Friday, September 28, 2007
Why the Wii is So Popular?
I thought it was a good time for me to step away from the Philippines and bring out a new topic.
Apparently, the current game of the year candidate right now is Halo 3. I must admit I have and still am playing this game. I was sort of disappointed last time when Halo 2 came out because I did not find it as good as the first one. This year, I have to admit that Halo 3 is by far the best one in the series. Just seeing the graphics and animation is already worth the price I paid for the game. Moreover, playing online is so much better because I can go against others and interact with those other online players. Halo 3 is the game of the year.
Halo 3 is the game of the year, but what is the console of the year? Right now there are so many game consoles out right now.
From Sony there are three main game consoles out right now: PlayStation 2 (PS2)
, PlayStation 3 (PS3)
, and PlayStation Portable (PSP)
.
From Nintendo there are four game consoles out right now: Nintendo GameCube (GC)
, Nintentdo Gameboy Advance (GBA)
, Nintendo Wii (Wii)
, and Nintendo Dual Screen (DS)
.
From Microsoft there are two game consoles: XBOX
and XBOX 360 (360)
.
According to my last count at home we have all these game consoles; however, I hardly get to play them. Do not get me wrong I love gaming but I just have not been able to play. But every time I go to the stores such as Target (my place of work) and WalMart, I always seem to find the Nintendo Wii always out of stock. So I ask why is the Wii so popular?
Because the Wii is geared to be family oriented and allows people to "exercise" are the reasons why the Wii is so popular. Also, the Wii is cheaper than the other game consoles, which leads me to believe that prices also factors into the popularity of the Wii. By far the PS3 and 360 are the leading game consoles to be advertised on television. However, it seems as if the Wii is kicking butt in sales. A report shows that the battle between the three game consoles are intense but the numbers shows that the Wii has won the January sales.
"Once a dark-horse contender, the Wii has outsold both its competitors in recent months. According to sales data from the NPD Group, the Wii sold 335,000 units in February to the Xbox 360's 228,000 and the PS3's 127,000. Of the three new-generation game consoles, the Xbox 360 has sold the most at 5 million units in the United States alone, but that's mainly due to the fact that it was released a full year earlier than either the Wii or the PS3. Since they first hit shelves last November, the PS3 has sold 1.1 million units while the Wii has tallied 1.86 million"(Bruno, Anothony).
I think the sales alone prove that the Wii is the game console of the year.
I mean the Wii is so popular that my cousin and sister who are in their late 20s, my parents, and my aunts and uncles love playing on this game console.
These videos shows how my cousin and sister both have fun playing the Wii.
Apparently, the current game of the year candidate right now is Halo 3. I must admit I have and still am playing this game. I was sort of disappointed last time when Halo 2 came out because I did not find it as good as the first one. This year, I have to admit that Halo 3 is by far the best one in the series. Just seeing the graphics and animation is already worth the price I paid for the game. Moreover, playing online is so much better because I can go against others and interact with those other online players. Halo 3 is the game of the year.
Halo 3 is the game of the year, but what is the console of the year? Right now there are so many game consoles out right now.
From Sony there are three main game consoles out right now: PlayStation 2 (PS2)
, PlayStation 3 (PS3)
, and PlayStation Portable (PSP)
.From Nintendo there are four game consoles out right now: Nintendo GameCube (GC)
, Nintentdo Gameboy Advance (GBA)
, Nintendo Wii (Wii)
, and Nintendo Dual Screen (DS)
.From Microsoft there are two game consoles: XBOX
and XBOX 360 (360)
.According to my last count at home we have all these game consoles; however, I hardly get to play them. Do not get me wrong I love gaming but I just have not been able to play. But every time I go to the stores such as Target (my place of work) and WalMart, I always seem to find the Nintendo Wii always out of stock. So I ask why is the Wii so popular?
