I've been a busy boy of late. Whats that? I should compartmentalize these events into a list? Sure!

Raised over £600 for children in Need.
The great Citizen Game community banded together to play games throughout the night of Children in Need, raising over £600 for somthing they probably would have been doing anyway. Horah!

Wrote a Modern Warfare 2 Review
9.0, still loving the multiplayer.

Started a Forum on CitizenGame
Eventually I got around to it. Already saves some cash from the deals in our "Bargain Hunter" section, so it was worth the dev time already.

Recorded a few Podcasts
We have the formula down to a tea now. 45 minutes every week. The first every week too, available from 9:30 Monday Morning.

Bought a new TV!
My projecter exploded the day after the gameathon. Perfect excuse to buy a 42 inch 1080p HDTV.

Other Games I've been playing:
DJ Hero - fun, but got it for free.
AssCreed2 - fun, but stupid story
Left4Dead2 - Far better than the first. Refined.
CrossFingers, Beneath a Steel Sky, Minigore, Doodlejump (all on iPhone)

Everything else is cool. Work is going great, going home for 2 weeks at Christmas and recording some fantastic CitizenGame content in the run up to Christmas. I might post somthing here in the lead up to Jesus day, but for now, thats what Dannys doing.

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As part of Children in Need, Citizen Game staffers (and some close friends) will be playing a video games marathon on November 20th in aid of Children In Need (and because we'd probably be doing it anyway!). We'll be taking over a film studio in central London for the night, and invite you guys to join us online.

Alternatively, get involved here as we're going to broadcast the event LIVE on my website with photos and articles available in the days following.

In case you're not aware, Children in Need is a UK charity that has been running since 1980. In that time it has raised £500,000,000 for disadvantaged, disabled and abused children in the UK. We hope, in some small way, to contribute to their worthy cause this year.

We also encourage you guys to get involved and raise awareness by playing with us that night via Xbox Live or the Playstation Network. If you're interested, check out the details here.

Please don't worry if you cannot afford to spare anything, these are hardly the most affluent of times, but anything you can spare to give will go towards a great charity.

Thank you for your charity and support.

Now lets raise some money!

FURTHER INFORMATION HERE

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Canabalt Review: (Gamespot User Review)
Cheap & Cheerfull iPhone Game

EDGE Review: (Cant Find it on Gamespots Database)
Great Little iPhone game.

GTA4: Ballad of Gay Tony Playtests (Video)
- Multiplayer Playtest
- Singleplayer Playtest

Operation Flashpoint Playtest (Video)
- Part #1
- Part #2

Newspaper Advertisment (The Times)
My first mass-media graphic design is going in the Times on November 14th.

Trailer Watch (only the best and worse make it)
- Jailbait Hero

Citizen Soapbox (our weekly user discussion groups)
- Mobile-Phone Games
- Spooky Games

Citizen Gamecast (Eurogamer Episode)
With brand new music, and in keeping with CG on-location podcasts, we were pretty hammered.

We also covered the Golden Joystick Awards and the Eurogamer Expo in central London last weekend (thats me interviewing Gamespotter Joseph Barron). Expect video for that in 'Whats Danny Doing #2".

In terms of games I've been playing the awesome Brutal Legend, Fifa 10, Operation Flashpoint 2, some great iPhone and Indy games (pick up Osmos on Steam if you have a few quid lying around).

Hope you guys are all keeping well in the run up to Jesus Day. What have you guys been up to? What you been playing?

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My labour of love went live a few hours ago. www.citizengame.co.uk

I've spent the past 4 months developing the site in our new location in London with a fantastic group of guys. I spent a long time brainstorming about the aspects of games websites, and games journalism that I feel are odds with the common gamer. The PR/Newswire cycle that ends when the game hits shelves, the lack of entertainment in an entertainment medium, and a lot more.

This is my attempt at what games websites should be, or at least what I can get away with, with a team of freelance contributers with fulltime jobs. Weekly videos, the return our weekly podcast (new format), articles from some of the best games writers in the UK and loads more.

