VIDEO they say, killed the radio star... and it seems a new gadget could pave the way for the end of paperback books.
Internet giant Amazon has just launched its latest gizmo known as the 'Kindle'.
This handy electronic book e-reader is a handheld gadget which allows users to download book titles from an Amazon library boasting 100,000 titles.
Slightly larger than a Gameboy and actually around the same size as a hardback book, the Kindle has a large grey screen and several buttons to allow you to flip the page forward or backward.
Dubbed by many as the iPod of reading, it is apparently easy to use and it will eventually connect to the web in much the same way as today's mobile phone or iTouch.
While I can almost hear the groans "I don't like change" from the older generation among us, I'll ask just one question.
Is anyone really surprised?
Technology is moving at such a pace now that it's difficult to gauge how anything will not be outdated within weeks, months or years.
I mean, they're now giving away laptops with phone packages?! (Further evidence of a tech world gone mad...) Anyway while the Kindle surely won't completely replace paperback and hardback books it is inevitable that it will change how we read and the whole process of how we go about obtaining a book.
I mean, the prospect of being able to use your credit card to get a copy of the new Harry Potter book within seconds of its release without leaving your home... the possibility is simply staggering.
According to research, in Japan around 50 per cent of the best-selling novels in the latter part of 2007 were originally released as page-per-day serials sent directly to mobile phones.
I'm afraid to say the writing has been on the wall for sometime and that the change is not only possible, it is happening before our very eyes.
To date the Kindle has only been released in the US priced at around $400. While Amazon's e-reader might not be the only one on the market, it could well be the (so far) most widely recognised and easiest to use. The jury's still out on this one I'm afraid.
Check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_Kindle.
Meanwhile last month another epic store battle ended with Toshiba announcing it would stop manufacturing HD-DVD products such as HD-DVD players in favour of Blu-Ray. Toshiba's announcement, which had been widely predicted in the manufacturing world, cemented forecasters vision that Blu-Ray would be the preferred platform for the High Definition future.
For PlayStation 3 console owners, the news came as a welcome relief given the platform's built-in Blu-Ray player. For those with HD-DVD players I can't help but feel that it's money wasted.
Monday, 17 March 2008
Wednesday, 23 January 2008
Apple as the core of the new world
At some point between late Saturday night and Sunday morning I swear the whole world went mad.
Like the clearing of static from a television screen to reveal a crisp, clear picture, my view of the world became clear as I skipped through the pages of the Observer's Music Monthly magazine.
And where did proof of the globe's new-found craziness come from...? An ad feature for the new George Foreman iGrill. (www.igrillwithgeorge.com)
'For god's sake, when is it going to stop?!' I cried out.
In between chews of his piece of toast, my housemate replied: "It's the way the world is going..."
And he's absolutely right. New technology is taking over our lives like a consumer hungry virtual juggernaut.
Currently only available in the US, the George Foreman iGrill is an electronic barbecue which boasts ipod connectivity and 10-watt speakers. Ok, smart idea but what the hell?!
Is there anything left that the ipod can't connect to?
How about the iBed? Imagine, connect an ipod up to the amped up bed to play pre-set songs to get you and your partner in the mood, complete with vibrating mattress.
Or what about the iCar where the ipod acts as a key and stereo system so when you slot in the unit into a USB slot, it starts up the car and kicks out the tunes.
It could also act as a hands free phone.
To Apple, the generators of the ipod, the possibilities are indeed endless.
Further proof of madness was clearly evident on visiting the new Stormfront store at Drake Circus' shopping centre. I love that store with all its weird bits of kit, but what really threw me was some sort of iGuitar which plugs into an Apple mac allowing you to play through the system recording or amplifying the sound.
Weird.
I consider myself to be fairly up and at em when it comes to new technology. I cut through the dribble to give my mum the layman's term on new tvs, phones, mp3 players, computers or whatever.
But walking through these new gadget shops even I'm getting lost in the system. In my years I've now nearly convinced myself that it is indeed pointless spending more than a couple of hundred quid on something technological because it will become outdated by the time you get it home and get it unpacked.
Saying that though, the excitement lies in something new - the challenge of a new experience and a fresh glimpse of the future.
Title: Tabula Rasa
Platform: PC
RRP: £29.99
Hit count: 4/5
Combining a vast gaming world, a streaming storyline and action-packed gameplay, Tabula Rasa is a welcome addition to the online gaming world.
The title allows players to explore lush forest planets, volcanic moons, and exotic alien civilizations with the chance of facing off against powerful alien soldiers, armored mechanoids, and vicious predators.
The graphics and gameplay are the plus points of this title which is sure to appeal to the masses. The game allows players to create their own characters equiping them with an arsenal of weaponry and powers.
Like the clearing of static from a television screen to reveal a crisp, clear picture, my view of the world became clear as I skipped through the pages of the Observer's Music Monthly magazine.
And where did proof of the globe's new-found craziness come from...? An ad feature for the new George Foreman iGrill. (www.igrillwithgeorge.com)
'For god's sake, when is it going to stop?!' I cried out.
In between chews of his piece of toast, my housemate replied: "It's the way the world is going..."
And he's absolutely right. New technology is taking over our lives like a consumer hungry virtual juggernaut.
Currently only available in the US, the George Foreman iGrill is an electronic barbecue which boasts ipod connectivity and 10-watt speakers. Ok, smart idea but what the hell?!
Is there anything left that the ipod can't connect to?
How about the iBed? Imagine, connect an ipod up to the amped up bed to play pre-set songs to get you and your partner in the mood, complete with vibrating mattress.
Or what about the iCar where the ipod acts as a key and stereo system so when you slot in the unit into a USB slot, it starts up the car and kicks out the tunes.
It could also act as a hands free phone.
To Apple, the generators of the ipod, the possibilities are indeed endless.
Further proof of madness was clearly evident on visiting the new Stormfront store at Drake Circus' shopping centre. I love that store with all its weird bits of kit, but what really threw me was some sort of iGuitar which plugs into an Apple mac allowing you to play through the system recording or amplifying the sound.
Weird.
I consider myself to be fairly up and at em when it comes to new technology. I cut through the dribble to give my mum the layman's term on new tvs, phones, mp3 players, computers or whatever.
But walking through these new gadget shops even I'm getting lost in the system. In my years I've now nearly convinced myself that it is indeed pointless spending more than a couple of hundred quid on something technological because it will become outdated by the time you get it home and get it unpacked.
Saying that though, the excitement lies in something new - the challenge of a new experience and a fresh glimpse of the future.
