Shop til you drop

IN the last two weeks I’ve managed to perfect a new dance move on the streets of Plymouth.
It’s the sort of move which sees you walk a few steps forward, then a few steps back, side-to-side and then repeat (in no particular order).
And bizarrely you don’t need music.
All you need are a handful of young families – complete with obscenely huge prams, a few doddling old dears, a couple of charity workers or survey gatherers, oh and large ‘sale’ signs.You see I popped into the city centre on Boxing Day, and in the days after, and it was hell.
Pure hell.
After perfecting my new ‘move’, I escaped the madness, went home and switched on my shiny new iMac (yes my G5 Powermac which featured in my previous blog update died).
And from now on every year I will be sales shopping online.
It’s a). much easier; b). much quicker; and c). much less stressful.
No queues, no weirdos and probably cheaper.Anyone who’s got a few quid left over should visit websites like Amazon.co.uk or eBay.co.uk for general bits and bobs.
For CDs and DVDs you’d be hard-pressed to find better deals than on cdwow.co.uk or play.com.
For clothes try M&S’ website, or even Debenhams which launched its sales stock before they did so in store.Moneysavingexpert.com is also worth a look for a wide view of how to save money on high street prices.
If you know specifically what you’re after then try Kelkoo.co.uk to compare prices on a variety of other websites.
Also try googling ‘January sales UK’.


Here are the latest games reviews:

Title: Grand Theft Auto 3: 10th Anniversary Edition
Platform: iPad
Genre: Action
Price: £2.99
Hit count: 92%

Cranking up this app will bring mixed emotions.
Firstly a combination of nostalgia and sheer excitement at being able to once again play through one of the best sandbox games ever.
Secondly, amazement at how far the GTA series has developed in terms of graphical and gameplay achievements in just a few years (around seven since GTA 4).
Nonetheless, this port to the iPad plays out incredibly well, despite replacing the multi-button control method of the old PS2 pad with a streamlined touchscreen.
Every car-jack, cop chase and explosive mission plays out perfectly, with the story of Liberty City just as engaging as it was a decade ago.
Some occasional camera quirks during combat may frustrate, but that’s a small price to pay for a portable piece of gaming history.
GTA V may only be a few months away, and if it can stand the test of time 10 years down the line like this, we’ll have yet another Rockstar classic on our hands.

Title: Infinity Blade II
Platform: iPad
Genre: Action/Adventure
Price: £4.99
Hit count: 91%

Infinity Blade has held ultimate bragging rights in the iOS gaming world for a long time, but now its big brother has finally entered the fray.
Delivering another uber-polished 3D adventure, the sequel further refines the combat experience with three new styles of combat allowing you to choose from multiple classes of weapons, armour and spells.
Removing the ability to dodge your way through battles, too, proves to be a revelation as you progress through the stunningly robust and dynamic 3D world and delve deeper into the world of the Deathless tyrants and their legion of Titans.
Combat feels more varied, tactically more challenging, with your enemies just as breathtaking as those that have been conquered before.
This was undoubtedly one of the best (and last) app releases for your iPad in 2011 and, needless to say, it’s an essential purchase.

Title: Bike Baron
Platform: iPad
Genre: Action
Price: 69p
Hit count: 87%

When you spot that the only controls in Bike Baron are to lean left and right and hit stop and go on the throttle, you may get the impression that this is simplistic, pretty, yet disposable gaming.
Don’t be fooled – once you’ve tackled the first couple of learner levels, you’ll realise that this 3D side-scrolling stunt-biking showcase requires precision, patience and some serious dedication to complete the dozens of levels on offer.
Stars are awarded for finishing courses, beating target times and collecting all coins available, but you’ll also find your own amusement in trying to dish out the most destructive ending to your biker by falling on explosive oil drums or simply flying over your handlebars when a back-flip goes pear-shaped.
Ridiculously good rag-doll physics make every tumble a joy to behold, but behind the frivolous fun, there’s a serious two-wheeled challenge for you to conquer here.

