Luxurious Lifestyle

(UPDATED: February 25, 2012)

The luxurious lifestyle is what many of us can only dream of. What would you do with lots of money? You may know your mansions. You may know your cars. You may even somehow know your boats, yachts, jets, and things like that. Through many environments and such, we are all introduced to lives and lifestyles much greater than what many of us are living in right now. We even dream of being rich and famous. You know- being at the biggest parties, shopping for expensive things, driving the most exclusive cars... basically rubbing in the faces of low-class and middle-class people with your wealth. This blog post is a Just For Fun deal regarding the high-end lifestyle.

NOTE: All of the following items are provided for entertainment and educational purposes.

About The Label: Luxurious Lifestyles

"Luxurious Lifestyles" is a blog label pertaining to topics related to wealth and high-end living. Topics mentioned include something which most common folk would be unable to own, experience, or enjoy unless seriously rich.

About the Label: Aircraft and Aviation

The "Aircraft and Aviation" blog label features topics related to aircraft and aviation. These can be about planes, flying, and things of that nature.

About the Label: Water and Watercraft

To discuss topics related to water and of various kinds of water sports, watercraft, and more; the "Water and Watercraft" blog label features topics related to these items and more. Mariners, ranging from hobbyists to those devoted to being at sea, will likely enjoy this blog label and the various topics I hope to discuss.

--- Luxurious Lifestyle: Flaunting Luxury ---

Where have you seen the rich show off their wealth? You may have seen a number of things on TV, online, in games, and more. So here are a few examples of where you may have seen people flaunt their wealth:

Hip-Hop Artists.

Name me certain hip-hop artists where you have seen them drive high-end cars. You may have seen videos of hip-hop artists driving cars you likely can't afford. Sometimes even rapping about them. You know- hot girls, hot cars, things like that.

MTV's "My Super Sweet Sixteen" and "Exiled."

"My Super Sweet Sixteen" and the one-off "Exiled" showcased teenagers and the rich lifestyles they enjoy. If you've ever seen these shows, you'll know what the young generation of rich is all about. If a 16-year old girl wants her own Lexus IS-F (especially in this show), she WANTS an Lexus IS-F even if she throws a hissy fit to get one. "Exiled" was a show where those spoiled teens who needed a dose of reality were sent to less glamourous places to take part in experiencing the life of the... not so rich. To read more on this show that I blogged about, check out "Issues Regarding My Super Sweet 16."

MTV's "Cribs" Series.

"Cribs," more than any other MTV show, is one of the premier examples of showcasing rich people. This series of shows highlights on the homes of celebrities. Some of these houses and mansions have stuff like... their own basketball courts, their own gyms, multi-car garages with several six-figure priced cars, lavish kitchens, beautiful master bedrooms, and stuff like that. Watching "Cribs" just makes you feel jealous that you can't be living like them!

Certain Celebrities.

You may hear of celebrities of many kinds having things many others who'll blow their money on various items. Why? Because they can.

Glamourous Locales.

The place that comes to mind for me (as a racing fan) is Monte Carlo. When you see the fancy buildings and all the boats in the various marinas, you're playing in money country. Some places really have people and buildings that just scream big money. I even think of Middle Eastern cities like Dubai, United Arab Emirates and Doha, Qatar that are essentially playgrounds for the rich.

The duPONT Registry.

If you ever flip through the pages of The duPONT Registry, you may see all kinds of dream items you wish you had. I blogged about this Florida-based publication once, noting that what you see and read are nothing short of impressive. Just the fact you can actually OWN this stuff if you had the money is just surreal.

Video Games.

If you can't live the luxurious lifestyle in reality, there's always virtual reality. The "Test Drive Unlimited" series is one that easily comes to mind. You may probably live on Oahu Island or Ibiza, but do you have high-end sports cars to drive and beautiful houses most people can only dream of owning? What about the "Need for Speed" games, where you drive some of the most exclusive cars in anger around city streets and race tracks? There are even various social networking and avatar games dedicated to the rich lifestyle (or with rich elements).

"Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous."

If you're old enough to remember, you may remember a very old show hosted by Robin Leach called "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous." This famous show highlights on people whom are living richly and famously. The featured persons are profiled in these segments on the show. In this day and age, I'd like to imagine what it would be like if some of today's rich were profiled. Some of the rich ones you commonly hear of today are Donald Trump, Bill Gates, and of course... Paris Hilton.


Can you name any other rich influences? I only named a few just to kick this blog post off.

--- Luxurious Lifestyle: Getting There ---

And I quote:

"If you ain't got no money, take your broke ass home!"

-"Glamourous," by Fergie featuring Ludacris

To reach high-end life, one has to reach that level of high-end living. You basically have to establish yourself as royalty. Have you yet reached an executive level where you are basically tops among everybody else? Are you someone who is just discontent with being "normal" or having a "normal" lifestyle?

Those who pursue an executive-style lifestyle will have to work for it. Being atop your profession and your craft is what we all wish we can do. Status comes with wealth. In no way am I a Business major or anything. Heck, I'm a blogger whose only income is Adsense checks and Amazon Associates revenue, and I'm even fortunate enough if I make ANYTHING. Being atop blogging as a profession means I have to establish myself so much to where I can make a decent living. You may be from a rich family or even inherit a lot of the wealth from a wealthy family. Still, you've got to earn everything you'll ever work for.

You may also just inherit lots of money from your family or whatever. It still takes a lot of work to maintain and expand upon that wealth.

--- Luxurious Lifestyle: Homes ---

Most of what I will make mention to involve mansions, but this can be about any luxurious house.


^ from: www.mymansion.com.au - If a man's home is his castle, having a mansion surely makes you king. And of course... a woman's home is her castle, making her queen.

Have you the desire to live in lovely digs to live in? Mansions are a great way to enjoy living in style. Some mansions even allow for facilities most homes wish they had access to in the same house. You remember I made mention to MTV's "Cribs" series? Some of the houses and mansions I've seen featured on Cribs are just crazy. Can you imagine having your own gym and pool and such in your mansion? You don't even need to go to the gym- you can work out at home in style!

Also, one would have to think about how to furnish such mansions. You don't necessarily have to think of IKEA or something. If you obviously have a lot of money to furnish it with almost anything, items ranging from high-definition TVs to the most lavish chairs and sofas will easily fill most luxurious homes. Some luxurious homes (especially very modern and contemporary ones) feature great architecture befitting of such urban homes.

The location of luxurious homes and apartments also plays to their appeal. Is a luxurious home situated atop a hill? Is it near a major body of water? Is it within distance of downtown or even overlooking downtown? In addition, where in the world it is located also plays to its appeal. Is it a Southern home that's part of a plantation? Is it an urban locale in a major American city (like a fancy home in or around New York City)? Is it a contemporary home in Europe? This would all depend on your tastes in what kind of luxurious home you'd want to have.

Bedrooms.

The master bedroom of most regular homes are more like regular rooms in most mansions, and the real master bedroom may even be double to triple in size of a master bedroom.

Closets.

"I like my money right where I can see it... hanging in my closet."

-Carrie Bradshaw of "Sex and the City"

^ from: seasonalhomedecoration.com - Walk-in closets can be very luxurious and inviting, especially for those who have lots of clothes or a vast wardrobe.

Especially if you're one of my female readers, what fashion-loving girl wouldn't want a walk-through closet filled with great clothes? You can proudly show off your shoes and your clothes to guests or just admire your collection. There are those who have walk-in closets. Even some regular size houses and apartments may have such big closets.

Mansion Video.

Want to see a video of a mansion? Check this out:


This video above was uploaded in 2009 and was Donald Trump's $125M US dollar mansion in Palm Beach, Florida, USA.

How Would I Live?

I don't know if Houston would be good enough to have a great mansion of my own in. Here in Houston, we have two real expensive parts of town- the Houston Galleria and River Oaks. I draw inspiration from certain other mansions and what I would want in a mansion. One mansion I saw playing "Test Drive Unlimited 2" had both a living room and a garage that had waterfalls to them. I would like to have some lovely waterfalls running for a relaxing touch. I would really want a room to showcase certain automotive and racing related memorabilia. I may even want to start my own model car collection and have my finest models showcased. My own personal gym would be nice as well. I even wouldn't mind having my own indoor basketball court to have fun shooting hoops in. Maybe I invite a few friends over (or guests) to play a little basketball. I even wouldn't mind a good game room to play arcade units I would buy as well as some pool tables. As for a garage, maybe a good 4-car or 6-car garage would be sweet.

