WONDERED why someone was outside your house recently taking pictures?
Well you don’t need to use Google’s search engine to find out why.
Google has just announced an extension to its Google Street View feature which will cover more than 95 per cent of UK roads.
From today, 360-degree pictures from Penzance to the Shetland islands will go online, encompassing nearly a quarter of a million miles of British roads.
Google’s Street View service has been available in 25 cities since last March, but the increased coverage makes an additional 210,000 miles of detailed mapping public.
Tomorrow’s launch means the UK will catch up with other European countries - such as Spain, France, and Italy – which already boast nationwide coverage.
Street View images are captured by Google’s car, fitted with a special panoramic camera on its roof.
Pedestrianised areas were shot with Google’s tricycle, including Stonehenge and the banks of Loch Ness.
Despite featuring images visible only from public roads, Street View has attracted critics who believe the detailed street-level information could be exploited by criminals.
And rightly so. While you can’t (yet...) zoom right in towards the front door of every property in the country, who’s to say it will stop now.
Google has taken some steps to preserve anonymity.Its technology automatically blurs number plates and faces and users can ask for their homes or cars to be removed.
But will everyone in the UK be checking the latest feature to check? I think not.
In the words of Fred Astaire: “There may be trouble ahead...”
Here's the latest game reviews:
Title: Alice In Wonderland
Platform: Wii
Genre: Adventure
Price: £29.99
Hit count: 4/5
A 3D big-screen outing, and Tim Burton directing one of the best-loved children’s stories of all time – it has been quite a renaissance for Alice In Wonderland in 2010.
And the video game is another welcome addition to the bundle as Lewis Carroll’s much-loved characters bring another dimension to what would otherwise be your run-of-the-mill action adventure title.
Hopping between characters such as the White Rabbit and the March Hare is as easy as pie.
Each boasts a range of magical powers, such as rewinding time and telekinesis, to help you solve various surreal puzzles in a range of ingenious and cleverly designed Wonderland levels.
Countless collectables, unlockable extra talents and, at its heart, a darn good storyline, with some familiar voices lending their acting prowess to proceedings, Alice is one amazing family adventure you won’t want to miss on Wii.
Title: Battlefield: Bad Company 2
Platform: PS3
Genre: Shooter
Price: £49.99
Hit count: 4/5
Epic shooters don’t come any bigger than another recent release with a 2 at the end of it, so Battlefield: Bad Company 2 has got a pretty hefty challenge to make a name for itself so soon after probably the best FPS we’ve ever seen – Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.
And, it does a remarkably good job.
An engaging, if a little short, single-player campaign serves as the perfect entree to where the real action’s at – online.
While you may be afforded a little time to gape and coo at the truly stunning environments and vistas you’ll encounter on your single-player run-through, you’d better be on your toes when you team up.
It’s brilliant large-scale battling at its best, with vehicles coming into play, as well as the creation of mini-strike forces tasked with specific objectives that all feed into your side’s masterplan.
And, with the fully destructible environments creating all sorts of opportunities for mayhem masterminds, Bad Company 2 actually provides good, tactical company to its Modern Warfare competitor.
Title: Final Fantasy XIII
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: RPG
Price: £49.99
Hit count: 4/5
OK, if you’re already a big Final Fantasy fan, it won’t really matter what you read in this review, you’ll have already pre-ordered it and be rubbing your hands at the prospect of hour upon hour of new Japanese role-playing action.
For everyone else, what do you need to know?
Well, in FF13, you’ll embark on an epic journey through the cityworld of Cocoon and the outerworld of Pulse, mixing fantasy weaponry and the might of magic to progress, and finally face, your destiny.
It’s all played out in classic over the top J-RPG style, with truly stunning production values – the graphics, sound and storyline all reach epic proportions, and it’s a captivating single-player experience.
Whether you’ll go back for another bash after completion is another matter, but it’s still a must-buy title for anyone with an RPG obsession.
Title: Yakuza 3
Platform: PS3
Genre: Action
Price: £49.99
Hit count: 4/5
Modern-day Japan once again proves to be an engrossing backdrop to the next cinematic chapter in this well-received gaming saga, which continues to offer players an authentic, gritty and often violent story to absorb themselves in.
The city you explore lives and breathes as much as any sandbox title you might have seen since GTA IV, such as the ever-changing menus at street restaurants - it’s attention to detail to the nth degree.
At its core, though, is an extremely enjoyable and adult story that once again proves that the line between cinematic experiences and gaming experiences is too fine to see anymore.
It’s easy to be distracted by one of the 100-plus side-missions, or the fantastic mini-games from Mahjong, but when you return to the main game, it’s still as impressive as ever.
This game proves that exploration and combat in a thriving, detailed environment remains a potent recipe for gaming success.
Title: The Sky Crawlers: Innocent Aces
Platform: Wii
Genre: Aerial combat
Price: £34.99
Hit count: 4/5
Anyone who’s a fan of the Ace Combat series should be rubbing their hands with glee at the prospect of getting the Wiimote and nunchuk in their hands for another dose of flight fun and frolics from the team who brought you those great air combat experiences.
Taking inspiration from five manga novels, Innocent Aces is fab, sending you out on a variety of missions to bomb targets or take part in some monumental dogfights with enemy planes.
Control-wise, the traditional method may give you a touch more finesse, but using the nunchuk is so much more realistic, if a little harder to master. Graphically, it’s a bit below par, but this shouldn’t put you off taking your place in the cockpit for Japanese anime aerial action.
Title: Resident Evil 5: Gold Edition
Platform: PS3
Genre: Action
Price: £49.99
Hit count: 4/5
The Resident Evil series has rarely disappointed, so the prospect of a fifth outing on next-generation consoles unsurprisingly sparked excited twitching in the thumbs of gamers ready to engross themselves in the next biohazard threat - this time in Africa.
Here, the latest bioterrorism threat is literally transforming the people and animals of the city into mindless, maddened creatures and, joined by a new partner, Sheva Alomar, you can bring Chris some much-needed assistance, by using a revolutionary new two-player co-op mode of gameplay.
Gone are some of the creepy spine-tingling jump-out-of-your seat moments that lingered in the darkness of the early versions – they are replaced by a greater emphasis on the action.
However, there are still more than enough thrills and spills to keep the franchise going strong, and you shouldn’t miss out on this African adventure, which also includes access to eight new characters for play in the game’s Mercenary mode, as part of its gold edition bundle.
Title: Sonic Classic Collection
Platform: Nintendo DS
Genre: Action
Price: £24.99
Hit count: 3/5
Still one of the best-loved video game characters to ever be created, it’s time to dip into Sonic’s archives in this classic collection which allows fans both old and new to speed through the much-loved zones of the four original Mega Drive adventures.
They’ve been optimised to take full advantage of the Nintendo DS system, and feature a new ’save anywhere’ capability, which means you don’t need to glue yourself to your DS for hours on end to get through certain levels.
Extras video and collectable pictures add the obligatory additional content to the cartridge, while the games themselves still play pretty well, save for a spot of screen squashing here and there to emulate SEGA Genesis visuals.
Hours of fun for new and old blue hedgehog fans alike.
GAMES CHART: ALL FORMATS FULL PRICE
1. Battlefield: Bad Company 2
2. Just Dance
3. Aliens Vs Predator
4. Heavy Rain
5. Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing
6. Wii Fit Plus
7. Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
8. Wii Sports Resort
9. FIFA 10
10. New Super Mario Bros. Wii
Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (c) ELSPA (UK) Ltd
ends
Thursday, 11 March 2010
Tuesday, 2 March 2010
Returning to a time without consoles
Something very strange happened last night. Within seconds I was taken back to a forgotten time... a time when I went to primary school, had a silly haircut and enjoyed playing sports on the moors with other kids my age.
This was also a time when my household didn't have a games console or the like.
Last night Sony's PlayStation Network decided it didn't want to work anymore. Along with the thousands - if not millions - of gamers across the world, I was suddenly lost. I didn't know what to do.
In the last couple of years I have given up on watching TV because it's just pants (with the exception of Horizon and strangely Masterchef if only to see that bald dude keep the spoon in his mouth for an obscene amount of time), I don't really play a lot of sport and I'm not a big drinker.
I quite happily see my girlfriend, but other than that I like to immerse myself in something other-worldly.
The way I see it I spend all day every day talking and communicating, so the last thing I want to do is talk some more. This is my release and my down time.
So last night, when that joy was taken away from me like someone blowing out a candle, I struggled to cope.
All of a sudden I began to suggest alternative things to get stuck in to - like reading a book or doing the hoovering.
Jeez, my existence is questionable.
So thankfully today that technical problem has been fixed.
The bug hit at midnight on Sunday as the clock in the "fat" model of the console tried to recognise 2010 as a leap year.
Fans saw the console’s date reset to January 1 2000 and were unable to connect to the online gaming system PlayStation Network.
Sony had urged owners of the model to stop using the machine as it could result in errors in some functions or the loss of data.
The problem did not affect the newer slim PS3 model.
Patrick Seybold, spokesman for Sony, said on the PlayStation blog: "We are aware that the internal clock functionality in the PS3 units other than the slim model recognised the year 2010 as a leap year.
"Having the internal clock date change from February 29 to March 1 – both GMT - we have verified that the symptoms are now resolved and that users are able to use their PS3 normally."
In the hope that the problem doesn't resurface, why not try these latest releases?
Title: Heavy Rain
Platform: PS3
Genre: Adventure
Price: £49.99
Hit count: 5/5
If Heavy Rain is likely to teach you two things about video games, they will be: 1) Games have come an incredibly long way from the days of Space Invaders and Pac Man; and 2) We’re entering a strange territory in this world, where the boundaries between video game and movie are truly being transcended.
Heavy Rain is an outstanding, adult adventure, which puts you in control of the four protagonists on the tail of a serial murderer called the Origami Killer. Why is it so amazing?
It makes you genuinely care, for one, and graphically the facial animations of the characters are so lifelike you could be forgiven for thinking you were watching a film.
This is a stunning looking game, which serves to only ramp up the immersion further as you make your way through a story that will twist and turn according to your own decisions, and provide almost everyone who plays it with a unique experience they won’t forget for a long, long time.
Title: Sonic & SEGA All Stars Racing
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Racing
Price: £39.99
Hit count: 4/5
There’s no doubt that Mario Kart in its various guises on successive systems has been celebrating atop the cartoon racer podium for many years now.
Now, there’s a serious challenger on 360 and PS3 to rival Nintendo’s diddy racing dominance, as you enter the frantic battle to the chequered flag with Sonic and friends, speeding around tracks set in medieval castle ramparts, lush rainforests and bustling cities, all taken from the familiar universes of Sonic and SEGA.
