Act of Betrayal by Michael Chaplin. Corgi 0-552-13437-6, 1988, 265pp, £2.99. Cover: still [Elliott Gould].
A Griffin Production for TVS Television in association with ABC Australia, RTE and Strongbow. Producers: Nick Evans & Ray Alchin; Executive Producers: Graham Benson, Michael Deakin, Joe Mulholland, John Kelleher; Director: Lawrence Gordon Clark; Screenplay: Nick Evans & Michael Chaplin;
Still Playing...God of War III
Oh yes. This game freaking rules! I'm about 4-5 hours in and I'm loving every second of this masterpiece. One thing that strikes me about every God of War game after the first one, is how consistent the feeling is. Even the PSP game felt like it's console brethren. I say this because there have been different people at the helm for each iteration of the trilogy - and while I'm sure many of the same programmers and sound designers carried over from game to game, you usually get a different feeling when directors come and go. But they have really managed to make this feel like a genuine part of the three part story.
I would like to talk about the first 30-45 minutes of gameplay because it's so freaking awesome. I don't want to spoil it for you though if you haven't played it. So if you've already played it, or you just don't care, keep reading - however if you want to go in fresh, you can stop here.
Spoilers Go!
So this opens right where the second game ended - in the most exciting cliffhanger of all time. Kratos is riding on the back of the Titan, Gaia as she and the other titans climb Mt. Olympus to take out Zeus once and for all. So the game starts you running around, fighting enemies on Gaia, and as she climbs this mountain you are shifting around and the ground is falling out under you as you fight off waves of baddies.
Then comes the first boss fight - Poseidon. The early part of this fight is awesome, but pretty standard by God of War requirements. Huge monster, attacking from multiple angles, takes tons of hits before the "Press Circle" notification comes up. However, this is one of the coolest boss designs in the series. Poseidon is sitting on a huge throne of water while tentacles of aquatic horses charge at you and piece through Gaia and mountain rock. Once you destroy his outer water based exterior, he is a mortal. And you begin to effing destroy him. BUT - you are seeing it from Poseidon's perspective. So as you hit the QTE buttons you see the brutality take place from the POV of the victim.
The final blow asks you to press R3 and L3 at the same time - you know, like when you click in the thumb sticks? And this causes Kratos to dig out Poseidon's eyes. With his thumbs. Damn.
Spoiler Stop!
I feel like this game more than any other in the series forces you to be a complete tool. I have vivid memories from the first game of killing a few innocent people because it met my ends, but nothing like this. In addition to the Poseidon brutality I mentioned, there are a few key moments here where I've been like "no...come on. I don't want to kill this guy!" But it's the only option.
There has been a lot of discussion about this storytelling mechanic - where you are forced to be one way or the other. If you are given a choice, say like in the Fable games, where you can be a hero or a douche - you are essentially imposing your morals and actions on the character. This is great from a role playing perspective - especially when your actions produce different consequences (Heavy Rain, et al.). Whenever I'm playing a game where I'm given a choice like that, I always take the moral route. Even if it's at the sacrifice of booty or ammo, I always feel bad about hurting innocent people - even virtual people.
But if you want to tell a story about a badass Spartan, you need to force the player to be a badass Spartan. And ho boy - they are forcing my hand alright. I have already killed three or four people while they screamed for mercy, and yet I don't feel guilty about it. Because I do not have a choice - I am playing through the eyes of Kratos, and he is a ruthless motherfuc**r
TV Tie-in: Little Red Monkey
Little Red Monkey by Eric Maschwitz with Bevis Winter (London, Herbert Jenkins, 1953)
A scientist found murdered in a locked and guarded apartment; a toy monkey clutched in the dead man's hand; a marijuana cigarette beside the body; a newspaper picture of the Man Nobody Knew!
__Such was the grim spectacle that confronted Superintendent Harrington of the Special Branch—such was the prelude to the
A scientist found murdered in a locked and guarded apartment; a toy monkey clutched in the dead man's hand; a marijuana cigarette beside the body; a newspaper picture of the Man Nobody Knew!
__Such was the grim spectacle that confronted Superintendent Harrington of the Special Branch—such was the prelude to the
TV tie-ins: Land of the Giants
Where were they? The grass was six feet high—the trees as tall as skyscrapers—insects the size of dogs—and men and women were 70-foot giants!
__Supersonic Flight 703, Los Angeles-London, had made an emergency landing in unknown territory, and the passengers and crew stared in horror at the monstrous world around them.
__When night came and they saw the stars, they knew the worst—for it was not
__Supersonic Flight 703, Los Angeles-London, had made an emergency landing in unknown territory, and the passengers and crew stared in horror at the monstrous world around them.
__When night came and they saw the stars, they knew the worst—for it was not
Gerald Durrell cover gallery
I probably have my sister to thank for pointing me in the direction of Gerald Durrell's books when we were kids. He had a rather more exotic collection of pets than ours, which ran to dogs, cats, rabbits and the occasional goldfish called Fred.
Durrell was a naturalist and zoologist with a magnificent ability to capture the joy of nature and share his fascination with animals. As someone who
Durrell was a naturalist and zoologist with a magnificent ability to capture the joy of nature and share his fascination with animals. As someone who
TV tie-ins: Reading the Decades
Reading the Decades by John Sutherland (BBC ISBN 0-563-48810-7, 2002)
As we've been talking about TV tie-in books this past week, I thought I'd bring you one that I was actually involved in. Not the book, although I do get an entry in the index and I'm briefly quoted, but the TV show.
Reading the Decades was a BBC2 series, billed as “forty years of books that changed the world,” broadcast in
As we've been talking about TV tie-in books this past week, I thought I'd bring you one that I was actually involved in. Not the book, although I do get an entry in the index and I'm briefly quoted, but the TV show.
Reading the Decades was a BBC2 series, billed as “forty years of books that changed the world,” broadcast in
TV Tie-in editions cover gallery 1
As well as the novelisations that we've featured recently, plenty of books have been reissued with tie-in covers when they have been adapted for TV. So here's a small selection that have arrived at the scanner in no particular order...