Apparently I'm one of the most visited and followed users on all of Gamespot. In the 3 years on this site I've written articles, shot videos and covered foreign events from this humble blog. If you think my content was worth your time on Gamespot, I'd love for you to see whats coming up on on CG. It's a geniune attempt at creating a better type of games media.

Join the revolution

Danny

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How you boys and girls doin?
Very well I hope. Do share......

See, very much alive.

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Hi yea, so. The site myself and my friend Denis set up last year was fairly successful, we landed 35,000 unique visitors since January 1st, were mentioned several times on Kotaku, Steam, N4D and hundreds of other sites, and had a great time reporting from Leipzig and Blizzards Invitational. But we've learned a lot, but to cut to the point, a reboot is in order.

Before moving to London i spent a few weeks programming and designing the new site, and organising a change of focus. Im aiming high with CitizenGame v2, very high. High enough that Its probably not right to post it on Gamespot, but in honesty this is where many of the CG contributors came from, so it makes sence to go fishing here before anywhere else.

To cut to the chase if you're interested on colaborating with the launch of the UK's most exciting video games website, reply here or email me at dannyodwyer@gmail.com - Areas needed include:
- Writers
- Reviewers
- Video Presenters
- Tech (audio / video)
- Web (programmers / graphics)

Please have some version of your work available to see/read and its a big advantage if your based in London.
If your driven, passionate about games and willing to put in the work, get in contact.

I have a vision of whats missing in the games press, and what can be done to unite the core and casual into 1 portal. Managing the PR influence thats polluting the mainstream games press, getting out of the boardrooms and into the sitting rooms. More importantly, im no longer stuck in Ireland on my own trying to do it. This is no pipe dream, I have the ability and drive to get this done, I just need a strong team of people to help me pull it off.

If you can help, get in contact.

Im off to play more Burnout

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Green = Good Times
Red = Bad Times

The Tube - Though I'm sure (like rollercoaster testers) the novelty wears off, the underground is simply superb. Excellently well run, fairly priced (with an Oyster) and at least in my experience so far, puntual and fast. Buses aren't bad either. I've never seen public transport like it.

Groceries - Oh man is stuff cheap here. Economies of scale is the winner over here with Basic fruit & veg, milk, meat, beer (shops and bars) and medicine being almost half the price in some shops. Even when you factor in the Euro-Sterling thing. Speaking of which...

Sterling - A minor gripe. It just feels silly that I can go to Italy or Eastern Europe with my Euro, but have to exchange it for Queen-moneys when take a 1 hour plane trip.

iPlayer, 4OD & Spotify - As a *cough* TV licence holder, I've access to all the free on demand and live broadcasts from national broadcasters. Watched Wimbledon live on my PC this week. No internet in my flat yet though, I'm posting this with my dongle hanging out my window, 150feet in the air. Spotify is genuis too.

No Car - *sniffle*, I miss being able to drive to the local beach or mountains for a day with nature. At least the views here are amazing....

Views from Apartment - (see below) I wake up in the morning and see south London glistening in the morning hue. Its glorious up here. Im a sucker for views, we can see hills 20 miles away from my old house in Ireland, so getting an appartment this high was fantastic. We're right beside the 2012 Olympic village site, which is facinating to watch being built. Free residents gym too, so bye bye love handles!

No Tayo Crisps or Decent Cider - Im Irish, I love Tayto crisps and miss them dearly. Most Irish children are raised on a diet of Tayto, its in our genes! Also I know understand why Bulmers is called 'Magners' overe here, its because another 'Bulmers' cider exists overe here, which tastes better actually. Not that it matter, im not really drinking as Im going to the gym.

Entering Gamespot UK Competitions - The main reason I moved over actually. No more will I be denied access to sweet-ass-prizes because of the xenaphobic policies of Gamespot Uk (i jest!)

Stuff to do - Its Endless. Theater, music, arcades, museums... you could never get bored here. And if you are, try living in Cork for a year....

Price of Games - Though my 30% staff discount in HMV is now lost to me, the price of games in the UK are so insanely cheaper it makes me wonder why we pay so much back home. In fact Im now convinced the reason HMV Ireland were the cheapest back home was because they were using the UK pricing schema. Note to anybody in Ireland, buy your games in HMV!

