3D Cinema - does it make any difference

So I watched my third 3D movie on Saturday night (also the third with Maddie!) the rather brilliant Alice in Wonderland & it got my brain thinking about the whole 3D cinema (& forthcoming Sky TV) move in 2009/2010. It's not the first time that the film industry has tried 3D - I researched a bit & they existed even in the late 1800's - it's not a new idea. However in 2008 there was a small number of releases in 3D, then in 2009, there was a resurgence of 3D entering the mainstream - there were at least a dozen last year, of which I saw 2: Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs & Avatar.Now in 2010 they're everywhere! So below are my thoughts:

Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs - was my first foray into 'the world of 3D cinema' (yes I'm aware of the 'I wish everything was in 3D' gag - I keep spreading it after all!) & it was immediately apparent that there was something different about the presentation of the film - the screen seemed more alive than ever before.It was quite bizarre to see Manny's tusks & trunk (he's the Mammoth don't you know!) pop out of the screen - bizarre but good. Also because 3D is effectively messing with your perspectives & depth perception, it took a little while for my eyes to adjust. One thing that I thought was useful for this was one of the adverts (for Real D, the 3D glasses company) which had a dog with a ball which he chased round the screen - nice.

Avatar - simply stunning in 3D - there's lots of depth perception & it's a great movie...& so it should be, with a supposed budget of around $500m, I would expect excellence! It was subtle in the most part - fireflys & sparks/ash outside the main screen, pieces of scenery flying towards you - it was magical stuff. I'll wait till I get it on Blu Ray (end of April) & think on it again, but a definite winner in my book! You definitely get a sense of the fabric of the universe that Jim Cameron was trying to create. As with all films there are elements of plodding at points, but the general progression of the film was of the most epic of scales. You could tell it was in 3D but it was subtle enough but even from some of the earliest scenes (with the main protagonist coming out of cybersleep) show the huge depth & lengths that the director went to 3D pretty much everything. It's the highest grossing film of all time (so far)...I think I know why, but is it the 3D element or not - that's to be seen when the Blu Ray appears next month.

Alice in Wonderland - a very good film, but the 3D element was almost unnoticeable (apart from the traditional & necessary running through the trees clip). However, the film was (pardon the obvious pun) wonderful. I'm vaguely familiar with the source material (I must have seen Disney animate version at some point in my youth) & knew some of the characters. I also know that the author was based in Oxford. However, it was exciting to see a fresh take on everything & Stephen Fry as the Cheshire Cat was brilliant. All the characters seemed authentic & magical and it really did feel like a dream most of the time. Jonny Depp was his usual mad self (sorry!) as the Hatter & Helena Bonham-Carter was great as the selfish Red Queen. I think it's definitely worth watching, but I'm not sure that the 3D element was essential, as it's difficult to see where it was used. However, this might well be the beauty of the medium.

For further reading: this BBC article looks at the current trend of fast releases for home use (Blu Ray & DVD) - an interesting read.

And while the debate about DVD release windows goes on, a further element in the mix is the dawn of 3D television.3D sets are already on sale in the US, and manufacturers hope to launch their products in the UK and Europe over the next couple of months. Sky rolls out its 3D service to customers later this year."3D in the home is coming," says Mr Cooper, "but those TV sets are going to be a bit more expensive than the standard top of the range 2D HD TVs - and if people want to watch 3D films it is a question of buying into a 3D enabled Blu-ray player."

The debate continues...

Friday roundup

So it's Friday, I'm packed & ready to go down to Canterbury (in fact by the time this has autoposted - I will be on my way!) & I'm very much looking forward to seeing the Madd one again.

It's been a funny old week - either super-busy or super-quiet at work (currently the latter) - which gives me space to look at my project work. Me & Madds went up to Woking to surprise her mum for Mother's Day (she had no idea - it was genious!). I got a real short haircut, hung out with both my mother & little brother & generally had family being exceptionally nice. Also very nearly moved into the new house - the only minor hitch struggling to actually get my sofabed indoors!

However, throughout this week there was a strange sense of lonliness - I'm not sure I can pinpoint what that is - possibly just moving somewhere new (out of the 'family home'). I think the fact that I've been offline for a week or so hasn't helped, but going to see some friends & Madds this weekend will help enormously.

The weird thing about being offline (no internet/online gaming) is that I seem to be missing from the online community of gamers within my clan - weirdness.

One could argue that it's good to disconnect & to some extent I agree - but when the dust settles on my housemove - I'm going to need something to occupy myself & stop me spending unnecessary money - things are going to get more complicated soon & with rent & household bills to pay for the first time - everything matters!

Right enough random ranting for now - we continue

Updated Blogger

I will be playing with this site over this week to try to give it a fresh look - so if it keeps changing on you - it's because I'm playing with the formatting (also the fundamental flaw of Live updating on teh interweebs).

We continue...

UPDATE: I've also shifted a few apps & created an about page - enjoy!

UPDATE 2: I've also just (not-so-automatically) imported all my old Brainshare posts - there really weren't that many & have added them, including original comments to this blog - nice housekeeping job!

Personal, but no bad thing

I've been meaning to blog again, but once again life has been a little hectic so here we go again.

The main reason I missed the last couple of weeks has been a massive shift in my concentration - I've been focusing heavily on helping Madds in Canterbury, moving into my new house & also heavily involved in my research project in work. I'll fill you in on a few of them.

Madds let out a cry for help [a couple of weeks ago now] - I answered that call & brought her back from to be with her family. This has caused me to pay much closer attention to her & listen very carefully to everything from the tone of her voice, to the words she uses when we talk. What has made me think & reflect a little is the fact that I knew in my heart I had to go & I think God was active in making it happen. If we need proof - the fact that she's not in hospital works for me.

In a less serious, but still rad way my house-move is so nearly finished - everything is there, apart from about 1 box of belongings, a sofabed & a suitcase of clothes & I'm in! All I have to do is get my services over - this is now operation 'Get up & running' [not to be confused with anything to do with exercise!] sorting out bills & services etc.

