Merry Christmas!

     Just wanted to wish all of you a very merry Christmas!  Mrs. Coffee and I, along with our sons, were out of town over the last week, which is the main reason for no posts.
     I have a few posts lined up for the next week already, and posting should return to a more "normal" schedule, but until then I hope you all have a great Christmas!

Hot Coffee in Modern Warfare 3? Yes Please!

What good are night vision goggles, if your eyes can't stay open to use them?
Order of successful night vision goggles usage: drink coffee, then use night vision goggles.

Coffee Beans
     What's more awesome than drinking coffee and playing video games? Drinking coffee, and finding coffee related items/references in video games while playing!
     I received Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 on the Wii last month, and as I was playing through the game's single-player campaign I recorded a lot of footage from the levels.
     I was still early in the campaign, when I ran across something coffee related. What was it? Take a look below.

FPS Friday! Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3's Hours Report

Coffee Beans
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 was released on November 8, 2011 for all the current generation home consoles. The Wii version released at a MSRP of $49.99, and it was developed by Infinity Ward/Sledgehammer Games and ported to the Wii by Treyarch, and it was published by Activision.

The Wii version received an ESRB rating of "Mature" with "Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Strong Language" listed as content for parents and gamers to be aware of.

How many hours have Wii owners put into Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, and does it appear they are playing the game online any? Let's take a look!

More Money for Coffee! UPDATED Amazon.com & Best Buy Deals, Now GameStop Also

Coffee Beans
     We love coffee around here, and we also enjoy video games. What happens when video games go on sale? Well, that means you can buy video games at discounted rates, and save more money for coffee! More games = win. More coffee = win!
     Amazon.com is currently running a great "Buy One, Get One 50% Off" video game sale and the image above shows where to look for it at the link, and BestBuy.com is running a Buy any Two Games Priced $29.99 or More, Get a Third Select Game Free. sale for a limited time (thanks superphillip for the reminder!). GameStop just sent out an email announcing their Buy 2 used games, get 1 free at GameStop.com
sale happening through Sunday. Take a look!

Ape & Monkey Together = Awesome Game! A Year's Worth of Donkey Kong Country Returns

Coffee Beans
Donkey Kong Country Returns was released on November 21, 2010 at a MSRP of $49.99. The game was developed by Retro Studios, and published by Nintendo. It received an ESRB rating of "Everyone", with "Mild Cartoon Violence" listed as content for parents and gamers to be aware of.

How many hours have Wii owners spent hoarding bananas over the last year in Donkey Kong Country Returns? Let's take a look!

Dance Fever is Contagious! Just Dance 3 Report

Coffee Beans
Just Dance 3 was released on October 7, 2011, and it was the first game in the Just Dance series to be a multi-console release.

Just Dance 3 was developed by Ubisoft Paris, and of course published by Ubisoft.

The game received an ESRB rating of "Everyone 10+" with "Lyrics" listed as content for parents and gamers to be aware of.

Just how much have Wii owners been dancing with Just Dance 3, and how well does the game appear to be selling? Let's take a look!

November Brewed! Coffees Consumed, Games Played

Coffee Beans
     First, if you are the proud owner of a 2011 Club Nintendo Original Calendar, don't forget to change your month to December!

     Now, November was a great month! Not only was it Thanksgiving, and we have a lot to be thankful for, but we also had a family member visit us for a week. I was able to play a good bit of games, and consume coffee and caffeinated products throughout November. So, without further delay, let's take a look at the games I played and the coffees I consumed in November!

Kaos! Skylanders Spyro's Adventure Hours Debut

Coffee Beans
Skylanders Spyro's Adventure was released on October 16, 2011 for the Wii, as well as the PS3, Xbox 360, 3DS, and PC. The game released in a "Starter Pack" with a MSRP of $69.99.

The console version was developed by Toys For Bob, and published by Activision. It received an ESRB rating of "Everyone 10+" with "Cartoon Violence" listed as the only content for parents and gamers to be aware of.

Does it appear Wii owners are enjoying Skylanders Spyro's Adventure, and how many gameplay hours have they reported? Let's take a look!

Modern Warfare 3 Wii Patched, Again! Patch Size & Details

Not the patch you were expecting?

Coffee Beans
     Modern Warfare 3 has been out less than a month, and Infinity Ward/Treyarch have been busy trying to make sure the game is running well for all console owners. Last week I posted how Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 had been patched on the Wii, and the first patch addressed two major issues players were experiencing: corrupt save files and lag shooting.