Thats all I can think of right now. I'll probably follow up with another next week, but for now its back to the problem at hand, job hunting! Im living in Stratford, East London for those of you who want to know. If you guys have any tips or comments about life in the capitol, let me know.

Danny

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Quick few notes, this doesnt mean the end of my site CitizenGame.co.uk - We're still commited to running the podcast via Skype and if anything, being in London will help us do more news work for our UK audience.

Updating my portfolio site like crazy, looking for jobs in anything from Web Design, Graphics, Video, Writing Production or Shoemaking. Its still work in progress, but any feedback on it would be greatly appreciated: http://www.dannyodwyer.com/

Anyway, really excited, must go write my notice letter for HMV now.
Its funny how things work out, today is exactly 1 year from when I first moved to Cork.

Peace
-Danny

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Am I going mad?
Do Canadians understand football?
Does this post make me sound like a stalker?

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Thanks to Jody and Community team for sorting out a handfew of Gamespot users with the BETA keys.
Show your appreciation by Voting for Gamespot in the Webby Awards.

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Please, any opinions good or bad are welcome.
Also, I know I said 'I.D.' instead of iD, so thats being re-dubbed later

Cheers!

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[ Watch Video ]

If any of you are playing it, add me to yours friends list as 'dannyodwyer' for fun, chat and maybe more

If your not, then get on board: www.quakelive.com

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I narrate the demo for the full 12mins so check it out if your enjoying a lazy Tuesday like I am. It would be in HD, but we still cant post HD uservideos on Gamespot, so just squint a bit

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For those who missed it, yeterdays blogpost is here for your time wasting pleasure.

Currently Playing:
And Yet It Moves
Resident Evil 5

Currently Listening:
Static-X - Cult of Static
Santogold - Santogold

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Just a post about stuffs. I recently reviewed a great indy game called '...And Yet It Moves'. It's a superb game available via Steam which is worthy of anybodys time. Check out the video below and click here for the written review. I've been trying to practise my writing skills as much as possible these past few months(reviewing games I wouldn't play usually and such), so any feedback (pos or neg) would be greatly appreciated!

[ Watch Video ]

Insanely busy at the moment working on video for my own website, but also had the chance to review Peggle a week ago. (Click here for the Gamespot version of that). I'll be posting a super huge update about that video content once we've wrapped on it. Its been months in creation for a good reason, cant wait to have it done and out there for internet consumtion. The site still has loads of news, podcasts and reviews going up in the meantime. Oh and I was on radio again last week explaining to the nation of Ireland about the wonders of 'OnLive': check it out!!!

Apart from that I'm awaiting word about my girlfriends possible job in London, im working 35 hours a week in the only recession proof CD shop left in the UK and training for the annual Cork City Marathon (up to 12km a day now - good bye flab!).

Happy Easter everybody, oh and cheers to everyone whos visited my blog here on Gamespot over the past 18 months. Just had a look and I'm a stones throw from 100,000 views, which is pretty bewildering, thanks again!

Peace!
- Danny

PS: Summers coming!
PPS: Red Faction BETA is pretty amazing, might put up a video on it soon.
PPPS: Blitz: The League 2 is perfect for people who cant play football, but love rupturing testicles!

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The countrys suffered a collective hangover this morning, the aftermath of last nights national party at Irelands victory in the Six Nations Rugby Tournament, and more importantly the first Grand Slam for the country in over 60 years. For anyone who enjoys those passionate moments in sport, check out the link below and listen to commentators scream, shout and cry just like everybody crammed into living rooms and pub's across the nation yesterday evening.

WATCHY LINKY LINKY CLICK

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Honestly I think it's the best free schwag I've ever seen. Street Fighter 4's special edition has to 1.5' low quality figurines for an extra €40 on the standard game price (€85 in total). These bad boys have removable weapons, arms with 4 seperate moveable parts (elbows can bend up and sideways like in us real hoomans) and the detail is pretty amazing.

Hope this doesn't come off as bragging, just wanted to post this because I'm shocked Capcom were sending these out to fans of the game for free. Its pretty brilliant in my opinion. The game was hardly going to struggle to sell.