Title: Tabula Rasa
Platform: PC
RRP: £29.99
Hit count: 4/5
Combining a vast gaming world, a streaming storyline and action-packed gameplay, Tabula Rasa is a welcome addition to the online gaming world.
The title allows players to explore lush forest planets, volcanic moons, and exotic alien civilizations with the chance of facing off against powerful alien soldiers, armored mechanoids, and vicious predators.
The graphics and gameplay are the plus points of this title which is sure to appeal to the masses. The game allows players to create their own characters equiping them with an arsenal of weaponry and powers.
Thursday, 6 December 2007
Give the developers a hand...
Fans of the Nintendo Wii are sure to be delighted with the news that a new computer chip will allow people to control DVD playback by simply waving their hands around.
Developers are obviously jumping on the bandwagon in a bid to attract the new generation of frontroom flappers.
Imagine having a particularly energetic argument with the girlfriend or wife in front of the DVD player... before you know it you'll have maxed out the volume, skipped to the nail biting end and chosen to view the deleted scenes all in a few waves of the hand.
Apparently the new chip allows viewers to stop, skip ahead and give other commands by pointing their thumbs at the screen from up to 10 feet away.
The processor, demonstrated today by Toshiba on laptop computers, can also manipulate 3D images.
In a demonstration the laptop camera put the subject’s face on screen, then allowed her to choose hairstyles and types of makeup.
The computer put the changes on the image in 3D, which could then be moved to check out the new look from different angles.
Jointly developed by Toshiba, IBM and Sony, the 'SpursEngine' processor is not yet on the market and a launch date is still to be announced.
If you ask me we are fast becoming a nation of flappers - not least vegetables.
Whatever next?! Boil a kettle by blinking, get a Hoover to hoover the house by telling it to or stoke up the fire by clicking?
It's all going mad if you ask me.
Reviews:
Title: Eternal Sonata
Platform: Xbox 360
RRP: £49.99
Hit count: 4/5
Promising to be the RPG game Xbox 360 gamers have been waiting for, Eternal Sonata delivers on all counts with its gorgeous next generation graphics, a truly unique battle set up and a convincing (if a little pansy-ish and random) storyline.
The game scores highly on the imagination front. I mean, it's based on the last dream of the dying composer Chopin and the age-old good vs evil theory.
It also scores massively on the visual side. With its divine graphics many of the scenes wouldn't look out of place in a Disney film.
The downside (and isn't there always one?) is the moral side to just about every twist and turn in the game.
Not even half way through I became fed up at being preached to by a console!
Put bluntly it is the best RPG out there and well deserved of the praise it's received.
Title: Chronos Twin
Platform: Nintendo DS
RRP: £24.99
Hit count: 3/5
The same storyline set in two different time zones on two different screens featuring the same character. Confused? I was.
Surprisingly, it works. It's a idea is fresh and innovative idea which ultimately lends itself to the console with its two screens.
The storyline sees our hero 'Nec' jumping back in time to defeat a monster who later invades his planet set about destroying the world.
A key part of the title is the fact that it doesn't throw you in the deep end.
The game develops and becomes more challenging as you progress enabling the user to get to grips with the twin settings.
Title: Pokemon Battle Revolution
Platform: Nintendo Wii
RRP: £39.99
Hit count: 5/5
Pokemon Battle Revolution is sure to be the game all Pokemon fans have been waiting for.
It may also be the title which propels the Wii to the forefront of the must-have list this Christmas.
The gist of it is this... forget about all other previous Pokemon games. This is the real deal.
Grab yourself a battle pass, customise your trainer and battle your way to the rank of Poketopia Master!
The title allows you to choose various versus modes and select numerous Pokemon.
You can also wirelessly transfer your characters from your Pokemon Diamond and Pokemon Pearl from your Nintendo DS.
Developers are obviously jumping on the bandwagon in a bid to attract the new generation of frontroom flappers.
Imagine having a particularly energetic argument with the girlfriend or wife in front of the DVD player... before you know it you'll have maxed out the volume, skipped to the nail biting end and chosen to view the deleted scenes all in a few waves of the hand.
Apparently the new chip allows viewers to stop, skip ahead and give other commands by pointing their thumbs at the screen from up to 10 feet away.
The processor, demonstrated today by Toshiba on laptop computers, can also manipulate 3D images.
In a demonstration the laptop camera put the subject’s face on screen, then allowed her to choose hairstyles and types of makeup.
The computer put the changes on the image in 3D, which could then be moved to check out the new look from different angles.
Jointly developed by Toshiba, IBM and Sony, the 'SpursEngine' processor is not yet on the market and a launch date is still to be announced.
If you ask me we are fast becoming a nation of flappers - not least vegetables.
Whatever next?! Boil a kettle by blinking, get a Hoover to hoover the house by telling it to or stoke up the fire by clicking?
It's all going mad if you ask me.
Reviews:
Title: Eternal Sonata
Platform: Xbox 360
RRP: £49.99
Hit count: 4/5
Promising to be the RPG game Xbox 360 gamers have been waiting for, Eternal Sonata delivers on all counts with its gorgeous next generation graphics, a truly unique battle set up and a convincing (if a little pansy-ish and random) storyline.
The game scores highly on the imagination front. I mean, it's based on the last dream of the dying composer Chopin and the age-old good vs evil theory.
It also scores massively on the visual side. With its divine graphics many of the scenes wouldn't look out of place in a Disney film.
The downside (and isn't there always one?) is the moral side to just about every twist and turn in the game.
Not even half way through I became fed up at being preached to by a console!
Put bluntly it is the best RPG out there and well deserved of the praise it's received.
Title: Chronos Twin
Platform: Nintendo DS
RRP: £24.99
Hit count: 3/5
The same storyline set in two different time zones on two different screens featuring the same character. Confused? I was.
Surprisingly, it works. It's a idea is fresh and innovative idea which ultimately lends itself to the console with its two screens.
The storyline sees our hero 'Nec' jumping back in time to defeat a monster who later invades his planet set about destroying the world.
A key part of the title is the fact that it doesn't throw you in the deep end.
The game develops and becomes more challenging as you progress enabling the user to get to grips with the twin settings.
Title: Pokemon Battle Revolution
Platform: Nintendo Wii
RRP: £39.99
Hit count: 5/5
Pokemon Battle Revolution is sure to be the game all Pokemon fans have been waiting for.
It may also be the title which propels the Wii to the forefront of the must-have list this Christmas.
The gist of it is this... forget about all other previous Pokemon games. This is the real deal.
Grab yourself a battle pass, customise your trainer and battle your way to the rank of Poketopia Master!
The title allows you to choose various versus modes and select numerous Pokemon.
