tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26258904834181739842024-03-19T05:02:46.815+00:00On the End of a QuillGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01272222349248783867noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2625890483418173984.post-9694221529471639912014-10-22T16:08:00.001+01:002020-01-29T15:44:04.167+00:00Chrono Trigger Super Famicom GuidebookI recently picked up this Chrono Trigger Guidebook for the Super Famicom on one of my wanders around some Japanese bookstores. It was released in 1995 and is 136 pages long, with a few bonus pages at the back that give away the ending. It starts out with a cool little comic that explains the intro to the game. It has plenty of maps and seems to show every inch of the game! (I have only completed the game on the DS, plus my memory could also be a bit fuzzy...)<br />
There is some great artwork within its pages too. So let's take a look.<br />
Apologies for my crappy camera!<br />
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I'm not going to caption these pics because Blogger just makes them jump around all over the place and it never looks how I want it to. But you should know all the main characters from the game anyways; Crono, Marle, Lucca, Frog, Robo and Ayla.<br />
Yes Blogger is a pain to upload pics to, and some just kept coming out sideways?!!? but I have more from this book (plus many other wonderful things!) on my Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/GarryIrwin" target="_blank">@GarryIrwin</a>Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01272222349248783867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2625890483418173984.post-8654516797768632692014-08-31T14:54:00.000+01:002014-08-31T14:54:31.894+01:00Shining Force 1 & 2 GameGear Trading Cards Full Set<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eYkR6o_75VA/VAMkZmF8BZI/AAAAAAAAA9o/nb9NO21Sric/s1600/sfg2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eYkR6o_75VA/VAMkZmF8BZI/AAAAAAAAA9o/nb9NO21Sric/s1600/sfg2.jpg" height="200" width="169" /></a>At the tail end of 1992 in Japan, we saw the release of Shining Force Gaiden on the SEGA GameGear. Then just six months later a sequel was released, again only in Japan. The second game did make it to North America the following year as Shining Force: The Sword of Hajya, while both games were later bundled together as Shining Force CD for the Mega CD in Europe.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2wgappz1RdU/VAMkZJmxGXI/AAAAAAAAA9g/PT9dMDvO3eo/s1600/sfg1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2wgappz1RdU/VAMkZJmxGXI/AAAAAAAAA9g/PT9dMDvO3eo/s1600/sfg1.jpg" height="200" width="173" /></a>What also did not make it out of Japan, was the 56 card set of trading cards that was released at the same time as the games. This set covered the main characters in both games. The sequel followed directly on from the first game, being set only months after the conclusion of the first. Though both games were set years after the events of the first Shining Force on the MegaDrive, yet in the same place Guardiana.<br />
Let's take a look at the complete set of cards. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shining Force II</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A closer look at some of the character artwork</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There are 5 of these shiny shining cards in all!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The rear of the cards, unfortunately I can't read Japanese!</td></tr>
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The Shining series of games should really be up there with the Fire Emblems of the world, but unfortunately SEGA seem to keep wanting to release average 'Shining' themed games these days and the series kind of stopped being relevant after Shining Force III on the Saturn.Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01272222349248783867noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2625890483418173984.post-74464187068788435322014-05-26T15:40:00.001+01:002014-05-26T15:41:18.896+01:00Congo The Movie Sticker Album<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Here we take a look at Congo: The Movie sticker album from Panini, which was released to tie in with the film in 1995. I went to see this movie in the cinema when it came out and thought it was great. It is still one of my favourite movies. I know it didn't get a good response from critics, but I thought it was a good adventure yarn set in the wilds of the African jungles, something you don't see a lot of in movies these days. It also had a number of good actors in the cast, while Tim Curry hams it up good and proper as the villain, though villain is too strong a word for his character really.<br />
The screenplay was adapted from a Michael Crichton novel of the same name, so I think people were expecting a special effects extravaganza along the lines of Jurassic Park.<br />
I never completed the album unfortunately (anyone got any spare stickers?). They don't really make sticker books for movies like this anymore. These days it seems to only be animated or comic book movies which get collections.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's always nice to get sticker No.1</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spoiler* Bruce Campbell doesn't last long in the movie, but he gets a lot of stickers!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Only 168 stickers in the book, but I never completed it.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was never too sure about Tim Curry's Romanian accent, I was convinced he couldn't be trusted!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yJNvx1npDag/U4NJUqJYgVI/AAAAAAAAA6s/2qtS-gqiMiQ/s1600/congo+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yJNvx1npDag/U4NJUqJYgVI/AAAAAAAAA6s/2qtS-gqiMiQ/s1600/congo+5.JPG" height="227" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A close up of the Killer Ape!</td></tr>
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There was a 4-page fold out poster in the centre of the album which held a number of stickers. I'm afraid the minute it was completed it was taken out from the centre pages, probably to be stuck to a wall or a door somewhere. Either way, now I have no idea where it is!<br />
I also bought this film on VHS tape when it came out and I'm sure I have it on DVD laying around the house here somewhere too. <br />
On top of this I also got my hands on the Congo videogame for the SEGA Saturn. It was only released in America I believe. It is a rather good Doom-type game, if you like those sort of games (which I do).<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5dpUaqlA3cY/U4NHOjKZZzI/AAAAAAAAA6c/oJmb_tYjyhU/s1600/congo+7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5dpUaqlA3cY/U4NHOjKZZzI/AAAAAAAAA6c/oJmb_tYjyhU/s1600/congo+7.JPG" height="188" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The trek to find King Solomon's Mines will be hard and dangerous.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tKiEYXhecVQ/U4NHOlAq2JI/AAAAAAAAA6k/2vlpL1tFf0I/s1600/congo+8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tKiEYXhecVQ/U4NHOlAq2JI/AAAAAAAAA6k/2vlpL1tFf0I/s1600/congo+8.JPG" height="320" width="271" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What's worse than killer apes? Missing one sticker to finish a page!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o9pk7F0q8M8/U4NHOjyqPSI/AAAAAAAAA6g/dk49s5ahm74/s1600/congo+9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o9pk7F0q8M8/U4NHOjyqPSI/AAAAAAAAA6g/dk49s5ahm74/s1600/congo+9.JPG" height="188" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tim Curry's Herkermer Homolka just wants those diamonds!</td></tr>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EKLu0h4pVL8/U4NGZqhZDSI/AAAAAAAAA6A/mAQUjl2u5aI/s1600/congo+10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EKLu0h4pVL8/U4NGZqhZDSI/AAAAAAAAA6A/mAQUjl2u5aI/s1600/congo+10.JPG" height="235" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ernie Hudson is great as guide Munroe Kelly.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rx7Uw07p--0/U4NGZpJUZ8I/AAAAAAAAA54/YuQbtKmLvFI/s1600/congo+11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rx7Uw07p--0/U4NGZpJUZ8I/AAAAAAAAA54/YuQbtKmLvFI/s1600/congo+11.JPG" height="320" width="269" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last page, and they escape the volcano in a balloon.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LlJesb0ONS4/U4NGZr1Z5VI/AAAAAAAAA58/wsyXn9FEIms/s1600/congo+12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LlJesb0ONS4/U4NGZr1Z5VI/AAAAAAAAA58/wsyXn9FEIms/s1600/congo+12.JPG" height="256" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Back Cover, and the album only cost 60p!</td></tr>
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<br />Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01272222349248783867noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2625890483418173984.post-88294088660206666922014-02-27T13:22:00.000+00:002014-02-27T13:22:44.955+00:00Sega Hot Wheels Cars and GamePro Action FiguresBack in 2003 Sega came together with Hot Wheels and released a set of 5 cars that tied in with Sega games which were popular at the time. I have three of them; the two that are missing from the set are to do with the games, Space Channel 5 and Super Monkey Ball.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZOwumoR4yA0/Uw82MQgt_aI/AAAAAAAAA0k/ZYnKT-luiBs/s1600/DSC01434.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZOwumoR4yA0/Uw82MQgt_aI/AAAAAAAAA0k/ZYnKT-luiBs/s1600/DSC01434.JPG" height="136" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3 of the 5 Sega Hot Wheels cars</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I-3QsUOeBt4/Uw82Lhrnx7I/AAAAAAAAA0c/8keYQhA6wfI/s1600/DSC01435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I-3QsUOeBt4/Uw82Lhrnx7I/AAAAAAAAA0c/8keYQhA6wfI/s1600/DSC01435.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The House of the Dead green and black Phaeton (which Blogger has flipped upside down?)</td></tr>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UDkIVjprw_s/Uw80zxCrhfI/AAAAAAAAA0I/RjD6-P0Q2Jc/s1600/DSC01438.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UDkIVjprw_s/Uw80zxCrhfI/AAAAAAAAA0I/RjD6-P0Q2Jc/s1600/DSC01438.JPG" height="173" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jet Set Radio Future in a nice yellow paint job and clear hood</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K1kke3TszMo/Uw800NlZf7I/AAAAAAAAA0U/S3y_FOW_XSo/s1600/DSC01437.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K1kke3TszMo/Uw800NlZf7I/AAAAAAAAA0U/S3y_FOW_XSo/s1600/DSC01437.JPG" height="191" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A close up of the Shinobi Lotus Esprit</td></tr>
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Around the same time GamePro magazine was involved with Joyride for a line of toys (though the box says they are for display purposes only!) that included characters from some popular games. A number of Sega titles got their own figures, as well as some games from EA. I did have Cel Damage on PS2, but I didn't think it was a great game. There was quite a number of action figures released, for games including Metroid and Zelda, and some of them are rather tough to get your hands on. Here are some pictures of the four sets I have.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ha9CI8VuZR4/Uw800NggytI/AAAAAAAAA0Q/3YV0IgZHFQ0/s1600/DSC01439.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ha9CI8VuZR4/Uw800NggytI/AAAAAAAAA0Q/3YV0IgZHFQ0/s1600/DSC01439.JPG" height="251" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Violet and Sinder from Cel Damage</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OGzQObUidZI/Uw8zgNwFfEI/AAAAAAAAAz8/hYiNMH6r2dk/s1600/DSC01445.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OGzQObUidZI/Uw8zgNwFfEI/AAAAAAAAAz8/hYiNMH6r2dk/s1600/DSC01445.JPG" height="207" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crazy Taxi with driver Axel and some passengers</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7uevwn_hq7A/Uw8zgPDLmNI/AAAAAAAAAzw/J0TLG0rOPJ4/s1600/DSC01443.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7uevwn_hq7A/Uw8zgPDLmNI/AAAAAAAAAzw/J0TLG0rOPJ4/s1600/DSC01443.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two Monkey Ball figures and the ball to roll them in. Hours of fun!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y_8USgsBWBw/Uw8yhSw43-I/AAAAAAAAAzc/TiU1djhrkEY/s1600/DSC01448.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y_8USgsBWBw/Uw8yhSw43-I/AAAAAAAAAzc/TiU1djhrkEY/s1600/DSC01448.JPG" height="247" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Super Monkey Ball on the Gamecube is a really fun addictive game</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f_XCtHxhmRA/Uw8zgGb-NpI/AAAAAAAAAz4/0ZGSO1oi4uU/s1600/DSC01441.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f_XCtHxhmRA/Uw8zgGb-NpI/AAAAAAAAAz4/0ZGSO1oi4uU/s1600/DSC01441.JPG" height="218" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SSX Tricky from EA had figures to collect too</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7bkOCYrNC7A/Uw8yhWc8qhI/AAAAAAAAAzY/lk8Uoa-eA1o/s1600/DSC01447.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7bkOCYrNC7A/Uw8yhWc8qhI/AAAAAAAAAzY/lk8Uoa-eA1o/s1600/DSC01447.JPG" height="241" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A fold out in the box gives you a review of the game, ooooh Crazy Taxi gets a 4.5</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L7gy0qJxq-g/Uw8yhAEpgcI/AAAAAAAAAzM/dW_On__m9Xw/s1600/DSC01446.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L7gy0qJxq-g/Uw8yhAEpgcI/AAAAAAAAAzM/dW_On__m9Xw/s1600/DSC01446.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some Sonic and Virtua Fighter figures to collect (blame Blogger for the pics being sideways!)</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WC4loWotog8/Uw8x1npxaWI/AAAAAAAAAy0/3g8eqxUBZ9U/s1600/DSC01449.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WC4loWotog8/Uw8x1npxaWI/AAAAAAAAAy0/3g8eqxUBZ9U/s1600/DSC01449.JPG" height="241" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GamePro seem to give everything a score of 4.5!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0QsZNAKO2wo/Uw8x1zhhBUI/AAAAAAAAAy4/YE3szKEZHfo/s1600/DSC01450.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0QsZNAKO2wo/Uw8x1zhhBUI/AAAAAAAAAy4/YE3szKEZHfo/s1600/DSC01450.JPG" height="320" width="233" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cards included in the package</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jHgC7jyyOoQ/Uw8x10AbK1I/AAAAAAAAAy8/FLf4Ao2wWQk/s1600/DSC01451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jHgC7jyyOoQ/Uw8x10AbK1I/AAAAAAAAAy8/FLf4Ao2wWQk/s1600/DSC01451.JPG" height="320" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cards have Cheat Codes and Hints on the back</td></tr>
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Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01272222349248783867noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2625890483418173984.post-31826287885013811152014-02-03T21:59:00.000+00:002014-02-03T21:59:15.471+00:00Shenmue 1 & 2 plus Shenmue Guide from Dreamcast Magazine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Shenmue was released on the Sega Dreamcast in November 2000 (nearly a year after its release in Japan), and the second game was released the following year; in Europe at least, North America decided to skip the Dreamcast and only got the Xbox version of the game. That hit shelves in October 2002. European Xbox gamers had to wait until 2003 to play it.</div>
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Here we take a look at both Dreamcast games. The artwork on the front and back covers, as well as some of the discs really gives you a flavour of the visuals in the game. I definitely prefer it over the artwork that they used for the Xbox version. The Dreamcast used GD-Roms, so the games came over a number of discs, hence why the boxes needed to accommodate two cases for each game.</div>
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The first time you step out of the Hazuki Dojo and look around at the snow falling from the sky (the weather is done in real time, and the game starts in December, so its more than likely snowing!) as you follow the path into the village the view really is breath-taking, and surely one of the most memorable scenes in all of video games. Each new, and larger, area you arrive at really is a sight to behold. Plus there is so much to do and see in the game. You could easily get side-tracked from your quest and let the days of the inner clock in the game click by as you go and talk to all the people who wander the streets or play the mini-games that are dotted around the city of Yokosuka. Darts, slot machines, or if you go to the arcade you can play a game of Hang On or Space Harrier.</div>
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I would gladly pay for an updated version of these games on any of the newer consoles (I'd buy the console specifically for it to be honest!). But much more exciting would be to finally see the games story completed in a third instalment. Yu Suzuki, the director of the Shenmue series, has talked openly about his desire to release the next chapter, and a larger and larger number of fans are getting behind the push for Sega to green light the third game. The videogame landscape has changed a lot in the past 15 years, but the desire for a rich, visually stunning, well written game will always be there. Shenmue ticked all those boxes back in the Dreamcast days, and has all the potential to do the same now. Also, it would surely sell more than all of those (mostly woeful) Sonic games that keep getting released!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_OSLXWZf5xs/UsxhK9VL8DI/AAAAAAAAAt0/ATeAZHcjM-o/s1600/shenmue+slant.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_OSLXWZf5xs/UsxhK9VL8DI/AAAAAAAAAt0/ATeAZHcjM-o/s1600/shenmue+slant.JPG" height="113" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Greatest game ever? Well it's in the Top 1</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HocvLnh_OOM/UsxgOsU4ThI/AAAAAAAAAs0/T418Z6SNTyg/s1600/shenmue+1+free.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HocvLnh_OOM/UsxgOsU4ThI/AAAAAAAAAs0/T418Z6SNTyg/s1600/shenmue+1+free.JPG" height="101" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">FREE: Full Reactive Eyes Entertainment</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZmmxlaIMhrM/Usxg-xSAntI/AAAAAAAAAtk/SV-bTYz3aq4/s1600/shenmue+passport.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZmmxlaIMhrM/Usxg-xSAntI/AAAAAAAAAtk/SV-bTYz3aq4/s1600/shenmue+passport.JPG" height="96" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shenmue Online Passport</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-akOgTmYi2aM/UsxgkEE_kQI/AAAAAAAAAtU/VxYSziPrd7c/s1600/shenmue+2+instructions.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-akOgTmYi2aM/UsxgkEE_kQI/AAAAAAAAAtU/VxYSziPrd7c/s1600/shenmue+2+instructions.JPG" height="64" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Continue from your Shenmue 1 save file</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u14bH2WwRv8/UsxgbcDTjAI/AAAAAAAAAtE/WAjrmrZytoc/s1600/shenmue+1+back.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u14bH2WwRv8/UsxgbcDTjAI/AAAAAAAAAtE/WAjrmrZytoc/s1600/shenmue+1+back.JPG" height="188" width="200" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pkBdR8QaBfs/UsxgTj4GTKI/AAAAAAAAAs8/vVVW3_uPT3s/s1600/shenmue+2+back.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pkBdR8QaBfs/UsxgTj4GTKI/AAAAAAAAAs8/vVVW3_uPT3s/s1600/shenmue+2+back.JPG" height="172" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_7RLYVzRbEQ/UsxgigrXvWI/AAAAAAAAAtM/EJ3ipJ2E65o/s1600/shenmue+guide+back.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_7RLYVzRbEQ/UsxgigrXvWI/AAAAAAAAAtM/EJ3ipJ2E65o/s1600/shenmue+guide+back.JPG" height="200" width="148" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MBhLUwhMYFk/Usxgx1pWNQI/AAAAAAAAAtc/Z5NlOsduAMw/s1600/shenmue+guide+cover.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MBhLUwhMYFk/Usxgx1pWNQI/AAAAAAAAAtc/Z5NlOsduAMw/s1600/shenmue+guide+cover.JPG" height="200" width="158" /></a></div>
This Shenmue Guide was released to newsstands by the folks at Dreamcast Magazine (not the official one) and it will take you through all the main points on each of the three discs. There is some great artwork from the game within its pages. The back cover, shown here, is of Terry, the leader of the Mad Angels Gang.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZZr3jfvfs-w/Usxdc76MXfI/AAAAAAAAAsM/MvJxW_tr-dI/s1600/chai+and+lan+di.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZZr3jfvfs-w/Usxdc76MXfI/AAAAAAAAAsM/MvJxW_tr-dI/s1600/chai+and+lan+di.JPG" height="141" width="200" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6-TbJrxdN7w/UsxdReNKbmI/AAAAAAAAAsE/rOdYbovjM3A/s1600/guide+disc+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6-TbJrxdN7w/UsxdReNKbmI/AAAAAAAAAsE/rOdYbovjM3A/s1600/guide+disc+3.JPG" height="136" width="200" /></a></div>
Ling Shen Hua appears in both Shenmue games, and surely will have to show up in the third!<br />
Chai sneaks around after Ryo in the hopes of acquiring the Phoenix Mirror, just so he can give it to Lan Di.<br />
Ryo sees his father die before his eyes, which sparks the whole game into first gear. This also leads to my personal favourite scene, when Fuku-san pleads with Ryo not to pursue his fathers killers!<br />
The guide is very detailed and does a good job of covering everything you will need to do in order to get through the game. It has detailed maps and item lists, and plenty of pictures which show you the way in which the story should be progressing.<br />
Please click on the pictures to see more pages up close. And apologies for the layout, but Blogger (as usual) is proving to be rather awkward to work with!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wjnp40YRvO0/UsxeKFg2zSI/AAAAAAAAAsc/YFzOTpuvtxo/s1600/guide+items.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wjnp40YRvO0/UsxeKFg2zSI/AAAAAAAAAsc/YFzOTpuvtxo/s1600/guide+items.JPG" height="136" width="200" /></a><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-617MSEEfSd8/UsxeUMyfkAI/AAAAAAAAAsk/DhWXa7dnfqQ/s1600/ryo+%252B+father.JPG" height="133" width="200" /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LxrdJmSKzAI/UsxebAKLX6I/AAAAAAAAAss/UugtD02jUgo/s1600/guide+map.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LxrdJmSKzAI/UsxebAKLX6I/AAAAAAAAAss/UugtD02jUgo/s1600/guide+map.JPG" height="142" width="200" /></a><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_1V-SEUri0M/UsxhF2NUiuI/AAAAAAAAAts/WNnUwmgfSio/s1600/shenmue+guide+page+sample.JPG" height="127" width="200" /><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IqVv4jOgwUc/UsxdsQGPY-I/AAAAAAAAAsU/7QNOGCPj924/s1600/guide+games.JPG" height="138" width="200" /></div>
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<div align="left">
Want to see Shenmue III and once again return to the world of Ryo Hazuki? Then get behind the #SaveShenmue campaign. Follow <a href="https://twitter.com/Shenmue_Dojo/following" target="_blank">Shenmue Dojo</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TeamYu" target="_blank">Team Yu</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TheGameFor3" target="_blank">Shenmue500k</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ShenmueFans" target="_blank">Shenmue Fans</a> on Twitter (plus many more people I'm forgetting).</div>
Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01272222349248783867noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2625890483418173984.post-87778489670355799552013-12-05T14:50:00.000+00:002013-12-12T15:12:36.300+00:00The Death of the Sports Game<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The latest generation of games consoles are upon us, and
this Christmas will surely be the last hurrah for people still playing with a
PS3, an Xbox, or a Wii. But as we march on towards an era of better graphics,
better sound, better downloadable content! It is perhaps the right time to look
at what we are leaving behind. You can pack those HD DVDs off to the attic;
BluRay came out on top in the format wars. It doesn’t look like the WiiU will
bring the potential of your Balance Board out, and it will continue to gather
dust. While it also looks like the memory card is going the way of the Dodo.
