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

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     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

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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!

How Many Hours Danced? Just Dance 2's One Year Report

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     Just Dance 2 was released on October 12, 2010 with a MSRP of $39.99.  The game was a sequel to the original Wii hit Just Dance, which released in 2009.
     The game was developed by Ubisoft Paris, and published by Ubisoft, and it received an "Everyone 10+" rating from the ESRB with "Lyrics, Mild Suggestive Themes" listed as content for gamers/parents to be aware of.

     How many hours have Wii owners reported dancing with Just Dance 2, with 370 days possibly reported?  Let's take a look!

How Many Hours Played? Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode I's One Year Report

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     Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode I was release on October 11, 2010 with a price point of 1,500 Wii Points, which is $15.  The game was co-developed by Dimps and Sonic Team, and it received an ESRB rating of "Everyone" with "Comic Mischief" listed as content for gamers/parents to be aware of.

     How many hours have Wii owners reported playing Sonic's WiiWare adventure with 371 days of data possibly reported?  Let's take a look!

Max & the Magic Marker - Hours Drawn

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     Max & the Magic Marker was released on March 8, 2010 through the Wii's WiiWare service at a pricepoint of 1,000 Wii Points, which is $10.
     The game was developed by Press Play, and received an "Everyone" rating from the ESRB, with "Comic Mischief" listed as content for gamers/parents to be aware of.

     Max has drawn his debut onto the Nintendo Channel, so let's take a look at how many hours Wii owners have reported playing Max & the Magic Marker!

Charity, Contest, & CoffeeWithGames - Notes

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     Okay, so here are some notes about things happening.

     1)  First, Knuckles Sonic8, who comments here on CWG some, also runs his own video game related site, WiiLoveIt.com.
     Today, Saturday, WiiLoveIt.com is partcipating in an Extra Life charity event, which is a cause setup to raise money for children via donations, in which the participants play video games for 24 straight hours...or at least 24 hours total for the event.
     You can read/see more about WiiLoveIt's participation with the Extra Life charity event HERE, http://www.wiiloveit.com/blog/extralifeeventupdate; and you can read more about Extra Life HERE, and if you feel like donating to WiiLoveIt's cause, 100% of the proceeds go to the foundation, you can do so HERE: http://www.extra-life.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.participant&eventID=501&participantID=25045.

     2)  Jeremy, who won my contest/giveaway of two years' worth of coffee, also has his own site he helps out with, NintendoFuse.com.  He wanted me to help spread the word that they are doing a contest/giveaway of some great Wii and 3DS games: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, Super Mario 3D Land, and Mario Kart 7.  You can read about how to enter the contest HERE, http://forums.wiinintendo.net/viewtopic.php?f=164&t=9223.

Have You Partied? Wii Party Turns One

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     Wii Party was released on October 3, 2010 with a MSRP of $49.99.  On April 25th this year, the game saw an "official" price drop from the MSRP of $49.99, down to a MSRP of $39.99.
     The game was developed Nd Cube and Nintendo EAD, and published by Nintendo.  Wii Party received an "Everyone" rating from the ESRB with "Mild Cartoon Violence" listed as content for parents/gamers to be aware of.

     How many hours have Wii owners reported partying with Wii Party during its first year?  Let's take a look!

My Birthday Coffee Gift Items - Part 1

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     October.  For the past 29 years, it has been the month I have a birthday, and get a year older.  It's kind of strange how it happens every year on the same day, but it does and I'm not going to complain.  Earlier this week I came in from work and was pleasantly surprised by gifts Mrs. Coffee had for me.
     What gifts did Mrs. Coffee have waiting for me when I arrived home?  Take a look!

Phineas and Ferb: Across the 2nd Dimension - Hours Report

Does Perry the Platypus drink coffee?  Find out HERE!

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Phineas and Ferb: Across the 2nd Dimension was released on August 2, 2011 with a MSRP of just $39.99.  It was developed by High Impact Games, and published by Disney Interactive Studios.

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

How many hours have Wii owners reported battling Dr. Doofenshmirtz and his evil thingaminators in the last 2 months?  Let's take a look!

September Brewed! Coffees Consumed, Games Played

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     Tests, homework, tests, homework, family, tests, homework, work, tests.  This is how I pretty much feel September went, along with daily coffee consumption of course, and finding time to play a few games as well.
     So, with October already brewing, let's take a look at the games I played, and the coffees I consumed during September!