All the tricks, twists and turns are there, in the shape of custom-built vehicles for different characters, secret shortcuts, swift handling and specific All Star moves – such as Super Sonic, Banana Blitz and Tails Tornado – that allows a quick way for you to get back into the race!
There’s no doubt this is a worthy adversary to Mario, and certainly the best kart racer you can buy on either of these systems, but in the grand scheme of things, the plumbers remain in pole position.
Title: Silent Hill: Shattered Memories
Platform: Wii
Genre: Survival Horror
Price: £34.99
Hit count: 4/5
The Silent Hill series has been around for more than a decade, so now is probably a good time to go back to its roots, and at the same time, ’re-imagine’ the world that we were first introduced to all those years ago with a car crash on the outskirts of a strange town.
The first thing to note here is the superb Wii gameplay mechanics that feel as natural as they are effective.
Point the remote around the screen and you have your flashlight, independent of your character movement with the nunchuk. You can also take mobile phone calls through the speaker of your Wiimote too – it may look stupid, but it feels so right. And you’ll need these devices, as there are no weapons to help you through this eerie, adult story, which serves only to heighten the feeling of helplessness.
That’s only to the credit of the writers, who provide a nightmarish succession of psychologically disturbing scenarios that will thrill and chill in equal measure. The series, it seems, is in safe hands.
Title: Way of the Samurai 3
Platform: PS3
Genre: Action/Adventure
Price: £39.99
Hit count: 4/5
A cracking prospect – take the role of a samurai and choose your own path, blazing a trail of honour, loyalty and respect or one of villainy, corruption and greed. In a series best known for its high level of freedom and play style, fans won’t be disappointed here, as the slick sword-fighting combat system combines superbly with the open world exploration akin to the Grand Theft Auto series.
Wrapped around all this is a storyline that will take you down many different paths, with 15 different endings, giving the decisions you make during the game even more significance. Yes, the graphics could do with a bit more polish here and there, and some of the menu navigation aspects are a little frustrating, but overall, this visit to Japan’s Sengoku period is one well worth making. An excellent adventure all round.
Title: Lips: Party Classics
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Music
Price: £24.99
Hit count: 4/5
Lips is the real deal for karaoke-style gaming on the 360, with wireless microphones allowing you to not only prove that you’re a Leona Lewis or Dizzee Rascal in the making, but also groove to the tunes without getting yourself all tangled up.
There’s no doubt you’ll get in a spin over the staggering collection of tracks on this Party Classics disc, as around 40 tunes span genres and generations to ensure there’s more than enough to cater for all music tastes.
From The Righteous Brothers to Right Said Fred, Nancy Sinatra to New Order, the whole family can get involved, as Xbox 360 controllers double up as a variety of percussion accompaniments, too, rather than you just sitting there watching the tune pass by.
It’s a nice touch that adds to the party experience and overall, this is a fab development of the Lips series.
GAMES CHART: ALL FORMATS FULL PRICE
1. Aliens Vs Predator
2. Just Dance
3. BioShock 2
4. New Super Mario Bros. Wii
5. FIFA 10
6. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
7. Wii Sports Resort
8. Mario & Sonic At The Olympic Winter Games
9. Wii Fit Plus
10. Army of Two: The 40th Day
Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (c) ELSPA (UK) Ltd
This was also a time when my household didn't have a games console or the like.
Last night Sony's PlayStation Network decided it didn't want to work anymore. Along with the thousands - if not millions - of gamers across the world, I was suddenly lost. I didn't know what to do.
In the last couple of years I have given up on watching TV because it's just pants (with the exception of Horizon and strangely Masterchef if only to see that bald dude keep the spoon in his mouth for an obscene amount of time), I don't really play a lot of sport and I'm not a big drinker.
I quite happily see my girlfriend, but other than that I like to immerse myself in something other-worldly.
The way I see it I spend all day every day talking and communicating, so the last thing I want to do is talk some more. This is my release and my down time.
So last night, when that joy was taken away from me like someone blowing out a candle, I struggled to cope.
All of a sudden I began to suggest alternative things to get stuck in to - like reading a book or doing the hoovering.
Jeez, my existence is questionable.
So thankfully today that technical problem has been fixed.
The bug hit at midnight on Sunday as the clock in the "fat" model of the console tried to recognise 2010 as a leap year.
Fans saw the console’s date reset to January 1 2000 and were unable to connect to the online gaming system PlayStation Network.
Sony had urged owners of the model to stop using the machine as it could result in errors in some functions or the loss of data.
The problem did not affect the newer slim PS3 model.
Patrick Seybold, spokesman for Sony, said on the PlayStation blog: "We are aware that the internal clock functionality in the PS3 units other than the slim model recognised the year 2010 as a leap year.
"Having the internal clock date change from February 29 to March 1 – both GMT - we have verified that the symptoms are now resolved and that users are able to use their PS3 normally."
In the hope that the problem doesn't resurface, why not try these latest releases?
Title: Heavy Rain
Platform: PS3
Genre: Adventure
Price: £49.99
Hit count: 5/5
If Heavy Rain is likely to teach you two things about video games, they will be: 1) Games have come an incredibly long way from the days of Space Invaders and Pac Man; and 2) We’re entering a strange territory in this world, where the boundaries between video game and movie are truly being transcended.
Heavy Rain is an outstanding, adult adventure, which puts you in control of the four protagonists on the tail of a serial murderer called the Origami Killer. Why is it so amazing?
It makes you genuinely care, for one, and graphically the facial animations of the characters are so lifelike you could be forgiven for thinking you were watching a film.
This is a stunning looking game, which serves to only ramp up the immersion further as you make your way through a story that will twist and turn according to your own decisions, and provide almost everyone who plays it with a unique experience they won’t forget for a long, long time.
Title: Sonic & SEGA All Stars Racing
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Racing
Price: £39.99
Hit count: 4/5
There’s no doubt that Mario Kart in its various guises on successive systems has been celebrating atop the cartoon racer podium for many years now.
Now, there’s a serious challenger on 360 and PS3 to rival Nintendo’s diddy racing dominance, as you enter the frantic battle to the chequered flag with Sonic and friends, speeding around tracks set in medieval castle ramparts, lush rainforests and bustling cities, all taken from the familiar universes of Sonic and SEGA.
All the tricks, twists and turns are there, in the shape of custom-built vehicles for different characters, secret shortcuts, swift handling and specific All Star moves – such as Super Sonic, Banana Blitz and Tails Tornado – that allows a quick way for you to get back into the race!
There’s no doubt this is a worthy adversary to Mario, and certainly the best kart racer you can buy on either of these systems, but in the grand scheme of things, the plumbers remain in pole position.
Title: Silent Hill: Shattered Memories
Platform: Wii
Genre: Survival Horror
Price: £34.99
Hit count: 4/5
The Silent Hill series has been around for more than a decade, so now is probably a good time to go back to its roots, and at the same time, ’re-imagine’ the world that we were first introduced to all those years ago with a car crash on the outskirts of a strange town.
The first thing to note here is the superb Wii gameplay mechanics that feel as natural as they are effective.
Point the remote around the screen and you have your flashlight, independent of your character movement with the nunchuk. You can also take mobile phone calls through the speaker of your Wiimote too – it may look stupid, but it feels so right. And you’ll need these devices, as there are no weapons to help you through this eerie, adult story, which serves only to heighten the feeling of helplessness.
That’s only to the credit of the writers, who provide a nightmarish succession of psychologically disturbing scenarios that will thrill and chill in equal measure. The series, it seems, is in safe hands.
Title: Way of the Samurai 3
Platform: PS3
Genre: Action/Adventure
Price: £39.99
Hit count: 4/5
A cracking prospect – take the role of a samurai and choose your own path, blazing a trail of honour, loyalty and respect or one of villainy, corruption and greed. In a series best known for its high level of freedom and play style, fans won’t be disappointed here, as the slick sword-fighting combat system combines superbly with the open world exploration akin to the Grand Theft Auto series.
Wrapped around all this is a storyline that will take you down many different paths, with 15 different endings, giving the decisions you make during the game even more significance. Yes, the graphics could do with a bit more polish here and there, and some of the menu navigation aspects are a little frustrating, but overall, this visit to Japan’s Sengoku period is one well worth making. An excellent adventure all round.
Title: Lips: Party Classics
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Music
Price: £24.99
Hit count: 4/5
Lips is the real deal for karaoke-style gaming on the 360, with wireless microphones allowing you to not only prove that you’re a Leona Lewis or Dizzee Rascal in the making, but also groove to the tunes without getting yourself all tangled up.
There’s no doubt you’ll get in a spin over the staggering collection of tracks on this Party Classics disc, as around 40 tunes span genres and generations to ensure there’s more than enough to cater for all music tastes.
From The Righteous Brothers to Right Said Fred, Nancy Sinatra to New Order, the whole family can get involved, as Xbox 360 controllers double up as a variety of percussion accompaniments, too, rather than you just sitting there watching the tune pass by.
It’s a nice touch that adds to the party experience and overall, this is a fab development of the Lips series.
GAMES CHART: ALL FORMATS FULL PRICE
1. Aliens Vs Predator
2. Just Dance
3. BioShock 2
4. New Super Mario Bros. Wii
5. FIFA 10
6. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
7. Wii Sports Resort
8. Mario & Sonic At The Olympic Winter Games
9. Wii Fit Plus
10. Army of Two: The 40th Day
Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (c) ELSPA (UK) Ltd
Tuesday, 23 February 2010
Apps are the Apple of my eye
APPSOLUTELY blown away. That’s how I find myself today.
You see a short while ago I bit the bullet and converted.I became one of those people that other people love to hate.
You know the ones... the type of person who talks of nothing else except, yep their iPhone.
I pledged to friends that I would never take one on, but then in a moment I cracked.
Maybe it was the nice big touch screen or maybe it was the possibility of meeting other geek-minded like.
I now admit care-free, it was the app-factor.
You see, I love it. I want to know how Chelsea got on and I’m in the middle of nowhere – click click click and I’ve got the Sky Sports app.
I want to tune my guitar to drop ‘D’ – click click click bingo!
I want to know what that annoyingly catchy tune is on the shop sound system – click click click boom – download Shazam.
I do, truly and honestly, love it.
Apple boast there is now an ‘app’ (or application) for anything. And I’m beginning to agree.
I was in a pub having lunch earlier today and I overheard a conversation where a chap mentioned there was now a ‘hand-warmer’ app.
Naturally my response was “no way”. But sure enough within a few seconds of searching the App Store, there it is – an app that lets you turn your phone into something probably resembling a small nuclear device to warm your hands.
And if I thought THAT was weird, imagine my surprise at these other weird apps that I’ve discovered.
You can download a ‘virtual zippo lighter’... I guess, for all those virtual cigarettes I’ve been meaning to smoke...?
There is an iVibe app for um, well, turning your iPhone into a sex toy.