You can also wirelessly transfer your characters from your Pokemon Diamond and Pokemon Pearl from your Nintendo DS.
Thursday, 29 November 2007
Chain reaction
You know, asides from cling film, checkout assistants and faulty DVDs that stop the film seconds from the end, there aren't that many things that drive me up the wall.
And then there are my so-called friends.
I might have seen them earlier today, or 10 years ago, but I never EVER realised they were THAT superstitious.
I have to admit a large percentage of the 'junk' emails I receive at work and at home are from my friends.
And they always begin a little like this: "PLEASE don't delete this, this is wonderful and it works."
Yet more dribble later (usually with with some nancy picture)... is: "Keep the chain going...."
Who really gives a flying whatsit?!
Is little Jessica going to die if I don't send the email on to 20 people who will ultimately hate me for doing so?
Will I be better in bed for not sending another chain email within 15 minutes?
I think not.
It's not bad luck if you 'break the chain'.
The way I see it, it's bad luck to receive chain letters. And even worse luck for the so-called friend who sent it when I see them again.
WAKE UP PEOPLE! Focus the time spent on reading the email on something useful.
Such as telling friends to NEVER bother you with such tosh again.
I have to admit I was once the sort of person who would forward these chain letters on, but then I left primary school and decided I knew right from wrong. Only now through this blog can I reveal how annoying they are.
And here's the interesting bit...
There are currently no laws in existence to ban chain letters. Yes they are generally regarded as a nuisance simply because they clog up inboxes.
In fact, Himmelsebriefe ('Heaven letters') date back to the Middle Ages.
According to some sources you can even look at the Egyptian Book of the Dead as a chain letter as it promised resurrection to those entombed with a copy.
REVIEWS:
Title: Wario: My Word Coach
Platform: Nintendo DS
RRP: £19.99
Hit count: 3/5
"It's like scrabble but way cooler," a friend's son said after 10 minutes of fevereshly testing out My Word Coach.
Having grabbed the DS out of his hand to try it out myself, I tend to agree.
I have to admit, the thought of most development titles bores me to tears but I actually really like this one.
A particular feature I like is the way the title automatically adapts the difficulty level to match the skill of the individual user.
Rather than going through a series of levels where you are forced to spell two letter words, you can almost immediately really test yourself and, ultimately learn.
Boasting more than 16,800 words, My Word Coach will actually help the user to adapt and develop their vocabulary. Users can also choose from four different personal coaches to guide them through the learning process.
The game's developer, Ubisoft, also boast that it will 'develop your ability to express yourself with confidence and persuasion'. Now that, in my case, is still to be proved.
Nonetheless, every little helps right?
Surely it's only a matter of time before teachers allow students to bring in their consoles to use as learning tools...? The way of the future perhaps.
Title: My Horse & Me
Platform: Nintendo Wii
RRP: £29.99
Hit count: 4/5
When My Horse & Me landed on my desk my immediate thought was 'developers are really scraping the barrel now...'.
However having jumped on (sorry...) and given it a go, I have to say the title is one of the most imaginative and refreshingly fun games out there.
Whether you want to simply gallop around at your own free will, train and take part in championships or simply care for your horse, every option is open.
Many of the world's well-known championship locations are featured making it as realistic as possible.
The title also looks lush with colourful and rich graphics enhancing the experience.
Me? I'm not a horsey person having (in my childhood) perfected the art of planting my face in the ground rather than successfully horse 'riding'.
But I can still enjoy this title and those with and without a passion for equestrian sports will feel the same I'm sure.
Title: Imagine Pet Vet
Platform: Nintendo DS
RRP: £29.99
Hit count: 3/5
Continuing with the animal theme, Imagine Pet Vet is another innovative title which makes good use of the DS' capabilities and tools.
The idea behind this title is for the user to start up a vets business and learn and acquire new skills to become a master vet and develop the practice into a hospital.
Users can take care of a variety of animals including cats and dogs, pigs, rabbits and horses.
Throughout the game users use the Nintendo DS stylus as a stethoscope, a thermometer and even a microscope to examine and treat the poorly animal.
Can you save poor Jess in time? You hold the key to her life.
Possibly best suited to the younger gamers, Imagine Pet Vet is a lot of fun, and - as most Nintendo DS titles seem to be - educational.
And then there are my so-called friends.
I might have seen them earlier today, or 10 years ago, but I never EVER realised they were THAT superstitious.
I have to admit a large percentage of the 'junk' emails I receive at work and at home are from my friends.
And they always begin a little like this: "PLEASE don't delete this, this is wonderful and it works."
Yet more dribble later (usually with with some nancy picture)... is: "Keep the chain going...."
Who really gives a flying whatsit?!
Is little Jessica going to die if I don't send the email on to 20 people who will ultimately hate me for doing so?
Will I be better in bed for not sending another chain email within 15 minutes?
I think not.
It's not bad luck if you 'break the chain'.
The way I see it, it's bad luck to receive chain letters. And even worse luck for the so-called friend who sent it when I see them again.
WAKE UP PEOPLE! Focus the time spent on reading the email on something useful.
Such as telling friends to NEVER bother you with such tosh again.
I have to admit I was once the sort of person who would forward these chain letters on, but then I left primary school and decided I knew right from wrong. Only now through this blog can I reveal how annoying they are.
And here's the interesting bit...
There are currently no laws in existence to ban chain letters. Yes they are generally regarded as a nuisance simply because they clog up inboxes.
In fact, Himmelsebriefe ('Heaven letters') date back to the Middle Ages.
According to some sources you can even look at the Egyptian Book of the Dead as a chain letter as it promised resurrection to those entombed with a copy.
REVIEWS:
Title: Wario: My Word Coach
Platform: Nintendo DS
RRP: £19.99
Hit count: 3/5
"It's like scrabble but way cooler," a friend's son said after 10 minutes of fevereshly testing out My Word Coach.
Having grabbed the DS out of his hand to try it out myself, I tend to agree.
I have to admit, the thought of most development titles bores me to tears but I actually really like this one.
A particular feature I like is the way the title automatically adapts the difficulty level to match the skill of the individual user.
Rather than going through a series of levels where you are forced to spell two letter words, you can almost immediately really test yourself and, ultimately learn.
Boasting more than 16,800 words, My Word Coach will actually help the user to adapt and develop their vocabulary. Users can also choose from four different personal coaches to guide them through the learning process.
The game's developer, Ubisoft, also boast that it will 'develop your ability to express yourself with confidence and persuasion'. Now that, in my case, is still to be proved.
Nonetheless, every little helps right?
