$6,460.57

It's a pretty large sum, isn't it? Larger still when you consider that that's in American dollars, the current Australian exchange rate places it somewhere in the realm of $6,861.83. A great sum of money sitting right there either way, and in some weird little way, I possess a collection of things that make up to that approximate amount.

So what is it? A couple of sweet second-hand vehicles I got on the cheap? A pair of computers, perhaps? Or that ever-coveted golden grill planted right on my choppers?
Well, no. As a matter of fact, it's what IGN estimates my video game collection is currently worth. Huh.
Who knows how they work out this sum(bitch); do they consider the ever-shifting market value of old games? Is each game valued independently, depending on its rarity and overall value? And is Bubsy 3D appropriately the 20c it's really worth (and that's being generous)? Who knows. Who also knows how many times I'm going to use my cliche three suggestions before providing a completely different answer, I'm actually getting sick of it but it's easy to do and gives me a chuckle along the way.

Anyhow, it just goes to show you I've got my priorities all laid out in a strange way; I don't drive, I hadn't held a job until this year, and I have no plans for life post-university. What I do have however, is 209 video games that I can quite willingly beat anyone in. Except the SNES' Jurassic Park, which is more or less hell planted within your hands.

I wonder how much this collection will be worth in another five years? It's certainly growing rapidly; in just a week that sum will go up by about another $50 ($100 Australian) when, as I've constantly alluded to, Smash Bros Brawl is within my grasp and within my gaping maw. Anyone who wants to see the actual list need only ask, I'll merrily provide you with the details. Don't be surprised if that number has since shot up as I've added in everything I've forgotten along the way.

smashbrossmashbrossmashbrossmashbros...

Though I don't anticipate an upcoming video game with the excitement and frustration that I used to in my younger years (though I was just a more excitable, frustrated person altogether back then), it's hard to name exactly one game that I've been anticipating as much as Smash Bros Brawl.

Now only an enticing sixteen days away, I celebrate each passing day by knowing it'll bring me closer to Nintendo's dirty little secret (that the rest of the non-European world have been playing with for half a year now). Perhaps it's this prolonged wait leaving a bitter taste in my mouth, or a lack of updates about every little detail via the main site, but this obsession of mine has died down drastically over the last few months. Tonight I have nothing better to do (besides tons of legal paperwork and an essay), so let's observe some wee little Smash-related thoughts!

1. There certainly are a lot of contenders for the elusive title of 'Tony's main'. Though only three have ever held this title (Pikachu in the original, Bowser in Melee for the first couple days, and Falco the incumbent since May 31st '02), the ever-increasing roster appears to hold a few new possibilities... Though I'll probably determine my main within the first week, here are the nominees!
1. Falco ~ Tried and true, Falco won me over by being a kickass Nintendo character (like Bowser) who translated into a kickass Smash Bros fighter (unlike Bowser). I've become quite good with him, but how will the new modifications sway my decision?
2. Sonic ~ How can I not be tempted? My childhood hero finally has his shot at Mario. He looks like a blast, but I'm not a big fan of his specials - they all seem a bit samey to me.
3. Pokemon Trainer ~ Definitely a distant third; the concept of playable Squirtle and Charizard is absolutely wonderful (you all know about my history with the latter), but the concept of PLAYABLE IVYSAUR is just a gift from heaven. Cycling through the three will probably put me off, but I'll try it out. Who knows, I might be able to master it... or even Pokemon Master it! (Hahaha... lamebuttons)
4. Pikachu ~ Pika's got the outside track on this one; definitely looking on the inside, as t'wer, the way an NFC team with a losing record still has a shot at the playoffs late in the year (because outside of the east, the NFC sucks). He hasn't got much of a chance at all, though he did enjoy a stint as my alternate in Melee, to the point where he still has the third most KOs of any character (behind only my Falco and Luke's Fox); if this were a matter of the alternates, Pikachu likely ranks up top to retain the position.
5. Bowser ~ They've beefed him up some... I've become too accustomed to the speedy characters, so things look grim for him to make an unexpected comeback. He may just have to settle for holding onto his unflattering role as alternate alternate, but he's a bit of a long shot even for that.

2. The new roster additions must be pretty good; of my main Smash comrades (Luke, Matt and Dom), all of us may have new mains - Luke from Fox to Wolf, Matt from Kirby to MetaKnight and Dom from Link to Diddy Kong. Like Falco's competition, we'll see if any of those decisions stick...

3. Anyone who considers Smash Bros a sport should be shot. If there's one thing worse than jocks who are arrogant about their sporting ability, it'd be nerds who are arrogant about their sporting ability. Fortunately, it'll never gain worldwide recognition as a sport, but unfortunately, I'm still yet to convince ESPN that poker and hot dog eating contests aren't sports, either.