And there is an app called ‘hang time’ which allows you to measure how far your iPhone has fallen (with any luck into your hand) after you’ve thrown it into the air. (Point being... er?)
Joking aside there are literally tens of thousands of really useful apps.
When I was away on holiday I used a currency converter app which automatically updates the rates.
I also downloaded a battery app which tells me – to the second – how long my battery life will last.
And of course there’s a new Planet Rock app which allows you to listen to rock music (with or without headphones) forever.
Some apps can be quite pricey but generally I go for the free ones which are just as good.
So there you have it. I’m an iFreak.
Now if only there was an iMoney app which paid me cash for talking useless gibberish...
Here are the latest games reviews and charts:
Title: Aliens Vs Predator
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Shooter
Price: £49.99
Hit count: 4/5
Many gamers would insist that these creatures should be consigned to film and gaming history, so as not to tarnish the reputations they’ve built up in both genres.
However, you can’t help but feel a ripple of excitement at being able to once again dive into the unique world where colonial Marines, aliens and predators go toe-to-toe in this tense, horror shooter.
While the developers unashamedly delve into the past for material to furnish the single player campaigns, this merely provides more stand-out moments to savour than rehashed old soundbites to reel off.
Control-wise, a host of character-specific weapons keep things feeling fresh, whichever campaign you’re progressing, but overall, this doesn’t feel quite as cutting edge as today’s leading shooters.
However, that’s a minor gripe – this is a blockbuster shooter in every sense of the word.
Title: BioShock 2
Platform: PS3
Genre: First person shooter
Price: £49.99
Hit count: 4/5
Set approximately 10 years after the events of the original BioShock, the halls of Rapture once again echo with sins of the past.
Two years after the release of the original game, it's a trip that almost every gamer has probably considered booking their first holiday of the year for.
The fallen city looks just as incredible as before, as you assume the role of the very first Big Daddy, and the game still plays out like no other first person shooter on the market.
The plasmid upgrades return with a vengeance, providing a multiplayer experience that will live long in the memory - Capture the Sister replacing Capture the Flag just about says it all!
It may not be quite the sensational step forward many were hoping for, but it's still an essential purchase.
Title: Guitar Hero Van Halen
Platform: PS3
Genre: Music
Price: £49.99
Hit count: 4/5
Take a well-worn, popular formula, bring a legendary rock band into that world, and you have a bona fide recipe for success.
This time round, you have 25 classic Van Halen tracks, three signature Eddie Van Halen guitar solos, and 19 hand-picked guest acts to contend with, played out in eight original venues specifically designed for this version of the game.
With tracks ranging from the high-energy Jump to the legendary guitar solo Eruption, Guitar Hero yet again extols the virtues of being easy to play and difficult to master.
Playing as one of the four members of Van Halen, or as your own personalised superstar with Rock Star Creator, you could be driven to distraction as your superstar parties on stage.
With the option to rock out with up to four players locally or battle other bands with up to eight players, it’s another hefty musical challenge all round.
Pricey, but you know it makes sense.
Title: Family Party: Winter Fun
Platform: Wii
Genre: Mini-games
Price: £19.99
Hit count: 4/5
Bearing in mind the disruption and general discontent created by this year’s series of snow flurrys around the UK, why anyone would want to subject themselves to more wintry activities is beyond comprehension.
Surely, we should be all clamouring for summer sports now?
Well, if you have that kind of masochistic streak, then this bundle of three dozen sub-zero mini-games is more than likely to warm your cockles.
Bobsledding, figure skating, ski-jumping and many more crank up the competitive atmosphere around the family, with the usual dozen or so cutesy characters to choose from.
With a host of new challenges, character outfits and medals to unlock, this will prove to be a pretty decent investment at under 20 quid, if you’re looking for some inoffensive, entertaining sporting frolics.
Title: TNA Impact! Cross The Line
Platform: PSP
Genre: Wrestling
Price: £29.99
Hit count: 2/5
More meaty wrestling action is on the horizon, as 25 of your favourite wrestlers from AJ Styles to Tomko, Chris Sabin to Sharkboy come to the PSP’s small screen.
One look at the graphics combined with excellent in-game commentary suggest this is going to be one brawler you can’t afford to miss.
Throw in the usual wild-card items into battle, such as fridge doors, road barriers, chairs and TVs, and you’d think that there’s even more fun to be had. Sadly, this is not the case.
Where the smooth, cohesive gameplay of Smackdown makes grappling pure pleasure, Cross The Line comes across as its awkward cousin, creating more frustration than free-flowing combos.
Yes, it’s a really good-looking game for this system, but scratch beneath this surface and you have an unpolished beat ’em up not worth working up a sweat over.
Title: Percy Jackson And The Lightning Thief
Platform: Nintendo DS
Genre: RPG
Price: £29.99
Hit count: 3/5
Replace Harry Potter’s wand and spells for Percy Jackson’s ’son-of-Poseidon’ special abilities, and you’ll probably get a sense for what this series of books is setting out to achieve, with author Rick Riordan having a serious stab at becoming the next JK Rowling.
With such a monstrous book and movie marketing plan comes the game of the film, in this instance a fairly tepid RPG adventure, where you pit your team against the outlandish foes and bestiary of the Percy Jackson universe.
A decent upgrade and customisation system keeps interest levels bubbling up as you unlock new abilities for all characters under your command, and exploring the Riordan’s world on the dual screen will undoubtedly appeal to those young adults sucked into this fictional mythological world.
However, when all’s said and done, it’s not a patch on Potter, or the RPG gaming company it keeps.
GAMES CHART: ALL FORMATS FULL PRICE
1. BioShock 2
2. Just Dance
3. FIFA 10
4. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
5. Wii Sports Resort
6. New Super Mario Bros. Wii
7. Wii Fit Plus
8. Mass Effect 2
9. Dante’s Inferno
10. Bayonetta
Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (c) ELSPA (UK) Ltd
You see a short while ago I bit the bullet and converted.I became one of those people that other people love to hate.
You know the ones... the type of person who talks of nothing else except, yep their iPhone.
I pledged to friends that I would never take one on, but then in a moment I cracked.
Maybe it was the nice big touch screen or maybe it was the possibility of meeting other geek-minded like.
I now admit care-free, it was the app-factor.
You see, I love it. I want to know how Chelsea got on and I’m in the middle of nowhere – click click click and I’ve got the Sky Sports app.
I want to tune my guitar to drop ‘D’ – click click click bingo!
I want to know what that annoyingly catchy tune is on the shop sound system – click click click boom – download Shazam.
I do, truly and honestly, love it.
Apple boast there is now an ‘app’ (or application) for anything. And I’m beginning to agree.
I was in a pub having lunch earlier today and I overheard a conversation where a chap mentioned there was now a ‘hand-warmer’ app.
Naturally my response was “no way”. But sure enough within a few seconds of searching the App Store, there it is – an app that lets you turn your phone into something probably resembling a small nuclear device to warm your hands.
And if I thought THAT was weird, imagine my surprise at these other weird apps that I’ve discovered.
You can download a ‘virtual zippo lighter’... I guess, for all those virtual cigarettes I’ve been meaning to smoke...?
There is an iVibe app for um, well, turning your iPhone into a sex toy.
And there is an app called ‘hang time’ which allows you to measure how far your iPhone has fallen (with any luck into your hand) after you’ve thrown it into the air. (Point being... er?)
Joking aside there are literally tens of thousands of really useful apps.
When I was away on holiday I used a currency converter app which automatically updates the rates.
I also downloaded a battery app which tells me – to the second – how long my battery life will last.
And of course there’s a new Planet Rock app which allows you to listen to rock music (with or without headphones) forever.
Some apps can be quite pricey but generally I go for the free ones which are just as good.
So there you have it. I’m an iFreak.
Now if only there was an iMoney app which paid me cash for talking useless gibberish...
Here are the latest games reviews and charts:
Title: Aliens Vs Predator
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Shooter
Price: £49.99
Hit count: 4/5
Many gamers would insist that these creatures should be consigned to film and gaming history, so as not to tarnish the reputations they’ve built up in both genres.
However, you can’t help but feel a ripple of excitement at being able to once again dive into the unique world where colonial Marines, aliens and predators go toe-to-toe in this tense, horror shooter.
While the developers unashamedly delve into the past for material to furnish the single player campaigns, this merely provides more stand-out moments to savour than rehashed old soundbites to reel off.
Control-wise, a host of character-specific weapons keep things feeling fresh, whichever campaign you’re progressing, but overall, this doesn’t feel quite as cutting edge as today’s leading shooters.
However, that’s a minor gripe – this is a blockbuster shooter in every sense of the word.
Title: BioShock 2
Platform: PS3
Genre: First person shooter
Price: £49.99
Hit count: 4/5
Set approximately 10 years after the events of the original BioShock, the halls of Rapture once again echo with sins of the past.
Two years after the release of the original game, it's a trip that almost every gamer has probably considered booking their first holiday of the year for.
The fallen city looks just as incredible as before, as you assume the role of the very first Big Daddy, and the game still plays out like no other first person shooter on the market.
The plasmid upgrades return with a vengeance, providing a multiplayer experience that will live long in the memory - Capture the Sister replacing Capture the Flag just about says it all!
It may not be quite the sensational step forward many were hoping for, but it's still an essential purchase.
Title: Guitar Hero Van Halen
Platform: PS3
Genre: Music
Price: £49.99
Hit count: 4/5
Take a well-worn, popular formula, bring a legendary rock band into that world, and you have a bona fide recipe for success.
This time round, you have 25 classic Van Halen tracks, three signature Eddie Van Halen guitar solos, and 19 hand-picked guest acts to contend with, played out in eight original venues specifically designed for this version of the game.
With tracks ranging from the high-energy Jump to the legendary guitar solo Eruption, Guitar Hero yet again extols the virtues of being easy to play and difficult to master.
Playing as one of the four members of Van Halen, or as your own personalised superstar with Rock Star Creator, you could be driven to distraction as your superstar parties on stage.
With the option to rock out with up to four players locally or battle other bands with up to eight players, it’s another hefty musical challenge all round.
Pricey, but you know it makes sense.
Title: Family Party: Winter Fun
Platform: Wii
Genre: Mini-games
Price: £19.99
Hit count: 4/5
Bearing in mind the disruption and general discontent created by this year’s series of snow flurrys around the UK, why anyone would want to subject themselves to more wintry activities is beyond comprehension.
Surely, we should be all clamouring for summer sports now?
Well, if you have that kind of masochistic streak, then this bundle of three dozen sub-zero mini-games is more than likely to warm your cockles.
Bobsledding, figure skating, ski-jumping and many more crank up the competitive atmosphere around the family, with the usual dozen or so cutesy characters to choose from.
With a host of new challenges, character outfits and medals to unlock, this will prove to be a pretty decent investment at under 20 quid, if you’re looking for some inoffensive, entertaining sporting frolics.
