July 2010
6 posts
1 tag
Close to all of them!
Almost the entire cast for HBO’s A Game of Thrones has been announced, and it’s looking like a good set!
We had quite a few cast members already, but now that the show has the green light and HBO has committed to filming the entire season, more characters needed to be cast. I thought many of the actors were very well suited, but some stood out as not being suited at all, though I...
3 tags
Desk is a mess
I suppose I better clean it… at some point…
I’ve had two weeks vacation, which has been absolutely great. I’ve gone away with my SO, gamed a great deal, blogged a little, relaxed and generally had a very good holiday.
But now I must get back to it. Thankfully my work isn’t too taxing. I work hard at what I do to create the best websites I can, within the...
5 tags
Update for Worms 2: Armageddon
Surprisingly filled out update for the points cost.
I bought the game on my first XBOX 360, but decided to re-download it onto my Elite and now of course I have to go through all the crap that is consolidating licences, but I can still play the game properly if I’m hooked up to XBOX Live, but when I unhook it - as the cable actually usually goes to my SO computer, yes, I’ll get...
3 tags
Puzzle Quest 2 is good
Surprisingly good, actually
I had the trial to Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords and whilst I was waiting for something to download from XBOX Live I decided to give it a go. After a few minutes I had to have the full game, and looking it up on the Arcade. I found that it already had a sequel, which had substantially better graphics, so I bought that one instead.
That was about...
3 tags
Zeta FTL
Serious lose. Ugh.
Okay so it’s been a good while since I last wrote, but I’ve been rather busy in that time. Went on a small vacation with my SO, which was great, and then spent a few days at home together, gaming and generally having fun. Of course, I only just realised that my last blog post didn’t go live when I hit ‘Publish’ instead saving itself as a draft....
2 tags
What a great game
That looks like a sarcastic title, but I’m serious. Fallout 3 is excellent!
I started playing Fallout 3 again, though this time on my 360. I was playing it on PC for a while, but when it bugged during a main-story mission, and corrupted my only save file, I gave it up for a long while.
I really enjoyed the game, but my perception of it was greatly marred due to the game-breaking...
June 2010
18 posts
3 tags
Chavette lost her case
The chavette who threatened my neighbour with legal action after she hit him did take the case to court, and lost!
So there was some lead up to the case, but I’d not spoken to my neighbour in a while so I’d not heard about it until this week. He received notification in the post from a law firm that specialises in compensation claims for accidents that the chavette driver was in fact...
2 tags
BP no longer top dog
Not even in the list of top dogs. Take that!
Seriously, this oil spill disaster is going to be almost as bad for the company as it has been for the environment. I’m at a loss as to what to say, okay well no I’m not, I’ve got a lot to say, and here I go.
Can you believe that that unmitigated, worst natural disaster ever for the US, event was caused by one of the world’s...
2 tags
Wow, PlayStation Move looks ridiculous
I don’t like the bubble.
Let’s just take a look at this thing. It’s incredibly similar to the Wii-mote in set up, save that it’s black. But… so is the new Wii-mote… Oh and it’s also got a very silly little balloon thing on the end, that looks like the controller is obnoxiously blowing gum at you. Apparently it’s not hard, and is sort of rubbery and...
3 tags
Nintendo talks about the 3DS
Well… they talk a little…
So, I had big reservations about this handheld. I mean, what’s with the huge push for all things 3D at the moment? It seems so 80’s to me. I’ve not gone and seen any movie in 3D, and I’ve never felt like I was missing anything. It just seems a bit absurd, sitting there in those multi-coloured glasses.
So when Nintendo announced...
2 tags
More Zelda info
Well, a tiny bit more than nothing is more, but it’s still not much.
We’ve got a name now. Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword… So much for Miyamoto’s stupid hint comment a while back suggesting Link wouldn’t have a sword. I’ve been waiting a long, long time for any information, any, coming from Nintendo about this game after the one concept poster was released...
3 tags
The Kinect
The Kinect is the new peripheral from Microsoft that’s… well… pretty much the same as the Wii MotionPlus… Yeah…
Okay so with E3 about to wrap up, it’s about time I started covering those games that stood out to me, or in this case, the hardware. Because, really, that’s what this year’s E3 has felt like, a very hardware-centric expo. Both Microsoft...
3 tags
She's looking for a gift
My SO is looking for a gift for her dad.
