Wrestlevania

Insider tip: it's pronounced "Lahn-dun".

I'm not sure if "damage" and "cosmetic" are being jumbled up here. While Forza 2's cosmetic damage model is fairly linear, it's physical damage modelling is fantastic. I can't think of another racing game I've played that models surfaces, grip, cambers, weight shifts - all that stuff - as well or in such an immediate and tactile way as Forza 2 does. Including when things go horribly wrong and the resultant handling afterwards. Does the fact that bumpers don't fall off in Gran Tourismo (to date) make it a bad racing game? Of course not. However, being able to use the crash barriers to spam the physics and so slingshot into the lead in e.g. GT2 definitely is shit.

I've mentioned it here and there before, but off the back of the acclaim Research & Development is getting at the moment I'd urge all you Half-Lovers to check out MINERVA: Metastasis. It's a single-player campaign, created entirely by Adam Foster, and placed in the same world and timeline as Half-Life 2, but separate from Mr Freeman's adventures. In it, you play the somewhat unwitting minion of a cold-hearted research scientist, who drops you onto a remote Combine-controlled island that's of interest. The game comprises you trying to find out just what the Combine are doing on this small piece of land, specifically inside the previously-abandoned underground facility built there many years ago. It's a really tight adventure and includes some superb writing and pacing. So much so that I believe Adam's now working full-time at Valve, on Portal 2 no less. Please download and try it. It's bloody fantastic in my opinion.

Specifically regarding Death Aboard, I think it's probably only worth playing with a full contingent of human players. The AI couldn't seem to cope with the unusual architecture, bless it.

Really enjoying the characterisations permeating the trailers so far; Rockstar know what they're doing and it's great to see they're putting characters at the forefront of these add-ons. The latest one certainly made me grin: Ja3dt3wSeW4

Agreed--there's a definite charm that you simply don't get with other media. For me, it comes from imagining what these people look like (if I'm not aware of them already) and how what they've done might have looked as they're describing it.

Oh agreed, but it's why I'm trying to gauge Thumb interest in advance; everyone I've played with online from Thumbs has been excellent fun.

...but, that's secrecy then surely?!

Some of the Gamers With Jobs members were pretty hot on this and created a private Google Spreadsheet to crunch tuning setups. While I can't find that any more, I did a little digging and found another Forza 2 tuning Google Spreadsheet (via Ars Technica). I also happened upon what looks like a useful tuning guide that includes some fairly comprehensive suspension setting and under-/oversteer tweaking rules. Sounds like Scrobbs' spreadsheet is the one you want, however. Would be great to get that into Google Spreadsheets and make available to all.

The aforementioned Rowan Atkinson.

That's your most hurtful put-down yet, James. Vicious... bastard... :\

Great insight, Floordje. I guess I'm in the minority when I say I thought the art style switch was great for Borderlands. Looks much more its own game now, and it's good that the aesthetic freed up the Game- and Art Designers at Gearbox. Something I can empathise with, definitely.

The latest instalment of the Resident Advisor podcast is mixed by the excellent Modeselektor. It's dark, dirty and quite melancholy in places, too. If the following collab with Thom Yorke tickles your fancy, definitely check out their RA mix: qpfoNmR62xw

If there's no demo then I won't buy it. I need to know it'll work on the system I'm getting it for before I'll put my hand in my pocket.

OK, so naturally interest is ramping up before the game's release and I'm starting to twitch again. One thing that's still putting me off is the fact people are consistently describing Borderlands as "an FPS Diablo, but not as varied or fun." The other is that I'm perceiving Thumb interest leaning towards the PC side of things, but I've no idea how it'll run on my machine (I suspect badly); have Gearbox announced a demo yet?

Let's leave this poor thread alone and take that elsewhere, shall we?

Noted, thanks. I only have an hour or so every day to listen to podcasts, so that'll naturally throttle my consumption of them--especially as the newer stuff I'm already up-to-date on takes priority (in the interest of remaining topical).

Ouch... Won't be playing that tonight then I expect.

Having skimmed this thread yesterday, I really liked the sound of A Life Well Wasted. And I'm glad it caught my attention because I listened to the latest instalment on my drive into work this morning and was amazed. It's brilliant, from the people interviewed to the themes covered to the quality of the music and general production. Really, first class stuff. Made me think of the sort of radio documentaries people like the BBC put out, it's that well considered and produced. I'm downloading all the other episodes to listen to in due course now--can't wait!

Oh wicked, appreciate the heads up. Will try that later, assuming it won't take hours to download on my weedy connection.

Of which - Dragon Age or Borderlands? I've no interest in either really, so someone else will need to organise it whatever.

I'm amazed you got the second part, as I kept wrongly stating that as "metastatus" for some fucking reason. My brain knew the word, my mouth wanted things differently.

I'd like to close this little discussion with the following thought: Philosophy is but the mind having a leisurely wank.

Thanks for the help on tracking down cheap Xbox LIVE membership. In the end, I caved and went directly with MS themselves last night. They've got an offer in the dashboard for 12 months + 2 months free for £39.99. By my rather rough calculations, this works out about the same money per months as the cheaper, straight 12 month cards from the online retailers. So it's all good. I celebrated by having an impromptu mini Grand Thumb Auto redux with GrouchoClub and toblix. We had a good laugh, even just with 3 of us.

Steam hearts your wallet; to Steam, we are but insatiable virtual gullets with cash...