And don’t even get me started on the waste of money those Xbox360 face plates
were!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jtSXZLVlEvI/UqCItmq2ExI/AAAAAAAAAnM/TpzX9WS1jTg/s1600/fifa14-cavani%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jtSXZLVlEvI/UqCItmq2ExI/AAAAAAAAAnM/TpzX9WS1jTg/s200/fifa14-cavani%5B1%5D.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">FIFA 14, the intros get better every year!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Video games make more money than ever, they have budgets
that would put some Hollywood blockbusters to shame, and between the three main
regions there seems to be games that can cater to every taste. Nowadays you
have KickStarter and can put some of your money behind any game you like the
look of and would want to play. It gives power to the consumer like never
before. But a quick search of the KickStarter video game section will show you
that there are little or no sports games on the site? So perhaps head over to
Steam, one of the internet’s biggest game distribution services, with over 3,000
games available, and see what sports games they offer. A quick search of
‘sports’ will give you a choice of only 75 games, a miniscule amount. Plus, if
you take out all the racing games from that list, you are left with only 43
games. If there are over three thousand Steam games, this adds up to a little
over 1% Sports games, and a big chunk of those are made-up future sports, Blood
Bowl, Beast Boxing, Steel Storm etc.</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PeT9xao25DI/UqCIsVBgClI/AAAAAAAAAnA/HNXbtfbuN-s/s1600/pes+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PeT9xao25DI/UqCIsVBgClI/AAAAAAAAAnA/HNXbtfbuN-s/s200/pes+2014.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PES 14, the screenshots get better every year!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I guess we will have to stick to the good old consoles if we
want to play some sports games. Football is the biggest sport in the world,
there is bound to be loads of football games on…say the Xbox360. The 360 has
been around since 2005. Eight years of game releases will surely have thrown up
a load of football games to choose from. So let’s have a look. 25 Football
games!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately 12 of them are FIFA
games and 8 are Pro Evo. You have two FIFA Street games (thankfully they
stopped making those!), a Champions League game which is FIFA in all but name, an
arcade soccer game, and poor man’s FIFA Street, called Pure Football from
UbiSoft, and last but not least, a Japan only release from Bandai called Love
Football? So in reality, we don’t have much of a choice at all. We basically
have a choice of 2, FIFA or PES, and neither of those has changed much in their
yearly updates. And if we are being really harsh, neither game is too
dissimilar from the other, the mapping of the shoot button is different, and
that’s about it!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-glIAiq8Dgj4/UqCIuk9Rs9I/AAAAAAAAAnY/ymvquqjp8_Y/s1600/nba-live-14-first-look-2%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-glIAiq8Dgj4/UqCIuk9Rs9I/AAAAAAAAAnY/ymvquqjp8_Y/s200/nba-live-14-first-look-2%5B1%5D.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NBA Live is back on Next Gen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YiDpZseLfcA/UqCIrhtjL5I/AAAAAAAAAm0/-09iSiylz3k/s1600/nba+ballers+chosen+one.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="110" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YiDpZseLfcA/UqCIrhtjL5I/AAAAAAAAAm0/-09iSiylz3k/s200/nba+ballers+chosen+one.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NBA Ballers: Chosen One: Only One</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Perhaps football is a bad example? The next biggest sport in
the world is probably basketball. So how many of those have we been served up
in the last eight years? 21 games seems like a healthy number. But again it
gets boiled down to only two franchises. The NBA Live series from EA Sports and
the NBA 2K series from 2K Sports, and the Live series has been missing in
action since 2010, leaving 2K Sports a clear run of the field. Midway did
release NBA Ballers, but it was basically a sequel to arcade game NBA Jam.
While NBA Jam itself was released by EA Sports in 2010, but again, it’s more of
an arcade game than a true simulation of the sport. EA also released the
college basketball NCAA games up until 2010, but these were more or less NBA
Lives. </span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fu5izixMRLg/UqCItmfNoYI/AAAAAAAAAnI/cORORq-mUko/s1600/professional+baseball+spirits.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fu5izixMRLg/UqCItmfNoYI/AAAAAAAAAnI/cORORq-mUko/s200/professional+baseball+spirits.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Professional Baseball Spirits</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s the same story with Ice Hockey games. 2K Sports and EA
Sports battle for dominance. But on the flip-side, Its EA Sports who have been
the only team to hit the ice since 2010. But at least there are two developers
in Ice Hockey and Basketball games (kind of). If you want to play American
Football there is only one game in town. EA Sport’s Madden. Yes there are
college football games, but they are basically the same game with different
rosters! Atari did have Backyard Football and 2K did have one attempt at
football in 2010, but Madden conquered all. But while EA Sports rules the roost
in NFL, 2K Sports is the place to go for your Baseball action. Their Major
League Baseball series is your only option. Your only option that is, unless
you have a Sony machine. Sony’s San Diego Studio releases MLB: The Show every
season, so at least PS3 owners get some sort of a choice. In Japan, where
baseball is a massive sport, Konami release their own take on the sport with
Professional Baseball Spirits. Three different games released on the same sport
in one year, it’s almost too much to take! That’s not really true though, the
Konami game doesn’t make it outside Japan, and if you live in Europe you’d be
lucky to see even one game released. American PS3 owners do get a choice of 2.
But again, is that really a choice? There was more baseball games released on
the SNES in 1994 than have come out on the PS3 in the last five years!</span></div>
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<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vbqI81OmYX8/UqCI0IkdOkI/AAAAAAAAAng/VdtdHwl22YA/s1600/tiger-woods-pga-14-4%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vbqI81OmYX8/UqCI0IkdOkI/AAAAAAAAAng/VdtdHwl22YA/s200/tiger-woods-pga-14-4%5B1%5D.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I remember when the Golden Bear had his own game</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What if you’re not into these team games, and prefer a more
solitary pursuit, like golf, or tennis even? Heading out onto the virtual links
your best option are the Tiger Woods games from EA Sports. Nintendo has its
Mario Golf and Sony releases Everybody’s Golf every now and then, but these are
obviously more cartoony representations of the sport. Serious golf games seemed
to have petered out after Microsoft finished with the Links series of games in
2004 on the original Xbox. Since then Tiger Woods has pretty much had his way
with things.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The two main names in Tennis are TopSpin by 2K Sports and
the Virtua Tennis games by SEGA. Although EA Sports have been trying to muscle
in with their Grand Slam Tennis games of late. So if you are a tennis nut,
there are some great choices there, as well as some of the usual wacky tennis
games, like Mario Tennis, SEGA SuperStar Tennis, and the like. It seems to me
that tennis games offer the best choice if you are a fan of the sport. But in
saying that, have tennis games changed a hell of a lot in the last twenty
years? You still play up and down the court, so that seems to be the default
camera angle. But that is pretty much how you watch it on TV. It would take
something radical to make a predominantly side-on or top-down viewed tennis
game now wouldn’t it?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-suB0gU5NNnE/UqCIpnXax_I/AAAAAAAAAmI/rflS9X2H3bo/s1600/brett+hull.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-suB0gU5NNnE/UqCIpnXax_I/AAAAAAAAAmI/rflS9X2H3bo/s200/brett+hull.gif" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ice Hockey at that angle! Are you insane Brett Hull?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Other sports have settled into default views also.
Basketball and Football are side-on. Ice Hockey you play up and down. Cricket
games tend to switch between behind the batter and behind the bowler views,
which is exciting no? Though there are not a lot of cricket games nowadays.
Ashes 2013 has just been cancelled, but Don Bradman Cricket 14 should be coming
out soon, it’s a whole new game, how intriguing is that! It also does away with
the need for licences and real names and stuff, as you have a player editor
that sorts that out. But it seems you need the real names, real jerseys, real
stadiums in a game or it won’t be taken seriously. Gone are the days when you
could just list a load of countries or cities and have people make do with
them. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X1asO_WT4Y0/UqCIqQ9NU2I/AAAAAAAAAq0/S3pfvE6OjiE/s1600/fifa-soccer-95-04%255B1%255D.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X1asO_WT4Y0/UqCIqQ9NU2I/AAAAAAAAAq0/S3pfvE6OjiE/s200/fifa-soccer-95-04%255B1%255D.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is FIFA 95 the best FIFA?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But also gone are the innovations, the new approaches, the
risk taking. It is almost too much to ask for a differing button layout these
days. Let’s return to football. You have two choices, the FIFA game, or the,
let’s be honest, very similar PES game (I’m talking camera, commentary,
options, etc. the gameplay is slightly different….). Plus they have been
releasing pretty much the same games year after year for over a decade now. Yes
it looks better, but it doesn’t play a better game of football. It is as
realistic/unrealistic as it has ever been. EA Sports and Konami are just too
afraid to make that much of a change to a formula that works. Remember when
FIFA tinkered with the corners? Uproar!! And this race for sales over gameplay
is stifling sports videogames. The consumer is left with a shallow choice of
games, in what turns out to be really no choice at all. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For me the Dreamcast was the last system that offered a
choice of Football games. And this was a system that didn’t have the two big
hitters from Konami or EA being released on it. SEGA had two games from their
WorldWide Soccer series by Silicon Dreams, who also did 2 UEFA games for
Infogrames in Europe. SEGA brought out the arcade conversion of Virtua Striker
on the system. Smilebit and UEP Systems released football games in Japan. 90
Minutes was a Smilebit game released in Europe by SEGA. It even had a football
management game, Giant Killers! It also had those Let’s Make a Football Team
games, which was only converted to English when released on PS2 (much later in
2006), and it tied in with the Virtua Pro Football game from SEGA. Smilebit who
made those games, and are now known as SEGA Sports Japan, only seem to make
Mario and Sonic at the Olympics games these days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5ujM63vUGME/UqCIq_ZKOzI/AAAAAAAAAq0/-kQsDgTdWII/s1600/international_soccer_3%255B1%255D.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="140" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5ujM63vUGME/UqCIq_ZKOzI/AAAAAAAAAq0/-kQsDgTdWII/s200/international_soccer_3%255B1%255D.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There can only be one!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Go back a little futher, to the generation of the MegaDrive.
That system had more football games than you could shake a stick at! It had the
best of the console and computer football games. It was perhaps the last
generation where huge differences could be seen in the games. Compare Italia’90
with FIFA’98? Or Sensible Soccer with International SuperStar Soccer? If you
put a screen shot of FIFA up beside PES these days, you can barely tell the
difference.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fQWWMwGIHw8/UqCIrKc-ZpI/AAAAAAAAAq0/uymNuNRJX44/s1600/italia+90.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="141" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fQWWMwGIHw8/UqCIrKc-ZpI/AAAAAAAAAq0/uymNuNRJX44/s200/italia+90.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Italia'90, and the crowd goes wild!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is harder to get excited by a new iteration of the same
game year after year. I honestly prefer a game of Tecmo Bowl or Joe Montana
than the latest Madden game. Companies trot out developers to make videos every
year explaining how this year is such an improvement, the ball physics have
been altered, blah blah blah. It’s the same game to me! Show me some real
improvements. Fix the game. Make it a better representation of the sport (are
you listening FIFA? PES?), and not just a better representation, of the
representation of the sport.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tEUZWqKJx3g/UqCIqJKBHXI/AAAAAAAAAq0/Tsv7vM-HPHI/s1600/Konami%252520Hyper%252520Soccer10%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="173" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tEUZWqKJx3g/UqCIqJKBHXI/AAAAAAAAAq0/Tsv7vM-HPHI/s200/Konami%252520Hyper%252520Soccer10%255B1%255D.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Konami Hyper Soccer on the NES</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Soon there will be only one big name game for each sport. Is
that what we really want? For sports games to go the way of the text adventure?
Surely there is a market for a developer to make a go at some sports? If I was
a racing fan, or a first person shooter fan, I would be surrounded by
choice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But this upcoming generation of
systems doesn’t hold much hope for the sports fan. Just the same games getting
a little bit prettier. I think I’ll have to return to the 8 and 16-bit systems
to get my sport playing fix.</span>Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01272222349248783867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2625890483418173984.post-61761359525968837602013-12-04T19:34:00.000+00:002013-12-14T13:25:09.304+00:005 Twentieth Century Wars that are Underused in Videogames<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f06xokRzo7Y/Up87_NIfXgI/AAAAAAAAAq0/3XXbnUcbRtY/s1600/Wolfenstein-The-New-Order-3-1280x709%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="110" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f06xokRzo7Y/Up87_NIfXgI/AAAAAAAAAq0/3XXbnUcbRtY/s200/Wolfenstein-The-New-Order-3-1280x709%255B1%255D.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wolfenstein rewrites history</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There was a time when you couldn’t buy a first person
shooter that wasn’t set in World War Two, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Medal
of Honor, Battlefield, Call of Duty</i>, all started out by throwing wave
after wave of Nazis at you as you tried to save the world. Nowadays most
shooters pack you off to the Middle East where terrorists are lining up to be
shot. Often your soldier for hire will be sent to exotic far flung places
around the globe, because those nasty terrorists could be anywhere, doing nasty
terroristic things. While there is a multitude of situations you could place
our hero in imaginary future struggles, think of pretty much all the plots to
all the Tom Clancy games, surely there has been enough battles in the past hundred
years that could have lent their setting to a videogame? Outside of World War
Two and the War on Terror there has been very little that looks at other
conflicts.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dYexlqRTIWk/Up88Q846H0I/AAAAAAAAAkY/GEnDUmkuXZM/s1600/ps3_turning_points_10%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="120" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dYexlqRTIWk/Up88Q846H0I/AAAAAAAAAkY/GEnDUmkuXZM/s200/ps3_turning_points_10%5B1%5D.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turning Point: and a poor attempt at alt history</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Vietnam War has had a number of games based around it.
