Here's what you can expect this week at KHYRON.NET...

.:Schedule:.

• Wednesday: Installment number 3 of the newly named 'K-Files' returns with another prototype logo.

• Thursday: Review: SAW II. It's a smash hit at the box office last weekend, but does it meet the hype? Find out in my full review.
  

• Friday into Saturday: Review: Week 1 of City of Villains. It's finally released and I'm well on my way to reaching that level cap. Find out my first week impressions of NCsoft's new title.
  

.:Webcam:.

Keep your eyes peeled...

Plan your internet surfing accordingly. Thank you.

~Mike

Things to do on Halloween:

10 - Watch Stephen King's It on the SciFi Channel's 13 Days of Halloween marathon. I'm sure George Noory won't be.

9 - Take a candle into a dark bathroom and have a staring contest with your reflection in the mirror. Ideally, you will never beat yourself at it. If you do, seek help.

8 - For those fortunate enough to have access, The Encore Channel will be airing Zack Snyder's 2004 remake of Dawn of the Dead. While not nearly as good as George Romero's original, the opening and title sequences make it definitely worth checking out.

7 - As part of it's Monster Fest marathon, AMC will be airing the original Friday the 13th. In a world of countless sequels, it's refreshing to see the first in the series that started it all.

6 - Dress up in whichever costume you choose and simply stare out a front window at Trick or Treaters. Nothing is more unsettling then seeing someone staring out at you. Don't believe me? Give it a try and see how people react.

5 - Turn off all of the lights and post a 'Not Home' sign on your front door, then watch your favorite horror movie on DVD. I recommend the new releases Land of the Dead and the Saw Director's Cut, or classics like Alien, The Thing, or 28 Days Later.

4 - Turn off all of the lights and post a 'Not Home' sign, but be honestly away and go see Saw II in theatres. Just make sure you check out the first one before hand. Ha..."see Saw..."

3 - Again, turn off the lights and make sure you wont be interrupted by Trick or Treaters. Choose your favorite horror video game and play it on the hardest difficulty, with the sound cranked up, with your back to an empty room. I recommend Doom 3, Silent Hill (any of them), Resident Evil (again, doesn't matter which one), or the recently Reviewed F.E.A.R.

2 - Hunker down for the master Art Bell and his annual Ghost to Ghost AM radio show. For best results, turn off the lights, lay in bed, and try to avoid any external distractions. By midnight, there shouldn't be any kids wandering the streets, so no need to post the 'Not Home' sign.

1 - No matter what you choose to do, just try to be scared and have fun. Happy Halloween, everyone. Peace.

~Khyron

F.E.A.R. : First Encounter Assault Recon - Developed by Monolith
Rated M for Mature

When it comes to video games, there are two things that really make you feel like a badass: first person perspective and slow motion. So what would happen if you combined these with a paranormal plotline and a bunch of high-powered weapons for good measure? Easily one of the most engaging and downright fun experiences on the PC.

In F.E.A.R. (First Encounter Assault Recon), you play as a member of an elite reconnaissance team. After powerful psychic Paxton Fettle escapes his confines, he activates an army of 'Replica' clones. They are utterly loyal, fighting and following orders until their leader is destroyed. That's where you come in. Your mission is simple, find and eliminate Paxton, rendering his clones docile. Only things can never go according to plans...

In a market flooded with first person shooters, F.E.A.R. tries to break the mold by utilizing the ever popular 'bullet-time' effect. I'm really surprised the idea to combine FPS with bullet-time wasn't jumped on sooner, as they work quite well together (but I'm sure that now after F.E.A.R. we're going to see a lot more of it).

The story is pretty cliche, "borrowing" concepts and enemies from a plethora of sources. Try to imagine what would happen if Silent Hill fused with Metal Gear Solid, with just a hint of Half-Life. What it creates is an amalgamation of genres that gives it a real sense of uniqueness, while building off the success of others. It's also pretty mature, too. Characters drop just as many F-Bombs as the explosive kind, and a well-placed shotgun blast will either A) remove a limb from your target; or B) Turn the unlucky fellow into a red mist. Not quite sure why (or how) a shotgun would have the later effect, but in the heat of the moment, I don't much care, either.