My father passed away a few years back, so I don’t have any Father’s Day gifts to buy, but my SO does. Her father is a difficult man to shop for. He’s taciturn nature doesn’t lend itself to getting to know the man easily, and all that anyone really does know about him is that he likes football and complaining.
So, with that in...
1 tag
Spamming me with emails
Some sites that I’ve bought from continue to send me emails with upcoming offers, and it’s frustrating.
I bought some office equipment a while back as I had to have a pretty comprehensive set up for working from home. Now I’m getting spam emails telling me to buy digital dect cordless phones, and you know what, I never will! When I do have to buy a new phone again for my...
2 tags
Ambient Challenges - Not as interested now
Now that I’m playing as Jack, I don’t really care to complete the Ambient Challenges in Red Dead Redemption.
Basically, there’s four types of missions that you can go about and do all by yourself. You’ve got the Treasure Hunter Challenges, where you get a map with a landmark on it and it will direct you to the location of some treasure. Some are hard to figure out, but...
3 tags
Bloody soundmakers
Or, in this case, Vuvuzelas.
I’m not really that into football, to be honest. I know that’s sacrilegious of an English man to say, but it’s the truth, I find it a largely boring sport to watch. But when it’s countries playing then I find it at least a little interesting, so I usually check out the FIFA World Cup when it’s on.
However, this time round,...
4 tags
GW2 - New class added... Warrior!
It’s one of the most enjoyable aspects of a new MMO, the classes, so it was nice to find that the Warrior profession had been released on the GW2 site.
It’s about time, too, that we saw a significant update. The site has fairly much been stagnating for most of last month, but there’s been the odd bit of info go up now and then. However, finally, we’ve got a brand new...
2 tags
Half way through book one
Of Mistborn: The Final Empire, and it’s pretty good.
First off, damn I’m happy to not be reading Malazan! Seriously! Erikson is one messed up fellow and I’m glad not to be reading his work anymore! It’s so refreshing!
I started Mistborn: The Final Empire a little while back when I was a little tired of reading Malazan. I enjoyed the change of pace, and I was quite...
3 tags
So that's what they were counting down to
I saw a Deus Ex: Human Revolution count down the other day, and now I know it was to an extended version of the teaser trailer!
I have to say first off, before anything else, that my wisdom teeth are coming in with a vengeance, and that the right side of my face is afire with pain. Yeah, so I’m not feeling great, but I’ll soldier on to get this post up.
Secondly, before I get to...
3 tags
Warning: Spoilers
There will be spoilers for Red Dead Redemption in this post and I don’t want anyone having the later stages of the game ruined because I wasn’t clear about that fact.
So… where to start… Okay so I’m very close to finishing the game, but before I get to that I’ll go back a bit. I went to Mexico and helped out there for a while, waiting to get info on two...
1 tag
Layton film to ship this September
Well, ship here anyway. Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva hit stores in Japan last December.
I noticed a link on IGN to a review of the movie, and with great trepidation clicked. I was surprised to see that there were only two real gripes with the film, and one of those is a little unrealistic in my mind. Basically, the review suggests that the only two downsides to the film are an...
2 tags
That's right, Shogun 2 has been announced
You better believe it, gamers! Time to get back into your Samurai armour and try to take over Japan!
Ten years ago, a game development company called Creative Assembly created an awesome battle simulation game called Shogun: Total War. It was an awesome game, where you commanded armies as a Daimyo and tried to take over the entirety of Japan.
Sounds pretty damn fun, right? Well, from what...
2 tags
Red Dead Redemption: One hell of a ride
I’ve been playing for about thirty hours so far, and I’m about sixty-five percent of the way through the game.
I meant, initially, to do a post to say how I was going every ten hours or so, but as you can see, that didn’t happen. I’ve been playing quite solidly for the last five or so days and I’m thoroughly enjoying myself.
I’ll start with the only negative...
5 tags
Done with Malazan
Thanks to Erikson being an insanely sadistic writer, I’m not reading any more Malazan; not even finishing book nine!
I’ve been toying with putting down Dust of Dreams and taking up another series for a while. Another book might make me appreciate the characters of Malazan again, or something like that. However some aspects of the story were picking up and I was looking forward to...
May 2010
18 posts
3 tags
Okamiden reminds me of...
Upon investigating this game, it’s really reminding me of a few other games, though that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
There are elements from a few previous DS titles that seem very strong in the Capcom title. When I first viewed the trailer it immediately struck me how like Phantom Hourglass the game play was, as well as the cell shaded visuals.