Surely it's only a matter of time before teachers allow students to bring in their consoles to use as learning tools...? The way of the future perhaps.
Title: My Horse & Me
Platform: Nintendo Wii
RRP: £29.99
Hit count: 4/5
When My Horse & Me landed on my desk my immediate thought was 'developers are really scraping the barrel now...'.
However having jumped on (sorry...) and given it a go, I have to say the title is one of the most imaginative and refreshingly fun games out there.
Whether you want to simply gallop around at your own free will, train and take part in championships or simply care for your horse, every option is open.
Many of the world's well-known championship locations are featured making it as realistic as possible.
The title also looks lush with colourful and rich graphics enhancing the experience.
Me? I'm not a horsey person having (in my childhood) perfected the art of planting my face in the ground rather than successfully horse 'riding'.
But I can still enjoy this title and those with and without a passion for equestrian sports will feel the same I'm sure.
Title: Imagine Pet Vet
Platform: Nintendo DS
RRP: £29.99
Hit count: 3/5
Continuing with the animal theme, Imagine Pet Vet is another innovative title which makes good use of the DS' capabilities and tools.
The idea behind this title is for the user to start up a vets business and learn and acquire new skills to become a master vet and develop the practice into a hospital.
Users can take care of a variety of animals including cats and dogs, pigs, rabbits and horses.
Throughout the game users use the Nintendo DS stylus as a stethoscope, a thermometer and even a microscope to examine and treat the poorly animal.
Can you save poor Jess in time? You hold the key to her life.
Possibly best suited to the younger gamers, Imagine Pet Vet is a lot of fun, and - as most Nintendo DS titles seem to be - educational.
Thursday, 15 November 2007
Spam, spam, spam...
As I sit here tip tapping away trying to compose my latest celebrity perfume launch, sorry blog, I'm finding it more and more difficult to stay focused on the commercial mortgages and sex games, eek, sorry again... I meant task in hand.
You see, I know what I want to say, and I know how I want to say it.
The problem is not even with me, it's with those bloody PR types and Spam mail senders.
Every few seconds my 'new email indicator' box pops up telling me of another drab PR stunt that has nothing to do with anything remotely interesting.
Each and every time I'm distracted. My attention now spans a few seconds.
Whether it's actual 'spam' mail or a PR company trying some insane stunt to rouse public consumption, they're all as bad as one another.
But I know I'm not the only one. Any idea how many 'spam' emails are sent out every single day...?
Have a guess. Now I'd put money on the fact that you're not even close to the actual estimated figure.
In February this year it was estimated that 90 billion spam emails were sent out and received. Back in 1978 that figure was around 800.
The rise in use of the internet has bred a beast in the form of spam or 'junk' email.
As you might guess the Microsoft founder, Bill Gates, is one of the world's worst hit people.
While I might complain about receiving a few spam emails every day, it is estimated that he receives four million emails every year - most of them spam. Now THAT, is what I call a problem.
Counteracting the problem is not the easiest solution in the world as we all know (Bill Gates very much included).
In America the US Department of Energy Computer Incident Advisory Committee has provided specific countermeasures against electronic mail spamming.
Some popular methods for filtering and refusing spam include email filtering based on the content of the e-mail, DNS-based blackhole lists, greylisting, spamtraps or checksumming systems to detect bulk email.
However, as any IT expert will tell you, each method has its strengths and weaknesses and each is deemed 'controversial' due to its weaknesses.
In a sense spam is direct marketing. It aims to advertise, and does that by targeting anyone and everyone with an email address.
The spammer might have millions of email addresses on a database that are targeted with each and every send out.
More recently spammers hell bent on destruction have also begun adding viruses to spam emails designed to take out a computer's hard disk upon opening.
The website Wikipedia describes spam as being the "abuse" of electronic messaging systems to indiscriminately send unsolicited bulk messages.
It adds: "Spamming is economically viable because advertisers have no operating costs beyond the management of their mailing lists, and it is difficult to hold senders accountable for their mass mailings."
If you think about it, it's already starting to spread with spam texts to mobile phones. And you get the feeling it's just the beginning...
One thing we absolutely know for sure is that spamming is a). illegal and b). INCREDIBLY annoying!
=================================================
Reviews:
Title: Pro Evolution Soccer 2008
Platform: PS3
RRP: £39.99
Hit count: 5/5
Review: Ok, part of the reason for the delay in my latest blog is the fact that I was off poorly sick. The second is because of this title.
When THE envelope arrived on my desk, angels began to sing (or was that my next door neighbour William Telford?!). As I opened it up I began simultaneously counting down the minutes until I got home and booted up the PS3.
And was it worth the wait...? In a word, yes.
Graphically, the title is a step forward with intricate moves and responses from the players. The big step in this, the latest in the series, is the artificial intelligence of the individual players who react to your play to create an altogether more realistic feel.
Long gone are the days when you could only shoot from certain angles. You can now launch shots from anywhere on the pitch.
Other plus points are that the players play like their real selfs; the tackling and hustling for the ball is much more realistic and players actually dive to win penalties.
Also long gone - and not before too long - are the commentators. Peter Brackley has been replaced by Mark Lawrenson and John Champion and they are pretty good. The classic lines are still there but it's an altogether more pleasant experience - AND they actually remark on things that actually happen!
My only real gripe with the game is the music which has never been anything more than pants.
But still, with so many plus points PES is still at the top of its game.
Title: The Simpsons
Platform: Xbox 360
RRP: £39.99
Hit count: 3/5
Review: Ever fancied a free roam of Springfield, nipping in to Moes Tavern or The Simpsons' house or the Kwik-e-Mart. Well here's your chance.
The Simpsons have diversified from the little screen, to the big screen, and now the um, computer screen in their first proper outing in console land.
Like the film the game has been fairly widely accepted as being really quite good with a player's ability to play as any of the main Simpsons characters.
It does rip off playing styles from the likes of Star Wars and Grand Theft Auto but it is a lot of fun wandering around Springfield in great flowing graphics.
All in all The Simpsons is good fun but it hasn't got any real lasting playability.
Title: Cheggers Party Quiz
Platform: PC
RRP: £19.99
Hit count: 1/5
Review: Awful. Firstly Cheggers doesn't actually look like Cheggers, he actually looks like a cross between Jabba The Hutt and my uncle. Secondly this sort of thing has been done a thousand times before. Answer questions on a range of subjects to gain points. Um, 10/10 for originality there!
The 1 out of 5 rating is for the sheer audacity of it.
You see, I know what I want to say, and I know how I want to say it.
The problem is not even with me, it's with those bloody PR types and Spam mail senders.