The single player side is about average length when compared to other FPS titles, but I think what helps F.E.A.R. stand out is its re-playability. With the slow motion effects, I found myself repeating several encounters just to try out a new tactic. Do I want to rush in there all Neo like and take them out with submachine guns and dual handguns? Or should I set a trap with proximity mines and wait for them to come to me? Although the paths through the levels are straight forward and linear, the choices you have available in engaging the enemy keep the game feeling like you're in control.

There are also the standard difficulty levels to keep you challenged on your additional times through. But quite frankly, I was fine with the 'easy' setting. Monolith must have assumed the Mature target audience is also adept at shooting things, because this game is hard. Not frustratingly difficult, but in most cases, the enemy will be able to dispatch you in a matter of seconds. Added to this is an incredibly smart AI. Teams of soldiers (they most always choose to gang up on you), will fortify positions, drive you out with grenades, or try to flank your position depending on the situation and environment. If you think you can just stand and shoot, you've got another thing coming. You need to stay dynamic, weaving through obstacles, utilizing cover, and conserving your slow-mo for the right opportunity. And let me tell you, it makes for some damn fine firefights.

Easily on par with the genre heavyweights and an with an open ended finale that just screams sequel, you can bet you'll be hearing a lot more about F.E.A.R. in the coming years. Fantastic graphics, a mature plot, and an undeniably cool slow-motion and physics engine make this game a winner. Console gamers have to wait a few more weeks for their next generation of software, but for those with a decent enough graphics card, the future is F.E.A.R.

I give F.E.A.R. my coveted 5/5 rating. Simply put, if you're looking for thrills and chills this Halloween, you'll be hard pressed to find any better than those in F.E.A.R.

Rating: 5/5

Welcome to week 2 of this ever changing paranormal recap now referred to as The K-Files. Last week saw a change in title to keep up with the expansion in subject matter. Now I present to you prototype logo #2. Once all logos have been revealed, it will be up to you, the reader, to decide which one will stick.

This week, the Top Story details my on-going coverage of Loren Coleman's now cancelled cryptozoological prize. Next, I present a personally difficult article about killer hornets in Japan. Finally, with Halloween around the corner, I’ve found an excellent article detailing some of the better (and creepier) urban legends in circulation.

Prepare yourself; here comes the all new K-Files…Full Article.

Check out the full Ghost Files/K-Files archive over at BinnallofAmerica.com.

Doom (2005) - Directed by Andrzej Bartkowiak
Rated 'R' for strong violence/gore and language.

Few failures in cinema can compare to video game adaptations. From the abysmal Mortal Kombat Annihilation to the more recent Paul WS Anderson films Resident Evil and Alien vs. Predator, the jump to cinema almost guarantees outrage from the games original fan base. Now Doom, one of the older and most recognizable games out there, gets its chance at the silver screen.

In Doom, Marine sergeant 'Sarge' (Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson) leads a diverse group of special forces operatives to Mars. Something has gone terribly wrong at the Union Aerospace Corporation's research base. Before long, the marines find themselves fighting for their lives against a group of unknown creatures. Meanwhile, 'Reaper' (Karl Urban) battles his personal daemons.

Having never been pleased with a video game adaptation, I went into Doom with very low expectations. This being said, Doom rocked...hard. Full of one-liners, catch phrases, and trash talk, this movie is so undeniably fun and lighthearted that I couldn't help laugh throughout. This was a welcome change from other game-to-movie's overly serious tone. Doom knows what it is, and doesn't try to be anything more.

But this lightheartedness doesn't mean tame, by any means. A 'hard R,' I was a bit surprised at the amount of blood and gore. Again, another welcome change from the Pg-13 mediocrity of the before mentioned Alien vs. Predator.

There are actors in this movie; they recite lines and build a story. That's about all I'll say about that, as Doom doesn't put much importance on the acting aspect. The leading duo of The Rock and Karl Urban (Lord of the Rings) fit their parts and get no complaints from me. There are some pretty tacky lines (especially from The Rock), but they were such a throwback to 80's action cinema that I couldn't help but grin.

Speaking of tacky, there's one scene in Doom I was very much dreading. A nod to the games roots, a sequence near the end is shot through the first-person perspective of one of the marines. Seeing only the tip of his firearm, the camera weaves through corridors and around corners--all the while, monsters jump out to attack. Surprisingly, as dumb as this may sound, it was actually pretty funny. Short enough to avoid getting old, it really helped to set the stage for the climax.

