OK, so not really games yet again, but still very very important nontheless. Tomorrow night, my band, Hallowed Point is playing at Fibbers in York, UK. So if anyone out there reads this and wants to have a decent night of metal madness, its £5 entry, and that gets you 3 bands (Hallowed Point + Sworn Amongst + Pantheon) and also there's a metal nightclub on straight after. Can't say fairer than that!

I'm busy redesigning out website atm, and it should hopefully be up ready to coincide with our new demo which should be out in early September, providing all the recording goes well. In the meantime, please check us out on MYSPACE, even though it's an old, old, old lineup playing.

Cheers, and hopefully will see some of you tomorrow night (even though the chances are minimal )

Its time for a musically themed blog post from me now. First up, it was my 21st birthday a couple of weeks ago, and with the money I got, I bought myself a new guitar. He is called Lemar. He is a Dean ML Hardtail model, and is most good, Newmand. Most good.

In other news, whilst listening to Rush the other day, I convinced myself that even if the rumours surrounding Dream Theaters appearance on Rock Band 2 turned out to be false, Tom Sawyer was enough of a draw for me, so I imported a Region 1 bundle of the game for £140. Which is £40 cheaper than what the price will be when the PS3 version makes an appearance in the UK later this year. So I saved money, and beat the release date.

Now I come on GS this morning, and find that Dream Theater are CONFIRMED for Rock Band 2. For those of you who don't know, Dream Theater are clearly the best band in the entire universe, and Panic Attack is definitely going to be one of, if not THE hardest song for all instruments on the game.

Peace and Funting...Believe.

With E3 a little over 3 weeks away, it's starting to hit me just how much potential this years event has. Out of the current consoles, I only have a PS3 and I can't afford a gaming PC atm so my focus is clearly going to be on Sonys plans for the year, and with some massive games (including several exclusives) rumoured to be making an appearance, I'm going to be keeping a close eye on the goings-on in LA this year.It's hard to decide what to place at the top of my 'Want-More-Than-A-Lottery-Win' list, so we'll start off with the PS3 exclusives, shall we?

Resistance 2

I have to admit that although I obviously had a keen interest in this game, nothing had really caught my attention until yesterday when some magazine scans appeared on progames.fr detailing some new locations, enemies (one in particular which is going to be epic), and other tit-bits of information.The promise of two different campaigns for single-player and co-op is nice, whilst the highly-anticipated 64 person online action can only improve upon the first installments (already fine) multiplayer action.

MotorStorm: Pacific Rift

Another PS3 launch title that granered enough praise to warrant a sequel, and a damn-fine looking one at that. Set primarily in tropical locations, MotorStorm 2 looks to be taking the 'drive anywhere' aspect of the original, and combining it with lush jungle backdrops, with plenty of tactics to be taken into account. Smaller vehicles will not be able to slice through the dense shrubbery as easily as the larger Big Rigs and Trucks, but alternative routes are just waiting to be found. Again, MotoStorm had a solid online world (eventually) and Pacific Rift will no doubt improve on this.

LittleBigPlanet

One of my most anticipated titles of the year (just behind MGS4), this little gem looks set to be the surprise hit of the year. Customisable characters that appeal to all genders and ages, and a focus on user created content (and the sharing of it) is hopefully going to get the PSN more alive. Here's hoping that E3 will bring news of a definite release date.

KillZone 2

KillZone 2 has been in the works for a fair while now, and while it's undoubtedly one of the PS3's most anticipated exclusives, I have a feeling that it is destined to fail. The mega-hype that numerous delays has created may come back to haunt it. However, with amazing new graphics, and a new-fangled cover system (the diet of a good FPS), KillZone 2 isn't going to go down without a fight. Expect Sony to make a lot of fuss over Killzone at E3.

OK, I've covered the exclusives, here's the rest of my most anticipated games for E3.

Tomb Raider Underground

Lets be honest with ourselves here. Lara's last few outings haven't been spectacular by any standards (even those of a non-spectacular Jaguar), so we'll have to see if Eidos' decision to add some more acrobatics, and steal the title from a vampire film can help revive this once proud series.