I don't believe in being serviced by others or hiring others to serve me. I'm a human being, not a king or some deity. Some people who think of living fabulously would feel like other people have to do things for them to further enjoy being very rich. I'm not like that. Honest!


You will have to get in touch with luxury home brokers if you want to even buy a luxurious home. Or if you're good enough and patient enough, build your own mansion. The duPONT Registry also specializes in showcasing luxurious homes. To get an idea for luxurious homes featured in the duPONT Registry, I invite you to check out the duPONT Registry's Homes page.

--- Luxurious Lifestyle: Automobiles ---

This section is more like my specialty. Best to have a great car to drive if you're flaunting your luxurious lifestyle. You probably know your cars for if you want to have a luxurious lifestyle. You probably know your car companies that specialize in luxury cars or have luxurious cars to own.

Depending on who you ask, some either care for luxurious cars, and some others would rather drive a... not-so-luxurious car. Executive-class people often showcase their status with executive-type cars. Therefore, a 1998 Ford Taurus isn't likely an executive car of choice. Something like a BMW M5 or an Audi A8 would be much more appealing. One may even look for an older luxury car like a 1990s Bentley Arnage. I think I remember Paris Hilton having a customized pink Bentley Continental GT that would make Barbie jealous. Those who have a LOT of money would even get something like a Bugatti Veyron.

What Would I Drive?

Time to put myself on the spot again. If you ask me, I'd prefer something that is a mix of luxury with that right amount of sportiness. So therefore, I would love to own an Aston Martin to be my high-end luxury car company. I'd probably have an Aston Marin DB9 or an Aston Martin Vanquish V12.

If I prefer an executive sedan, however, I'd have a good deal of options. I'm thinking if I want to have an executive sedan, I want to have an executive sedan that has great power and is very inviting. I really wouldn't consider executive sedans unless I wanted to drive around more people. You know, more like if I was married and had children that I wanted to cruise in style with. This would require a good vehicle that could handle and balance the responsibilities of being a capable executive-class car while also hauling around family and groceries.

If I wanted an executive-type car that didn't have an executive price tag, simple- Chrysler 300 with a Hemi. Part of the 300's charm was that it looked much more expensive than it really is. In fact, some people thought of (especially the very first 300) as a poor-man's Bentley. That, and the fact it is a premium rear-wheel drive sedan.


If you watch a lot of YouTube videos and love cars, you'll find no shortage of exotic automobiles if you check out BrianZuk. To see some of the finest automobiles ever made in YouTube videos, check out BrianZuk's YouTube channel.

I know the duPONT Registry best for automobiles. So to get an idea of luxury-type automobiles and some of the finest automobiles (and even motorcycles) ever made, check out the duPONT Registry's Automobile registry.

--- Luxurious Lifestyle: Yachts and Other Boats ---

When playing "Test Drive Unlimited 2," the fact that you could buy a yacht to live in is proof that you can enjoy the luxurious lifestyle even at sea. You don't actually get to control the yacht, though. Most luxury boats allow you to enjoy life at sea in style. They can range from lovely (essentially) homes on water to luxurious boats good enough to have parties on.

I began thinking about yachts thinking about something I "like" on Facebook. One of motorsport.com's lovely grid girls is Nicole Haboush, nicknamed as the "Cute Grid Girl." She is a VERY cute grid girl in my opinion! Besides being one of the cutest grid girls in the United States (or anywhere in the world), Nicole is also the President of Allied Yacht Charters, based in in Palm Beach, Florida, USA. So this was the first person I thought of in regards to yachting. That, and just the fact I wanted to make a shout-out to Nicole if she happens to read this blog post. :) I've also featured her in my "Grid Girls" blog post.

Why would you want a luxurious boat? If you're out on the water a lot, why not have a boat that you can enjoy living on water with? I have seen yachts before many times. I sometimes often see these yachts with a party going on. Considering what you can do on a yacht and what parties you can have, this can be a great way to enjoy life at sea. Yachts are more like floatable mansions where you can enjoy life at sea much the same way you can enjoy life in a mansion. You may even enjoy things like wine, champagne, a jacuzzi, a lavish kitchen, and things like that... even at sea! A yacht is essentially a floatable mansion. Some of the loveliest yachts can be just as beautiful as almost any high-end house or mansion.

Yacht Videos.

Get ready for some videos of yachts. This is just to show how lovely yachts can be. I got to warn you that these videos may not be good for your health. Why? It's because your jaw might drop after seeing some of these stunning yachts. :) So have a look, if you're interested...

Here is a look at how lovely yachts can be:


Even though this video is not in English, you have GOT to see this! Trust me, you'll fall in love with this yacht:


Here is one more yacht video for you all:


Told you these were stunning and luxurious boats. Did you like the videos? I'd like to thank the YouTube channels I got these videos from for allowing me to embed them in this blog post.


IN CASE YOU'RE INTERESTED: You can learn more about the aforementioned services by visiting the following sites:

• Allied Yacht Charters' official home page
• duPONT Registry (Boats link)

--- Luxurious Lifestyle: Aircraft ---

Take to the skies with your wealth. There are those who have their own luxury aircraft. Some of the various kinds of luxury aircraft include private jets. If you are a fan of Far East Movement, you may have heard their hit song, "Like a G6." Well at first, I thought it was about the crappy-looking Pontiac G6. But, it's a reference to the Gulfstream G650. The Gulfstream G650 is an example of luxury-type aircraft.

Want to know what it's like on a private jet? Check this out (it was honestly the best video I could find):


What if you're into other luxurious aircraft? The only one I am most familiar with is the Airbus A380. I think this is the aircraft used by airlines like Qatar Airways and Qantas among others. I actually tried to find a video to showcase other kinds of luxurious aircraft, but I have failed to find a worthy video. Maybe I'll update in a future edit.

--- Luxurious Lifestyle: Fashion ---

NOTE: What you're about to read is somewhat part of a blog post idea I once had and may consider for a future post on "John's Blog Space."

Finally, a look at luxury fashion. Many people who usually can't afford high-end designers often try to snag haute couture for a steal. Not many will have the money on hand when shopping at stores like Neiman Marcus or Saks Fifth Avenue. This section is just a quick digest on luxurious fashion for men, and it was not really intended to be a detailed post on this topic.

Luxurious Fashion for Men.

You know there are men out there reluctant to rock their Gucci sunglasses, Versace suits, and stuff like that. I do like a dapper dude. Some classy guys will proudly wear Armani suits. Around home, some men even enjoy wearing high-end designer robes.

Luxurious Fashion for Women.

At least 75% of all of my blog posts have pertained to feminine fashion. Therefore, some of the many luxury names have been those you may be familiar with. There are fashion blogs I often follow featuring items from high-end designers. You know... Louboutin heels, Chanel bags, 7 for All Mankind jeans, Prada shoes (for women), almost anything Dior, and things like that. Most of what some females look for are often sold at high-end dealers and outlet malls.

Luxurious Fashion for Children.

Yes- even children (babies and kids) can have high-end style! Don't believe me? Try looking up certain high-end designers who have fashions for children, like Ralph Lauren. You'd be surprised that even kids can be high fashion. The one thing I would question is... as playful as kids can be, who wants to soil high-end casual fashions for kids (unless you're reluctant to wash these clothes often)?


Just being able to wear clothes from high-end designers and luxury designers is enough to make anyone feel like luxury. And again- I may use some of the points in this topic to be featured in a future blog post going into a bit more detail. If you read my blog post called "Preppy Fashion," I make mention to a good deal of high-end and preppy designers. Preppy fashion is actually mostly predicated on classy upscale fashions. Looking rich without actually being rich.

IN CASE YOU'RE INTERESTED: Read my blog post "Scrimp or Splurge?" for a look at low-end fashions vs. high-end fashions.

--- Luxurious Lifestyle: Final Thoughts ---

This blog post was more a Just for Fun deal, but of course, expressed in a professional way. The one thing that really mystifies me is just how people share and express their wealth. It is also astounding just what money can buy- especially those with LOTS of money. When you reach that executive level (or something similar to the top of your profession), you've basically shown people that you made it. You tend to show people that what you've worked for all paid off in the end with a lifestyle many people only wish they had.

Many people are even fortunate if they win the lottery. Imagine having lots of money and a good way to spend and invest all that money. It's the classic question of what would you do if you found $1M USD. I know what winning the lottery is like because my family once won the lottery. However, making and inheriting lots of money is one thing; maintaining it and living happily is another. Do you flaunt your wealth around with fancy wares, or do you hold on to whatever necessities you need? It's your call and your money.





