Seems like MANY moons have passed since we last updated this blog. What's everyone been up to (playing). I finally caved in to the relentless (and justified) hype and got an iphone last year, Angry Birds is probably my most played game these days, don't have as much time for the xbox anymore.
So what has everybody been playing?
Thursday, 6 May 2010
Tuesday, 19 August 2008
XNA Dream Build Play 2008
I've recently joined the XNA creators club and have started work on a game for the Dream Build Play 2008 competition.
It's going to be a game targeted at my 4 year old daughter who enjoys the various games on the CBeebies website such as counting and shape identification games. The game will be influenced by this and educational games such as brain training.
It's going to be pretty noddy game with basic 2D graphics to start with and maybe 3D if I have the time, but should be a fun little project.
It's going to be a game targeted at my 4 year old daughter who enjoys the various games on the CBeebies website such as counting and shape identification games. The game will be influenced by this and educational games such as brain training.
It's going to be pretty noddy game with basic 2D graphics to start with and maybe 3D if I have the time, but should be a fun little project.
Blogged with the Flock Browser
Thursday, 15 May 2008
Thursday, 1 May 2008
GTA IV Night
So who is up for some GTA IV cops and robbers action?
Saturday night from 8PM should be good for me.
Saturday night from 8PM should be good for me.
Wednesday, 30 April 2008
GTA IV First Impressions
So far I am absolutley LOVING IT!
Have played for 5 hours but have only done a few missions from the
main story. Have been so lost into the GTA world trying out all the
new stuff. Dating, Playing pool, watching TV and cabaret, some great
shows! I agree with all the rave review but I must admit the graphics
are slightly disappointing compared the GOW or Assassins Creed. Very
dull colouring and dreary (that could just be to set the current
tone), I find the HDR is is really overblown and makes it difficult to
make out detail at times. I had a similar issue with Burnout Paradise.
Beautiful at times, but quite hard on the eyes. Maybe I need to play
around with my TV settings. Thats really my only complaint aside from
the bloody noisy 360. I'd forgotten how loud it is compared to the
PS3. Almost wish I'd gone for that version!
Anyway the main reason for getting the 360 version is so we can play
multiplayer!
So when shall we have a bash at some Cops and Robbers?
Have played for 5 hours but have only done a few missions from the
main story. Have been so lost into the GTA world trying out all the
new stuff. Dating, Playing pool, watching TV and cabaret, some great
shows! I agree with all the rave review but I must admit the graphics
are slightly disappointing compared the GOW or Assassins Creed. Very
dull colouring and dreary (that could just be to set the current
tone), I find the HDR is is really overblown and makes it difficult to
make out detail at times. I had a similar issue with Burnout Paradise.
Beautiful at times, but quite hard on the eyes. Maybe I need to play
around with my TV settings. Thats really my only complaint aside from
the bloody noisy 360. I'd forgotten how loud it is compared to the
PS3. Almost wish I'd gone for that version!
Anyway the main reason for getting the 360 version is so we can play
multiplayer!
So when shall we have a bash at some Cops and Robbers?
Tuesday, 1 April 2008
Microsoft announce the XBox 2800
Microsoft just announced their 13th gen console, it's so good in fact it's going to skip a few generations! The XBox 2800 will be based on the intels and nVidia's new "Looflirpa" chipset which includes a combined CPU,GPU and PhysX processor with a staggering 256 Cores running at 4Ghz sharing 1 Gig of Cache! Further deatils are scetchy but Microsoft have released the following photo of the first working prototype.
Friday, 14 March 2008
I have finally given in to the dark side.
Yes I admit it, despite my protestations and insistence that I would never support Sony and their legacy of proprietary pap. I have finally succumbed to the dark side and purchased a PS3!
Now that Sony has won the format war it was either that or get a dedicated Blue Ray player, and by all accounts the PS3 is one of the best players around.
I hate to admit it though. I actually quite like it. Yes I do miss rumble and gamer points but it there are some things the PS3 actually does better. Firstly it dead silent, I actually have to check the standby light to be sure it's off! The interface is very slick and makes the 360 blade interface looked dated and quite cartoony. The build in browser is very nice and navigation is very well implemented. Text entry is much easier then the 360, it even has predictive text!
One thing I don't get is that everything has to be installed!? Whats that all about? Once a demo has downloaded you have to go through a long installation process before you can play it! This will be alien to any 360 user and I'm not sure why this is necessary on a console. You do get a nice background image appear for every installed game which does look nice.
There are a few decent exclusive titles, I really like Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, and the Eye toy games look cool. Not too impressed by Resistance or Motorstorm, really miss rumble!
The photo viewer on the PS3 is really nice and puts the 360 to shame. Also I love the fact that I can playback the footage shot on my Full HD camcorder directly from the PS3 without any conversion of AVCHD files as they are based on blueray.