Essentially, Doom is a liberal retelling of Aliens (1986). But who cares? Aliens is the de facto standard for horror/action. Most other films in the genre have copied it in one way or another, but Doom is the first to really get most of it right. Hardcore fans will probably be turned off by the lack of an overt Hell, but there was plenty of foreshadowing for the eventual (hopefully) sequel. I give Doom 4 entertaining pentagrams out of 5.

Rating: 4/5

~Khyron

Here's what you can expect this week at KHYRON.NET...

.:Schedule:.

• Monday: Review: Doom (2005). How does this latest video game adaptation stand up against the rest? Find out in Khyron's full review.

• Wednesday: Installment number 2 of the newly named 'K-Files' returns with another prototype logo.

• Thursday: Review: F.E.A.R. With Halloween rapidly approaching, I give my $0.02 (US) on Vivendi Universal's new first-person shooter for PC's.

• Friday into Saturday: Khyron's Top 10 things to do for Halloween.

.:Webcam:.

Nothing new to report yet, but keep your eyes peeled throughout the week.

.:Edit:.

Better mark this on your calendars, as it appears for the first time ever, Khyron has mislead you. (Ok, so it happens all the time...but I'm pretty embarrassed about this one).

In my review for "Serenity," I incorrectly associated Adam Baldwin with the famous family of the same name. After further investigation, I found that he is in-fact not related. Thanks to FrogSplash over at the Sci-Fi BBoard for pointing this out. I assumed, and made an ass out of myself. I'd just like to give a shout-out to everyone over there that read and commented on my review. Thanks for your support.

Plan your internet surfing accordingly. Thank you.

~Mike

It has been a wild couple of weeks fulfilling my evil fantasies via the pre-release Beta testing for NCsoft's City of Villains. It was tough not being able to share my experiences, as a non-disclosure agreement has kept my inquisitive mouth shut. However, with the games Halloween release date rapidly approaching, said NDA has been lifted, allowing me squeal to my heart's content about this interesting game.

For those unaware of my adventures with City of Villains and other massive multiplayer online RPG's (MMORPG), feel free to get caught up with the past articles In Search of a PC RPG and Off the Wagon.

First off, and most importantly, the character creation in City of Villains (CoV) is top notch. I've played several MMORPG's and found that the crafting of your digital persona is very important to your enjoyment of the game--not only is it the first thing you see, but it is also where you choose the appearance of the character you will certainly commit a good portion of your life to.

The creation process first prompts you to choose between 5 Archetypes: Brutes, Corrupters, Dominators, Master Minds, or Stalkers. No matter what kind of villain you wish to play as, it will fall under one of these broad catagories. Next you can choose from a huge assortment of powers. These range from ice blasts, to psychic attacks, to being able to summon Ninja to fight for you. All very cool.

Once you have the archetype and powers chosen, its time to pick your appearance. In all my playing experience, I have never encountered a creation process with so many options. Quite literally, if you can think it up, there's an option for it in CoV. In-game, I have seen things from werewolves, to cyborgs, and even killer snowmen. Quite frankly, sorting through all of the options is fun enough. In all, I spent more time using the creation screen than I did actually testing the gameplay. Yes, it is just that cool.

So what kind of character did I finally make? Being a big-time paranormal and sci-fi buff, I made an evil 'grey' alien named "The Xenomaster" (pictured above). Toping off at nearly 5 ft, he's one of the smaller villains around, but he makes up for his stature with powerful psychic powers. So far in the game, I've unlocked the ability to toss enemies with my mind and hurl psionic darts--Abilities I thought fitting for an evil alien determined to conquer humanity.

The game itself is really nothing new. If you've played any MMORPG before, you'll feel right at home. Basically, you do missions for contacts in exchange for money and experience. After you kill enough enemies and earn enough experience, you level up and repeat. However, as opposed to the poor mission design of The Matrix Online in particular, the quests in CoV are at least pretty diverse. With nearly 15 hours of playtime, it still doesn't feel close to being repetitive.