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Test Drive Unlimited 2

(UPDATED: August 11, 2011)

For the first time, I rented a PS3 game. "Test Drive Unlimited 2" continues and expands upon what the first game brought about. Only instead of Oahu (Hawaii), you now can drive the roads of Ibiza. The thrill of driving now goes off-road in addition to on-road. Get ready to make friends and challenge them in a variety of different races and challenges. Prepare for the finest racing and driving experience ever conceived for consoles (and PC)!

ESRB NOTE: This game is rated "T" for Teen by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB). It features:

• Lyrics
• Mild Suggestive Themes
• Simulated Gambling

BEFORE I BEGIN...

I am considering doing my Game Reviews differently. I always feel it is best to educate my readers on games before considering getting them. So I am considering making a full review followed by ending it with tips. This way, potential interested readers won't have to sit through my detailed reviews followed by any in-game hints. Have any suggestions? Contact me by Emailing me (go to my Blogger profile and send an Email with your thoughts).

UPDATES MADE:

• AUG 11, 2011 - edited review and provided more tips

--- Test Drive Unlimited 2 at a Glance ---

Test Drive Unlimited 2 requires an install. Game size required is 2,278 MB (2.278 GB) for the PS3 version.


^ from: amazon.com - Test Drive Unlimited 2 (PS3 version). It's time to explore another island and enjoy driving about besides Oahu.

In Test Drive Unlimited 2, the roads of Oahu Island are back for you to explore. Only this time, you are going to both Oahu Island and Ibiza. You can now be more engaged in customizing your home and all kinds of vehicles. Driving and racing can be done off-road in addition to on-road in TDU2.

Your Test Drive Unlimited 2 experience begins in Ibiza. You won't be on the island partying the night away at Space Ibiza or Pacha Ibiza, nor will you be attending virtual versions of Ibiza trance or chill sessions... but you will be driving and racing on the streets and off-road trails of Ibiza. You will be taking part in a number of different races and events. You will be able to connect with other TDU2 players as well. You may sometimes encounter other users as you are exploring the world of Test Drive Unlimited 2. In other words, TDU2 is giving you the chance to be part of a virtual world devoted to driving and racing. What you may be used to in massively-multiplayer online games of other genres is what you will experience in TDU2.

--- Test Drive Unlimited: The Basics ---

To prepare you for Test Drive Unlimited 2, I will share with you some basics of TDU2. So it's time to get you ready for the experiences this game will provide!

Skills and Levels.

The first things to be aware of are your Levels. Your experience in this game is noted by your Global Level. Your Global Level goes starts at Level 0 and goes up to Level 60. How do you reach the highest levels of the game? There are four skills that help contribute to your Global Level: Competition, Collection, Discovery, Social. Here is a rundown of each skill:

• Competition - Your racing skills make up your Competition. Taking part in races and winning races helps contribute to your Competition. You must also earn cups to help boost your level in this department.

• Collection - Buying clothes, homes, furniture, cars, and more help contribute to Collection. It also pertains to other features for both your avatar and your cars.

• Discovery - You will need to explore the islands and travel down as many roads to help increase this skill. Discovery also helps you to earn more things to purchase. Take part in things like Photographer and other tasks to explore the island while also gaining more experience. Also, your ability to find facilities you can enter helps contribute to your Discovery. You will usually be notified when you find a new facility.

• Social - Because meeting others helps you enjoy the game, and because connecting with others is fun, you will need to interact with others as well as connect with friends. Who wants to meet a shallow loser? Go ahead and make friends! This is not just your island to explore, but also its own social networking medium. So go meet new people and have fun exploring! You can also join clubs and take part in various online challenges to help contribute to the Social skill.


As you receive more bonuses and do more racing, the individual skills will be upgraded, which in turn will upgrade your Global Ranking. To rule this game, try to reach Level 60 with your Global Ranking! Keep up with all of your skills by going to the Pause menu and select "Progress and Objectives." Learn what all you have to do to reach new levels by visiting this menu and accomplish the tasks asked of you to level up.

The Environment.

The game runs on a 24-hour time cycle. You will realistically see day-to-night-to-day transitions along with changes in weather. Dry roads can become soaked in rain. You will see rain falling on the road as well as puddles on the road after rain has fallen. When there's a thunderstorm, you will actually see streaks of lightning in the distance with a loud thunder clap that follows. Time and weather can play a key role when you start doing Photographer missions. Certain pictures you must take require you to be there at a certain time of day/night, with certain weather conditions, and even with a certain car. So consider this a heads-up.

The Driving.

Your car will take damage the more you start wrecking and driving foolishly. It can roll over, gather up dirt and scratches, and more. A trip to the car wash can help bring your car back to new. Apart from driving, make sure to avoid getting the police involved. If a police car catches you driving erratically, you could be in trouble with the law and will have to escape any way you can. You can, however, take part in these Chases as either a Cop or an Outlaw. You may also see some other players in their own cars on the field.


Those are some of the basics of TDU2. I now want to discuss some of the stuff you'll be doing in the game. Consider this your preview of what to expect (though I will not spoil too many details).

--- Test Drive Unlimited 2: Doing Stuff! ---

There are lots of things you can do on the island! Here are some of the many things away from racing that you can do:

Home.

You can't just stay out all the time driving- you need to have your own pad to store your cars and live. You are able to walk around your living space and even access your garage. Each house is capable of holding only so many cars as well as holding only so much towards customizing your home's furniture. There are two methods for finding homes- (1) visit a Realtor, or (2) explore the location for available homes. Each home allows you to customize your living space as well as store your cars. If you have friends in TDU2, you can invite them to your home(s). Each home will also allow you to change your clothes by going through your closet. So there is a lot you can do at home. Here is a simple rundown of what you can do at home in TDU2:

• customize and buy furniture for your house.
• edit your clothes
• visit your garage
• check out the latest news and updates regarding your TDU2 experience

To modify the furniture in your house, you will need to access MyTDUHome from the laptop in the house. From there, you can freely walk around your living room to change up furniture. You can choose between any number of furniture options for your house. The options vary for each item. If you own a piece of furniture already, re-coloring that item is free. In addition to furniture, you can also edit the flooring and walls of your house. Give your floor a new and stylish floor. Go with a new wall arrangement. Your living room can be vastly customized based on options you set. You must buy furniture to contribute to your Collection skills; changing walls and flooring does not count towards owning furniture.

To store more cars, you will need to buy more homes. The best tactic is to try to find some two-car houses until you can afford a four-car house.

Car Shopping.

Without a car, you can not function in the TDU2 world. So go get yourself a car. You may either visit a Used Car dealer if seeking cars on a budget, or you may visit a pretty showroom to find some cars for you to buy. You are able to explore any and all showrooms to see all available cars. There are two kinds of showrooms as far as New Cars are concerned- certain specific showrooms dedicated to one or multiple dealers, and showrooms devoted to certain categories of vehicle (like nationality or certain classes of vehicle). Each showroom can be visited and explored. At times, you may even encounter other TDU2 players shopping for cars just like you are. I once saw someone who was checking out a car. As I sat in the driver's seat, the other players was in the other seat! So it may be a good bonding opportunity to meet new players. :)

Only the Used Car lot features certain various cars for you to purchase while most new car showrooms have a fixed variety of cars for you to purchase. Cars at the Used Car dealer can not be customized, so what you see at the dealer is what you will get to drive away in should you buy that car. When visiting a showroom, there is one person you can visit who will share with you the list of cars to check out. Select a car from the list to shop for it. A new car showroom will allow you to purchase the car with options you select (not all cars have options). Here are some things to take note of when visiting a showroom:

• more immersive, actually explore car showrooms.
• visit host/hostess for car list
• choose wheels, paint color, interior
• meet other players visiting the same showroom.
• if low on money, you can sell some of your cars to make up the cost of a certain car. Your money + the cost of any exchanged car(s) helps if you can buy a car.

Each car comes with information on its acceleration, speed, and braking. The Difficulty indicates how tough the car is to drive. Cars with more steering wheel icons means it is tougher to drive than those with fewer steering wheel icons. There are three icons at the bottom for each car. These icons will let you know if you can re-color a car, add stickers to a car, or be able to tune the car at a Tuner. Any of those three icons that have green marks will allow you to modify a car in these respective manners, and those with red marks will disallow you in modifying a car for the given service.