Because the Wii is geared to be family oriented and allows people to "exercise" are the reasons why the Wii is so popular. Also, the Wii is cheaper than the other game consoles, which leads me to believe that prices also factors into the popularity of the Wii. By far the PS3 and 360 are the leading game consoles to be advertised on television. However, it seems as if the Wii is kicking butt in sales. A report shows that the battle between the three game consoles are intense but the numbers shows that the Wii has won the January sales.
"Once a dark-horse contender, the Wii has outsold both its competitors in recent months. According to sales data from the NPD Group, the Wii sold 335,000 units in February to the Xbox 360's 228,000 and the PS3's 127,000. Of the three new-generation game consoles, the Xbox 360 has sold the most at 5 million units in the United States alone, but that's mainly due to the fact that it was released a full year earlier than either the Wii or the PS3. Since they first hit shelves last November, the PS3 has sold 1.1 million units while the Wii has tallied 1.86 million"(Bruno, Anothony).
I think the sales alone prove that the Wii is the game console of the year.
I mean the Wii is so popular that my cousin and sister who are in their late 20s, my parents, and my aunts and uncles love playing on this game console.
These videos shows how my cousin and sister both have fun playing the Wii.
Photo Credit: Xbox 360, Nintendo DS, PS3, and PS2 - http://www.gamestop.com/
Photo Credit: Xbox, Wii, GameBoy Advance, GameCube, PSP - http://www.ebay.com/
Video Credit: JaMa DeGuzman
Quote: Bruno, Anthony. "Wii are the champions?." Reuter's 02 Apr 2007 27 Sep 2007
Friday, September 21, 2007
My Experiences in the Philippines Part 2
Hey all, What's up? Again, is the time to post! Anyways, the last time I was talking about the weather and the security. This time I must tell you of the driving experience there. Sometimes the driving and riding experience there is very scary. There are driving rules that are posted like the ones in the United States; however, those rules as my cousin Roeder said, "Those rules are there as laws, but the drivers here believe them to be merely a suggestion." Also, in the Philippines you can drive on the wrong side of the road and not be pulled over. Another idea that makes the driving experience there kind of scary, is the fact that driving lines are not followed and also the signal lights on the car are not used to change lanes, rather only to turn the corner. Sometimes the driving there was scary even though you were not the one driving.
Moving on, these pictures only depict me sitting there the driving on the other hand was even more scary. There are things that happen in the Philippines that do not normally happen in the United States. Things such as people crossing the busy street at its busiest time, people getting off the jeepney at their stops even though they are still on the street, people jumping on the jeepneys or tricycles to get a ride even though the vechicle is not at a stop, people riding on the roof of cars and hanging off the side or the back of the jeepney, and people merely inches away from the car you are driving. These manners of the people in the Philippines makes the driving there scarier because the people that are travelling will never expect it. However, I have been there many times and it still shocks me.
Another part of my experience in the Philippines is that of those that sell stuff on the street. Here in the United States what you call selling stuff on the street are like people selling whatever it is they sell on the sidewalks. Here the term "selling it on the street" is translated differently, it is taken more literally.
So, if the typical tourist was not scared enough to roam the streets. I think the typical tourists would be scared of these people because they come knocking on your door or window asking you if you want to buy cigarettes, water, coconuts, gum, candy, snacks, condoms, and whatever else they can sell to you that is smally snough to fit on their tray. Oh, and some even sell you towels or wet towels especially on a hot day because you are sitting in traffic for days at a time.
Friday, September 14, 2007
My Experience in the Philippines Part 1
Well I am back from the Philippines now if you have not noticed.
There are many things that I am thankful for being here in the United States. The Philippines is totally different from the U.S. through weather, security, the laws, traffic rules, and the driving experience itself.