Aspen by Burt Hirschfeld (London, W. H. Allen, 1975; New York, Bantam, 1976)
Corgi 0-552-10296-2, 1976, 374pp, 85p. The Corgi edition was reprinted at least
Aspen by Burt Hirschfeld (London, W. H. Allen, 1975; New York, Bantam, 1976)
Corgi 0-552-10296-2, 1976, 374pp, 85p. The Corgi edition was reprinted at least
Comic Cuts - 27 August
I'm planning to keep this short as I'm also running the Upcoming Comics listing this morning. I've spent a couple of very full days this week working on the Thriller Comics Index, proofing the text for the introduction and various lists and touching up some artwork scans of original Cowboy Comics and Thriller Comics covers that we will be including in the book. We managed to locate about 70
Comic Cuts: Upcoming Releases
A round-up of forthcoming books relating to or reprinting British comics and cartoons, along with some selected original graphic novels.
JULY 2010 [Announced by yet to be released]
500 Manga Villains & Heroes by Yishan Li. Ilex ISBN 978-1905814947, 5 July 2010.
AUGUST 2010 [Announced but yet to be released]
The Best of Land Battle. Titan Books ISBN 978-1848567313, 27 August 2010 [originally
JULY 2010 [Announced by yet to be released]
500 Manga Villains & Heroes by Yishan Li. Ilex ISBN 978-1905814947, 5 July 2010.
AUGUST 2010 [Announced but yet to be released]
The Best of Land Battle. Titan Books ISBN 978-1848567313, 27 August 2010 [originally
My recent fav quotes of J
"I your best friend." -Jackson means to suggest that you are HIS best friend, but he makes the presumption that the opposite is true as well.
"Can we do dat idea you haved about eating pinecones?" - I told him Tues morning that after nap time we might go and get ice cream cones. (P.S. The word "might" doesn't exist in a child's world!). He awoke from his nap with eyes wide open and the above question/exclamation. It took me a couple secs to grasp what he meant.
"Can we do dat idea you haved about eating pinecones?" - I told him Tues morning that after nap time we might go and get ice cream cones. (P.S. The word "might" doesn't exist in a child's world!). He awoke from his nap with eyes wide open and the above question/exclamation. It took me a couple secs to grasp what he meant.
Comic Cuts: Recent Releases
Here's a round up of recently released titles reprinting or relating to British comics. Some title announced for publication in the past few months have been delayed; these titles can be found on the Upcoming Releases listing.
AUGUST 2010
Harlem Heroes by Tom Tully, Dave Gibbons & Massimo Belardinelli. Rebellion ISBN 978-1906735524, 15 August 2010.
Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files Vol.
AUGUST 2010
Harlem Heroes by Tom Tully, Dave Gibbons & Massimo Belardinelli. Rebellion ISBN 978-1906735524, 15 August 2010.
Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files Vol.
TV Tie-ins: Wings
Wings by Barry Thomas. Pan/BBC 0-330-25043 / 0-563-17169-3, 1977, 174pp, 50p. Cover: still [Tim Woodward].
"Once again, the Albatross dived after the BE2, its machine guns stuttering."
__1915, The Western Front. For young Alan Farmer a dream had come true—his first mission over enemy lines...
__His apprenticeship as a blacksmith; the horrifying death of his father; re-building The Flyer during
"Once again, the Albatross dived after the BE2, its machine guns stuttering."
__1915, The Western Front. For young Alan Farmer a dream had come true—his first mission over enemy lines...
__His apprenticeship as a blacksmith; the horrifying death of his father; re-building The Flyer during
TV Tie-ins: Alternative 3
Alternative 3 by Leslie Watkins. Sphere 0-7221-1127-4, 1978, 239pp.
----, 2nd imp., 1979; 3rd imp., 1980.
Anglia TV (1977; 1 x 52m). Devised by: David Ambrose & Christopher Miles; Executive Producer: John Woolf; Producer: John Rosenberg; Associate Producer: Robert Bell; Director: Christopher Miles; Screenplay: David Ambrose; Starring: Tom Brinton (himself), Gregory Munroe (Colin Benson), Carol
----, 2nd imp., 1979; 3rd imp., 1980.
Anglia TV (1977; 1 x 52m). Devised by: David Ambrose & Christopher Miles; Executive Producer: John Woolf; Producer: John Rosenberg; Associate Producer: Robert Bell; Director: Christopher Miles; Screenplay: David Ambrose; Starring: Tom Brinton (himself), Gregory Munroe (Colin Benson), Carol
Black Ops Hack News
Our coder R4z8r is already working on his Black Ops Hack. That's right, he has an early beta of the game. We will have the first Black Ops Hack released to the public just a few hours after the official game release. Only at www.CALLOFDUTYHACKS.com
Call of Duty Black Ops should be very popular due to the fact the development team decided to bring back real servers for this release. You can see the party they are having in this screen below.
Call of Duty Black Ops should be very popular due to the fact the development team decided to bring back real servers for this release. You can see the party they are having in this screen below.
Until then check out these new Black Ops video releases. The first video shows Black Ops Multiplayer
This video shows Black Ops Prestige
TV Tie-ins: Danger Man
A fondly remembered spy thriller series, starring Patrick McGoohan as John Drake, a role which shot him to stardom and subsequently allowed him to pick and choose his next project – the baffling The Prisoner series. What differentiated Drake from other espionage agents was a very un-Bond aversion to guns and women; although they were often around in equal numbers, Drake never shot anyone nor
E C Buley
Back in April I wrote a brief piece about Bernard Buley, who was a boys' story writer and editor. The piece mentioned in passing his father, Ernest Charles Buley who is the subject of this column, prompted by some correspondence with Tony Buley, one of E.C.'s grandsons.
Ernest Charles Buley was born in Ballarat, West Victoria, Australia on 4 July 1869, the son of James Buley, a builder, and his
Ernest Charles Buley was born in Ballarat, West Victoria, Australia on 4 July 1869, the son of James Buley, a builder, and his
Up Next: God of War III
Oh yes. I felt I deserved a treat after the punishment I endured from playing Donkey Kong Country - and I can think of nothing more enjoyable to play than a God of War game.
