A slave to the page

I know what you're going to be thinking... another week, another blog, another mention of Facebook.

The fact is I - like 98 per cent of my friends and, in fact people I know - still can't get enough of the social networking website.

I like to think I'm not addicted, that I'm able to last a few hours without wondering who's poked me (so to speak), or which friend from yesteryear is eager to rekindle a lost friendship.

Sadly I hold my hands up and admit... I'm a slave to the page.

Anyway, I haven't brought you here to brag about my latest addiction, I want to tell you about Facebook's brand new feature - Facebook Chat.

Working the same way as Microsoft's MSN messenger, at the click of a [mouse] button FB Chat allows you to open a new window and 'chat' to your mates. It also tells you how many of your friends are online at that time. Handy huh?

With way more features than msn messenger and its associated hotmail, it's sure to stoke up the fire in the war between the two.

Having used it I have to say it is much more user friendly - and it doesn't take ages to load up.

Meanwhile Google announced a new web chat service earlier this month.

HuddleChat (www.huddlechat.com) was designed to help people work together on projects.

It had been up for only a day before bloggers started complaining that it ripped off a similar service called Campfire (www.campfirenow.com); so HuddleChat was promptly taken offline.

Still, it did the job of advertising Google’s new App Engine system for building web-based software.

Also this week with the release of Grand Theft Auto 4 just under days away, games retailers are beginning to see how they can make the most of the hype surrounding the game, by bundling other items onto it.

Sony has already announced they’ll be releasing a special GTA IV PS3 bundle, and online retailer play.com has since said that for under £200 you’ll be able to get your hands on an Xbox 360 Premium console and a copy of GTA IV.

Expect more retailers to follow suit!


In the run up to GTA IV why not give these titles a blast?


Title: The World Ends With You

Platform: Nintendo DS

Genre: Action/RPG

Price: £29.99

Hit Count: 4/5

Taking inspiration from modern-day Japan, The World Ends With You is one of those fabulous games that combines cool graphics with slick game mechanics to produce a unique DS experience that turns the setting of traditional Action/RPGs on its head.

Gloriously garish graphics, funky Japanese pop tunes and a cracking storyline combined with creative combat sequences make for a must-have title on Nintendo’s dual screen that has style in abundance to make it stand out from the mediocre on game store shelves.


Title: UEFA Euro 2008

Platform: Xbox 360

Genre: Football

Price: £49.99

Hit Count: 4/5

Perhaps there would have been a little more excitement around the release of this title ahead of the big football event this summer had any of the home nations qualified for it.

But with EA’s FIFA engine behind this branded release there’s still cause for optimism as you can try to qualify your favourite nation, captain your country in pursuit of individual glory or enter in online tournaments.

It’s a great interim release ahead of FIFA 09 later this year and should keep football fans more than happy while they watch the real tournament unfold.


Title: Emergency Mayhem

Platform: Wii

Genre: Action/Driving

Price: £39.99

Hit Count: 2/5

Feel the fast-paced action with the emergency services as you take control of the police, fire and paramedic departments, dashing around a city that has a strange kind of interpretation of what constitutes an emergency.

Whether it’s quelling the activities of out-of-control monkeys or bouncing escaping prisoners back into jail on a trampoline, the light-hearted mini-games that await you when you’ve dodged and weaved your way through traffic are amusing enough first time ’round.

However beyond that the simplicity of Emergency Mayhem will bore serious gamers soon enough, so it’s best left to young kids to tackle.


Title: Teenage Zombies: Invasion of the Alien Brain Thingys!

Platform: Nintendo DS

Genre: Adventure

Price: £24.99

Hit Count: 4/5

Firstly, top marks have to go to the person who came up with the name of this title. Not too serious, just fun - which is exactly what a game should be after all.

And we're delighted to report the gameplay is just that. The game has classic B movie and comic book style looks which provide the perfect backdrop to an amusing - if a little barmy - storyline.

The side-scrolling adventure game sees three teenage zombies awoken from their graves by a particularly robust alien invasion.

They clamber out of their shallow graves yearning for a spot of lunch and find the invaders more than a perfect match.

Boasting a variety of mini games and brain teasers, the title is a sure fire hit.


Title: Time Crisis 4 (with gun)

Platform: PS3

Genre: Shooter

Price: £69.99

Hit Count: 4/5

A well-oiled franchise that has fairly successfully made the leap from arcade to living room is now into its fourth offering, tying in with the release of the Guncon accessory for the PS3.

A match made in heaven? Well, it’s not a bad start.

The game itself offers a familiar premise, stay-on-the-rails shooting with oodles of enemies, the usual reload-and-cover system and a timer to keep you on your toes.

It’s all executed extremely well, although the introduction of a few off-rails, first-person-shooter levels could have been better.

The Guncon peripheral works really well – but only if you spend the time configuring it to your TV correctly! Do this, and you’ve got a cracking interactive shooter to tuck into.


Title: The Sims 2: Kitchen & Bathroom Interior Design Stuff

Platform: PC

Genre: Life Simulation

Price: £9.99

Hit Count: 3/5

It’s amazing what lengths people will go to to create the perfect virtual life on their PC, when they already have a real one to get excited about.

However, if you can’t make a go of it as a real-life interior designer, this expansion pack will give you everything you need to lead the lifestyle of Laurence Llewellyn Bowen!

Stylish refrigerators, graceful countertop basin sinks, designer rugs and much more are only the click of a mouse away for your Sims, and as long as you don’t get jealous over how much better their house is compared with yours, this is a valuable addition to your Sims collection.