Every few seconds my 'new email indicator' box pops up telling me of another drab PR stunt that has nothing to do with anything remotely interesting.
Each and every time I'm distracted. My attention now spans a few seconds.
Whether it's actual 'spam' mail or a PR company trying some insane stunt to rouse public consumption, they're all as bad as one another.
But I know I'm not the only one. Any idea how many 'spam' emails are sent out every single day...?
Have a guess. Now I'd put money on the fact that you're not even close to the actual estimated figure.
In February this year it was estimated that 90 billion spam emails were sent out and received. Back in 1978 that figure was around 800.
The rise in use of the internet has bred a beast in the form of spam or 'junk' email.
As you might guess the Microsoft founder, Bill Gates, is one of the world's worst hit people.
While I might complain about receiving a few spam emails every day, it is estimated that he receives four million emails every year - most of them spam. Now THAT, is what I call a problem.
Counteracting the problem is not the easiest solution in the world as we all know (Bill Gates very much included).
In America the US Department of Energy Computer Incident Advisory Committee has provided specific countermeasures against electronic mail spamming.
Some popular methods for filtering and refusing spam include email filtering based on the content of the e-mail, DNS-based blackhole lists, greylisting, spamtraps or checksumming systems to detect bulk email.
However, as any IT expert will tell you, each method has its strengths and weaknesses and each is deemed 'controversial' due to its weaknesses.
In a sense spam is direct marketing. It aims to advertise, and does that by targeting anyone and everyone with an email address.
The spammer might have millions of email addresses on a database that are targeted with each and every send out.
More recently spammers hell bent on destruction have also begun adding viruses to spam emails designed to take out a computer's hard disk upon opening.
The website Wikipedia describes spam as being the "abuse" of electronic messaging systems to indiscriminately send unsolicited bulk messages.
It adds: "Spamming is economically viable because advertisers have no operating costs beyond the management of their mailing lists, and it is difficult to hold senders accountable for their mass mailings."
If you think about it, it's already starting to spread with spam texts to mobile phones. And you get the feeling it's just the beginning...
One thing we absolutely know for sure is that spamming is a). illegal and b). INCREDIBLY annoying!
=================================================
Reviews:
Title: Pro Evolution Soccer 2008
Platform: PS3
RRP: £39.99
Hit count: 5/5
Review: Ok, part of the reason for the delay in my latest blog is the fact that I was off poorly sick. The second is because of this title.
When THE envelope arrived on my desk, angels began to sing (or was that my next door neighbour William Telford?!). As I opened it up I began simultaneously counting down the minutes until I got home and booted up the PS3.
And was it worth the wait...? In a word, yes.
Graphically, the title is a step forward with intricate moves and responses from the players. The big step in this, the latest in the series, is the artificial intelligence of the individual players who react to your play to create an altogether more realistic feel.
Long gone are the days when you could only shoot from certain angles. You can now launch shots from anywhere on the pitch.
Other plus points are that the players play like their real selfs; the tackling and hustling for the ball is much more realistic and players actually dive to win penalties.
Also long gone - and not before too long - are the commentators. Peter Brackley has been replaced by Mark Lawrenson and John Champion and they are pretty good. The classic lines are still there but it's an altogether more pleasant experience - AND they actually remark on things that actually happen!
My only real gripe with the game is the music which has never been anything more than pants.
But still, with so many plus points PES is still at the top of its game.
Title: The Simpsons
Platform: Xbox 360
RRP: £39.99
Hit count: 3/5
Review: Ever fancied a free roam of Springfield, nipping in to Moes Tavern or The Simpsons' house or the Kwik-e-Mart. Well here's your chance.
The Simpsons have diversified from the little screen, to the big screen, and now the um, computer screen in their first proper outing in console land.
Like the film the game has been fairly widely accepted as being really quite good with a player's ability to play as any of the main Simpsons characters.
It does rip off playing styles from the likes of Star Wars and Grand Theft Auto but it is a lot of fun wandering around Springfield in great flowing graphics.
All in all The Simpsons is good fun but it hasn't got any real lasting playability.
Title: Cheggers Party Quiz
Platform: PC
RRP: £19.99
Hit count: 1/5
Review: Awful. Firstly Cheggers doesn't actually look like Cheggers, he actually looks like a cross between Jabba The Hutt and my uncle. Secondly this sort of thing has been done a thousand times before. Answer questions on a range of subjects to gain points. Um, 10/10 for originality there!
The 1 out of 5 rating is for the sheer audacity of it.
Friday, 19 October 2007
Time to 'switch on' to the digital age
With now less than two years to go before the official 'switch on' of digital television in the region, it's now worth considering what options are available and how to go about setting yourself up for the digital revolution.
First off here's some quick fire dos and don'ts.
DOS:
a). Take a breath and don't panic - it's really not as complicated as it might seem;
b). Investigate either buying a digital set top box or renting one through the likes of Virgin Media or Sky;
DON'TS
a). Freak out - it's really really not that bad or complicated.
b). Throw out your televisions believing they are no good.
The biggest single fact that people get confused about is this. There is NO NEED to buy a new television in order to get digital TV.
On the contrary, virtually every set can be converted for digital, even black and white ones.
Many televisions now boast a built-in digital service which offers all the channels and features that a set top box would. However, the far cheaper alternative is to simply buy a set top 'digi' box.
It's as easy as this. Buy a set top box from Tesco for around £20. Plug in set top box to wall socket, connect analogue or HDMI cable to pack of TV, switch on and... welcome to the digital age. That's all it is. Easy huh?
People often get confused that it's all down to the television but it's not. It is how you receive the signal that matters.
So here's the technical bit that should now make sense: "With digital TV, sound and pictures from the broadcaster are converted into ‘bits’ of information and sent through an aerial, satellite, telephone line or cable.
This digital signal is then turned back into pictures and sound by a digital box or a digital TV set."
Starting in 2008 and ending in 2012, TV services in the UK will go completely digital, TV region by TV region. This process is called digital switchover.
"The UK's old television broadcast signal (known as 'analogue') is being switched off and replaced with a 'digital' signal.
Any TV set or video recorder that’s not converted to digital when the switchover takes place will no longer receive TV programmes."
Right, back to the fun stuff that most people WILL be interested in... digital television means MORE CHANNELS! Woo hoo!
Yep, I'm talking ITV2 with its much-improved football coverage; FilmFour with its, um, films; and Sky Sports News for its fab Soccer Saturday show.
So if you haven't already done so now is the time to 'switch on' to the fact that digital television is coming.
In a bid to aid people in the West Country with the switchover to digital television, a new online Postcode Checker has been launched to provide people with essential information on what will happen and when.