Coming in at 4:30 am on a day late August, you would come to believe that it would be cold and windy. Also you would believe that the day would be cold because the temperature on the TV screen on the airplane said 69 degrees Fahrenheit. As I stepped down from the airplane, it became apparent to me that even though I have been to the Philippines more than three times that I was still not ready for the weather. Taking that first step from the airplane I was blasted with the humidity and the heat at 4:30 in the morning.
My feeling was cold airplane and right when you step through that door, I was hit with pouring sweat. You would think that someone through a bucket full of water on me, I was soaking in it. Everyday I wake up 5 o'clock in the morning, its really cold because I stayed in an air conditioned room, but in order for me to eat breakfast, I was suppose to leave the room and go to the table. As I come out of the cold room, it was that time again. Sweating and in the heat of about 75 degrees Fahrenheit, I did what any normal person that cannot stand that weather would do. Eat as fast as I could. From there I would stay in the room so that I would always be cold. However, after being in Las Vegas 3 weeks prior to my trip to the Philippines. The weather became more bearable. So throughout the rest of the trip I was able to handle the weather. 
On the day that I left the Philippines, I had decided that I was going to come home in shorts and collared shirt. Being absent minded by that time. It never came to me that it was early September back in the United States. So in my mind, I believed "I'm coming home from the Philippines and it was hot so the U.S. will be hot too." Again, I was wrong. Upon exiting the airport I was shivering in coldness and because I did not have a jacket or sweater. Thankfully my Uncle Tony and Aunt Grace came within 5 minutes of me waiting outside in the cold. After loading my luggage I jumped into the car to find out that the Air Conditioning was on in there too. So I was still cold regardless of me being inside already. So lesson learned... Don't Judge Quickly.
Another part of my experience was the security. I have to be honest, The United States lacks security compared to the Philippines. Every mall and every eatery you go to there are at least two security guards. I would say that almost everywhere you go there are security guards. Even the locals McDonald's has a security guard. What do we have? Nothing. Although, the security guards do not really check you they at least open the door for you. However, when it comes down to mall security. In the Philippines, at the mall right when you walk in they check your purse or back pack at the door and they quickly pat you down to see if you have any weapons on you. Now how cool is that? In the U.S. where is that kind of security? I mean we have all the trust in the world but look how we use it. There are people that rob stores or hold people up or open fire in a mall. We can trust the people but look how much of an open target we are. In the Philippines they trust them but for security reasons might as well check all people. Wish I took a picture of this but I forgot to do so.
There are many things that I am thankful for being here in the United States. The Philippines is totally different from the U.S. through weather, security, the laws, traffic rules, and the driving experience itself.
Coming in at 4:30 am on a day late August, you would come to believe that it would be cold and windy. Also you would believe that the day would be cold because the temperature on the TV screen on the airplane said 69 degrees Fahrenheit. As I stepped down from the airplane, it became apparent to me that even though I have been to the Philippines more than three times that I was still not ready for the weather. Taking that first step from the airplane I was blasted with the humidity and the heat at 4:30 in the morning.
My feeling was cold airplane and right when you step through that door, I was hit with pouring sweat. You would think that someone through a bucket full of water on me, I was soaking in it. Everyday I wake up 5 o'clock in the morning, its really cold because I stayed in an air conditioned room, but in order for me to eat breakfast, I was suppose to leave the room and go to the table. As I come out of the cold room, it was that time again. Sweating and in the heat of about 75 degrees Fahrenheit, I did what any normal person that cannot stand that weather would do. Eat as fast as I could. From there I would stay in the room so that I would always be cold. However, after being in Las Vegas 3 weeks prior to my trip to the Philippines. The weather became more bearable. So throughout the rest of the trip I was able to handle the weather. 
On the day that I left the Philippines, I had decided that I was going to come home in shorts and collared shirt. Being absent minded by that time. It never came to me that it was early September back in the United States. So in my mind, I believed "I'm coming home from the Philippines and it was hot so the U.S. will be hot too." Again, I was wrong. Upon exiting the airport I was shivering in coldness and because I did not have a jacket or sweater. Thankfully my Uncle Tony and Aunt Grace came within 5 minutes of me waiting outside in the cold. After loading my luggage I jumped into the car to find out that the Air Conditioning was on in there too. So I was still cold regardless of me being inside already. So lesson learned... Don't Judge Quickly.