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

So if you haven't seen the trailers, leave this place now and go and watch them!! The combination of three physics engines is the real draw for me here, I can't wait to see what great carnage can be had flinging Stormtroopers around, into steel beams, windows and other things. Honestly, if the physics engine thing had just been any other game then this would have drawn me in anyway, but setting in the wonderful Star Wars universe gives it limitless potential. Keep an eye on this.

Soul Calbur IV

K, so I might not be as interested as I would be if Yoda was coming to the PS3 version, but there isn't any sign of Tekken 6 yet, so I'll undoubtedly stick my head in the door of Soul Calibur. SC has always been a great series, peaking at SC2, which still remains one of the greatest fighting games ever. Soul Calibur 3 was a bit of a step backwards overrall, but the create-a-character mode was very expansive. If they can nail the CAC and keep the gameplay standards high, then there's no reason why this can't win over a whole new generation of fans.

Resident Evil 5

So now Micro$oft has got its greedy little hooks into Capcom and Resi is going truly multiplat. If you don't know what to expect then you probably shouldnt be buying it. Chris Redfield returns to star in the follow up to the phenomenally successful RE4, and has found himself isolated in a sub-Saharan African village, where the villagers have become somewhat greedy themselves. Unlike Micro$oft, however, it's their fellow villagers blood that they're after, and Chris isn't going to let himself get eaten. Try not to get caught up in all the completely ridiculous cries of racism being hurled towards the game (apparently shooting black zombies is racist, but shooting white zombies is not).

Fallout 3

It'll be nice to have a decent, strong RPG (albeit a hybrid FPS/RPG) on the PS3, that isn't Oblivion. To be honest, I've not heard a whole load about it, so here's hoping that E3 will be packed with information on this little beauty.

Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3

Westwoods Cold War series has probably being the biggest selling of the C&C games, and Red Alert 3 will undoubtedly follow that trend. From a PS3 users perspective, the biggest thing they could possibly announce would be the support of Bluetooth/USB keyboard and mouse, because, as everyone should know, RTS' don't work on controllers.

Well that covers it pretty much. I'll be writing a bit more about these as E3 gets closer.

Well this is the last week that I'm going to be living in Leeds for at least 3 years. It's been great living here, and meeting all the wonderful people that I was so lucky to meet, and who have helped me have some of the best times of my life here. I'm leaving at the end of the week to go back home, and in September will start a course in Digital Music and Computer Games Deisgn at the University of Teesside, which should be funting awesome.

New games this week: Lego Indiana Jones, The Original Adventures, and Civilization Revolution.

Haven't had too much chance to play Lego Indy, partially because of being obsessed with MGS4 still (which I finally completed last night, and will now have to do on Extreme difficulty), but Civ has provided me with a few nice quick games every now and then, and has generally impressed me quite a bit. Might tempt me into doing my second proper review, you never know.

Stay safe,

T

So, I haven't been playing a whole load of games recently, which is quite unlike me, but I've got other things keeping me occupied.

I don't tink I've mentioned this in a blog, but I've joined a metal band called Hallowed Point, and I've been hammering my guitar trying to get ready for a gig which is only a week away now. So I've been learning, and if I haven't, I've been practicing it in Huddersfield. To complement this new found rockingness, I'm getting a new guitar. I'm not fully decided on what yet, but it looks like being a Dean Razorback that looks a bit like this

Nice.

And I've also just had a random woman stab a piece of metal through my tongue. I'll get some pics when the swelling goes down and I can actually talk.