     Well, Activision/Infinity Ward/Treyarch just released another patch for Modern Warfare 3 on the Wii.  How big is the patch, and exactly what "major fixes" does this Wii patch address? Take a look!

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword Flies Onto the Scene! Debut Hours Report

Coffee Beans
     The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword was just released for the Wii on November 20, 2011. The game was developed by Nintendo's EAD studio, and it was of course published by Nintendo.
     The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is the Wii's first exclusive Zelda title for the system, as Twilight Princess was also available and basically developed for the GameCube, and Skyward Sword received an ESRB rating of "Everyone 10+" with "Animated Blood, Comic Mischief, Fantasy Violence" listed as content for parents and gamers to be aware of.

     How many hours have Wii owners reported playing The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword since it released? Let's take a look!

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess' Half a Decade of Hours

Coffee Beans
     The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess was released on November 19, 2006. It was developed at Nintendo's EAD studio, and published by Nintendo for both the GameCube and Wii.
     The game received an ESRB rating of "Teen" with "Animated Blood, Fantasy Violence" listed as content for parents and gamers to be aware of.

     It has been half a decade since The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess was released on the Wii, and exactly how many hours have Wii owners reported playing Twilight Princess with 1,828 days possibly reported? Let's take a look!

New Super Mario Bros. Wii Turns Two! Hours in the 2D Mushroom Kingdom

Coffee Beans
New Super Mario Bros. Wii has turned two!

New Super Mario Bros. Wii was released on November 15, 2009. It was developed by Nintendo's EAD studio, and published by Nintendo.
The game received an ESRB rating of "Everyone" with "Comic Mischief" listed as content for parents and gamers to be aware of.

How many hours have Wii owners spent playing New Super Mario Bros. Wii over the last 2 years, with 736 days possibly reported? Let's take a look!

Black Friday Black Ops! Becoming the Wii's most played FPS in only a year

Coffee Beans
     Earlier this week we looked at the Wii's most played FPS game according to the "Total Hours" played, as reported through the Nintendo Channel; you can read that report HERE.
     This FPS Black Friday report though, takes a look at the reported game-play data for Call of Duty: Black Ops over the last year.

     Call of Duty: Black Ops was released on November 9, 2010. It was developed by Treyarch, as was World at War, and published by Activision.
     The game received a "Mature" rating from the ESRB with "Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language" listed as content for parents and gamers to be aware of.

     While Black Ops does not have the most "Total Hours" reported, it has become the Wii's most played FPS game "Per person" according to reported data.
     How many hours have Wii owners spent playing Call of Duty: Black Ops over the last year, with 377 days possibly reported? Let's take a look!

2011's Video Game Turkey Award!

Coffee Beans
     What do Bobby Kotick and Michael Pachter have in common? They received CoffeeWithGames' Video Game Turkey Award in 2009 and 2010, respectively.
     The Video Game Turkey Award goes to either a video game company, and/or a person within the video game industry that through actions or words caused uproars in the video game community during the last year; and in return the company/person was roasted/baked/fried like a good turkey by the video game community.
     A lot has happened in the video game world in 2011, but did Bobby Kotick or Michael Pachter receive the Video Game Turkey Award again? Take a look and see which video game company/person receives the 2011 Video Game Turkey Award!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Our fridge stuffed with Thanksgiving dinner!

Coffee Beans
     Happy Thanksgiving! The day has been pretty relaxing so far. It started off with a few cups of Yuban coffee this morning, followed by some great eating. Mrs. Coffee cooked us some great food earlier today, the dishes were:
     1) Turkey
     2) Cornbread dressing
     3) Eggplant, zucchini casserole
     4) Baked macaroni and cheese
     5) Cranberry sauce
     6) Rolls
     7) Apple pie

     After eating, our oldest son and I went into our backyard for almost an hour, and he ran around collecting rocks from one side of the yard, and throwing them to the other side. He even created "rock slides", by picking some up and dropping them down his slide. A new meaning to the term, "rock slide".
     Soon it was his nap time, and I followed his example by passing out for about an hour.
     I just made another pot of Yuban coffee, and am enjoying my first cup as I type this.  Later tonight will be some video game play-time, then bed, before heading into the crazy work world tomorrow!

     I hope you all have had a great Thanksgiving, and just a great day in general, and hopefully you all have been able to find some time to relax today. Do any of you plan on leaving soon, or perhaps you already have, to go shopping for some deals?

GameStop's - Buy 2 Used, Get 1 Free Sale!

