Star Wars Red Harvest by Joe Schreiber = Garbage!

 Today at work I was on my morning break, and I am/was currently reading Star Wars Red Harvest by Joe Schreiber, Released December 2010.

It was not a particularly enthralling read thus far, but I have read many books that start slow, but pick up steam and end fairly well. Anyway, I was reading and reached page 55 when I read the first paragraph. I said to myself "really?"

  After reading this paragraph, I stopped reading the book. For those of you who do not recognize this clearly plagiarized quote, it was from the 2008 movie Taken, starring Liam Neeson (which is kinda funny since he starred in Star Wars Episode 1) Here is the quote from the movie:

"I don't know who you are. I don't know what you want. If you are looking for ransom I can tell you I don't have money, but what I do have are a very particular set of skills. Skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. If you let my daughter go now that'll be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you, but if you don't, I will look for you, I will find you and I will kill you."
—Liam Neeson, Taken

 Was the author out of ideas? Was he so enamored with the movie he just had to STEAL the quote for his own use? Was he in a time crunch and needed filler?

 I was disgusted, however, I did not have any other books with me to read for the day, so figured I would peruse the book a little more during lunch, and replace the book with one I would want to read when I got home, as my GF got me the Next Nightside novel I needed. It was either that, or talk to some of the people I work with, and I am not a people person.

Anyway, while perusing the book a little more at lunch, I came across this line 2 pages later:

 I just stopped, said, I was done, if this author wants to be this blatant about his plagiarism, I wasn't gonna read anymore, Fucking Dirtbag. Hey Mr. Schreiber, get a real job, stop stealing from other people and putting your name on it.

 I also wonder how this got through the publishers office. Seriously? Or did they just want to put something out with the Star Wars name on it to make a few bucks?

I'm done. I won't be reading any other books by this author either.

Grand Theft Auto San Andreas

 I first bought this game when it released back in October of 2004 on the Playstation 2, I have been a fan of the Grand Theft Auto series, and been playing since the original top down view on the original Playstation. The Grand Theft Auto games have always been fun, and I have spent many, many hours in Rockstar Games virtual playgrounds.

As for Grand Theft Auto San Andreas, I now have 5 copies of this game.

The Original Playstation 2 Release

The Playstation 2 Special Edition

The Original Xbox Release

Last fall (2014) I was reading Kotaku, and found out that San Andreas was available for the Xbox 360 to download from Xbox Live for $4.25, Of course I downloaded it.

My Digital Copy.....

But, then a couple weeks ago I was watching one of JHMDF's You Tube videos, and he had picked up an actual disc copy of San Andreas for Xbox 360. I was not aware they had released this on an actual retail disc, as I am not a fan of digital downloads, I prefer physical copies.

I Picked this up today

My only complaint is, I wish it was a regular label, instead of the Platinum Hits, It just doesn't look right on the shelf.

Anyway, Yes I am a hoarder.....

I also still have my Guide from back in the day

Picked Up a Sega Game Gear

I have a barter ad up on Craigslist, Looking for Sega Games & Accessories. I have some misc games and other items in the ad, that I am looking to trade for Sega items.

On Sunday the 5th, I received and email from someone who had a Game Gear and 8 Games, and he was interested in trading for a Dazzle device I had picked up for $2.99 at Goodwill. He stated the screen on the Game Gear did not work, but I didn't care, I just wanted to do the trade for the Games.

 I picked it up on a whim, with the intent to use it to record Game play footage for my YouTube channel. I had never done any research on these, but knew people used Dazzles to record footage. After I got home, I looked it up online, and it turns out it was for a Windows XP machine, I have Windows 8, so couldn't use it. Oh well, it was worth a shot.

 Anyway, I agreed to the trade, and we met in a shopping center parking lot. He took out the Game Gear and turned it on to show me the screen didn't work, but there was sound.

This is what the screen looked like.

After I got home, I figured I would clean up the system and games. While I was cleaning the system, I noticed this brightness adjuster on the side. 

I chuckled, put a Sonic game into the system and turned it on, wondering if it could really be that easy. After I turned it on, I adjusted the brightness.

And viola, it works great!

A perfectly working Sega Game Gear and 8 Games, for a $3.00 item I couldn't use anyway. Score!