By the way, I haven't bought it yet and I feel I owe Capcom now

Should I?

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I've joined teh dark side.
Follow me for chat, fun and maybe more

Also, Peggle coming to XBLA, EXTREME FEVER!

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Its been a pleasure to do every week we can (think we missed 4 weeks last year), on our lunchbreaks, in between working shifts, minutes before plane trips, hung over and/or on a normal day. Just a quick thanks to everybody on Gamespot who gave us feedback over the year. Since the podcast started we've launched the site which has gradually driven and retained more and more traffic each week, to the point where we have multiple daily updates, a wonderful news and reviews staff, and have been mentioned on Kotaku, The Escapist and many other gaming blog and media sites throughout the year.

For anybody who's interested, we're going to record and a special birthday edition of the podcast in about 30minutes, which should be availble on the site and via iTunes in the next 2 hours.

Also, if anybody is interested, were running an open Killzone 2 game night tonight and your all more than welcome.Details on the main page of citizengame.co.uk (sorry, my links dont work).

Thanks again to everybody who supported the site and podcast over the past year. Looking forward to another year of exciting developments.

Thanks again
-Danny

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So today, while we were working on the show, I got impatient and decided to record and upload a video to the site this week. The first thing that popped into my mind was a Killzone 2 parody trailer, and today we recorded, edited and uploaded just that to the site. It was a quick process and a day off work well spent, but the punchline of the video makes me laugh and cringe every time I watch it. The basic idea is the truth that dispite what all the early reviews say, the only real reason anybody is buying Killzone 2 this week is because of its lush visuals.

Click away, probably NSFW though.

I sware the actual show is far more family friendly then this and last weeks video features. I think it's my way of getting the filth out of my system because God knows if I do ever get a job in the industry I wont get away with this stuff, haha.

In other news, sites popularity still rising, loads of reviews being done and life is still good. SF4 is brilliant.

Oh and my Skate 2 review is up on Gamespot here if you fancy a read

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So the 3-pronged marketing plan we've put into force on the site seems to be working. First is Google where our google-news hit ratio is pretty damn high on any articles we post up, 'UK podcast' returns us on top pretty often and their bots love crawling our site for content daily. The second is a podcast union im trying to form which I cant really talk about, and the third is quite obviously the upcoming show.

So i decided on Wednesday to create a Valentines themed video to creep in a link on Kotaku, the internets leading games news blog. This started by setting up a voting pole on the site, and using my off-work time on Thursday and Friday evenings to edit it all together, culminating as a rushed YouTube post and email to Kotaku on Saturday morning 10mins before i sprinted to work.

When I got back on Saturday evening my desktop (still left on - sorry planet) was littered with MSN messages, and emails. Apparently our mention on Kotaku had driven 6 thousand people to the YouTube video in hour. The video was pulled because of 10 frames of unforunatly places Hentai at the end of the video, and the internets scrambled into acting, searching out our site for the content. Over the weekend our site transfered 200 Gigabytes of information including a low-res and high-res copy of the video, and a few thousand downloads of our podcast. We've had a nice bump on iTunes America as a result of new subscriptions and a lot of new members on the site.

...and the best part is, our server didnt crash. (success!)

Black box testing of that ammount of digital traffic is impossible, but over the weekend we learned a lot about how much the server could handle, how bandwidth disapears so quickly, and which service to stream out content from.

In other related news, my good friend Dale was onto some big-wigs in Capcom about press kits for games, but apparently they, among many others, use Metacritic as a benchmark for a websites ability to get kits. Unfortunatly, though Ive been in contact with the games editor of metacritic a lot over the past 2 months, we need a lot more content and hits to get submission. He says probably a year of work, but he seems to like us (irish surname always helps) so Im planning to get on Metacritic by the summer.

These sausages are really delicious.

Going to stick up my first editorial of 2009 on here near the end of the week. Been out of action here too long. Hope everyone is still alive and saving up for the next 2 weeks of gaming. SF4, Sonic Collection and Killzone 2 are on my list. Whats on yours?

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