Here is what you can do when you get to a car:
• buy - buy the car and edit its options (wheels, paint, and interior).
• get into the car - climb into the car. You can look around and honk the horn.
• data - more detailed info on the car.
• compare - compare one car to another in the showroom.
• test drive - go for a test drive in the car for a two-minute drive.

That is basically it in regards to cars. Later in the game, you can earn some cars that can't be bought at showrooms, but can be built by a Used Car dealer for you. Don't worry about this until later in the game. There are also other cars that can only be earned if you are part of a Club.

Tuners.

Elevate your car's performance by taking it to a Tuner. As in the previous title, Tuners specifically work for certain nationalities of car. So a US Tuner will not accept your Nissan (for example). The tuning in TDU2 is different. You will be able to tune piece-by-piece with performance packages. There are a maximum of four upgradable levels for each element. Here are the elements you can tune for cars:

• Acceleration - improve a car's top speed.
• Engine - improve horsepower and engine performance.
• Braking - improve braking ability.
• Wheels - buy a new set of wheels for your car (not available on all models)

To earn more upgrades, you will need to improve your Discovery of each area.

Stickers and Paint.

The Sticker Shop will allow you to colorize and stylize your cars. Pick from an assortment of color styles for color and many kinds of sticker sets to apply to your car. Color choices come in a variety of styles. You can choose from matte, metallic, glossy, and carbon colors. You can even arrange to have a bi-color system that allows you to come up with some color-shifting paints. There are over 15 pages of stickers to apply to your car. Pick one that suits you best to put onto your car. Any time you purchase and apply one sticker from a certain page, you can use stickers from that page as many times as you like, as many stickers from that page as you like, and on any car that allows stickers to be placed. You need to purchase a sticker from another page to be able to expand your sticker collection. These stickers count towards your Collection skills.

Clothes Shopping.

Change up your appearance while also contributing to your Collection score by shopping for clothes. Depending on your avatar, you can shop for clothes for your male or female avatar. There are four main clothing stores in the game. There is also a fifth clothing store, but you will need to buy the downloadable Casino Online downloadable content (DLC) to access it.

Each of the clothing shops offer their own items to help dress up your avatar. To begin your clothes shopping experience, visit the lady near the dressing rooms. You will then be introduced to a number of options for which to dress up your avatar. Here are items to choose from (not all items available for all clothing shops):

• hats - clothing for your head. Caps and hats can be purchased.
• sunglasses - various sunglasses can be purchased.
• upper garments - a variety of tops and jackets can be purchased.
• lower garments - purchase bottoms for your avatar.
• shoes - various shoes can be purchased for your avatar.
• gloves - give your avatar some gloves to wear.

You will need to enhance your Discovery in a certain area to be able to purchase more items.

Realtor.

To buy homes, there are two methods- (1) find a home for sale while free roaming, or (2) visit a realtor. You will need to consult with a real estate agent to buy homes. Stepping into the realtor's office allows you to buy homes, exchange homes, or sell homes. All the available homes are specific to certain areas of either island. You don't just have any realtor- you have a brunette cutie proudly rocking skinny jeans and high-heel sandals. The biggest reason why you want to buy more homes is to have more available cars to store into them. There is one very important factor to consider when buying any house- its level. The first TDU had houses that allowed for as few as four cars and as many as ten cars to be stored. In TDU2, garage space ranges from as few as two cars to as many as six cars. When you reach Oahu (Hawaii), some houses in Hawaii will allow you to store as many as eight cars.

Any home you visit can be expanded upon by taking a Virtual Tour. Here, you will be able to take your own Virtual Tour of each home. Get to see what the place has to offer. Freely move around to see the living space, any additional rooms, the garage, and more. This will give you the best idea of what each home will offer should you buy it or want to buy it. A number of homes will look more like certain other homes as you look around. Don't worry about this. Just find a home you want to buy and enjoy living there.

Homes are rated on a five-star system. The number of stars essentially determines its garage space. The rating has nothing to do with the quality of a home. You start off with a home that has no stars. Later in the game, you will purchase houses that will allow you to better customize them. Everything from homes to even yachts can be purchased!

• Buy a home by spending your hard-earned money. If you have enough money to purchase a home, you will freely be able to buy and enter that home immediately.

• A better and more cost-effective option is to exchange homes. The price of a home you are considering will be knocked off as you exchange homes. It makes more sense to exchange for homes of a certain car capacity with homes of the same or greater capacity. It makes no sense, however, exchanging from a house of one capacity for a home with less capacity. Exchange wisely.

• If you are in need of money and have a few houses bought, another money-saving measure is to sell houses. You will receive money back so you can have some extra money on hand. BE CAREFUL- if you have more cars than you have space to put them in, you may run out of places for which to store your cars! So do this only as an extreme measure. Also, remember that you can not sell any cars. You can, however, exchange cars in addition to the cars you have if you are trying to get rid of cars in exchange for one specific car.

You can purchase a home without needing to visit a Realtor (which is a BIG improvement from my TDU1 experience on the PS2). Just look for any available home and visit it. You can buy it from that point. I don't recommend you buying a house that you find free roaming unless you really want to get that house with your hard-earned money. It is better to maybe get a better deal by visiting the realtor, where you can exchange homes and not have to pay so much to get that certain house. Just take note of what Realtor offers the house in question. Remember the name of the house and look for the Realtor that offers that house.

Hairdresser.

Why visit a Hairdresser? If you want to change up the hairstyle and facial hair of your avatar, you will need to visit a hairdresser. Or don't tell me that you are content with the models the game provide for your avatar! You will be surprised what a change of hairstyle and such can do for your avatar. So visit the hairdresser and change up your avatar's hair and other things as much as you like.

Improve your Discovery of a certain area or island to expand the array of hair options for your avatar.

Cosmetic Clinic.

Go under the knife for modification of your avatar's face. When you're done, you will be able to go show off your new face! There are multiple options designed to customize your avatar's face. Be warned that after your avatar has cosmetic work done, he/she will have most of his/her head wrapped in bandages. Those bandages, though, will be removed after some time passes.

Airport.

When you reach Level 10, you will be able to access and use the airport to go to Hawaii's Oahu Island (it's just called Hawaii in this game). Get yourself a ticket so you can travel between Oahu and Ibiza. You have to pay a one-time fee of $2,000 for a trip to Hawaii when you first access the airport. After this first-time airport visit, you can travel from Ibiza/Hawaii to Hawaii/Ibiza as many times as you like for free.

Those are some of the many things to do around Ibiza and Hawaii besides racing. Speaking of which...

--- Test Drive Unlimited 2: Racing ---

Contest for speed by taking part in races around the islands. From in-game races to various online events (including events you can create yourself), there are MANY opportunities to go racing and take part in a number of events.

Racing in General: Basic Events.

Events are divided up into classes, and you will need the appropriate license to compete in each championship or race. They are broken up in "A," "B," and "C" classes. The lower the number for each class, the more powerful. The "A" events are for Asphalt cars. These are your basic races on tarmac, and cars in this class range from A7 to A1. The "B" class is exclusively for SUVs and exclusively for off-road racing. There are only B4 and B3 classes for this designation. The "C" class are for the classic cars in the game. They are classified as cars under C4 and C3.

Your first in-game championship is in the C4 championship. Championships feature a certain number of races for you to take part in with various events to each one. The best thing about championships is that you can select which race you want to do. All races must be completed for you to complete a championship. If you don't want to compete any longer in a championship (perhaps knowing you aren't going to win), you can back out of any championship. To my knowledge, all of your winnings will be nullified if you do back out of a championship. So make sure to complete them, even if you are not going to win the title. Here are some of the many events you can participate in:

• Race - a simple race either on a closed circuit or an open circuit. Be careful with some events because some may have moving traffic in addition to you racing.

• Time - post the fastest time on the course to win. Depending on the event (especially for tarmac racing), time penalties may be added if you go off-course at any time.

• Speedtrap - there are multiple speedtraps set up in certain locations, and there is a time limit for which to cross through them. Your speed going into each speedtrap will be recorded. Try to record the fastest times at each speedtrap. The highest average top speed from all speedtraps at the conclusion of the event determines the winner.

• Eliminator - at the end of each lap, the lowest-placed driver is eliminated. The race is over either when you are eliminated or when the last remaining driver is eliminated.

• Speed - keep your car above the minimum speed limit to avoid losing. Make sure to try to maintain your speed within the allowed time.