In a more work related way, I've finished my first epic project in my job - creating a map of which local authority [LEA] uses which Virtual Learning Environment [VLE] provider. Next up I have to redesign the old FAQ intranet site which is definitely going to be a long old project - but definitely something to keep me occupied during holiday periods.

There's so very many new things going on that hopefully regular updates will be happening...hopefully!

We continue...

OK GO!

I just had to post this - it's everywhere at the moment [tagbacks to Youthblog for the original lol]. This video is so well made it's insane & the effort they made to make it was truely inspiring. Check it out below:



Also just for fun, here are some of their older videos the treadmill & the old school classic dance video.

Great stuff

Moving Out & On

Another week, another blog. This week's random thoughts are about the whole concept of moving out of where I am now & into my first house!
I've lived in Kidlington for about 15 years, with my Grandfather (Ian), since secondary school & it has been a bit of a mixed blessing - sometime marvellous with friends old & new & sometimes periods of great loneliness & frustration.

However, this is not my main reasoning for this blog - it's the fact that I'm now moving out & on to a new place. It's not going to be perfect (in fact, some might say it's very much far from it!) but it's a new place to call home. The idea is that I will then carve out some independence & learn how to make my way in the world myself. In doing this, I've ended up starting to pack up my possessions & have of course in the process had to 'lose' some 'less necessary' ones!

When doing this I have got rid of such random things like boxes of memories containing this from school & my childhood - the classic was my A Level Biology folder which had some classic 'additions' to it - bringing back memories of people borrowing my stuff & returning it covered in pictures of naked chicks & Begbie from the movie trainspotting - weird!

The really important thing for me was finding an old box of photographs & a box of letters & cards. I've kept all the photos & will need to go through them & maybe put them in albums eventually.

However, it was the letters that really stuck for me as I went though & sifted the cool from the yawn/fail. There were some letter from my Grandmother (Jean), which I had to mostly purge, but there were letters from Princess Diana & Earl Spencer's family, Mohamed Al-Fayed & even from the King of Jordan - definitely keeping those then!

The most interesting ones for me were from a time before emails (yes kids it did exist!) & people like Jo, Giz, Cheryl, Vet Boy & I used to communicate with the hand-written word! It brought back the classic memories of being a teenager & much happier & innocent times. I think I might have to dig them out next time I see them all - to see the reaction their words get!

Overall it's rather therapeutic to start to sift through things & purge a little, but also sad to say goodbye to bygone ages & periods of my life. And yet exciting to be starting something new. all this has come through one day of packing up - what will tomorrow bring?!

To be continued...

Musical Interlude

Have to post this link - just for this track really: Friendly Fires: "Jump in the Pool" seriously huge song & the horn noise around 2:25 mark is epic - enjoy:

Great Moments in Life: Holidays

Playing on the black gravel beaches of Teneriffe with my little bother, when were much more innocent children.

Learning to ski in Serre Chevalier as a per-teen whilst still at school & earning my 3 star's badges.

The French Exchanges - I've been on 2 & they both involved mostly learning to swear in french! However, the experiences of other cultures useful for setting me up later in life with an interest in cultures.

Giant seafood & epic meals in Portugal - including giant grilled prawns - learning the word langoustine!

Staying in the Schweizerhof in Davos with James, Susan & Don & Will & Kat. Also in the same resort being there at the same time as one of the World Economic Forum guns, barriers & security everywhere.

Skiing in Galtur [Austria] with the Cranston clan on numerous occasions - great memories of hanging with all manner of creature; all the Cranstons & Hobbit, Nate Adams, Dave & Rachel Adams & Madds & the old man - brilliant holidays.


Road trips in the summer 2005/6/7/8 - packing as much clothing & gear as could fit in the car - drive to see friends & family & living out of my car - a lot of fun & would recommend it to those wanting to escape for a few weeks of unplanned win.

Getting the chance to go to America in 2008 - a whirlwind trip starting with getting a flight within a couple of days of finding out I was going, to meeting up with a party of people who I'd never met before & had no idea what thy looked it, going to New York & Washington (amongst other places) & sitting in the House of Representatives & seeing the media broadcast room - epic!

Great Moments in Life: Dance Music

Discovering Trance - Gatecrasher Red on cassette & then the arrival of CD's meant life would never be the same again - dance music forever a part of my psyche.


Being given & educated in, eclectric music [thanks Chris Bradford & Matt 'Brad' Oakley], then seeing Lemon Jelly play in Birmingham, after getting 4 tickets, taking both my parents to a gig together - classic gig.

Discovering Hard House - via Rick Castle/ISC crew - Insomnia 1 & Hard House Euphoria begin a long & industrious career as a clubber/cyberfreak - baggy combats, Acupunture shoes, tight Cyberdog (ultraviolet glowing) vest tops & spiky multi-coloured hair! My understanding of Dance musical genre expanding rapidly.

Clubbing for the first time properly to Hard House - Storm [Coalville/Leicester]  with some of the old ISC configs crew - best moment all lined up on the podiums, all pretending to fly in formation - brilliant.

Becoming a member of Sundissential [I still have my members card!] & discovering the joys of real clubbing, although I must admit I was the only one just on just water & not other...chemicals, but the experience of very happy people just there for the music & the atmosphere of awesomes.

Seeing the epic Lab-4 playing Sundissential & 2 venues in Oxford, getting Adam's autograph & chatting to the big man himself - always the toughest music & no DJ could follow them - they had to be the set closers of choice! No hard house DJ/artist was tougher back in the day.

Meeting up with Ed Steele [from school] & discovering that he is a DJ & one half of a breaks DJ team & runs a night in Oxford - the legendary Fresh Out the Box. Cue trying to find any CD I own of breaks music, the only one being Elastic Beats from Mixmag.

