Into the Fire

The Knicks held their first pre-season game today, and I was able to catch only ten minutes of the game in the first half. They looked surprisingly comfortable in D’Antoni’s new fast-paced system, a black-and-white contrast to the slow and methodical style that coaches have hammered into the franchise in years past. Every year I get very excited and hopeful for the Knicks chances in the season and making the playoffs. Who knew Marbury wouldn’t deliver? How could anyone have predicted Larry Brown’s torrid performance? Let’s not forget Isaiah Thomas’ ineffectiveness, even after taking the full-time coaching reigns from a position of presidency. It’s absolutely nuts how badly the Knicks perform every year given the level of talent, expectations, and salary numbers that are poured into the organization.

This year, I remain a loyal fan (and a very happy one, having moved closer to Madison Square Garden and into local MSG Network television coverage), but my expectations are not about to be popped again this year. I don’t see them making the playoffs, and unfortunately for D’Antoni and his strong and positive reputation, it just can’t be done with the tools on this team. Secretly however, I harbor the idea that God has a sense of humor and will use this opportunity to prove my expectations wrong again, perhaps vaulting the team into the 40, 45+ win total category. Miracles aside, I see the organization winning 36 games. That’s 36-46, good enough to just barely miss the post-season. And yet in my unwavering fanboy eyes, the Knicks still kick ass.

In video-game news, I converted to the realms of the Sony PlayStation. I’ve conducted my fair share of research into determining whether to even keep my Wii (sold it on eBay along with my games) and if I should choose the XBox 360 or the PlayStation 3. Pages and pages could be written on the pros and cons of each system, in addition to why I feel the PS3 is the better choice, so I’ll try to be succinct.

- I purchased the PS3 as part of a limited SKU that was bundled with probable 2008’s Game of the Year, Metal Gear Solid 4, along with a DualShock3 (replacing the then standard controller SixAxis w/out rumble) and a free voucher for a PSN game (which at about $20-40, have smaller scopes than retail games, but are downloaded to the console’s hard drive). This bundle came at a price tag of $499, but with a $100 gift card (which Best Buy price matched from Wal-Mart). That’s $400. Considering the NTSC PS3 originally debuted in 2007 at $600 with 20GB less HD space, a controller with no rumble feature, and no bundled game, this is one extremely good case where it paid off to be a late adopter.

- The XBox 360 has roughly a 30% defective rate, and frequently encounters a problem known as RROD, or the “Red Ring Of Death”. This manufacturing defect has cost Microsoft over $1 billion to recuperate and it continues to this day to see systems being sent in for replacement. All they could do to temporarily appease its customers worldwide was offer an extended standard warranty to 3 years, while allowing the system’s problems to persist.

- Microsoft charges gamers a $50 annual subscription fee to its online service, though Live is considered a slightly better service than PSN. They also charge $100 for a Wi-fi adapter, $90 for a mere 20GB external HD, the power supply is external, the controller’s use AA batteries, and HDMI is only available on the higher priced Elite model. All PS3 systems include Wi-fi, an internal HD, HDMI, an internal power supply, and all of the controllers have internal rechargeable batteries.

- This PS3 model can play CD’s, DVD’s, BD’s (Blu-ray Discs), PS2 games, PS3 games, and can accept media cards in SD, CF, Microdrive formats, and has 4 USB ports. It comes loaded with a built-in web browser (which is a bit slow but is free), whereas the 360 does not. The Live service offered on the 360 is also loaded with advertisements, whereas the PSN Store is not. The 360 cannot play Blu-ray discs, has limited backwards compatibility, and no media card support.

- Games. Again, this is too deep to get into. I’ll just say this: Microsoft has marketed the XBox more successfully than Sony has with the PS3, and their game line-up also reflects more of the mainstream crowd. More casuals will pick up games like Halo, Gears of War, Madden, etc. and be fully satisfied with their experience. But the PS3 houses titles that haven’t been exposed properly to non-hardcore gamers, but nevertheless often feature far more richer and better gameplay, cinematics, graphics, or presentation. The XBox has more games (people often forget it was released a full year earlier) but the PS3 has tilted its advantage towards having more exclusives. It’s quality over quantity, that’s basic logic.

- They’re both good systems… but the PS3 is just better in terms of value, as a media center/player, and it is more future-proof.

- Halo 3 is overrated.

In personal news, I’ve moved on to another assignment yet again, this time in familiar (yet unfamiliar) territory. Whereas I’m now back in the region of the country I’ve grew up in and out of the Northeast, I’ve still never lived or worked in a true city before on a day-to-day basis. That’s changed now, and in a tumultous time when the country is fighting an economic crisis and jobs are shaky, I’m leaping straight into the fire of Wall St. (well, one street off of) and can confidently declare I don’t know where I’m headed for the future. Seven months ago was a whole ‘nother ballpark, but apparently God likes to play with my future a lot, changing his plans for me unexpectedly as if he can’t make up his mind (or laughing as I’m forced to build character). I’m stressin’ like mad and busy as heck, but hoping things will settle soon.