Coffee Beans
     This is one of GameStop's occasional video game sales that I wish I could take advantage of.  GameStop stores and GameStop.com are running a "Buy 2, Get 1 Free" sale "on all in-stock pre-owned products". The sale is happening right now, Thanksgiving Day(Happy Thanksgiving!), through this Sunday, November 27.
     The sale includes pre-owned games for the 3DS, DS, PS3, PSP, Wii, and Xbox 360 systems. If you see any games worth grabbing that you think are too great to pass up, leave a comment letting us know(causing me further torture, because I will resist).

     You can browse the online selection of games they are offering, HERE, Buy any 2 pre-owned games get 1 free at GameStop.com!

The Wii's Most Played FPS by "Total Hours" Is?

The Roast
     According to one "professional" reviewer for Modern Warfare 3 on the Wii, "The words 'Wii' and 'online multiplayer' aren't used in the same sentence very often...".
     Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 released 2 weeks ago, and I have been playing it a good bit since I received it.
     The Wii has single-player focused FPS games like Metroid Prime 3: Corruption which lack multiplayer of any sort, and the more online multiplayer focused FPS games like the Call of Duty games. While the Wii may not have as many FPS games as the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, it has had at least one FPS released every year with online multiplayer since 2007.

     What is the most played Wii FPS according to "Total Hours" played, as reported through the Nintendo Channel, and does it have online multiplayer? Can you guess it before seeing the answer? Let's take a look!

Modern Warfare 3 Wii Patched - Issues Addressed, Patch Size

This guy's arm is going to need a patch!

Coffee Beans
     Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 released 2 weeks ago, and as with many new games released these days there have been some bugs reported in the game.

     Some Wii owners were reportedly experiencing a severe online multiplayer bug, where their Wii system would freeze, and the Wii owner would have to erase the Modern Warfare 3 save file and start completely over.  They could be completely leveled up in online, and have no choice but to erase the corrupt file and start over.
     I had played about an hour of online multiplayer when I saw reports from different Wii owners about the freeze/memory lose issue, so I decided to finish the game's single-player campaign first and hoped that Treyarch/Infinity Ward would get the game patched quickly to address the issue.

     Another issue with the game's online multiplayer was something called "lag shooting", and I did experience it, but at the time I wasn't sure if it was the accuracy of my weapons and/or lag.  Basically the hit detection in the online multiplayer was not working well, and it resulted in emptying full clips of ammo all around enemies, and never knowing if they were being hit.

     Well, last Thurday, November 17 a patch was released for Modern Warfare 3 on the Wii, and the patch was designed to fix the two major issues above with the online multiplayer.  You can see the message to Wii owners that they posted on the Modern Warfare 3 Wii forum below:

     How much room do Wii owners need to have available to download the first multiplayer patch for Modern Warfare 3, and how long did it take me to download the patch?  Take a look!

Ocarina of Time's Hours Played, Money Made - Virtual Console Report

Coffee Beans
     The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is the best Zelda game ever released, at least according to the professionals' review score average for the game.  It was the first 3D Zelda game(in two ways), and it was the first Zelda game I can remember playing through to completion.  I digress!

     The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time originally released for the Nintendo 64 on November 23, 1998 in North America.  The game was developed at Nintendo's EAD studio, and published by Nintendo.
     It was re-released on the GameCube, the Wii's Virtual Console, and the 3DS this past June.
     The Virtual Console release received an "Everyone" rating from the ESRB with "Violence" listed as content for parents and gamers to be aware of, and it is available for just 1,000 Wii Points, which is only $10.

     How many Wii owners have reported playing The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time on the Virtual Console, and how many hours have they spent with the game?  Let's take a look!

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword's Trade-In Value Is?

Coffee Beans
     The biggest Nintendo Wii game of 2011 released today, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword.  Many of you reading this may have already picked it up, and found yourselves many hours deep into the Zelda universe.
     I was looking at video game sales on Amazon.com earlier today, and decided to check out what the user reviews were saying for The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword.  I'm always intrigued whether the early reviews appear legitimate, or if they appear like fan boys(that perhaps haven't completed it) just rating up a product they want to see do well.
     What I found more interesting than the reviews for the game though, was how much trade-in value Amazon.com is giving for The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword.
     How much is The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword's trade-in value worth according to Amazon.com?  Let's take a look!

