So say we all.

And I was told I'm not just a toaster but a Hello Kitty toaster.

All of this has happened before; all of this will happen again.

Does anyone know of any good Brain Age like games for the iPhone?

OK. BSG. I like it. Players can choose one of 10 characters, each with different strengths and weaknesses. Rules for choosing ensure that there is a military character, a political character, and a pilot character. On top of your character skills, you may get a title (President or Admiral) that comes with its own benefits (like nukes).

Loyalty is randomly determined at the beginning and again at the midgame. Boomer has the highest chance of being a cylon, and Baltar has the highest chance of being a sympathizer, but nothing's set in stone; I was Starbuck first and Apollo in the next game, and became a cylon halfway thru in each game.

Oddly enough, even though I was NOT a cylon in the first half of the first game, everyone was convinced I was, so I got outed immediately. Which sucks.

Once revealed, the cylon becomes exceedingly weak, which is my only real problem in what's otherwise a very well-balanced game.

Oh, and there can be more than one cylon, and each one has a different special ability...but when you are revealed, you lose all your normal abilities (Kara Thrace can no longer pilot, for example).

There's a lot more luck than in most Euro-games, but it's kind of a nice break from a game-theory-example-with-theme-glued-on experience. The theme and gameplay are very well integrated, and you can choose whichever style of play best suits you (I like the run and gun, so I've played a pilot both times and been able to get out in space and shoot cylon raiders).

I have a few quibbles - the learning curve was rough, and it would be nice to have turn sequence and damage results printed somewhere on the game board. Also, we used an entire box of snack bags when packing the game back up - there are about 1000 little cards and chits, and 32 plastic spaceships. Also, there's no way to airlock anyone.

However, the aura of paranoia and stress is brilliant, as accusations fly about who the toaster is and the fleet deals with crisis after crisis. Both times we've had players who haven't watched the show (one had never heard of it, or the original series), and both players also enjoyed the game a lot. It keeps you busy, even when it's not your turn (unless you are a revealed cylon, when you spend your time rearranging the damaged vipers and raptors into line dance formations).

Hear-ee hear-ee! For the first time ever, I have finished an Xbox game! The game is Assassin's Creed. I still have to go back and find all the damn flags to rack up the gamer points, but I have finished the whole campaign.

Congrats. Hopefully you'll pick up Gears of War 2 and we can play Horde together. Playing Horde with people you know is the best thing in the game, though the campaign is damn good too.

I bought The Orange Box when I purchased AC, and have yet to play it. But I'll keep an eye out for GoW2 in the used bins (it's the only way I buy games lately).

Mal got Lego Star Wars for Christmas...it's way beyond his ability to play, so naturally the DH and I played it for several hours. It's pretty great. You can play co-op on the same Xbox, and both "Lego" and "Star Wars" are crucial aspects of it (you collect Lego bricks and build minikits, and use the Force, for examples). Goofy fun.

I am saddened by the knowledge that my son will want to play it some day, and that means he will be exposed to Star Wars 1-3, but I guess you can't protect your kids from everything bad.

I am saddened by the knowledge that my son will want to play it some day, and that means he will be exposed to Star Wars 1-3, but I guess you can't protect your kids from everything bad.

There's a new hope.

Lego Star Wars II : The Original Trilogy

Leif got PuzzleQuest for Christmas and it as been a smash addictive hit. It may well save a bit of sanity for my wife while the kids are home over Christmas break.