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Coffee Talk #249: Your Top 10 Wrestlers of All Time

A lot of you posted great comments on WWE’s list of the top 50 WWE Superstars of all time. Most of you agreed with the majority of the picks, but some of you were puzzled by various rankings and omissions. RPadholic Nightshade386 suggested that we all start our own lists and I thought that was a brilliant idea!

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, the RPad.tv merchandise sale, why the hell people like pomegranates, or the best bourbon you’ve ever had, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

A lot of you posted great comments on WWE’s list of the top 50 WWE Superstars of all time. Most of you agreed with the majority of the picks, but some of you were puzzled by various rankings and omissions. RPadholic Nightshade386 suggested that we all start our own lists and I thought that was a brilliant idea! Here’s mine:

Ric Flair: Simply the greatest of all time. In his prime, he could put on an outstanding match with a broomstick. Even after he lost a step, Flair could work the mic like nobody else. He carried the NWA and the early days of WCW.
Shawn Michaels: The Heartbreak Kid started off as a dynamic wrestler and transformed into the greatest in-ring performer I’ve ever seen. I dropped him to the second slot because his mic work was uneven and he didn’t do a great job carrying the WWE when he was champion.
Ricky Steamboat: Some of you will question this pick, but can you think of someone that wrestled in two of the best matches ever seen in the NWA and WWE? People still talk about Steamboat’s championship match with Flair and his WrestleMania III match with Randy Savage. Also, has anyone ever made an arm drag look so cool?
Steve Austin: I remember watching him in WCW as “Stunning” Steve Austin and enjoying his work in ECW. I never thought that he’d define an era of WWE and become its most popular Superstar. The crazy part is that he couldn’t wrestle his best at the height of his popularity due to a neck injury. For a brief period of time Austin was perfect: he could wrestle great matches, carry the company, and cut fantastic promos.
The Rock: The other wrestler that defined WWE’s “Attitude Era”, The Rock cut some of the most hilarious promos ever and was brilliant at putting people over with the mic. His wrestling was good offensively, but his ability to sell was better (nobody sold the stunner better than he did). I honestly believe that he could have topped this list if he didn’t cut his wrestling career short to pursue acting.
Hulk Hogan: I’m going to get heat for ranking Hogan this low, but nobody can deny that he sucked in the ring for most of his career. Even in his prime he was a mediocre wrestler. Still, his charisma was undeniable, he carried the WWE, he made the company global, and he sold almost as much merchandise as Austin (yes, that was a dig).
Andre the Giant: The Eighth Wonder of the World was always limited in the ring, but he could singlehandedly sell out arenas. He’s a legend that became known throughout the world. He was also a great locker room guy. I loved when he decked the Ultimate Warrior with a stiff shot for getting out of line. Andre helped make wrestling larger-than-life entertainment.
Sting: While most people know him from his Crow-wannabe days, I still remember the bleached-blond kid with a rat tail and neon tights. He was dynamic and charismatic. He put on fantastic matches with Flair and even carried the limited Lex Luger to excellent shows.
Arn Anderson: Double A was the best complementary wrestler ever. As The Four Horsemen’s “enforcer”, Anderson was an integral part of making the group seem so bad ass. Flair had the belt and the spotlight, but Arn was the heart and soul of The Horsemen. His wrestling was excellent, his promos were intense, and nobody made the spinebuster look so forceful.
Kurt Angle: Arguably the greatest athlete to ever wrestle professionally, Angle’s in-ring work was ridiculous in his prime in terms of offense. As far as selling and physical storytelling, there are better…but not many. I never bought into his “intense” promos, but a lot of people liked them. I was thoroughly entertained by the wise-ass and comedic versions of Angle.

Anyway, that’s my list. I’d love to see yours! Feel free to rip mine apart too.

NPD Console Sales Figures Top 10 Games of October 2010

It’s time for NPD Group’s sales figures! It’s the second month of neutered NPD numbers (*sniff* *sniff*) and I miss the flame wars the old numbers started. That said, the game sales data is still interesting. Let’s have a look!