Site Note: Discuss with Disqus! The New Comment System

Coffee Beans
     For those of you that haven't noticed yet, I changed the comment system on the site yesterday.  While the Blogger comment system worked fine, I made the change to the Disqus comment system after a reader sent me an email saying he was trying to upload his coffee mugs photo to the comments, but he couldn't figure out how to do it.  The reason he couldn't figure it out though, is because the Blogger comment system doesn't have an upload feature for photos.
     It was actually the second time in a week that the lack of photo upload feature was mentioned, in one way or another, because Keith from RespawnAction.com mentioned that he was going to leave a comment/photo on the "That's like a dollar an hour!" post, but realized even if he found the photo he was looking for, he wouldn't have been able to upload it.

     If you have a Blogger account you may be wondering, "Coffee, can I still comment with my Blogger account, or do I have to create a Disqus account?"
     Well, if you haven't tried commenting yet, after you type out your comment and click the "Post as ..." button a box will pop up asking you what account you wish to comment with.  You can see the "Post as..." and the popup box in the images below:

     So yes, you can still comment with your Blogger account, and you just select the "Google" button in the box as shown above.  Also if you wish, you can create a Disqus account for free and use that to comment, or the plethora of other choices including Twitter and Facebook accounts.
     Hopefully those of you that have already commented with the new Disqus system found it easy to use, and if you have any issues/questions about it just let me know!

Question
     Do you find the new Disqus comment system easy enough to use?  Any likes, or dislikes?

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past - Money Made, Hours Played

Coffee Beans
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past was originally released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System on April 13, 1992.

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past was re-released for the Wii's Virtual Console service on January 22, 2007.  The Virtual Console version can still be purchased for just 800 Wii Points, which is $8.00.  If you are a serious video game collector though, and you want the original SNES version brand new, you can purchase it for about $300.00 on Amazon.com, HERE!

The Virtual Console release received an "Everyone" rating from the ESRB with "Mild Animated Violence" listed as content for parents and gamers to be aware of.

How many Wii gamers have reported playing The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past through the Virtual Console, and how much money has Nintendo made from the game with 1,757 days possibly reported?  Let's take a look!

I Drank Coffee from a Toilet, and Will Continue!

Coffee Beans
     Have you ever heard the phrase, "My coffee tastes like toilet water!", or something similar?  Well, I drink my coffee black, so some of you may think that phrase applies to my coffee.  It has gone a step further though, and I can now say that I have consumed coffee from a toilet, and I will continue!

     What do I mean that I have consumed coffee from a toilet?  Take a look!

Super Mario Galaxy's 4 Years - Over One Million Wii Owners, Over 50 Million Hours Played

Coffee Beans
Super Mario Galaxy was released on November 12, 2007.  The game was developed by Nintendo EAD Tokyo, and of course published by Nintendo.

Super Mario Galaxy received an "Everyone" ESRB rating with "Mild Cartoon Violence" listed as content for gamers and parents to be aware of.

The game released with a MSRP of $49.99, and for nearly 4 years was sold brand new to millions of Wii owners at $49.99.  In August of this year, Nintendo announced it was adding Super Mario Galaxy to the Nintendo Selects titles.  On August 28, Super Mario Galaxy joined the Nintendo Selects titles and became available for just $19.99 brand new.

Exactly how many hours has Super Mario Galaxy been played?  Well, with November 12 marking the game's 4 year anniversary on the Wii, let's take a look!

FPS Monday? "I feel like Jack Bauer!", Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Wii Impressions

Coffee Beans
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 was released this past Tuesday, November 8, for all the current generation home consoles.

The game was developed by Infinity Ward and Sledgehammer Games, and published by Activision.  The Wii version of MW3 was ported to the Wii console by Treyarch, and it is the first Modern Warfare title to be released day one on the Wii along with the other console versions.

The game received a "Mature" rating from the ESRB with "Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Strong Language" listed as content for gamers and parents to be aware of.

I played some of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 on the Wii a few days last week, so what are my initial impressions of it?  Let's take a look!

"That's like a dollar an hour!" - Zelda II: The Adventure of Link Report

Coffee Beans
     Zelda II: The Adventure of Link was originally released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in North America on December 1, 1988.  The game was re-released for the Wii's Virtual Console service on June 4, 2007, and can still be purchased for just 500 Wii Points, which is only $5.  The Virtual Console version received an ESRB rating of "Everyone" with "Mild Fantasy Violence" listed as content for gamers/parents to be aware of.

     How many Wii owners have reported playing Zelda II: The Adventure of Link and how many hours have they reported playing it, since it was released on the Virtual Console?  Let's take a look!

Wal-Mart's Black Friday Ad Revealed - Video Games Page

Coffee Beans
     Wal-Mart just released their Black Friday ad, so shoppers can start sitting in lines now!  Okay, maybe not now.  Shoppers can start planning on what they are interested in though.
     Take a look at the image below that shows some video game deals Wal-Mart will be offering.