Try to win every race in the championship. A victory earns you 10 points in the championship and the maximum money payout. You earn no points if you finish last.

Later in your racing, you can take part in Cup championships. You can only advance to the next race when you win the previous event. And also, you must have a car from every class offered for the Cup. So you may want to hold onto some of your cars rather than sell them off.

Single-Player Events.

Scattered across the island are a number of events designed to test your driving abilities and accomplishing certain tasks. If you complete these tasks, you will be rewarded money and help your Discovery skills. Here is a brief look at some of the many challenges:

• Tail - you will be asked to follow a certain car in these events. You must do so cautiously, however. Try to avoid getting too close or trailing too far back from the other car.

• Driving - there is no time limit, but you must get one person from the starting position to the ending position. Going off-course and taking damage will deduct driving points. If you fail to get from one point to another, you will lose the event.

• Driving Convoy - you will be given a car for which you must get to a certain destination with as little damage as possible. The amount of money you will be paid depends on how well you can get the car from start to finish with as little damage as possible. Going off-course or damaging the car will deduct winning money away. There is no time limit.

• Jolt - rather than driving furiously, you must carefully get one person to a certain destination without scaring or sickening that person. Driving fast, braking hard, swerving out of control, hitting things, and other actions will upset your passenger. So drive carefully to win these challenges. There is no time limit to the Jolt challenges.

• Speed - get the car up to speed and maintain that speed for a good amount of time.

• Adrenaline - you have a certain amount of time to excite your passenger with a variety of dangerous driving acts. If you fail to fully excite the passenger within the allowed time, you lose.

It helps to have a very good car for these challenges. Just remember that the Driving Convoy has cars provided for you, so there's no need to have a certain car available to take part in the Driving Convoy tasks.

Other Forms of Racing.

(Most of this section pertains to online racing, which I have little or no experience with in TDU2.)

Why play alone? You can do online racing by seeking events across the island or by going to the Community Racing Center (CRC). More ambitious types can set up their own races with the Challenge Creator.

You can also take part in co-op races. These consist of a bunch of club races rather than a lot of one-on-one contests. One such event is the Keep Your Distance challenge, where all racers must be within a certain distance from each other.

Feeling lucky? Why not try the Online Chase Mode? This is where you test either side of the badge. This is similar to Most Wanted and Top Cop in the Need for Speed games. You can be an Outlaw by evading the police, or you can be top cop by taking down speeders. Requests can usually be made for you to pursue unruly drivers. If you cause too much havoc on the roads, the police will pursue you. Unfortunately, I was arrested in this game by the police for traffic violations. You end up having to pay a fine. So be careful while going full speed on the streets.

--- TDU2: Overall Review ---

Test Drive Unlimited 2 is unlimited in immersion and in action. Its combination of on-road and off-road action will be enough to make any racing game fan happy. Being able to interact and take part in this virtual realm is very pleasing. The cars all look and sound great. Enjoy racing from a number of different views. I don't care too much listening to the radio in the game, but a lot of the music (non-radio) is great to listen to. The environments are all designed beautifully. Not once will you experience any ugly-looking or less-than-perfect graphics. Though sometimes, there is a modest sort of polygon pop-up in very far distances. Still, everything looks and works great.

The single most disappointing element of TDU2 (to me) is in trying to save photos. You would probably think you can save pictures to your PS3's Extendable Media Bar (XMB), but that's not the case. There is a real funky way to save your pictures. Here's how:

1.) Take a photo (Start » Take a Photo » Take your photo » (optional) name your picture
2.) Press the PS Button.
3.) Go to the Photo menu.
4.) Go to "Save Screenshot."
5.) Confirm.
--- If you want to port your pictures over... ---
6.) Copy your pictures over to a given external media device.
7.) To save on your PC, you will need to crop the picture to actually save your work. Take the main picture and crop the image to include just the actual in-game picture. When you're done, save over your image or save a new image.

You can't even save your pictures over to your XMB. That's real disappointing. I am not just talking about the photo work you have to do, but rather just taking casual pictures.


Maybe a modest disappointment is that I wished there were some better-looking models I can use to represent myself in the game. Some of the clothing choices are a bit fruity to me as well. I guess since you start off in Ibiza, you are supposedly a super-handsome European guy or girl and that you only care for European fashions. I almost want to play a second game to play as a female avatar just to see the fashion options for females in TDU2.

Oh, and one last thing... no motorcycles in Test Drive Unlimited 2. It probably would have been fun to ride motorcycles especially around Ibiza. Be careful of one thing online- some of the online drivers are absolute idiots. Some will intentionally wreck you and keep whacking you (often called "rammers" or "smashers"). And also, be wary of these Bugatti Veyron drivers (or other drivers of really fast/powerful cars) who will tail you and attack you. Thankfully, you can report certain bone-headed people in the game by filing a grief report to Atari or Eden or whoever.

--- Test Drive Unlimited 2: Video Preview(s) ---

Here is your look at TDU2. And if you seen my blog post on Test Drive Unlimited 1, yes. This is the same video I posted in my TDU1 blog post:


^ courtesy of Machinima; the song is "Ghetto Burnin'" by Phonat

To see more trailers of TDU2 on YouTube, click on "Test Drive Unlimited 2 trailer" YouTube search results. Or click on "Test Drive Unlimited 2" YouTube search results for all YouTube videos about TDU2.





Above all else, I have experienced a Test Drive Unlimited experience much different from the PlayStation 2 version of TDU1. Test Drive Unlimited 2 will really grab you and take you for a ride with its immersive gameplay and engaging action. It takes what made TDU1 great and made it better for TDU2. Plus, all the interactions with other gamers make for one exceptional racing and driving experience not to be missed. Surely worth your money if you have the system to play TDU2. If you got money (and the system to play it on) but don't have TDU2, get it on Amazon by using this:


^ available for: PlayStation 3, XBOX 360, PC, and as a PC Download

Learn more about TDU2 by visiting www.testdriveunlimited2.com. Thank you for reading!

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duPont REGISTRY

If you ever pick up a magazine of duPont Registry, you'll know what to expect when you flip through the pages. This magazine features lots of exotic cars and other high-life goods. duPont Publishing Inc. was founded in 1984 and based in St. Petersburg, Florida, USA. I know the duPont REGISTRY for its many automobile advertisements, but homes, boats, and watches (among many other things) are offered in the pages of this monthly publication. The scary truth is... if you see something that you like and that you have money for... you can actually BUY stuff offered in the pages of the duPont REGISTRY. An edition of the duPont REGISTRY is available for about five or seven dollars elsewhere. However, the Florida-based publication is available FOR FREE if you are in Florida (or so I hear).

This blog entry is about the magazine that helps us dream at night about what the heck we'd want to buy if we all became rich and famous- the duPont REGISTRY!


^ the 2009 edition of the duPont REGISTRY.

--- duPont REGISTRY: Automobiles ---

Only the finest automobiles are offered in the pages of the duPont REGISTRY. These include sports cars, exotics, luxury cars, and other high-end machines. So if you're looking for a Plymouth Laser with about 30,000 miles on it and in fairly good shape, you would be out of luck flipping through the pages of the duPont REGISTRY. Conversely, if you are looking for a great quality restored 1963 Sting Ray Corvette, you may be in luck. The duPont REGISTRY never ceases to amaze me o nthe automobile front. The kinds of cars offered up in advertisements and pictures are nothing short of sensational. A few pages are even devoted to some feature cars.

Various auto dealers across the United States are featured in the pages of the duPont REGISTRY. Even some Houston-based companies and Houston branches are featured. Houston's own Hennessey Performance Engineering is featured in this magazine with an ad for instance. I think Houston's Expo Motorcars was featured in the pages of the duPont REGISTRY as well. You'll even see various Ferrari, Porsche, Lamborghini, and other dealerships of high-end sports cars and exotics featured as well.

In addition to exotic cars, motorcycles and classic/vintage cars are also featured. There are even some race cars offered by sellers. A few machines you've almost never even heard of are also featured. For example, in the June 2009 edition of the duPont REGISTRY, a massive SUV called the Knight XV by Conquest Vehicles is featured. How much does it sell for? How does $489K USD sound for a hand-built SUV? Almost anything that is on wheels and can be driven can be yours if you have the money. You can even purchase upgrade kits and wheels among other things. That's the cool, but scary reality of items featured in the duPont REGISTRY- you can actually buy this stuff, and it's all real!