Title: TNA Impact! Cross The Line
Platform: PSP
Genre: Wrestling
Price: £29.99
Hit count: 2/5
More meaty wrestling action is on the horizon, as 25 of your favourite wrestlers from AJ Styles to Tomko, Chris Sabin to Sharkboy come to the PSP’s small screen.
One look at the graphics combined with excellent in-game commentary suggest this is going to be one brawler you can’t afford to miss.
Throw in the usual wild-card items into battle, such as fridge doors, road barriers, chairs and TVs, and you’d think that there’s even more fun to be had. Sadly, this is not the case.
Where the smooth, cohesive gameplay of Smackdown makes grappling pure pleasure, Cross The Line comes across as its awkward cousin, creating more frustration than free-flowing combos.
Yes, it’s a really good-looking game for this system, but scratch beneath this surface and you have an unpolished beat ’em up not worth working up a sweat over.
Title: Percy Jackson And The Lightning Thief
Platform: Nintendo DS
Genre: RPG
Price: £29.99
Hit count: 3/5
Replace Harry Potter’s wand and spells for Percy Jackson’s ’son-of-Poseidon’ special abilities, and you’ll probably get a sense for what this series of books is setting out to achieve, with author Rick Riordan having a serious stab at becoming the next JK Rowling.
With such a monstrous book and movie marketing plan comes the game of the film, in this instance a fairly tepid RPG adventure, where you pit your team against the outlandish foes and bestiary of the Percy Jackson universe.
A decent upgrade and customisation system keeps interest levels bubbling up as you unlock new abilities for all characters under your command, and exploring the Riordan’s world on the dual screen will undoubtedly appeal to those young adults sucked into this fictional mythological world.
However, when all’s said and done, it’s not a patch on Potter, or the RPG gaming company it keeps.
GAMES CHART: ALL FORMATS FULL PRICE
1. BioShock 2
2. Just Dance
3. FIFA 10
4. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
5. Wii Sports Resort
6. New Super Mario Bros. Wii
7. Wii Fit Plus
8. Mass Effect 2
9. Dante’s Inferno
10. Bayonetta
Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (c) ELSPA (UK) Ltd
Monday, 14 December 2009
Sale of the century! Well... decade
ROCK memorabilia goes under the online hammer this week offering those with a few quid the chance to scoop a piece of history.
Coldplay - who hail partly from Exeter - are staging an auction on eBay from 5pm, Thursday (Dec 17th) to 5pm Thursday December 31 in aid of a charity called Kids Company.
The 'End of Decade Clearout Sale' will feature various instruments, clothing, equipment, posters and other bits and bobs - many of which will be signed by the band.
Those bits and bobs which aren't signed will come with a certificate of authenticity.
In a bid to raise awareness of the sale the band have released this humourous video on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrbkyASaKsg.
While the idea is a fab one and I completely appreciate the band's generosity, it leaves you wishing you had bucket loads of money to spare on buying a few bits of kit.
I mean, wouldn't it be fab to own Chris Martin's guitar signed by the band?! A definite party talking point methinks.
Anyone got a few grand going spare?
For more info on the sale visit Coldplay's official website.
So equally - if not more - exciting (and cheaper) is the news that those nice people at Lucas Arts and Activision are bringing out Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II next year.
The game promises to be a must for any fan of the films.
The first game rocked and gave gamers a true feel of actually being in one of the movies and unleashing hell using a light saber.
In the last couple of weeks I've also been mastering - and getting completed narked off at - Uncharted II.
Great game, but once again the online multiplayer feature appears to be flawed.
I simply can't tell you how annoying it is to be 'fined' $160,000 for 'leaving' an online death match game without the deathmatch finishing first.
While I can understand that it is annoying for other gamers, surely the fine should only be in place IF you actually leave on purpose.
I've had to reboot my entire system four times because it keeps glitching out and crashing. Grr.
What's more annoying is that I've actually gone to email Naughty Dog (the game's developers) direct, and I've had a message back saying that they're "unable to receieve your comment at this time".
So what's the use of having a customer feedback form?!
Yours frustratingly
Tristan.
Here's some reviews of the latest games:
Title: Tony Hawk Ride (with skateboard controller)
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Skateboarding
Price: £99.99
Hit count: 4/5
In the past 12 months or so we’ve had balance boards, drum kits and even DJ turntables, and just when you thought the console peripheral world couldn’t get any more densely populated – along comes a skateboard for you to ride in your living room.
Tackling Tony Hawk’s latest title is not as daunting as you might think. Running your foot past a side-sensor on the board will have you pushing off on-screen, while tipping the back end up will perform an olly.
More complex tricks can be completed with a combination of different balancing positions and by using your hands to activate the other board sensors, as you navigate the virtual skate world to carry out a dazzling array of skate challenges.
There’s no doubt this controller will be used further in years to come, but its first outing doesn’t come without a glitch or two. However, as an innovative concept to drive the skateboarding genre forward into 2010, this is an outstanding achievement.
Title: Avatar
Platform: PS3
Genre: Action/Adventure
Price: £49.99
Hit count: 4/5
Avatar the film has understandably generated a whole heap of hype, with director James Cameron at the helm and a blockbusting budget to showcase the latest CGI effects technology.
Box-office success is a given.
This kind of success on the big screen so rarely translates to the console world, but in this case, your trip deep into the heart of Pandora, an alien planet that is beyond imagination, actually translates into an entertaining third-person shooter outing.
You find yourself thrust into a fight for the heart of a planet and the fate of a civilisation.
The mix of native Na’vi weapons and a hardcore human arsenal makes for interesting combat elements, and the graphics provide a strong recreation of this virtual world.
Sadly, some serious camera flaws and wooden voice-acting stop this from being a real standout movie tie-in, but there’s more than enough here to warrant fans of the film picking this up for the Christmas period.
Title: Wheelspin
Platform: Wii
Genre: Racing
Price: £29.99
Hit count: 3/5
If raw speed sets your racing heart pumping, Archer Maclean’s Wheelspin is likely to float your boat.
Offering eight-player, split-screen capability, it’s the perfect way to gather your crew around a telly and battle it out for futuristic four-wheeled supremacy – particularly in the battle mode, where you can blow your opponents to smithereens in a ring-fenced environment.
It doesn’t offer the overall polish of the likes of Mario Kart, and the option to control your vehicle with the D-pad or the nunchuk would have been much appreciated as frustration levels can rise as you shoot off the track into oblivion for the 10th time.
But that’s the challenge, and it makes success all the sweeter as you finally manage hum around the various tracks to claim first prize.
The racing world could do with a couple more party-style multiplayer titles and, while Wheelspin doesn’t hit the mark across the board, there’s enough to suggest that a sequel could be worth earmarking for the future.
Title: Medieval Games.
Platform: Wii
Price: £19.99
Hit count: 4/5
Just when I thought the Wii controller couldn't be used for anything else along comes Medieval Games.
I mean, sword fighting and jousting?! Awesome.
Saying that Medieval Games doesn't really reinvent the wheel but it is admittedly a lot of fun.
It has a budget-friendly price and it's graphics are cute and cartoon-like. It's the sort of game which would sit perfectly in a younger sister's stocking this Christmas.
The story mode looks good with a pop-up-book style and the mini games are fun.
Okay it won't win game of the year by any stretch of the imagination, but it will keep the kids quiet for a few days this Christmas.
Title: Yoga
Platform: Wii
Genre: Fitness
Price: £29.99
Hit count: 3/5
Focusing on the balance board, one of the core successes of the Wii Fit series, Yoga sets about slowing your day down, allowing your body to relax and teaching you the finer points of this philosophical fitness activity.
Model Anja Rubik and a 3D-animated Yoga guru guide you through the most important parts of the game and offer helpful information on individual exercises, as well as encouraging you to take steps to improve your own state of wellbeing.
While you’re unlikely to let a Wii game act as a life coach, it’s delivered in a minimally patronising way and successfully complements the range of exercises and customised workout plans.
Feedback on your progress through the balance-board sensors works well, and overall this is an enjoyable exploration into the yoga world for those who would rather focus on this element alone, rather than using it either side of hula-hooping and squat thrusts.
GAMES CHART: ALL FORMATS FULL PRICE
1. Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
2. FIFA 10
3. Assassin’s Creed 2
4. New Super Mario Bros Wii
5. Wii Sports Resort
6. Wii Fit Plus
7. Mario & Sonic At The Olympic Winter Games
8. LEGO Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues
9. Forza Motorsport 3
10. Mario Kart Wii
Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (c) ELSPA (UK) Ltd
Coldplay - who hail partly from Exeter - are staging an auction on eBay from 5pm, Thursday (Dec 17th) to 5pm Thursday December 31 in aid of a charity called Kids Company.
The 'End of Decade Clearout Sale' will feature various instruments, clothing, equipment, posters and other bits and bobs - many of which will be signed by the band.
Those bits and bobs which aren't signed will come with a certificate of authenticity.
In a bid to raise awareness of the sale the band have released this humourous video on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrbkyASaKsg.
While the idea is a fab one and I completely appreciate the band's generosity, it leaves you wishing you had bucket loads of money to spare on buying a few bits of kit.
I mean, wouldn't it be fab to own Chris Martin's guitar signed by the band?! A definite party talking point methinks.
Anyone got a few grand going spare?
For more info on the sale visit Coldplay's official website.
So equally - if not more - exciting (and cheaper) is the news that those nice people at Lucas Arts and Activision are bringing out Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II next year.
The game promises to be a must for any fan of the films.
The first game rocked and gave gamers a true feel of actually being in one of the movies and unleashing hell using a light saber.
In the last couple of weeks I've also been mastering - and getting completed narked off at - Uncharted II.
Great game, but once again the online multiplayer feature appears to be flawed.
I simply can't tell you how annoying it is to be 'fined' $160,000 for 'leaving' an online death match game without the deathmatch finishing first.
While I can understand that it is annoying for other gamers, surely the fine should only be in place IF you actually leave on purpose.
I've had to reboot my entire system four times because it keeps glitching out and crashing. Grr.
What's more annoying is that I've actually gone to email Naughty Dog (the game's developers) direct, and I've had a message back saying that they're "unable to receieve your comment at this time".
So what's the use of having a customer feedback form?!
Yours frustratingly
Tristan.
Here's some reviews of the latest games:
Title: Tony Hawk Ride (with skateboard controller)
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Skateboarding
Price: £99.99
Hit count: 4/5
In the past 12 months or so we’ve had balance boards, drum kits and even DJ turntables, and just when you thought the console peripheral world couldn’t get any more densely populated – along comes a skateboard for you to ride in your living room.
Tackling Tony Hawk’s latest title is not as daunting as you might think. Running your foot past a side-sensor on the board will have you pushing off on-screen, while tipping the back end up will perform an olly.
