Wrestlevania

Given the unavoidable and constant Oblivion comparisons, I'm actually finding the idea of Fallout 3 more compelling--not less. And that's coming from someone who couldn't stand Oblivion on any of the 3 times I threw myself at it wholesale. The setting, weapons and characters hold far more interest for me than swords and sorcery ever would, but that's obviously a deeply personal preference. What's more relevant, perhaps, is the idea of seeing how Bethesda's sources (the original franchise, books like The Road, etc.) have fed into the world and seeing how those play out and affect the experience. To be honest, I'm seriously torn between getting Fallout 3 and Far Cry 2 at the moment. On the face of it, Far Cry 2 sounds more unusual and divergent, but I think Fallout 3 - for any number of reasons - is perhaps too important to miss at launch. There are already a dozen or so minor spoilers in this thread alone that make me want to play it urgently--before everything's out of the bag.

Fucking hell... they used Two Worlds as the licence for a pinball machine?! That sucks Remo's balls (apparently).

Today, I learnt that my employment future is looking somewhat less grim than it was this time last week--certainly not guaranteed, but less doubtful.

Today, at 6:34am GMT, I learnt that Microsoft have already fixed my broken 360 and posted it back to me. Should be here within the next week!

No, you're not...

It's cheaper to buy a jar of better quality hot chocolate powder from the super market, than it is to buy a "medium" ready-made choccy from the franchised coffee shop next door. Fucking capitalists! For their coffee, I can understand paying a premium for the "freshly made" bit. But for hot chocolate, they just spoon out some catering-grade powder from a big pot, add it to some steamed milk and charge you the same price as the coffee fuck you very much.

I particularly enjoyed the Cocksweat* version. * Roxette

I'm afraid I've binned your iTunes feed and switched to FeedBurner's RSS instead. Apple are much too fucking slow to update for my liking.

Microsoft emailed me on Saturday to say they'd "received my console" - presumably at the Bosch(?) factory in Germany, as on the label. With any luck, it'll be back before long and significantly quieter to boot. Just to clarify: this is the second time my original console's had this error. You can read more about it on my blog. </pimp>

BioShock 2's broken cover, thanks to a teaser trailer revealed at the end of the Playstation 3 version of BioShock. I know 2K said this was a certainty some time back - along with Ken Levine's swift departure from Irrational Games 2K Boston being rumoured to be because of this - but it's still nice to see something tangible of it. I've been meaning to pick up the original to replay for a few months now, really enjoyed it the first time around.

Thanks for the tip-off. I'd heard Mr Brooker had been working away feverishly on something, but not any more than that. Will try to watch that later.

Well, quite a lot of work I'd imagine. But it's not like Rockstar doesn't have the talent or capacity for it. Would've made for some fantastic buzz over Hallowe'en, too.

Mrs V and I enjoyed the first couple of installments; it's harmless fun and not too pretentious or ridiculous. We've missed the rest, though, as El Beeb keep fucking about with the broadcast times. And it's almost always on now when we're bedding down the little Vanians for the night. Away from Saturday night TV, I've just recently watched the original OVA release of Macross Plus for the first time. I watched the original Manga [sic] Video hack-job back in the day (mid 90s) but had wanted to see the original series, sub'd. Still very good in my opinion. Also, on eljay's esteemed recommendation, I just watched the first episode of HBO's Generation Kill series this lunch time. (N96 is working out to be something of a media powerhouse, given the right software.) So far, so fucking good! I struggle with anything non-fiction as a rule but, as seems to be the case with HBO, the writing, pacing and characterizations are all top notch. Can't wait to watch the next part!

Fucking hell, seriously?! That sounds like it has some serious potential. Is this really the Dawn of the Dead simulation it has the potential to be? I can imagine camping out on a rooftop with friends, picking off zeds for an hour, could be superbly chilled. Not to mention the huge amount of other play this could open up via Liberty City. Shit... and my 360 would just have to be in for repair, wouldn't it..? Edit: Ah, my over-ambitious imagination is getting the better of me. Seems it's a new, unlockable multiplayer character skin only. And you can only get it by shooting someone already "infected". Oh well, so much for my idea--would still be fucking cool, though.

Was just coming to post about this very game and here it is already! Top work, Dan - it is, indeed, looking the shizzle. NB: They're looking for a graphics and physics programmer, if anyone's interested.

Then I'm truly gutted for you all.

As crushing as it might be, it would be great (if possible) to keep banging on doors--I'm sure someone would find your ideas marketable. Have you looked at an incubation grant, btw? There are several organisations that might be able to support your development efforts.

Ack, that's a nasty circumstance (the potential idea theft). I truly hope they aren't ripping you guys off. Were NDAs not waved under noses..? By the by, here's a trick I learnt about years ago: mail yourselves signed copies of detailed design documents about your game idea, in sealed envelopes. When they arrive, DO NOT OPEN THEM - just keep them tucked away somewhere safe. Then you can sue their arses off in court, should they in fact be pulling a fast one.

Yes, elaboration is called for.

"Dayamn, wigga..."

Today, I learned I may be as good as I think I am. Also, a freelance reporting friend streamed (most of) Nokia's Ovi introduction from the Web 2.0 Expo in Berlin just for me.

Don't have any feelings about the game, but I liked the "+6 @%!!!" Groin Kickers.

It was me, in the "Send us questions!" thread. But I've been meaning to retract that statement, as the second instalment of the TV serial was dull as fuck and I won't be bothering with it any more.

I can't make it now, due to a slight technical hitch. Hope some of you still plan on meeting up, though.

The attention they gave to NPC interactions and branching story-telling in Escape from Butcher Bay was remarkable, which gives me confidence they could make a decent city-scale game. For example: early on, you're asked by one inmate to side with him against another (tougher) prisoner and he'd share the spoils. If you agreed, he gave you a shiv and you went to the other prisoner's cell with him and had a small knife fight against him and a couple of goons. If you refused, you'd later walk past the rival inmate's cell, door open, prisoner officers joking inside and the body of the first inmate spread across the floor and walls. For a run-and-gun FPS, I still think this is remarkable and was very well executed (pardon the pun). The only problem I had with the game was a crippling piece of game design, where you were expected to plummet down a mine shaft in free fall, then creep through a heavily patrolled area completely unarmed and with piss-all health. But the worst part of all was the auto-save trigger at the bottom of the mine shaft, meaning you couldn't go back and try to find a safer way down or land more safely. As a result, I couldn't get past that section and gave up on the game. Should probably give it another go...