Digital UK, the organisation leading the change across the region, is providing people in the Plymouth with a new service which gives the low down on when they switch, whether the channels will be good quality or not, what digital platforms there are on offer, what digital services they may already be able to receive or what they are likely to receive – right down to their own address.
The new online service can be found at www.digitaluk.co.uk.
The West Country TV region covers all of Cornwall and Devon, as well as parts of Somerset and Dorset and will be one of the first parts of the country to switch to digital in 2009.
Latest research from Digital UK and Ofcom shows that only 22 per cent of TV viewers in the West Country know when they will need to make the switch.
The new Postcode Checker will be an important resource to help people prepare in time, particularly as the process will happen transmitter by transmitter, with two separate switchover dates within the West Country.
Plymouth television viewers may receive their TV pictures from the Caradon Hill transmitters which will switch in the third quarter of 2009.
=================================================
Meanwhile, have you downloaded the latest Radiohead album yet and helped make history?
In an idea which screams self promotion and brilliance at the same time, the alt-rockers are offering fans the chance to download their latest studio album 'In Rainbows' for whatever price they wish.
The website (www.inrainbows.com) is quirky and very easy to use and has been set up completely separate to Radiohead's main site.
All users have to do is go through the site, add the album to the their 'basket' and type in how much they'd like to pay. (It's worth noting that users can type in £0.00 and still receive the download).
Oh, it's also worth mentioning that the album is AMAZING!
=================================================
Too much for the brain? Why not simmer down and have a blast at these new titles:
Title: Stranglehold.
Platform: Xbox 360.
RRP: £49.99.
Hit count: 4/5.
Review: Remember how action packed and fab the film Face Off was?
You know, the one starring John Travolta and Nic Cage where they swap each other's faces...? (I knew you sickos would remember it for that!).
So yeh, the man behind all the action was a certain John Woo who has just had a mighty hand in the sequences for the above title. Mr Woo is simply, Mr Wow.
Imagine a gun man running across a room and jumping onto a trolley continuing to fire as he shoots across the room and you will get the picture.
Stranglehold is much like that, brimming with gun shots with more action than you could shake a martial arts expert's stick at.
Graphically it's not the best of the best, but the playability and style makes up for it.
A sure fire winner on all platforms.
Title: Skate.
Platform: Xbox 360.
RRP: £49.99
Hit count: 5/5.
Review: At last, a skating game that has the balls to take on the might of Tony Hawk and his gaming empire.
Though the audacity to do such a thing deserves top rating alone, the title itself scores highly on the gaming front.
The graphics are as smooth as you like which make grinding the sh*t out of your deck a pure delight.
What's best about the game though is the gameplay itself.
The manufacturers describe the game as the "closest thing to skateboarding without actually putting your feet on a board," and by and large they are right.
The innovative controls take full advantage of the dual analog sticks with gamers able to sculpt and craft tricks that define their own individual style.
It means that no two tricks will ever be the same!I'm shocked to say 'move over Tony, there's a new kid on the block'.
Title: Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08.
Platform: Sony PSP.
RRP: £34.99.
Hit count: 2/5.
Review: The thing that immediately put me off this, the latest in the Tiger video game series, was the television advert.
I mean I can understand the developers placing a computer animated character alongside a real life actor to show off the realistic graphics, but surely you actually need GOOD graphics to really pull off the stunt.
Tiger and the other characters just appear slightly unreal. It's like taking a PS1 game and playing it on a PS3 or Xbox 360.
While graphically it is ultimately better on the next generation consoles, the poorness shows on the lesser platforms.
The gameplay is ok, with a new 'shot confidence' feature which lasts throughout career mode and ultimately shows you how to improve things.
The title also boasts the largest ever number of courses to choose from which is a bonus.
With this one you can't help but think that the developers really are riding on Tiger's success... which, it has to be said, appears to be swaying slightly.
First off here's some quick fire dos and don'ts.
DOS:
a). Take a breath and don't panic - it's really not as complicated as it might seem;
b). Investigate either buying a digital set top box or renting one through the likes of Virgin Media or Sky;
DON'TS
a). Freak out - it's really really not that bad or complicated.
b). Throw out your televisions believing they are no good.
The biggest single fact that people get confused about is this. There is NO NEED to buy a new television in order to get digital TV.
On the contrary, virtually every set can be converted for digital, even black and white ones.
Many televisions now boast a built-in digital service which offers all the channels and features that a set top box would. However, the far cheaper alternative is to simply buy a set top 'digi' box.
It's as easy as this. Buy a set top box from Tesco for around £20. Plug in set top box to wall socket, connect analogue or HDMI cable to pack of TV, switch on and... welcome to the digital age. That's all it is. Easy huh?
People often get confused that it's all down to the television but it's not. It is how you receive the signal that matters.
So here's the technical bit that should now make sense: "With digital TV, sound and pictures from the broadcaster are converted into ‘bits’ of information and sent through an aerial, satellite, telephone line or cable.
This digital signal is then turned back into pictures and sound by a digital box or a digital TV set."
Starting in 2008 and ending in 2012, TV services in the UK will go completely digital, TV region by TV region. This process is called digital switchover.
"The UK's old television broadcast signal (known as 'analogue') is being switched off and replaced with a 'digital' signal.
Any TV set or video recorder that’s not converted to digital when the switchover takes place will no longer receive TV programmes."
Right, back to the fun stuff that most people WILL be interested in... digital television means MORE CHANNELS! Woo hoo!
Yep, I'm talking ITV2 with its much-improved football coverage; FilmFour with its, um, films; and Sky Sports News for its fab Soccer Saturday show.
So if you haven't already done so now is the time to 'switch on' to the fact that digital television is coming.
In a bid to aid people in the West Country with the switchover to digital television, a new online Postcode Checker has been launched to provide people with essential information on what will happen and when.
Digital UK, the organisation leading the change across the region, is providing people in the Plymouth with a new service which gives the low down on when they switch, whether the channels will be good quality or not, what digital platforms there are on offer, what digital services they may already be able to receive or what they are likely to receive – right down to their own address.
The new online service can be found at www.digitaluk.co.uk.
The West Country TV region covers all of Cornwall and Devon, as well as parts of Somerset and Dorset and will be one of the first parts of the country to switch to digital in 2009.
Latest research from Digital UK and Ofcom shows that only 22 per cent of TV viewers in the West Country know when they will need to make the switch.
The new Postcode Checker will be an important resource to help people prepare in time, particularly as the process will happen transmitter by transmitter, with two separate switchover dates within the West Country.