The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Battlefield</i> series went there,
and the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Shell Shock</i> games are set
during that war. World War One and trench warfare was the setting for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Iron Storm</i>, but that was placed in an
alternate reality where the war never ended and it was 1964. The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Wolfenstein</i> series is taking a similar
route with its next game, where the main character B.J. Blazkowicz is still
fighting the Nazis in 1960. Some alternate history games are excellent, see the
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Wolfenstein</i> games, some are less so,
see <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Turning Point: Fall of Liberty</i>. If
you prefer things to be a bit more true to life, then head to the war in
Afghanistan with the Russian made game <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">9<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>
Company</i>; or fight against the Russians in that war with <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Rambo III</i>, which may be a less accurate representation.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gARQFm579OA/Up88EH2_QkI/AAAAAAAAAq0/1ymQpDlIc3c/s1600/WarriorofRome2%2528GS%2529%255B1%255D.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="140" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gARQFm579OA/Up88EH2_QkI/AAAAAAAAAq0/1ymQpDlIc3c/s200/WarriorofRome2%2528GS%2529%255B1%255D.gif" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Warrior of Rome II on the MegaDrive</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It seems post WW1 only gets a look in shooting game wise, as
before this time guns didn’t hold much ammo, which took an age to load, and
there wasn’t much in the way of tanks or long range weapons either. This type
of warfare seems to fit better with large map based strategy games. Ancient
Rome, to the Crusades, to the Napoleonic Wars, World War Two and beyond has
been fodder for strategy enthusiasts, but First Person Shooters not so much.
For an example of how these wars just don’t work as FPS’s, pick up <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Gods and Generals</i>, which was set during
the American Civil War and based on the movie of the same name. Once your slow
firing pistol and musket were out of ammo you were left in an open field
brandishing your sword like an idiot, though not as idiotic as some of the AI
in the game. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WwLSD2mPQpA/Up88gleFp1I/AAAAAAAAAq0/qfkSS9dTVe8/s1600/gods+and+generals.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WwLSD2mPQpA/Up88gleFp1I/AAAAAAAAAq0/qfkSS9dTVe8/s200/gods+and+generals.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View the Hell that was the American Civil War</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So now let’s take a look at some wars from the recent past
that are crying out to be made into first person shooters. I make this list in
full acknowledgement that a number of these conflicts are sore spots on the
memories of some nations. Often there is no ‘victor’ in the conflict as such
and no real ‘evil bad guys’, a role that the Nazis conveniently fill so well in
WW2 games. Plus, even when you are portraying the ‘good’ guys you can run into
problems. Problems such as those that beset the still to be released Iraqi War
game <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Six Days in Fallujah</i>. This list
is in the spirit of books and films that also look at these conflicts, and asks
why videogames can’t do the same.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">5) Korean War<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ToZ23P_oYcs/Up88NcAvucI/AAAAAAAAAkQ/OKv8KS9VT2w/s1600/splinter+cell+chaos+theory+soeul+banned.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ToZ23P_oYcs/Up88NcAvucI/AAAAAAAAAkQ/OKv8KS9VT2w/s200/splinter+cell+chaos+theory+soeul+banned.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sam Fisher was banned in South Korea</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I_EehQw9wSc/Up88KxI0xjI/AAAAAAAAAq0/FcZDo6cySXg/s1600/M.A.S.H._2600_ScreenShot1%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="175" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I_EehQw9wSc/Up88KxI0xjI/AAAAAAAAAq0/FcZDo6cySXg/s200/M.A.S.H._2600_ScreenShot1%255B1%255D.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">M.A.S.H. on the Atari 2600</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is surprising that this war hasn’t been drawn on more by
all types of media. It involved all the major players of the time, the U.S. and
the British along with the U.N. and South Koreans on one side, with the Chinese
and the Soviets allied with the North Koreans on the other. Starting in 1950
the battlefront swung wildly up and down the peninsula until it settled down
somewhere along the 38<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> Parallel in the middle of ’51. It combined
fast moving armoured warfare with combat stuck down in trenches. Casualties
were over 2.5m before the signing of an armistice in 1953. Britain handed out two
Victoria Crosses when a force of 600 faced off against 30,000 Chinese on the
Imjin River. Over the duration of the conflict the U.S. awarded 136 Medals of
Honor, this volume of awards per year is only topped by WW2 and the American
Civil War in U.S. history. In comparison, since 2001, in Iraq and Afghanistan
only 11 Medals have been awarded. Perhaps games haven’t looked at the Korean
War yet because technically it still isn’t over, with both sides still in a
state of cease fire. Or perhaps it’s because the only thing people think of
when the Korean War is mentioned are random episodes of M.A.S.H.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">4) Chaco War<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5kftECR9VfY/Up88WjO2bSI/AAAAAAAAAq0/z90d8gbxq0E/s1600/chaco+war.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="138" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5kftECR9VfY/Up88WjO2bSI/AAAAAAAAAq0/z90d8gbxq0E/s200/chaco+war.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This was the bloodiest war fought on South America soil in
the twentieth century. Two Paraguayans and three Bolivians died for every
square mile of the disputed territory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was between two of the regions poorest countries, who were both
desperate to control the Chaco area because it was thought to be rich in oil
deposits. The large oil companies of the time had interest in the region also
and behind the scenes would have supported one side or the other. This war was
the first time aerial warfare had come to South America, though in some very
old obsolete planes. The population of Paraguay was a third of Bolivia’s, but
it managed its war effort better and came out on top by the time a Peace Treaty
was signed in 1938. The war was fought in a very arid region, often soldiers
died more from lack of water and from disease than from the enemy. The
importance of gaining accurate supplies from the air was crucial to the outcome
of some battles. The region is still a bit of a powder keg today, as the U.S.
want to build a base there to oversee ‘humanitarian’ efforts in nearby
Argentina.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">3) Algerian War of Independence</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OYiBmiMqxKY/Up88ksx3pdI/AAAAAAAAAq0/fatuVe3Bjqw/s1600/Indy_foa_screenshot%255B1%255D.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="125" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OYiBmiMqxKY/Up88ksx3pdI/AAAAAAAAAq0/fatuVe3Bjqw/s200/Indy_foa_screenshot%255B1%255D.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Indy visited Algeria, but mostly to chat up women</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is the war that brought down the French Fourth Republic
in 1958, helping Charles de Gaulle to come to power and start the Fifth
Republic. What is interesting about this conflict is that everyone seemed to be
fighting everyone else. It was never solely the French versus the Algerians. A
large number of Algerians would have considered themselves French and would
have wanted to stay part of France. Those who wanted to break free from French
rule generally divided themselves between the Algerian National Movement, the
Algerian National Liberation Front, and even the Algerian Communists. But they
often clashed with each other, while the communists would have been influenced
by the communists in France and would have initially been against liberation.
The French fought the Algerian insurgents, for a great depiction of urban
warfare of this time watch Gillo Pontocorvo’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Battle of Algiers</i>, but as the war dragged on it was seen that
Algeria must be given its independence. So the French had then to contend with
those who did not want them to pull out of Algeria; the French Algerian Front
was formed in 1960, while the Secret Armed Organisation upped their bombing
campaign and assassination attempts in an effort to bring about a political
collapse. Torture was used by the French during the campaign, conveniently
forgetting that France was kept under the thumb of an oppressive regime less
than two decades earlier. France did not even recognised the period as a war
until 1999 and it has deeply scarred relations between the two nations. So
perhaps it is not surprising that a videogame has not used it as its subject
matter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">2) Second Congo War, or Africa’s First World War</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nOBNPBZV4nE/Up8_l8jP0CI/AAAAAAAAAq0/2VlbOBV_lAw/s1600/star+of+africa+c642.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="141" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nOBNPBZV4nE/Up8_l8jP0CI/AAAAAAAAAq0/2VlbOBV_lAw/s200/star+of+africa+c642.gif" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Star of Africa on the C64</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ever since King Leopold took an interest in extracting as
much resources as he could from the Congo (1885), it has remained one of the
bloodiest areas on the planet. The Second Congo War started in 1998 and ended
nearly five years later in 2003. In that time it brought in 9 African nations,
over 20 armed groups and left over five million dead, it is the deadliest
conflict since WW2. Don’t fancy playing as a soldier from any of those nations
as they try and bring stability (read: exploit the Congo’s resources), then how
about as one of the 20,000 U.N. peacekeeping troops as they launch military
operations against the various rebel groups? Of course whoever attempted to
make a game that sprawled this massive area of dense rainforest might have to
gloss over the fact that everywhere you look there are brutal genocides
happening and child soldiers running around.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1) Indochina War</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ex6EsvjsyUY/Up88T_v6I9I/AAAAAAAAAq0/yZB8ovINSvk/s1600/conflict+vietnam+Apple+II.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="156" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ex6EsvjsyUY/Up88T_v6I9I/AAAAAAAAAq0/yZB8ovINSvk/s200/conflict+vietnam+Apple+II.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Conflict in Vietnam on the Apple II</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EpCBZWYQdyA/Up88H-AnX_I/AAAAAAAAAq0/esnxm6eBwC8/s1600/conflict_in_vietnam_01%255B1%255D.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="125" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EpCBZWYQdyA/Up88H-AnX_I/AAAAAAAAAq0/esnxm6eBwC8/s200/conflict_in_vietnam_01%255B1%255D.png" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The French again! After WW2 ended they were determined to
hold onto their colonial possessions and this war went on from 1945/6 until
1954. Unfortunately the French seemed to forget what being exploited as a
colony was like under Nazi occupation and went straight to fighting the Viet
Minh. Also failing to notice that the Viet Minh had fought bitterly against
Japanese occupation and weren’t going to roll over when the French strolled
back into town. The conflict brought in other neighbouring nations at times too,
as well as some of the big hitters. China and the Soviets supplied the
communist Viet Minh, while the U.S. gave assistance to the French. Campaign
after campaign was launched as the years went on, with big victories and big
losses being dealt on both sides; but as public opinion in France turned
against the war it seemed that everything they tried to keep Vietnam in the
French Empire was failing. Soon the French had lost control of most of
Indochina except for enclaves in the main towns and cities. When the end came
it was in a spectacular military defeat for the French at the Battle of Dien
Bien Phu. High up in north-western Vietnam, surrounded by hostile jungle was
the town of Dien Bien Phu which had been heavily fortified by the French and
could only be supplied by the air. After a number of successful attacks in
early 1954 the French thought they were making inroads into the operations of
the Viet Minh in the area. But come March their airstrip was destroyed and they
were reliant on parachuted supply drops, at the end of the month they were
surrounded by 50,000 Viet Minh. It became a war of attrition as the circle
around the French became ever tighter. By May the situation was so bad that the
French were asking the Americans to drop a nuclear bomb to help turn the
situation around (Operation Vulture). On the 7<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> of May the town
fell and over 11,000 prisoners were taken by the Viet Minh. The garrison at
Dien Bien Phu accounted for a tenth of total French forces in the region, its
prestige and global standing took a massive blow. This war did make it into Sid
Meier and Ed Bever’s Microprose game <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Conflict
in Vietnam</i> as a prelude scenario to the main battles in the game covering
the Americans in the sixties and seventies; and a Vietnamese game company did
release an FPS about the war in 2010 called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">7554</i>,
but by all accounts it isn’t a very good game.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There isn’t a year in the twentieth century were two
opposing forces didn’t come to blows. It seems strange that only a fraction of
these events are used as source material for videogames. What do people think?
Are there other conflicts which could lend themselves to a videogame
interpretation above the five just mentioned? Should developers steer clear of
real world conflicts and instead put their energies into imagined scenarios
featuring made up armies? Is portraying a conflict in a First Person Shooter
somehow worse than moving a battalion from one hex to another on a map? Shooting
games are massive sellers. Books and movies based around war are hugely
popular. So is it possible to marry the two without being labelled as
exploitative? Right now, I’m not so sure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01272222349248783867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2625890483418173984.post-8479074910750304002013-10-03T16:40:00.000+01:002013-12-14T11:38:47.117+00:00Soccer Pinball by Code Masters on the Commodore 64<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cA29wJcvJAg/Uk2NUcbvXRI/AAAAAAAAAq0/38-aybOo9l0/s1600/SoccerPinball%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cA29wJcvJAg/Uk2NUcbvXRI/AAAAAAAAAq0/38-aybOo9l0/s1600/SoccerPinball%255B1%255D.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exciting cover!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In 1992 one of the best value budget publishers around,
CodeMasters, released a game that was a mash-up of Pinball and Football. Two
fast exciting games amalgamated at last, and all for only £3.99! How could it possibly
go wrong?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In football, ’92 was the last year of the old First Division
before the Premier League era began; it also saw Denmark win the European
Championships, and this after only being confirmed to enter the tournament in Sweden two
weeks before it began. England and Scotland came bottom in each of their
groups, but at least they qualified I guess! International Football was a lot
tougher in those days, only seven teams qualified for the finals, two points were all that was awarded for a win, and the
back-pass rule was new and confusing! In Pinball news, the Addams Family table
was released in 1992, and it became one of the biggest selling tables of all time.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BkK-mTR-AbE/Uk2MsheMYPI/AAAAAAAAAq0/HFOBSe5bDn4/s1600/ccs0.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BkK-mTR-AbE/Uk2MsheMYPI/AAAAAAAAAq0/HFOBSe5bDn4/s320/ccs0.bmp" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So that was the world this game entered when I loaded it up
in the summer of 1992. The loading screen had a picture of what looks like a
player who is a cross between Bryan Robson and Kevin Keegan falling on his
arse. This didn’t exactly inspire confidence. And when you fire the ball off
around the table in your first game, you realise it’s pretty much a straight
Spectrum port, with all that colour bleed that Speccy players love! But all
this would be forgotten if the game played some cracking rounds of pinball.
Zzap gave it 70% commenting that it was insanely hard, but I didn’t mind hard,
I was prepared to put the hours in to master it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wH1Fus65RXc/Uk2MuLfMdFI/AAAAAAAAAq0/NHEP0Npf7S8/s1600/ccs2.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wH1Fus65RXc/Uk2MuLfMdFI/AAAAAAAAAq0/NHEP0Npf7S8/s320/ccs2.bmp" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And hours…. and hours…. and game after game after game….
after game! There are eight rounds in all, but you will have ridden all your
luck just to get past round three. This game is cripplingly hard. The ball
crawls around at times, while whizzing across the table on other occasions. It
moves through things it shouldn’t, and anytime it comes down to the bottom
flippers it’s almost impossible to do anything constructive with your
shot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You will be seeing the screen
showing your goalkeeper consoling himself against the post many, many times if
you are determined on making your way to the cup final in the game.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OmDReYKTeXs/Uk2MtkcM6wI/AAAAAAAAAq0/FyyPi9NdnoA/s1600/ccs1.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OmDReYKTeXs/Uk2MtkcM6wI/AAAAAAAAAq0/FyyPi9NdnoA/s320/ccs1.bmp" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The game also doesn’t have enough going on around the table
to keep you excited. Fire a hooter, take a throw in, flip the ball through what
I presume are turnstiles, collect some footballs to gain another ball; it never
really changes from round to round. Each level you need to eliminate the
subbuteo style defenders who litter the middle of the table before putting
three goals in the net in order to get to the next round. When you get to the
final you’ll have to face no less than 13 defenders!</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--Ce21xB0HOM/Uk2ODq20beI/AAAAAAAAAq0/d56Jekszm2A/s1600/ccs10.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--Ce21xB0HOM/Uk2ODq20beI/AAAAAAAAAq0/d56Jekszm2A/s320/ccs10.bmp" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So all in all I was disappointed by this game. Even at £3.99
I felt like I had spent my scant pocket money unwisely. It was way too hard to
be fun. Games could be over in the blink of an eye, and even if you managed to
keep the ball in play for an extended period of time, you could be stuck in a
loop of low scoring boredom in which the defenders had reappeared and you had
to do everything again.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PmTeTCrZ3iI/Uk2N7QeSV7I/AAAAAAAAAq0/wjFPKJp1JZc/s1600/ccs4.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PmTeTCrZ3iI/Uk2N7QeSV7I/AAAAAAAAAq0/wjFPKJp1JZc/s320/ccs4.bmp" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">While this may be the best Pinball Soccer game available for
the C64, it doesn’t have a lot to recommend it. The Speccy game even had a
couple of extra screens, including a snazzy Des Lynam picture before the first
round. I have yet to play the Amstard CPC or (very different looking) Amiga
versions. Though the Amiga version was coded by someone else, so perhaps it
plays very different too. The C64 game was coded by Steve Siddle, who made a
rather better effort with the Codies game Cue Boy, released a year later. To
conclude, I think Zzap were being very generous in giving this game 70%, it is
barely worth half that much. Keep your £3.99 in your pocket this time. There
are better pinball games and better football games out there to spend your hard
earned spare change on.</span></div>
Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01272222349248783867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2625890483418173984.post-75564914365092733822013-03-28T21:11:00.000+00:002013-12-14T11:50:38.430+00:00Soulless, Commodore 64 Review<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_724C9icTog/UVSrCe7I-UI/AAAAAAAAAfY/1qA4fll9vYI/s1600/soulless+c64+pack.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_724C9icTog/UVSrCe7I-UI/AAAAAAAAAfY/1qA4fll9vYI/s200/soulless+c64+pack.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Getting turned into a monster has long been a problem some
videogame heroes have had to endure. Think of Aarbron (and no-one ever does!)
