This has to be the longest 36 hours I've had to wait in a long time. It's like Christmas Eve and you will do anything to stay up, only until your parents let you open a present or fall asleep next to the presents in sheer exhaustion.

During my hiatus from the full time working world, I used to write for a friend of mine doing PlayStation 3 game reviews for an online gaming website. It was out of convenience for him, since we've know each other for 4 years and both addicts of games. I also was only a handful of people who used to do QA for game developers and was a fanboy of the PS3, so it was a good match for us. I would get early release copies for review and even an occasional paycheck. As a part time working geek, this was perfect for me.

Free lance reviewers get no love or acclaim, most just do it because it gives us a chance to play a game all the way through and write about it. Some do it for lofty goals of journalism and writing experience. I was the former, since I had time on hand and liked to write.

Grand Theft Auto IV comes out this Tuesday, it's a game 4 years in the waiting for most of us. After Grand Theft Auto 3 - San Andreas, most gamers were completely overwhelm with what RockStar (the developers) could continue to accomplish. From the size of the sandbox world they dropped you in, to the multitude of people, vehicles, missions, and plotlines most of us in the gaming world were taken back at their accomplishment. We all had grand ideas for the 4th installment, and could not wait to see what RockStar would do. I think I beat San Andreas three times just to re-experience some of the amazing details and technology which was introduced in the game. I've gotten a chance to play a few minutes and some multi player of GTA4 during a game convention in New York, so my hunger has been growing ever since.

For a great review and some in-game action, you can see Gametrailer's latest review: Grand Theft Auto IV

The true geek in me will come out in the next few days, as I anxiously wait for Tuesday night.

I've definitely cut back on interaction with the gaming world. Mainly out of personal time constraint, or because most of my friends have moved away from the community also. We still get together for a fragtastic session. I also get the occasional reviewer's copy of a game I know nothing about, and I have to be honest to the company and tell them I no longer review games. Some games I open out of interest and play a few minutes and realize that I shouldn't continue or my review will be U-G-L-Y. Out of +20 reviews, I've given 6 negative reviews (that I remember). I don't want to be on that list among developers. haha.

Next weekends plans have all been put on hold. I love my friends' response to my reasoning, "Nerd."

In my time of gaming mediation, please send pizza and Jolt.

~Philly