Plymouth television viewers may receive their TV pictures from the Caradon Hill transmitters which will switch in the third quarter of 2009.
=================================================
Meanwhile, have you downloaded the latest Radiohead album yet and helped make history?
In an idea which screams self promotion and brilliance at the same time, the alt-rockers are offering fans the chance to download their latest studio album 'In Rainbows' for whatever price they wish.
The website (www.inrainbows.com) is quirky and very easy to use and has been set up completely separate to Radiohead's main site.
All users have to do is go through the site, add the album to the their 'basket' and type in how much they'd like to pay. (It's worth noting that users can type in £0.00 and still receive the download).
Oh, it's also worth mentioning that the album is AMAZING!
=================================================
Too much for the brain? Why not simmer down and have a blast at these new titles:
Title: Stranglehold.
Platform: Xbox 360.
RRP: £49.99.
Hit count: 4/5.
Review: Remember how action packed and fab the film Face Off was?
You know, the one starring John Travolta and Nic Cage where they swap each other's faces...? (I knew you sickos would remember it for that!).
So yeh, the man behind all the action was a certain John Woo who has just had a mighty hand in the sequences for the above title. Mr Woo is simply, Mr Wow.
Imagine a gun man running across a room and jumping onto a trolley continuing to fire as he shoots across the room and you will get the picture.
Stranglehold is much like that, brimming with gun shots with more action than you could shake a martial arts expert's stick at.
Graphically it's not the best of the best, but the playability and style makes up for it.
A sure fire winner on all platforms.
Title: Skate.
Platform: Xbox 360.
RRP: £49.99
Hit count: 5/5.
Review: At last, a skating game that has the balls to take on the might of Tony Hawk and his gaming empire.
Though the audacity to do such a thing deserves top rating alone, the title itself scores highly on the gaming front.
The graphics are as smooth as you like which make grinding the sh*t out of your deck a pure delight.
What's best about the game though is the gameplay itself.
The manufacturers describe the game as the "closest thing to skateboarding without actually putting your feet on a board," and by and large they are right.
The innovative controls take full advantage of the dual analog sticks with gamers able to sculpt and craft tricks that define their own individual style.
It means that no two tricks will ever be the same!I'm shocked to say 'move over Tony, there's a new kid on the block'.
Title: Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08.
Platform: Sony PSP.
RRP: £34.99.
Hit count: 2/5.
Review: The thing that immediately put me off this, the latest in the Tiger video game series, was the television advert.
I mean I can understand the developers placing a computer animated character alongside a real life actor to show off the realistic graphics, but surely you actually need GOOD graphics to really pull off the stunt.
Tiger and the other characters just appear slightly unreal. It's like taking a PS1 game and playing it on a PS3 or Xbox 360.
While graphically it is ultimately better on the next generation consoles, the poorness shows on the lesser platforms.
The gameplay is ok, with a new 'shot confidence' feature which lasts throughout career mode and ultimately shows you how to improve things.
The title also boasts the largest ever number of courses to choose from which is a bonus.
With this one you can't help but think that the developers really are riding on Tiger's success... which, it has to be said, appears to be swaying slightly.
Monday, 8 October 2007
Abbreviation for the nation
Being a born and bred Plymothian I cannot hark on too much about my use of 'proper' English.
I'll openly admit that a few 'eres' and 'wheres it toos' have slipped out on drunken nights out.
I'll even openly admit to referring to the city's new super-club as being 'Shannas' as opposed to its correct name of 'Oceana'.
So in saying this I'm hoping I'll be excused from insulting half the mobile-using population of the world (or so it seems).
You wanna know the one thing that really REALLY gets my goat about text messaging...? 'LOL'....No three letters have ever infuriated me more.
For those who have been locked away for the past couple of years, 'LOL' stands for 'Laugh Out Loud' and is now commonly used by half the illiterate population.
'LOL' stands for everything I hate. It's not what it stands for so much, it's its use in a text message or email.
Roughly translated (to me) it means that the person sending the text or email does not have the capability or capacity to express what they are saying.
I mean, do comediennes have clap placards raised when they tell a joke to an audience?! I think not.
I have to admit that anyone who sends me a Facebook or Myspace friend request will be immediately thrown out of the friends list if they even dare mention those three unassuming letters.
Sadly, it doesn't end there. There are now countless websites dedicated to text abbreviations.
One of which is http://www.webopedia.com/quick_ref/textmessageabbreviations.asp which seems to have ALL of them.
Now it's not just me.... when I pointed her to the above website, my esteemed colleague - and next door desk neighbour - Hannah Wood, reacted with: "What the hell?! I've never heard of half of these!"
While some can be excused, such as 'l8r' for later or even 'ha ha' to exemplify joking, others simply cannot.
Here are some more examples from the website:
'Leet' - meaning 'Leet, meaning Elite'.
'LGH' - meaning 'Let's Get High'.
'AAK' - meaning 'Asleep At Keyboard'.
'BFG' - meaning... no not Big Friendly Giant, but 'Big Freaking Grin'.
'SNERT' - meaning 'Snot Nosed Egotistical Rude Teenager'.
'YBIC' - meaning 'Your Brother In Christ.
I mean, what the hell?!
It's like I've fallen asleep and woken up in a strange new world. I'm 29 years of age and I know I'm not as young as I used to be but things haven't changed THAT much surely?
Teenagers remember how much it is for a bottle of White Lightning cider and that's about it... not a completely new dictionary!
And news just in...
Sony’s game unit said today it will cut the prices of its next generation PlayStation 3 game consoles in Japan next week, and offer a new low-range model in November.
Sony Computer Entertainment Inc will cut the price of its model with 20 gigabytes of hard disk memory by about 10% to 44,980 yen (384 US dollars, £188) from the current 49,980 yen (427 dollars, £209), with effect from October 17, the company said in a statement posted on its website.
The price of its 60GB model, which has no suggested retail price, will be reduced to about 54,980 yen (470 dollar, £230).
The company also said a new lower-tier 40GB model will hit Japanese stores on November 11 at a suggested retail price of 39,980 yen (342 dollars, £168).
The company has globally sold more than 5 million units of the PlayStation 3 since it went on sale late last year in Japan and the US, and in March in Europe.
Sony once dominated the gaming industry with PlayStation 2, predecessor for the PS3, but it now faces intense competition from Microsoft and Nintendo.
Microsoft has sold 11.6 million Xbox 360 machines in the last two years, and Nintendo has sold 9.3 million of its popular Wii since late last year.
Anyway, apologies for the lack of blog last week.
You see, those nice people at Microsoft sent me a copy of Halo 3 on the 360. B*ggers!