Filtered Thoughts

     Seeing the PlayStation 3 bundled with two games for under $200 I think is a great deal, and the Wii console being under $100 will probably do extremely well also.  Being that I don't own an Xbox 360, I would have been more interested in seeing the Arcade version discounted down around $150, and perhaps with a game or two bundled in.

     As for the video games being offered, Shaun White Skateboarding for only $10 on the Wii stood out to me, because of the Balance Board controls the game has and the fact I have enjoyed my time with Shaun White Snowboarding: Road Trip.

Questions
     Do you see any video game deals that you won't be able to pass up, and perhaps you are reading this on your iPhone while driving to Wal-Mart right now with your sleeping bag and tent?
     If you already own a lot of the games shown, are there any you would really recommend others picking up at the discounted prices?

Baking a Wedding Cake with the Force, and Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II's Hours Report

I'm on the left.

Coffee Beans
     How do Sith bake a wedding cake?  Force lighting of course!  The image above was taken at a friend's wedding I attended back in August.  He claims to have hated/not liked Star Wars until he met me in college, but I think he's just trying to find someone to blame.  He had a Star Wars themed cake that you can see in the image above, and he even convinced his bride(now wife) to use Star Wars music in part of the wedding.
     Is the Force lightning in the photo real?  It doesn't really matter, because it is Death Star approved!

     Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II was released last year on October 26th with a MSRP of $49.99.  The game was developed by Red Fly Studio and published by LucasArts.
     It received a "Teen" rating from the ESRB with "Mild Blood, Violence" listed as content for parents/gamers to be aware of.

     How many hours have Wii owners reported unleashing the Force, in Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II over the last year?  Let's take a look!

GoldenEye 007 - Covert Operations Hours Report

Coffee Beans
     GoldenEye 007 was released one year ago for the Wii, on November 2, 2010.  When the game released it had a MSRP of $49.99, but has since seen a price drop and can be found for under $30.
     GoldenEye 007 received a "Teen" rating from the ESRB with "Blood, Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Violence" listed as content for parents/gamers to be aware of.

     How many hours have Wii owners spent covertly taking out enemies, and each other, in GoldenEye 007 over the last year?  Let's take a look!

Kirby's Return to Dream Land Sold Out?

Coffee Beans
     On January 21, 2010 I published an article titled, "A Serious Nintendo Wii Problem".  In the piece, I wrote about how Nintendo could not keep New Super Mario Bros. Wii in stock at stores, and I showed how six of the largest retailers in the United States were "out-of-stock" of the game during the holiday season of 2009.

     Nintendo just released Kirby's Return to Dream Land for the Wii on October 24th.  The game features cooperative play for up to four players, just like New Super Mario Bros. Wii, and it has received pretty good review scores overall.
     We are just now getting into the 2011 Christmas holiday season, and one site is currently sold out of Kirby's Return to Dream Land.  Which site is sold out?  Let's take a look!

Awesome Video Game Sale! Last Day Reminder

Coffee Beans
     Amazon.com is currently holding a "Buy Two, Get One Free" video game sale.  There are more than 800 video games to choose from, and many brand new releases are included such as Battlefield 3, Batman: Arkham City, Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception, and even the Nintendo Selects titles.
     So, if you're in the Christmas shopping mood this weekend, and looking for video games for family and/or friends, the "Buy Two, Get One Free" sale is probably the right place to start!  If you missed the first three links to the sale, just click HERE to start browsing the selection.

The Legend of Zelda - It's Dangerous to Go Alone, that's Why Nintendo Made Sequels

Coffee Beans
     The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword will be releasing on November 20, just 15 days from now.    The game will be getting a lot of attention in the next few weeks, so we will be taking a look at the Zelda games that came before The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, and how many hours Wii owners have reported enjoying those.  First up, The Legend of Zelda!

     The Legend of Zelda was the first game in the Zelda series.  It was originally released for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) on August 22, 1987.
     The Legend of Zelda was re-released on November 19, 2006, through the Wii's Virtual Console service, and Wii owners can find The Legend of Zelda still available for download through the Wii's Shop Channel.  The game is priced at 500 Wii Points, which is just $5.

     How many hours have Wii owners reported playing The Legend of Zelda with nearly 5 years of game-play possibly reported?  Let's take a look!

The Winner of Some Ed Hardy Energy Snacks Is...