My first job after graduating college was a sales clerk at EB Games. Not the best or most glamorous post-grad position, but it was a sweet gig. At the time, I had put a self-imposed boycott on PS2 games for myself. I was a Gamecube fanboy and for some ridiculous reason, I felt that PS2 games were stupid.
Then one day a Sony rep came into the store flaunting God of War - singing its praises, talking about how it was revitalize the PS2. I was like "yeah right - I'm playing Smash Bros - don't bother me." Then she gave us a store demo copy to play. My boycott instantly disintegrated. This was the most incredible game I had ever played. It was so vicious, the graphics were pushing the PS2 as far as it could go, the music was as epic as it could be, the controls were rock solid, the sense of scale was unmatched. I was obsessed.
Any guy who came into the store who was like "Uh...I'm sick of Madden, what should I play next?" My response would always be God of War. I used to say, "You'll feel so freaking manly while playing this game." I sold a lot of copies of this game.
My store manage was a total weirdo though. He was this older guy in his late 50s - knew nothing about video games, was cold to customers, refused to play music in the store (which made it really awkward), but he was obsessed with doing a good job and getting good numbers. The only thing he knew about games was what was on the back of the boxes and whatever promo materials we got at the store. So one time we were working together and a guy came up to the counter and asked us "What's God of War like?"
I was getting ready to answer excitedly, as I did every time someone asked that question, when my manager gave me the "I got this" look. I deferred to him and here's what he said:
You are Kratos. You must defeat the God of War.That was it. And guess where that's from? The back of the box. He read it verbatim. There was a few seconds of silence and the customer just kind of slowly backed out of the store.
Anyway - I love these games. At the conclusion of the second game I was literally jumping and shouting because of how freaking incredible the ending was. I'm so pumped to see this trilogy through to its conclusion.
God of War III for PS3 - let's do it!
Review: Donkey Kong Country
I hate this game more than terrorists. Like if I was in a room with a gun loaded with a single bullet, Osama Bin Laden and the computer that held the code for this game...well, I would probably shoot Bin Laden, but I would have to think about it for a minute.
Gameplay
DKC came out in 1994. The platforming genre was at it's pinnacle of popularity. The developer, Rare, literally had hundreds of games from which to draw inspiration. But what came out was no more exciting than a Bubsy or Aero the Acrobat ripoff - one of those games you rented from Blockbuster on a boring summer afternoon out of desperation for something to do. If you took out the Donkey Kong treatment and slapped on a generic cat character, this game would have never been as popular and I think the flaws would have shown through much earlier.
So here's how the game works. You control two apes named DK and Diddy - you control one and the other follows you - similar to Sonic 2, but the secondary character is of no use at all. If you take a hit from a baddie however, your character runs off the screen and you take over for the other character. If you get hit when you don't have your partner, you lose a life. If you are solo, you can find your partner trapped in a "DK" barrel scattered throughout the environment. Really all the other character is is an additional hit point. This doesn't sound so bad, but its when I kept dying over and over that's when my gears began to really grind.
 |
| The worst level ever created |
For attacks - you can roll, jump or throw a barrel, and certain enemies can only be killed by one specific method. Again, this is a solid design choice - but the problem is twofold: hit detection and hidden enemies.
For example, there is an enemy that looks like a baby crocodile. You cannot roll into him because of his sharp teeth. So jumping is the best way to kill him. Simple, right? I can't tell you how many times I jumped on one of these things and died. because I landed on their teeth. Which are sideways. That would be like me slapping you on the top of your head and accidentally getting bitten. What's that? That doesn't make sense? EXACTLY! PHYSICS AND BASIC LOGIC DON'T APPLY IN THIS GAME!
 |
| THESE freaking things... |
The other issue is the hidden enemies. And I don't mean that they're cleverly disguised baddies hiding out. I mean the screen conceals your enemies until the very last second when you've already committed to a run or jump. This was another source of constant deaths and subsequent rage fests on my part. Especially when you're swinging on a rope or launching from a barrel - you're going faster than usual. And many times, you have a large gap of complicated ropes or barrels or BOTH to navigate. And then when you finally get through the maze, there's a mother effing baby croc on your landing spot and you have to START OVER!!! OH I'm already getting mad just thinking about it!
- - -
As far as level design goes, you have your expected jungle levels, ice levels, underwater levels and so on. But many of the levels are so bland and shallow in their design that players may lose interest mid-level. Run to the right, jump on enemies avoid pits, done. Obviously it isn't that easy or I wouldn't be so angry about this game. Certain levels are almost completely aerial - meaning there's no ground to speak of and you have to launch from barrel to barrel to barrel without screwing up once. On paper, this is a good idea that mixes up the play style, but in execution it's only an exercise in frustration. However, that's not to say I hated every level in the game.
There were a few levels which I actually enjoyed. There is one where there are enemies that can't be killed, and I guess they're robots because they keep turning themselves on and you have to trip a barrel to turn them off. That one was pretty fun. The other one I liked was later in the game where the lights would click on and off every 2 seconds. So you had to quickly assess your surroundings and then take a leap of faith. This was difficult in a good way - it challenged your perceptions and your platforming sensibilities - like you know how high you'll bounce after hitting an enemy or you know how long it will take for that rope to swing back across. That one was pretty cool too.
But other than that I hated every second of it.
 |
| Thank God. |
Presentation
Everyone knows that the graphics were awesome back when the game came out, and now they suck. I'm not gonna get into that anymore. They served the game well, I was able to make out everything, the landscapes were colorful and aesthetically interesting, they haven't aged well - and that's no fault of the developer.
The decent music
The music in the game is actually very good. As much as I hate to admit it, I would find myself whistling some of the songs in the past week or so that I've been playing this accursed beast. And aside from the final boss's completely mis-matched cheerful theme, most of the songs fit the mood of the environment perfectly. The "voice" samples of DK and Diddy were well done too. One thing I really liked was how if you stood still, DK would freak out and beat his chest, screaming like monkeys do. It was a reminder that apes are badass creatures - because you certainly didn't get that sense when he was doing his stupid mother effing tata dance after beating each level, or falling on his butt and looking at you scratching his head. Shut up, idiot.