They knew I wouldn't do much else with that in my home!
So, here's that review and another...
Title: Halo 3.
Platform: Xbox 360.
RRP: £49.99.
Hit count: 5/5.
Review: What can you say that hasn't been said already?
This game rocks my world... and it will rock your world! It's bigger, badder and ultimately more brutal with games to rival that of any hit title, playability with flair and, more importantly, an array of weapons to make Bond green with envy.
Rarely does a title live up to such expectation, but this game does so with ease.
In all honesty this is the first Halo game I have ever played.
Do I care what happened before? No. Do I care about the storyline up to this point? No. All I care about is blowing things to pieces with a fantastically awesome array of weapons!
As one reviewer put it: "The Halo games were always the best reason to by an Xbox and now the final part in the initial trilogy of ground breaking first person shooters is set to raise the bar for all Xbox 360 games."
Title: Fifa 08.
Platform: PS2.
RRP: £39.99.
Hit count: 3/5.
Review: The one problem I have with the Fifa series is simple. It's not Pro Evo.
I'm sorry but I sit on side of the fence and I always have done. My boots sit firmly in the PES camp.
Saying that I can still appreciate what the Fifa boys have done to up the game.
They've improved the graphics and animation and added some uber hi-tech '35 point decision engine'.
What exactly this means I am unsure of, but the gist of it is that every player on the pitch is aware of every other and moves and reacts to the play.
The other noticeable improved feature is the shooting. Players now move much more fluidly when attacking and players can shoot from various angles of the pitch.
Like I said, while I can appreciate what Fifa has done, it still isn't quite there.
The gap has been closed though.
I'll openly admit that a few 'eres' and 'wheres it toos' have slipped out on drunken nights out.
I'll even openly admit to referring to the city's new super-club as being 'Shannas' as opposed to its correct name of 'Oceana'.
So in saying this I'm hoping I'll be excused from insulting half the mobile-using population of the world (or so it seems).
You wanna know the one thing that really REALLY gets my goat about text messaging...? 'LOL'....No three letters have ever infuriated me more.
For those who have been locked away for the past couple of years, 'LOL' stands for 'Laugh Out Loud' and is now commonly used by half the illiterate population.
'LOL' stands for everything I hate. It's not what it stands for so much, it's its use in a text message or email.
Roughly translated (to me) it means that the person sending the text or email does not have the capability or capacity to express what they are saying.
I mean, do comediennes have clap placards raised when they tell a joke to an audience?! I think not.
I have to admit that anyone who sends me a Facebook or Myspace friend request will be immediately thrown out of the friends list if they even dare mention those three unassuming letters.
Sadly, it doesn't end there. There are now countless websites dedicated to text abbreviations.
One of which is http://www.webopedia.com/quick_ref/textmessageabbreviations.asp which seems to have ALL of them.
Now it's not just me.... when I pointed her to the above website, my esteemed colleague - and next door desk neighbour - Hannah Wood, reacted with: "What the hell?! I've never heard of half of these!"
While some can be excused, such as 'l8r' for later or even 'ha ha' to exemplify joking, others simply cannot.
Here are some more examples from the website:
'Leet' - meaning 'Leet, meaning Elite'.
'LGH' - meaning 'Let's Get High'.
'AAK' - meaning 'Asleep At Keyboard'.
'BFG' - meaning... no not Big Friendly Giant, but 'Big Freaking Grin'.
'SNERT' - meaning 'Snot Nosed Egotistical Rude Teenager'.
'YBIC' - meaning 'Your Brother In Christ.
I mean, what the hell?!
It's like I've fallen asleep and woken up in a strange new world. I'm 29 years of age and I know I'm not as young as I used to be but things haven't changed THAT much surely?
Teenagers remember how much it is for a bottle of White Lightning cider and that's about it... not a completely new dictionary!
And news just in...
Sony’s game unit said today it will cut the prices of its next generation PlayStation 3 game consoles in Japan next week, and offer a new low-range model in November.
Sony Computer Entertainment Inc will cut the price of its model with 20 gigabytes of hard disk memory by about 10% to 44,980 yen (384 US dollars, £188) from the current 49,980 yen (427 dollars, £209), with effect from October 17, the company said in a statement posted on its website.
The price of its 60GB model, which has no suggested retail price, will be reduced to about 54,980 yen (470 dollar, £230).
The company also said a new lower-tier 40GB model will hit Japanese stores on November 11 at a suggested retail price of 39,980 yen (342 dollars, £168).
The company has globally sold more than 5 million units of the PlayStation 3 since it went on sale late last year in Japan and the US, and in March in Europe.
Sony once dominated the gaming industry with PlayStation 2, predecessor for the PS3, but it now faces intense competition from Microsoft and Nintendo.
Microsoft has sold 11.6 million Xbox 360 machines in the last two years, and Nintendo has sold 9.3 million of its popular Wii since late last year.
Anyway, apologies for the lack of blog last week.
You see, those nice people at Microsoft sent me a copy of Halo 3 on the 360. B*ggers!
They knew I wouldn't do much else with that in my home!
So, here's that review and another...
Title: Halo 3.
Platform: Xbox 360.
RRP: £49.99.
Hit count: 5/5.
Review: What can you say that hasn't been said already?
This game rocks my world... and it will rock your world! It's bigger, badder and ultimately more brutal with games to rival that of any hit title, playability with flair and, more importantly, an array of weapons to make Bond green with envy.
Rarely does a title live up to such expectation, but this game does so with ease.
In all honesty this is the first Halo game I have ever played.
Do I care what happened before? No. Do I care about the storyline up to this point? No. All I care about is blowing things to pieces with a fantastically awesome array of weapons!
As one reviewer put it: "The Halo games were always the best reason to by an Xbox and now the final part in the initial trilogy of ground breaking first person shooters is set to raise the bar for all Xbox 360 games."
Title: Fifa 08.
Platform: PS2.
RRP: £39.99.
Hit count: 3/5.
Review: The one problem I have with the Fifa series is simple. It's not Pro Evo.
I'm sorry but I sit on side of the fence and I always have done. My boots sit firmly in the PES camp.
Saying that I can still appreciate what the Fifa boys have done to up the game.
They've improved the graphics and animation and added some uber hi-tech '35 point decision engine'.
What exactly this means I am unsure of, but the gist of it is that every player on the pitch is aware of every other and moves and reacts to the play.
The other noticeable improved feature is the shooting. Players now move much more fluidly when attacking and players can shoot from various angles of the pitch.
Like I said, while I can appreciate what Fifa has done, it still isn't quite there.
The gap has been closed though.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)