July is now among us, which also means Fourth of July weekend activities can commence! Find out what we're up to over the long weekend, then head over to the comments section to share your gaming plans.
Jeff C: Whoohoo! It’s a nice, long weekend, so I’m going to play games until my ears/eyes bleed. I picked up Ninety-Nine Nights II this week, and I’m interested to play it and see why Konami basically let it die on the vine. I liked the first one a lot, so here’s hoping. After that, it’s Puzzle Quest II, LEGO Harry Potter, and whatever else I can get my hands on. My backlog keeps getting bigger and bigger, so maybe it’s time to beat Alan Wake and a bunch of AAA titles that shall remain nameless. Also, U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!
Kato: I’ve lost all my momentum on Red Dead Redemption, but I hope to get it back this weekend, as well as dig more into PSN’s Joe Danger. I’ve played the first few levels, and so far it’s a lot of fun. I haven’t had a lot of time to play games recently – especially because we’ve been frantically working on the new issue after having just gotten back from E3 – but I have been playing a few games of 2010 FIFA World Cup. In fact, I just got the strategy guide for FIFA 10, and I’ll probably dig into that pretty deep. I want to get more of the skill moves down, as well as utilize things like early crosses, different formations, and get more out of my roster.
Annette: I'm headed to Chicago this weekend for Fourth activities and will take my 360 home. I'm hoping I'll get a chance to hit up the Taste and hopefully catch some fireworks over by Navy Pier with friends. I'm returning to Minneapolis early to enjoy one of my days off here where I'll do some serious damage in Red Dead Redemption. Dead Space is also on the agenda. I will be terrified the entire time.
Jeff M: I’ll take advantage of the extended weekend the old-fashioned way: grilling and outdoor activities. At least until the sun sets – then I’ll probably spend all night playing Red Dead and possibly BC 2’s Onslaught mode. I also just bought the complete XCOM series during Steam’s summer sale, so maybe I’ll celebrate Independence Day like Will Smith and blow the crap out of some aliens.
Tim: So I "beat" Super Mario Galaxy 2, but I know I won't actually feel like I've conquered the game until I get all 240 stars. I'll likely play some more Joe Danger on the side, and maybe even a little more Red Dead Redemption since my friends are still playing multiplayer. Also, I've been plowing through Donkey Kong Country in preparation for the new game.
Dan: Heading back home to Kansas City this weekend for the first time since Christmas. This will certainly involve my father and I drinking several dozen beers and entirely too much whiskey. It’ll be my girlfriend’s first chance to see just how stupid things can get back home, so I’ve been trying to prepare her for the onslaught of immaturity. Sunday is one of my favorite days of the year, and I plan on celebrating by donning my USA pants and participating in activities that will make them smell even more like explosions, beer, and BBQ.
Jeff A: A little Minish Cap. A little Half-Life 2. A little beer. A little brats. A little fireworks. A little sunburn. Pass out. Good times.
Sean: Wooo! Independence! Other than the obvious picnics and fireworks, I will enjoy my old hometown team (Tampa Bay Rays) taking on my new hometown team (Minnesota Twins). Yes, Kato, I can have two teams that I follow. I admit I am a bigger Rays fan, though, but it is hard to pull for a team in the American League East that can’t pay hundreds of millions of dollars to one player. Also, I lived in Atlanta in 1991, so the Twins still have some work to do before they win me over completely. As far as the games of the video persuasion, I just got called up to the "Bigs” in The Show ’10, I’m still working toward 100% in Just Cause 2, and I need to finish up Red Dead Redemption (and will likely meet some friends there as well).
Phil: THE CATACLYSM BETA HAS LAUNCHED. When I’m not getting more than my usual fill of World of Warcraft, I also was lucky enough to procure a copy of Crackdown 2 a little early thanks to a friend. Collecting orbs, leveling up, giving into all my video game addictions. Yeah, it’s gonna be a pretty great Fourth of July weekend.
That's it for us. What are you up to this weekend?