from Shadow of the Beast, or even more recently Skyrim, were you can prance
around as a werewolf if the fancy takes you. The whole point of Altered Beast
was to get turned into different monsters so you could defeat the various
bosses, but I’m guessing being a monster was preferable to being dead in that
instance. Not that being dead is any hindrance, as usually all you have to do
is make a deal with some demon and you’ll be allowed to hack and slash your way
back to mortality (or will you?). But what if you’re not dead?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What if your soul has been taken and you’ve
been locked up for a thousand years? That is what has happened to Rizek in
Soulless, a new game for the Commodore 64. Where, in over 70 screens of action,
you have to piece together the fragments of your soul and reclaim your rights
as King.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--Q3rgYteA0Q/UVSrcpVh8MI/AAAAAAAAAq0/oUpQ0i-l27I/s1600/soulless+first+screen+tv.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="121" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--Q3rgYteA0Q/UVSrcpVh8MI/AAAAAAAAAq0/oUpQ0i-l27I/s200/soulless+first+screen+tv.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cart and C64 hooked up to my TV</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-klRftbvbUTI/UVSrTx_L0zI/AAAAAAAAAq0/6sIPn3KacXQ/s1600/soulless+cart.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="126" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-klRftbvbUTI/UVSrTx_L0zI/AAAAAAAAAq0/6sIPn3KacXQ/s200/soulless+cart.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Soulless running on a real C64</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yes, you read right, a new game for the good old C64. It’s
brought to you by Georg Rottensteiner and Trevor Storey, and it’s released by
Psytronik Software and RGCD. You can buy it from Binary Zone retro store, or in
cartridge form at the RGCD website. There really is a myriad of versions of
this game you could buy. Get it on tape, disk, premium disk, cart, or download;
you can even download it for free from the Commodore Scene Database if you so
wish. Okay maybe not a myriad of ways, but you get what I mean. Plus if you buy
the deluxe cartridge version you get a host of extras on top of the snazzy new
light-up cart that you can plug straight into the back of your Commodore. These
include a 7 track soundtrack cd that also has some amazing artwork and making-of
bonus materials on the disc. You also get a double-sided poster, one side with
a handy map, some stickers, a comic book/instruction manual, and some sheets to
keep track of the 12 soul pieces that you will have to input to finish the
game. Now I know what people are thinking, they’ve been around long enough to know
that all these extras does not a good game make, and the Commodore era was rife
with games that gave away free stuff in order to mask the shoddy game
underneath. But thankfully this is not the case, and you will be treated to a
great game that will give you many hours of entertainment.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u9N579_hYts/UVSuBBKHzoI/AAAAAAAAAq0/y_M668sjN_w/s1600/ccs4.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="146" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u9N579_hYts/UVSuBBKHzoI/AAAAAAAAAq0/y_M668sjN_w/s200/ccs4.bmp" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k3TXYUY-YS0/UVSuFxbAsSI/AAAAAAAAAq0/2CndTqCvdW8/s1600/ccs7.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="146" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k3TXYUY-YS0/UVSuFxbAsSI/AAAAAAAAAq0/2CndTqCvdW8/s200/ccs7.bmp" width="200" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As has been mentioned, it contains over 70 screens to
navigate through as you search for keys to unlock new areas, as well as find
those twelve spirit stones that you have to place in the correct order in the
Spirit Chamber at the end of the game. Each screen will have some enemies to
avoid and items to search. In a very Impossible Mission way, it takes a few
seconds for Rizek to search each item he comes across, hoping that he will find
a spirit stone or perhaps a potion that kills the enemies on the screen which
will make his life a whole lot easier. With all the stones collected, (and you
have been noting where each one goes yes?) you can finally regain your human
form and finish the game. That all sounds well and good, but it isn’t all easy
going, you can only take a couple of hits before you die and with precious few
lives, you will need to plot your way around the castle very carefully. Also
when you start a new game, all the spirit stones will have randomly moved, so
you will have to start jotting down their placement all over again. It’s not an
easy game by any means, but it is never unfair. The controls are responsive and
if you take a hit, you only have your own timing to blame. The majority of the
enemies move in a designated path and speed, so timing really is the key. In
the long run it pays to try different approaches to each room, but still know
when to turn and run back to the nearest health regenerating spot before
tackling rooms afresh. Often there is more than one way to enter an area, plus
it is never so big that you end up getting lost. Only on two or three occasions
did I find myself wondering where to go, or caught in a frustrating loop of
insta-death (of my own making!).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rEuin0Tbjvs/UVSrKye8bHI/AAAAAAAAAfk/nge8c3ymVwY/s1600/soulless+c64+pack+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="135" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rEuin0Tbjvs/UVSrKye8bHI/AAAAAAAAAfk/nge8c3ymVwY/s200/soulless+c64+pack+2.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Packaging and extras are top quality</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c64m1SkdiPI/UVSrkHRbCvI/AAAAAAAAAq0/BI1fQtVMUQU/s1600/soulless+screen+tv.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c64m1SkdiPI/UVSrkHRbCvI/AAAAAAAAAq0/BI1fQtVMUQU/s200/soulless+screen+tv.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The graphics are another high point, different areas have
different colour schemes, the main character is nice and big, and the opening
and ending cinematic are both well done. The music in game is nice and long
before it loops back around, and it never grates after prolonged periods of play.
Its gameplay reminds me of a cross between the castle parts of Shadow of the
Beast (though it may be the theme playing tricks in my head!) and those of
Sceptre of Bagdad (another Psytronik game). It could hold its head up with
games released in any of the last 30 years of Commodore gaming. I have no
hesitation in recommending that you procure yourself a copy of this game if you
are in anyway interested in gaming on your C64. Plus with all the extras it’s
still value for money, I remember paying over forty quid for cartridge games
back in the early nineties, and some of them were god awful.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mH_B7QcwlGI/UVSuJZyoj4I/AAAAAAAAAq0/gsPTLHAbGYw/s1600/ccs16.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="146" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mH_B7QcwlGI/UVSuJZyoj4I/AAAAAAAAAq0/gsPTLHAbGYw/s200/ccs16.bmp" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">You can buy Soulless here, <a href="http://www.psytronik.net/main/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=97:soulless&catid=34:commodore-64&Itemid=57" target="_blank">Psytronik</a> and here, <a href="http://www.rgcd.co.uk/2012/06/soulless-cartridge-available-c64.html" target="_blank">RGCD</a> So what are you waiting for?</span></div>
Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01272222349248783867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2625890483418173984.post-40330961436930825942012-11-10T12:14:00.002+00:002013-12-14T12:05:32.856+00:00The Last Story, Xenoblade Chronicles, Pandora's Tower: Limited Edition Commemorative Coin CollectionIf you bought the three excellent Wii RPGs, Xenoblade Chronicles, Pandora's Tower and The Last Story, plus you registered them all with Club Nintendo, you could get a set of Limited Edition Coins. One for each game, placed in a nice Club Nintendo box. Also if you bought The Last Tower in HMV you were given an artbook that covered the three games and a box to hold all the game cases in.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RRBAt9wP2Pw/UJ5BKDSWxyI/AAAAAAAAAdo/kZEWrUkaDc4/s1600/3gamepack2.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="299" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RRBAt9wP2Pw/UJ5BKDSWxyI/AAAAAAAAAdo/kZEWrUkaDc4/s320/3gamepack2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ibslgJpU1AE/UJ5Db-f7FGI/AAAAAAAAAq0/v8cAJazQO70/s1600/3gamepackwithcoins.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ibslgJpU1AE/UJ5Db-f7FGI/AAAAAAAAAq0/v8cAJazQO70/s320/3gamepackwithcoins.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A coin for each game</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Here is the Limited Editions of TLS and PD, the Xenoblade Ltd Ed only came with a red classic controller (I think) so I never picked it up. Also shown is the box the coins came in and the HMV extras.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uqqZRNhSAEI/UJ5COY0V_fI/AAAAAAAAAd0/1nAq0_fZLxQ/s1600/3gamespread.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uqqZRNhSAEI/UJ5COY0V_fI/AAAAAAAAAd0/1nAq0_fZLxQ/s320/3gamespread.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everything!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After you had registered your games, you waited a bit to find out if you were one of the first to do so and then entitled to receive the coins. Club Nintendo sent a confirmation email and said the coins would arrive after a number of months. then after what seemed like ages (probably to give you time to finish the games!) they arrived in the post.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CCgvtrL753k/UJ5DzvzNb1I/AAAAAAAAAq0/jL3aUZyOwNo/s1600/coins.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CCgvtrL753k/UJ5DzvzNb1I/AAAAAAAAAq0/jL3aUZyOwNo/s320/coins.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s778r7s5-98/UJ5FgzTerDI/AAAAAAAAAeY/BqZhhmsPVNg/s1600/artbooks.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="234" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s778r7s5-98/UJ5FgzTerDI/AAAAAAAAAeY/BqZhhmsPVNg/s320/artbooks.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pandora's Tower (top) and The Last Story artbooks.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SqZng2oy8I0/UJ5EcEQ5pfI/AAAAAAAAAeQ/eTv6xliIgbs/s1600/artwork.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="173" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SqZng2oy8I0/UJ5EcEQ5pfI/AAAAAAAAAeQ/eTv6xliIgbs/s320/artwork.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Artwork from HMV book.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qhdZ3fvqJ2Y/UJ5GFsV2_1I/AAAAAAAAAeg/ntmcaF3_wK8/s1600/steelbook+cover.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qhdZ3fvqJ2Y/UJ5GFsV2_1I/AAAAAAAAAeg/ntmcaF3_wK8/s320/steelbook+cover.JPG" width="242" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alternate Steelbook Game Covers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fM8OfxAZ1cc/UJ5Hy8SOthI/AAAAAAAAAeo/RbsA786Bz9M/s1600/last+tower+soundtrack+artbook.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fM8OfxAZ1cc/UJ5Hy8SOthI/AAAAAAAAAeo/RbsA786Bz9M/s320/last+tower+soundtrack+artbook.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Last Story artbook and soundtrack cd</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HckA_P2w_qQ/UJ5IqjqxxaI/AAAAAAAAAq0/RaLb6kHVErw/s1600/coins+close+up.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HckA_P2w_qQ/UJ5IqjqxxaI/AAAAAAAAAq0/RaLb6kHVErw/s320/coins+close+up.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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All in all, it's an excellent little addition to some excellent games. More game companies should do things like this. Usually people have to pay extra money for special editions and all you get is downloadable content or something. I must add that I haven't finished any of these games yet! But one day...Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01272222349248783867noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2625890483418173984.post-77343781738628514292012-11-10T10:32:00.000+00:002013-12-14T15:05:12.397+00:00Auschwitz <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Uwe Boll is best known for game to movie adaptations
of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">BloodRayne</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">In The Name of The King</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Alone
in the Dark</i>, etc. But he also makes the odd ‘auteur’ or documentary film
when he gets the time. Such time appeared when shooting <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Blubberella</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">BloodRayne 3</i>,
and reusing the sets from those productions, the director decided to shoot a
movie about the horrors of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Auschwitz</i>.
</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1d_smLXVYMw/UJ4r1UK9q2I/AAAAAAAAAq0/dhg02Ab5wfc/s1600/auschwitz+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1d_smLXVYMw/UJ4r1UK9q2I/AAAAAAAAAq0/dhg02Ab5wfc/s200/auschwitz+cover.jpg" width="141" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The trouble with making a movie that centres around
the Holocaust is that you are bound to split opinion; for all the people who
liked the Oscar winning <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Schindler’s List</i>,
there was an equally vocal reaction that said it was a huge misrepresentation
of the past. Even straight up documentaries such as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Night and Fog</i> are not immune from criticism, whether it is about
the tone of the narration they use or some of the sources they elected to leave
out. What sets Uwe Bolls film apart is that it wants to tell the story of the
camp on a typical day, from arriving on a train to being burned in an oven.
This leaves it open to being accused of simply being too gruesome. But to
paraphrase Stanley Kubrick, if you were to make a proper film about the
Holocaust, it would have to be unfilmable.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Around the scenes that are shot on set, we see young
German teenagers interviewed about what they know about the Second World War, National
Socialism, and about the concentration camps. Unfortunately these sections are
a bit erratic as the interviews tend to jump from one topic to another, while
popping back to the same faces before introducing some new ones. Was
everyone asked the same questions? What was cut? It was just lacking a general
flow. But these aren’t the scenes that caused certain critics to be up in arms.
At the centre of the film is the trip to Auschwitz and what is shown there;
herds of people being gassed, babies being shot in the head, corpses being
brought to the furnaces and placed inside.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6pGY5YNtj1k/UJ4sEQat9XI/AAAAAAAAAq0/XNsR0r-uwM4/s1600/auschwitz+cover+german.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6pGY5YNtj1k/UJ4sEQat9XI/AAAAAAAAAq0/XNsR0r-uwM4/s200/auschwitz+cover+german.jpg" width="140" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">But to say these scenes are too gruesome I think is
wrong. Unsettling of course yes; and there is always grounds to say that any
movie, not just this one, only serves to rehumiliate the victims of the Holocaust
by putting their suffering on screen. It is a fine line a director has to
tread. If you can watch the trailer, you won’t be too off put by what appears
in the movie. There aren’t buckets of blood or brains splattered all over walls
or anything. Maybe it would be easier for people to take, if there was an axe
wielding, cackling maniac doing the killing rather than the everyman soldiers
that are shown. But make no mistake, this is not a Nazi apologist movie, it
does not delve into the reasons for the extermination camps, the inner workings
of the SS, the reasons why such and such company won the contract to make
ZyklonB, or anything like that. It just purports to show a day in the camp; the
utter lack of humanity shown is the real horror here.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">There are a few problems that let the movie down.
Most of it is shot in first person at eye level, but there is a scene from
inside the gas chamber from high up to give a view of the whole room, a view that
no one would have seen the Holocaust from. Also in this shot, there are only
about 20 people inside, whereas guards talk of truckloads of 400 or 500 Jews
being transported. More extras should have been used for these scenes; it
wouldn’t have been very efficient if most of the room was empty space.
Sonderkommandos who survived confirmed that some people simply died standing up
as there was barely any room to fall over. Soldiers in the film talk of the
advance of the Russians, so I presumed it is set later in the war when the gas
chambers were built to house nearly a thousand people at a time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The scenes where toddlers are taken from their
mothers arms and shot was another problem. Too many cuts back and forth are
made, robbing the soldier of any moral thought (if there could be any) around
his actions. The camera should have been placed further back and no slow motion
used I felt. The way it was done only served to create a distinction between the
killing of the young and the old.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HNOgnPVQppc/UJ4sPxoXJ5I/AAAAAAAAAdY/iOXfwf5xIdk/s1600/auschwitz+uwe+boll.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HNOgnPVQppc/UJ4sPxoXJ5I/AAAAAAAAAdY/iOXfwf5xIdk/s200/auschwitz+uwe+boll.jpg" width="149" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This is not a sit down with some popcorn movie;
there are no heroes, no love story, no fancy special effects or soundtrack. The
people are faceless, and I think that is what some critics have a problem with.
If you want stories than I suggest you watch Claude Lanzmanns nine hour
documentary <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Shoah</i>, and that includes
accounts that are far more horrifying that anything in Bolls film. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Auschwitz</i> is an important film in the
canon of Holocaust movies because it is so matter of fact about the whole
thing. Other films hint at what goes on in a gas chamber, Boll shows it, is his
film any worse for doing this?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Of course showing one day, ignores the other years
of extermination that was carried out. You can’t watch this film expecting
answers or even reasons for the atrocity. I recommend you read books by Raul
Hilberg, or if you prefer, from someone who was really there, Primo Levi. A
visit to the vast collection of accounts on Yad Vashem is also recommended. </span><a href="http://www.yadvashem.org/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.yadvashem.org</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">
It was a shocking period in the history of our times, and something that still
resonates today. Genocide has affected places all over the globe in the
twentieth and twenty first centuries. The holocaust was responsible for over
six million deaths, this film only shows a glimpse of that horror while asking
have we learned anything, and that’s the really shocking part. It is a film you
really should see. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Auschwitz</i> is
available now on DVD.<o:p></o:p></span>Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01272222349248783867noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2625890483418173984.post-44267429147826830462012-11-08T14:32:00.000+00:002013-12-14T11:28:26.970+00:00Skyfall <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WE2Bilu8EHk/UJu_8n2zY0I/AAAAAAAAAcY/8KV7u9Ief6I/s1600/640_skyfall_banner_jamesbond_sony%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="117" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WE2Bilu8EHk/UJu_8n2zY0I/AAAAAAAAAcY/8KV7u9Ief6I/s320/640_skyfall_banner_jamesbond_sony%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">50 years, 23 films, six 007s, along with countless
women, cars, martinis and women, and we once again return to the world of James
Bond. Unless you’ve been living in a beach bar on some random island somewhere,
you can’t have failed to notice the advertising onslaught that accompanies the
latest film in the franchise, Skyfall. Soft drinks, beer, watches, laptops, you
name it. Everything worth peddling has gotten a stamp of approval from Bond.
