Catacomb 3D: Id's 2nd 3D try

With Hovertank, Id Software knew that things could get better if you keep working at your projects and get better with the technology. The capabilities was there. It was just a matter of fine tuning it to where you can outline a future project and do so much more and convince people to get computers. Catacomb 3D takes the first person approach, but in human format where you only see your hand on screen. This isn't a review. Maybe down the road, I will give a detailed one, but these are quick thoughts.

As I said in the Hovertank review, (http://sullivanentertainment.blogspot.com/2017/04/hovertank-dos-review.html) John Carmack was a genius with engines. Whatever he did with Catacomb 3D, there was decent improvements. It's the little details like the walls actually having textures and not being random colored walls. Enemies looked a bit more detailed and the hand sprite is not bad.

The way the game plays, it's like a lot of Id games. Part of it is like Wolfenstein 3D, Doom, and though published by them, Heretic. You have ways to heal yourself, use special weapons. There are lots of secrets with enemies. Like the Commander Keen games before this, you're hunting for keys. It feels like a big blueprint for how to be successful and be one of the most recognized companies in the world. Everything feels set up so that when Id did make Wolfenstein, they knew what worked and what didn't.

On May 5th, a review of Wolfenstein will be uploaded to this blog to commemorate 25 years of its original release in 1992. Hope to see you then. Do check out Catacomb 3D.

Major League Baseball: April 2017

With the end of April, there have been some interesting storylines for Major League Baseball. Certain teams most expect to get a postseason spot are struggling. Some divisions are shaping up to be a tough one. Let's take a look.

The American League East is one where pretty much everybody has a fair chance at the division and potentially a wildcard spot. For the Baltimore Orioles, they have put up good numbers despite pitching problems. The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox are getting runs while having some strong pitching, especially with good bullpens. At Tampa Bay, the Rays are okay. It's a matter of how both the batting and pitching will sustain a 162 game season. Really, the Toronto Blue Jays are a shocker for struggling so much this month. While this isn't a panic mode compared to other sports, if things don't go to a winning side in May, changes are going to happen.

In the AL Central, it's close with similar stuff like the East. The Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Indians have picked up with some good pitching and decent power at the plate. Starting off strong was the Minnesota Twins, but they have fallen a little flat. Age is a factor for the Detroit Tigers, and the Kansas City Royals doesn't have much going for them. The death of Yordano Ventura doesn't help. I really can't say much on the West division. They are either hot or cold. The Houston Astros are at the top with some young players on the mound and at the plate. Power is not a problem for the Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Angels, and Seattle Mariners. Can they avoid slumps and can the pitching help carry them to a division title?

Getting into the National League, it's all a matter of what the Washington Nationals do. They look to be the East's top team and maybe of its league. They got power and great starters when healthy. The Philadelphia Phillies are a surprise, but I would wait until the end of May to see how this division looks. It is a surprise the New York Mets are in last place, but they could flick the switch to be a great team depending on the health of their pitchers. That can also be said for the Miami Marlins, but with their batting, specifically Giancarlo Stanton. Relying on a few 40 plus year old pitchers, I don't have much confidence in the Atlanta Braves.

It is tight in the NL Central with the Chicago Cubs leading the way, but barely. Can they avoid the championship hangover? Their batting and pitching is good, but it has to be better if they want to defend their title. As far as the other teams go, the Milwaukee Brewers is surprising with the run support. Like most of the AL West, can they avoid slumps? The pitching might be a problem if they can't get past other teams. Despite being in second place, pitching is also a concern if I'm the St. Louis Cardinals. If it can't carry them, it will be a long year. Not much can be said for the Cincinnati Reds. On any day, they can get the hits and runs while dominating fro the mound. Can it do that for the whole season?

San Francisco is the big storyline in the West. The Giants lost their main starter for a few months after a mediocre start to begin the season. With some good batters, someone has to step up for the starting pitching and the bullpen can't suffer another collapse. Fear is not a worry for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies. Having hot bats and surprisingly exceptional pitching has propelled these two to the top of the division. The Los Angeles Dodgers are not far away with the same kind of stuff, and they could be a first place team at the end of May. Anything can happen in this division. And the San Diego Padres are the same old, same old. They got power, but can't hit for anything and their pitching is pretty mediocre. It's another year of disappointment for the city.

Keep your eyes on the AL East and NL West. The teams could flip flop in divisional races as the year goes on. I would say the NL Central and East will see certain teams improve from where they are right now. And the West could come down to two teams at the end of September. For 2017, it will pack some big surprises.