More complex tricks can be completed with a combination of different balancing positions and by using your hands to activate the other board sensors, as you navigate the virtual skate world to carry out a dazzling array of skate challenges.
There’s no doubt this controller will be used further in years to come, but its first outing doesn’t come without a glitch or two. However, as an innovative concept to drive the skateboarding genre forward into 2010, this is an outstanding achievement.
Title: Avatar
Platform: PS3
Genre: Action/Adventure
Price: £49.99
Hit count: 4/5
Avatar the film has understandably generated a whole heap of hype, with director James Cameron at the helm and a blockbusting budget to showcase the latest CGI effects technology.
Box-office success is a given.
This kind of success on the big screen so rarely translates to the console world, but in this case, your trip deep into the heart of Pandora, an alien planet that is beyond imagination, actually translates into an entertaining third-person shooter outing.
You find yourself thrust into a fight for the heart of a planet and the fate of a civilisation.
The mix of native Na’vi weapons and a hardcore human arsenal makes for interesting combat elements, and the graphics provide a strong recreation of this virtual world.
Sadly, some serious camera flaws and wooden voice-acting stop this from being a real standout movie tie-in, but there’s more than enough here to warrant fans of the film picking this up for the Christmas period.
Title: Wheelspin
Platform: Wii
Genre: Racing
Price: £29.99
Hit count: 3/5
If raw speed sets your racing heart pumping, Archer Maclean’s Wheelspin is likely to float your boat.
Offering eight-player, split-screen capability, it’s the perfect way to gather your crew around a telly and battle it out for futuristic four-wheeled supremacy – particularly in the battle mode, where you can blow your opponents to smithereens in a ring-fenced environment.
It doesn’t offer the overall polish of the likes of Mario Kart, and the option to control your vehicle with the D-pad or the nunchuk would have been much appreciated as frustration levels can rise as you shoot off the track into oblivion for the 10th time.
But that’s the challenge, and it makes success all the sweeter as you finally manage hum around the various tracks to claim first prize.
The racing world could do with a couple more party-style multiplayer titles and, while Wheelspin doesn’t hit the mark across the board, there’s enough to suggest that a sequel could be worth earmarking for the future.
Title: Medieval Games.
Platform: Wii
Price: £19.99
Hit count: 4/5
Just when I thought the Wii controller couldn't be used for anything else along comes Medieval Games.
I mean, sword fighting and jousting?! Awesome.
Saying that Medieval Games doesn't really reinvent the wheel but it is admittedly a lot of fun.
It has a budget-friendly price and it's graphics are cute and cartoon-like. It's the sort of game which would sit perfectly in a younger sister's stocking this Christmas.
The story mode looks good with a pop-up-book style and the mini games are fun.
Okay it won't win game of the year by any stretch of the imagination, but it will keep the kids quiet for a few days this Christmas.
Title: Yoga
Platform: Wii
Genre: Fitness
Price: £29.99
Hit count: 3/5
Focusing on the balance board, one of the core successes of the Wii Fit series, Yoga sets about slowing your day down, allowing your body to relax and teaching you the finer points of this philosophical fitness activity.
Model Anja Rubik and a 3D-animated Yoga guru guide you through the most important parts of the game and offer helpful information on individual exercises, as well as encouraging you to take steps to improve your own state of wellbeing.
While you’re unlikely to let a Wii game act as a life coach, it’s delivered in a minimally patronising way and successfully complements the range of exercises and customised workout plans.
Feedback on your progress through the balance-board sensors works well, and overall this is an enjoyable exploration into the yoga world for those who would rather focus on this element alone, rather than using it either side of hula-hooping and squat thrusts.
GAMES CHART: ALL FORMATS FULL PRICE
1. Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
2. FIFA 10
3. Assassin’s Creed 2
4. New Super Mario Bros Wii
5. Wii Sports Resort
6. Wii Fit Plus
7. Mario & Sonic At The Olympic Winter Games
8. LEGO Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues
9. Forza Motorsport 3
10. Mario Kart Wii
Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (c) ELSPA (UK) Ltd
Monday, 30 November 2009
Christmas gift tips for the e-saver
Doesn't time fly - especially when you're playing the likes of Unchartered 2 and Call of Duty?
Before you know it, it's Christmas. And the countdown officially begins tomorrow.
Credit crunch or not if you're in the know, there are ways around spending a fortune on pressies.
And the home of bargains is the internet.
While I do my best to shop locally and support local businesses, there comes a time when my budget outweighs my conscience.
I've been buying odd bits and pieces online for a number of years now and I have to say, I've never been let down.
Like anything you hear horror stories about some woman who ordered a tin of dog food and it ended up being sent to China giftwrapped, but I have to say I've been pretty lucky.
Nothing has ever gone missing, and the items have been as they were described.
So my main ports of call are:
For CDs, DVDs, Blu Ray, and Games: www.play.com or www.cdwow.com.
Both sites offer free delivery and most items are up to half price compared to high street stores.
They also have a wide variety of stock and usually despatch items within a couple of days.
Amazon's website (www.amazon.co.uk) has a huge array of, well... everything it seems. From hair driers to books, headphones to wireless headsets, it has it all. Postage and packaging can mount up but it wins hand down on pricing.
If you're looking for a specfic item it's also worth visiting www.kelkoo.co.uk which, in essence, is a price comparison site.
You type in the exact title of the item and it searches automatically for the cheapest. Once it's found the cheapest of gives you the option of visiting the store direct to buy it.
You can use the website for most things.
Ebay is also a valuable tool when it comes to Christmas shopping. One man's junk... another man's treasure. You can pick up some real deals for pennies. Just remember to look at their rating first for peace of mind.
If the thought of spending money on someone else is too much right now, at the very least visit the websites to firm up your Christmas wishlist.
Here's a few ideas:
Title: New Super Mario Bros Wii
Platform: Wii
Genre: Platform
Price: £39.99
Hit count: 5/5
Just when you think that Nintendo can’t come up with anything to trump the Mario achievements of recent times, another classic console gaming experience is thrown into the mix.
Seriously, you could own only Mario titles for Wii and still be completely satisfied with your console purchase.
Here we hark back to the good old days of side-scrolling platforming – the world that 3D forgot. But what a world this is.
Transformed technologically from the amazing 2D Mario adventures of 20 years ago, NSMB Wii is everything you could ever wish for in a title from the franchise: personality, innovation, excitement – and an inimitable feeling of pure love that’s been poured into the production of this game from start to finish.
The co-operative experience is up there on a par with any other co-op title in any genre, and it’s just not worth picking at faults when a game is this good.
Nostalgia realised in glorious 21st-century technology, NSMB Wii is a title that gamers of every age and experience level must add to their collection.
Title: NBA 2K10
Platform: PSP
Genre: Basketball
Price: £19.99
Hit count: 5/5
The NBA 2K series has been an enduring one, and this year’s releases on the big consoles certainly slam-dunked the competition and re-established its reputation as king of the ballers.
The translation to PSP doesn’t always run so smoothly, however, and this port of an earlier PS2 version onto the small screen results in mixed success.
Graphically, the players animate extremely well, but the overall feeling is that an extra bit of polish could have been applied before release to bring it bang up to date with what this handheld system can offer nowadays.
What plays like a dream on PS3 actually turns into something of an average arcade outing on PSP, as the turbo feature allows you to speed up and down the court for the whole game without tiring any of your players out, negating the majority of tactical elements to the game.
Overall, it’s a fair first outing for the series on PSP, but gamers will rightly expect much more from the franchise when NBA 2K11 comes around.
Title: The Sims 3: World Adventures
Platform: PC/Mac
Genre: People simulation
Price: £29.99
Hit count: 4/5
Who wouldn’t get bored without the opportunity to explore far-flung countries, being stuck in a suburban environment for all their days?
Take that a stage further for your virtual population, and the tedium must surely be setting in for players and characters alike. But not anymore! Now you can take your Sims on exciting journeys to famous real-world inspired destinations all around the globe.
Checking out the landmarks is fun, but it’s the additional skills you can develop that really add another dimension to the whole Sims experience here, from mastering martial arts in Shang Simla, China, to exploring the depths of ancient tombs in Al Simhara, Egypt.
Exploring the three core new cities is a real treat, with countless challenges, rewards and relics to amuse you, and bringing some of these items back to your original Sims 3 home is a really nice touch – proper souvenirs!
All in all, this is a real breath of fresh air for the series, and certainly the way forward for extending the franchise’s life in years to come. Just don’t forget your passport!
Title: Assassin’s Creed 2
Platform: PS3
Genre: Action Adventure
Price: £49.99
Hit count: 5/5
Altair’s amazing adventure in the first Assassin’s Creed gave gamers a rare journey where they were completely sucked in for a rollercoaster ride combining history, brutality, high-technology and a sprinkling of supernatural activity.
A fine recipe for a game, and one that has been tinkered with to great effect in the sequel. As new hero Ezio, you’re invited to explore a vast open-world environment on a quest for vengeance against the rival ruling families of Italy.
The sheer class and style of the original oozes from every pore second time around, while the character development, greater variety of missions and weaponry ensure that fans of the first game will see a real progression.
With graphics as jaw-dropping as ever and the kind of twisting tale more akin to the movie screen, Assassin’s Creed 2 is a sure-fire winner.
Title: LEGO Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Action/Adventure
Price: £39.99
Hit count: 3/5
When you pick up a LEGO title, you know what you’re going to get. And in this case, that’s a good thing.
The blocky characters have managed to carve themselves a tidy little niche, nestling somewhere between platforming adventures, movie tie-ins and kids titles, yet still delivering a unique brand of tongue-in-cheek humour that ensures the appeal isn’t strictly limited to the youngsters. And Indy’s second LEGO-inspired adventure is no different.
As a standalone single-player game, it’s got the same thrills, spills and puzzle solving you’d expect. But the addition of a level creation mode, where you can build your own environments brick by brick, really adds another dimension to the experience.
Of course, turning the movie turkey that was the Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull into something worthwhile is a challenge in itself, but here the LEGO franchise has belatedly saved Indy’s bacon.
GAMES CHART ALL FORMATS FULL PRICE
1. Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
2. Assassin’s Creed 2
3. New Super Mario Bros Wii
4. Wii Sports Resort
5. Wii Fit Plus
6. FIFA 10
7. Left 4 Dead 2
8. Mario & Sonic At The Olympic Winter Games
9. Forza Motorsport 3
10. LEGO Batman: The Videogame
Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (c) ELSPA (UK) Ltd.
Before you know it, it's Christmas. And the countdown officially begins tomorrow.
Credit crunch or not if you're in the know, there are ways around spending a fortune on pressies.
And the home of bargains is the internet.
While I do my best to shop locally and support local businesses, there comes a time when my budget outweighs my conscience.