But is the film itself worth watching?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In the build-up to its release it seemed everyone
was saying that this Bond was one of the best of all. Not just one of the best
Bond movies, but of any movie. Daniel Craig has never been better, Javier
Bardem one of the best villains ever, Sam Mendes behind the camera has
fashioned –insert superlative here- blah blah blah… unfortunately they lied. It’s
not that good; it’s not even one of the better Bonds. I mean it’s better than
Quantum of Solace (remember that?) but it’s not a patch on Daniel Craig’s first
foray as 007 in Casino Royale.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Now when I say that it’s not that good, I still
think it’s worth going to the cinema to watch it. It is a cut above the usual
stuff that makes it to your local Cineplex every weekend. But for one of the
biggest franchises in history, it could, no it should be so much better. Maybe
Casino Royale set the bar too high for any movie to follow, or maybe that film
came at just the right time after a couple of ridiculous outings for Pierce
Brosnan as Bond. Either way I was expecting something better from this latest
offering and was sorely disappointed with what was eventually served up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uu4lWyXzsbw/UJvAGxpQBCI/AAAAAAAAAcg/wlk0zhyZiSg/s1600/skyfall-banner-uk%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="162" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uu4lWyXzsbw/UJvAGxpQBCI/AAAAAAAAAcg/wlk0zhyZiSg/s320/skyfall-banner-uk%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Bourne does the 39 Steps…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It begins with the now obligatory ‘chase along
rooftops’ scene. The villain escapes though thanks to the help of Bonds inept
assistant, along with some coaxing from M. The next thing we see is James
falling into the gushing rapids of a river and hurtling off a waterfall; cue
the Adele sung intro. A very well done collage of confusion and death for Bond
follows, in what is surely one of the better done Bond intros.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">So James is dead. What do MI6 do in the event of an
agent’s death? Why sell all his stuff of course, we are in a recession after
all! But he’s not dead; it would make you wonder about the abilities of the
secret service when one of their own guys can disappear off the map so easily.
Turns out he was looking for the meaning of his life at the bottom of a bottle.
And a strategically held Heineken bottle at that. I don’t know of anyone who
when lying in bed with a beautiful woman drinks beer bottles held between their
thumb and forefinger, but he’s in a very dark place I guess. Just to hammer
home the fact that he is now an alcoholic mess, we see him downing shots in a
beach bar filled with screaming locals. Boy can that man drink! But one morning
while drinking alone in the same beach bar, he looks up from his stupor and
sees the latest news on CNN. Why do beach bars have news channels on the TV? Is
it any wonder there isn’t anyone there but Bond? According to the news, it
seems the headquarters of MI6 has been attacked. It’s time for 007 to get back
to work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">But first he has to prove his fitness for action.
Apparently sneaking into M’s house in the middle of the night, just after
someone blew up her office was not proof enough. Did I mention MI6 were now
holed up in some disused underground world war two bomb shelters? Well they
are! They should be safe from terrorism there, if not exactly safe from
parliamentary sub-committees. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This new diabolical terrorist is releasing the names
of British undercover agents, and no sooner are they released, then YouTube
clips of them being killed are uploaded to the internet. Damn you technology!!
Bond will have to put a stop to this by tracking down the guy who escaped from
his clutches in the opening scene. How do they track him down? By pulling
bullet fragments from Bond’s battered body, doing some CSI, determining that he
is one of only three assassins in the world that use this new high-tech
(useless?) weaponry, then through tapping mobile phones or something, they find
out he is heading halfway around the globe to kill someone. Only thing for it,
James sets off in pursuit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SUik58TUnkU/UJvCAR5Pg6I/AAAAAAAAAq0/5QCd521MPMs/s1600/skyfall+pic+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="161" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SUik58TUnkU/UJvCAR5Pg6I/AAAAAAAAAq0/5QCd521MPMs/s320/skyfall+pic+5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Now Bond doesn’t get there in time to stop the
overly elaborate assassination, but does get there in time to throw the guy off
a skyscraper and catch the eye of the local moll. This leads him then to a
dangerous gambling den, where he finds out about the island our main baddie is
living on. He’s warned not to go there of course, but that’s like a red rag to
a bull at this stage. To get there, and it must be miles away as it takes all
night, he’ll have to get on the only boat going there. So he waits until it’s
just about to leave... sneaks aboard… then takes off all his clothes and
‘surprises’ the bad guys girl as she is taking a shower? Now this is not rape
or anything, ‘cos well, you know, she was forced into prostitution from a young
age etc. He could have at least fed her a line or two beforehand. Plus she’ll
be dead in about ten minutes anyway!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I might also point out that during this, Bond was
sent over the girl who shot him at the start of the movie to help him with his
mission. But she only seemed to help him have a shave; remember; two days
stubble and he’ll begin to look like an alcoholic madman again. Plus shaving is
very manly. (Screenwriting101) Unfortunately there isn’t much chemistry there
and she doesn’t look much like a secret agent. Guns look awkward in her hands,
but each to their own. Probably why she is later…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Finally we met Javier Bardem’s villain Raoul Silva.
And he is the best thing about this movie; he eats up every scene he is in. He
really unnerves Bond and there is a menace to him you won’t quite be able to
put your finger on. You won’t be able to comprehend the motives of the things
he is doing either, but that’s neither here nor there. But two minutes after
meeting him, Bond captures him and takes him back to London. Now there is a
good hour or more left in the film, so I wonder what will happen next? Was it
all part of his plan? Will he escape? Are we about to see an obvious plot
twist? (Screenwriting101) Yes, yes we are. The villain who controls all the
computers of the world, somehow even your laptop at home, has planned
everything down to the finest detail. How diabolical!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">When he inevitably escapes and blows up half of
London, we find out he is trying kill M. So Bond comes up with the great idea
of only him and M getting into a car and driving up to Scotland. What car do
they use? An impeccably clean Aston Martin, which he has been keeping in a
garage somewhere, of course. He bloody loves this car! When Silva blows this
car to smithereens later with a helicopter, Bond seems to take the loss of his
car harder than the death of …<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MTzbt9pSeK4/UJvARrBKQXI/AAAAAAAAAq0/GDrJXXpvvVw/s1600/bonds+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="83" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MTzbt9pSeK4/UJvARrBKQXI/AAAAAAAAAq0/GDrJXXpvvVw/s320/bonds+3.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">SkyFail?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">So they head up to Scotland, to Skyfall to be exact.
It’s the name of his parents’ estate. Yep! That whole, ‘Skyfall?’….’done!’ clip
in the trailers? It was his house! So they head up there and wait for Silva to
come and kill them, not one of his best ideas. Maybe the only reasoning for
heading up there was that the place wouldn’t have any Wi-Fi, thus negating Silva’s
power with computers? Whatever the plan, Bond couldn’t have known that the old
groundskeeper that was around when he was a boy was still there! Hiding in a
dark corner of one room, just itching to get the old shotgun out. Grizzly old
men can only handle shotguns, poorly. Cue scene of shotgun cartridges dropping
on the floor during reloading! (Screenwriting101) This character could have
only worked if he was played by Sean Connery, but he isn’t and he doesn’t.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">James and the two octogenarians proceed to board the
house up as if the zombie apocalypse was happening. All the while Silva is
surely on his way because Q has left a trail of breadcrumbs only a computer
whizz could possibly decipher, which sould direct him towards them. And arrive
he does, with a small army and an ominous smile. He proceeds, with the help of
Bond, to blow the house to pieces. Good job James wasn’t too attached to the
place. While this is happening, luckily M and the groundskeeper had managed to
scurry to the nearby church. But M has been wounded and Bond has crashed
through the ice of a frozen lake. This plan isn’t going well at all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Silva wants to kill M, as we know, but he also wants
to kill himself! What a madman! But thankfully before he can shoot M in the
head, 007 arrives and kills him! Then M dies anyway?!? So Silva kind of got
what he wanted at the end in any event? Great plan James. It seems to me he
hasn’t completed a mission successfully during the whole film.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KFwE5togff0/UJvAq_0-XCI/AAAAAAAAAcw/jBFYKPBKkDE/s1600/Bond.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KFwE5togff0/UJvAq_0-XCI/AAAAAAAAAcw/jBFYKPBKkDE/s320/Bond.jpg" width="220" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">So there you have it, if you haven’t seen the film,
I’ve just ruined it, and if you have, I’ve just explained it. It is a good
action movie, shot brilliantly. I was just expecting so much more from a Bond
movie at this stage. The Bond girls were below par but this was because James
just wasn’t his usual suave self, they did not have a lot to work with. Moments
where I was expecting a James Bond type line were wasted more often than not,
leaving you with the feeling that Daniel Craig was just going through the
motions of a normal action movie.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">And while people say it cleverly pays homage to
previous bond films, it really doesn’t. References to ejector seats and
exploding pens came across as poking fun rather than revering the films that
came before. The CGI with the jumping on the komodo dragons just looked silly.
Again should we expect more from Bond at this stage, or were we spoiled with
Casino Royale, and are the makers finding it difficult to recapture that magic.
It seems to have returned to the one film good, three films poor ratio that
there has been in the series for so long now, but I hope I’m wrong.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">To wrap up! M is dead, Ralph Fiennes is the new M. Q
is pretty useless. Moneypenny has been taken off field work and put behind a
desk. Plus Bond has been cleared for action again. All neat and tidy.
(Screenwriting101) What about the list of agent’s names and the…? Shhhh! Quiet
you. Go listen to the boring Adele theme tune and don’t dwell on such things.
It really does seem like they rhymed a few lines with the word skyfall and just
sung them over and over. It’s not a patch on some other Bond themes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Skyfall is a cut above the rest of what’s out in the
cinema at the moment, but as a Bond fan I was left disappointed. If you haven’t
seen it, then do; and make up your own mind.
‘Skyfall?’…………………………………………………………………….. Done!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01272222349248783867noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2625890483418173984.post-69978409455123764812012-06-24T13:49:00.001+01:002014-12-07T11:37:46.140+00:00Video Game Ads 16-Bit & Beyond: Part TwoWe finish up, and skip a generation, with a look at a few Ads from the PS2. The massive success of the original PlayStation placed Sony firmly as top dog in the video game market. The PS2 was released in 2000 and is still being produced today, twelve years later! It may only be the big sports games, but at least it's still going.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB0VgSunTH3GaeEXnGMps4emx6WM6CdjzW0SDmoCD-20BuhxBSfhfHxD_s5ogs4T_SL5xa971fUGwEvmOzzAWpFfFoJH6MhM_fUBTW3Ltghj5UzdJCjXTn6FwOv4CCMEfxTDifIPnwvw4/s1600/devil+may+cry+ad+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB0VgSunTH3GaeEXnGMps4emx6WM6CdjzW0SDmoCD-20BuhxBSfhfHxD_s5ogs4T_SL5xa971fUGwEvmOzzAWpFfFoJH6MhM_fUBTW3Ltghj5UzdJCjXTn6FwOv4CCMEfxTDifIPnwvw4/s320/devil+may+cry+ad+001.jpg" height="320" width="207" /></a></div>
Capcom unveil the first in their popular Devil May Cry series. The selling point they focused on was that the game was from the creators of Resident Evil. It is said that Devil May Cry started out as a sequel to Resident Evil, but ended up become a game in its own right. Hideki Kamiya, who directed this game, also directed RE 2 and went on to work on Viewtiful Joe and Bayonetta, among others.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KyB9S9CmRms/T-cHn-4-A7I/AAAAAAAAAcA/dushAHLsP6M/s1600/extermination+ps2+ad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KyB9S9CmRms/T-cHn-4-A7I/AAAAAAAAAcA/dushAHLsP6M/s320/extermination+ps2+ad.jpg" height="249" width="320" /></a></div>
Released by Sony themselves, early on in the life of the PS2, was the survival horror game Extermination. It showed off some of the tricks of the PS2 but wasn't widely liked at the time, and isn't fondly remembered now. If remembered at all!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwR6iDBf3ipQBUBsIcGLhM3pNBhWzNaQTbPZdMbSpu85cyvGWmitjmoGomhGD5qs4MC-yTzYOHVFFHjKomrns0wMhKi0Fl2FhcgWAH9UScZ1ZLBE0dPGadvnecC5IH0vs4nl_eg_1s3t4/s1600/silent+hill2+ad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwR6iDBf3ipQBUBsIcGLhM3pNBhWzNaQTbPZdMbSpu85cyvGWmitjmoGomhGD5qs4MC-yTzYOHVFFHjKomrns0wMhKi0Fl2FhcgWAH9UScZ1ZLBE0dPGadvnecC5IH0vs4nl_eg_1s3t4/s320/silent+hill2+ad.jpg" height="250" width="320" /></a></div>
For the PS2 and Xbox comes Konami game Silent Hill 2. It is not a proper sequel to the first game, but is set in that eerie town of Silent Hill again. I remember getting the soundtrack CD when buying this game. Creepily ambient stuff.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JCd9hR6HNBY/T-cHuaQ8W-I/AAAAAAAAAcM/ttNI7QBJV80/s1600/ico+ad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JCd9hR6HNBY/T-cHuaQ8W-I/AAAAAAAAAcM/ttNI7QBJV80/s320/ico+ad.jpg" height="249" width="320" /></a></div>
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A two-page spread for Ico in the form of a maze. Can you find your way from the start to the finish? An excellent game that recently got a HD upgrading on the PS3. One of the true classics from that era of gaming. The game doesn't take too long to finish, but you don't feel short changed as it plays so well.Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01272222349248783867noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2625890483418173984.post-48527800143126801152012-06-24T12:38:00.001+01:002013-12-14T13:57:40.799+00:00Video Game Ads 16-Bit & Beyond<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We return to our look at advertisements from the nineties by moving up to the 16-Bit era. Improvement in graphical muscle can only mean a parallel improvement in the marketing of games, yes?</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2-_J8xgseyk/T-bytJkBEYI/AAAAAAAAAbk/YMQHdeP4W00/s1600/flashback+genesis+ad+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2-_J8xgseyk/T-bytJkBEYI/AAAAAAAAAbk/YMQHdeP4W00/s320/flashback+genesis+ad+001.jpg" width="204" /></a></div>