--- duPont REGISTRY: Homes ---

So that rinky-dink two-car garage home isn't good enough? duPont REGISTRY has a publication devoted to luxurious homes. Almost everyone who wants to be rich and famous wants to live in a home that reflects their wealthy lifestyle. Well, the duPont REGISTRY has this kind of scary-but-true reality to all readers. I visited dR's website, and there are houses being either for sale or auctioned off. The cheapest-priced house I see from early pictures is a mountain home in Colorado that costs $1,795,000 USD! The most expensive home I've seen on the duPont REGISTRY's homes page is this beautiful harbor house in Boston that costs $55M USD. In other words... don't shop for a house with these guys and gals unless you've got LOTS of money!

--- duPont REGISTRY: Boats ---

If the way you spend your weekends is on the seas on luxurious watercraft, the duPont REGISTRY has items for the water lover. Everything from lovely boats to full-on yachts are featured. I personally can't deal with water since I can't swim. My older brother even wants a boat, but I'm sure he wouldn't be able to afford the super-luxurious watercraft in the duPont REGISTRY. At least you know that you can have any of these machines that usually cost anything north of $1,000,000 USD. Sometimes WELL north of a million US dollars.

--- duPont REGISTRY: Other Items ---

This final section is devoted to other goods I've seen featured in the pages of the duPont REGISTRY. One time, I bought an edition of the duPont REGISTRY featuring high-end watches. Not just Citizen, not just Tag Heuer, but many you've likely never heard of. I have even seen some things like dating resources, home goods, home furnishings, and more. There are even some services for pet dogs... as in canines that start at $25K USD from one company. I flipped through a few pages to find a security system called SAFE (Strategically Armored and Fortified Environments) cores. In a few advertisements, there are even items for personal aircraft.

So you'll never know what you will find in an edition of the duPont REGISTRY. Part of the fun of this publication is in finding out what is available and for how much.

--- What I Would Say to the duPont Registry if They Read This ---

^ [Some of] the editions of the duPont REGISTRY that I have. June 2009 (top left), May 2007 (top right), October 2007 (bottom left), December 2006 (bottom center), and June 2008 (bottom right).

Keep up the great work! You all do an absolutely amazing job featuring such awesome machines, luxury goods, and more. I have the utmost respect for your work, though I'm fairly sure I will never be able to afford any of this stuff!





Thank you for reading my blog entry on the duPont Registry! To learn more about the duPont REGISTRY, please visit the following links (hover your mouse over the links to learn more about each link):

* duPont REGISTRY
* duPont REGISTRY on Facebook
* duPont REGISTRY on Facebook (Fan Page - Autos)
* duPont REGISTRY on Facebook (Fan Page - Homes)
* duPont REGISTRY on Facebook (Fan Page - Boats)
* duPont REGISTRY on YouTube
* Follow duPont REGISTRY on Twitter!
* duPont REGISTRY's Press Blog

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Test Drive Unlimited (PS2 Version)

A racing game MUST be good if it's "the most important leap in racing game design since Gran Turismo." Test Drive Unlimited for the PS2 may not be as in-depth as the XBOX 360 and PC counterparts, but don't let this be a deal breaker for you. Test Drive Unlimited is one of the most immersive racing games I've EVER played. It is a wonderful title for so many reasons. Through this blog entry, I'll be sure to explain as much as I can about the PS2 version of this game.

--- Test Drive Unlimited at a Glance ---

If I can't find decent box art images to use, I'll just use in-game pictures. So here you go:

^ from: tgdaily.com (best picture I could find- either this or nothing) - Test Drive Unlimited (PlayStation 2 version).

Test Drive Unlimited was a game released in 2006. The game literally lets you rule the streets and highways of Oahu Island. This paradise is yours to buy cars and enjoy racing. This game, however, is MUCH more than buying cars and going racing. You can buy houses to store more cars. You can purchase upgrade packages to enhance the performance of your car.

The PS2 version does not have features like buying clothes, buying certain cars, no custom paint options, and there are NO motorcycles in this game. I think it also lacks other kinds of events to take part in the game. These are some of the many things you can't do with the PS2 version of this game (which I am discussing in this blog entry).

The kinds of races and cars you have access to depends on your Master Points. Simply driving fast boosts your Master Points. You earn more Master Points by performing drifts, entering slipstream battles in races, and flying off of ramps and hills. There are five different levels for you to reach in getting up the leader ranks. The higher ranking events are harder and longer. You will also be able to access much more powerful cars in addition.

This island is basically yours to go explore in your car. However, you need to remember that this is not some illegal street racing game. The cops WILL pursue you if you drive too reckless. Ramming into cars or driving too fast down highways will mean that you will be chased down by the cops.

--- Elements of Racing Games: Test Drive Unlimited ---

To get you interested in Test Drive Unlimited, allow me to go through a few talking points.

House Buying.

Across Oahu, you will have the ability to purchase houses. These houses are good for storing multiple cars. Smaller houses can hold a a maximum of four cars while the largest houses hold ten cars. Just like you could in real life, you can own more than one house in Test Drive Unlimited. The importance of having multiple houses is in being able to store more cars. Each house a Realtor offers allows you to buy, exchange, or sell homes. You can go on a Virtual Tour of each house in the game. You can check out the Exterior, the Garage, and the Living Room. You will not be able to adjust any options about how the house looks, but you do get to have places to store your cars. The Exterior view shows you the house as it is on the outside. A full 360° view of the house is shown in this tour. The Garage shows you how the Garage looks. This is where you can envision what it would be like to place your cars in that house. It shows just two different angles of the garage. Finally, the Living Room lets you see what the living room looks like. Your living room is what shows up first when starting or resuming a game. Two angles showcase the room that you're in.

There are two ways to purchase a house- either find one at a Realtor, or find a house for sale as you drive around Oahu Island. Each Realtor will allow you to purchase a house based on whatever properties they offer. All the houses cover various parts of Oahu. You have the ability to sell houses or trade houses to knock off the price a bit of more expensive houses. If you intend on getting multiple cars to own and use, you'll need at least three houses. If you keep buying more cars than you have room to store them, you may have to end up selling prize cars for cash. So buy houses as your collection of cars increases. It doesn't matter where your bought houses are on the island- just look for more storage for your cars.

You can exchange houses, which allows you to take all of your cars from one house and move them to another. In the process, the price of the house you are exchanging for has its price knocked off. Still make sure to have sufficient funds to make the exchange happen. Also, it's dumb to go from a big garage house to exchange for a small house, so ABSOLUTELY AVOID THIS!

You can sell your houses if you're looking for more money. The cars you have at them, however, may all be gone unless you have a good enough other house to store your cars in.

ANALYSIS: This setup allows you to store as many cars as you like. The important thing to remember is that when you start getting more cars, you'll need to buy more homes to put them in. I recommend you try to exchange houses ONLY when you don't want to get rid of any of your original cars. Otherwise, look for other houses to store your cars. What makes this method different from the Gran Turismo series? Well, Gran Turismo has a nearly endless garage for storing your cars. This one is more realistic as you can have a proper garage and be able to see all of your cars as they are. Something you may notice is that some houses look the same and have some of the same rooms. Don't worry about this too much.

The best thing of all- you don't have to worry about paying any bills! That's the beauty of gaming- regardless of any economic situation, you don't have to deal with real-world situations. So don't worry about some housing market- just buy a house in the game and be happy!

Car Buying.

Where do I start? Test Drive Unlimited features the BEST car-buying experience of any racing game I've EVER played. There are multiple car dealers spread across Oahu. In addition, there are many other places where you can simply rent cars. Showrooms can have anywhere between just one car to up to four. Without even wanting to buy a car, you are free to inspect each car by pressing R1. You are free to play-test various features of each car in a lot or in your garage. You know... open the doors, let the windows down or up, even sit in the car and look around. You may arrange to have a Test Drive, allowing you two minutes with a certain car. Of course, you can cancel your test drive at any time and return to the dealer. This provides the most amazing experience in any racing game.

Let's begin with Showrooms. There are two kinds of showrooms- showrooms of specific manufacturers and showrooms offering a certain category of car. The categories of car range from nationalities of car to certain eras of car. For example, British Independents specialize in British cars and only features British cars. Remember that you are free to inspect ANY car in any showroom... even if you can't afford the car or if you haven't completed certain objectives to win that car. When you're ready to buy a car, this is where the fun begins! Not all options are available to you to customize, but options on wheels, paint, and interior are all available to you. You are able to have your own car for those that allow such options. With some cars, certain options you select can impact any paint or interior options. Wheels let you determine what kind of wheels you want for your car. Paint allows you to pick a certain base color for your car. Interior lets you pick out the interior colors for the inside of your car. It is recommended to look around to see what makes each car's interior different. All that remains now is to pay for the car and enjoy your new ride!