I've been buying odd bits and pieces online for a number of years now and I have to say, I've never been let down.
Like anything you hear horror stories about some woman who ordered a tin of dog food and it ended up being sent to China giftwrapped, but I have to say I've been pretty lucky.
Nothing has ever gone missing, and the items have been as they were described.
So my main ports of call are:
For CDs, DVDs, Blu Ray, and Games: www.play.com or www.cdwow.com.
Both sites offer free delivery and most items are up to half price compared to high street stores.
They also have a wide variety of stock and usually despatch items within a couple of days.
Amazon's website (www.amazon.co.uk) has a huge array of, well... everything it seems. From hair driers to books, headphones to wireless headsets, it has it all. Postage and packaging can mount up but it wins hand down on pricing.
If you're looking for a specfic item it's also worth visiting www.kelkoo.co.uk which, in essence, is a price comparison site.
You type in the exact title of the item and it searches automatically for the cheapest. Once it's found the cheapest of gives you the option of visiting the store direct to buy it.
You can use the website for most things.
Ebay is also a valuable tool when it comes to Christmas shopping. One man's junk... another man's treasure. You can pick up some real deals for pennies. Just remember to look at their rating first for peace of mind.
If the thought of spending money on someone else is too much right now, at the very least visit the websites to firm up your Christmas wishlist.
Here's a few ideas:
Title: New Super Mario Bros Wii
Platform: Wii
Genre: Platform
Price: £39.99
Hit count: 5/5
Just when you think that Nintendo can’t come up with anything to trump the Mario achievements of recent times, another classic console gaming experience is thrown into the mix.
Seriously, you could own only Mario titles for Wii and still be completely satisfied with your console purchase.
Here we hark back to the good old days of side-scrolling platforming – the world that 3D forgot. But what a world this is.
Transformed technologically from the amazing 2D Mario adventures of 20 years ago, NSMB Wii is everything you could ever wish for in a title from the franchise: personality, innovation, excitement – and an inimitable feeling of pure love that’s been poured into the production of this game from start to finish.
The co-operative experience is up there on a par with any other co-op title in any genre, and it’s just not worth picking at faults when a game is this good.
Nostalgia realised in glorious 21st-century technology, NSMB Wii is a title that gamers of every age and experience level must add to their collection.
Title: NBA 2K10
Platform: PSP
Genre: Basketball
Price: £19.99
Hit count: 5/5
The NBA 2K series has been an enduring one, and this year’s releases on the big consoles certainly slam-dunked the competition and re-established its reputation as king of the ballers.
The translation to PSP doesn’t always run so smoothly, however, and this port of an earlier PS2 version onto the small screen results in mixed success.
Graphically, the players animate extremely well, but the overall feeling is that an extra bit of polish could have been applied before release to bring it bang up to date with what this handheld system can offer nowadays.
What plays like a dream on PS3 actually turns into something of an average arcade outing on PSP, as the turbo feature allows you to speed up and down the court for the whole game without tiring any of your players out, negating the majority of tactical elements to the game.
Overall, it’s a fair first outing for the series on PSP, but gamers will rightly expect much more from the franchise when NBA 2K11 comes around.
Title: The Sims 3: World Adventures
Platform: PC/Mac
Genre: People simulation
Price: £29.99
Hit count: 4/5
Who wouldn’t get bored without the opportunity to explore far-flung countries, being stuck in a suburban environment for all their days?
Take that a stage further for your virtual population, and the tedium must surely be setting in for players and characters alike. But not anymore! Now you can take your Sims on exciting journeys to famous real-world inspired destinations all around the globe.
Checking out the landmarks is fun, but it’s the additional skills you can develop that really add another dimension to the whole Sims experience here, from mastering martial arts in Shang Simla, China, to exploring the depths of ancient tombs in Al Simhara, Egypt.
Exploring the three core new cities is a real treat, with countless challenges, rewards and relics to amuse you, and bringing some of these items back to your original Sims 3 home is a really nice touch – proper souvenirs!
All in all, this is a real breath of fresh air for the series, and certainly the way forward for extending the franchise’s life in years to come. Just don’t forget your passport!
Title: Assassin’s Creed 2
Platform: PS3
Genre: Action Adventure
Price: £49.99
Hit count: 5/5
Altair’s amazing adventure in the first Assassin’s Creed gave gamers a rare journey where they were completely sucked in for a rollercoaster ride combining history, brutality, high-technology and a sprinkling of supernatural activity.
A fine recipe for a game, and one that has been tinkered with to great effect in the sequel. As new hero Ezio, you’re invited to explore a vast open-world environment on a quest for vengeance against the rival ruling families of Italy.
The sheer class and style of the original oozes from every pore second time around, while the character development, greater variety of missions and weaponry ensure that fans of the first game will see a real progression.
With graphics as jaw-dropping as ever and the kind of twisting tale more akin to the movie screen, Assassin’s Creed 2 is a sure-fire winner.
Title: LEGO Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Action/Adventure
Price: £39.99
Hit count: 3/5
When you pick up a LEGO title, you know what you’re going to get. And in this case, that’s a good thing.
The blocky characters have managed to carve themselves a tidy little niche, nestling somewhere between platforming adventures, movie tie-ins and kids titles, yet still delivering a unique brand of tongue-in-cheek humour that ensures the appeal isn’t strictly limited to the youngsters. And Indy’s second LEGO-inspired adventure is no different.
As a standalone single-player game, it’s got the same thrills, spills and puzzle solving you’d expect. But the addition of a level creation mode, where you can build your own environments brick by brick, really adds another dimension to the experience.
Of course, turning the movie turkey that was the Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull into something worthwhile is a challenge in itself, but here the LEGO franchise has belatedly saved Indy’s bacon.
GAMES CHART ALL FORMATS FULL PRICE
1. Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
2. Assassin’s Creed 2
3. New Super Mario Bros Wii
4. Wii Sports Resort
5. Wii Fit Plus
6. FIFA 10
7. Left 4 Dead 2
8. Mario & Sonic At The Olympic Winter Games
9. Forza Motorsport 3
10. LEGO Batman: The Videogame
Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (c) ELSPA (UK) Ltd.
Wednesday, 18 November 2009
Call of controversy
As the dust settles after one of the biggest storms of recent times, it’s time to reflect.
Now I’m not talking about last weekend’s horrendous weather.I
’m talking about the social, moral and political storm that was created by the year’s – sorry, no the era’s – most anticipated game, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.
It seems nowadays that the perfect way to promote a game is to cause some degree of controversy.
I mean, what’s so wrong with including a scene where Russian hitmen walk through a busy airport killing women and children alike without a care in the world?
Everything it seems.
The impact of that particular level sent shockwaves across the world – and boosted sales to unprecedented levels.
I heard some gossip the other day that the first-person shooter game has grossed more in two weeks than several of the biggest film releases of the year.
To exemplify things I have to admit that even I was shocked at the particular scene. And that’s the first time that has ever happened.
When I started playing it (having never played any game in the series before), I thought it was pretty good, good graphics, pretty good gameplay and really not quite worth the hype surrounding it.
But then that airport level came along and I began to understand why the game had generated so much publicity.
I found myself sitting there, unable to operate the controller because I found it, well... a tad wrong.
Games like Grand Theft Auto are violent as hell and deserve their 18 certificate and warnings.
But the difference is that the GTA series is very obviously a cartoon land. Okay the design and realism is great, but it’s clearly not real.
The problem with Call of Duty is that it is created to be as real as possible.
Having been to Afghanistan twice in my other roles on The Herald I was shocked to see the realism of an Afghan-style level.
The look of the place and even the sounds were near-on perfect and threw me back into those days I experienced last year.
So Call of Duty’s designers are trying to make it as real as possible. And you can’t blame them for doing that.
It’s just that... well, there is a certain point when it could be classed as going ‘too far’.
Usually my thoughts are quite liberal on matters like this. But I have to say I think they have over-stepped the mark in a bid to gain some headlines.
I mean does playing it make me want to go find a gun and shoot someone? No, it doesn’t.Would it have that affect on a child or an easily influenced person?I don’t think it would.
But there has got to be a certain level of correctness, and when you’re creating something which is supposed to be as ‘real’ as possible, there has to be line in the sand.
From the developers point of view they will agree that controversy is worthy of risk.
And ultimately when that risk makes $310million in just 24 hours through sales in the UK and the US making it the biggest launch in history across all forms of entertainment, it pays off.
Whatever happened to the carefree games like Dizzy on the Spectrum?!
Here's the Call of Duty review and a few others, judge for yourselves!
Title: Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Platform: PS3
Genre: Shooter
Price: £54.99
Hit count: 5/5
Busting through the £50 price tag in recessionary times is a bold move, and one that has been greeted with a few rumbles of discontent.
But for any gamer with half a brain and a love for first-person shooters, you’ll find out pretty quickly that Modern Warfare 2 more than justifies its payment.
Who wouldn’t part with that amount of cash for the privilege of being thrust into the most visceral, jaw-dropping single-player experience you’ve ever been involved in?
And the multiplayer mode will have gamers coming back for more, years after the launch hype has died down.
Polished to perfection in nearly every respect, it’s a gripping, living, breathing work of video-game art.
And £55 for a masterpiece ain’t that bad.
Title: Ghostbusters
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Action
Price: £44.99
Hit count: 4/5
Yet another movie to morph onto console systems, Ghostbusters: The Video Game presents an all-new storyline for gamers to get their teeth into, once again putting you in charge of that motley crew of paranormal pest controllers.
Not only does this title deliver in terms of humour, and superb voice-acting from almost all of the original stars, it also has the kind of gameplay mechanics that you’d wish for when faced with the prospect of grappling with a ghost above a trap and lowering it down to complete the capture.
It’s pretty much everything fans could have hoped for in terms of an authentic recreation of a much-loved film, and it’s a great example of how movie tie-in titles don’t always have to be tosh.
Title: Singstar: Take That
Platform: PS3
Genre: Music
Price: £19.99
Hit count: 4/5
While it’s all very well trawling pretty swiftly through the back-catalogues of 1980s artists who found their way onto Singstar, the real pleasure is to be had in bellowing at the tracks that you really know and love.
Everyone, whether they admit it or not, has a favourite Take That track or two.
And this disc is a cracking compilation of tunes from the fab five (who then became four), from Babe and Back For Good, through to Could It Be Magic and the more recent hits since reforming, such as Patience, Rule The World and Greatest Day.
A whopping 25 tunes for under £20 is a superb deal, and fans of the band should add this to their karaoke collection now!
Title: Women’s Murder Club: Games Of Passion
Platform: Nintendo DS
Genre: Adventure
Price: £29.99
Hit count: 2/5
Stepping into the investigative shoes of Women’s Murder Club members Lindsay, Claire and Cindy, you’re asked to investigate a string of seemingly unrelated murders as they unfold.