Quick Update: 4/29/17

This is just a little update on what is going on. Due to finding an actual job, there won't be many updates in the late afternoon and evenings about the blogs that I write. Instead, I'm altering it to where updates are going to be late in the morning and in the early afternoon with midnight updates along with planned blog uploads at midnight and noon. I still intend to make a blog or two every day. Reviews and YouTube uploads will still go as planned on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Happy reading.

Speed Limits Are Necessary

Safety will always be a concern for driving on the road, no matter where in the world you are. One of those aspects is the use of speed when using the car. That's why we have speed limits in certain parts of the world. Some people in areas like Germany have highways like the Autobahn where there are no limits. Judgment has to be made on how fast you want to go. Unfortunately, some people think that going faster will get them quicker. Maybe a couple miles isn't bad to some, but when it's excessive at 5 to 15 miles more than the actual limit, the cops will breathe down your neck and catch you.

It happens in village and town limits. Citizens wonder why the cops are in the town. That should be very obvious. I get 30 miles an hour is a bit slow for a limit, but it's there for a reason. In areas where children may be present or individuals walking across the street, the last thing that should be on their mind is a car going 40 to 50 miles an hour barreling down exceeding the limit. Even though villages and towns will allow passing in certain areas, is it really going to hurt someone who is behind a car that follows the speed limit? Yeah, there are ones that go under the limit which makes sense, but the patience wears thin on ones that don't like others following the exact speed limit.

Some people even think passing a bus is a good idea when it isn't. I've never seen that myself, but my younger brother has. He saw a car pass a bus and the driver ultimately got busted. There is no reason to do it. It is extremely dangerous to not just the children who may have to walk across a street, but any cars that are in the vicinity and could get damaged. You have to let these buses and their drivers do their jobs without fear of potential incidents.

I guess the point I'm trying to make is to take it easy and relax when it comes to speed limits. You will get to places on time, even with following a speed limit and following the rules of the road. Plan ahead depending on the time of year and what can occur at the specific time you go to a specific place. Add in patience and you will make it a safe experience without causing any harm or damage. If only some people realized that.

YouTube Videos: April 21-27, 2017

Some new videos for the viewing pleasure. A couple of NASCAR 98 Saturn videos, and a Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Genesis video.

Last week's videos: http://sullivanentertainment.blogspot.com/2017/04/youtube-videos-april-14-20-2017.html

Night Trap, Another Sega CD Release

When the Sega CD released in October of 1992 to U.S. stores, it's launch lineup was not the most impressive. Quite a bit of the full motion video lineup was there on day 1. Night Trap was one of those games. Like the genre, it was not held to high regard but it had its following, especially when idiot Senators (who have never played video games) targeted it as being a game where you kill girls when it was the complete opposite. You were trying to save them. It would also be released on the 3DO and the Sega 32x, which required both the 32x and CD add-ons. Today, it is going to be re-released this year for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One to honor it's 25th anniversary of coming out.

The history behind this game is intriguing. In 1987, Hasbro had plans to release a console of their own that ran on VHS tapes. Night Trap was filmed around that time. The system which was called Control-Vision never saw the light of day due to pricing at a time when the Nintendo Entertainment System was a lot cheaper and popular. At 300 dollars, Hasbro thought it wouldn't have sold well if it launched in 1989. Along with Sewer Shark, the game didn't catch interest until Sega looked to companies that could give them titles for the Sega CD. Looking at Night Trap, it is a cheesy 80s horror product, but with hordes upon hordes of vicious bad guys that are way stupider than the Wet Bandits, although this pre-dates Home Alone. There's nothing gruesome, especially compared to all the Friday the 13th, Elm Street, and Halloween films. If it were a movie, it would get maybe a PG-13 rating. Maybe PG since the standards weren't so strict back then.

Unfortunately, a sad reality is that Sega CD never gets games re-released. The only one that really has is Sonic CD, which has seen releases outside of it's 1993 release on Windows in 96, GameCube in 2005, and a re-done version in 2011 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Obvious games like Batman Returns and NHL 94 can't come out because of licensing. Arcade ports like Final Fight will never see the Sega CD version re-released because people want the actual arcade game. With all the compilations in the last 20 years, you would think a Sega CD game here and there would be nice. I don't know if emulation is a factor, but another big downside is that there isn't many games that can be picked that have a following. Some games are in limbo like Lunar. There's other factors but overall, it's kind of hard to figure what titles from this add-on could get a modern re-release.