First up, US Gold (remember them?) and Delphine Software bring us Flashback on the MegaDrive. Boasting that it's the first game to sqeeze CD quality images onto a humble cartridge, using a massive 12 Megs! The cut scenes in this game were brilliant for the time, but I honestly can't remember getting past the first level? Doesn't this print Ad just ooze excitement??<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5rAcvyaCHxc/T-bypX4pkqI/AAAAAAAAAbc/DHvBohsjAy4/s1600/royal+rumble+ad+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5rAcvyaCHxc/T-bypX4pkqI/AAAAAAAAAbc/DHvBohsjAy4/s320/royal+rumble+ad+001.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
Hey Chico! The WWF got everywhere back in the 90s. Here we see the 5 major systems of the time each getting a wrestling game. But the main focus is on Royal Rumble, which was coming out on the SNES and Genesis. A fun game in multiplayer, made all the better by including one of the best wrestlers ever in the roster, 'The Model' Rick Martel. His pic does not appear on this Ad unfortunately!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PkqrWHEtfg8/T-bymNWKVsI/AAAAAAAAAbU/3R9MCwVH4cE/s1600/mortal+kombat+2+ad+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PkqrWHEtfg8/T-bymNWKVsI/AAAAAAAAAbU/3R9MCwVH4cE/s320/mortal+kombat+2+ad+001.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
What can I say about Mortal Kombat II that hasn't been said? It came out on all the main systems, and everyone played it at one time or another. Of all the versions that came out in the end, the 32X version is my favourite.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmv3Z6L-6Kk_uKafOGEhNOZhUxOFcDKAL4-GuPmZJ58PCDhjD9LgLfgAYYPjgrmSryqKCoqCJzN_HEyL8TrFhZUQ6pPBn5aPbUexNf7RzABe2wU7fmzpToC_8hCexG8IK7bZxSkwEzvnA/s1600/rocket+knight+adventures+ad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmv3Z6L-6Kk_uKafOGEhNOZhUxOFcDKAL4-GuPmZJ58PCDhjD9LgLfgAYYPjgrmSryqKCoqCJzN_HEyL8TrFhZUQ6pPBn5aPbUexNf7RzABe2wU7fmzpToC_8hCexG8IK7bZxSkwEzvnA/s320/rocket+knight+adventures+ad.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Konami released one of the best games on the Genesis with Rocket Knight Adventures. Its part platform game, part shooter. It's bright and colourful and stars an Opossum called Sparkster. Later Konami released a sequel, simply called Sparkster.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-74hIJ5cpPBY/T-byY040HJI/AAAAAAAAAq0/XfbBwi20Kj0/s1600/lethal+enforcers2+ad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="249" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-74hIJ5cpPBY/T-byY040HJI/AAAAAAAAAq0/XfbBwi20Kj0/s320/lethal+enforcers2+ad.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Go west young man! Konami follow up the popular Lethal Enforcers game with a sequel set in the old west called Gunfighters. It was ported over from the Arcade to the MegaDrive and MegaCD. You could also buy it with the Justifier LightGun, shown here bottom left. I think it only came in bright blue though, so police wouldn't confuse it with a real gun and blow you away while playing the game.Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01272222349248783867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2625890483418173984.post-24735876111768542802012-04-15T00:07:00.002+01:002012-04-15T00:07:23.332+01:00Video Game Ads from Comic Books of the late 80s, early 90sSome more NES games and a few GameBoy games this time, as we move into the early nineties. As we move forward the standard of advertising is surely going to get better!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxzY09TSNHhp04OxEMvTM68NVW15HX4B8HNJsLyuz4GfKoZPL_ZOBsjr-FBJshX8ffTfNNvltacD7ZBuwjUVeZY85Y1qA7YqNfVLa-L7At2cVjpMnfeQYPIbcYgKwH933vFSBvRaARAG8/s1600/4+tengen+nes+games+ad+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxzY09TSNHhp04OxEMvTM68NVW15HX4B8HNJsLyuz4GfKoZPL_ZOBsjr-FBJshX8ffTfNNvltacD7ZBuwjUVeZY85Y1qA7YqNfVLa-L7At2cVjpMnfeQYPIbcYgKwH933vFSBvRaARAG8/s320/4+tengen+nes+games+ad+001.jpg" width="199" /></a></div>
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Tengen here were going right ahead with releasing games that did not have the official Nintendo seal of quality on them. Here are four games packed and ready to go. Gauntlet, Pac-Man and RBI Baseball would all later be repackaged as licenced games. Tetris on the other hand would only be on the shelves for a few weeks before Nintendo got it removed so they could release their own, some would say inferior, version. Tengen Tetris is now one of the rarer NES carts.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QdeoyZlwZPk/T4nsOxndmMI/AAAAAAAAAaY/5-hCSPOPpGk/s1600/metal+gear+nes+ad+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QdeoyZlwZPk/T4nsOxndmMI/AAAAAAAAAaY/5-hCSPOPpGk/s320/metal+gear+nes+ad+001.jpg" width="202" /></a></div>
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The original Metal Gear on NES. Here we see all the amazing gadgets you could use in your mission, stressing that your transceiver is the most important piece of kit. Of course 'you'll have to supply the wits'!!</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Lt2iNWOwT6U/T4nsS3NH5zI/AAAAAAAAAag/Ys3lfdD7Ztg/s1600/ultra+games+ad+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Lt2iNWOwT6U/T4nsS3NH5zI/AAAAAAAAAag/Ys3lfdD7Ztg/s320/ultra+games+ad+001.jpg" width="201" /></a></div>
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Ultra Games were a division of Konami, founded as a way to get around Nintendo's strict rules on publishers releasing games for the NES. You were only allowed release five games a year according to Nintendo. This page scan shows Defender of the Crown, Skate or Die and the Turtles, but even Ultra knew we only wanted some Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle action. Palcom was Konami's equivalent to Ultra in Europe.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TA8nxGPSxpI/T4nsZKjQvaI/AAAAAAAAAao/2Wla4ThhJxc/s1600/bill+and+ted+nes+gameboy+ad+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TA8nxGPSxpI/T4nsZKjQvaI/AAAAAAAAAao/2Wla4ThhJxc/s320/bill+and+ted+nes+gameboy+ad+001.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
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LJN released video games for their parent company Acclaim, usually licenced games. Usually bad licenced games! These Bill & Ted tie-in games are no exceptions. The NES version has you searching different time periods for historical figures, while the GameBoy game is just a one screen action/puzzle game. Both are far from excellent.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EgCRq2JA17c/T4nseFLFflI/AAAAAAAAAaw/OfCDkXSwVZc/s1600/castlevania2+gameboy+ad+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EgCRq2JA17c/T4nseFLFflI/AAAAAAAAAaw/OfCDkXSwVZc/s320/castlevania2+gameboy+ad+001.jpg" width="206" /></a></div>
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Konami had a Castlevania series on the GameBoy that ran parallel to the NES games. It's main character was Christopher Belmont, who I think only appears in these early GameBoy releases. I believe he may be Simon Belmont of NES Castlevania's, Great Grandfather.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TEv7zM4IvgE/T4nslqA588I/AAAAAAAAAa4/P5yZhJuSRg4/s1600/sf2+gameboy+ad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TEv7zM4IvgE/T4nslqA588I/AAAAAAAAAa4/P5yZhJuSRg4/s320/sf2+gameboy+ad.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
This two page spread is unbelievably for the GameBoy version of Street Fighter II. Was 'Your Momma' really that funny back then? I'm not sure who this ad was aimed at, but seeing as they only included two SuperGameBoy screenshots of the game, I presume it was the millions (may have figures wrong) of owners of that particular piece of SNES gaming equipment.Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01272222349248783867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2625890483418173984.post-58661644008563652992012-04-14T22:15:00.000+01:002013-12-14T13:50:11.355+00:00Video Game Ads from Comic Books of the late 80sNow we start moving up in years, and onto the powerhouse advertising of the NES. By far the biggest console of the late eighties and early nineties. If you did not have one under your telly yourself, you would certainly know someone who did.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj5bUp3iA245sUcnCZ94ShvZaqVu1sf44RgW1zTSVIDqaU57VBBpH9LbGQpiBjqqGT3HzvLxgqFGLlOwrm76qh46vI-aG-Vt__tqTQ8rl4ErcCXZrqfQ5RV2qKQCYEKp-8NB33WNbgNI8/s1600/wwf+nes+ad+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj5bUp3iA245sUcnCZ94ShvZaqVu1sf44RgW1zTSVIDqaU57VBBpH9LbGQpiBjqqGT3HzvLxgqFGLlOwrm76qh46vI-aG-Vt__tqTQ8rl4ErcCXZrqfQ5RV2qKQCYEKp-8NB33WNbgNI8/s320/wwf+nes+ad+001.jpg" width="220" /></a></div>
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Back in 1989 Hulk Hogan and the WWF were massively popular. And Acclaim brought out the first official game just in time for WrestleMania V, where the Hulkster defeated the Macho Man Randy Savage to win back the Championship belt. The game featured 6 of the most popular wrestlers of the day, and despite the limited move-set was good fun in multiplayer. It was very different from the WWF games that followed over the next number of years. It was developed by Rare and I'm guessing sold bloody millions. Well, maybe an exaggeration, but surely sold more than the VCR board game they also advertised. How would that work?</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O6082wxl-PQ/T4na7umxj-I/AAAAAAAAAq0/9-5OcY8Es3o/s1600/pac+man+tengen+nes+ad+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O6082wxl-PQ/T4na7umxj-I/AAAAAAAAAq0/9-5OcY8Es3o/s320/pac+man+tengen+nes+ad+001.jpg" width="204" /></a></div>
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Who doesn't know Pac-Man right? Althought the picture of him on this Tengen NES conversion isn't the most flattering! Tengen released an unlicensed and licensed version for the NES, (this one's licensed) but it was just a reworking of Namcots Famicom Pac-Man that had come out in 1984.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Xm7VUVdBZtY/T4nbAPphFiI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/C0GgCvpPE4E/s1600/operation+wolf+ad+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Xm7VUVdBZtY/T4nbAPphFiI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/C0GgCvpPE4E/s320/operation+wolf+ad+001.jpg" width="201" /></a></div>
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Taito had a big hit on their hands with the Operation Wolf coin-op, and it was released on every system around at the time. This NES version was a little slow for my taste, but at least you could dust off the old Zapper gun, which was only used for shooting ducks. This ad has some pretty cool Commando style artwork, but sadly no screenshots. Hmmm... something to hide maybe? You weren't expecting an arcade perfect conversion now were you?</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-URZ9TnRk2fo/T4nbDiwsC5I/AAAAAAAAAaA/Hyok4EfEodk/s1600/bubble+bobble+ad+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-URZ9TnRk2fo/T4nbDiwsC5I/AAAAAAAAAaA/Hyok4EfEodk/s320/bubble+bobble+ad+001.jpg" width="204" /></a></div>
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Again Taito refrain from putting screen shots on the advertisement. This time for the arcade conversion of Bubble Bobble. Maybe they thought the text would suffice in selling the game to people? But when the first line is the rather tongue-twisting, 'These are two hungry Dino-Mights and they've got bubble fight'n fun down tight', I'm not so sure.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lOG7ozerAUw/T4nbHXZ6kQI/AAAAAAAAAaI/cZjgJ2VhiEM/s1600/taito+nes+games+ad+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lOG7ozerAUw/T4nbHXZ6kQI/AAAAAAAAAaI/cZjgJ2VhiEM/s320/taito+nes+games+ad+001.jpg" width="203" /></a></div>
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Here Taito show four of their NES arcade conversions on one page. Focusing mainly on the rather solid conversion of Bubble Bobble. The ropey Operation Wolf conversion that has already been mentioned. A conversion of Toaplan's Sky Shark, also known as Flying Shark. Taito also converted Technos' Renegade, but it was only one-player and not a patch on the later Double Dragon.</div>
Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01272222349248783867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2625890483418173984.post-54499867389974993422011-09-01T14:54:00.007+01:002013-12-14T13:48:09.523+00:00Video Game Ads from comic books of the early to mid 80s, Part 2The second part of our look at some advertisements from the early to mid eighties.
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pJaSv2W_0gs/Tl-Pli-AACI/AAAAAAAAAq0/CBEYkVmYwfQ/s1600/q+bert+1984+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pJaSv2W_0gs/Tl-Pli-AACI/AAAAAAAAAq0/CBEYkVmYwfQ/s320/q+bert+1984+001.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
Here Parker Brothers bring foul-mouthed Q*Bert to your Atari. The screenshot alone should be enough to have you rushing down to the shops to buy it.
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oeQsR3Onm8E/Tl-PldE0tuI/AAAAAAAAAq0/uKrtQ1_FWGA/s1600/sw+rotj+death+star+battle+ad+1984+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oeQsR3Onm8E/Tl-PldE0tuI/AAAAAAAAAq0/uKrtQ1_FWGA/s320/sw+rotj+death+star+battle+ad+1984+001.jpg" width="217" /></a></div>
This is an advertisement for Star Wars: Return of the Jedi tie-in game, Death Star Battle from 1984. A game where you fly the Millennium Falcon through an enemy force-field before taking down the evil Death Star. All in glorious Atari 2600 graphics! Now why doesn't George Lucas go back and tinker with games like these, they were surely not what he envisioned?
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AQgvjQjXUnA/Tl-PEuC5NAI/AAAAAAAAAq0/1DTseT3bTQU/s1600/powerlords+ad+1984+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AQgvjQjXUnA/Tl-PEuC5NAI/AAAAAAAAAq0/1DTseT3bTQU/s320/powerlords+ad+1984+001.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
Power Lords is a game released in 1983 for the Magnavox Odyssey 2 and announced but never released for the Colecovision. It is based on the toy line and comic book that was around at the time. The toys were generally crap looking and the comic only lasted three issues, so that's why no-one remembers this flop series nowadays. This game is pretty rare I believe, being one of the last games released on the Odyssey.
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4jlTH0S336Y/Tl-PEaU6k3I/AAAAAAAAAq0/uhRFrcOpTmM/s1600/pitfall+2+ad+1985+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4jlTH0S336Y/Tl-PEaU6k3I/AAAAAAAAAq0/uhRFrcOpTmM/s320/pitfall+2+ad+1985+001.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
The sequel to the much loved Pitfall by David Crane arrives for your Atari, Apple, IBM PC and from the Ad above, the mighty C64. Pitfall II Lost Caverns did away with cartoon representation of platforming and instead went with a picture of a man entering a cave. Every young boys dream in the early eighties I'm sure.
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0j8UUS8hf1A/Tl-PELvIR-I/AAAAAAAAAq0/vP3KBmrpLiA/s1600/joust+atari+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0j8UUS8hf1A/Tl-PELvIR-I/AAAAAAAAAq0/vP3KBmrpLiA/s320/joust+atari+001.jpg" width="209" /></a></div>
Long Ago, In the Distant Future?!? Joust comes to your home Atari systems. The arcade hit is so popular they don't need screenshots to show whats going on, as presumably everybody knows already how to steal giant eggs. For you see as it says... You Don't Play It... You Live It!