Coffee Beans
     Last week, on October 25, I posted my review for some Ed Hardy Energy Snacks I had tried.  You can read my review of the Ed Hardy Energy Snacks HERE.
     I used the Ed Hardy Energy Snacks to go 48+ hours without coffee, because I wanted to see if the Ed Hardy Energy Snacks really worked, and if they could keep me alert and energized like coffee does.
     In my typical post fashion, I broke it up into four different sections and ended it with the "Question" section.  The very first question I asked was, "Would you like to try Ed Hardy Energy Snacks?"  I said if you did to simply reply in the comments with, "I want Ed Hardy Energy Snacks more than my coffee!".
     Well, the contest ended Tuesday night, and who won the Ed Hardy Energy Snacks giveaway?

SpongeBob's ADD and/or ADHD Problem Revealed! Boating Bash Report

Coffee Beans
     How do people with ADD and ADHD drive?  I really don't know, but I do it on a daily basis!

     SpongeBob's Boating Bash was developed by ImPulse Games and published by THQ.  It was released for the Nintendo Wii on March 2, 2010 with a MSRP of $39.99, but the game has since seen price drops from most online retailers.  The game received an "Everyone" rating from the ESRB with "Comic Mischief, Mild Cartoon Violence" listed as content for parents/gamers to be aware of.
     A brief description of SpongeBob's Boating Bash says, "Crash 'N Bash with your favorite SpongeBob character in this exhilarating, fast-paced demolition derby style party game full of excitement for the whole family.  Players drive around in cars...er, boats competing within wacky arenas throughout Bikini Bottom to ultimately be the last boat standing!"

     How many hours have Wii owners reported bashing boats in Bikini Bottom with SpongeBob's Boating Bash, and does the reported data perhaps provide any evidence of players having ADD or ADHD?  Let's take a look!

October Brewed! Coffees Consumed, Games Played

Coffee Beans
     I turned a year older early in October, and you can read about some gifts Mrs. Coffee got for me HERE.  I have been working more hours each week than I would like, especially with school and full-time family duties each day, but I am grateful for a job; especially one where I can grab a cup of coffee each day on my way home.  Speaking of coffee, if you missed my review post, "Surviving 48+ Hours Without Coffee?  Ed Hardy Energy Snacks Review", you can read that to see how I went for just over 48 hours without any coffee, and I didn't get a caffeine headache!
     Now with November brewing, what coffees and caffeinated products did I consume and what games did I play in October?  Let's take a look!

Fight the Flu with Dr. Mario? Dr. Mario Online Rx Hours Report

Coffee Beans
     Did you know it's flu season?  If you haven't seen the "Get Your Flu Shots Here!" signs in your area, they will probably be popping up very soon.  Did you know Mario has a history of battling viruses, even the flu virus, with vitamins?

     Dr. Mario Online Rx was released on May 26, 2008 as a WiiWare title on the Nintendo Wii.  The game released at a price point of 1,000 Wii Points, which is $10.  The game was developed by Arika and published by Nintendo, and received and ESRB rating of "Everyone" with no content listed for parents/gamers to be aware of.
     A portion of the description for Dr. Mario Online Rx reads, "The doctor is in!  Mario takes a break from his adventuring ways and once again dons his stethoscope for a new generation of germ-battling mayhem.  In addition to the classic mode of using vitamins to exterminate viruses, you'll find two battle modes and an online multiplayer mode where you can hone your skills against players from around the world."

     So with flu season upon us, how many hours Wii owners have spent battling viruses in Dr. Mario Online Rx?  Let's take a look!

Kirby Turns One, A Sibling Is Born - Unwinding, Before Moving Forward

Coffee Beans
Kirby's Epic Yarn was released on October 17, 2010 for the Nintendo Wii, with a MSRP of $49.99.  The game took about 2-weeks for its game-play hours to show up on the Nintendo Channel, and I did its initial data report last November which you can read HERE.

Kirby's Epic Yarn was developed by Good-Feel and HAL Laboratory, and published by Nintendo.  The game received an "Everyone" rating from the ESRB with "Mild Cartoon Violence" listed as content for parents/gamers to be aware of.

Kirby's Epic Yarn is barely a year old now and this past Monday, October 24, Nintendo released a new 2-D Kirby Wii game, Kirby's Return to Dream Land.  

So, before we head into Kirby's new Dream Land, how many hours Wii owners have spent with Kirby's Epic Yarn over the last year?  Let's unwind one more time and take a look!

FPS-ish Friday - The House of the Dead: Overkill Hours Played

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Do you like zombies? Do you like zombie games? Well, if you answered yes to either of those questions, this report may be for you.