4th of July Game Hunting

Saturday 4th of July, I decided to go out Game Hunting. I was up late the night before playing Destiny, so didn't get out of bed until 10:30am or so, but had the bug to go Garage Sailin'

I got outside, and it was sooo Hot & Humid, I decided to go Thriftin' instead. Glad I did, had a good day!

 First stop was at my favorite Salvation Army. I don't always score there, but when I do, it is usually pretty good.

Picked up the above games. The Xbox and Playstation 2 games were $1.99 and the Playstation games and Dreamcast game were .99 each. The Dreamcast case was for Ultimate Fighting Championship, which I wasn't really excited about, but I rarely see Dreamcast games, so figured I would pick it up for .99, and when I opened it to check the disc (Always check your discs first. I have left MANY behind, because of condition), It turned out that there was a Game I actually wanted to play in there, Expendable. I looked more thoroughly in case I missed the proper case for it, but no dice.

If anyone has the artwork and manual for the Dreamcast game Expendable, shoot me an email.

I also picked up (Not Pictured) American Chopper Season 2 for $2.99 and Arnold Schwarzeneggers Biography in Hardcover for $1.99. And the best part, for the 4th, everything was 25% off!

Then I cruised on over to Savers, and found these

 BMX XXX was $1.99 and the Playstation 2 Memory card was $2.99. I have 8 or so Black PS2 memory cards, and 2 Red ones, I didn't have a Blue one. I assumed the memory card was used, since the top of the package was cut off, until I went to take it out of the package, and it was in there really, really good. I thought there is no way someone was taking this in and out of there. Then, when I plugged it into the PS2 (I like to check memory cards and see what people have played) it said the card was unformatted. It was still Brand new, Score!


Then I cruised on over to the Goodwill in the area, and came up empty handed. So then I decided to shoot over to Half Price Books, since I am looking for a particular Simon R Green novel at the moment.

Half Price Books also carries video games, however their prices are usually outrageous. The only time you can get a deal, is on the clearance rack, where I picked up these 3 Xbox games.

The Cabela's games were $2.00 each, and Halo was $3.00. I am not a sportsman or hunter in any way, shape or form, but I really like playing the Cabela's games. And I needed this variant copy of Halo. I have the regular Platinum Hits, I needed this one with the "Best Of" line on it, Yeah I am a dork. I have 4 copies of Halo, all different art now. There is also a Platinum  Hits version of Halo 2, I am on the lookout for that one as well.

Then I decided to call it a day, and head on home. But, before I left I had checked my email, and Pawn America had sent another $10.00 off $20.00 or more coupon, good for 4th of July weekend, so of course I had to swing in, it is only 4-5 blocks from my house, and was on the way home.

Now I said I wasn't going to pick this game up, But I heard the story was great (it "Stars" Kevin Spacey) and I had played a little online on my Son in Laws Xbox One when I was in Utah, I also Love Steelbooks. This Game, Discs and Steelbook were in Great Shape! So with the Coupon, it was $16.00.

I played roughly 2/3 of the Campaign Saturday night, and I really like the Campaign so far. I will play through again on Veteran as well. I also played the Multiplayer for a few rounds, and yep, it's Call of Duty.

Overall, had a pretty good day, Had a great score the next day too, Post Soon!

Recent Video Game Pickups

Here are a few Misc Video Games, I picked up over the last 2 weeks.

A nice complete copy of Mission Impossible for the Playstation, $2.99 @Goodwill

My daughter picked up Dead or Alive 3 for the Original Xbox for me for $2.00 and I picked up Rampage Total Destruction for $2.99 @Goodwill.

Complete with an unused Xbox Live card, these are only for the Original Xbox, and not redeemable any longer, unfortunately.

Rampage came with a nice little bonus. Remember to always check those cases, you never know when there will be a memory card inside, I have got several this way.

I had never played this version of Rampage, it also has the original arcade version on the disc as well. My 4 year old and I have spent several hours playing, it is ALOT of fun, I recommend it for fans of the series.

I did a deal with a guy on Segaage.com for a few Complete Sega Genesis games, and misc Manuals I needed. Total was $20.00 shipped, I happened to have 20 bucks sittin' in my PayPal account.

I have been after Super Thunder Blade for awhile. The Family Feud is in the later release cardboard box, I am going to get the regular artwork for it, and put it in a regular Genesis clam shell case.