data-orig-size="520,732" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}" data-image-title="legend dragon wii cover" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/legend-dragon-wii-cover.jpg?w=213" data-large-file="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/legend-dragon-wii-cover.jpg?w=520" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-1691" title="legend dragon wii cover" src="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/legend-dragon-wii-cover.jpg?w=213&#038;h=300" alt="" width="213" height="300" srcset="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/legend-dragon-wii-cover.jpg?w=213&amp;h=300 213w, https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/legend-dragon-wii-cover.jpg?w=426&amp;h=600 426w, https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/legend-dragon-wii-cover.jpg?w=107&amp;h=150 107w" sizes="(max-width: 213px) 100vw, 213px" /></p>
<p>It cost less than <strong>The Hobbit</strong>, and its cover made me laugh.</p>
<h3>Tara&#8217;s Purchases</h3>
<p><img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="1692" data-permalink="https://grindingdown.wordpress.com/2011/01/17/our-latest-and-greatest-videogame-purchases/ac-box_105757-hd/" data-orig-file="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/ac-box_105757-hd.jpg" data-orig-size="450,642" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}" data-image-title="AC box_105757-hd" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/ac-box_105757-hd.jpg?w=210" data-large-file="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/ac-box_105757-hd.jpg?w=450" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-1692" title="AC box_105757-hd" src="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/ac-box_105757-hd.jpg?w=210&#038;h=300" alt="" width="210" height="300" srcset="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/ac-box_105757-hd.jpg?w=210&amp;h=300 210w, https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/ac-box_105757-hd.jpg?w=420&amp;h=600 420w, https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/ac-box_105757-hd.jpg?w=105&amp;h=150 105w" sizes="(max-width: 210px) 100vw, 210px" /></p>
<p>This is now our <em>third</em> version of this game owned. Tara&#8217;s more interested in it than the Wii version because the controls are simpler. Plus, I heard that you can actually play old Nintendo games within this game&#8211;wicked! She liked the sound of that, too. It&#8217;ll be curious to experience this version last, seeing as I started out on <strong>Animal Crossing: Wild World</strong> and then moved on to <strong>Animal Crossing: City Folk</strong>. Granted, they are, more or less, the same game, but the minute differences are actually where it counts the most.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="1693" data-permalink="https://grindingdown.wordpress.com/2011/01/17/our-latest-and-greatest-videogame-purchases/lego_star_wars_ii__the_original_trilogy/" data-orig-file="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/lego_star_wars_ii__the_original_trilogy.jpg" data-orig-size="320,448" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}" data-image-title="LEGO_Star_Wars_II__The_Original_Trilogy" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/lego_star_wars_ii__the_original_trilogy.jpg?w=214" data-large-file="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/lego_star_wars_ii__the_original_trilogy.jpg?w=320" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-1693" title="LEGO_Star_Wars_II__The_Original_Trilogy" src="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/lego_star_wars_ii__the_original_trilogy.jpg?w=214&#038;h=300" alt="" width="214" height="300" srcset="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/lego_star_wars_ii__the_original_trilogy.jpg?w=214&amp;h=300 214w, https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/lego_star_wars_ii__the_original_trilogy.jpg?w=107&amp;h=150 107w, https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/lego_star_wars_ii__the_original_trilogy.jpg 320w" sizes="(max-width: 214px) 100vw, 214px" /></p>
<p>Mmm&#8230;LEGO games.</p>
<p>And those were our big purchases. The funny/annoying thing is that I assumed one could use the Wiimote to play GameCube games on the Nintendo Wii. Y&#8217;know, turn it sideways like a traditional controller. Nope. Because the GameCube controller was freakish and had so many random buttons. So we haven&#8217;t got to try any of our GameCube buys just yet. We also need an old memory card. The only good thing the Wii does is&#8230;uh, let you put the CD into its slot. Geez, it might have been easier just to buy an old GameCube system, but truthfully, we&#8217;ve run out of outlets and the back of our entertainment stand looks like the Great Cthulhu, but with wires instead of tentacles. Truly nightmarish.</p>
<p>Pretty sure <strong>Assassin&#8217;s Creed: Brotherhood</strong>, <strong>Fallout: New Vegas</strong>, and some other games will be able to keep my attention busy until February, and then it&#8217;ll be time to travel through alternate dimensions in <strong>Radiant Historia</strong>.</p>
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