The House of the Dead: Overkill was released on February 10, 2009 for the Wii in North America, and it had a MSRP of $49.99. A port of the game was just released this past Tuesday, October 25, for the PlayStation 3 with a MSRP of $39.99, but it is already discounted 25% at one online site, HERE.

It was developed by Headstrong Games, and published by Sega. The House of the Dead: Overkill received a "Mature" rating from the ESRB with "Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language" listed as content for parents/gamers to be aware of.

How many hours of game-play can PlayStation 3 owners expect, and also Wii owners, from The House of the Dead: Overkill if they are just picking it up?  Let's take a look!

The Netflix Channel - How Many Hours Watched?

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     The Netflix Channel was released on October 18, 2010 and provided Wii owners with a way to stream Netflix videos without requiring the use of the Wii's disc drive, as was initially required for the Netflix service on the system.
     On November 22, 2010, basically one month after the Netflix Channel was released for the Wii, Netflix announced a price change to their plans.  Netflix introduced a "No DVDs" streaming only plan for $7.99, but raised the "1 DVD out at a time" with unlimited video streaming plan from $8.99 to $9.99.
     Then, on July 12, 2011 Netflix announced another price increase and plan change; Netflix was separating the streaming video service from the DVDs by mail service, and charging two different prices for each plan.  Netflix members can now get the video streaming only service for $7.99 a month, and the "1 DVD out at a time" plan for $7.99 a month.

     So with all that information aside, how many hours have Wii owners reported watching documentaries, movies, and television shows on the Netflix Channel?  Let's take a look!

Surviving 48+ Hours Without Coffee? Ed Hardy Snacks Review

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     Can you imagine the world without coffee?  Would it be possible to survive?  Over the weekend I went 48+ hours without drinking my normal daily cups/pots of coffee.  I had work Saturday during the day, and I did my normal activities that night; and no coffee.  Sunday morning, Mrs. Coffee (my wife) and I woke up and headed to church with our sons, and Sunday night was another night of me watching our sons and staying up late as usual; again, no coffee.

     Why did I go 48+ hours without coffee?  Well, I was experimenting with Ed Hardy Energy Snacks!

The Brew
     What are Ed Hardy Energy Snacks?  They are are non-liquid, portable, well-priced, and very functional Energy Snacks.  A slogan across the top of the Ed Hardy Energy Snacks website says, "GET UP. GET GOING. STAY ENERGIZED."  Which Energy Snacks did I use over my 48+ hours of no coffee, and did they keep me alert and energized?  Let's take a look!

     Chocolate Rocks - "Highly Caffeinated Chocolates" is one line on this box of energy snacks.  About 5 pieces of the Chocolate Rocks is equal to 1 cup of coffee, and there are about six servings per box.  The Chocolate Rocks are small round chocolate covered "rocks" that have a nice crisp crunch to them.  I first tried letting them melt in my mouth, but found the best way to enjoy these was to take a handful of 3-6 at a time, and just chew them up.  The crunchiness while chewing is nice, and the pieces do not stick to my teeth which is a nice bonus.  The chocolate is semi-sweet, so chocolate fans should find these enjoyable.

     Coffee Rocks - These energy snacks contain "Highly Caffeinated Chocolates" just like the Chocolate Rocks, only the Coffee Rocks have "Natural & Artificial Coffee Flavor".  Do the Coffee Rocks actually have a coffee flavor?  It is kind of interesting, because they almost immediately reminded me of an instant coffee that my mom-in-law makes.  When she comes to visit us, she always makes a nightly cup for herself, and prepares me one as well.  I have always enjoyed the coffee, and I really enjoy the Coffee Rocks as well.  5 pieces of the Coffee Rocks is equal to 1 cup of coffee, and there are about six servings per box; so one box has 6 cups of coffee!  I made sure to not consume an entire box all at once, though I was tempted to try it a few times.

     King Dog Energy Mints - "Intensely Caffeinated" is used to describe these mints, and just 5 mints is equal to 1 cup of coffee.  Now with the word "mint" in the title an important question is, "Do they freshen your breath?"  Do they REALLY work?  After just chewing another one up, I can say absolutely yes, they do freshen up your breath.  Just one leaves a nice, cool, peppermint flavor and also provides a boost of energy.  Mrs. Coffee works the graveyard shift, and she noticed a coworker earlier this week that was looking tired about halfway through the shift.  She offered her coworker three of the mints, letting her know what the King Dog Energy Mints were.  Mrs. Coffee saw this same coworker a few hours later, and the coworker enthusiastically said, "I think these things really helped me stay awake!"  As for the mint tin itself, it is very nicely designed with a rubber like coating/skin on the outside that makes it really easy to grip.