Beautiful women go missing and turn up dead around every corner, and the clues point to the least likely of suspects.
All this plays out through a mixture of object finding in different environments, interspersed with some pretty basic mini-games, such as sliding puzzles or memory games.
While the prospect of a new story from James Patterson may tempt fans of the books to try out this digital experience, it’s not really worth it.
Far too easy and rarely engaging, your time would be better spent reading your favourite paperback once again.
Title: Cooking Mama 3: Shop And Chop
Platform: Nintendo DS
Genre: Cookery
Price: £29.99
Hit count: 3/5
Mama’s back, having traded in the trowel for the truffle in Cooking Mama 3: Shop & Chop!
The stylus becomes the ultimate cooking utensil as players chop, grate, slice, stir, spread, sprinkle, roll and more through 200-plus mini-games.
But perhaps the main addition this time around is the shopping mini-games, which take you out of the kitchen to buy the ingredients before you get home and start showing off your stylus skills.
As with the previous two games, Shop And Chop looks as cute as ever, plays just as well and, while not really moving the series on as much as it could, the extra features keep things fresh and new for hardcore fans of virtual vegetable chopping.
So sharpen up your stylus and get your shopping bag ready, you’ve got cooking to do!
GAMES CHART ALL FORMATS FULL PRICE
1. Wii Fit Plus
2. FIFA 10
3. Wii Sports Resort
4. Football Manager 2010
5. Dragon Age: Origins
6. Forza Motorsport 3
7. Mario & Sonic At The Olympic Winter Games
8. Grand Theft Auto Episodes – Liberty City
9. Pro Evolution Soccer 2010
10. Tekken 6
Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (c) ELSPA (UK) Ltd
Now I’m not talking about last weekend’s horrendous weather.I
’m talking about the social, moral and political storm that was created by the year’s – sorry, no the era’s – most anticipated game, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.
It seems nowadays that the perfect way to promote a game is to cause some degree of controversy.
I mean, what’s so wrong with including a scene where Russian hitmen walk through a busy airport killing women and children alike without a care in the world?
Everything it seems.
The impact of that particular level sent shockwaves across the world – and boosted sales to unprecedented levels.
I heard some gossip the other day that the first-person shooter game has grossed more in two weeks than several of the biggest film releases of the year.
To exemplify things I have to admit that even I was shocked at the particular scene. And that’s the first time that has ever happened.
When I started playing it (having never played any game in the series before), I thought it was pretty good, good graphics, pretty good gameplay and really not quite worth the hype surrounding it.
But then that airport level came along and I began to understand why the game had generated so much publicity.
I found myself sitting there, unable to operate the controller because I found it, well... a tad wrong.
Games like Grand Theft Auto are violent as hell and deserve their 18 certificate and warnings.
But the difference is that the GTA series is very obviously a cartoon land. Okay the design and realism is great, but it’s clearly not real.
The problem with Call of Duty is that it is created to be as real as possible.
Having been to Afghanistan twice in my other roles on The Herald I was shocked to see the realism of an Afghan-style level.
The look of the place and even the sounds were near-on perfect and threw me back into those days I experienced last year.
So Call of Duty’s designers are trying to make it as real as possible. And you can’t blame them for doing that.
It’s just that... well, there is a certain point when it could be classed as going ‘too far’.
Usually my thoughts are quite liberal on matters like this. But I have to say I think they have over-stepped the mark in a bid to gain some headlines.
I mean does playing it make me want to go find a gun and shoot someone? No, it doesn’t.Would it have that affect on a child or an easily influenced person?I don’t think it would.
But there has got to be a certain level of correctness, and when you’re creating something which is supposed to be as ‘real’ as possible, there has to be line in the sand.
From the developers point of view they will agree that controversy is worthy of risk.
And ultimately when that risk makes $310million in just 24 hours through sales in the UK and the US making it the biggest launch in history across all forms of entertainment, it pays off.
Whatever happened to the carefree games like Dizzy on the Spectrum?!
Here's the Call of Duty review and a few others, judge for yourselves!
Title: Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Platform: PS3
Genre: Shooter
Price: £54.99
Hit count: 5/5
Busting through the £50 price tag in recessionary times is a bold move, and one that has been greeted with a few rumbles of discontent.
But for any gamer with half a brain and a love for first-person shooters, you’ll find out pretty quickly that Modern Warfare 2 more than justifies its payment.
Who wouldn’t part with that amount of cash for the privilege of being thrust into the most visceral, jaw-dropping single-player experience you’ve ever been involved in?
And the multiplayer mode will have gamers coming back for more, years after the launch hype has died down.
Polished to perfection in nearly every respect, it’s a gripping, living, breathing work of video-game art.
And £55 for a masterpiece ain’t that bad.
Title: Ghostbusters
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Action
Price: £44.99
Hit count: 4/5
Yet another movie to morph onto console systems, Ghostbusters: The Video Game presents an all-new storyline for gamers to get their teeth into, once again putting you in charge of that motley crew of paranormal pest controllers.
Not only does this title deliver in terms of humour, and superb voice-acting from almost all of the original stars, it also has the kind of gameplay mechanics that you’d wish for when faced with the prospect of grappling with a ghost above a trap and lowering it down to complete the capture.
It’s pretty much everything fans could have hoped for in terms of an authentic recreation of a much-loved film, and it’s a great example of how movie tie-in titles don’t always have to be tosh.
Title: Singstar: Take That
Platform: PS3
Genre: Music
Price: £19.99
Hit count: 4/5
While it’s all very well trawling pretty swiftly through the back-catalogues of 1980s artists who found their way onto Singstar, the real pleasure is to be had in bellowing at the tracks that you really know and love.
Everyone, whether they admit it or not, has a favourite Take That track or two.
And this disc is a cracking compilation of tunes from the fab five (who then became four), from Babe and Back For Good, through to Could It Be Magic and the more recent hits since reforming, such as Patience, Rule The World and Greatest Day.
A whopping 25 tunes for under £20 is a superb deal, and fans of the band should add this to their karaoke collection now!
Title: Women’s Murder Club: Games Of Passion
Platform: Nintendo DS
Genre: Adventure
Price: £29.99
Hit count: 2/5
Stepping into the investigative shoes of Women’s Murder Club members Lindsay, Claire and Cindy, you’re asked to investigate a string of seemingly unrelated murders as they unfold.
Beautiful women go missing and turn up dead around every corner, and the clues point to the least likely of suspects.
All this plays out through a mixture of object finding in different environments, interspersed with some pretty basic mini-games, such as sliding puzzles or memory games.
While the prospect of a new story from James Patterson may tempt fans of the books to try out this digital experience, it’s not really worth it.
Far too easy and rarely engaging, your time would be better spent reading your favourite paperback once again.
Title: Cooking Mama 3: Shop And Chop
Platform: Nintendo DS
Genre: Cookery
Price: £29.99
Hit count: 3/5
Mama’s back, having traded in the trowel for the truffle in Cooking Mama 3: Shop & Chop!
The stylus becomes the ultimate cooking utensil as players chop, grate, slice, stir, spread, sprinkle, roll and more through 200-plus mini-games.
But perhaps the main addition this time around is the shopping mini-games, which take you out of the kitchen to buy the ingredients before you get home and start showing off your stylus skills.
As with the previous two games, Shop And Chop looks as cute as ever, plays just as well and, while not really moving the series on as much as it could, the extra features keep things fresh and new for hardcore fans of virtual vegetable chopping.
So sharpen up your stylus and get your shopping bag ready, you’ve got cooking to do!
GAMES CHART ALL FORMATS FULL PRICE
1. Wii Fit Plus
2. FIFA 10
3. Wii Sports Resort
4. Football Manager 2010
5. Dragon Age: Origins
6. Forza Motorsport 3
7. Mario & Sonic At The Olympic Winter Games
8. Grand Theft Auto Episodes – Liberty City
9. Pro Evolution Soccer 2010
10. Tekken 6
Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (c) ELSPA (UK) Ltd
Friday, 6 November 2009
Dispelling the winter blues
I don't know about anyone else but I've been feeling thoroughly depressed of late.
The clocks changing and the dark days, the horrible blustery rain-in-your-ear weather, the countdown to Christmas, ya dee ya, it's all a bit pants isn't it?
The only winter warmers have been the release of Unchartered 2 and PES 2010 which have gone down a storm with gamers across the country.
So in a bid to kick start my mood I've been looking into holidays - and big fat ones at that.
Shopping for a holiday is not like it used to be.
While some people might still prefer to pop into a local branch of Thomas Cook, I believe the best deals can be found by shopping online.
While I do try to shop in city and town centres as much as possible to support local business, there comes a time (in economic meltdown) when needs must. And if I can find something say, 30 per cent cheaper, it's got to be a winner.
There are plenty of websites which deal with flights alone (such as airline websites), while there are countless others which deal with package holidays (including flights, hotels, hire cars, tours etc.)
Like anything it is best to get in there early to get the best deal but, nine times out of ten, web prices are cheaper than those on the high street.
A good starting point is expedia's website which offers cheap city breaks, beach breaks, ski holidays, budget deals and even Christmas deals.
I've used the site quite a few times to book flights, and flights and hotels and it's been fairly reliable.
One aspect which is particularly good is that the website allows customers to rate their hotel stay so you can form a good picture of what is to come.
You can even use your Nectar points to get money off.
Most people will have now heard of the budget airlines easyJet and Ryanair, both of which offer seriously good deals on flights throughout the year.
If you're quick enough it is possible to bag a return flight for a few pence to many of Europe's top destinations. It's well worth checking out their websites every few weeks for the best deals.
Another useful website is lastminute.com which does exactly what it says on the tin.
One of my favourite travel websites for gaining inspiration has got to be Lonely Planet's.
It offers features on spectacular places which you normally wouldn't consider and information and advice on getting there and having the best time.
It also has a handy trip planner feature which guides you through your itinerary.
While I admit I have never used it, I'm reliably told that Teletext offers as good - if not better - deals online.
If none of the above help, why not simply tap 'cheap' or 'budget holiday' and 'deals' into Google's search engine and see what comes up. There's sure to be enough inspiration in there somewhere to help shed some light on the looming winter blues.
If that's not enough, for now why not check out the latest games releases?
Title: Band Hero Bundle
Platform: PS3
Genre: Music
Price: £149.99
Hit count: 5/5
If you’re struggling to think of a fun, interactive present for all the family to enjoy this festive season, relax – you’ve found it.
Gone are the days when a 48-hour Monopoly marathon was considered the best way to spend Christmas and Boxing Day.
Now, for a pretty tidy £150 you get a band in a box, quite literally. Packed with guitar, drum kit, microphone and a bursting list of 60-plus tracks, it’s another brilliant addition to the Hero series. You use familiar controls and interfaces to allow gamers to jump straight in, while the presentation has been polished in almost every area.