One of my biggest complaints with the game is that it doesn't really make you feel like a villain. Sure, the settings are darker and more rundown when compared to City of Heroes, but what was cool about that game is you help random people getting mugged on the streets. Little things like that really made you feel like a superhero; however, in CoV, instead of being able to do the mugging, you're instead restricted to villainous in-fighting. After attacking your bazillionth nameless thug, you start to wonder why the heroes don't put you on the payroll. The only time I really felt like a bad guy was an extremely fun bank robbery mission. Only problem is there's just one of them!

There are still a few bugs yet, especially a series of rather annoying ones involving incompatibility with my ATI graphics card. Designed for nVidia, ATI users should be weary. Though of all the games I've had the privilege of beta testing, CoV definitely has a pretty stable foundation. I think this is in part that it is essentially City of Heroes with a facelift.

So do I think this will change my overall negative view of MMORPG's? Probably not. Will I still play it religiously for 3-4 months? You betcha.

Stay tuned for my full review of the release when it hits shelves on Halloween. Official Website.

~Khyron

"Serenity" - 2005
Written and Directed by Joss Whedon
Rated Pg-13 for sequences of intense violence and action, and some sexual references.

Acclaimed by critics and loved by fans, Joss Whedon's love it or hate it sci-fi epic, Firefly, gets a second chance at life. In his big-screen, directorial debut, Whedon tries to stake a claim in the post Star Wars market.

In Serenity, Captain Mal (Nathan Fillion) and crew run guns and steal goods in order to keep their prized vessel, the Serenity, in flight. Set in a future dominated by an oppressive government, the crew finds itself the target of a mysterious assassin. Meanwhile, River (Summer Glau) begins to understand her purpose, prompting Mal to make a choice that will decide the fate of the Serenity.

Joss Whedon is obviously quite skilled at two things: casting and dialogue.

First of all, the cast assembled ranks among one of the most homely and believable in recent sci-fi memory. There's no external baggage to bring you out of Serenity's fantasy universe. And except for a few excusably hokey lines, the essentially unknown cast performs fine in this expanded medium.

Though such fine performances are helped to be made possible by a very well written script. About as far from the debatable dialogue in this year's hit, Revenge of the Sith, as possible, Serenity features honest and believable character interaction. Which is good, too, because despite the action extravaganza appearance given in the trailers, Serenity is very much a talkative, thinking-man's sci-fi. That's not to say that it's boring--far from it--but I feel that much of its success is due to the crafted interaction between characters.

As long as I'm making parallels to Star Wars, I think a big point to raise is in special effects. Again, choosing the opposite path, Serenity takes a minimalist approach to CGI. As opposed to the increased dependence on green-screens, it was good to see real sets, props, and stunts. And of the computer animation used, it focuses mainly on space battles--an aspect well suited to CGI. A giant battle sequence near the end stands out as not only a fine example of computer animation done right, but also as evidence of the high production value of Serenity.

When a TV show is adapted to movie format, it's a challenge to give it the refined appearance of cinema. But as with other show-turned-movies franchises like The X-Files and Star Trek, Serenity stays true to its television roots, while still providing the aesthetic charm expected in a full-length film.

My biggest quarrel with the film is with it's ending. Either Whedon holds out hope for sequels or he just doesn't want to see his brain child forever altered, but a very tacked on scene basically admits the entire film had little impact on its fictional universe. There are some risks taken (perhaps too many for seriously die-hard fans), but personally, I would have liked to have seen the movie format be a means to really try out some new things.

A touching mix of great characters, exciting action, and a unique setting, Serenity is every bit as good as the beloved Firefly. Although it may not be enough to warrant a series comeback, it is certainly a fine piece of science fiction. For those turned-off or disappointed in the latest Star Wars, Serenity makes a fine alternative.

Rating: 4/5

Welcome back to this ever changing paranormal recap now known simply as The K-Files. Always evolving, this new name is in response to the new, expanded format. Along with it you’ll notice prototype number one of the new K-Files logo. For the next few weeks, I will be presenting a new logo, and then allow you, the reader, to vote on the one you like the best.

This week, the Top Story details Loren Coleman’s promotion of a new cryptozoological prize. Next, I present a very medical account of real-life vampires. Finally, with the apocalypse possibly approaching, it’s now possible to go down in style.

You’d better get ready; here comes the all new K-Files…Full Article.

Check out the full K-Files (Ghost Files) archive at BinnallofAmerica.com.

