It’s not all work work work!

Well that’s a bit of a lie but hey! By the way, anyone remember that ad? I bet they thought they were at the sharp end of youth culture when the PR guys came up with it.

Tossers!

Anyway, it’s all go at the moment. just taken on a new staff writer on VN this week, bringing the writing team to a whopping five people. Fair enough you may not consider that whopping, but since I joined VN, when it was me and Paul who wrote the news with assistance from a couple of other guys when they could, I’m quite impressed by it.

We also had a bit of harrowing moment when, after xbox.com had come back online, we found that we had ben omitted from the Fansites page. If you knew how long we’d ben trying to get on there you’d understand Yet after a couple of emails it seems that it was just a simple over sight, meaning we should be back on there by the time you read this.

As of Sunday just gone I now have two pre-orders for an Xbox 360 at two different retailers. Am I feeling particularly flush at the moment to warrant this madness? No! Far from it in fact, bloody house moving bills and fees! Let’s just say I’d rather not wait for a possible second shipment to come through next year, assuming the current rumours of stock shortages at launch are true. But then I know about as much as alot of you reading this.

I’ve finally picked myself up a copy of Pro Evolution Soccer 5 for the Xbox, a review of which I hope to have up on VN soon. Having played FIFA 05 for the past 6 or so months I realise how shite I have now become at PES. See I was always a fan of Konamis game, yet I still don’t know why I plumped for FIFA 05 back then, but now more than ever have I realised the difference between the two. PES offers a more tactical approach, whereas FIFA is, shall we say the more arcadey of the two with it’s nice graphics and official player names. Horses for courses I guess.

Don’t forget as well, every friday sees the release of our podcast for a look at all the goings on within the games industry. You can download it directly here or through itunes or the new yahoo podcast section. Oh and I’m also working on a very cool new thing for VN for next year. I really can’t say much more right now (don’t you hate when people do that!) but it involves something I mentioned here.

Can I also recommend you take a look at something one of our members is currently working on. It’s for a vey good cause and worth your support if you can help. Click here to find out more.

Till next time, Happy Gaming!

Get in!

Since my last post here I’m very happy to report that our house has been sold and a price agreed on the place we want! Took a bit of dealing at the 11th hour (nothing dodgy mind) but it’s all looking rosy now. Now it’s a case of seeing if we can push for a Xmas move completion. Chances are slim seeing as teh family we’re buying from don’t have anywhere to go yet, but they are trying hard to find somewhere bless ‘em. Well I’d say looking at 8 properties in two days is trying, wouldn’t you?!

Sadly my Speccy is still sitting in it’s box waiting to be plugged in, but between working during the day, updating and writing for VN and the house move, free time is becoming a myth. Not that I’m complaining as it’s all worth it, well except for the day job which is boring as hell, but pays nicely.

I also got back into playing Civilization III a couple of nights back after recording a small spot for the VN Podcast which is sapping my attention again. God I forgot how much this game sucks you in! I got into the series way back in the days of the Amiga (where’s my rose-tinted glasses?) on which I spent way too many hours to count. Well I probably could but it’s gonna be a scary answer! In case you didn’t know, Civ IV is due out next Friday, 24th Oct in the UK.

Now I’ve started playing Halo 2 again on Live! I must be mad as everytime it frustrates me due to a number of players being spawn camping ‘tards. Then there is the whiners who believe it’s their god given right to have a certain weapon/vehicle all to themselves, and may god strike down anybody who gets there first. Well they say something alot harsher, but I’ll save your eyes from that, although I’m sure you can guess

Oh and my wife decided that, even though I already had a DS and a copy of Nintendogs, that she needed to go out and get her own copy, and a pink DS to play it on! The sight of her calling the names of her dogs and telling them to sit down or rollover etc., then remembering she’s talking to a machine, is funny though!

Catch you all soon!

Ever get the feeling……

That someone is pissing on you from a great height?