Whether you’re a Lily Allen fan, a David Bowie groupie or you swoon at the sight of Taylor Swift, there’s something for everyone. And gaming together as a group in the living room feels as fun as it would up on-stage.
Roll over board games, the real festive fun has arrived.
Title: Wii Fit Plus
Platform: Wii
Genre: Fitness
Price: £19.99
Hit count: 4/5
Pre-empting the millions of people who’ll be huffing and puffing in January after a week of ludicrous excess over Christmas, Nintendo has already come up with the remedy for those podgy guts and chubby cheeks – the next instalment in the Wii Fit series.
Picking up where the introduction of the balance board left off, Wii Fit Plus succeeds in moving the series on because it offers a much more tailored experience, allowing you to build your own routine.
The main new addition, however, is the bundle of 15 or so mini-games, and these really bring you a hi-energy workout with some serious fun.
From skateboarding to snowball fighting, many of them make brilliant use of the peripherals at your disposal, although there are a few duffers in there too.
All in all, an excellent, good-value upgrade to the series, and one well worth considering.
Title: Borderlands
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Shooter/RPG
Price: £44.99
Hit count: 4/5
Tossed into a strange world with quests to complete and a crazy array of enemies to encounter, you could be forgiven for thinking that Borderlands is just like any other action/adventure title.
But, as you’ll soon discover within a couple of hours, behind the trigger-happy first-person-based action lies a deeply statistical and customisable engine, which may prove to be a bit of a ’marmite moment’ for many gamers.
While the bloodthirsty, brutal action itself and stylised cel-shaded graphics really make the game stand out in its genre, the need for careful attention when levelling up and upgrading your arsenal may prove to be something of a turn-off for the more casual gamer.
But sticking with this will reward you with a really engrossing experience, combining challenging enemies, brilliant weapons and a wicked sense of humour to great effect.
Title: Shaun The Sheep: Off His Head
Platform: Nintendo DS
Genre: Action/Adventure
Price: £24.99
Hit count: 3/5
Is it too early to be talking about stocking-fillers? Not if you look at the mince pies and mulled wine on supermarket shelves right now.
So, for all Aardman fans, it’s an exciting prospect to dive into episodes of Shaun The Sheep and recreate the fun and unique silent-movie humour – this could be nice little extra to wrap up on Christmas Eve. With the Farmer all set for a big date, his toupee has gone missing.
It’s up to you to explore the areas based on the series - the field, the barn, the Farmer’s house and the circus tent – calling on Bitzer The Dog to help you out when the Naughty Pigs are up to their dirty tricks.
Offering three modes including regular story, mini-game and colouring book options, this is a decent little action/adventure package for the kids that should keep them entertained for a few hours – and hopefully give parents a lie-in on Christmas morning.
Title: Marvel Super Hero Squad
Platform: Wii
Genre: Action
Price: £24.99
Hit count: 2/5
After the success of the Marvel: Ultimate Alliance sequel, it’s perhaps surprising to see another game in the comic-based franchise come out so soon on Wii.
Perhaps it’s the desire to strip the series back to basics to appeal to the youngest audience possible.
With slightly more cutesy characters and more simplified controls, Super Hero Squad certainly does that, but to the detriment of the game overall.
This becomes little more than an exercise in button mashing through your mission against Dr Doom’s Lethal Legion of villains.
While you can mix and match up most of your favourite characters, this is really only a cosmetic sprinkling of enjoyment, as the gameplay itself is so repetitive that you’re more likely to find yourself counting how many times you bash the A button than actually caring what you’re doing on-screen and what’s coming next.
A real shame for such an otherwise credible franchise.
GAMES CHART: ALL FORMATS FULL PRICE
1. Football Manager 2010
2. Wii Fit Plus
3. FIFA 10
4. Forza Motorsport 3
5. Pro Evolution Soccer 2010
6. Grand Theft Auto Episodes: Liberty City
7. Mario & Sonic At The Olympic Winter Games
8. Tekken 6
9. Borderlands
10. Wii Sports Resort
Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (c) ELSPA (UK) Ltd
The clocks changing and the dark days, the horrible blustery rain-in-your-ear weather, the countdown to Christmas, ya dee ya, it's all a bit pants isn't it?
The only winter warmers have been the release of Unchartered 2 and PES 2010 which have gone down a storm with gamers across the country.
So in a bid to kick start my mood I've been looking into holidays - and big fat ones at that.
Shopping for a holiday is not like it used to be.
While some people might still prefer to pop into a local branch of Thomas Cook, I believe the best deals can be found by shopping online.
While I do try to shop in city and town centres as much as possible to support local business, there comes a time (in economic meltdown) when needs must. And if I can find something say, 30 per cent cheaper, it's got to be a winner.
There are plenty of websites which deal with flights alone (such as airline websites), while there are countless others which deal with package holidays (including flights, hotels, hire cars, tours etc.)
Like anything it is best to get in there early to get the best deal but, nine times out of ten, web prices are cheaper than those on the high street.
A good starting point is expedia's website which offers cheap city breaks, beach breaks, ski holidays, budget deals and even Christmas deals.
I've used the site quite a few times to book flights, and flights and hotels and it's been fairly reliable.
One aspect which is particularly good is that the website allows customers to rate their hotel stay so you can form a good picture of what is to come.
You can even use your Nectar points to get money off.
Most people will have now heard of the budget airlines easyJet and Ryanair, both of which offer seriously good deals on flights throughout the year.
If you're quick enough it is possible to bag a return flight for a few pence to many of Europe's top destinations. It's well worth checking out their websites every few weeks for the best deals.
Another useful website is lastminute.com which does exactly what it says on the tin.
One of my favourite travel websites for gaining inspiration has got to be Lonely Planet's.
It offers features on spectacular places which you normally wouldn't consider and information and advice on getting there and having the best time.
It also has a handy trip planner feature which guides you through your itinerary.
While I admit I have never used it, I'm reliably told that Teletext offers as good - if not better - deals online.
If none of the above help, why not simply tap 'cheap' or 'budget holiday' and 'deals' into Google's search engine and see what comes up. There's sure to be enough inspiration in there somewhere to help shed some light on the looming winter blues.
If that's not enough, for now why not check out the latest games releases?
Title: Band Hero Bundle
Platform: PS3
Genre: Music
Price: £149.99
Hit count: 5/5
If you’re struggling to think of a fun, interactive present for all the family to enjoy this festive season, relax – you’ve found it.
Gone are the days when a 48-hour Monopoly marathon was considered the best way to spend Christmas and Boxing Day.
Now, for a pretty tidy £150 you get a band in a box, quite literally. Packed with guitar, drum kit, microphone and a bursting list of 60-plus tracks, it’s another brilliant addition to the Hero series. You use familiar controls and interfaces to allow gamers to jump straight in, while the presentation has been polished in almost every area.
Whether you’re a Lily Allen fan, a David Bowie groupie or you swoon at the sight of Taylor Swift, there’s something for everyone. And gaming together as a group in the living room feels as fun as it would up on-stage.
Roll over board games, the real festive fun has arrived.
Title: Wii Fit Plus
Platform: Wii
Genre: Fitness
Price: £19.99
Hit count: 4/5
Pre-empting the millions of people who’ll be huffing and puffing in January after a week of ludicrous excess over Christmas, Nintendo has already come up with the remedy for those podgy guts and chubby cheeks – the next instalment in the Wii Fit series.
Picking up where the introduction of the balance board left off, Wii Fit Plus succeeds in moving the series on because it offers a much more tailored experience, allowing you to build your own routine.
The main new addition, however, is the bundle of 15 or so mini-games, and these really bring you a hi-energy workout with some serious fun.
From skateboarding to snowball fighting, many of them make brilliant use of the peripherals at your disposal, although there are a few duffers in there too.
All in all, an excellent, good-value upgrade to the series, and one well worth considering.
Title: Borderlands
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Shooter/RPG
Price: £44.99
Hit count: 4/5
Tossed into a strange world with quests to complete and a crazy array of enemies to encounter, you could be forgiven for thinking that Borderlands is just like any other action/adventure title.
But, as you’ll soon discover within a couple of hours, behind the trigger-happy first-person-based action lies a deeply statistical and customisable engine, which may prove to be a bit of a ’marmite moment’ for many gamers.
While the bloodthirsty, brutal action itself and stylised cel-shaded graphics really make the game stand out in its genre, the need for careful attention when levelling up and upgrading your arsenal may prove to be something of a turn-off for the more casual gamer.
But sticking with this will reward you with a really engrossing experience, combining challenging enemies, brilliant weapons and a wicked sense of humour to great effect.
Title: Shaun The Sheep: Off His Head
Platform: Nintendo DS
Genre: Action/Adventure
Price: £24.99
Hit count: 3/5
Is it too early to be talking about stocking-fillers? Not if you look at the mince pies and mulled wine on supermarket shelves right now.
So, for all Aardman fans, it’s an exciting prospect to dive into episodes of Shaun The Sheep and recreate the fun and unique silent-movie humour – this could be nice little extra to wrap up on Christmas Eve. With the Farmer all set for a big date, his toupee has gone missing.
It’s up to you to explore the areas based on the series - the field, the barn, the Farmer’s house and the circus tent – calling on Bitzer The Dog to help you out when the Naughty Pigs are up to their dirty tricks.
Offering three modes including regular story, mini-game and colouring book options, this is a decent little action/adventure package for the kids that should keep them entertained for a few hours – and hopefully give parents a lie-in on Christmas morning.
Title: Marvel Super Hero Squad
Platform: Wii
Genre: Action
Price: £24.99
Hit count: 2/5
After the success of the Marvel: Ultimate Alliance sequel, it’s perhaps surprising to see another game in the comic-based franchise come out so soon on Wii.
Perhaps it’s the desire to strip the series back to basics to appeal to the youngest audience possible.
With slightly more cutesy characters and more simplified controls, Super Hero Squad certainly does that, but to the detriment of the game overall.
This becomes little more than an exercise in button mashing through your mission against Dr Doom’s Lethal Legion of villains.
While you can mix and match up most of your favourite characters, this is really only a cosmetic sprinkling of enjoyment, as the gameplay itself is so repetitive that you’re more likely to find yourself counting how many times you bash the A button than actually caring what you’re doing on-screen and what’s coming next.
A real shame for such an otherwise credible franchise.
GAMES CHART: ALL FORMATS FULL PRICE
1. Football Manager 2010
2. Wii Fit Plus
3. FIFA 10
4. Forza Motorsport 3
5. Pro Evolution Soccer 2010
6. Grand Theft Auto Episodes: Liberty City
7. Mario & Sonic At The Olympic Winter Games
8. Tekken 6
9. Borderlands
10. Wii Sports Resort
Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (c) ELSPA (UK) Ltd
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