NBA 2K11 (Take-Two Interactive, Xbox 360, PS3, PS2, PSP, Wii, PC)
Fallout: New Vegas (Bethesda Softworks, Xbox 360, PS3, PC)
Medal of Honor (Electronic Arts, Xbox 360, PS3, PC)
Fable III (Microsoft, Xbox 360)
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II (LucasArts, Xbox 360, PS3, WII, PC, NDS)
Halo: Reach (Microsoft, Xbox 360)
Just Dance 2 (Ubisoft, Wii)
FIFA Soccer 11 (Electronic Arts, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, PS2, PSP, NDS, PC)
Madden NFL 11 (Electronic Arts, Xbox 360, PS3, WII, PS2, PSP)
WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2011 (THQ, PS3, Xbox 360, PS2, WII, PSP)

I’m said that more people didn’t buy SmackDown vs. Raw. The people need games with superior writing and that game has the best writing (of any kind) of 2010. Combining platforms and market saturation have changed the way the top 10 has looked for the last few years — way fewer Wii exclusives on the list. I’m surprised and pleased that NBA 2K11 and Fallout topped the list. Not that those games were release by “small” publishers, but it’s good for the business when Acitivsion and EA aren’t completely dominating the scene.

What do you think of October’s numbers? Any surprises for you?

Coffee Wars: Chemex vs. Oskar Sowden SoftBrew

Yesterday, I posted a video on the Oskar Sowden Softbrew. Today I’m going to compare this fine coffee maker with my usual method of brewing: the Chemex coffee pot. Brewing with Chemex offers a taste that people describe as “clean and bright”. The SoftBrew offers a richer and deeper taste. Chemex also requires filters and a thermos (if you want to keep your coffee hot for more than 20 minutes). While I really love what the SoftBrew brings to the table, the Chemex coffee maker remains my everyday choice.

Kindly check out the video and let me know if you have any questions!

Coffee Talk #248: Drinking and (Videogame) Driving

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, the RPad.tv merchandise sale, the SSD hard drive of your dreams, or getting sick before a launch event (grrrrrr), Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

Drinking and driving is irresponsible. It’s stupid and dangerous. It can lead to senseless tragedies. With that in mind, I’m a little embarrassed to admit that I enjoy drinking and videogame driving. I’ve had some epic Mario Kart sessions with friends and the experience was enhanced by alcohol consumption. Part of it was the social lubrication alcohol often brings, but part of it was the sensation of trying to control something while I wasn’t in control of myself.

Tonight I’ll be attending a launch party for Need for Speed Hot Pursuit. The game will be there. I’m sure there will be plenty of alcohol there too. I’m actually looking forward to playing the game with my industry friends…while drunk.

Do any of you guys and gals play driving games while drunk? Or am I alone in this idiocy?

Blizzard Hiring Peeps to Port Diablo III to Consoles

Blizzard hasn’t denied that Diablo III will be coming to consoles, but it has never made it official either. Recent job listings spotted by Gamasutra (via 1Up) are the next best thing to an official confirmation. According to 1Up’s excellent Frank Cifaldi:

According to the company’s Jobs Directory, Blizzard is currently looking to fill lead designer, lead programmer, and senior producer roles very specifically for a console version of Diablo III.

That’s brilliant news! I know that most of you are primarily console gamers, so I’m not sure if you’re familiar or interested in the Diablo franchise. Are you super psyched? Intrigued? Mildly annoyed? Will you join me online as I wield the demon hunter’s awesome powers?

Source via 1Up

Coffee Wars: Sowden SoftBrew vs. French Press

Kindly check out this video of the Oskar Sowden SoftBrew taking on the classic French press method of coffee brewing. The SoftBrew is like a cross between a French press pot and a loose-leaf tea brewer. It also uses some cool technology; the stainless steel tube that holds the coffee has more than 500,000 laser etched holes.

While I’ve been on a Chemex kick in 2010, French press was my coffee brewing method of choice for the last 15 years or so. The SoftBrew offers some nice advantages over a standard French press pot. First, it’s made of porcelain so it retains heat better than the thin glass beakers used in most French press pots. More importantly, you’re able to take out the coffee grinds after the optimal brewing time is reached. This is huge if you want your coffee to taste great well after it’s brewed.

If you have any questions about SoftBrew (or coffee in general), please let me know!

This Week’s Videogame Releases

Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood (with its outstanding collector’s edition!) leads this fun-filled week of videogame releases. Emma Watson fans will want to pick up Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1. Need for Speed Hot Pursuit should satisfy those looking for some hot arcade racing. If classic platforming is your thing then you should give Donkey Kong Country Returns a look. NBA Jam is sure to catch fire this week. Sonic Colors looks like the best Sonic game in years.