Title: W.E.L.D.E.R
Platform: iPad
Genre: Word puzzle
Price: £1.49
Hit count: 89%

No, this isn’t a game that’ll teach you how to carry out minor metal repairs around the home.
But it will restore your vocabulary to tip-top condition by fusing traditional Scrabble-board gameplay with some interesting tile-shifting twists.
In its fullest form, W.E.L.D.E.R. (or Word Examination Laboratory for Dynamic Extraction and Reassessment) is a fantastic puzzle game that affords you the time to consider each move strategically, as tile swaps, reverses, grouping and jumps slip away from you all too quickly as you try to hit the word target on each level.
Only by cleverly maximising the use of multiplier tiles and other powered up letters will you make serious progress in the game, and it’s a fantastic example of how a bit of love and attention to an existing genre can create something fresh and unique for everyone to enjoy.

Is Apple's fruit an iCon?

SO the iPad has been named as one of the coolest gadgets of 2010.

Rightly so I feel. I’ve not actually held one, or even seen one in the flesh (or metallic casing), but it does look pretty sexy in every picture I’ve seen.

More to the point, a world-wide search has begun to find its missing USB port and SD card slot.

I find this issue winds me up even more than the ridiculous price bracket it has here in the UK.

NOTE: £429 for the cheapest (16GB) wifi version and £529 for the cheapest (16GB) 3G version.

Lord Jobs says the iPad bridges the gap between the iPod and a laptop.

Maybe the price yes, but not in its user-friendly sense.

I mean, a glorified mass storage device WITHOUT USB port? What is the point in that?

Of course the answer is simple. Apple want people to download movies and games etc through iTunes.

I’d rather transfer movies and games etc from my home mac onto it.

And there’s the reason. They want us to spend more money on filling it full of software.

While writing this I’m now told you can actually buy an ‘adapter’ for the iPad to allow you to connect other mass storage devices in order to transfer data.

I mean come on. The question has to be: a). is the iPad what the world has been waiting for? A technological breakthrough equivalent of what toasters did to bread?

Or b). Is the iPad a technological breakthrough designed to milk every last penny out of its buyers.

I’m not a betting man but I’d go for the latter.

I’m also sure the world will prove me wrong and each and every one of us will have at least one in our household in the future.

But for now I’m reserving judgement.

Anyway, it’s been a bit of a blinding fortnight for games releases.

Half the reason for my relative no-show on here has been down to those nice people at Rockstar for giving us Red Dead Redemption.

Here are the reviews:



Title: Red Dead Redemption

Platform: PS3

Genre: Action

Price: £49.99

Hit count: 5/5

Rockstar Games releases don’t come along that often, but when they do, they’ve almost always been worth the wait, and invariably justify every last bit of hype that surrounds them. Well, here we go again, as Red Dead Redemption comes swaggering into town, jingling its polished spurs with every step and gunning down pretty much every sandbox action adventure opposition that dares to stand up to it. A huge open-world environment set in the final years of the Wild West is the backdrop to the story of former outlaw John Martson’s adventure across the American frontier. So much to pack in to so few words, but let’s just say it’s an essential purchase – huge rolling regions of towns and outposts, cracking characterisations, a morality system based on your own gaming actions and Western-themed mini games are all in the mix. And, of course, you can ride horses. Yee-hah, just get a rootin’ tootin’ move on and buy it!




Title: Split/Second

Platform: Xbox 360

Genre: Racing

Price: £49.99

Hit count: 4/5
The Burnout series has turned lavish, explosive arcade racers into a fine art, and there’s no doubt that Split/Second is aiming squarely at a similar gaming market. The intricacies of suspension, engine tuning and other simulation options are forgone for the fabulous feeling you get from blowing up a trackside building to wipe out the two cars in front of you. Yes, your drifting around corners and jumping and slipstreaming all add up to god-like power-plays that can transform a track – and a race running order – in seconds. And that’s your key skill as you progress through 12 extreme racing episodes, unlocking more motors from the credits you earn and more lethal races for you to enter. It’s big, ballsy racing from the outset, with sharp reflexes and a power-play sense of timing required to succeed. Burnout may have blazed the trail, but Split/Second is certainly following up with a fiery flourish.



Title: Alan Wake
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Action
Price: £49.99

Hit count: 4/5

Alan Wake will have been a game on the radar of action thriller fans for some time, and after what seems like an eternity (over five years), you can finally get your hands on it. Alan Wake is a famous novelist with a serious case of writer’s block, which he seeks to cure by upping sticks from New York and settling down in the village of Bright Falls. However, when night falls in his new place of residence, the shadows that have haunted the area for decades rear their head again, sending Wake on a superb psychological adventure, delivered masterfully in TV-style episodes. The pacing is impeccable, with Alan’s atmospheric narrative musings building the tension and moving the story on seamlessly. It’s darn creepy too, with numerous freaky beasts lurking in the shadows to scare your socks off. If story-driven chillers float your boat, a trip to Bright Falls will be one visit you never forget...



