I’ve always only played Mario games casually. I think I beat Super Mario Bros. 3 back in the day, but otherwise I just played a few levels here and there. With the Wii, I beat the pants off Super Paper Mario and then went back and played the original on the virtual console.

I hate going backwards ’cause there always end up being features in the new game that you get used to and then don’t have in the older ones, so I borrowed the first Super Mario Galaxy from Catie, but I’ve only gotten to play it a little. Jared’s got a new game he’s been playing right now on the Xbox downstairs, so I’m thinking about moving the Wii upstairs for a little while. It’s been too long since I got into a game and played it all the way through; I’m ready =) I’m more likely to play it upstairs anyway, I can turn on a movie to watch in the background. I hate that it takes that much to keep me entertained these days, but it does!

So when I finish it, I’ll probably try to grab the second one on sale, or borrow it from Catie if she’s done with it by then. Maybe by then I’ll be used to actually playing Mario and not just “Star Bitch” ;)

Not only that, but he got impatient and bought a new Xbox 360! I’m so, so glad we didn’t have to wait forever for a new one. He’d mentioned the possibility of splitting the cost of one, but I said I wouldn’t be able to for a while, so he just went for it. And he picked up a copy of Guitar Hero Smash Hits! Give you one guess what I’m doing tonight ;)

On the virtual console (this is where you download retro games from the old systems):

• Paper Mario (N64)–Keri is dominating this one right now. I bought it to play, but other things caught up, and I’ve really just been enjoying watching Keri. I’ll definitely finish my own at some point, but there’s been something fun about everyone collectively deciding what Keri should do at different points. I love watching paperthin Mario waft into a bed like a floating leaf!
• Super Mario Bros 3 (NES)–Well, there was just no getting around this one. It’s THE Mario game. Andrew and JR have been on it. It totally reminds me of being a kid, watching them take turns when they die. Memories, man!
• Mario Kart (N64)–Ryan just bought this one yesterday and I haven’t had a shot at it quite yet. It looks hella fun though! It’s basically racing and you get items to sabotage opponents. I watched Ryan and Josh in a head-to-head mode where the object was to injure your opponent 3 times. I’m especially looking forward to hitting that one.

There’s also the Wii Vote channel where you take polls and also predict what you think the rest of the world will answer. Usually after about a week you can come back and see your results and it keeps track of how often you predict correctly.

And the Check Mii Out channel is pretty new, but I’m expecting it’ll get bigger. In general, you can submit miis you’ve created for other people to see. Omg you wouldn’t believe the creativity! I’ve even seen one where they used all the available facial aspects to create a little Mickey Mouse! I was floored! There’s also a section where you create miis to enter into contests to see who can create the best one based on a theme. I’ve seen a Thanksgiving Pilgrim, Gingerbread man, Mario sans hat, and Tooth Fairy. After submissions have ended, you can go in and vote on your three favorites. I expect his section will grow even more later.

As far as hard copies of games, I’ve only got Wii Sports, Wii Play, and *ahem* Guitar Hero III !!

I don’t know how anyone could avoid getting sucked into Guitar Hero. I freaked when I first turned it on because the settings were way off! On Hi-def tvs you sometimes have to calibrate it so that the timing with the music is what it’s supposed to be. It hasn’t been easy thus far, but I don’t want it to be! I’m by no means great at the game, and I don’t really expect I ever will be, but that’s why I have the boys. They can do everything on the higher levels and unlock everything I can’t ;) And I’m totally okay with that.

I had been looking around online and got frustrated with the GH3 prices online, knowing I could go into GameStop and get it for $89. I got around $130 for my Birthday, so I just set out. I hadn’t decided if I was going to get it or not, I just wanted to see if they still had it.

Well, last week they were fully stocked, so when I walked in and saw only 2, I knew I had to go ahead and get it. Gh3 is still selling out all over the place, and I had a feeling if I didn’t get it now, it’d be well after Christmas before I could. I can be patient, but not THAT patient.

I was proud of myself though, I brought it home and finished studying for finals before I turned it on. I deserve a medal or something for that…

Wii Play comes with:

• Shooting Range– think Duck Hunt
• Find Mii– you basically find pairs in large crowds, or the odd mii out, etc
• Table Tennis
• Pose Mii– well, this one is stupid…
• Laser Hockey–I’m pretty much the only one I know who has a handle on this one, and I LOVE it!
• Billiards
• Fishing– I’m waiting to break my nose or just bruise my face yanking the controller back
• Charge!– This is my favorite! You race COWS! You title the wii remote to control them. It’s way too much fun!

• Tanks!– You’re a little toy tank, shooting other little toy tanks! Woo!

Yeah, to say I enjoy it would be an understatement for sure. In fact, I need to go play now. Kthnxbye.