Here's what you can expect this week at KHYRON.NET:

Wednesday: The K-Files. Formerly known as Ghost Files, I will present three of the stranger news articles on the web.

Thursday: Review: "Serenity." A bit late, but this good movie needs help.

Friday into Saturday: Review: "City of Villains" Beta. With the NDA lifted, I will reveal the pros and cons of this highly anticipated game.

Plan your internet surfing accordingly. Thank You.

~Khyron

Few Coast to Coast AM guests get me as excited to listen as filmmaker and theorist, Alex Jones. The last time Jones checked in with us for a full episode, Mr. Noory set the focus on the nature of conspiracies. For those that remember this show (my recap Here), this topic lasted for about 30 minutes. Jones is very adamant in his opinion, and is known to go off on conspiratorial tangents.

For this latest appearance, the Noor has set the focus on peak oil. And, I must say, this was a bit confusing at first. Why would Jones, a hard-core NWO watchdog, be talking about something more suited to an Art Bell episode? Then I saw that he would be arguing against the theory...

...Now we're talking.

As I alluded to above, this concept has been the topic of many weekend Bell episodes. Art seems pretty confident in his belief that it's going to be downhill from now on in oil production. George hasn't much covered the topic, except maybe to say that alternative fuel vehicles would be beneficial economically. Therefore, although hesitant that Jones should be the one to talk about it, I was glad we could see the other side of the peak oil debate.

So then, how long did he stay on topic this time? Surprisingly, for pretty much the whole episode. As always, Jones had enough news articles and quotes that he could probably have talked for a good five hours. There wasn't much opportunity to bring up Skull and Bones, "pulling the tower," or Bohemian Grove. And, even more surprisingly, this was actually a nice change. It's not that what Jones said in his past appearances still isn't relevant, but each time he's on, George spends the first hour or so trying to summarize Jones' theories for those that haven't heard him before. It was refreshing not to hear about his Grove infiltration for the millionth time.

Joining Jones was his editor, Paul Watson. This was a tricky situation, as Jones hasn't proven himself able to interview well with others. As we saw in the 9/11 Roundtable, Jones has a way of dominating a discussion with his powerful voice and enthusiasm. And, in this instance, Watson really took a backseat to him. It seemed that Jones would start talking about a certain point, then, just to make him feel included, sort of pitch a slow-ball that Paul could comment on--only to interrupt him and continue with what he was saying.

All in all, it was a good show, with Jones presenting a lot of information. But perhaps it was even too much. By the end, I was more confused on the subject than at the beginning. Since then, however, I've checked out the section dedicated to this subject at Prisonplanet.com. Reading the articles really helped me understand it. That section is available Here.

What I'd really like to see now is what (if anything) Art Bell has to say about this. Although Art probably didn't even listen, this has the opportunity to turn into a rift similar to that of the 9/11 debate.

~Khyron

That growling you hear in the background is most likely the guttural voice of Alex Jones. Yes, the Bulldog himself has once again returned to the airwaves of Coast to Coast AM. But what is this about the topic? Peak oil? A very interesting and controversial show to be sure, it's a big change from Alex's previous shows of grand, New World Order conspiracy.

In my response to one of my favorite C2C guests, I will be present a two part editorial to conspiracy. Here, in Part 1, I present to you an argumentative essay on my beliefs regarding secret societies.

"Oh Owl! Prince of all mortal wisdom, Owl of Bohemia, we beseech thee, grant us thy council," shouted a white-robed demagogue. Behind him, a human effigy laid burning in a great bonfire. The normal midnight silence of the ancient redwood forest broken by Hall of the Mountain King blaring from giant speakers as a large crowd cheered in approval. Among them were bankers, media moguls, prime ministers, and presidents. But this couldn't be real...could it?

Read the full essay Here.

Tomarrow I will continue with Part 2 in which I'll give my $0.02 on Alex's latest appearance on Coast to Coast and his theories on peak oil.

Due to server problems, today's scheduled Alex Jones commentary will be postponed until later in the evening.

Sorry for any inconvenience. If you are here in search of my argumentative essay on secret societies and shadow governments, it too will be up tonight.

Thank you.

~Khyron

Wednesday has arrived, which can mean only one thing--the return of everyone's favorite Ghost Files. It is time to once again to enter the shadow realm of paranormally-bound internet news articles.