Stuff I loved:
- Nothing.
- Everything.
- - -
My hatred for this game has been well documented. I will likely never play this game again and will continue to besmirch it's legacy to anyone who is foolish enough to think they like it. In the end though, it's not without its charm. The characters have a certain life to them and the graphical tech was revolutionary - even if it looks like turds today.
Review in Ten Words or Less:
Shove it, Rare. Seriously. Eat my crap.
DC Comics: The 75th Anniversary Poster Book
Celebrating 75 years of DC Comics in an original and entertaining fashion, Quirk Books have just published their oversized selection of 100 covers ranging from the classics—Action Comics #1, Detective Comics #27—to the bizarre—Leave it to Binky anyone?—and touching base with many of the major characters and genres that DC have published over the years.
This isn't just a collection of superhero
This isn't just a collection of superhero
Finished: Donkey Kong Country
I did it...
Official Hour Count: 2:10
Actual Playtime: About 6 hours
I am so happy to be done with this piece of crap. I have so many more terrible things I want to say about it, but I'll wait for the review to really shove this thing up it's own butt hole. Ugh. Just looking at that stupid box art now makes me sick to my stomach.
Go choke on your stupid bananas.
Official Hour Count: 2:10
Actual Playtime: About 6 hours
I am so happy to be done with this piece of crap. I have so many more terrible things I want to say about it, but I'll wait for the review to really shove this thing up it's own butt hole. Ugh. Just looking at that stupid box art now makes me sick to my stomach.
Go choke on your stupid bananas.
Comic Cuts - 20 August 2010
Box Mountain as of Thursday, 19 August.
If you could see our lounge you'd think that there hadn't been any unpacking over the past couple of weeks at all. But I promise you that I've been emptying at least a couple of boxes a day. The problem with accumulating a collection of stuff is that it grows organically: I spent 15 years in the old house buying a book here and a comic there and somehow
If you could see our lounge you'd think that there hadn't been any unpacking over the past couple of weeks at all. But I promise you that I've been emptying at least a couple of boxes a day. The problem with accumulating a collection of stuff is that it grows organically: I spent 15 years in the old house buying a book here and a comic there and somehow
Almost There...Donkey Kong Country
LOOK AT THAT FREAKING BEAVER! LOOK HOW STUPID HE IS!
So I finally made it past the stupid Snow Barrel Blast level, once again being aided by a youtube clip showing the location of the secret barrel off screen. In two nights I have made it all the way to the last level before the final boss. I blew through most of the levels on my first try, but that doesn't mean I'm starting to hate the game any less. It is still the complete bane of my existence, I'm just excited to finally get this thing out of my life. I honestly wish I had a hard copy of this game, because as soon as I beat it I would love to take an axe to it. I need to punish it the way it punished me.
And clicking "Delete" on my Wii doesn't have the same visceral punch.
Does anyone have a copy of the cart I can destroy? I mean "borrow".
What do you want to do when you become an adult?
Jackson: Work
Scott: What kind of work do you want to do?
Jackson: I want to paint.
Scott: OK, that's great buddy. What kinds of things do you want to paint?
Jackson: I want to paint walls.
So there you have it. His first assertion about what he wants to do for a living. I thought it was cute.
P.S. I'm painting the half bath walls at the moment. When will the day come when he DOESN'T want to do everything I do, following in my every footstep and thinking I'm the coolest? I'm hiring a sitter that day.
Scott: What kind of work do you want to do?
Jackson: I want to paint.
Scott: OK, that's great buddy. What kinds of things do you want to paint?
Jackson: I want to paint walls.
So there you have it. His first assertion about what he wants to do for a living. I thought it was cute.
P.S. I'm painting the half bath walls at the moment. When will the day come when he DOESN'T want to do everything I do, following in my every footstep and thinking I'm the coolest? I'm hiring a sitter that day.
He's been playing us.
Sullivan, that is.
To give some background, the little guy doesn't use ANY words. He hardly uses "Mama" or "Dada." And even when he does, he doesn't use them to actually address us. In general, we haven't been feeling as though there is much of a connection in communication at all. Speaking to him sort of seemed more for us than for him; we haven't seen much register when we've directly spoken to him, making us wonder if any comprehension is going on.
For his age, he's behind the curve in this area. I was just starting to fret, when...
Yesterday during lunch I mistakingly busted out a blueberry muffin (P.S. Sullivan is a CARB kid) in visual range before he had finished eating much of any of the delicious broccoli, chicken, and peaches on his tray. Scott and I openly confess that we cave more easily with Sullivan when it comes to eating because a) juggling both his and Jackson's food prep and presentation means we don't monitor how much he's eaten/what he's eaten as closely (Sometimes his meals are truly progressive in nature, i.e. throw some cheese on the tray, he fusses that he's finished, throw a cup of apple sauce on the tray, he fusses that he's finished, throw anything nearby on his tray... just getting by while we finish whatever we're doing... ) and b) he's the pickiest dang eater (and not consistent with his preferences... he'll love banana for a day, then hate it for the next three - quite the tough one to please :).
This said, when he is unwilling to eat what we've prepared for him (and making a stinking mess by swirling it aroud his tray, not to mention swooshing it OFF his tray) and we KNOW he needs food, we often throw our hands up in the air and say, "OK, we give... have 12 pickles for dinner and call it a day." or "You want wheat thins in place of your green beans? FINE."
But yesterday was a day when I was feeling rather firey. He caught sight of aforementioned muffin before most of his other food stood a chance (and the other food was - for once - going down REALLY well before I blew it!). I knew once he got a taste of the sweet scrumptiousness of that baked good, it was OVER for everything else. So, I decided to reason with him about it: "You must eat the rest of your broccoli in order to eat this muffin." (inserting body language and hand gestures to fully express myself to my one-year-old). Sullivan continues swiping his hands from side to side, shaking his head violently. Now comes the part where this scenerio is reduced to the principle of the thing: "OK, Sullivan. Look at me, Sullivan. Listen: You need to eat this one piece of broccoli, then you can enjoy that muffin." I shove it in his hand. He throws it. I put it back on his tray and repeat myself 4 dozen times. He fusses, shakes, swipes, claps, kicks - ALL THE WHILE STARING AT THAT DARN MUFFIN.