     Orange Energy Sticks - "All Day Energy" and "Sweet Caffeine" are terms used to describe these energy sticks.  Now you may be thinking, "Coffee, what exactly is an Energy Stick?"  If you have ever had a Pixy Stick, you will be very familiar with the Energy Sticks.  Each box contains 3 packs of Orange flavored powder Energy Sticks.  They are really easy to use, as you just pull the package open and pour the powdered contents on your tongue.  The powder dissolves easily, and each Energy Stick pack contains about one coffee cup's worth of caffeine, and each one also provides a dose of B Vitamins: B3, B5, B6, and B12.

     Pomegranate Energy Sticks - Like the Orange flavored Energy Sticks mentioned above, these Energy Sticks contain a powder that is Pomegranate flavored, and the Pomegranate Energy Sticks contain the same dose of B Vitamins: B3, B5, B6, and B12, as well as providing about 80MG of caffeine per stick; which again, is about the amount of caffeine in a drip brewed cup of coffee.  The Pomegranate Energy Sticks are probably my favorite flavored Energy Sticks of the two available.

Caffeinated Thoughts
     Throughout the 48+ hours with no coffee, I remained alert and energized, keeping to my normal routine.  Also, I did not get the "caffeine headache" I normally do if I go more than 24 hours without coffee, which was really great.  So, do Ed Hardy Energy Snacks work?  I can say without a doubt, yes Ed Hardy Energy Snacks work, and they work well.  While you may not want to imagine the world without coffee, you can take comfort in knowing it be possible to survive without it!

     I have personally enjoyed trying all of the Ed Hardy Energy Snacks, though the Coffee Rocks and King Dog Energy Mints are quickly becoming my favorites, even though I do find myself eating an Orange or Pomegranate Energy Stick occasionally.
     Mrs. Coffee has enjoyed the Ed Hardy Energy Snacks as well, and as I mentioned above she has shared some with her coworkers  She said one night she gave a 3-pack of Energy Sticks to a coworker, and that "We were flying high.", in regards to being alert and getting their work done that night.
     She said that she likes the portability of the products a lot, and she is keeping a tin of the King Dog Energy Mints on her at work right now.  The Pomegranate Energy Sticks are now her favorite Ed Hardy Energy Snack product, though she did say that she enjoyed the Chocolate Rocks when she was craving chocolate one day.
     It should be noted that each of the products contains a "Caffeine Warning"; the Energy Sticks' warning reads, "Young Children, Pregnant Women, and Those With Caffeine Sensitivities Should Not Consume This Product."

     If you are now wondering, "Coffee, where can I get Ed Hardy Energy Snacks?"  The first place is through EdHardyShop.com.  Second, you can learn more about the Energy Snacks at EdHardySnacks.com.  Also, if you haven't reserved Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 yet, but are planning to pick it up at midnight on November 8, you probably will want to head to a Best Buy store in your area.  Why?  Well, the Ed Hardy Energy Sticks will be having their debut release at Best Buy stores along with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 on November 8, so you will be able to game through the night.

Question
     Would you like to try Ed Hardy Energy Snacks?  If so, simply say in the comments below, "I want Ed Hardy Energy Snacks more than my coffee!", and I will put your name in a drawing for some of the Ed Hardy Energy Snacks; bonus entry if you "like this" CoffeeWithGames' Facebook page, HERE.  If you have already "liked" CoffeeWithGames on Facebook, simply "Like" this post on the Facebook page, and you will have a bonus entry.
     The giveaway is open to U.S. residents, and will run from October 25 through November 1, 2011.
     Also, if you have any questions about the Ed Hardy Energy Snacks I have tried, feel free to leave the question in the comments below!

Face Your Phobias - Deadly Creatures Report

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Do you like spiders?  Do you like scorpions?  If so, the game this data report is on might be right up your alley.

Deadly Creatures was released on February 9, 2009 with a MSRP of $49.99.  It was developed by Rainbow Studios which was closed in August of this year, and published by THQ. The game puts players in the role of a tarantula for some levels, and the role of a scorpion in other levels.

Deadly Creatures received a "Teen" rating from the ESRB, with "Alcohol Reference, Blood, Mild Language, Violence" listed as content for parents/gamers to be aware of.

How many hours have Wii owners reported facing their arachnophobia in Deadly Creatures? Let's take a look!