Loads of great stuff this week! Are any of you planning to pick up some new games?

Coffee Talk #247: Worst Videogame Commercials Ever!

Last week, we discussed our favorite videogame commercials. Let’s enter the bitter barn and talk about the worst videogame commercials we’ve ever seen! As for me, that’s easy. Look at this…

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, the RPad.tv merchandise sale, Stumptown’s Kenya Gachami Peaberry, or Jessica Simpson getting engaged, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

Last week, we discussed our favorite videogame commercials. Let’s enter the bitter barn and talk about the worst videogame commercials we’ve ever seen! As for me, that’s easy. Just look at this piece of crap.

This Final Fantasy Tactics Advance commercial is wretched any way you slice it. The acting is horrible. The concept is horrible. The commercial does nothing to convey the depth and complexity of the game. It just…sucks on so many levels. What makes it worse is that the spot is for a fantastic game. Ugh. I’m getting worked up just thinking about it.

Why don’t you guys take over from here? What are some of the worst videogame commercials you’ve ever seen?

Coffee Talk #246: What’s Your Favorite Videogame Commercial?

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, the Amazon “Pedophile Guide” controversy, Lacey Von Eric realizing that she can’t wrestle, or Yao Ming getting injured…again, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

Videogames have had some brilliant and memorable commercials over the years. While marketing has been getting slicker and smarter, some classic commercials can’t be beat. My favorite videogame commercial of all time is the “Genesis Does!” spot. The song is catchy, the point is clear, and the cameos are awesome. It features Michael Jackson, Joe Montana, Pat Riley, and (an incredibly out-of-shape) James “Buster” Douglas. Check it out:

Man…that brings back some great memories.

Now it’s your turn! What are some of your favorite videogame commercials?

Coffee Talk #245: Game Review Events Revisited

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, NFL players not liking their boss (*cough* Brad Childress), Gwyneth Paltrow going country, or Sarah Palin’s cookie loving, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

Way back in Coffee Talk #4 I wrote about my peeves with the incredibly unnatural process of reviewing games. In addition to the cram-a-thon sessions most game reviewers have to engage in, the occasional “review event” pops up every now and then. I was having a Twitter conversation with two game journalists at Games Radar about the matter. The “payola” factor of review events doesn’t bother me, since most writers can see past that (and in many cases, care more about playings games than enjoying luxurious surroundings). My problem with review events is that it affects the process. I am of the opinion that adding foreign surroundings to an already unnatural process alters perception.

The example that a lot of people are bringing up is GamePro’s Tae Kim’s review of the Call of Duty: Black Ops. Check out his opening paragraph:

The Ojai Valley Inn and Spa sits in the tiny town of Ojai about two hours north of downtown Los Angeles. Built in 1923, it features a full 18-hole golf course, a luxury spa, and 308 deluxe suites situated on a 200 acre plot with picaresque views of the surrounding forest and mountains. It’s hard to top in terms of amenities and creature comforts, and it seemingly offers everything you could ever want in a vacation spot. It’s utterly fitting, then, that this is where Activision chose to hold its review event for Call of Duty: Black Ops; the lavish surroundings were no doubt meant to lend a measure of sex appeal and ‘wow factor’ to the proceedings, but it was also a good metaphor for Black Ops: The game is a veritable playground that, like the plush resort where I and a handful of game journos from various outlets were sequestered for three days, seems to offer everything you could ever want in a console first-person shooter.

Forget the fact that I learned more about the Ojai Valley Inn than Call of Duty: Black Ops from the opening paragraph. Taking a gamer out of his/her natural environment alters perception, whether game journalists want to admit it or not. Playing games in your living room is natural. For staffers at gaming outlets, playing games at a desk or in a game lab is natural. Foreign environments — no matter how luxurious — change perception. Similar to how setting often changes the experience of listening to music, sipping wine, or enjoying coffee, setting changes the experience of playing a videogame.

Anyway, that’s my annual rant on review events. What do you think of them? Does it bother your that game writers are sequestered at luxury spas? Does it bother you that they have to review a game in a short period of time in a foreign environment? Or do you think that it’s not a big deal?