This week, the Top Story questions whether or not we are indeed nearing the apocalypse. Plus, could Canadian UFO whistle blower Paul Hellyer have ulterior motives? Finally, we take a trip with psychotropic investigator, Graham Hancock.

Ghost Files is approaching. Proceed at your own risk. Full Article.

Be sure to check out the full Ghost Files archive at BinnallofAmerica.com.

If you've been following the news of the video game industry, you probably know that Microsoft's new console, the Xbox 360, will be released on November 22. To promote it, Microsoft has teamed with Mountain Dew to bring us the "Every Ten Minutes" sweepstakes.

Here's how it works. You collect codes, either from bottle caps or stickers on 12-packs, and enter them online to be redeemed for points. You then allocate your points to a ten-minute time slot. Since the sweepstakes began and until October 31st, they randomly choose an entered code at each time slot and award its owner a 360.

In all, over 9000 Xbox 360's will be given away.

This campaign had me rather intrigued. By entering a crap load of points at one obscure 10 minute slot, I reasoned, my chances of winning would be relatively good. At its beginning, due to lack of advertising, some time slots had as few as a couple hundred registered points. If I bought 30 or 40 Mountain Dews, the ~$50 spent would be well worth it for a free $500 game console.

For nearly 1.5 months, I collected as many caps as I could muster. I would seek out friends and coworkers drinking Mountain Dew and ask, "Hey...can I have your cap?"

At one point I even threw down and bought an entire 24-piece tray from the backroom of a grocery store. This $30 expense was covered mostly by funds credited to the 8 in my wallet, so I hoped the numerological karma would bring me more fortune.

Unfortunately, it did not.

After saving up 38 total points, I put them all on 2am, Monday morning. The ten minutes came and went, only to award a 360 to some guy in Idaho. Damn.

There were about 1400 total registered codes. My 38 gave me somewhere around a 3% chance of winning. A long shot, yes, but still very much in the realm of the possible. In the end, despite the loss of funds, it was well worth the excitement.

Now I must decide if I actually want the 360 enough to buy it. Somehow I just don't think it will feel as special.

Welcome to what is destined to be a jam-packed week at KHYRON.NET.

• Tuesday - I will detail my adventures with Mountain Dew's Every Ten Minutes sweepstakes. Did I win the Xbox 360? Find out tomorrow!

• Wednesday - As always, Wednesdays are paranormally bound with another addition to Ghost Files.

• Thursday - In response to Alex Jones appearance on Coast to Coast AM, I will be posting my argumentative essay on the political climate of America and the nature of shadow governments.

• Friday - Saturday - This is still in the air. I have my review for the season 1 box set of Battlestar Galactica, but it may be pushed back once again in favor of my possible review of Universal Picture's "Serenity."

As with last week, this tentative schedule is liable to change. The beta invites for City of Villains could be announced any day this week, and I will interrupt whatever is on that day to bring you coverage.

:Other News:

Khyron's going big-time over at the official website for the Unreal Tournament mod., Killing Floor. My Review for the single player demo has been chosen for featured display. To the Killing Floor team, great work on your mod. I have the v1.0 and will have a full review in the near future.

You can check out Killing Floor and my review at their official site.

Stay tuned...

Day of Defeat Source (PC)
Published and Developed by Valve.
Rated M for mature

When the first Day of Defeat was released as a modification of the ever-popular Half-Life, it quickly became an astounding success. As opposed to its King-of-Mods counterpart, Counter Strike, Day of Defeat abandoned terrorist bombings for World War II flag-point capturing.

Last year, with the release of Half-Life 2 and the upgraded 'Source' physics engine, developer Valve announced plans for a revamping of its popular shooters to this new technology. For nearly a year, Day of Defeat Source has been frustratingly classified as 'Coming Soon.'

So was it worth the wait? Without question.

Day of Defeat Source is a frenzied study in house to house firefights between German and Allied forces. You take the fight to the enemy in four starting maps ranging from the Anzio beach in Italy to the streets of France. Each map features its own set of tactics and challenges, helping to keep each round of fighting a bit different from the one proceeding it. However, after a few hours of play, the maps become rather monotonous. Although most of the favorites from the original Day of Defeat have been transferred, I would have liked to have seen a more extensive map collection on release.