Another part of my experience was the security. I have to be honest, The United States lacks security compared to the Philippines. Every mall and every eatery you go to there are at least two security guards. I would say that almost everywhere you go there are security guards. Even the locals McDonald's has a security guard. What do we have? Nothing. Although, the security guards do not really check you they at least open the door for you. However, when it comes down to mall security. In the Philippines, at the mall right when you walk in they check your purse or back pack at the door and they quickly pat you down to see if you have any weapons on you. Now how cool is that? In the U.S. where is that kind of security? I mean we have all the trust in the world but look how we use it. There are people that rob stores or hold people up or open fire in a mall. We can trust the people but look how much of an open target we are. In the Philippines they trust them but for security reasons might as well check all people. Wish I took a picture of this but I forgot to do so.
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Sixteen Hours on a Flight
Hey all, JaMa here hailing all the way from the Philippines.
If you have not noticed, I made it to the Philippines.
So it was late at night when I took my flight out. My family and I waited at the airport for four hours. After waiting for four hours, we finally boarded the flight. When we boarded the flight, I already knew that it was going to be hours before I saw any land. However, knowing that there would not be any land for sixteen hours, I decided that classes were in session and that I had a lot of homework. Getting started on my homework I started reading for my Anthropology class, twenty minutes into the reading I passed out. It was that boring. So what else is there to do on this flight? Well, after sleeping for a hour and half I woke up and was served food. I must admit the food on the flight was not that bad. So still on this flight I am trying to do my reading again and I have two kids kicking my seat while trying to read. So I have to get up and talk to their parents and ask if their 12 and 14 year old kids to please stop kicking my seat.
After 2 hours of kicking the kids finally stop. But by this time I am so tired I went back to sleep. After sleeping a hour, I woke up to watch Spiderman 3, Shrek 3, and You've Got Me, as the in flight movies. Finally, by this time I thought I was ready to do homework. I find out 20 minutes later that I still was not. I was still groggy and sleepy but on the flight movie channel was a comedy show and so i watched it. By this time I was ready to go to sleep again but I could not because there was maybe 6 babies on my side of the plane alone plus the ones sitting in the middle section. So there was no way of sleeping, anymore. So in the end my flight was pretty good, right?
If you have not noticed, I made it to the Philippines.
So it was late at night when I took my flight out. My family and I waited at the airport for four hours. After waiting for four hours, we finally boarded the flight. When we boarded the flight, I already knew that it was going to be hours before I saw any land. However, knowing that there would not be any land for sixteen hours, I decided that classes were in session and that I had a lot of homework. Getting started on my homework I started reading for my Anthropology class, twenty minutes into the reading I passed out. It was that boring. So what else is there to do on this flight? Well, after sleeping for a hour and half I woke up and was served food. I must admit the food on the flight was not that bad. So still on this flight I am trying to do my reading again and I have two kids kicking my seat while trying to read. So I have to get up and talk to their parents and ask if their 12 and 14 year old kids to please stop kicking my seat.
After 2 hours of kicking the kids finally stop. But by this time I am so tired I went back to sleep. After sleeping a hour, I woke up to watch Spiderman 3, Shrek 3, and You've Got Me, as the in flight movies. Finally, by this time I thought I was ready to do homework. I find out 20 minutes later that I still was not. I was still groggy and sleepy but on the flight movie channel was a comedy show and so i watched it. By this time I was ready to go to sleep again but I could not because there was maybe 6 babies on my side of the plane alone plus the ones sitting in the middle section. So there was no way of sleeping, anymore. So in the end my flight was pretty good, right?
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