Title: Skate 3

Platform: PS3

Genre: Skateboarding

Price: £49.99

Hit count: 4/5
EA has taken the skate-gaming world by storm with its Skate series, riding toe-to-toe with anything that Tony Hawk can turn out, and producing what is arguably a more authentic analogue experience than its competitors. And for the third instalment we’re moving out of San Vanelona to an all new urban playground called Port Carverton. And that’s not all that’s new – a career mode brimming with devilish skate challenges awaits all newcomers, as you set about building a your own board brand. And you can get a little help from your friends here, too. Co-operative gaming allows you to tackle challenges together, get yourselves photographed in action in the same shot, and a host of teammate-based benefits. The online aspects of Skate 3 are what makes it really stand out from the crowd, but even if you’re more of a solo skater, there’s more than enough in this new city to keep you kick-flipping into the early hours.

January sales

So there you have it... did you blink and miss it?
I nearly did. Christmas... talked about and trumped up for six months beforehand, and then cast away like yesterday's news come January 1.
However if you are like me and enjoy a bargain the best bit about the post Christmas blues is the excitement of buying a new bit of kit.
And this year's January sales seem to be the best in living memory.
Credit crunch? WHAT credit crunch?! It seems that every electrical retailer in the land is thrusting its wares on us at a fraction of the price.
A few days ago I - like every other being on the planet - took a step into PC World to look at buying a lap top.
It was like hell on earth. But, on reflection, it seemed to restore some sense of mankind in me.
Due to the sheer number of customers - and the seemingly few members of staff - the customers began talking to one another giving each other guidance on picking up a lap top.
It was surreal really, but nice. You had a collation of knowledge. Teachers, students, OAPs etc etc all coming together to help each other out.
Within 15 minutes or so I walked out of the store more knowledgable than ever - AND without a lap top.
Best bet I thought... shop online.
So yes, given the numbers in PC World I've determined there are literally hundreds of people in Plymouth who are after a lap top.
My advice... try visiting the likes of PC World online, or indeed buy direct from Dell, HP or Apple.
Buying a lap top has got to be one of the most confusing things ever.
It's almost like these people make up specifications just to throw us off the sent.
And I'm not going to lie to you. I still haven't got one. It's like pin the tail on the donkey... I reckon eventually I'll open up a brochure or webpage, close my eyes and point.
So here's what I've learnt which may well help you:
The higher the number of Megahertz (MHZ) the faster the processor should be.
The bigger the hard drive capacity the more you can store (i.e. pictures, video, music etc).
Processor Type: This is a toughie and I can't quite work it out. However feel rest assured a 'Duo' processor is better than a 'Dual' processor and it should run faster allowing you to operate more programmes at once.
A wireless connection allows you to connect to an existing wireless network such as in a office or a wireless hot spot. It is essential if you want to use your lap top - and indeed the web - around the house (you will need a router).
The more USB connections the lap top has the more equipment you can connect to your computer, for example... a modem, printer, scanner or digital camera.
AND Windows Vista's premium home package runs faster than the basic version (apparently).
There, that should help you out.
I'm still looking. Oh, worth mentioning also that Apple Macs might look pretty but be prepared... if you've used a PC all your life, the programmes will be COMPLETELY different to what you are used to. And they're a few more quid too.

Anyway, as we all shake ourselves back into action after the Christmas and New Year festivities, there are a few releases you may have overlooked towards the end of last year that deserve your attention.
What about Motorstorm: Pacific Rift, an offroad racing tour de force on PS3, or Disaster: Day of Crisis, packed with blockbusting action on Wii.
Left 4 Dead is an excellent shooter on Xbox 360 and Shaun White Snowboarding Road Trip puts the Wii's balance board to great use, while 100 Classic Book Collection gives DS owners enough reading material to last until next Christmas.