I wasn't letting this one go. (For visual reference, the piece of broccoli was the size of my pinky fingernail and in no way consituted a well-balanced meal, even with what he'd already eaten. He was going to "win" even with that teensy eensy broccoli bit consumed... BUT IT WAS ABOUT NOT BACKING DOWN at this point.)
So, as I continue this painstaking process, I can't help but wonder if anything I'm saying is even getting through to the kid. Since we hadn't had many previous success stories about 'understanding one another,' I was really beginning to think it was all for not.
Regardless, after fighting it out a few minutes longer (felt like years), all the while with Jackson as a curious onlooker ("What's Mommy gonna do? She's really making a deal about that silly piece of broccoli!"), I called the fight. It was over. He had his chance. He was done. No broccoli = no muffin. I was explaining that he was "all done" and he just fussed away. I walk to the sink, got a wash cloth (fussing, fussing, banging hands on tray, reaching towards table for muffin). I wiped off his hands and his mouth (fussing, fussing, squirming, squirming, reashing towards table for muffin). I placed my hands on the tray and was sliding it away when SUDDENLY, his grew silent and stealthily swiped that piece of broccoli, bringing it to his mouth in one swift movement.
I about fell on the floor.
Instead of falling to the floor, though, I praised the kid to high heaven. Jackson looked at me and said, "Mommy, he ate dat piece of broccoli!" And this began our celebration. Jackson and I danced and clapped and cheered and smiled and then I said, "Good job, Sullivan! I asked you to eat the broccoli and you did! Thank you for doing what I asked you to do! Yey, Sullivan, yey!"
He responded with a blueberry muffin crumb-filled grin.
I called Scott later that day to report in that, "Sullivan has been playing us."
The kid TOTALLY knows what we are saying. He just appears as though he doesn't, because he never feels like complying.
Oh, geez. We got a doozy on our hands. I need to order a few more parenting books. This is a whole different ballgame.
To give some background, the little guy doesn't use ANY words. He hardly uses "Mama" or "Dada." And even when he does, he doesn't use them to actually address us. In general, we haven't been feeling as though there is much of a connection in communication at all. Speaking to him sort of seemed more for us than for him; we haven't seen much register when we've directly spoken to him, making us wonder if any comprehension is going on.
For his age, he's behind the curve in this area. I was just starting to fret, when...
Yesterday during lunch I mistakingly busted out a blueberry muffin (P.S. Sullivan is a CARB kid) in visual range before he had finished eating much of any of the delicious broccoli, chicken, and peaches on his tray. Scott and I openly confess that we cave more easily with Sullivan when it comes to eating because a) juggling both his and Jackson's food prep and presentation means we don't monitor how much he's eaten/what he's eaten as closely (Sometimes his meals are truly progressive in nature, i.e. throw some cheese on the tray, he fusses that he's finished, throw a cup of apple sauce on the tray, he fusses that he's finished, throw anything nearby on his tray... just getting by while we finish whatever we're doing... ) and b) he's the pickiest dang eater (and not consistent with his preferences... he'll love banana for a day, then hate it for the next three - quite the tough one to please :).
This said, when he is unwilling to eat what we've prepared for him (and making a stinking mess by swirling it aroud his tray, not to mention swooshing it OFF his tray) and we KNOW he needs food, we often throw our hands up in the air and say, "OK, we give... have 12 pickles for dinner and call it a day." or "You want wheat thins in place of your green beans? FINE."
But yesterday was a day when I was feeling rather firey. He caught sight of aforementioned muffin before most of his other food stood a chance (and the other food was - for once - going down REALLY well before I blew it!). I knew once he got a taste of the sweet scrumptiousness of that baked good, it was OVER for everything else. So, I decided to reason with him about it: "You must eat the rest of your broccoli in order to eat this muffin." (inserting body language and hand gestures to fully express myself to my one-year-old). Sullivan continues swiping his hands from side to side, shaking his head violently. Now comes the part where this scenerio is reduced to the principle of the thing: "OK, Sullivan. Look at me, Sullivan. Listen: You need to eat this one piece of broccoli, then you can enjoy that muffin." I shove it in his hand. He throws it. I put it back on his tray and repeat myself 4 dozen times. He fusses, shakes, swipes, claps, kicks - ALL THE WHILE STARING AT THAT DARN MUFFIN.
I wasn't letting this one go. (For visual reference, the piece of broccoli was the size of my pinky fingernail and in no way consituted a well-balanced meal, even with what he'd already eaten. He was going to "win" even with that teensy eensy broccoli bit consumed... BUT IT WAS ABOUT NOT BACKING DOWN at this point.)
So, as I continue this painstaking process, I can't help but wonder if anything I'm saying is even getting through to the kid. Since we hadn't had many previous success stories about 'understanding one another,' I was really beginning to think it was all for not.
Regardless, after fighting it out a few minutes longer (felt like years), all the while with Jackson as a curious onlooker ("What's Mommy gonna do? She's really making a deal about that silly piece of broccoli!"), I called the fight. It was over. He had his chance. He was done. No broccoli = no muffin. I was explaining that he was "all done" and he just fussed away. I walk to the sink, got a wash cloth (fussing, fussing, banging hands on tray, reaching towards table for muffin). I wiped off his hands and his mouth (fussing, fussing, squirming, squirming, reashing towards table for muffin). I placed my hands on the tray and was sliding it away when SUDDENLY, his grew silent and stealthily swiped that piece of broccoli, bringing it to his mouth in one swift movement.
I about fell on the floor.
Instead of falling to the floor, though, I praised the kid to high heaven. Jackson looked at me and said, "Mommy, he ate dat piece of broccoli!" And this began our celebration. Jackson and I danced and clapped and cheered and smiled and then I said, "Good job, Sullivan! I asked you to eat the broccoli and you did! Thank you for doing what I asked you to do! Yey, Sullivan, yey!"
He responded with a blueberry muffin crumb-filled grin.
I called Scott later that day to report in that, "Sullivan has been playing us."
