James

The finale of Parish? I played that single player on normal and found it pretty easy, except for the tank mid-way who had way too many cars and edges to play with. Well, only two edges, but they're ever-present and hard to protect yourself against. In the end I tried to run past him, got a bit battered, and lost him after he went after the bots, who were some way behind. He must have fallen off the edge or something, because the music just stopped, and I'm pretty sure they didn't kill him. Anyway, other than that I was just running ahead and slicing everything with a machete. Occasionally a special would get me, but the bots would eventually rescue me. I'd quite like to try to dash through it with a team using all melee weapons. It seems like if you're a bit bold you can rush through. The second tank never got anywhere near me. I even waited on the turret to try to take him out, but common infected climbed on the usual behind me and were irritating me from behind. Then again, it was only on normal. I guess there may be additional bonus challenge on harder difficulties. Re: server proposal I think that would be very cool. I actually considered getting a server for the original to mess around with, but decided I was not the sort of person who should be renting servers. Provided the expense wouldn't be prohibitive, I say go for it. I'd obviously prefer a UK-based one, but to be honest anything in Europe would probably have good ping, and perhaps somewhere on the continent would be more central for the majority of regulars. THAT SAID, Britain is fractionally closer to our brethren in the non-united countries of America. I'm not sure if that would make any perceptible difference. Perhaps this is stage one on the journey to beacone a badass clan of pillocks. In conclusion: yes.

Only sometimes. I'm not very good at races, for example. Well, if you count reaching the finish line as the ultimate goal. If you count bothering the other players as the ultimate goal, I'm not bad.

How long until they release Stavanger mode?

It was indeed a Jeff Goodgame. Well done everyone.

I can't see that screenshot properly because I'm using my phone rather than a proper computer, but last I checked Steam reckoned I'd played -4 games. Also all my achievements were gone, but now I've earned some different ones so I don't know if I want the old ones back. They were mainly easy things. A bit time-consuming, though. WHY DOES IT MATTER? I mean, it does, but why?

Non-stop Rank Sinatra. If you run out of tracks, put his 20 minute version of Eternal Flame on repeat. Or you could work your way through Merzbox. Or the Surgeon remix of Mogwai Fear Satan. Or Stereodee. Or you could just put white noise on for 45 minutes. I don't really have any serious suggestions. Scrobbs mentioned Christ., though, who I quite like, and has some fairly cool-party-track tracks.

I previously would have offered, but after some dismal performance on Normal (not even Advanced!), I'm not sure I'm up to scratch. PUN. I'll want to try it after I've gone through them all a few times, though. Which isn't to say I'll actually be any good by then. I love how much personality each campaign has. The storm and back-tracking format of Hard Rain are particular favourites.

I'm turning out to be the kind of prat who insists on using mêlée weapons all the time. They're surprisingly effective! They can even do a great deal of damage to the tank, as long as you stay behind him. Well, the katana can, anyway. I love the katana.

Last night Valve put out a press release that intimated that today's release was for North America only, and the rest of the world was to follow. I'm at work at the moment, so I don't know if that's true, but I'd be a little disappointed. On the other hand, it simplifies the process of deciding what to play.

So, anyone up for some campaign action tomorrow evening (GMT)? I kind of want to play through all the scenarios non-competitively before getting going on the versus. Not all in one sitting, obviously.

I'm very excited, although I'm not sure how I'm going to split my time between this and MW2. I should be there on Tuesday, though, unless there's major server hell.

After 'Idle Thumbs', the first words of the ex-theme tune of the ex-podcast are 'Games, Video Games'. Is this how Mr Rodkin introduces himself, James Bond style, before getting carried away and repeating his name at length? That is my question for the questions thread.

Not really. It was never a conscious move; we just realized at some point that he didn't actually have any Activision games.

I have a friend who happens not to own any Activision games. He uses that coincidence to claim that he's boycotting the bad bad men, but he knows he'd buy their games if they interested him enough.

DO GAY TONY, EH, EH, NUDGE NUDGE WINK WINK ANAL SEX I'd probably be up for some Homosexual Anthony, although I might have MW2 at that point, because I'm not principled enough to boycott Activision.

I wouldn't say I'm horrified, but a few months ago I realized that I never ever used desktop icons, so I now have none of them at all, and I can fully enjoy my wallpaper in the few brief seconds before I launch a full-screen application. Which is why I don't use desktop icons: I always have something running in full-screen. The start menu and system tray are just easier for me. INTERESTING FACTS.

I still need to survive Death Toll on expert, if anyone's interested. I've been in a team that's beaten it, but only one guy made it to the escape vehicle so I didn't get the ALL-IMPORTANT ACHIEVEMENT. Last night's game was lots of fun, and it was nice to be on a team that beat a versus finale, even if it was because the opposing team had their first tank spawn somewhere impossible to escape or something. It was an enjoyably close-cut thing on several occasions, at least once because of idiocy on my part. But that makes it fun and satisfying. Particularly if you win after all, of course.

But season six is my favourite!

Whenever I think I've worked out a rhythm my brain self-sabotages any attempt to reproduce that. I had self-inflicted clumsiness, I think. And then when I do finally manage to maintain it for a bit, it turns out the rhythm was bullshit. Still, it's a great subversion of all the empowerment we've come to expect from games. There's something hilarious about finding the very act of remaining upright so nerve-racking and difficult (see also: Minotaur China Shop and drunkenness in GTA 4).

That picture contains nearly a thousand words.

Yeah, I haven't tried QWOP in months, but that's because whenever I do it makes me feel worthless.

Unsurprisingly the servers are a bit busy at the moment, so it might deny you at first, but keep trying and you should get through.

And a donkey.