Category: Video Games

Wemby, T-Wolves Fall Short of Historic Comeback.

After falling 105-99 to the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 7 of the 1996 Western Conference Semifinals, media found a very somber Victor Wembanyama answering questions post-game. Despite losing All-NBA-Teammate Penny Hardaway for the playoffs (and potentially the beginning of the 1996-97 season) to a torn meniscus right before the postseason, the team was optimistic on their chances of repeating as world champions. This optimism was tested as soon as the Semifinals began, with the Trail Blazers taking a 3-0 series lead into Portland for Game 4.

“I thought we still had the team to win, and we proved by forcing a game 7 that this team still has that talent. My goal is to keep winning basketball games until I’m transported back to 2023 where I belong” the always joking Wembanyama tried to raise spirits by revisiting an old classic. “I’m starting to get worried actually, I’m pretty sure I heard a Ben Simmons is in the upcoming draft class.. is that the Ben from my timeline?” The Timberwolves media team quickly ushered off the two-time MVP as he was clearly tired from an exhaustive week of basketball.

After battling to keep his team afloat, he’ll now need to battle Minnesota executives to iron out a new contract. After an already historic first four seasons (which has seen two MVPs, the 1995 NBA Championship and enough silverware to put any normal player in Springfield) Wembanyama put the final exclamation point on his rookie deal: breaking Michael Jordan’s historic nine-season-long grasp on the scoring title.

Optimism is high in Minnesota for the upcoming offseason, despite question marks around Hardaway’s future and needing to finalize a deal with Wembanyama before Free Agency begins. The team has three picks in a loaded 1996 draft, which many experts are citing as one of the best ever. If they play their cards right, a rested and retooled Timberwolves (65-17 in 95/96) could challenge the 1967 Lakers record of 69 wins.

This is a work of fiction based on a simulation in NBA 2k24. Victor Wembanyama was put in the 1992 NBA Draft and picked 2nd by the Minnesota Timberwolves. As of the 1996 off-season, he has already won the 1993 RotY, 1994 and 1996 MVP, 1994 Most Improved, 1995 Finals MVP and has been All-Star, All-NBA and All-Defense every season.

Monster Hunter: World – Early Impressions

First off, My Palico is cuter than yours.

Okay, that’s not true.  All Palicos are adorable in their own way… but look at that little tuft of purple fur around his eye!  What a stinkin’ charmer!

I’ve spent about 4 hours with Monster Hunter: World (playing on a launch model PS4), the first hour was spent creating my character and my Palico.  Honestly, that’s been my favorite part of the game so far.  There are certainly other things to like strewn about the world, especially once it opens up and you can start exploring freely and doing side-quests (something that I’ve only just now unlocked and started to tinker with), but the combat isn’t gelling with me yet (that might be my fault, I picked Bow and Arrow) and the game throws about a million new systems at you all at once.

I’ve spent some time today watching tutorial videos on some of the systems that the game decides to just fluff past with a quick two-screen info dump of a “tutorial”, but I still feel a little lost when it comes to upgrades, money, leveling up and crafting.  I haven’t even touched the online component, but that all seems needlessly complicated as well.

I also understand that these games have a very passionate fanbase that wants exactly what this game is offering, and considering this is supposed to be the “approachable” one for new-comers, I guess I’m just glad this is the first one I’ve tried.

If nothing else, my driving force of getting my Palico the cutest possible outfit should propel me to getting at least 20 hours out of this game.

Last night I got him a mustache:

God damn that’s cute.