Discovering the joys of Adam Freeland - his live mixes: Wonderlust & Essential Mixes, the COPE album & Evil 9 , Ills & Fabric mixes - these are the breaks becoming a permanent fixture phrase.

Great Moments in Life: Rock Music

In no particular order:

Seeing the Silversun Pickups live in London & Oxford in 2008/9- my favourite band & with Maddie last year. Also when they payed in Oxford - going properly mad [not gone off like that since my clubbing days, nor since] to the SSPU was amazing.

Seeing the Foo Fighters live in Wembley - standing room only, epic rock & to top it off they had fireworks & released it on DVD & had one of the original guitarists (Pat Smear) joining them as a touring guitarist. Dave Grohl & his crew have been at the top of my gig list for a long time & I have now seen them 4 times & they have never failed to blow me away, if you ever get the chance to see them - do not hesitate!

Seeing the mighty Muse live in the brand-new Wembley stadium - with Hobbit, Horse & Ben - even though we were sat down it was still amazing to see the mighty boys from Devon electrify the stadium at large. They released the gig as the H.A.A.R.P. live recording & it is rather amazing & definitely worth watching.

CoD 6 MW2...again.....again [fail]

OK more of the legendary CoD6 MW2 - I've gone online, I've begun ranking & have created a clan (denoted by a 4 character tag, with [] either side) which I've called [fail] - very apt I think.

So far has only 3 members, but we work really well as a team. The others are Sparky & TC...I shall update when I manage to get to Level 70 (for far only on about 41) but it's a thoroughly exciting ride so far.

We continue..

Great Moments in Life: University

Party for my Uni class at the end of the first year [summer 2006] some wine, bbq & staying up till silly o'clock in the morning having some serious fun! Then in the morning all doing a meditation exercise, lying down, eyes closed & soft music...whoever snores first loses!


Uni residential [where all the other classes & year groups all got together for a few days at the beginning of the year] for my second year [autumn 2006] & having a beer or two with Steve, Ali, Mark & Han - happy times.

 Graduation - not taking it all too seriously, trying not to think "I'm dressed like a wizard, I'm dressed like a wizard, I'm dressed like a wizard" then my brain thinking "Expelliarmus!"

This weeks bloggeringitus

Expect many blogs this week - I've pretty much written all my Great Moments in Life articles - 4 so far & am working on the 5th, but they're on an auto-publish for the remainder of the week.

....we very definitely continue

New Console

This is a big of a double edged Blog, but here goes...

My delightful Xbox 360 failed....again - first it was the 3 red rings of death issue that I talked about over here, then the DVD-ROM drive stopped working as well (not picking up that a game was in the drive). I looked at the possibility of switching to a new DVD drive is possible, but highly complicated (have a look at this *.pdf but it looks like a total mission).

Therefore I got a totally fresh console, with warranty etc. the Elite version with 120GB hard drive which looks much better in terms of overall aesthetics, but also the quality of gaming - it's pure HDMI & you can really see the difference. I think that in comparison to the old machine there's an improved graphics card & RAM& you can see the quality jump.

The great thing is the gaming upgrade - it really feels like a new console & has a smaller power pack & colour-coded accessories & better still it came bundled with Forza 3 & Mass Effect 2 (reviews coming soon).

There is unfortunately a however...when getting the current model, there is no HDMI cable bundled with it & the controller came with non-rechargeable batteries & will require further investment to get a chargeable powerpack. Also it does not come with built-in wireless, which would have been a very nice addition (although admittedly I prefer LAN as it's a better & truer connection).

All in all am very happy with my purchase & can now get on with my serious gaming!

Gaming....we continue

Blogs being misquoted

I just saw this from Dara O'Braiain's twitter account & it's definitely a warning to other bloggers out there to be careful what you write. Have a look at this article, where this blogger has been 'quoted' in a Mail on Sunday article.Then have a quick look at her response & the impact it's caused her. I sent her a comment:

I just saw this link from Dara O'Briain's twitter & am outraged for you - it's completely ridiculous. A blog is supposed to be our private thoughts & opinions which we bear to the internet because we choose to in our own method. To have it twisted & forced into a newspaper  article - especially for something as epically fail as the Mail on Sunday - is ridiculous to say the least. I urge you to pursue this  legally, because it's unacceptable, lazy journalism & puts you in a terrible position with your job - all without your knowledge. It misrepresents you in a public forum without your permission - I'd  start kicking ass & taking names...now!

Just because I think it was necessary to support a fellow blogger - unfair is an understatement methinks.

More gamer-ing

More gaming - surely not? Well surely yes!

Another well-rated game (by Xplay 4/5) Those of us who play shooters & I'm definitely a big fan myself sometime cross over into the darkside & combine realism with a little bit of serious fiction - the dreaded Zombies! (mmmmmmmm brains - Si)



This is not the first Zombie orientated game I have played recently (the classic Dead Rising & the legendary Nazi Zombie bonus levels from Call of Duty 5: World at War) but it has a very different feel from either. Although planning is almost impossible - I have no idea where I'm going on the map...till I get there, the key difference is the simplicity of teamwork. You really will have to work as a team to survive - it's not every man for himself & if you don't heal your teammates - they won't do the same for you. Equally if you decide to run off ahead of your crew you will get overrun very quickly.


So far I've only played with as a 2 player co-op, but there is the scope for 4 player co-op which could be rather awesomes. Also there is a lot more to the game when you go online - I've not tested this out yet, but I feel it's only a matter of time.


The gameplay (so far only tested on easy) is very much run, gun & evade the horde of undead trying to help relieve you of your brain & make it alive to the 'safe room' which is full of resupply ammo & med packs & can grant a well-needed rest-bite from the chaos.

When on easy the zombies are fairly easy to dispatch, but crank it up a gear or 2 & it starts to really challenge the player. I'm still very much at the early stages, but what this game loses in graphics (they're very Valve, but not amazingly realistic) it makes up for in fun & mania.