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UPoSwhFzfPk/Tl-PD9Olf-I/AAAAAAAAAq0/rQAXFrwALLE/s1600/he+man+ad+1984+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UPoSwhFzfPk/Tl-PD9Olf-I/AAAAAAAAAq0/rQAXFrwALLE/s320/he+man+ad+1984+001.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
The Masters Of The Universe game from Mattel on Intellivision and Atari 2600. The Power of He-Man uses SuperGraphics to bring your battles with Skeletor to life, or as near was possible on the Intellivision anyways. You got a free comic when you bought this too if I remember.<br />
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Ghostbusters, the box-office smash hit movie gets converted to home systems by David Crane for Activision. Here we finally get some screen shots of the game in action for the Commodore 64. Brilliant game, brilliant movie, what more could you ask for?</div>
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Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01272222349248783867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2625890483418173984.post-49091861737519673982011-07-15T03:40:00.007+01:002013-12-14T13:41:24.422+00:00Video Game Ads from comic books of the early to mid 80s, Part 1I have a large selection of comics going back a number of years, and while thirty years ago kids seemed to be excited by remote control cars, offers of posters of John Travolta, or body building equipment?? Eventually video games start to creep into these pages. So the next number of posts will focus on the ads from the early eighties to the late nineties. It gives me an excuse to use my scanner (yes, it does work) and to look over some classic Swamp Thing and Legion of Super Heroes comics. Aah, the days when Marvel and D.C. didn't need an earth shattering event every six months to screw with continuity and generally mess up their universes.<br />
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Atari presents Mario Bros. from 1983. It promises exciting two-player action for your Atari 2600 and 5200 in an arcade port of some sort of plumbing simulator, it'll never catch on.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eVsTBY8Q2KY/Th-pS1PR-NI/AAAAAAAAAq0/Nqit5D0RR8k/s1600/frogger+ad+1984+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eVsTBY8Q2KY/Th-pS1PR-NI/AAAAAAAAAq0/Nqit5D0RR8k/s320/frogger+ad+1984+001.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
Wow, Frogger was so popular it had to be released on no less than 8 different systems! The Sega arcade hit from 1983 really could not be avoided (insert traffic reference here). At least they show an actual screenshot from the Atari 5200 version in this ad rather than a sneaky artists impression of what the game kind of looks like that some ads go for. Which of the eight versions is the best? Hell if I know! You wonder why there was a videogame crash!<br />
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Here is a spread for Frogger from a year earlier for your Atari Video Computer System. This contains the artists depiction of the game in action. This must have driven Frogger fans into a near frenzy. It's just like the arcade!! Coming Soon! Parker Brothers promised, with little indication that it would spawn (get it?) so many Froggers.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaxv2iikwz0A76HY_My9FCU3b132eOzTzWa7pcKutddy7C0iiToU6-yJi__9DBUiIxa8DdBeZWj7YrWAoVYSpRp2I-iU9iQATjM43shdqCVe1_ihW7HKyUlFAzuCpJvxHJyzS1iOvmQu8/s1600/burger+time+ad+1983+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaxv2iikwz0A76HY_My9FCU3b132eOzTzWa7pcKutddy7C0iiToU6-yJi__9DBUiIxa8DdBeZWj7YrWAoVYSpRp2I-iU9iQATjM43shdqCVe1_ihW7HKyUlFAzuCpJvxHJyzS1iOvmQu8/s320/burger+time+ad+1983+001.jpg" width="206" /></a></div>
Burger Time was another conversion of an arcade hit, this time by Data East, that would be coming soon to pretty much any system you could possibly have connected to your monitor or TV. It does come with a health warning though, "Graphics vary by system". Why be a knight or a space marine, when you could be a chef flipping burgers?<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IfHOwQAb6lg/Th-o5JC3BdI/AAAAAAAAAq0/dAUPLzhGhRg/s1600/bump+n+jump+ad+1984+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IfHOwQAb6lg/Th-o5JC3BdI/AAAAAAAAAq0/dAUPLzhGhRg/s320/bump+n+jump+ad+1984+001.jpg" width="201" /></a></div>
Look, it's pretty straight forward, you either bump'em or jump'em, there is no third option. Race'em? Don't be stupid, where's the fun in that exactly? Mattel Electronics bring another Data East coin-op to the home with versions for both the Intellivision and the Atari 2600.<br />
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Mattel bring Advanced Dungeons and Dragons to your Intellivision. Ignore the archer with the impossibly wide stance trying to down the big green monster and look at that screenshot. Is that a snake? jewel? castle? wolf? Use your imagination... but I don't think the Intellivision control pad has enough buttons to keep up with my imagination!</div>
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The sequel to the first AD&D, Treasure of Tarmin would be released by Mattel not long after the first game, which was called Cloudy Mountain apparently. Again for this ad, ignore the archer surrounded by nasties, holding a bow that's taller than he is, and look at that in-game screen. Is that a spider? a Catoblepas? a blue polyhedral dice eating monster? Holy crap it's like Doom with arrows. </div>
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Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01272222349248783867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2625890483418173984.post-694656359161672772011-07-02T16:44:00.006+01:002013-12-14T13:31:29.008+00:00Alternative Software catalogue from the early 90s<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DS_Q0ROlQiU/Tg89G4djlmI/AAAAAAAAAq0/ZuqDNJUPcss/s1600/alt+games+ad2+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="269" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DS_Q0ROlQiU/Tg89G4djlmI/AAAAAAAAAq0/ZuqDNJUPcss/s320/alt+games+ad2+001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Alternative Software released games across all the 8-bit and 16-bit computers in the late eighties and early nineties. (They are still going strong today, but seem to have an unhealthy obsession with rugby league games!) They released games for a budget price, usually new releases covering popular kids tv characters of the time, SuperTed, Fireman Sam, etc. Or re-released older games by other companies for the not unreasonable price of £2.99 or some for the shockingly higher price of £3.99.<br />
Here is a look at a selection of games they had for sale in their catalogue all those years ago. I think I remember finding this in a copy of Popeye 3: WrestleCrazy. Popeye+Aliens+Wrestling=What could go wrong? Zzapp didn't think this game was up to much. It was a colourful if a little basic one-on-one fighter, one that I never loaded up more than a handful of times.<br />
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It invited you to join the Alternative Software Club for free, so you could get all the information on new releases. Plus if there was a game you wanted and couldn't find it in the shop, just send a cheque or postal order off for £2.99 and it would be sent straight out to you. Don't get too excited C16 owners, as there are only two games in this catalogue for you, Pheenix and Real Stunt Expert, oh well!<br />
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Strangely, with this being bundled late in the day of the C64s life with Popeye 3 and after they had carefully labelled the price for you to be able to order games off them. They seem to have made a mistake with the Swords and Sorcery game. <strong>Or did they? </strong>It shows itself here as being available for the Speccy, Amstrad CPC and the C64. (middle row, fourth from right) Now this game was released originally by P.S.S. in 84/85 for both the Spectrum and CPC. Games That Werent 64 list it as never having been released for the good old 64. See here - <a href="http://www.gtw64.co.uk/Pages/s/Review_Swords.php">http://www.gtw64.co.uk/Pages/s/Review_Swords.php</a> So is this just a mistake or did Alternative port a version over to sell for the commodore when they picked up the rights to the game? Unlikely, but I guess we can live in hope until the truth is revealed.</div>
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At the budget price and the quality of some of the re-issues, there was barely a C64 owner who didn't have at least one Alternative game in their collection. As for Popeye 3, maybe I should give it another whirl. In my youth I was blinded by the need to play WWF European Rampage Tour which was awful, and so easy to complete too. I mean Popeye 3 is at least better than the Amiga version isn't it? Score One for the 64!</div>
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Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01272222349248783867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2625890483418173984.post-77003075035766129832011-06-29T14:01:00.033+01:002013-12-14T15:03:22.592+00:00The Official Game Boy Players Guide<div>
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Released in 1992 this players guide from Nintendo came out right as the Game Boy was taking off and had a decent library of games. It was published by Nintendo of Europe, Nintendo Power in America released a similar guide for the Game Boy in 1991 but with different games. Coming in at nearly 150 pages it covers twenty six games under six categories - The Incredible Worlds of Mario (which you can see above) - Sports - Motor Mania - Comic Book Heroes - Movie Heroes - and Classics. Why Duck Tales are in Movie Heroes and Bugs Bunny is in Comic Book Heroes, I guess we'll never know?<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZPSadJWUEy8/TgsshnbWL5I/AAAAAAAAAq0/uOnDssw_L8Y/s1600/gameboy+guide+ghostbusters2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="138" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZPSadJWUEy8/TgsshnbWL5I/AAAAAAAAAq0/uOnDssw_L8Y/s200/gameboy+guide+ghostbusters2.JPG" style="cursor: move;" unselectable="on" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kCApYhqUXEM/TgsswfITAbI/AAAAAAAAAq0/JguURrFAUPk/s1600/gameboy+guide+ducktales.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="137" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kCApYhqUXEM/TgsswfITAbI/AAAAAAAAAq0/JguURrFAUPk/s200/gameboy+guide+ducktales.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QY0UWPdk-qM/TgssF0yA0OI/AAAAAAAAAq0/S9-T2LTt-28/s1600/gameboy+guide+nintendo+world+cup.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="138" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QY0UWPdk-qM/TgssF0yA0OI/AAAAAAAAAq0/S9-T2LTt-28/s200/gameboy+guide+nintendo+world+cup.JPG" width="200" /></a>The guide for each game gives plenty of clear screenshots and often will put multiple screens together to make a handy map for you to follow. There are lots of little illustrations on the pages, the Japanese illustrators would mostly go on to draw guides to pokemon games, which I'm sure gave them a bit more freedom than drawing little F1 cars and 18 holes of a golf course! Here you see Duck Tales, Ghostbusters 2 and Nintendo World Cup. All are scaled down versions of their NES cousins. Nintendo World Cup on the NES is still one of my favourite games.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zPHcPWskj3w/TgsrRdB7iGI/AAAAAAAAAq0/knUG2wm7IRk/s1600/gameboy+guide+rtype.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="140" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zPHcPWskj3w/TgsrRdB7iGI/AAAAAAAAAq0/knUG2wm7IRk/s200/gameboy+guide+rtype.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Tukmh5j0o-s/TgsqTg4TBHI/AAAAAAAAAq0/Qp_MUnHJeL4/s1600/gameboy+guide+wwf.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Tukmh5j0o-s/TgsqTg4TBHI/AAAAAAAAAq0/Qp_MUnHJeL4/s200/gameboy+guide+wwf.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YFtSJOTtwiU/TgsqvF50JhI/AAAAAAAAAq0/4rkHslQyBVk/s1600/gameboy+guide+turtles.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="140" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YFtSJOTtwiU/TgsqvF50JhI/AAAAAAAAAq0/4rkHslQyBVk/s200/gameboy+guide+turtles.JPG" width="200" /></a>R-Type got conversion to the Game Boy and this guide shows you how to beat its six levels before warning you that you will have to play the levels over again only this time much tougher. The Bydo Empire still LIVES! The Turtles Fall of the Foot Clan guide takes you up to stage 4-1, but there is still three more levels and bosses to go after that, maybe they thought no one would get there? WWF Superstars is covered in the Sports section of the guide, because back then it was real! There are only five superstars to choose from (two of which have now passed away) but they all pretty much have the same moves. You really need to invest in a link cable to get the most out of this one.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rg4ORxF9Nnw/TgspRXO9VFI/AAAAAAAAAq0/JOa4OlRY-1s/s1600/golf+american+course.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rg4ORxF9Nnw/TgspRXO9VFI/AAAAAAAAAq0/JOa4OlRY-1s/s200/golf+american+course.JPG" width="148" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oRGDFc2DkDY/TgsprOiZPiI/AAAAAAAAAq0/F5CQdMNyFiA/s1600/golf+japanese+course+close+up.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="53" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oRGDFc2DkDY/TgsprOiZPiI/AAAAAAAAAq0/F5CQdMNyFiA/s200/golf+japanese+course+close+up.JPG" width="200" /></a>Here are some pics from the guide for Golf. Along with the neat little picture of the layout of each hole you get some advice on which club to use and where. It's like having your own little caddie.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--d8SkLIR3Bs/TgsouKd3MvI/AAAAAAAAAq0/ZelSEDMBpIc/s1600/gameboy+batman+boss.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="163" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--d8SkLIR3Bs/TgsouKd3MvI/AAAAAAAAAq0/ZelSEDMBpIc/s200/gameboy+batman+boss.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6gKTU0Xs8Yg/Tgsoa2zBueI/AAAAAAAAAq0/AuRzAl0R4Yw/s1600/gameboy+guide+batman.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="135" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6gKTU0Xs8Yg/Tgsoa2zBueI/AAAAAAAAAq0/AuRzAl0R4Yw/s200/gameboy+guide+batman.JPG" width="200" /></a>Batman was one of my favourite games on the Game Boy back then, part platformer part shoot'em'up. The guide here dedicates eight pages to showing you how to gain victory, as you can see from the yellow box. I guess the editor preferred this game over the Turtles.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nEibiN4Kop0/TgsjZ0pwoII/AAAAAAAAAq0/KkRp4pWAe9w/s1600/gameboy+guide+4game1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nEibiN4Kop0/TgsjZ0pwoII/AAAAAAAAAq0/KkRp4pWAe9w/s200/gameboy+guide+4game1.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kZloglc9cAQ/TgsoDLr6_dI/AAAAAAAAAq0/z5e2EC8csRE/s1600/gameboy+guide+4game2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="136" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kZloglc9cAQ/TgsoDLr6_dI/AAAAAAAAAq0/z5e2EC8csRE/s200/gameboy+guide+4game2.JPG" width="200" /></a>At the back of the book they give the lowdown on some other games you can pick up for your Game Boy. I played the Terminator 2 game a lot too.</div>
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Here are some more games, along with these there are guides to Gremlins 2, Tennis, The Chessmaster and lots of others. Apologies (again) for the bad quality pics, I was going to scan the pages but the guide has one rigid spine on it and I just went ahead and used my camera. When I have more time I'll scan them all up properly. Although I've promised that now a few times, I guess I better get my act together! If there is any particular game our page you want scanned, then just let me know.</div>
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At the very back of the guide there are two page spreads showing Nintendos home consoles. This being around the time of the death of the NES and the dawning of the SNES. There is also advertisements for other products, who wouldn't want a hip pouch for their Game Boy? and this, the Nintendo Entertainment System Players Guide. Unfortunately I don't have a copy of this guide, nor have I seen much about it on the internet either. Have you got a copy?</div>
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<img height="66" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZPSadJWUEy8/TgsshnbWL5I/AAAAAAAAAq0/uOnDssw_L8Y/s200/gameboy+guide+ghostbusters2.JPG" style="left: 584px; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 275px;" width="96" />Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01272222349248783867noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2625890483418173984.post-13536656222392116442011-06-04T01:40:00.004+01:002013-12-14T13:09:27.275+00:00L.A. Noire<div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HYoSu63u_IE/TemBkduQm9I/AAAAAAAAAq0/KeyUG0PJTN4/s1600/la-noire-box-.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HYoSu63u_IE/TemBkduQm9I/AAAAAAAAAq0/KeyUG0PJTN4/s200/la-noire-box-.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
So the big game out at the minute is L.A. Noire, it’s out two weeks at this stage. I’m finished my exams, (that’s where I was!) and so I decide to purchase a game on the Friday to tide me over for a couple of weeks. I have a mountain of games to get through but a new game seemed like the just reward for the previous few months’ efforts. I was led to believe this game was the next big thing, hours of solid cop/detective work in a GTA style world within the setting of 1940s Los Angeles, what could go wrong?<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zgtmlIxF8oE/TemBjze7NEI/AAAAAAAAAq0/npyOEJJO5as/s1600/LA-Noire+cole.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="120" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zgtmlIxF8oE/TemBjze7NEI/AAAAAAAAAq0/npyOEJJO5as/s200/LA-Noire+cole.jpg" width="200" /></a>You play as Cole Phelps as he rises through the ranks of the LAPD, from patrol, to traffic, to homicide, to vice and then the arson desk. That’s a demotion from vice due to your bad behaviour and the opportunism of your partner Roy Earle, but you get to play as Jack Kelso, a private investigator for the District Attorney for most of this desk, until the end of the game looking into the Suburban Redevelopment Fund. Cole is played by Aaron Staton, best known for his role in the series Mad Men. Quite a few of the characters are also in Mad Men, I’ll be honest I’ve never watched it. And a number of faces are familiar from movies and T.V. shows, the graphics really are impressive and the facial expressions are brilliantly done and are very life like. The voice acting is similarly top notch, aided by the good scripting of each case and the interlinking flashbacks and newspaper headlines; at least it shows that they took the storytelling element seriously. It borrows heavily from the films and crimes of the era, but what game doesn’t borrow elements from something else, RPGs have been peddling the same abandoned youth with patchy memory story for thirty years. People seem to prefer a twist on an old formula rather than anything new.<br />
So why, after three evenings of playing and 91.4% game completion do I feel…, well, feel nothing?<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UF6Hbvq3CpI/TemEeWXNG2I/AAAAAAAAAq0/SO2ik5PM3zI/s1600/la+noire+film+reel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="98" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UF6Hbvq3CpI/TemEeWXNG2I/AAAAAAAAAq0/SO2ik5PM3zI/s200/la+noire+film+reel.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-33frHT5o27c/TemBkGgFgTI/AAAAAAAAAq0/n3lzXzl83Kg/s1600/la+noire+paper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-33frHT5o27c/TemBkGgFgTI/AAAAAAAAAq0/n3lzXzl83Kg/s200/la+noire+paper.jpg" width="200" /></a>I bought my copy in HMV, it’s a fiver cheaper and I reasoned any extra mission downloads would amount to an hour or twos play so why not get them all later in some sort of game of the year edition. Sneaky publishers! But as I flew through the cases and the discs, (the Xbox 360 version) I was wondering if I was missing something, would the cases be that different if I replayed them to try and get a five star ranking? I was collecting all the newspapers; I’d seen nearly all the landmarks from zipping up and down the map answering all the calls from dispatch. Only the golden film reels eluded me on the first play through. I never had to replay a scene more than twice, I didn’t realise you could skip scenes until I got held up while being chased by a bulldozer in a trench, but I got the hang of that one in the end. Where was this great game that was being lauded in the press?<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Yl5wXuN_yuY/TemDLuMHESI/AAAAAAAAAq0/o_3sI0-HRSw/s1600/la-noire_cole+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Yl5wXuN_yuY/TemDLuMHESI/AAAAAAAAAq0/o_3sI0-HRSw/s200/la-noire_cole+2.jpg" width="200" /></a>I’ll explain what I got out of the game after I’d finished it in a little over twenty hours and sit currently with thirty hours on the clock, the last few hours spent running around looking for film reels and revisiting the odd case to stave off boredom, you know where the clues are to be found and can get your partner to do all the driving, leaving you with the interrogating to do and not much else really. I will be spoiling some of the plot, but if you have the game and haven’t finished it at this stage you’re probably staring at the ‘insert disc 2 now’ screen, and I’ll only be doing you a favour. And if you are yet to pick the game up? Well maybe it will all help you to decide.<br />
The game consists of this: cut scene-crime scene-look for clues-ask questions-cut scene-driving-cut scene-look for more clues while someone sits on a chair-ask more questions-driving again- fighting/shoot a guy in the head-cut scene…… repeat. Sorry, I’ve just ruined the game for you there. The fighting isn’t Street Fighter IV, but it works. The shooting isn’t Gears of War, but it works. The driving isn’t Burnout, but it works. The questioning isn’t Phoenix Wright, but it wor…. No wait, it doesn’t. What’s the difference between Doubt and Lie in an accusation, really? And why does Cole say things that have nothing to do with the line of questioning you thought you were pursuing or just outright says things that you don’t want him to say and never expected him to say that break off conversations.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RXdg068zm6A/TemBjbNo1uI/AAAAAAAAAq0/WSlZWUj3Ims/s1600/la+noire+cole+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="111" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RXdg068zm6A/TemBjbNo1uI/AAAAAAAAAq0/WSlZWUj3Ims/s200/la+noire+cole+3.jpg" width="200" /></a>It can’t get away from its GTA roots either. The city is a good representation of the time, but you can’t do anything in it. You can drive 95 cars around, but they mostly look the same, unless I’m missing some gems, I’ve driven 68 of them so far. When I say driven, I mean hopped in and out of while in a car park. To find the golden film reels you will need to be on foot and searching all the little areas you can’t drive to, tables in parks, construction sites, shops in the bus depot etc. I’ve already criss-crossed the huge map in a vehicle looking for land marks, damned if I’m doing it again on foot just for film reels, seeing as you can’t do anything else on foot. You can’t talk to anyone, your partner will be lost somewhere on the map and you can’t answer a call unless in a car and select it from the map screen. But why would you bother, after solving the 40 street crimes, to replay them. They last five minutes and end with you shooting the criminal in the head (most of the time).<br />
