Level Up Stealth Game Tower: Assembly & Review

What: Level Up Stealth Game Tower
Where Did You Get It: GameStop
How Much: $19.99 plus tax
Assembly Time: Under 5 Minutes

Assembly & Review: Level Up's Stealth Game Tower

So, with the New Year came new projects and new objectives.  I had some work done and had to move pretty much everything gaming related (games, Skylanders, Amiibo) etc., and for better, or worse (I like to think for the better) that afforded a legitimate opportunity to retool how I store and display these games and Skylanders.

I recently posted my complete Xbox One and PlayStation 2 game library's and both are resultant from this cleaning and organizing effort.

While I prefer bookshelves for games (or interior storage offered by an entertainment center), I wouldn't be able to fit PS2, Wii, Wii U, 3DS, and XB1 games in the 3-Shelf unit I had planned to use.  That lead me to investigate other options and one intriguing one was this Stealth Game Tower from Level Up.  It clocked in at under $20 AND I could pick it up locally.  That is always a win-win.

There are a lot of reviews on this thing, but they are of the mixed variety.  One person says it is great, the next says it is a POS that won't stand upright.  So, I had to just take a chance and hope for the best, but decided to do the video so folks could SEE how it goes together, what it can hold, how it can hold different media inputs, and more importantly, how it functions both vertically and horizontally with and without a load.

As of writing this, I am happy to report that I've had this thing set up and fully stocked for about 2 weeks and have had zero issues with tipping etc.  It may not be my dream set up, but for $20 I can't complain.

I will try to get some pictures up at a later date, but for now it was $20 well spent and a great way to organize my PS2 Library, along with a few DVDs.

Best Moments of 2013: What Were Your Favorites?

It is hard to believe that yet another year has flown by and we are on the doorstep of 2014. That said, what were some of your favorite moments of 2013?  This could be gaming related, family, career, personal, stemming from another hobby etc., accomplishments, just anything you enjoyed or are proud of completing.

Feel free to post them up in the comments section below!

For me it would have to be going to E3 and that entire experience (getting to meet with folks from Activision, PowerA, Vicarious Visions, other YouTubers...having early access to all the content that I had just had to watch from online in previous years and then being able to report it back to you, straight from the source), being able to see the Nintendo setup first hand, getting StreetPass tags from all over the place, and just being able to mine and search for insights on Skylanders SWAP Force from the people that know it best.

Tying in with that was seeing the Pacific Ocean (first time seeing any ocean mind you!) and I'm also pretty sure as I was trying to figure out how to get back to the bus that would run back to the hotel I saw Jenna Marbles, but I can't 100% confirm that.

On the gaming front it would likely be continuing to share Skylander content with everyone, seeing the Wii U come back this holiday season to spite the naysayers, landing Street Pass Tags with the expanded Nintendo Zone coverage, playing extensive amounts of Minecraft with my Nephew, and diving in to both Animal Crossing New Leaf and the Xbox One.

Personally, I won a pretty big, nation-wide contest relating to another of my hobbies which was a really cool experience.

I also had a few other neat trips, was fortunate enough to attend another Cowboys game (which they won fyi), and then of course a few other accomplishments and good times.

But enough about me...What were some of your best moments of 2013?  I hope you all enjoyed this current year and are ready to start the New Year and make the most of it as well!

New Year Channel Update

Check the description for a rundown on the Channel Update.

Here are the high points:

SWAP Force Wave 3
-Still trying to land W3 Swappers from Target, probably going to get them elsewhere
-I will keep you posted on W3's LCs, BP, and AP

Recording Upgrades
-I am now able to record in full 1080p HD
--The new capture card and TV have made this possible
---Look for a big boost to recording quality starting with Chapter 6 of the SWAP Force Blind Playthrough and sometime around SWAP Force Intro #26 or so
-I have thru Chapter 5 recorded and around 45 Introductions
--I will be editing, uploading, and making those videos LIVE before recording anything else

Xbox One
-I will be playing SWAP Force on XB1 behind the Wii U's blind playthrough
--This will let me level up and get cash for all the characters to prep for Nightmare Mode
---Currently the plan is to record Nightmare Mode from the XB1

Animal Crossing New Leaf
-I will get the video with my Dream Address up soon
--From there I will have a blog post where you can leave your address to share with others, this will hopefully help earn some badges etc.

Odds-and-Ends
-I have a few more quick videos to get cranked out, several are already on YouTube, just waiting for a blog post to be made "Public"
-My Nephew and I have several new recording series in the works...
--As soon as I get caught up on the current batch of SF recordings I will get some things going there
-I will be continuing Castaways vs Newlanders and running other polls

Conclusion
-That is about it...Again, thanks for watching and I hope you had a great 2013 and have an even better 2014!  Don't forget to comment with some of your best moments of 2013!!

Eye Brawl and Thumpback in the Near Future!

Hey Everybody!

How about some REALLY awesome news to start 2013?  Well, this should suffice.

While skimming the net today I found 2 very good leads on the potential release of both Thumpback, the Water Element Giant, and Eye Brawl, the Undead Element Giant.

Before calling my local GameStop I checked online to make sure the release date on the Scorpion Striker Battle Pack with Hot Dog and Zap was in fact pushed back to 1/9/2013.  That sadly turned out to be the case and I got confirmation when I called in...

However, when on GameStop.com I found the packaging proof had been added for BOTH Thumpback and Eye Brawl!!

This is a big deal because that is what GameStop has done in the past before a new character was up for sale...You can also note that they have  yet to add the Wave 3 Single Packs to that coveted list, so I am thinking it is imminent that we will see both Giants very soon.

Checking around elsewhere, I turned up on Amazon link to Thumpback...with the packaging proof, yet another encouraging sign!

As of right now I do not know solid dates, but I will update this post as the info trickles in...

Here are some helpful links:

Eye Brawl at GameStop:
http://www.gamestop.com/toys/skylanders-giants-eye-brawl-individual-character-pack/105996

Thumpback at GameStop:
http://www.gamestop.com/toys/skylanders-giants-thumpback-individual-character-pack/106002

Thumpback on Amazon:

Thumpback Amazon

Eye Brawl at Walmart:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Skylanders-Giants-Giants-Eye-Brawl-Universal/21309831

Thumpback at Walmart:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Skylanders-Giants-Giants-Thumpback-Universal/21309832

Personally I am more excited for Eye Brawl, but I know the vast majority seems to want Thumpback.

Stay tuned for updates and good luck landing the new Giants!

*Update 1/2/13 5 AM (so much for getting to bed earlier in 2013): It looks like several sources are saying we will see Thumpback and Eye Brawl hit on the 9th and that we can expect Ninjini mid-to-late January.  I obviously can not confirm this and would still call it speculation, but they have to come out some time, right?!

I also want to point out that there remains a good chance we could see some straggling characters like Wrecking Ball or Spyro in their S2 repose hit the shelves.

I'm still waiting on the assignment of any Triple Packs, although at this point it is likely I'd only be up for the tail end of them (could see all S2 in a few)...

I will update again as new or confirmed info arrives.

Updated 1/4/2013 to add Walmart Links.