The kid TOTALLY knows what we are saying. He just appears as though he doesn't, because he never feels like complying.
Oh, geez. We got a doozy on our hands. I need to order a few more parenting books. This is a whole different ballgame.
Why is it...
... that even after 13 years of living out of my childhood home, I still - to this day - ocassionally reach under the sink for the garbage disposal switch?
I know that mine is not there. But it feels like it should be.
I must've used the garbage disposal a lot as a child :)
I know that mine is not there. But it feels like it should be.
I must've used the garbage disposal a lot as a child :)
UGHHH!!!!!
I am so done with this game. If you remember my last post, I had trouble with a level called Snow Barrel Blast, which is the first level in the fourth world. I had beat it by chance: I found a secret barrel that shot me all the way to the end. I moved onto the next level, lost all my lives, had to start back at the previous save point which is BEFORE the previous boss. Now I can't find that stupid secret barrel again!!
I. HATE. THIS. GAME. SO! MUCH.
I want to cut it up with a hacksaw and send its pieces to its mother. I want to tie it up in a sack and drown it on a webcam and force its family to watch. I want to starve it almost to death, then give it a Thanksgiving dinner and then shoot it in the back of the head.
One more attempt tonight. If I can't do it, $8 is going to charity and I'm deleting this game from my Wii.
Storm: The Collection
I'm very pleased to announce that the final three volumes of Storm—The Collection have now arrived back from the printers and are shipping to subscribers. The books mark the end of a seven-year project to publish the whole of the Storm saga drawn by Don Lawrence in English. Only a few volumes had been previously available in translation, a couple of tales appearing in Heavy Metal, and a handful
Ted Rawlings (1921-2010)
Adrian Banfield of the Victor & Hornet website has forwarded the news that Ted Rawlings, who was a regular artist on D. C. Thomson's Victor for over twenty years, died at Netherlea Hospital, Newport-on-Tay, on Friday, 6 August 2010. Although a brief notice in the Dundee Courier and Advertiser says that he was 90, he was, in fact, 89 years old.
A full obituary will appear shortly.
A full obituary will appear shortly.
Still Playing...Donkey Kong Country
Ughhhhhhh!!! I can't stand this freaking game. It's so boring and annoyingly difficult that I find myself more frustrated playing this than anything I've played so far - even Halo. I've reached the level of "controller spiking fury" a good five or six times and each time I find myself saying "That's so STUPID!" The frustration isn't coming from my inability to beat a level, it's coming from lazy level design.
The worst thing about this whole game is how easily you can die in bottomless pits. For example - I just finished a level called Barrel Blast where you have to propel yourself from barrel to barrel - launching as if from a cannon. The issue is that these barrels are spinning and if you're a centimeter off your desired angle, you will send DK and Diddy to their untimely - and unbelievably infuriating - deaths. Eventually, I beat the level by accident:
I had launched my characters straight down from a particular barrel. Just as the profanity was building up behind my teeth, and just as my hand was raised in the air to spike the controller into the wall, I saw DK and Diddy fall into a hidden barrel at the bottom of the screen. This "cleverly disguised secret" propelled me all the way to the exit, and gave me 50 bananas during the ride. I bet the developers thought "Yeah, people will be really excited when they find this" - I wasn't. I didn't think it was clever or have any sense of discovery for finding that thing - the only way anyone would ever find it is by accident! All I said was "thank God I'm done with this level..."
I will admit, there have been two or three levels that weren't bad, and the game seems to get progressively better as I go forward, but only by very little. As of now, this is the worst and most despised game in my collection.
Eat my crap Donkey Kong Country.
The Lost World part 7
Tomorrow: The Battle with the Ape Men!
(* Artwork © Look and Learn Ltd. Reprinted by permission.)
(* Artwork © Look and Learn Ltd. Reprinted by permission.)
Douglas Adams cover gallery
Douglas Adams should hopefully need no introduction and if he does I'm going to be incredibly lazy and point you to his entry on Wikipedia. This little gallery was inspired by the fact that, when I was unpacking books following the move, I discovered that I had two sets of Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy, one amongst the SF books and one amongst the TV and Radio tie-ins (as it was initially
Comic Cuts - 13 August
Although I'm still running to stand still, I'm pleased to say that things are slowly beginning to settle down after the move. I'm still unpacking... very slowly due to circumstances beyond our control which meant that, since moving, we've had three people in the house rather than the planned two. It's not an ideal situation and it has slowed things down considerably... but that's life and we're
The Lost World part 5
Tomorrow: A Walk Into Danger!
(* Artwork © Look and Learn Ltd. Reprinted by permission. Apologies about the quality of some of these scans: they're taken from the rough set that was prepared for office use and weren't really meant for any other use... but it's these or nothing at the moment while I continue to play catch-up with work, life and blog.)
(* Artwork © Look and Learn Ltd. Reprinted by permission. Apologies about the quality of some of these scans: they're taken from the rough set that was prepared for office use and weren't really meant for any other use... but it's these or nothing at the moment while I continue to play catch-up with work, life and blog.)
Up Next: Donkey Kong Country
Thanks to everyone who responded for what I should play next. Please don't take the fact that I'm playing something no one recommended as an insult to your ideas. Every suggestion was great, but I need to play a few shorter games to keep my motivation going, and I know DKC can be completed in about 6 hours.
Let me say right off the bat: I hate this game. I know it's got a lot die hard fans, but I just don't see it. I mean when this thing came out back in 1994 it was the coolest thing in the world. This and Starfox made me totally regret my decision to write "Sega Genesis" on my list to Santa. But I never got to play it back when it wowed the world with it's 3D graphics, so I don't have any nostalgia factor when playing this game, which means it needs to stand on it's own merits.
And it has very few.
Aside from the fact that the graphics have aged almost as badly as those from Final Fantasy 7, the gameplay is a snorefest. It's generic buttstomping, run-to-the-right fare; there is no imagination or creativity in the level design. You know what it feels like? A flash game. Like one of those stupid corporate flash games that's barely playable and that's only in place to sell some dumb product - in this case, the product they're selling their graphics engine.