Whilst Ive been having a bit of a time-out from most GS related activities, I've been thinking about what I'd write about in my next blog. Now about 2 weeks ago, I got hold of a second-hand Time Crisis 4 on PS3 (which seems to be quite rare here in the UK) and started thinking about the possibilities for my newly acquired GCon3, combined with the PS1 back catalogue. The natural answer is, of course, Point Blank - the greatest light-gun games ever released on the Playstation systems. Back in the day, I had Point Blank and Point Blank 2 on the PS1, and I loved them. Absolutely perfect for when you had your mates over, and you could always pick it up for just a quick blast. For instance, this was the time when I was at school, and so I could pick it up and have a quick shoot about for 10 minutes before I had to set off in the mornings. So, I thought 'Right, I'll get on eBay and find myself a cheap copy of PB1/2', and I did. It would of ended up costing me around about £4 delivered. But alas, the GCon3 doesn't process the data from the gun at a level where any game can be played. I don't really understand the technical ins and outs of it, but basically the data that allows the game to recognize when you've hit or missed is interpreted in the actual game, which basically means that you can ONLY use the GCon3 on Time Crisis 4. So if another light-gun game comes out for the PS3, you have to buy the full package of the gun plus the game. Now, obviously companies need to make money in order to stay alive, but the majority of companies who partake in this fleecing of customers are big names in the industry, and allowing their peripherals to be used with other franchises will not harm their sales in a significant way. Most people who buy video games cannot afford to purchase game upon game upon game, as is evidenced by the popularity of the Wii, so by over-pricing and being quite over-protective of their own assets the same companies are risking alienating their core demographics.

And there is one major case of this that I think most people (especially in the UK) will be very aware of. Of course I'm talking about Rock Band. There are a few MAJOR problems with the (eventual) UK release of the PS3 version. Firstly, the pricing. Now, at the time of writing (14:34 GMT 26/05) amazon.com, is listing the PS3 Special Edition at $149.99, which works out at approximately £76. The latest news on the UK pricing is that the instruments will cost £130 and then to buy the game separately (who is going to buy either the instruments or the game seperately?) will cost another £50 so that's a total of $356 which is the best part of being 3 times the price in the US. Secondly, getting back to compatibility issues, why can't the Guitar Hero controller be allowed to be used with Rock Band as a second instrument, especially taking into consideration the amount of money we are already being asked to fork out for RB in the first place. I've already shelled out £75 on GHIII, the devs and all the execs at the companies have already got their money from me, so what's it going to cost them to save us relatively poor people a bit of money?

Now Guitar Hero 4 has been announced, and includes a drum kit as well. But again, another peripheral has been produced (albeit with slight differences) and so people will once again have to shell out what will probably be a ridiculous amounts of money in order to play what will likely be a pretty good game. Us consumers are being forced into making a choice between the two franchises, and the majority of people in an ideal world would like to have the option of having both, without the need to take out a bank loan. Why can't the companies involved in games that require extra peripherals just come to some sort of agreement that will allow this? It will surely only be profitable for them in the long run, as people won't be made to choose where to place their loyalties, and more importantly for everyone involved, their hard earned cash.

After reading a blog posted by maggamuffin concerning whether you should 'hate the casual gamer', I felt compelled to write this. I was originally going to post it as a comment on the blog, but then decided to post it as a blog of my own, because it's quite long, and I feel that my point should be made more aware of. I'm not bragging, but I honestly feel that it is a good argument.

So here it is;

I don't think that people 'hate' casual gamers - more the idea of one. Nintendo have really pissed me off with the Wii, and all its needless accessories, and endless mini-game compilations. For instance - WiiFit, the epitome of casual gaming, is not even a game. It is a way of getting people to drop £70 on a board that will help them get fit. Now, I'm not hating on any obese/overweight people here, but if the only way you're going to make an effort to lose weight is to play a video game (which is more often than not associated with 'couch-potatoes), then you need to take a long hard look at yourself. I work in a game store, and had a large woman come in last week, look at the weight-limit for the board, and say 'OOOOH, half a stone under - that's good!' If you want to get fit, go for a run you ignorant thing. I've played games since I was 4 and haven't ever had a need to keep fit, I can do that in my own, non-expensive way. Why is there a need to bring games into the mainstream? All the best games came out in a time when if you played games, you were a geek. Now that this casual gamer market has come about, companies are just looking to make a quick buck (yes, you Ninty) with as little effort as possible. So, in retrospect, I think that casual gaming is actually hurting the hardcore gamers market. Can you name me a game that has come out this generation (aimed at the hardcore gamer) that has fully lived up to its expectations??