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It’s really the story that keeps you plugging away at the game. And yes the story is good enough to warrant you playing on, except for the part where your character, Cole, decides to leave his wife and kids for Elsa, the singer in The Blue Room nightclub. That came a bit out of the blue, surely a few scenes to explain this possibility earlier on would have helped, did I just miss them? I played over the earlier cases but it didn’t really shed any light on it. Then the ending, the ending… killing Cole was a bit of a cop out and showing that the cause of the big intertwining stolen morphine/redevelopment storyline was all Coles fault for being a dick in the army, it seemed like a clever twist just for the sake of having a clever twist, it wasn’t needed.<br />
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Phew, rant over. Traipsing around L.A. it seems like a missed opportunity within the game that certain places aren’t used. Then again Rockstar could just be waiting to release case after case to help get some longevity (and money) out of the game. I’ll hold off, the only thing I downloaded was a suit for Cole to wear. And that didn’t seem to make a blind bit of difference to how Cole played. If you want to get into a story driven game and have twenty odd hours to kill, L.A. Noire comes heartily recommended. If you’re looking for a sixty hour Fallout, Oblivion, GTA style game then this isn’t for you. I’ll still give it a solid 6 out of 10 though.<br />
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‘Shut up Bekowsky’!</div>
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Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01272222349248783867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2625890483418173984.post-86355045479449685472011-02-26T23:32:00.007+00:002013-12-14T14:38:39.498+00:00Mean Machines and Sega Pro review compilation mags<div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sega Pro guide to Sega games Vol.4</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mean Machines tries to cover every Sega game</td></tr>
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Here we have a quick look at two magazines that released a bumper collection of a year of their Sega reviews. Sega Pros The Complete A-Z of Sega Games from 1995 and Mean Machines, The Essential Sega Guide from 1993. The A-Z covers the early days of the Saturn (Victory Goal and Street Fighter the Movie both score 88%!) and the last death throes of the Game Gear and Mega CD, plus two arcade reviews for some reason. While editors Richard Leadbetter and Julian Rignall do their best to review over 350 Sega games between them, on the MegaDrive, Mega CD, Game Gear and Master System for the Essential Sega Guide.</div>
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Here are three pages from the A-Z, Brian Lara can still play a good game of cricket, has there even been a cricket game to match it since? I have never come across Revengers of Vengeance on the Mega CD but it looks interesting. Plus a look at AfterBurner on the 32X, great game. I will put up all the 32X reviews from this book when I get round to it. Eight games in all. (I know, I know!)<br />
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Ristar, a cut down but playable version for the Game Gear. Why hasn't poor Ristar been given a recent outing on DS or something? Indy 500 looks rather nice. The other arcade game reviewed was Rail Chase 2 and it got a Proscore of 85!</div>
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Considering they had so many games to get through, 374 in total, Richard and Jazza don't do too bad a job. The Game Gear gets the short end of the stick with six reviews per page. The Mega CD pics make it look even grainier than it actually was. While some of the pics don't even match the game being reviewed. Look at the screen shots accompanying Ghouls n Ghosts and Golden Axe Warrior on the Master System? Mistakes like this and some odd choices of font for the game names makes it look a very hurriedly done book in places.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4V8MsaDLRvI/TWmQAzMfEgI/AAAAAAAAAq0/XYfkGr96Om4/s1600/mm5+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4V8MsaDLRvI/TWmQAzMfEgI/AAAAAAAAAq0/XYfkGr96Om4/s200/mm5+001.jpg" width="147" /></a>John Madden games sold by the bucket load back then with each new year, and it improved every year too. Not like the phoned in updates you get today because it's the only game on the market. According to Mean Machines, '92 is the version you should pick up, getting a massive 95%. Rich calls Dick Tracy 'a pleasant change from the norm' and handing it 80%. The norm being a good game I presume! At the back of the book are a number of pages showing upcoming releases, if the hundreds of games reviewed that you could buy just didn't do it for you.</div>
Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01272222349248783867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2625890483418173984.post-6874246256187732032011-01-24T17:20:00.013+00:002013-12-14T12:58:35.188+00:00Pier Solar<div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4--XElsEwW0/TT25vBriDWI/AAAAAAAAAq0/EfvdpIvOLbY/s1600/pier+solar+box.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4--XElsEwW0/TT25vBriDWI/AAAAAAAAAq0/EfvdpIvOLbY/s200/pier+solar+box.JPG" width="135" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-clrqt5FuuYA/TT25vVzSaQI/AAAAAAAAAq0/4mA-UHPNvj0/s1600/pier+solar+delivery.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-clrqt5FuuYA/TT25vVzSaQI/AAAAAAAAAq0/4mA-UHPNvj0/s200/pier+solar+delivery.JPG" width="196" /></a>2011 has arrived and it brings with it the long awaited release of the latest MegaDrive game, Pier Solar from WaterMelon. Who have spent many a long hour developing and working to publish this title. It was sent out to those who ordered it over Christmas, but as the weather was playing havoc with deliveries, I didn't receive my copy until the middle of January. The extra few weeks wait was not so bad considering it had been originally paid for in 2008! Pier Solar was due out for Christmas 08, but due to some hiccups it was delayed and pushed back until its release a few short weeks ago. Above shows the blister pack it came in and the letter and mini strategy guide that were included. I got the Pal MegaDrive box, you could also order a Japanese MegaDrive box or a red Genesis one, though the game plays on all versions.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-McH0rgwmPM0/TT27amzkGwI/AAAAAAAAAq0/yVydPTSAA1U/s1600/screenshot+cred.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="126" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-McH0rgwmPM0/TT27amzkGwI/AAAAAAAAAq0/yVydPTSAA1U/s200/screenshot+cred.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zYx-qBiHCcM/TT24iKCiDuI/AAAAAAAAAq0/m8xIRw9WFbw/s1600/screenshot+title.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="106" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zYx-qBiHCcM/TT24iKCiDuI/AAAAAAAAAq0/m8xIRw9WFbw/s200/screenshot+title.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NWdAUaR4mH4/TT27bMbywII/AAAAAAAAAq0/sfGmmP_mRk8/s1600/pier+solar+pack.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NWdAUaR4mH4/TT27bMbywII/AAAAAAAAAq0/sfGmmP_mRk8/s200/pier+solar+pack.JPG" width="191" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sTEtJe8n0P4/TT27ZbJ3R0I/AAAAAAAAAq0/ZANvIhk5-pc/s1600/pier+solar+mega+cd.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="151" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sTEtJe8n0P4/TT27ZbJ3R0I/AAAAAAAAAq0/ZANvIhk5-pc/s200/pier+solar+mega+cd.JPG" width="200" /></a>This is one of the best put together game packs you will come across, really professional but still clearly a huge labour of love. Here is a pic showing what comes inside the box plus a look at the cartridge and the additional Mega CD, which includes the music for the game if played inside your Mega CD when playing the game cartridge (A First?). My MegaCD is stored away, along with my 32X, so will have to wait to see how it works. Putting the CD in your computer brings up extras such as photos, concept art and the musical score.</div>
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Along with the CD you get a poster, a sticker sheet, a flyer for an upcoming 32X game, some instructions in all the languages the game comes in. You also get a signed card showing what number of the game you were issued out of the initial 800 made. I got the magical number 42.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-67ad3Ew09Uw/TT27Z3eLh5I/AAAAAAAAAq0/IpEnK_u9fHo/s1600/posterity+list.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="137" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-67ad3Ew09Uw/TT27Z3eLh5I/AAAAAAAAAq0/IpEnK_u9fHo/s200/posterity+list.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mtpzobh3u2g/TT25vmY0MII/AAAAAAAAAq0/Gzf-8tlGsj0/s1600/pier+solar+map.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mtpzobh3u2g/TT25vmY0MII/AAAAAAAAAq0/Gzf-8tlGsj0/s200/pier+solar+map.JPG" width="200" /></a>This shows a map from the game inside the strategy guide which is inside this mini Size magazine that also has some interviews and comments from the developers. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K2pRaIdu3Y4/TT27bddLa0I/AAAAAAAAAq0/0LhEU4jB8gE/s1600/screenshot+game.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="128" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K2pRaIdu3Y4/TT27bddLa0I/AAAAAAAAAq0/0LhEU4jB8gE/s200/screenshot+game.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XPd_-nE9xiQ/TT25uuDyfdI/AAAAAAAAAq0/ITnHaTTNmEQ/s1600/pier+solar+box+inner.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XPd_-nE9xiQ/TT25uuDyfdI/AAAAAAAAAq0/ITnHaTTNmEQ/s200/pier+solar+box+inner.JPG" width="200" /></a>If you look closely you might just be able to pick out my name in the last pic! Everyone who paid for the Posterity package got a mention in the Pier Solar book at the front of the box. A very nice touch.</div>
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Apologies for the quality of the pics, only just got a new laptop, more on that in another update (Oh the trouble I've had!). So I haven't hooked up my scanner properly yet. Also the following screenshots are just quick grabs from my TV showing that I have played it, and will hopefully talk more about it when I get a good number of hours in. I think you'll agree it does look pretty good.</div>
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Here is a bigger shot of the flyer advertising Super Thunder Drive III, an upcoming 32X release. Although there is a belief that this game is a hoax, no-one having heard of Super Thunder Drive. But why would you bother promoting it? I hope it turns out the be the real thing. The 32X is short of games and as my legion of followers will know, it's one of my favourite systems. Plus is there an Easter Egg in Pier Solar if played through a 32X? </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u3x5bHhXxqw/TT3Blr-BE3I/AAAAAAAAAq0/znJYvGNsJgU/s1600/32x+flyer.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u3x5bHhXxqw/TT3Blr-BE3I/AAAAAAAAAq0/znJYvGNsJgU/s200/32x+flyer.JPG" width="132" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zMYdJ3RxsuM/TT3Bl39KX8I/AAAAAAAAAq0/kD3EbCvFUIg/s1600/size+mag.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zMYdJ3RxsuM/TT3Bl39KX8I/AAAAAAAAAq0/kD3EbCvFUIg/s200/size+mag.JPG" width="139" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WLKqnUuHIoc/TT25uLMUGFI/AAAAAAAAAq0/CIj9nQFKomk/s1600/blue+almanac.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WLKqnUuHIoc/TT25uLMUGFI/AAAAAAAAAq0/CIj9nQFKomk/s200/blue+almanac.JPG" width="136" /></a></div>
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I have also picked up Blue Almanac for the Japanese MegaDrive, the only other game I've picked up recently to be honest. As you know this game was not released outside of Japan, but it is being translated by SuperFighterTeam, those of Beggar Prince and Legend of Wukong fame. They have renamed it Star Odyssey and it will hopefully be able to order soon. </div>
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Here are the websites, so check these games out for yourselves.</div>
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<a href="http://www.starodysseygame.com/">http://www.starodysseygame.com/</a></div>
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<a href="http://superthunderdrive.com/">http://superthunderdrive.com/</a></div>
Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01272222349248783867noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2625890483418173984.post-16208886781819974862010-12-11T03:09:00.006+00:002013-12-14T12:44:30.221+00:00Promises, Promises<div>
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Well it seems that my rejoicing at my newly fixed laptop was a wee bit premature. For not long after getting it safely home and beginning to catch up on all of my college work again, it decides to refuse to boot up. Another trip to the repair shop, followed by another few days of waiting, before the sad news comes through that the poor thing just wasn’t going to make it. The motherboard was fried. So I was once again totally screwed, having to complete my college assignments on the few minutes I could get on campus computers. This meant zero time to update this wonderful blog. I know I promised etc. etc. But I’m still hopeful of getting a shiny new laptop under the tree on Christmas morning, so keep those fingers crossed for me.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JGC0-DRt0i8/TQLr63VdYbI/AAAAAAAAAq0/Jt733m9nbbY/s1600/falloutNVSE.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JGC0-DRt0i8/TQLr63VdYbI/AAAAAAAAAq0/Jt733m9nbbY/s320/falloutNVSE.JPG" width="268" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fallout: New Vegas Special Edition goodies</td></tr>
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Game wise the last few weeks have been dominated by traipsing around New Vegas. I bought the special edition that included a pretty good graphic novel, a deck of cards should you ever want to play caravan! A making of DVD, some casino poker chips and of course a big metal chip that Mr. House is so desperate to get his... erm... hands on. Overall worth the few extra quid, unlike some other special editions I could mention, Bioshock 2 being a particularly poor effort, and I have a record player! I guess I’m just tired of the same old art books. Anyways... before I started I went and finished all the downloadable content from Fallout3, just to be sure. Now I do think New Vegas is an improvement over that game, it’s just not that big of an improvement, so if Fallout3 was not your thing this won’t be the game to convert you. I would say that I am about 40ish hours in and just wandering around the map before I head to Hoover Dam where I presume I’ll have to choose sides and then the final battle will take place. I’m also on the lookout for my robot follower ED E, who is more than likely stuck behind a door somewhere. The game will take you by the hand over the map for every mission but won’t tell you where your followers are, very frustrating. More on this game as and when (read if) I finish it.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7nReXyG3C6U/TQLr6gMPFgI/AAAAAAAAAq0/YsRfE_Quldk/s1600/retrogamertop.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7nReXyG3C6U/TQLr6gMPFgI/AAAAAAAAAq0/YsRfE_Quldk/s320/retrogamertop.JPG" width="320" /></a>In the run up to Christmas I’ve been reminiscing over ones gone by. While struggling to pick out which were the best Christmases, one year I remember getting Wrestle Mania and the Real Ghostbusters for my good old C64, hours spent loading then reloading, bliss. Some years later I remember me and my brothers got FIFA 95 on the Megadrive, I’m sure I was the best at it. I also remember laughing that they bothered to include Qatar, surely the worst team in it, but no one is laughing now. It could have been the year after or maybe the next, I got Phantasy Star IV for Christmas, what a fantastic game. One of the best RPGs ever made in my opinion. Forget this online rubbish, make a Phantasy Star V! I also got a Menacer gun that Christmas, but the less said about that the better. Nothing like that happens these days. We are two weeks away and I know the snow has hit us and the weather has been terrible but it just doesn’t feel like Christmas, does it? If you want some nostalgic Christmas feelings, pick up the December issue of RetroGamer with its good old/new Oli Frey cover. Here’s a pic of my complete RetroGamer set and some of the Megadrive games I’ve been popping in the cartridge slot recently. I hope it brings back some memories, ... of when zombies were cool!</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CiFe6CX4Fd4/TQLr6SHYaAI/AAAAAAAAAq0/y3xscBYEPP4/s1600/crazyfiremario.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CiFe6CX4Fd4/TQLr6SHYaAI/AAAAAAAAAq0/y3xscBYEPP4/s320/crazyfiremario.JPG" width="320" /></a>Before I sign off, let’s not forget that it’s Mario Bros. 25th anniversary, yippee!! But Mario is mad, because Nintendo have shoddily repackaged Super Mario All-Stars for the Wii. €30 for old SNES games of old NES games that you can download for less money from the Wii download channel? If you do get your hands on the Anniversary Edition, with a booklet and a soundtrack CD in a nice red cardboard box, resist the temptation to hold the game at arm’s length querying, “Is this it? 25 years? Really?” the back of the box says ‘Find out about the origins and development of Super Mario’ but the booklet, heavy on the –let, barely scratches the surface of any of the Mario games. While the soundtrack comes with a warning, ‘Caution! Cannot be played on a Wii console. Please use a CD player’ Brilliant, like my PS3 is it? Oh no wait that’s still broken, like my Xbox is it? My favourite track is No. 12 Small Mario Jump. It reminds me of a small Mario jumping, funnily enough. Oh Nintendo, Mario deserves better than this, he’s a gaming icon. I haven’t been this angry with Nintendo since they decided to rob me of all my stars from the stars catalogue, and they still email me every month saying how much more they are taking from me. Eventually I think I’ll end up owing them stars! Bastards!<br />
Happy Christmas....</div>
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Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01272222349248783867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2625890483418173984.post-78757257071118607722010-09-27T01:45:00.005+01:002013-12-14T12:34:05.098+00:00Broken Laptop and a Thousand Tiny Distractions<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-abILtJELNow/TJ_qhfDCCpI/AAAAAAAAAq0/ZmUwPJSkFjs/s1600/broken+laptop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-abILtJELNow/TJ_qhfDCCpI/AAAAAAAAAq0/ZmUwPJSkFjs/s1600/broken+laptop.jpg" /></a> Apologies, I am more than aware that it has been two months since I updated here. But let me explain, I have good reason, I really do! First off my laptop fell off the bed and bounced off the floor ruining the screen. I wish I had a more exciting or romantic story but alas it just fell off the bed. I went to all the usual shops seeing if they could fix it at a reasonable price. Half the screen had gone white from the hop it took. Can’t be that bad can it? Unfortunately they all were telling me that it would cost upwards of two hundred euro to replace the screen. That I would be better off buying a new laptop. And look, we have loads of laptops right here in the store for you to choose from! Bastards! Screw them; I’d make do with half a screen.<br />
While all this was going on I was in the middle of processing my college application. I had thought I would be entitled to some sort of grant or maintenance or fees paid scheme but governmental bureaucracy can turn you from an optimist into a pessimist fairly quickly. I should get a degree in form filling and random pieces of information gathering. Long story short though, I was going back to college, so I pretty much needed my laptop anyways. Then I did what any man in my position would do. I put it off for as long as possible. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The hallowed halls of academia</td></tr>
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As luck would have it though barely a week into college I saw that the students union fix laptops. What have I got to lose? I bring it in and it’s fixed in two days for just over a hundred quid? Makes you wonder where these electronic stores send off their repairs to be fixed? So, new screen, new college semester, new round of forms to be filled out. So all that has kept me occupied for the last few weeks. But I have my laptop back (all my stuff is on it!).<br />
Now if only I could get around to fixing my PS3, yes it's still broken! It kind of shows that there has been nothing worth buying on it for months, well nothing that I couldn’t buy on the 360. After steadfastly refusing to buy the new Final Fantasy. I picked up Resonance of Fate on 360, Valkyria Chronicles 2 on the PSP among a few others which I will get into in another update. But the most surprising, in that it turned out to be enjoyable, was Silent Hill: Shattered Memories on the Wii. It can be finished in one sitting, there or there about, but did hold my attention throughout, it’s the only game I’ve finished in ages to be honest. I would recommend giving it a quick rent. You can play through multiple times doing slightly different things and as good as this sounds, I had intended to do it but lost interest, who does that kind of thing anyways?<br />
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Providing I get to stay attending college and don’t end up breaking my laptop again. I will endeavour to update this site even more frequently than I have been doing. I've got a few games to talk about and want to give my general impression of all those summer blockbusters that I wasted my money seeing in 3D! Plus while rummaging around at home I found some old Sega Power and Mean Machines compilation magazines, so will try and get some pics of those up soon.Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01272222349248783867noreply@blogger.com0