Overall then a 4/5 from me, but I think I will wait till I've played online & see if that tips the balance into making this an awesome game!

2010 exciting games

OK so here are some games franchises to watch out for in 2010/2011:



Splinter Cell: Conviction - everything I've seen about this game is making me very excited about the release day & might well be my next game purchase - so far away!


Crackdown 2 - I loved the first, but I think they will up the ante (graphically) & apparently have leveled the playing field with more challenging enemies & weapons - should be good fun.


Halo Reach - you can't put a good Master Chief down & this is the latest (& potentially last - maybe) from Bungie who will look to add more Spartans than ever before (i.e. more than 1) to a Halo game & should bring in something from Halo 3/ODST. Also compatibility/gamplay with Project Natal (motion controller - due out at the same time).


Fable 3 - I absolutely loved fable 2 & can't wait to see what Peter Moleneux comes up with & it will be interesting to see what happens with this - linking in with Project Natal.


Something new from the Call of Duty franchise - can they screw up all the good work done with CoD5 WaW/CoD6 MW2 - well hopefully not...but Treyarch did CoD3 - such fail! Maybe more futuristic or another side of war - we shall see.

Gears of War 3 - but that might just be me wishing! However I'd like to see what Cliff Bleszinski decides to do with the franchise - will he wait till after the proposed movie or keep going a la the Call of Duty series?!

Reflecting on all these for a moment - they're all sequels! I think some new original titles will appear as well. But whenever a game is successful the sequels often tend to be even better (e.g. Halo, Gears of War, Fable, Assassin's Creed, etc.)

We shall continue...

Growing old is getting old

Well I thought being 29 would change things...nope - still a very tall child. However, this year it's my (whisper it) 30th birthday & I'm not going to let it go by quietly like I did with my 18th, 21st etc. so I feel a silly party coming in the summer!!
I think that way it'll be better weather & trying to get people to party of Christmas Day is very unlikely, so big summer party with loads of friends & drag some family over & a smaller bash on Christmas Eve (or Eve-Eve like this year).


So far I've created a very extensive guest list & will need to be as realistic as possible & then work out the finer details - date, food & drink, workcrew, venue & theme - lots of fun to get this going though.

More to follow when I get my brain going....

Great moments in life?

OK so this is a random thought for a Saturday but here goes; pondering & reflecting on those great moments in life that you look back on & makes you smile. So I think I'm going to write a very random selection of those memories & who they were with.

I don't expect most people to understand but to be honest it is for my own benefit as a tool for reflection. Also I'm not sure where this has come from...at all - just an unexpected exercise.

Finally if an of them seem controversial I apologise in advance.


...we continue...thinking

T-Mobile/Fonesafe Rant

OK this is a mini irritation blog - courtesy of Fonesafe (the company who T-Mobile use as their insurance brokers).

So here's the story - when I had the chance to renew my phone contract last summer, I had just got a new payg phone so didn't need a new handset. Therefore I gave my upgrade to Madd Thoughts & decided to take out an insurance policy in case of loss/damage, etc.Well unfortunately Madds lost her phone this weekend & when I called up & game my honest account of what happened I was told that they couldn't accept my claim - why?

Well even though the insurance was sold on the basis that I would not be the primary user of the phone, when trying to claim for the loss I was advised - because I was not the user of the phone - my claim was invalid.So this means that after outlaying 6 months worth of insurance & had what looks like a perfectly valid claim  turned down because I was honest & told the story as accurately as possible, rather than just fake my claim.

So to get another phone for Madds I have to go out & buy a new one anyway - which has cost me about the same amount of money anyways. I've been really happy with T-Mobile for about 4 years, but this is not what I call fair & as such have emailed them with an official complaint.

We shall see what they will do - but I won't hold my breath. In short - grrrr

A morning lol from Ian M's: Youthblog

From Youthblog/Youtube & making me lol about the snow:

Gaming Blogger: Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter

Now this is the one game that Madd Thoughts actually likes playing on my 360 - it's a rehash of the old Serious Sam PC/XBox game but with a proper graphical overhaul & is available on Xbox Live for 1200MS Points. So far I have only played the demo version, but I shall be getting the full version...when I get my first pay pack of 2010! At first glance not a lot looks different - the enemies are still silly & numerous & the wisecracking hero Sam "Serious" Stone is still there causing inst-death to all manner of creature.
Basically he's a one-man doom-machine ready to kick some alien ass!!

I'll do a full blog on it later - but for now - excited!

Game bloggerage: Assassin's Creed 2

Another blog - another new game - ho hum! Assassins Creed 2 (AC2) - a well rated game (by Xplay 4/5) & here's my thoughts:

The premise is much the same as the original game, but is so much grander in scale, location & more epic in terms of sheer scale.

Originally I wasn't too sure about this as the first game passed me by & I couldn't really get my head around it. However having played Fable 2 (see herefor review) has certainly begun the concept of much more gametime & patience with RPG-style games. This is really key for AC2 - it's not an all-action stab-fest, it's far more subtle & interesting a game than that.

What first got me interested was seeing the mini movie Assassin's Creed: Lineage

"The story is a prequel to the video game Assassin's Creed II. It centres around the father of the game's main character Ezio Auditore da Firenze."

It leads very nicely to the beginning of the game & starts to build the plot of the game, but let's just say that it definitely whetted my appetite to both get the game & play it!

The time-line of the game takes place over the course of Ezio's lifetime & starts off as a easy-going teenager running around the streets of Firenze (Florence) getting used to the games mechanics, controls & gameplay. Very quickly though everything changes & Ezio must continue in his father's footsteps & become...an assassin (o rly, ya rly - Si).