Now, I’m not saying that...
2 tags
A classic
I’m playing a classic RPG game… Baldur’s Gate. The original!
I’ve been playing Baldur’s Gate II, as I said the other day, but it struck me that I’ve never actually played the original game. I’d actually bought both in a special edition collector’s pack, but upon instillation of the first game, was told in an error message that my copy of the game...
3 tags
Big show for Nintendo at E3
If they show all of the rumoured games they’ll be showing it will be a pretty big show for Nintendo at this year’s E3.
It’s looking like it will be a pretty big year for Nintendo, and I’m interested to see the reactions after E3 is over. In terms of hardware, Nintendo is going to be showing the new 3DS, which will be great for those of us who are hanging out to see more...
2 tags
Chavette drivers FTL
One threatened to sue my nice old neighbour.
Basically, I’ve got this great old neighbour, who must be sixty-five or so, but he’s still completely all there. He’s one of those neighbours that will just help out, without being asked.
Like on one occasion when my SO and I were unexpectedly out of town for a week - issues with her dad’s health - this neighbour picked up...
3 tags
Misuse of full body scanners
It’s no surprise, either.
It’s interesting to see what can happen when these things are ill-used. We’ve had them for a while, but in America they’re only just starting to use them around the country. Two incidents so far have caught my eye, and make me think serious adjustment needs to be made.
In the Miami international airport, the technicians who are to view the...
4 tags
RDR - Kickin' ass and takin' names in the Wild...
I’m very, very, very much looking forward to playing Red Dead Redemption.
So, the game is set to release on our fair shores in less than a week - May 21st - but I really want to play this game right now! Dammit! Well, in lieu of being able to actually play, I’ll write about it.
It’s hard to pinpoint what exactly makes this game stand out… there’s a few things...
5 tags
Can't wait for GW2
In my search for a new MMORPG I found Guild Wars 2, and I can’t wait to play it.
I’ve gone through the MMORPGs available and the only ones that are interesting are ones I’ve played. LOTRO is a fantastic game, but I’m feeling like something not set in Middle Earth, something where I don’t know what will be around every corner. Something even more fantastical than...
5 tags
Torturous research
Yep. Bunch of scientists in Montreal thought, hey, let’s torture some mice to see if they show it in their facial expressions.
I happened upon a news article today, a news article on Yahoo that tells how a recent study has found that ‘lab mice show pain with facial expressions’. Now, I’ve a few issues with that.
First off, no-bloody-shit-Sherlock. Of course they show...
1 tag
My family = Irritation
Wow, they’re an irritating bunch.
Ever have one of those days where your family is so incredibly irritating that you’ve no desire to ever see them again? I’ve had one of those days. First let me set the scene. I don’t talk with my extended family all that much. My mother was the odd duck of the family and as such I wasn’t ever really close with the rest of them.
...
4 tags
Greater perks at work
My place of employment is considering greater perks for us…
I suppose they’re trying to combat the lingering economic crappiness and the not incredible rates of pay they give us, though to be honest the pay isn’t bad at all and is still competitive in the field.
It’s a small company, with two offices and some of us who work from home. I’m a web designer, and...
2 tags
In laws asking for help again
Yep, they need my help again. Should be alright, shouldn’t it?
I’ve no problem helping people, no problem at all. Helping people who aren’t particularly nice to me and are somewhat demanding about my help is another matter, though. I’ve helped out my SO’s parents before and it’s not a fun experience. I helped them get set up with a proper internet connection...
3 tags
But, then again...
But then again… Malazan is still a little… odd…
So, I’m still enjoying the book, and I’m still finding motivation to stick with it, but there’s one little group of characters which is extremely depressing, and one character specifically that’s rather irritating.
Remember when I was talking about Alan Wake, and how I didn’t like that a fair...
3 tags
Fun for your inner child
Because we all know you need that every once in a while.
I just happened to take a look at the Toy Story 3 preview, not something I would usually do - licensed games since SNES being what they usually are and all - but I trust in Pixar so I thought I’d take a look at the preview.
I was mightily surprised to hear that the game actually sounded fun! Basically, there’s a very minor...
4 tags
Sequel not standing up
The sequel to Lost Planet is certainly not standing up to it’s predecessor.