There is often a debate over graphics or gameplay. A game can certainly sell a couple million copies just based on graphics, though I think even the casual gamers are starting to demand a certain level of competence in level design. Back in 1994 though, nothing like this had EVER been seen before, so the graphics could literally carry this game, and according to game design rockstar, Shigeru Miyamoto (creator of Mario and Zelda) the graphics were the only thing going for it:
“Donkey Kong Country proves that players will put up with mediocre gameplay as long as the art is good.”
And now, I have mediocre gameplay and ugly art, so there's really no joy that comes out of playing this at all.
Well, I guess there is one good thing... It should only take six hours to get it out of my life forever.
The Lost World part 2
(* Artwork © Look and Learn Ltd. Reprinted by permission. Apologies about the quality of some of these scans: they're taken from the rough set that was prepared for office use and weren't really meant for any other use... but it's these or nothing at the moment while I continue to play catch-up with work, life and blog.)
What's Next?
Hey gang,
I'm having a hard time deciding what to play next. Take a look at my collection and let your voice be heard in the comments.
I'm having a hard time deciding what to play next. Take a look at my collection and let your voice be heard in the comments.
The Lost World part 1
As this is our first comic strip in a while I thought we could do with something with a bit of excitement. Bring on the dinosaurs!
The Lost World originally appeared in Look and Learn in 1972-73, a 15-parter that began in issue 559 (30 September) and ran until issue 573 (6 January). It is based on the novel by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the first of his Professor Challenger series which continued
The Lost World originally appeared in Look and Learn in 1972-73, a 15-parter that began in issue 559 (30 September) and ran until issue 573 (6 January). It is based on the novel by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the first of his Professor Challenger series which continued
Review: Halo
Halo is a monumental entry into the video game universe. It not only defined the blueprint for the console first person shooter genre, but it cemented the idea of a game made for grown ups - or more accurately, college dudes. While I didn't get any time with the multiplayer in my playthrough, the single player experience was about as beefy as you could ask for. It was an experience that promised high and delivered even higher.
Story
The First Person Shooter genre is usually known for it's sub-par story telling. Usually the only real "story" in these games is just in place to establish a motive for you to be OK with shooting everything in the world. Halo is different. From the very first level, you get the sense that there is a deep universe of races, characters, foes and allies that span centuries of a fictional timeline wrapped in mystery. It's not surprising that the Halo lore has expanded into comics and novels, and with the way the story is delivered, it's hard for me to believe that much of the expanded storyline wasn't at least mapped out before Halo was even released.
Your boss.
Within the game itself, I was pleased to find that the story not only gave me a motive to shoot things, but it surprised me. There were twists I didn't see coming. There was a lot of mystery at the outset as to what the heck this floating ring in space was, and why it seemed so important. There was suspense, excitement, tension, rage, joy, frustration...you couldn't ask for anything more.
Another thing that FPS games are guilty of is the overly macho, unrealistic cast of heroes. And while the faceless, stupidly named Master Chief isn't exactly a flawed human character, he, along with other key players in the story, has more heart than I expected and in fact more than many game characters today - in any genre. Your navi-like guide, Cortana is snarky, witty and believable. The military brass are appropriately gruff and demand the right amount of respect through their voice. Master Chief's fellow marines are believable in their fear and excitement in various situations.
The story as a whole is very well written by video game standards. There is a clear beginning, middle and satisfying end to the tale of the green clad space marine.
Gameplay
I beat the game last night, and as the credits finished I saw the copyright: 2001. "Holy crap."
Of course I knew how old the game was when I popped it in my 360's disc tray, but as I played through it, I had forgotten I was playing something that was nine years old - ancient in the game world. Games usually show their age around 2-3 years later, Halo felt as if it could have been released yesterday.
The controls are tight, the level design was clearly done by seasoned vets, the game remained exciting throughout, there were 3 or 4 different vehicles (which all handled differently), two completely different species of enemies, tons of weapons (all balanced perfectly) - in short: it's a blast to play.
Use it! Use the plasma grenade!
On top of all the FPS basics delivering strongly, it was the little extras that made Halo possibly one of the best games of the 00s. As the player, you often had to adjust your play style to match the challenge presented. You can't just go into every situation guns blazing and expect to beat it, nor should you expect to approach every situation carefully and slowly. You will need to balance these two methods of gameplay - and often a third or fourth method - to really get everything you can out of the experience. Couple that with a great story, and you have an unforgettable game.
Presentation
This is another area where I forgot I was playing a nine-year old game. Playing on an HDTV, the graphics were sharp at all times, character models were really well developed, frame rate was smooth (most of the time), and everything we very believable from a graphics perspective. In fact, if it weren't for the fact that the game only ran in 4:3, I could easily be convinced that this was a mid-range current gen game.
On top of the graphics, the sound design is unparalleled. Game music can be one of three things:
1) Annoying - Start, Options, Music: off.
2) Invisible - When music is just there. It doesn't offend, but it goes unnoticed.
3) Awesome - Music that you find yourself humming after you've shut the game off.
Halo's now iconic orchestral score is in the highest ranking of #3 and it set the tone perfectly for every situation in the game. From the "Tibetan Monk" opening theme to the rousing skirmish tune, the music is something that is, today, instantly recognizable. You've played the game, how many times have you found yourself singing this:
Stuff I Loved:
- Fun as hell
- Solid story with satisfying conclusion
- Barring a little drag in the middle, the game is tense and exciting throughout
- The awesome music
- Some parts, even on normal, are really freaking hard.
- No subtitles. I played this mostly while my wife was sleeping, so I had to keep the volume low. When I got to a cutscene, I missed all the exposition because I couldn't hear Cortana or the Chief.
- The mother-effing driving controls for the Warthog, and by extension, the final sequence where you're forced to drive the stupid thing to the end of the game. Press up for gas and rotate the camera to steer. Oh, and put butter all over the wheels and make the wheels out of floor wax, and then wax the floor and walls. Then pour water and lube all over everything. That sound like fun? No. It's not. It sucks.
Ten Words or Less Review:
Fully cinematic experience, tough as nails, awesome.
Finished: Halo
I did it.