It's a sandbox game (open world), with a strong main mission & many side missions & you can upgrade your Armour & weapons. There is also the town where your villa (i.e. base of operations) is based & it's falling to pieces & in desperate need of renovation & repaid. When you progress through the games you will earn credits (Florins) which you can use to rebuild/renovate the town, increasing its value & in turn earning you more Florins. What I thought was very interesting is that it's actually a real place - Monteriggioni...& I've been there when I went to Italy a few years ago! It's quite a famous completely-walled medieval town & provides a very realistic backdrop for your villa - I think seeing it in person & knowing it really does exist helped my immersion in the game & it's the same with Florence, Rome & Venice where they create a very beautiful cityscape.

The maps themselves, whilst they are all open, you need to climb tall structures & sync up your map (basically getting a birds-eye view of the area). Ahhh the climbing! Other games - most notably Crackdown (& for some reason Transformers) allow the player to climb building, to reach those troublesome locations on top of buildings. In AC2, it's more like the free-running/climbing of Mirrors Edge. The game is realistic enough to pretty much give me vertigo whilst climbing really high! However, this does have some seriously good platforming puzzles - trying to find the impossible jump/handhold can be a challenge.

Although you start off with no weapons (other than your fists) you quickly progress & can unlock all manner of weaponry to both defend yourself, as well as learning the assassination trade well. I quickly found that you could dispatch your targets (often with one hit) when you start to improve your technique. Also because it's open world & quite open ended, you can chose your line of attack - will you blend into the crowd & sneak up to them & get a one-hit kill, or attack them openly & directly & risk all the guards coming dunning with hammers & swords? The missions vary from simple(?) assassinations, to escorting or straight up group fights. The beauty of the attack is that when you get your timing right your opponent will be struck down fast.

The challenge of this game isn't set by the user - therefore you don't set easy/normal/epic - instead because of the user-driven gameplay, the difficulty of the game depends on what you choose to do. SO do you try to complete all missions & side missions, or just stick to the bare essentials? Do you try to solve all puzzles & explore everything you can...or not? I think this works really well, as you don't only need to progress, but you really want to - to better yourself & become a more deadly assassin.

I've only been playing for probably 10-12 hours so far, but there is so much left to do - it's even distracted me from CoD6 for a while! Overall I think that although this game isn't for everyone, if you like RPG's & a bit of stealth - then you're going to absolutely love it! The only slightly annoying part is the camera which can drive you a little crazy sometimes - but only sometimes. A well deserved 4/5 from me!

Skiing blog

For this years ski trip we accompanied some families of my home church (Kidlington Baptist Church) to visit the very friendly resort of Les Gets. It's about an hour from Geneva & just down the road from where my aunt had a chalet - Morzine & Avoriaz.

It was a bit of an epic drive - we left bright & breezy at 2am on New Year's Day & arrived about 6:30pm at our stop off hotel (free interwebs was most important of course!). Next day we headed off to the resort early, to get out boots & ski's & then had our warm-up avo on the slopes.

It took a little while to get back into the swing of things & I think a lot had to be with being stuck & under-rested in the car. I think flying is defiantly the preferred method of transportation to anywhere further away than like...Devon!

The Madd Thoughts fell over a couple of times on the first day & laughed the first few off, but gut a little too hurt on the final run down of the day - helmet has been a very useful addition to her ski gear - but it was properly icy & rocky & her first experience of the mogul's was not the greatest in the history of the world.

So far then the skiing has been good, but I think I'm getting a little old…tiredness seems to be happening rather fast & so am not really skiing for a whole day. My most epic fail for me has been the chair-lift fail, I managed to take out PC & throw David B from the chair - it was tragic! The skiing has definitely improved from the iciness, there was a good 24 hours of snowing so fresh powder then a great day - lots of sun & fantastic views so out came the camera of course.

Having said all that, I think that the beauty of this type of skiing holiday - with friends, over say family only, is that he social element is as much a part of he experience, as being on the slopes. So communal meals, sharing rooms, visiting bars & shops, as well as the obvious skiing as a group idea.

The only real issue we've had has once again been financial. I thought that with some serious savings we should be ok. However, even when taking into account the ski passes & trying to over-budget for meals, etc. we still find ourselves running short on funds. The killer has been the ski hire - which runs to basically half of all of our budget.

Wednesday is a rest day, where Madd Thoughts needs to do some serious essay work done & I shall be bloggering more!

2010 - we begin

So anyways there is a very good reason for that - I have actually been out of the country for once - skiing in Les Gets in the French alps (just down the valley from Morzine & Avoriaz which I have visited before many times). But more on that when I actually remember to upload the blog I wrote when I was away lol.

So what else has been happening - well gaming wise: (cue more reviews coming methinks) Assassin's Creed 2 & Left 4 Dead 2 have been purchased & am currently enjoying each immensely. Also Serious Sam has been released on XBox Live in full HD & I might well have to get that as well - to keep Maddie happy!

Also had a couple of parties - a Christmas-Eve-Eve party celebrating my birthday, then another one a New Years-Eve-Eve which was a little bit more impromptu, but equally fun. Also got some awesome presents for Christmas (photos on my Facebook page) but on top of all that rad pile - a Blu Ray player from my old man - it is the Panasonic DMPBD60 MR DVD & it definitely is worth it - Star Trek was the first played & it did rock hard. The only think I need to do is get some good speakers with it for some super sound!

Musically much Deadmau5 & another in the look of DJ Zinc - fun & expect more soon.

.....we continue

Happy What Now?!

Happy Christmas (& birthday to me!)


From the Brianshare, Pikachu Ind & Six crew

...or just me ;o)


Six out

These are the breaks

Now my thoughts are turned to somewhere altogether different - Brighton, or to be more specific - Marine Parade! Adam Freeland's label produces some fine artists: Freeland, Evil 9, Alex Metric & Ils for starters. This will be looking at the recent (kinda) releases for the 9 & Freeland:

Evil 9: They Live. Some other works by the 9 are their debut album: "You Can be Special To", a mix for the "Y4k" series & one of my favourite Fabric albums: "Fabric 28". The overall theme for this album is horror - but more specifically Zombies (win). The tracklisting is:

Feed On You
Wait - Evil Nine & David Autokratz
All The Cash - Evil Nine & El-P
They Live
Ngempa Guzon
How Do We Stop The Normals
Dead Man Coming - Evil Nine & Toastie Taylor
Set It Off - Evil Nine & Beans
Behemoth
Born Again
Twist The Knife - Evil Nine & Emily Breeze
Luke Goss
Icicles - Evil Nine & Seraphim

The top tracks are: "Wait", "They Live", "Dead Man Coming", "Twist the Knife", & the awesome "Icicles". So if you ever find yourself (& I know I do) playing Nazi Zombies (the extra game & possibly best part of Call of Duty 5: World at War) & need a soundtrack - we have a winner here!