People look at the Wii, and think 'ah, a games console that is cheap, and will help me get fit, encourage the kids to do exercise etc.', but don't realise that it isn't cheap at all, when a set of controllers will cost you £51 a pop. That doesn't seem a lot, until you take into account the fact that the Wii is most definitely not designed for single-player games. Yes, you can play by yourself, but you feel a lot less stupid waving your limbs about if there's someone else doing it aswell. Then there's the controller attatchments. I am absolutely gobsmacked that peopl actually pay for a piece of plastic that doesn't actually do anything. If I went onto Dragons Den and pitched an idea for a pen attatchment that 'makes your pen look like a sunflower' for instance, that retailed for £7 - I'd be laughed at all the way to the harbour. But people think nothing of dropping the same amount of money on something that makes your Wiimote (worst portmanteau of the century btw) look like a golf club (and a **** one at that). The Wii Wheel, I can admit, is the best way to play Mario Kart, but it isn't essential, it's yet another gimmick that is being aimed at people who have more money than sense, and I feel that this may be the definition of a casual gamer.

Thank god I'm hardcore.

So the lack of updates is primarily due to me being either at work or playing GTA IV. It is good, and is providing much entertainment. I can't really be bothered to type a whole load about something that most people will have by now.

So, in the UK, the government is set to reclassify Cannabis as a Class B drug, up from Class C. The only real difference is that posession now carries a maximum sentence of 5 years as opposed to 2. Thing is, the government ordered this report by a panel of top scientists a few months ago, who basically said there was no need for a reclassification. So now they're just going against the decision of a load of 'Experts'. Why don't the goverment listen to the people who have spent all their professional lives studying this, and not the tabloid editors. Ketamine (IMO a much more dangerous drug; in terms of introducing users to harder drugs, and to users health) is a class C and therefore a lesser status of drug than Cannabis. Now the different laws aren't going to be treated as they should be either. People who use cannabis won't be arrested on their first or second offence, so why is the law being changed?

In Holland, there is only Hard and Soft drugs, and they are treated very, very differently. This is the way forward.

Oh, and I also got Tiger Woods 08 and the PSEye.

Peace x

and this is one of my mate Lee (who is 6'4" tall stood next to our stack of PS3 bundles.

Interestingly, the plain cardboard boxes next to the PS3s are GTA walkthroughs that have 'DO NOT OPEN TIL APRIL 29th' written on them, whereas the actual games (not pictured yet) don't carry any warning at all, and surprisingly, didn't have an armed escort coming in to the store.

I'm working the midnight launch for it, which sucks a bit, but means I get to pick up the game early-ish and then go home and play it all morning and day depending on when im next in at work.

Well, after Tuesdays action, it was up to Manchester United to go to the Nou Camp and keep the all English final hopes alive. And it looked certain that they would take a massive step to doing so when in the 2nd minute, Cristiano Ronaldos diving header was handled by Gabriel Milito in the box, and the referee rightly awarded a spot-kick. Ronaldo stepped up to take it, but amazingly, for a man with 38 goals to his name this season, he opened his body up too early and placed the ball an inch outside the post.

Barcelona were given impetus, and the wasted no time in using their 5 man midfield to control the posession and dominate United for long spells. Lionel Messi was on top form as usual, but the United defence was determined not to be broken down, even with regular right-back Wes Brown covering for Nemanja Vidic in central defence, and Owen Hargreaves dropping to right back. Some of the squad selections for Manchester would suggest that Sir Alex had one eye on Saturdays title decider against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Barcelona were by far the better side in posession, with United not doing themselves any favours with some sloppy passing, but 0-0 was a fair result, with Uniteds makeshift defence standing up to some serious battering in the second half. Will the lack of an away goal haunt them though, as Barcelona will certainly come out swinging at Old Trafford next Tuesday, or will the home advantage prove to be just that for the Red Devils??

