YUM Digest: Frank's week of video games (Day 3)

YUM Digest: Frank's week of video games (Day 2)

YUM Digest: Frank's week of video games (Day 1)

Raptr.com

It has taken me 16 sites to finally have one about something I absolutely love and that’s gaming. Suggested by a friend (Drew Chapman, what what!) the site Raptr.com is a nerdgasm waiting to happen. If you like gaming, you like Raptr.

After you first create your account a little, nifty box pops up and tells you four main features of Raptr.

Your personalized news feed is showcased as number one. Depending on what games you follow, your news feed will suggest related stories. For example, I put The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time as one of my games and the first thing I see is an article named "Some Bugs Were Intentionally Left in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D." Then beneath that story was a Black Ops article (which I also read). I love that Raptr did this. Instead of Googling for interesting reads, I get them here and for my favorite games.

The next feature is very Digg-esque. Besides each story’s link (and Link if it’s a Zelda story) there’s a voting option that allows you to say if the article is good or not. The Raptr community can see the votes and, if the article looks like it is getting more ‘nays’ than ‘yays’ users can save their brainpower from reading it.

Also like Digg and many other social media sites, you have the option of sharing with your online community by submitting an URL link. Post game news, videos, screenshots and anything else of interest. If more people like your link, more people will see it. So don’t post a dud. 

The next point of interest is the fact that you can always search for and add more games to your profile. You can also track games automatically by downloading the Raptr client or adding gamer IDs in settings. I personally love this the most. You aren’t a dedicated gamer unless you at least check this out.

Then of course we have the usual social media functions. You can message, you can chat, you can read the blog (which I suggest you do), you can update your status and make or find friends. However, there’s a Games section that’s pretty fun to peruse that gives you more in-depth and interesting tidbits about different games.

Sure, Raptr has similar makings as other run-of-the-mill social media sites, but it specializes in getting the interest of the gaming world. From Black Ops players to CityVille fanatics, Raptr has something for any type of gamer.

Let's Get Geeky: MLG in Orlando

I love video games. I always have and I always will. My Playstation/Wii/Xbox will be hidden from my future kids and spouse and I will get my daily fill of gaming unperturbed.

So it should be no surprise to the people that know me, that I will be attending Orlando's MLG (Major League Gaming) this weekend with Chad.

Originally when Chad asked me to go, I agreed only because it was his birthday. I wasn't as thrilled to watch Starcraft 2 because its one game I haven't cared to tackle. It reminds me of Diablo 2 and the only thing I loved about that game were the Baal runs. Chad, however, is going solely to watch the SC competition so when he first asked I was kind of bummed.

UNTIL

I found out Black Ops and Halo Reach would be there! Now, I love Halo Reach if only because it's a Tribes rip-off and that's a game I don't mind playing every night, but Black Ops has to be my favorite multiplayer game. My dad and I play it every time I'm home.

I kick butt at Headquarters but I love Ground War.
I use a Famas but Enfields are nice too.
Frag grenades and Willy Petes.
Lightweight pro, marathon pro, sleight of hand.
Favorite maps: Stadium, Silo, Drive-in, Hangar 18, Convoy, Grid

The multiplayer isn't what sold me on the game originally or is what started my love. I PWN at zombies.
One time at work I drew the entire Kino De Toton map on a whiteboard. When I saw PWN, I should actually say I'm a wonderful strategist at each map. I mean, I've played them countless times. However, the SPAZ in me makes me freak out sometimes while playing so I tend to get killed easier than most. But, a wonderful guide I am.
With the latest map pack you actually get every zombie map made, which is nice but sad because there will be no more created in the future.

Favorite map: Hands down Kino De Toton!
Hardest map: Five
Coolest map: Call of the Dead, Moon
Coolest perk: Dead shot Daiquiri (auto aims for the head)
Coolest monster: The Director on Call of the Dead and The Mad Scientist on Five
Coolest weapons on a map: Call of the Dead
(Fun fact: When I first met Chad he was playing Zombies and I started talking about the map. He said that was when he thought I was awesome.)

So, just to let you know, I will be stuck to Black Ops at MLG with the occasional pop over to Halo.

Here's the schedule:

Call of Duty: Black Ops - Event Schedule

Friday

10:30 AM - 1:30 PM Early Check-In
10:30 AM - 4:00 PM Problem Check-In / Registration
1:30 PM - 5:00 PM Check-In / Warm-Up
5:00 PM - 5:30 PM Welcome
5:30 PM - 6:45 PM Pools B & C
5:30 PM - 8:30 PM Open Winners Round 1
6:45 PM - 8:00 PM Pools A & D
8:00 PM - 9:15 PM Pools B & C
8:30 PM - 10:00 PM Open Winners Round 2
9:15 PM - 10:30 PM Pools A & D
10:00 PM - 10:45 PM Open Winners Round 3
10:30 PM - 11:45 PM Main Stage Pool Play Match
10:45 PM - 11:30 PM Open Winners Round 4
11:30 PM - 12:15 AM Open Winners Round 5

Saturday
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM Warm-Up
10:00 AM - 11:15 AM Pools A-D - Open Team vs. Friday 4th Place
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM Open Losers Round 1
11:15 AM - 12:30 PM Pools A-D - Open Team vs. Friday 3rd Place
11:30 AM - 1:00 PM Open Losers Round 2
1:00 PM - 1:45 PM Open Losers Round 3
1:00 PM - 6:00 PM Pools A-D
1:45 PM - 3:15 PM Open Losers Round 4
3:15 PM - 4:00 PM Open Losers Round 5
4:00 PM - 4:45 PM Open Losers Round 6
5:00 PM - 6:15 PM Championship Losers Round 1
6:15 PM - 7:30 PM Championship Losers Round 2
7:30 PM - 8:45 PM Championship Winners Semifinals A / Losers Round 3
8:45 PM - 10:00 PM Championship Winners Semifinals B / Losers Round 4
10:00 PM - 11:15 PM Championship Losers Round 5

Sunday
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM Warm-Up
10:00 AM - 11:15 AM Championship Losers Round 6
11:15 AM - 12:30 PM Championship Losers Round 7
12:30 PM - 1:45 PM Championship Losers Round 8
1:45 PM - 3:00 PM Championship Losers Round 9
2:00 PM - 3:15 PM Championship Winners Finals
3:15 PM - 4:30 PM Championship Losers Finals
4:30 PM - 6:00 PM Championship Finals

I will be taking tons of pictures and tweeting as I go along!