Freeland: COPE (& a little of COPE Remixed)

Adam Freeland's 2nd release - this time as just 'Freeland' (Adam Freeland's own band) there's a really heavy rock influence, but still showing his breaks roots. The tracks break(s) like so:

"Do You"
"Under Control"
"Strange Things"
"Bring It"
"Mancry"
"Borderline"
"Rock On"
"Silent Speaking"
"Best Fish Tacos in Ensenda"
"Only a Fool (Can Die)"
"Morning Sun"
"Wish I Was Here"

There are some choice tracks: "Do You" is a proper sledgehammer to the brain (a good thing btw), the it whizzes through the rest of the album, "Under Control" is great, "Strange Things" is ok (but the High Rankin remix is out of this world & possibly better even than "Do You") "Bring it" & "Mancry" again are good breaks, but don't have the wow of the opening track. However, then things get a little more interesting!

"Borderline" brilliant & in my top breaks for this year (along with "Do you" & "Strange things Happen" High Rankin remix") "Rock on" is (shock) very rocky, but sits well on the album. "Silent speaking" is the only other slightly weak track - too chilled really. "Best Fish Tacos", "Only a Fool can Die" & "Morning Sun" all standout tracks & get the feet-tapping/dancing-round-the-house-like-a-maniac in me going & the final track is like a perfect set closer - the beats are thick & it feel like it goes on forever (note: The Jenkinsound Remix it it's perfect partner!).

Overall - Evil 9 get a 4/5 & Freeland 5/5

P.S. Get the Marine Parade podcast - for all your British breaks needs - they put up exclusive mixes by all the label's artists - win!

Silversun Pickups - Swoon etc.

OK this has been out for aaaages (April I think) but it's still SSPU & it's still excellent & regularly played.

So I've banged on about this band before (i.e. here, here, here, here, & here), I've called them my band of 2008 but I would also call them my band of 12009 as well.

I've been lucky enough to see them twice & I can't really over emphasize how good they are live - hugely energetic & really excited to be playing - they have fun with the crowd & try to get the room dancing as well.

Anyways enough about the live win, the album itself. So it's actually only 10 tracks, but what stunning tracks they are:


"There's No Secrets This Year"
"The Royal We"
"Growing Old Is Getting Old"
"It's Nice to Know You Work Alone"
"Panic Switch"
"Draining"
"Sort Of"
"Substitution"
"Catch and Release"
"Surrounded (or Spiraling)"

On the first play I wouldn't believe the quality of the first 5 tracks - absolute stonkers & I would be hard pressed to say which I preferred most - there were elements that I liked & was reminded of other bands like Red Hot Chili Peppers, Foo Fighters & of course Smashing Pumpkins (who they are likened to, just with a happy frontman!), but it still feels very SSPU - not covering or interpreting. I think it's more a compliment to be likened to those other bands, rather than it being anything to diminish who they are.

The rest of the album sounded great...when I got past track 5 eventually that is! They songs weren't as instantly successful on my ear, but really grew on me with the last 3 sticking & getting stuck in my head on a regular basis But add to that the rather stunning "Currency of Love" & "Ne Plus Ultra" as B-Sides & you have a brilliant 5/5 album.

It is different from the first & I would argue all the better for it. You can definitely tell the band have improved, with more intricate guitar work & more integrated keyboard as well. There are still some tracks that make you want to rawk out - initial single "Panic Switch" being chief amongst them.

Overall they remain my band of 2009...let's see what they do for their (hopefully great) third album.

CoD 6 MW2...again.

An update for those of a gaming nature - the joys of CoD 6 MW2 appear so far to be boundless...

I've now completed it on Veteran & as an experiment, I signed up to XBox Live Gold for a free month (courtesy of Microsoft when they replaced my 360 due to the 3 red rings of death fail)

What it has opened my eyes to is multiplayer - it is seriously addictive though! Some people do go straight to the multiplayer & ignore the single player/co-op - a mistake in my opinion. However, the strength of this game is that Infinity Ward don't miss a trick - every aspect of the game is brilliant, including the multiplayer.

It plays like a shooter, but also offers leveling up system just like an rpg. So you start off as a complete Level 1 n00b with iron sights & everything basic. The more you play it, the more guns, sights & perks you unlock. This is where some of those near the top (Level 70) have such an advantage - they have silencers, can drop live grenades, are more impervious to explosions, etc. & you've just got a sub-machine gun & a pistol.

The challenge is very high & you will be respawning...a lot. But there is such a satisfaction in being able to get a good kill-streak & leveling up that the death-frustration is only marginal. Currently I'm at the not wholly impractical level 21, which has unlocked the 'Bling' perk - 2 attachments for guns - such a win.

There's lots of customizing opportunities & you can fine tune how your character behaves - do they need to be swift & silent - then activate those perks. Do you need to be like an unstoppable Juggernaut - then get those perks.

The leveling up of weapons & perks happens through challenges - like get a certain amount of kills or headshots, or scoped kills or shooting from the hip.

You will learn to love the sound of leveling up your character - just like that magical sound of unlocking achievements - win!

The maps are all in very different locations from within the game & near the game & are all well costumed to accommodate the different game types. Particular favorites are High Rise, Afghan, Terminal, Invasion, Skidrow & the very tiny Rust (what? I like small maps - more intense!) There's 16 maps in total, but I'm sure more will be added with forthcoming DLC.