When you visit a Car Rental lot, there are only so many cars for you to purchase at a time. You are allowed two denominations of rental time- 30 minutes and 60 minutes. The option to rent a car entitles you to use that car in races and just to drive around the island. This is good if you want to race some of the more powerful cars early on in case you get bored quick with the less powerful cars. There are a few things to keep in mind- YOU DON'T OWN A RENTED CAR! So therefore, you are unable to change the car's colors or upgrade the car's performance. And of course... make sure to return the car when you're done. :)

ANALYSIS: The game allows you a great way to enjoy cars in this game. You can enjoy racing by renting cars or owning your own. Owning a car entitles you to modify its performance with performance packages and to change any exterior colors. The key word for cars is RACING. The showroom experience is exceptional, perhaps one of the best experiences in any racing game. It even influenced me to question the Gran Turismo series' showroom displays.

Aftermarket.

Give your car a performance boost by going to an Aftermarket shop. The process can be tricky, though. There are two things you must keep in mind before upgrading any car. The first thing to consider is that aftermarket shops only cater to certain vehicles. While this is realistic, it may be annoying if you're trying to purchase upgrades for your specific manufacturer's car. So you may have to drive around Oahu to find the right aftermarket tuner for your car. The second thing to consider- some performance upgrades boost the class level of your car. While it may sound like something significant, it may disqualify your car's chances of competing in certain races based on the class level of cars. So upgrade cautiously based on the specific requirements for each event. There are as many as three different upgrade packages for each car. The upgrades only upgrade the performance characteristics of each car. You have no control over fine-tuning each car, so what you're buying is an all-around upgrade package that makes your car much better than stock.

ANALYSIS: This game does not allow for detailed manipulation of your cars, so buying upgrade packages seems highly unrealistic. Especially if you are a Gran Turismo or Forza type, your options are severely unfulfilling in modifying cars in their most intricate details.

--- Test Drive Unlimited: Racing Action ---

NOTE: I have NEVER played this game online, so I will be unable to discuss online play.

You basically own the island. So feel free to go race in any number of events across Oahu. [At least] The PS2 version has three types of events- Time, Speed, and Race. Depending on how many Master Points you have, you may only be able to race in certain races. Only a certain number of races will be available to you based on the amount of Master Points you have. As you progress through the game and get more Master Points, harder and longer races await you. You go from races that go around short courses a few miles in length to courses that are very long... even one Master-level race that is as long as 103.6 miles!

Time events require you to complete a time trial in the quickest time possible.

In Speed races, your job is to clear the course in the fastest time while posting the fastest time at each speed trap. If you go off the road, penalties will be added to your run. So stay on the road as much as you can while performing your runs.

Race events range from closed-circuit and open-circuit events. They are divided up ranging on classes and difficulty level. Harder races are longer with more powerful cars. You can make the most money from races by racing in Hard difficulty. Difficulty level only affects the quality of the opposition you race against. To get the best edge, get the highest upgrade for your car and make sure your car is within specification of the race or series.

You may have to enter certain race series for some of the various events.

--- Test Drive Unlimited: Clubs ---

Spread across Oahu are various clubs. These clubs give you a chance to enjoy racing against others and representing clubs. Various clubs are devoted to certain classes of car, kinds of car, or anything like that. The job of each club is to go from the lower ranks to being president of the club. Each race is a one-on-one point-to-point race held in random parts of Oahu. First to the finish wins. When one member of the club is defeated in a race, you go on to all the others until you become president of the club. You receive various bonuses for your work, usually an upgrade package sold for free or a new car. Make sure to explore Oahu to find as many things as possible around the island. Seek things like car clubs, car dealers, houses, and more. Finding these things can be helpful for when you want to properly access certain parts of the island quickly.

--- Test Drive Unlimited: Tips ---

It is now time for me to recommend you some things.

* Literally explore the island. There are miles and miles of road for you to use and utilize. If you want to able to access certain parts of the island quickly, you'll need to access certain points of the island. This game takes you all around Oahu Island and through various cities (including beautiful Honolulu). You will need to access the various icons to quickly access other parts of the island to take part in races and other things. Also, it's also good to just drive around the island to get a feel for what roads and highways this game has to offer. There are even some locations that may not have their own race, but make for great roads to race on. For example, there are some twisty roads that make a great touge stage on Oahu. So have some fun here!

* Turn off the Auto GPS to cruise without distractions. The Auto GPS feature quickly links you to race events you to take part in. You can access the map quickly (by pressing Select) and even set certain points you want to access. You can still race in events and purchase things, but it isn't required for you to always seek race events. So when you just want to cruise and enjoy your car, disable Auto GPS.

* Stay on the road! You only gain Master Points when you're on the road. Some races even have penalties if you go off road for too long. You will be disqualified if you leave the road for too long in some races and events. So make sure to stay on the road as much as you can.

* If being pursued by police, going off-road can help. The police will NOT chase you if you're far off-road. You may be able to access any other road by going off-road and finding the first available road to you away from the police. The police will back off when either they can't keep up with you or if you drive smarter on the road.

* Learn on-the-fly when doing club races. The reason why I put this in is because events set up by car clubs are completely random. This even includes driving on roads that go in the wrong direction! You'll need to avoid oncoming traffic as well as stay on the road. It may be unfair to be in some of these races, but it isn't impossible to win these races.

* Take advantage of test drives and rentals. Especially early on, give yourself a chance to be adjusted with cars. You can basically play-test any car in the game. Why not take advantage of this to adjust yourself to the various cars in the game? If going with rental cars, don't pay for more time than you'd like to in using the cars. If you're not going to use a rental car for 60 minutes, don't pay for 60 minutes with a car.

* Exchange houses early on. You have enough money to get a 100,000 Credit house when starting out. Once money starts rolling in and you want to go bigger and better, exchange your first house for a bigger and better place. The cars you own will go with you to your new house. Keep saving up money to seek better houses.

* Upgrade your car to better your chances in harder races. Purchase the best upgrade package to gain the edge in races. Be warned that some upgrades boost your car's class level. So if this is the case, cautiously upgrade your car so that you don't have to buy a new car or disqualify your car for a certain event.

* Unlocked/Earned cars can be bought again. You will be able to buy any car that you win as a prize. So if you earn a car but don't have enough garage space, you can always buy that car in the future. So it's not like in Gran Turismo games where a certain car can only be won once and can't be bought again.

* New clubs and races become available when purchasing certain cars. For example, if you purchase a luxury car, you will be invited to compete in a club devoted to luxury cars. Take advantage of these opportunties to continually enjoy racing in a variety of cars.

* Showrooms you can't access? Because there are some things the PS2 version doesn't have in the game (like motorcycles or certain car companies), you MIGHT find what looks like basic car showrooms... except that you can't access them! There's nothing you can do about these except move on.

--- Test Drive Unlimited: Review ---

Now it's time for my commentary piece encapsulating my review of Test Drive Unlimited for the PS2.

To say the least, Test Drive Unlimited is the most immersive racing game I've ever played. For a game that isn't about Gran Turismo-style pure racing, Test Drive Unlimited really makes you live in a certain space. You instantly feel connected once you start competing in races. Oahu is featured beautifully and with a lot of items for you to access. Even when you go into the Map view, the zoom-out is beautifully done. It makes you feel like the entire island is rendered for you beautifully. The cars all sound and look amazing. Interior views are spectacularly detailed. Even without features found in the XBOX 360 and PC versions of Test Drive Unlimited, the PS2 version is absolutely no slouch. While I am not an online gamer, I'm sure online play is even solid. The game asks if you want to go online even when you start a new game or resume a saved game. Don't have to go online, but the replay value is immense for a game like this. There is honestly nothing you are unable to do with this game. There are few disappointments, if any. This is an open-world style of game for car fans. The driving is pretty good as well. Test Drive Unlimited is an arcadish racing game, but the driving dynamics are very realistic. It doesn't feel as arcadish to where certain performance figures are vastly exaggerated, though. If you're a racing fan and/or a car fan, you should have this game in your PS2 lineup.

The only disappointing elements is that there are a number of cars and car companies absent, no motorcycle racing, no clothing options, or anything like that. Still, the game is still worth playing. Oh, and there's no damage either. It is still a fantastic game.