Night Trap is one of the cult classics of the 90s and Sega CD. It doesn't have a putrid reception compared to later FMV games, but someone's mileage will vary on whether they think it is good or bad. It will be digital, but it will also get a physical release on PlayStation 4. There will be a low print run from publisher Limited Run Games. If stuff like this can come out, Sega and a few surviving third party companies that made games for the add-on can sure as hell do something like this for whatever original titles they might have. It's about time there is some love given to this add-on for at least one of its games.

Oklahoma City Thunder: What Now?

You could have probably written off the Oklahoma City Thunder for this 2016-17 season. Losing guys like Kevin Durant and Serge Ibaka would definitely be seen as a problem and the thoughts of a playoff run could be something that could come in a another season or two. Their big star is Russell Westbrook, who has carved his name into being one of the greats of this modern era of NBA Basketball for the past eight seasons prior to this one.

Despite the number of young players, the Thunder put up a respectable 47-35 record in the Western Conference. Westbrook was mostly their offense, despite several players near or above 1000 points themselves. Their defense was one of the better ones in terms of rebounding and stealing the ball. The numbers on both sides were on the side of being one of the better teams in the league and middle tiered material. Of course, we look at their future now after losing in the first round to the Houston Rockets in five games.

It all starts with what happened five years ago when the Thunder went on that magical run to the NBA Finals only to lose to the Miami Heat. They had Durant, Ibaka, Westbrook, and sixth man that year, James Harden. Their numbers on offense were in the top three and the defense was one of the better ones. We can talk what ifs forever on what could have been a dynasty in the making. You think about it, they could have won a ring together. They could have been one of the young teams others could imitate. With Harden going to Houston and his career really taking off, you have to wonder. That's not to say Oklahoma was horrible. They posted really good records in the regular season. There's always one team that's an obstacle to them and they are sent packing and watching the finals on television.

If I am the Thunder, I am doing whatever is necessary to keep Westbrook with them for the rest of his career as he will enter his tenth season in October/November. With Durant playing for Golden State and Ibake with Toronto, they need someone that can lead the charge and take a bit of punishment until they get people that can get used to their style of play. If they can gel together, they can still keep making playoff appearances. It's just a matter of how much longer fans have to wait and how much frustration will mount if they don't win a championship.

Right now, their biggest priorities are Westbrook and Steven Adams. Keeping them both will be important for years to come. Getting some better players, whether through the NBA Draft or free agency could give them players to compliment them and have bench guys that could carry the load while the stars take a breather.  Either way, they are on the clock. Oklahoma can't afford to lose any more players. Otherwise, that first overall pick could be calling for them in the future.

Stopping the Bleeding: ESPN Layoffs

People get let go all the time. Sometimes, they are fired because of not being a big asset to their company. Other times, it's not because of effort and the company may have no choice but to give them the axe. ESPN, who has ran into some issues the last few years regarding a losing subscriber base and is attempting to stop the bleeding of losing money by laying off a number of their personalities and writers. It's not just some of the young ones. With 15 plus year veterans like Jerry Punch and Ed Werder on the list of people gone, a lot of people at one of the biggest sports networks ever were not safe.

The channel began back in the fall of 1979 and quickly became a place to find sports 24 hours a day. Getting stuff in the 80s like NASCAR and college sports eventually netted them some of their current operations of the NFL and MLB. Despite the Internet's presence in the 90s and 2000s, fans were still eager to check out highlights and scores via SportsCenter and other programs from a wide net of personalities. In recent years, however, things have not gone the network and Disney's (who has had ESPN since 1995) way. In an era now where streaming is a big deal and competitors like Fox Sports 1 and NBC Sports Network want their share of the pie, many people have left the leader of the sports television industry unsubscribed.

As far as layoffs go, ESPN let go of a number of writers in college sports and a bit of hockey people, especially as the Stanley Cup Playoffs enters its second round. Some beat writers for certain teams and radio hosts were gone. Several anchors have been given the axe. It's a changing of the times, unfortunately. Like certain other channels, it's a miracle they still exist. I think it has to do with watching the highlights and scores at, even if you have a phone that can give you the daily updates on how others are doing. Sure it's nice to have everything in the palm of your hand, but for big sporting events, you want a decent sized television and seeing this stuff live.