Last week we lose Millie, this week it looks like we’re going to lose the house that we want! As weeks go, it’s turning out pretty shit so far. Sadly I think it was mostly down to our choice of agent, who despite promoting themselves as a ‘proactive agency’ have been quite the opposite. Consider the fact we’ve had to chase them all the time to get stuff done, I’d say they’re more ‘do what we have to do and that’s it’. Granted it could be just the branch we’re dealing with, hence me not mentioning the name.

What else is going on? Well I got my old Speccy 128k off my Mum a couple of weeks ago with all my old games. I was like a kid in a candy store when I opened the box. Then I realised I was getting old! nice double edged sword that one. Sadly I haven’t had time to actually power it up yet, so for all I know it could just be a heap of plastic acting as a dust recepticle. Suppose there is always ebay if all else fails.

Elsewhere I’m currently involved in trying to complete Total Overdose and Fahrenhiet, as well as the other 10 or so games I’m part into. If any of you find out where to get some spare time from, could you let me know please!?

Also on the gaming front, we’re in the last few days of registrations for the Delta Force: Black Hawk Down tournie, so if you’re interested, get your butt over there now!

Only a short post this time, but I’ll post again soon with more goings on from my own little world.

Goodbye Moomin

I was hoping that my next post on here would be a little lighter, but sadly my wife and I came home from work last night to be greeted with the news that our cat, Millie, had been hit by a neighbours car and killed, right at the end of our drive.

Now I just feel lost, angry, numb and upset all rolled into one, that one of the sweetest cats I’ve ever known has been taken from us. What makes it worse is that her sister, Leela, was killed in the exact same way, a year and a half ago, not 30 foot from where Millie was struck. Now they are both gone just because some bastard wanted to get home a couple of seconds quicker!

Left behind is her adopted brother Spike who is very out of character right now as is to be expected. It hurts just as much seeing him trying to find her, confusion written all over his face, and there is nothing I can do to help him, to explain or make him understand. It’s something he has to come to terms with all on his own. All we can do is just be there when he needs some fuss. Right now he’s lying on the bed napping. Just wish I knew what was going through his mind.

Now I’m not one for poems usually, but this one is very simple and to the point. It’s called To Love Me is to Know Me, and is by Lee McKenna.

I’d play in the garden where I was free
And you were always there to take care of me.
I’d stay out late with lots to do
And when you called I’d come running to you.
I was there when you needed a friend
But now we’ve sadly come to an end.
You gave me a home and you gave me your love
And now I’m with my friends above.
So now, my friend I know we’re apart
But the memories of me please keep in your heart.
I’ll never forget the love that you gave
But through this time you must be brave.
There’s just one thing that you need to know
I know it’s hard but you must let me go
I’ll be OK you must be too
And never forget, “I’ll always love you.”

I think what makes it worse is that I wasn’t there when she really needed a familiar face. Not even getting the chance to say goodbye! All we’re left with is photos for memories and a clump of fur from her brush. What is that? Nothing! Nothing compared to her.

But she’s gone. I know that, but it doesn’t make it any easier to accept!

One thing that does help is that I know now she is back with her sister again. Even writing this is helping. Don’t know why having total strangers read this helps, but it does.

So there we go, my own little memorial in cyberspace to two gorgeous sisters, together again, never to be parted. You’ll never be forgotten by us . Goonight! Sweet Dreams!

RIP Leela and Millie

The Introduction

How to start off a blog for people who really have no idea who I am?

A question that everyone who’s done this has sort of thing wants to answer in a sharp and witty manner. Well apart from those people who have a purpose, a message, a teaching they want to get out there. Me? Nope, don’t fall into those cateogories.

Well maybe I do, but I don’t think I’ve found it yet.

As you’ll no doubt gather by taking a look here my main thing in life is gaming. Right that has lost a fair few readers already! For those of you still with me, this blog won’t just turn out to be an examination in how many times I can plug something but I may as well show you now what I do. So here’s one more. That’s it, shameless plugging out of the way, I promise.

Sadly as it’s Sunday night my brain is somewhat refusing to come up with anything inventive to post here. As for the sharp and witty introduction, sorry to disappoint.

As time goes by I’ll be posting my views on gaming and life in general, some of which I hope you’ll find of interest. If not, at least I can get things off my chest!

See you all soon!