I thank you for reading my blog entry on Test Drive Unlimited for the PS2. If you enjoyed my review and want to purchase this game, I have this Amazon link for you to buy this game on Amazon. Buy Test Drive Unlimited for the PS2 (or for any other system) here:

--- Off-Topic: Test Drive Unlimited 2 Preview ---

Before I go, here's a bonus section I wanted to add. I learned a little more about Test Drive Unlimited 2. TDU took you around Oahu. Apparently in TDU2, it takes you around not only Oahu, but also Ibiza. Yes- Ibiza as in the beautiful Balearic island... that's world-famous for its night parties.

It seems like elements such as customizing yourself, your house, your cars, and more can be done in this game. You can even board flights to go around both Oahu and Ibiza. You can even get out of your car and interact with others. I think I read you can even buy yachts. This is a game I surely want to get for when I get a PlayStation 3.

To learn more about Test Drive Unlimited 2, visit www.testdriveunlimited2.com, or check out this trailer:

^ courtesy of Machinima; the song is "Ghetto Burnin'" by Phonat





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Thoughts on Ugly Betty

In 2007 or 2008, I discovered Ugly Betty. Ugly Betty was a show I've grown to love for its combination of comedy, drama, and haute couture. It was where I've become fond of the beautiful America Ferrera (Betty Suarez on the show), then later became fond of the beautiful Ana Ortiz (Hilda on the show). It's where I've become a fan of the very handsome Eric Mabius (Daniel on the show). It's where I've considered Vanessa Williams (Wilhelmina on the show) as perhaps the most stylish villaness in any show. It was also the show where I've become respectful of Mark Indelicato (Justin on the show). It's sad this show would eventually get that untimely deathblow. It was also where I disliked Amanda's (Becki Newton) character, but became fond of her style.

NOTE: This blog entry contains links to Amazon products. You are welcome to click on images and links to learn more about each item or even purchase these items if you so choose. Please see "An Important Amazon Note" in my blog's sidebar to see more information on any Amazon items shown.




^ from amazon.com

--- My Thoughts on "Ugly Betty" Getting Axed ---

I think it all began when Ugly Betty was moved from Thursday nights to Friday night, then to Wednesday night just to boost ratings. Thursday night and Friday night to me are wrestling nights (TNA and WWE SmackDown! respectively). There's no way I'd pass up on wrestling. I even made time to miss some TNA wrestling when I saw a two-hour season finale of Ugly Betty that was VERY powerful.

--- Fashion Influences from Ugly Betty Characters ---

This is where I chat about the fashion influences of some of the Ugly Betty characters...

Betty Suarez.
America Ferrera is truly beautiful as America. America Ferrera is "ugly" as Betty Suarez. But in my view, there's a strange synergy to Betty's style. Everything from clashing patterns to various colors makes Betty's sense of style purely unique. Her style is usually consists of a jacket, a nice top, a flowy mid-length skirt, some bright-colored tights, and some cute pumps. Everything strangely comes together nicely.

Hilda Suarez.
Ana Ortiz was an actress I've grown to love. Whereas Betty is seen as a hot mess to others, Hilda shows some sexy and chic style. Her style is more along the lines of a lovely tunic, some jeans, and either some hot sandals or boots. Some bold accessories accentuate her style all the further.

Wilhelmina.
Wilhelmina may be the most stylish villainess in any show. I usually associate Wilhelmina with wearing a lovely dress or skirt set, a bold pair of pumps, and some bold accessories. Hey... if you're going to be a villainess, best be a stylish villainess! :)

Daniel.
Daniel was a character whom I've respected for his immaculate charm. He was always a sharply-dressed cat on the show sporting wonderful business suits. Adding to his handsome charm is his great voice.

Amanda.
Amanda can be a witchy character, but I even admit... she is a sassy fashionista with some lovely style. There were a few episodes where I thought Amanda was the best-dressed character in an entire episode. Amanda can be a bit annoying, but her fashion style is anything but.


Honorable Mentions.
* Claire Meade (Judith Light) has some classy and lovely style from episodes I've seen her.
* Marc St. James (Michael Urie) is also a cool character. Perhaps the male equivalent of Amanda. I got a little respect for him since he's a Texas boy (like myself), born in Dallas.
* Cal Hartley (David Rasche) was a sharply-dressed man, like Daniel. Cal is a powerful figure.

--- Thoughts on Ugly Betty ---

It was very fun to follow Ugly Betty for the few series I've gotten to see it. That was a great comedy-drama series that I've loved for humor and fashion. The storylines were played out very well. Every award the Ugly Betty series has amassed was well-deserved. Best of luck to all the actors and actresses that have made Ugly Betty one of the finest shows of the past ten or so years. Sad this wonderful show got axed.

Thanks for all the memories, Ugly Betty. Thanks for the memories.

If you're an Ugly Betty fan, feel free to check these items out on Amazon. Thank you for reading!

Sex and the City Influences

As a regular of one message board, I've gotten to watch a few shows for fashion influence. Maybe one of the most interesting concepts is to take one concept and offer much different twist. The title of this blog entry concerns influences one movie and hit TV series has made- Sex and the City. The concept of Sex and the City is all about a bunch of ladies looking for love in New York City. But what's the twist? Rather than teenagers or very young adults, you have thirty-somethings, fourty-somethings, maybe some cougars... maybe people would probably complain that this was just another young girl in the big city deal. Or in a world- redundant. Let me explain what I think makes this series so lovely on the mindsets of cultural and fashionable significance.

NOTE: This blog entry contains links to Amazon products. You are welcome to click on images and links to learn more about each item or even purchase these items if you so choose. Please see "An Important Amazon Note" in my blog's sidebar to see more information on any Amazon items shown.

--- "Sex and the City" Cultural Influences ---

I think what makes SATC so culturally influenced is that ladies older than 35 can still have as much fun as any teen girl or adult south of 31 years old. Just because you're 35 or older doesn't mean you still can't enjoy wearing hot clothes, be in pursuit of love, and things like that. These elements are what I think makes "Sex and the City" such a hot TV series and a great movie.

That's what I think makes Sex and the City what it is and why it's such a respected series. Perhaps since there are mature adults, there seems to be more reluctant to get married than a teen or young adult. There are issues in these shows and in the SATC movie that aren't remotely considered in a teen movie. So you could say this is a more sophisticated kind of show rather than something readily accepted by college students. However, the Sex and the City series can be accepted by more mature adults as well as college students and teens.

--- Sex and the City's Fashion Influences ---

What makes the Sex and the City series so fun besides its cultural connotations is the fashion. Allow me to go back to the example of young people vs. older women for a moment. Imagine if ladies between the ages of 18 and 25 were wearing some of the clothes the four ladies of Sex and the City wore. Everything from stunning dresses, stylish skirts, fierce shoes and sandals, lovely accessories, and more. The shoes I've loved most are these "Something Blue" satin pumps by Manolo Blahnik:


^ from: intheircloset.com

How hot are these $600 USD pumps? I've heard of women being robbed at gunpoint for those pumps once. Can you believe that? For a pair of shoes? Come on, now! It's not like I hear about dudes getting robbed for a pair of Nike Air sneakers or a pair of Old Navy flip-flops.

When it comes to fashions themselves, "Sex and the City" never fails to deliver. This is the kind of stuff you'd probably expect to see at high-end stores or big time retail chains. There are lots of high-end fashions worn ranging from Oscar de la Renta (whom I am a HUGE fan of), Manolo Blahnik, and names like that. It's where you also see expensive accessories and handbags. You'll need to watch a few episodes to have an appreciation of what this series is all about from a fashion perspective.





I think this show and this series is one of the most culturally-significant series of the past 20 years. I levitate to this series because of some of the culture and fashion influences from this show and this series. I've actually typed this blog entry up while watching the "Sex and the City" movie. One of the reasons why I've started to watch the series was to follow the fashion. Later, I've grown to become fond of the series for its humor and charm. I usually wonder how much different this series would be if there were actually teen girls or ladies 25 years old or younger. But then, the balance of the series and its character would be ruined. It would probably be another show where people would complain over girls too young wearing high-end designer labels and trying to find love in the big city. This is also where I've become fond of Sarah Jessica Parker and her acting abilities.

I thank you for reading this blog entry. Feel free to comment on my material if you enjoy it! Here are some things you can check out if you're a fan of the Sex and the City series:



Thanks for reading!