When life is hard you have to change.

Between the daily demands that having a regular job, wife, eight-week-old son, second job reviewing games, and third job previewing games can force on a person, it can be pretty damn hard to actually, you know, play a freakin' game for fun. However, I've been hearing a ridiculous amount of love for Bioshock lately - you know, review scores of 10 almost across the board - so I decided that I am going to sit down and play it.

Naturally, to make that happen, I had to quit my job.

Believe it or not, I purposely gave myself a complete week off between when I leave my old job and start my new one, just so that for the first time in many months I can sit down and play a game just for the hell of it. Not for review, not for preview, just to lose myself in an experience and not worry about conveying my thoughts to the world in a coherent sense (not that I've been excelling at that lately either… ).

So, if you see me online any time between September 10th and September 16th playing Bioshock, you'll know that I am sitting there with a big smile on my face, ignoring my worldly responsibilities for a few precious days.

I sure hope this game is worth it…

So here's the deal. I've been working at my company for 9 years now, making a good living and sort of enjoying what I do. Since the company got bought this time last year, though, things have steadily gotten less interesting, more stressful, less enjoyable, and overall kind of depressing.

So I've been interviewing, and there's a new company that wants to hire me as their Director of Professional Services. A nice raise (but not an extravagant one), a longer commute (that does not involve taking the train anymore), and the ability to go back to a small software development company and make a real difference.

If I leave my current job, I'll also be forfeiting a nice annual bonus that is to be paid in November, one that will really come in handy since my wife is no longer getting a paycheck now that she's a full-time Mom.  The job offer I have now won't wait until then, or they'll continue their search. On the other hand, the new place will pay a pro-rated bonus in the first quarter of 2008, but that will be only 33% of what I would get later this year.

This is going to be the toughest decision of my life. I have less than a week to make it, and I have no idea what to do.

Today, Logitech announced two brand new PC peripherals, set to make your gaming rig even more powerful - and (almost) guaranteed to improve your skills.

First comes the Logitech G9 Laser Mouse, customizable in a variety of ways. Between a "Precision" and "Wide Load" grip, adjustable speeds and weights, storable settings, customizable LED, and modifiable scroll wheel, the G9 is sports scads of features for hardcore PC gamers. Look for it available in stores this month, retailing for $99.

Second is the G15 keyboard - touted as "the Ultimate Keyboard for Serious PC Gamers" - which comes packed to the gills with programmable accoutrements. There's an integrated LCD screen to keep you up to date with game or system stats, backlit keys, 6 programmable keys, 2 USB hubs, and a detachable palmrest. It hits stores in October of this year and will also retail for $99.

Of course, these products will also be available directly from Logitech via their website at www.logitech.com. It could be a little merrier Christmas for that ravenous PC gamer we all know and love.

Wow - I knew fatherhood would be a lot of work. But until you're in the middle of your three-week-old's fourth crying fit of the evening at 4:30 AM on a work night, you're never quite prepared for parenthood in all its, um, glory.

Of course, my work is suffering, as is my gaming (but not as much as my work… ). That's because no matter what, gaming is and will always be my passion. So even though the hours have become minutes, I've still been able to squeeze in some review time for the four titles on my plate. 

Other than that, though, there's simply zero free time. If it weren't for that train ride and occasional treadmill, I'd probably be losing my mind.

So yes, I am alive, if sleep-deprived, grumpy, and desperately wishing for my boy to sleep just… another… hour. Soon enough, life will be back to normal. Until then, though, it'll be a fight for every free moment.

If your television service provider is Cablevision or Dish TV, then you might want to cancel your plans for this evening (or at least set your DVR). For the first time, the Hip Hop Gaming League Finals will be broadcast in hi-def on GAMEPLAY HD (part of the VOOM suite of channels).

Airing tonight at 8 PM EST, the Finals pit the infamous Pacman Jones (of Tennessee Titans and courtroom fame), Eric V of "The Baka Boyz", Han Cholo, and Murs battling each other in EA's NCAA Football 07 for the rights to claim the championship.

The original hi-def documentary shows the on-stage and behind-the-scenes antics of the players, including what's sure to be some pretty intense trash-talking.

Check it out!