There are five weapon sets to choose from, with each force having their own unique firearms. And although each set has a similar purpose (infantry, assault, support, etc.), the varying weapon's strengths and weaknesses keeps things interesting.

The graphics are on par with the other Source title, Counter Strike Source. Character models are bold and smooth with terrain being textured and varied. And because of its relatively small maps, you wont need a state of the art machine to run it.

Valve has also added two new features that I can't help but describe as really cool.

The first of these is a new sound feature designed to add to the realism of combat. As opposed to a background score or simply silence, the game transfers the real-time gunfire into an ambient sound. If two opposing machines guns open-up on each other, for instance, the muffled pounding of rapidly fired bullets will be apparent to all. This really helps to make an immersive, believable atmosphere.

The second new feature is designed to reward the winning team. In the original, as soon as a team won, there would be a few seconds of victory music. You could still move around, but firing was disabled. So, although you would be face to face with your enemy, there was little else you could do but jump around and spin in circles. Now, however, firing is only disabled for the losing team, allowing the winners to hunt down and kill them in cold-blood. Although this may seem like a small part of the game, the ability to release your tension in this way is satisfying beyond belief.

Day of Defeat Source makes for a fun, pick-up-and-play experience. However, despite the delayed release, there are still a plethora of bugs to be worked out. The most annoying of them causes you to get 'stuck' in a fellow player, preventing either of you from moving, and forcing one to team-kill. And, although this is technically a finished title, there's still a 'Report a Bug' option on the main menu.

Despite its flaws, Day of Defeat Source is undeniably fun. I give it four gold stars, out of five.

Rating: 4/5

~Khyron

Because of the breaking news from Cryptic Studios and NCsoft (makers of the upcoming City of Villains) I will be making a bit of a change from the previously posted schedule. Expect my review for Valve's Day of Defeat Source (PC) tomorrow night into Saturday. My review for the season one box set of Battlestar Galactica will be postponed until next week.

Anywho, on with the big news:

As I explained in the previous article titled "Off the Wagon," I faltered from my vow to never again purchase a MMORPG. Despite my goal to play only free, first-person shooters and offline, single player RPG's, I couldn't resist the urge to preorder City of Villains (CoV).

For those unaware of the game, CoV is the highly anticipated sequel/expansion to City of Heroes (CoH), which was released in April of last year. CoH received critical acclaim and quickly grew to have a large, devoted fanbase. Since it's release, however, there has been much speculation that an update would allow players to control the bad guys of the superhero story.

Now that speculation is coming to fruition.

Today, at a press conference held at non-other than Alcatraz Island, the details for City of Villains were revealed. There has been alot of questions regarding the pricing plan for CoV. For CoH, you pay a monthly fee of $14.99. Many anticipated a $5 - 10 additional monthly fee in order to include CoV. NCsoft has taken a rather unexpected route by announcing no additional charge.

That's right. For those who already subscribe to CoH, your monthly fee will not change. Effectively giving you two games for the price of one (as CoV subscribers likewise get CoH at no additional charge). Personally, I think this is a great move not only for subscribers, but also to try and sway people from genre giant, World of Warcraft.

This news obviously has me quite pleased.

I had the privilege to play CoH on several occasions due to free trials I've received. The game is good, I won't deny that, but between the two, CoV would be my primary choice. But now that they're effectively tacking on CoH, I will definitely be playing a few hero characters in addition to my villains.

As a pre-order participant, I will be eligible for beta testing in the next few days. And although a non-disclosure agreement will keep from blabbing about it here, you can expect big time coverage when the game is finally released, rumored to be October 31st (Halloween...just perfect timing).

You can read the full press-release HERE.

Welcome back to all of you paranormal junkies out there. You've once again found yourself in the unpredictable realm of Ghost Files.

This week, the Top Story continues my depressed rant on the failures of cryptozoologists. Next, I've got a rather Rorschach image of what might be a ghost. Finally, India Daily gives us the 411 on alien stealth technology.

You'd better get ready; here come the 'Files...Full Article.

Check out the full Ghost Files archive at BinnallofAmerica.com.

I wanted to keep the Sci-Fi Showdown Awards at the top of the list to make it easier for first time readers to find it. Hence the lack of recent updates. The turn-out success has been truly great so far. I would like to thank all of you that took the time to check it out, with a special shout out to the members of the Sci-fi BBoard and TheUSofE.Com.