One site has said that some anchors that were still around had their roles shrunken down. Whether they could be gone is a matter of what ESPN might do. It's not a surprise. Some of these people are pretty old, but at the same time, they are at that age in the prime of their career in broadcasting. Sadly, people like Doug Glanville will be missed while we still have morons like Jessica Mendoza acting like loudmouth fans instead of professional broadcasters. That's the nature of the beast. You have to move on, no matter how painful it might be.

Jabrill Peppers: Health Issues or Hiding Something?

The NFL Draft is tomorrow and there will be plenty of players that could go the first round and be potential playmakers or busts. One of those in question was Jabrill Peppers out of Michigan University. He was a versatile player that could excel on defense and be a hard nosed tackler and maybe a decent return man. Some analysts have put him as a first round pick, but that could change to later rounds. If anybody has heard the story by now, Peppers had a diluted sample and it is counted towards being a positive sample in a drug test.

ESPN's Adam Schefter was given a statement from Creative Artists Agency, a group that represents Peppers. What a spokesman said was that he was sick and is known for having cramps. At the NFL combine a few months ago, the statement said he was given a substantial amount of water, which was eight to ten bottles. I drink two to three bottles a day, but I wouldn't think a sample would be diluted. If anything it would be clear or yellow, depending on the hydration of the individual.

Could it be health issues, though? Maybe. However, I wouldn't be too sure... yet. The NFL should look into it and see if maybe Peppers took drugs before the Combine and if he did, go through the league's drug program if he gets picked by a team. Some players still think they can sneak in some PED's or drugs and not get caught. With all the tests now these days, it's next to impossible combined with social media and everybody's damn cell phones.

Whatever the case, the damage is done at the worst possible time. Peppers could wind up being in one of the later rounds. Maybe he can defy the critics and put up a good rookie effort in the NFL and show why some teams should have drafted him in that first round. Only time will tell tomorrow night if he gets picked. Whoever does might have someone they can depend on in certain facets of the game and grow into a potential Pro Bowler/All-Pro if he doesn't wind up with anymore positive tests. If not, say hello to the documents for your banning via Roger Goodell.

Head Hunting: When Will It Stop?

Bad blood is imminent in any sport. Things can go from peaceful to rowdy with one play. That's why I do blogs and not play in major sports. If I were in one, I would act like an enforcer in hockey. I would want to knock people out. That being said, Matt Barnes of the Boston Red Sox should know that just because something bad happen to one your teammates doesn't exactly mean you go after the person that caused the bad thing to occur.

This past weekend, the Red Sox faced the Baltimore Orioles.  It's been a close battle for first between these two and the New York Yankees to begin this young 2017 season. The Friday game was the main source for what would lead to a four game suspension. Oriole player Manny Machado slid into second base and hit with his cleat Red Sock Dustin Pedroia. Looking at it, there was malicious intent, I see it as accidental, even with the late slide. Apparently, Barnes did not see it that way and what he did Sunday is nothing short of embarrassing and very dangerous. Late in the game, Barnes throws at Machado's head and he gets ejected from the game. Words are exchanged between Pedroia and several Orioles.

Whether he wants to say it was accidental or not, that was a very sore thing to do. Certain teams are trying to prevent facial injuries, especially when Giancarlo Stanton got plunked in the face back in 2014. Some of the Chicago Cub players have a helmet that protect the side of their face. There's a few other teams in the National League are doing that as well, and I hope this is something that is required by Major League Baseball. I get Barnes was frustrated at Pedroia getting hurt, but what he did could really damage someone. At worst, it could be death, even with the helmet. I'm reminded just now of an episode of Seinfeld where Kramer gets kicked in the head while wearing a helmet and is lucky to be alive, but acts weird in the next episode.

This is simply bad blood that could be seen throughout the season and maybe even the playoffs in October. I would not be surprised if it gets to where a brawl may ensue. For now, the Red Sox are going to have to pay for this with Barnes' suspension and rightfully so. Machado is someone who has had a few incidents himself, but compared to a bat incident in Oakland in 2014 and a fight last year in a game against the Kansas City Royals, he should not be blamed for this.

There's all these unwritten rules, regardless of sport, but this kind of unwritten rule could get someone killed. Hopefully, it's a few lifetimes from now where this kind of incident happens, but this isn't entertainment nor funny to hit someone like Futurama's take on baseball in one episode. It's a matter that shouldn't have occurred and casts baseball under a dark shadow.  I get hitting someone in the leg or foot, but not anywhere from the back up to the head. What a stupid thing to do.