The different match types are fairly varied & offer different challenges, depending on what you prefer. Are you a Lone Wolf - just wanting to find & kill anything that moves - Free-for-All. Like to work as a team for different objectives, Deathmatch, HQ, Demolition, etc. is for you!

You also represent different factions, such as the Navy SEALS, the SAS, etc. But also militia the Russians & shadow company, etc. to balance it off. It's always a good v bad forces theory, but still good to be either. Seeing as my nationality dictates it - the SAS is my favorite!

Once you get into the game, get to know the levels a little you will notice a patter of where the opponents are hiding out/trying to capture & it's then a raging war to capture the spots back!

Also the Spec Ops is ticking along nicely - I've got most of the 69 stars (59 at last count) & have even done one of the Echo levels on Veteran - epic!

Finally X-Play even rates this game best shooter & multiplayer in their annual Game of The year Show. So if you like shooters - you need to own this game - then it can own you!

PPS check out the CoD6 Wiki

Decembero

So it's officially winter as far as I'm concerned - first frost, out comes the ski jacket, on go the gloves - it's cooooold outside! So here's a random thoughts update for this past few days/weeks:

Have been struggling recently with what to do for Christmas & generally feeling a little too alone. I think a lack of social interaction outside of work - instead playing too many games has a certain contribution. I've put it down to trying to save up for skiing & the deposit.

It did get to a stage where I got so frustrated with having zero monies, that I transferred a little bit & got me a digital camera & enough to cover my extended weekend with Maddie.

With the whole job/accommodation issue - so far am still effectively nowhere - saving like a crazy person still & hoping that a decision about my full-time employment is reached sooner rather than later. However my potential housemate s still in the not-quite-employed enough situation as well.

On the Christmas front, I've now established that I'm working on Christmas Eve, then will head over to Woking, for Christmas with the Kings (Maddie's family).

Demotivators

Me me me....me2

So for some reason I've been thinking a lot about memes - or to be specific Internet Memes:

The term Internet meme is a phrase used to describe a catchphrase or concept that spreads quickly from person to person via the Internet, much like an esoteric inside joke. The term is a reference to the concept of memes, although this concept refers to a much broader category of cultural information.

So this could include such classics as Lolcats or Demotivator posters. These are the simplest memes & most often the most popular for the more geeky/techy amongst us. However, what's better than a picture - a moving picture or "video" if you will! The Youtube generation which has risen up over the past 3-4 years or so means that memes can now be videos rather than just pictures (the so-called viral video).
I think that the humour involved within this field is often brilliant, because it evokes the great comedian in finding humour in everyday situations & seeing the funny side in serious issues.

What it does bring to light it the viral idea -which, although it has negative connotations, creates a "have you seen/heard about" culture, when internet phenomena spread through word of mouth, or through forums.

Of course especial mention should go to the daring 4chanwhere they took the simple idea of forums & added the meme to it.

So where someone posts a fairly amusing picture for example, other people will construct & edit around it. So a classic would be using images from the 300 & editing it to sync in with another meme e.g. King Leonidis in the film should "This is SPAAATTTAA" when added to another cultural pic brings classic results:

About themselves, 4chan say:

4chan is a simple image-based bulletin board where anyone can post comments and share images. 4chan's collaborative-community format is copied from one of the most popular forums in Japan, Futaba Channel. Different boards are dedicated to different topics, from Japanese anime, manga, and culture to videogames, music, and photography. Feel free to click on a board that interests you, and jump right in—anyone can contribute!

Bob & Steve 6

Top 10(ish) most impacting Rock bands

OK according to yours truly here are my top 10 band - with first listened to track, best album (imho) & seminal track to sum up the band:

Foo Fighters: Down in the Park: Colour & the Shape: Everlong/My Hero
Jimi Hendrix: Voodoo Chile (slight Return): Are you Experienced: All Along the Watchtower/Crosstown Traffic
Muse: Origin of Symmetry/Black Holes & Revelations: Plug in Baby/Knights of Cydonia
Pixies: Wave of Mutilation: UK Surf: Surfer Rosa/Come on Pilgrim: Where is my Mind/Monkey Gone to Heaven
Placebo: Nancy Boy: Meds: Bruise-Pristine/Drag
Nirvana: Smells Like Teen Spirit: Nevermind: Aneurysm/You Know You're Right
Queens of the Stone Age: No One Knows: Songs for the Deaf/Queens of the Stone Age: Little Sister/No One Knows
Red Hot Chili Peppers: Aeroplane: Californication: Around the World/Dani California
Silversun Pickups: Lazy Eye: Carnavas/Swoon: Well Thought Out Twinkles/Panic Switch
Smashing Pumpkins: Tonight, Tonight: Zeitgeist/Rotten Apples: Zero/Bring the Light
Sonic Youth: Sugar Cane: Daydream Nation/Dirty: Purr/ Teen Age Riot
System of a Down: Chop Suey: Toxicity: Toxicity/Aerials

These are what I would call my most influential...but only in terms of rock & doesn't include say:

Dire Straits, Metallica, Arcade Fire, Radiohead,
The Who, Black Sabbath, Snow Patrol, Kings of Leon,
Blur, Beck, R.E.M., Rage Against the Machine, the Hives & Autolux

ALL of whom I deeply respect & feel they rock most heartily! I think it also shows my age a little too much, but hey what can you do - also notice that I rate SSPU highly!

Six Rock out!

Bob & Steve 5

Bob & Steve 4

Bob & Steve 3

Them Crooked Vultures: Them Crooked Vultures

Right enough of my geekery...for now - on to some music.

This is the 'debut' (& I use the term very loosely for these guys - it's an epic super-group consisting of Mr John-Paul Jones, Mr Josh Homme & Mr David Grohl, from; Led Zeppelin, Queens of the Stone Age & Foo Fighters respectively.