Final Hour Count: About 15 hours (no official in-game clock)
As you may have read, I was having particular trouble with a segment called Final Run. I felt the same way about this segment as I did about the Grim Reaper in Castlevania. I had gotten frustrated enough with it to look it up on Youtube. And once again, the solution was cheap - drive a ghost right down the middle, grab a Banshee and avoid fighting all together. I decided to give it one more shot fighting my way to the Banshee, and after putting bite marks in my 360 controller, I went for the cheap-o method and beat the rest of the mission in one shot.
Hey - I didn't use a cheat code...
Cheap and cheat are two different words.
Comic Cuts - 6 August 2010
I was planning to relate the tale of our move but time has raced away from me again so I shall skip through the boring details. As long-time readers will know we learned in May that we would have to move out of our home of 15 years. The reason was the possible leap in Capital Gains Tax the new government was planning to introduce; our landlord decided to sell the house and we were given two
The Library? Please...Final Run, However...
So everyone kept warning me about a certain mission called "The Library"...
I really enjoyed one particular aspect of The Library that several other games have emulated. As you're fighting through this level you are guided by a little talking beacon, and every once in a while these laser-firing drones come out to help you take out some of the enemies. Once you finish the level, though, these drones turn against you, and that's the aspect I enjoyed. It's cool when powerful enemies or allies switch sides either for you or against you. It's kinds like in Chrono Trigger when you can recruit Magus to join your party.
Anyway, I made it through the majority of the following level, but now I am on a segment called "Final Run". I remember this portion vividly from the last time I tried to play through Halo because its where I gave up. You are fighting every single type of enemy and vehicle in this section and it is over-the-top difficult.
I think it may be my gaming type/personality that's giving me trouble with this, and possibly why I didn't have much trouble with the Library. You have to be extremely strategic in Final Run, whereas in the Library you just have to be quick with the trigger finger and conserve ammo as much as possible. I approach most FPS games in the balls-out, shoot everything mode, which served me well in the Library, but it's clear that I need to alter my approach to beat Final Run.
It says something about the depth of this game that you have to change your gaming style to make it through the whole thing, and I bet many people don't notice that aspect of Halo. Because everyone else is so damn good at it.
Watch out for the Library - that's quite a grind
Halo gets a lot of flack for one mission in particular, The Library, and you'll see why.
Rough stuff ahead with the Library
Brace yourself! [The library is] long.I freaking destroyed the library. Like, no trouble at all - I don't even think I died.
I really enjoyed one particular aspect of The Library that several other games have emulated. As you're fighting through this level you are guided by a little talking beacon, and every once in a while these laser-firing drones come out to help you take out some of the enemies. Once you finish the level, though, these drones turn against you, and that's the aspect I enjoyed. It's cool when powerful enemies or allies switch sides either for you or against you. It's kinds like in Chrono Trigger when you can recruit Magus to join your party.
Anyway, I made it through the majority of the following level, but now I am on a segment called "Final Run". I remember this portion vividly from the last time I tried to play through Halo because its where I gave up. You are fighting every single type of enemy and vehicle in this section and it is over-the-top difficult.
I think it may be my gaming type/personality that's giving me trouble with this, and possibly why I didn't have much trouble with the Library. You have to be extremely strategic in Final Run, whereas in the Library you just have to be quick with the trigger finger and conserve ammo as much as possible. I approach most FPS games in the balls-out, shoot everything mode, which served me well in the Library, but it's clear that I need to alter my approach to beat Final Run.
It says something about the depth of this game that you have to change your gaming style to make it through the whole thing, and I bet many people don't notice that aspect of Halo. Because everyone else is so damn good at it.
Another interim report
Things are slowly getting back to normal... e-mail is now working properly, signal strength on the wireless router is better now we've moved it downstairs and seems to work OK in Mel's new office (once we pick up a card for her computer). Moved some books around and started to fill up the shelves and finally managed to do a little bit of work.
With no distractions from the outside world, thanks
With no distractions from the outside world, thanks
The triathletes.... and those who cheer for/love them!
Scott and Troy not only finished their first triathlons... they were studs! Both completed the swim/bike/run competition in less than 1 hour 30 minutes. Both the Arthurs and the Lindloffs spent the weekend in Bemidji, MN for a get-away, but the real root reason for the trip was the Bemidji tri. We met up several other couple friends for some beaching, eating, skiing, and pontooning while there.
Troy took Jackson and his kids fishing (a hoot!), we walked across the Mississippi River where it BEGINS, we tried our hand at canoeing, and - of course - we cheered our hearts out at the tri. Blast!
Look carefully: "Go Troy!"
Troy took Jackson and his kids fishing (a hoot!), we walked across the Mississippi River where it BEGINS, we tried our hand at canoeing, and - of course - we cheered our hearts out at the tri. Blast!
Look carefully: "Go Troy!"
Backside: "Go Scott"
Comic Cuts: Upcoming Releases
A round-up of forthcoming books relating to or reprinting British comics and cartoons, along with some selected original graphic novels.
JULY 2010 [Announced by yet to be released]
500 Manga Villains & Heroes by Yishan Li. Ilex ISBN 978-1905814947, 5 July 2010.
Darkie's Mob by John Wagner & Mike Western. Titan Books ISBN 978-1848564428, 23 July 2010 [originally announced for 27 November 2009].
JULY 2010 [Announced by yet to be released]
500 Manga Villains & Heroes by Yishan Li. Ilex ISBN 978-1905814947, 5 July 2010.
Darkie's Mob by John Wagner & Mike Western. Titan Books ISBN 978-1848564428, 23 July 2010 [originally announced for 27 November 2009].
We're Back! (sort of)
Hi All,
A quick update. We're now safely installed in the new house but have had a few problems with connectivity: the phone line was dead when we moved in, but we got that back up and running on Wednesday. Internet connection is running as of Sunday evening but the wireless connection to my new office is poor and seems to drop out every ten minutes or so, which is a problem still to resolve.
A quick update. We're now safely installed in the new house but have had a few problems with connectivity: the phone line was dead when we moved in, but we got that back up and running on Wednesday. Internet connection is running as of Sunday evening but the wireless connection to my new office is poor and seems to drop out every ten minutes or so, which is a problem still to resolve.
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