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Gaming with Gil - Ep. 2
Topics: Gamestor, Bakersfield, Gil, Bakotopia, 2008, Video Game News, blog, gaming, East Hills Mall
Posted by Gilboa Mon Jun 9, 2008 16:37:33 PDT
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0 responses 1 comment Location: 3000 Mall View Rd # 1015, Bakersfield, CA 93306

Gaming with Gil - Ep. 2
Video gaming news from Bakotopialand’s resident expert - Thunder Run edition!



By Gamestor Gil, Bakotopia.com contributor

How many Bakotopia readers can admit to owning an Evel Knievel motorcycle and doll, or should I say, “action figure”? Man, I just dated myself.

Well, I do! As a kid I used to march into the kitchen to get my mom’s wood cutting board and place it against her big cooking pot. Then I’d wind up my Evel Knievel action figure on his motorcycle as fast I could - and then let it soar over her Tupperware plastic cups. Man, that was cool!

That, indeed, was my first full-fledged fantasy “Thunder Run”-type experience with motorcycles. The second would have been playing my share of Nintendo’s “Excitebike” video game. Third would be playing my personal favorite Sega Genesis game, “Road Rash.” Remember that game? While on your motorcycle, you’d swing that big metal chain or wooden bat around trying to knock the other opponents off their motorcycles - brutally fun!

In 2005, Activision came out with a motorcycle game that did not fair as well as “Exitebike” or “Road Rage.” It was called “American Chopper” (PS2, Xbox). It might have been a hot show on cable, but in the video game world it stunk. It must have received an average score of 4.3 out of 10 in reviews, and it didn’t get much better with its 2006 follow up sequel - “American Chopper 2: Full Throttle.” Just a point above its predecessor, it received 4.5 out of 10.

If you’re looking for a brutal off-road racing event (featuring vehicles and motorcycles,) check out PS3’s “Motorstorm” (83 percent rating!)

What’s coming up...2008
Release Date June 10: Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit (X360, PS3); Don King Presents: Prizefighter (X360); and NASCAR 09 (X360, PS3, PS2).
Release Date June 12: Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (PS3) - Yes!
Release Date June 17: Secret Agent Clank (PSP) - Clank tries his hand at espionage; and Heroes of the Pacific (PSP) - WWII aerial combat.
Release Date June 22: Rock Band (WII) - Finally! - and Guitar Hero: On Tour (DS).
Release Date June 23: Battlefield: Bad Company (X360, PS3) - looks BAD! - and Top Spin 3 (X360, WII, PS3, DS).
Release Date June 24: Hail to the Chimp (PS3, X360) - a party game based on politics in the animal kingdom; Alone in the Dark (X360, PC, PS2, WII); Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift (DS); Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Heroes 2: The Phantom Fortress (PSP); Hellboy: Science of Evil (PSP, X360, PS3); and Mega Man Star Force 2: Zerker x Ninja (DS).

- Gamestor Gil” can be heard live Tuesday mornings on KRAB 106.1 FM with Meathead, Rocky Nash and Francis at 9 a.m.

Questions? Comments? Send e-mail to: gil@gamestor.com with “Bakotopia” in the subject line.

Story printed in Bakotopia issue 30, 6-12-08

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Comment From: matt

Great column Gil. I used to have one of those Evil Knievel motorcycles too...haha!