It certainly excited me when I first heard about them a couple months back & even the short minute long Youtube vids they previewed helped.

Their sound is heavy enough to sound like old-fashioned QotSA (the Songs for the Deaf era - which also coincidentally featured Grohl on drums!) but is definitely catchy as well.



They released their album a full week before it was due for general release, on their Youtube channel & there are already 3 stand-out tracks for me - the tracks grow & there are hints of the associated bands (especially the Foo's) & I really would put them at the top (well equal top really) of my must-see-live list! (the other is of course my band of 2008 & 2009 - Silversun Pickups).

I would definitely have a listen to their Youtube version before buying, as I don't necessarily think it will have the universal appeal of say Foo Fighters, but definitely worth a blast. My top tracks are:

Track 1: No One Loves Me & Neither Do I
Track 2: Mind Eraser, No Chaser
Track 5: Elephants
Track 6: Scumbag Blues

Grohl on drums = win

Xplay/G4 - who?

So why use the style of X Play?! Here's what I've perused from Wiki about it:

The video game reviews on X-Play use a five-point rating scale, based on such factors as graphics, sound, gameplay, and playability (i.e. replay value). On X-Play's original TechTV homepage, the ratings system was broken down in the following way:

* 1 - Hated it. Do not buy this game. Not even worth the bargain bin. Run from it. Escape!! Escape!!
* 2 - Alright. These games are fun, with some good points, but nothing special. There's definitely a few specific things holding this game back. Wait until the price comes down or pick it up as [a] renter to check out some of the things it does right.
* 3 - Good. Fun to play, pretty solid titles, with a few minor flaws. Most games will probably fall into this category. They're the games that if you like the genre, or liked other similar titles, you might consider giving it a good look. Otherwise, you might not be into it.
* 4 - Very good. Games that are at the top of all our lists, but are missing that strange intangible aura of perfection, and unfortunately that's keeping them from getting in the realm of the almighty five.
* 5 - Near perfect/perfect. If you're a true player, these games will undoubtedly be in your collection, or at the very least you'll have played them until the cartridges and CDs melted. If a game gets a 5, and you like the genre, you should buy.

The hosts (Adam & Morgan) also explained why they use a 5-point ratings system, rather than a 10- or even 100-point scale:

Morgan: Our system is better because it recognizes that scores are broad generalizations.
Adam: For example, a popular web site gave Mobile Suit Gundam: Crossfire a score of 3.0 out of 10. They gave Torino 2006 a 3.9. What is the difference?
Morgan: Both games suck, all the score is gonna be able to communicate to you is that the game is bad. If you want more nuance on the suckage, you have to actually go and read the review. See, in a 10-point scale, everything under 5 just means 'this game ain't worth buying', so there's no real difference.
Adam: And there's no real nuance to a score difference of two- or three-tenths of a point. Our scores at least give sweeping generalizations for you to use as a guide.

It's the rating system I'm used to & have been using them as a guide since I started listening to podcasts! Hence why 1-5*s rather than anything else.

Six out.

PS I don't always agree with X Play...Football games for example - or soccer as they call it - they're never happy with any 'soccer' games.

Bob & Steve 2

Review: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2!

...or to give it it's proper name...CoD 6! It's finally out - an eagerly awaited sequel - the original game is still at its RRP even after the 2 years its been out! That's quite extraordinary for a 4th outing in a series, so the hopes are high for this latest title.

I got it the day it came out (for a change!) & managed to get a few minutes spare that lunchtime to get past the opening credits & training mode - it's really fast & great fun is had using the modern weaponry - all machine-pistols, sub-machine guns & the occasional shotgun.

One (almost-instant) negative of note - the included manual is perhaps the worst I have ever seen! Everything is in standard font, there's not a huge amount of substance at all & even the 1 screenshot has no background to it. It certainly look incomplete & a little unprofessional - especially for such a high quality game - very bizarre. It was almost as if they didn't feel the need to tell people how to play the 6th edition of their game!

Anyways, the game-play! There are many moments of awe-inspiring/jaw-dropping` game-play - on board a stolen skidoo going at full tilt over an epic jump, taking an entire airbase with just one other member in your squad, the Rio scenes are impossibly good, & the some of the later levels seem rather epic.

The challenge offered by the single-player is good - it's not just a simple walk, shoot occasional & progress - even on the regular difficulty setting there are some parts of the game that really do take all your concentration & effort just to get through. For example holding a building, whilst downloading files, all the while your enemies come from all sides at the same time with scoped weapons & sub-machine guns is an epic & challenging bit of play, reminiscent of the legendary Nazi Zombies!

The Weapons, the sub-machine guns all feel pretty similar, but with different sights & scopes add a little variety. There are lots of different pistols, but the most fun have been the shotguns. Normally their lack of accuracy over distance is quite limiting, not so much now - in Rio & especially during Whiskey Hotel the quick-shot & lethal Striker is very much the harbinger of doom!

I did complete it on Regular in just 2 evenings (about 8 hours) which seemed a little fast, but I then wanted to play it again & grind through on Veteran, just to run through it all again with an epic challenge!

Also there are the side missions - Spec Ops to be precise - 23 levels of increasingly difficult replays of the original storyline, as well as some familiar reworkings of the first Modern Warfare. Expect lots of silliness when playing with your friends - it's a little bit Bob & Steve (see below)



But the levels are really tough - even for the experienced CoD gamer - it represents a proper challenge, but I think it's great fun & does reward you for playing well.

The more starts you earn (1 for regular, 2 for hardened & 3 for veteran) then unlock more levels, each represents a big step up from the previous levels - so far have unlocked Delta & need just 1 more star to open up the hardest levels - Echo. The Delta levels are already the toughest I've seen, so the Echo will need every ounce of prowess methinks.

In terms of the levels - the ghillie-suit vs ghille-suit & snow-sniper levels have been favourites - but the bridge levels are great fun as well.


The overall rating is a well-deserved 5 out of 5