I played Lost Planet back when it came out. It’s actually a bit of a blur - a white, snowy blur - as much of the storyline has faded from my mind. Not a good sign. It wasn’t a very long game, but I suppose that’s not really a problem when the game isn’t really, really engaging, but I have a...
3 tags
My ire at city coucil workings
The workings of my local city council has raised my ire!
We’re heading onto the end of the financial year pretty soon. That’s the time of year where we traditionally see pretty awesome sales, but the other thing you’ll notice is that there are all of a sudden far more council work projects going on. Notice how roads won’t be patched, nearly at all, for the entire year...
5 tags
One of the best games ever.
Baldur’s Gate II, that is.
After playing Alan Wake, a game that I could have said so, so much more about - in a negative light - I needed to play something fun, something really good, something that was excellent the first time I played it and was going to be excellent this time as well. That game is, of course, Baldur’s Gate II: Shadows of Amn with the Throne of Bhaal expansion...
2 tags
My take on the long awaited Alan Wake
Very, very long awaited title. Five years long awaited title…
I, like many gamers, feel conflicted about the whole thing. It looked alright and played alright, but surely for five years of development it should have been more than alright, right?
I mean, the game mechanic was a very interesting and fun idea when I first heard about it, back in 2005, but now there are other games that...
4 tags
More Malazan
Writing about Malazan again.
As I’m sure you’re aware, if you read any of my posts, I’ve been reading Malazan books constantly for probably the past year. I sort of got a little burned out with the whole series a little while back, as I was slogging my way into the ninth volume in the series. I felt like I was sick of the whole thing, you can see the post, it’s only a...
April 2010
8 posts
2 tags
From Malazan to Mistborn
I’m not set on not reading Malazan at the moment, but I’m giving Mistborn a try anyway.
I’m feeling a little over-cooked in terms of Malazan books, so I decided to give the Mistborn series a go and I’m really, really liking it so far. I’m over the first one hundred pages, and the remarkable difference between this and nearly every book I’ve read in the past...
2 tags
Dust of Dreams - feeling a little done with...
I really do like the series, but I think I might have had enough for a while.
On the one hand, I really do enjoy these books. I mean sure, there’s a bit of one-up-manship going on in a lot of it, with more and more powerful characters coming into the series, but I like the epic scope of the books, and love how things that happened in certain books tie in with happenings in books much...
5 tags
Games as Art
I’ve written on this exact topic before, but there’s recently been a resurgence of this debate that I just had to put my two cents worth in.
Okay so, if you read my previous post on this issue, you will have seen that I wrote of Roger Ebert’s comment about video games never being able to be considered an art form. I’ll sum it up here again, though. Ebert stated that due...
2 tags
What happens when you call the Customer Care line?
Bad, bad things. That’s what.
A while back I bought Panasonic digital cordless phones for my house. I don’t recommend them. They’re almost as quiet as the phones I bought them to replace, and they’ve got a pretty bad battery life on them, too.
One of the phones we’ve been having trouble with. The battery casing isn’t tight enough, allowing the battery pack...
1 tag
Why am I wasting all my time?
Seriously, this is a real problem!
So, last night, I meant to go to bed around midnight. But I sat up for a while as I had some work to do. I then managed to find myself on Cracked.com, a very amusing website with interesting or amusing articles on a huge variety of subjects. Anyway, I looked at my clock, only to realise it was nearly 2am and I’d not done my work.
This is a real issue: I...
4 tags
3DS on it's way
Well, not for a while yet, but the handheld will be unveiled at this year’s E3.
Details at this point are sketchy, but what Nintendo has confirmed is that the DS successor, the 3DS, will have 3D capability without the need for any sort of glasses to perceive the effect. Nintendo have also stated that the new handheld will be completely backwards compatible, so you’ll still be able...
4 tags
Hey Molyneux, please be quiet
Sometimes the man just makes me cringe.
The latest bout of my laughing at Molyneux was brought about by happing upon an article on IGN where Molyneux is claiming Fable III has ‘the greatest cast of any video game’. Now, I know that they’ve got some great actors in their voice cast, including John Cleese and Steven Fry, both very funny, but the best cast ever is just a...
5 tags
Splinter Cell... Hmm...
I’m not terribly thrilled with what I’ve seen of Splinter Cell Conviction so far: I’m hoping it becomes more enticing closer to launch.
I took a look at some of the trailers for the game on IGN the other day, and the first thing I couldn’t help noticing was the poor graphics. Okay they aren’t terrible, but when you put it up against other games being released at...