Title: Motorstorm: Pacific Rift

Platform: PS3

Genre: Racing

Price: £39.99

Hit count: 4/5

A luscious island paradise might seem suitable for a relaxing holiday, but it also makes an ideal venue for offroad racing, and the follow-up to the hugely successful MotorStorm trades the desert for golden beaches and verdant jungles that are as dangerous as they are beautiful.
It’s that beauty that really stands out in Pacific Rift, even if the game set-up is pretty familiar to the first outing.
But it all works like a well-oiled machine, whether you’re risking it all on a dangerous short cut or slugging it out with your rivals on the well-worn routes around a whopping 16 new courses.
Split-screen multiplayer is a welcome addition to the bundle, and this should be one PS3-exclusive that gamers ensure has a parking spot reserved in their collection.


Title: Disaster: Day of Crisis

Platform: Wii

Genre: Action

Price: £34.99

Hit count: 3/5

Survival is the primary objective in Disaster, as you’re forced to endure nature’s most devastating catastrophes in a devastatingly short period of time.
As an unprecedented wave of natural disasters pummels the United States, a rogue Special Forces unit has also taken advantage of the chaos and seized a nuclear weapon, leaving you as Ray, a former member of an elite rescue task force, to sort it all out.
And it’s a pretty rip-roaring ride. Starting with a volcanic eruption and crossing 23 stages you’ll take in all manner of incredible disasters in shooter levels, driving, and good old-fashioned third-person adventuring.
Like any big-budget blockbuster film, it’s not perfect (although the soundtrack is fantastic) but that won’t leave you any less satisfied from a few hours on this rollercoaster of a game.



Title: Left 4 Dead

Platform: Xbox 360

Genre: First Person Shooter

Price: £49.99

Hit count: 4/5

Just knowing that Left 4 Dead comes from the same developers as the incredible Half-Life titles will set the bar of anticipation to a pretty lofty level.
As a zombie-infested co-operative shooter, this game manages to meet all expectations, remaining superbly polished in terms of presentation and control, as well as the concept itself, which drops you into a play area not only crawling with zombies but also four hulking great boss bad guys – Tank, Witch, Smokers and Boomer.
If you’re playing solo, the computer can take care of your three companions well enough, but when you go online for human multiplayer help this game really comes into its own, providing a unique multiplayer experience that needs you to take teamwork to the next level. If you want to survive, that is.



Title: Shaun White Snowboarding Road Trip

Platform: Wii

Genre: Racing

Price: £34.99

Hit count: 4/5

Wii Fit opened up a whole new range of possibilities on Wii, aside from just keeping yourself trim.
From a gaming perspective, interactivity stepped up a notch, and has now turned snowboarding from a sedentary simulation into a full-blown physical challenge.
The good news is that the balance board responds beautifully to your every move and once you master the basic controls you’ll be slaloming across the piste in no time.
You will need to use the Wii remote too to carry out different tricks, but this doesn’t detract from what is a good looking, intuitive title that brings a new dimension to the Shaun White series.



Title: 100 Classic Book Collection

Platform: Nintendo DS

Genre: Reading

Price: £19.99

Hit count: 4/5

Fancy transforming your Nintendo DS into a fully portable library? Well, for just under £20 you can have access to 100 classic novels from some of the world’s best known and best loved authors – all on one diddy cartridge.
Whether you fancy a spot of drama, mystery, fantasy, romance, tragedy or comedy, it’s all here.
Join Gulliver on his travels, go Around the World In Eighty Days, sleuth with Sherlock Holmes or disappear 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea.
The story synopsis mode details the story and themes of each title, without giving away any of the twists and turns of the plot if you’re unsure what to get stuck into, while navigation from page to page is a piece of cake, with adjustable text sizes too.
An interesting new chapter from Nintendo begins...

In the charts this week, FIFA 09 jumped back to top spot, reclaiming it from Call of Duty: World of War. Guitar Hero: World Tour climbed three places from seven to four, while Far Cry 2 re-entered the top 10, leaping four places from 11 to seven.

GAMES CHART ALL FORMATS FULL PRICE

1.FIFA 09

2.Call Of Duty: World At War

3.Need For Speed: Undercover

4.Guitar Hero: World Tour

5.Mario & Sonic At The Olympic Games

6.Wii Play

7.Far Cry 2

8.Mario Kart Wii

9.Quantum of Solace

10.Sonic Unleashed

Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (c) ELSPA (UK) Ltd