4. I wanna record my matches! :)

5. I wanna record matches longer than three minutes. :(

6. I wanna cast 'Magic Missile'. :o

7. That last point was such a wonderful example of what an Internet-obsessed geek I am, though I am happy to say that the DVD of Shakespeare's Shorts has re-affirmed my belief that I am in fact a tank. It was the most fantabulous thing since this classic Articulate exchange;
Atcho: (giving a clue to the answer) "Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn."
Me: "Oh. Casablanca!"
Atcho: "Correct!"
Hilarious how in that instance, two wrongs did in actual fact make a right. (This point has had nothing to do with Smash Bros. Though I do suspect Captain Falcon might play a few rounds of Articulate on occasion.)

8. Smashboards question: How many characters can they possibly fit in this game?
Respectable Opinion: posted by DragoKnight (that's me you stooges) on March 28th, 2007 at 1:41 AM.
I can see 40 being a pretty logical number, though it'll probably be more like in the ballpark, rather than 40 on the nose. Maybe... 37. Yeah, that's a nice number.
Final Answer: Counting Pokemon Trainer as one character, Zelda/Sheik as two and Samus/Zero Suit Samus as two... 37. OH SNAP.

Thinkin' Lincoln

As the category I've selected claims, what follows is nothing. Absolute nothing, at least in word form. Hahaha I almost typed word worm. This BLOG was so worth it.
As per usual, I've got a 1,800 word essay due tomorrow that I haven't started yet on not one but two books I haven't read; it's a bit of a daunting task ahead but I've treated it with nonchalance so far. I've been awake for three hours and still haven't actually done anything. Wait, that's not true. I got my mage up to level 7.

Here are some thoughts, streaming readily from my noggin like some sort of fine wine (or at least cheap goon).

1. My favourite videos on Youtube are people's 'sexy dances'. It's hilarious how so many people have convinced themselves they'd make an excellent stripper, and allow the whole world to see for themselves. People should really consider, yes you might have an alright body, but that doesn't mean that people want to see you dancing. Remember folks, in the realm of dancing, particularly 'sexy' dancing, you're crappy until proven otherwise. And once you've forsaken yourselves with one bad dance, each subsequent one will be treated with similar dismissal. Next time, take a naughty photo and send it in to a porno site. Might at least make some money that way.

2. Lordy I'm so tired. I feel like Lee Dorsey working in a coal mine, only with less repetetive lyrics and no catchy tune. Although I suppose I could formulate a catchy tune if you gave me a minute. I've got an excellent trance track I've come up with, but cannot reveal due to racist lyrics. There's no real reason I use racist lyrics, other than they just happen to suit the music well. I suppose I should re-write it to be about pumpkins.

3. That last point had far too many periods, Microsoft Word would be having fits about the 'fragmented sentences'. Consarn Microsoft Word, always putting an end to my meticulously planned sentence structure.

4. The fax machine has rung through like four times this morning. Go away, I don't want any faxes.

5. That essay still doesn't appear to be any more done than it was when I started this BLOG. I was hoping I'd get lucky on the off chance it'd just take care of itself. Still hoping, actually.

6. I want to ramble on about more Titans-related stuff, but it's so slow in the off-season... Vince developing chemistry with Alge... Receivers vying for playing time among a crowd of mediocrity... Fisher getting so much positive and negative media coverage you'd think it was just two journalists trying to outdo each other with a multitude of aliases... Waiting for a bombshell. Or was that Jake Scott?

7. Should probably start that essay. Should probably stop watching NFL videos. They don't appear to have anything about Once Were Warriors or Song of Solomon. Perhaps the next one will?

8. Phenomenology is the most idiotic concept in the whole world, and anyone who theorises in it is a moron. It's just a bunch of pretentious German clowns using uncommon terms and adding '-ness' to the end of every phrase. They have an answer for everything. Not the right answer, but they'd never distinguish it as being anything but right because you can't prove it wrong. Martin Heidegger deserves a swift post-mortem kick in the nads; the only good thing he ever did was (unwillingly, obviously) lend his surname to the Final Fantasy VII guy who would just punch soldiers in the face repeatedly when pissed off. Now that's cool.

9. If The Waitresses truly know what boys like... do they realise I really really REALLY don't like that song?

10. Why is it when I put Anthony Cocking in a search engine a photo of the late Cynthia Ashton came up? I won't display the photo out of respect. And because I can't remember how image tags work on Myspace.

...Alright I'm out. Word up.