Great Match. Neither team really had that many clear cut chances, but they were both up for it. Some great little pieces of individual skill here and there too, which is always pleasing on the eye.

Liverpool started off on top really, and dominated for spells, but Chelsea were always threatening, but lacked the killer final ball. It was close throughout the first half, but in the 42nd minute, Kuyts cross was headed clear to Fat Frank Lampard, who got caught in posession by Alsonso, who promptly backheeled cleverley to Javier Mascherano. Mascheranos attempted cross instead chipped up in the air to the opposite side of the box than intended, and ended up in the path of Kuyt (via disasterous defending my Makalelele) who powered the ball under Cech.

After the break, both teams came out looking lively, but, as in the first half, neither really created anything special. It looked to be Liverpools night, but in the 95th minute, Salomon Kalou outwitted 2 defenders to whip in a dangerous cross that John Arne Riise decided to head into his own net, rather than kick it out like he should.

Chelsea were lucky, but a draw was a fair result for an even match, and consequently sets up a tantalising match next Wednesday at Stamford Bridge.

Also, COME ON UNITED!!!!

So MGO open beta has been put back til Friday. Which sucks. Thing is, this is exactly what an open beta is designed for, to test out how the game is affected by mass users. People are commenting in the forums about 'Konami should have expected this', well, I would like to suggest that these same people take a wild stab in the dark at how many people were trying to get into MGO, and I reckon none of them would get a figure anywhere close to the real value. 5 more days isn't a whole load of time, and I can wait.

I'm more disappointed with the Home delay. It's been pushed back more than a year past it's original intended release date. Now again, I understand that things need to be worked out, and again this is what testing is for. But this is only a closed beta, and judging by the comments of people who are supposedly involved in the closed beta, they need to make it open, because no-one is interested in wandering around the Home universe by themselves. The whole point of the project is interaction betrween gamers, but how can you test the ramifications of this if there are only a handful of people playing at any given time? Still, I've got plenty of things that can keep me occupied.

Off topic; I had a lovely meal last night at a restaurant called Trio in Headingley, Leeds. I had a starter of Crispy Duck Pancakes and then had this amazing burger that had lettuce, onion, tomato, bacon, cheese, and chips. Sweet.

Oh, and I've got the lovely job of dealing with the idiot majority of people who'll be at a midnight launch of GTA. Expected comments; AWW THIS IS GONNA BE SICK MERT'

I can't be bothered writing it all out, so here's the story as t reads on Kotaku;

'When Rock Band was released in the US, it cost $169, and came with the game, guitar, microphone and drums. Not a bad deal. But in Europe, on May 23? Good heavens. The game won't come in a single bundle. Instead, there's two products available at lauch. One is called the "Instrument Edition", which costs £130/€170. It comes with a guitar, drums, and mic. That's it. No game. No, if you want the game as well, it'll cost you another £50/€70. That brings the cost of the game and three instruments to £180/€240. Or, USD$378. Three hundred and seventy-eight dollars. I know, things are always more expensive in Europe, but...damn. Whether it's MTV or EA behind this price, you can take that price, and you can stick it up your arse'

SOURCE

There's a petition up here for 'Lowering Rock Band's European Price!', and whilst I'm sure that it won't do anything to dissuade those greedy funting corporate pigs at EA, it does make you feel better for a while. But that's only because the price is making you feel nauseous.

So Rock Band is definitely coming out in May for the 360 and 'Summer' for Wii and PS3. So once again us Europeans are getting the shaft; this takes it to around about 7 months it's taken to get Rock Band over here. This region-bias needs to stop otherwise Euro gamers are going to just tell devs where the funt to get off.

On a side note, I just levelled up to Lv 15. Wooot. I still need to get some mice for little miss Bainbridge, she's probably pretty hungry, and would definitely attempt to have my finger for muncheon if i tried to pick her up.

Well, I'm once again going to get ready for work, but I do have 2 days off after my shift

today which will allow me to play quite a few games and get some songs learnt for my new band (a real one).