Here's what you can expect this week:

• Ghost Files (Wed.)
• Review: Day of Defeat Source
  
• Review: DVD Season 1 Battlestar Galactica

Plus! (Perhaps) much more.

*KHYRON.NET Webcam - (10.02.05)*

It's best to let sleeping dogs lie. Behold my two laptops.

Stay tuned...

~Khyron

Welcome to the KHYRON.NET Sci-Fi Showdown Awards!

It has been a summer season that could be described only as ridiculously entertaining. The Sci-Fi Channel's Sci-Fi Friday has more than lived up to my claim that it is the greatest three, consecutive hours of television, ever.

In my Sci-Fi Showdown, I have watched all three shows (Stargate Sg-1, Stargate Atlantis, and Battlestar Galactica) with critical intent; my final goal was to choose the show I felt was the better of three. Over the past 11 weeks, I have chosen a weekly victor, granting it a Showdown point. Now that all three shows have now aired their summer season finale, it is time to not only declare the Showdown Winner, but to also give credit to the actors and actresses that I felt performed exemplarily.

Now, without further adieu, here are the results for Khyron's Sci-Fi Showdown, Summer Season '05...

(Key: SG1= Stargate Sg-1, SGA=Stargate Atlantis, BSG=Battlestar Galactica)

Best Actor (Leading Role): Jamie Bamber (BSG)
This was a tough call, as both Bamber and Olmos were excellent this season. The win goes to Bamber because of his emotional performance following the near fatal shooting of his father (Olmos) in the beginning of the season. He has proven to be capable and likeable lead.
Runner-Ups: Edward James Olmos (BSG), Ben Browder (SG1), Joe Flanigan (SGA)

Best Actress (Leading Role): Mary McDonnell (BSG)
Playing the role of a female president, Mary McDonnell has developed greatly in this season. The character mixes a personal fight with cancer and the external demands of governing the remnants of humanity. McDonnell's interactions with Edward Olmos rank among the most dramatic and touching in the series.
Runner-Ups: Katee Sackhoff (BSG), Amanda Tapping (SG1)

Best Actor (Supporting Role): James Callis (BSG)
James Callis stole every scene he was featured in, perhaps making his part debatably a lead role. His character, Dr. Gaius Baltar, is neurotic to the extreme, and Callis expertly crafted him into what became my favorite character on Battlestar Galactica.
Runner-Ups: Michael Hogan (BSG), David Hewlett (SGA), Aaron Douglas (BSG)

Best Actress (Supporting Role): Grace Park (BSG)
Following her unpredictable betrayal to end the first season, Grace Park (character "Boomer") has continued to play the beleaguered soul of the cast. Torn between loyalties and at the center of a viscous love triangle, Grace has had much opportunity to shine--and shine she has. Probably the most abused character on BSG, she draws a great deal of sympathy from me, despite the fact she is a cyborg.
Runner-Ups: Kandyse McClure (BSG), Torri Higginson (SGA), Tricia Helfer (BSG)

Best Episode: "Pegasus" (BSG)
What else can I say about "Pegasus" that I didn't in the Week 11 Showdown? It was joyous, dramatic, intense, horrifying, and brutal, all in one 60 minute time slot. As far as finales go, BSG has proven to be quite adept--the cliff-hanger that it ended on has left me counting the seconds until the Winter season in January.
Runner-Ups: Beachhead (SG1), Intruder (SGA)

And now, the moment you have all been waiting for:

The Winner of the Sci-Fi Showdown is (surprise, surprise!) Battlestar Galactica.

With a total of 6 Showdown points (three times that of the 2-2 Stargate tie), Battlestar Galactica is the clear winner of the season. Its complexity, strong cast, strong writing, and excellent effects create what is surely destined to become one of the crowning achievements of science fiction television. Zipping through the first part of its second season, I feel this show has the potential for many more to come, and here's hoping that it will. Although the Stargate franchise will always have a special place in my heart, Battlestar Galactica works on such a higher level that I think sometimes they can't even be compared.

Thus concludes the Summer Season Sci-Fi Showdown. It was a Battlestar Blowout, with all awards being dominated by this very fine show. The Showdown will now be taking a break until the Winter season in January. I would like to thank everyone for their support and for keeping up with the Showdown.

"So say we all."

~Mike