Overall I am pretty impressed with the PS3 and have to eat large chunk of humble pie. However I still think that with Gamerpoints, XBox Live, XNA and no installer, the 360 is a much better gaming platform.
Now that Sony has won the format war it was either that or get a dedicated Blue Ray player, and by all accounts the PS3 is one of the best players around.
I hate to admit it though. I actually quite like it. Yes I do miss rumble and gamer points but it there are some things the PS3 actually does better. Firstly it dead silent, I actually have to check the standby light to be sure it's off! The interface is very slick and makes the 360 blade interface looked dated and quite cartoony. The build in browser is very nice and navigation is very well implemented. Text entry is much easier then the 360, it even has predictive text!
One thing I don't get is that everything has to be installed!? Whats that all about? Once a demo has downloaded you have to go through a long installation process before you can play it! This will be alien to any 360 user and I'm not sure why this is necessary on a console. You do get a nice background image appear for every installed game which does look nice.
There are a few decent exclusive titles, I really like Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, and the Eye toy games look cool. Not too impressed by Resistance or Motorstorm, really miss rumble!
The photo viewer on the PS3 is really nice and puts the 360 to shame. Also I love the fact that I can playback the footage shot on my Full HD camcorder directly from the PS3 without any conversion of AVCHD files as they are based on blueray.
Overall I am pretty impressed with the PS3 and have to eat large chunk of humble pie. However I still think that with Gamerpoints, XBox Live, XNA and no installer, the 360 is a much better gaming platform.
Tuesday, 26 February 2008
MS Handheld coming soon?
Seems that way, developing a HD processor and GPU on one chip seems great for mobile phones, but its possible implementation in a gaming / multimedia handheld is what really excites me. This has the potential to be what the PSP should of been
Today, at the 2008 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, NVIDIA has surprised everyone by announcing a processor for mobile devices that combines a CPU with a GeForce GPU into a single chip. The processor is aimed at next generation smartphones powered by Microsoft Windows Mobile.
NVIDIA claims the APX 2500 is "the world's lowest power, high-definition computer on a chip," providing 10 hours of 720p HD playback and 100 hours of audio, the ability to decode, encode 720p video and support up to 12 megapixel camera sensors. It can ouput 720p video via HDMI and up to SXGA (1280x1024) for LCD/CRT support. As you'd expect, it can handle all types of movie, image and audio files and formats.
Below is the press release with the announcement and the first images of the prototype NVIDIA is showing in Barcelona.
NVIDIA Introduces APX 2500—The World's Lowest Power, High-Definition Computer on a Chip
New NVIDIA Applications Processor and Microsoft Windows Mobile Combine to Enable Smartphone 2.0
MOBILE WORLD CONGRESS 2008—BARCELONA, SPAIN—FEBRUARY 11, 2008—NVIDIA Corporation, the world leader in visual computing technologies and inventor of the GPU, today introduced NVIDIA® APX 2500, a breakthrough applications processor that enables intuitive 3D user interfaces and engaging high-definition video on connected Windows Mobile phones. The APX 2500 applications processor delivers an unprecedented 10 hours of 720p HD playback—an industry first for video quality and power consumption on a mobile device, as well as stunning HD camcorder and ultra-high-resolution photo imaging capabilities.
"This is the dawn of the second personal computer revolution," said Jen-Hsun Huang, president and CEO of NVIDIA. "Technologies are converging in amazing mobile devices, that have all of the rich, visual capabilities of a modern PC—from watching movies and making video calls to surfing the web and playing 3D games. The APX 2500 combined with Microsoft® Windows Mobile, will make the next generation of smartphones our most personal computer."
NVIDIA has worked closely with Microsoft on the development of APX 2500, marking a significant milestone in a long-term relationship that has seen the companies share a passion for making interaction with technology more visual and instinctive across multiple platforms. The combined engineering efforts of the two companies will ensure that next generation versions of the Windows Mobile operating system will harness the capabilities of the APX 2500 applications processor across challenging multimedia use cases.
"Microsoft is dedicated to providing people true mobile freedom, so that they only need to carry one device for both communication and entertainment," said Todd Warren, corporate vice president of Microsoft's mobile communication business. "We are delighted to work with NVIDIA to offer our users an amazing visual experience on the next-generation Windows Mobile phones."
The NVIDIA APX 2500 applications processor, which is the culmination of 800 man years of engineering, delivers:
* The industry's first HD (720p) playback and capture capability for handheld devices.
* A new ultra-low-power (ULP) GeForce® core that is fully OpenGL ES 2.0 and Microsoft Direct3D® Mobile compliant and the lowest power 3D hardware solution available for acceleration of intuitive 3D user interfaces.
* NVIDIA nPower™ technology, enabling over 10 hours of high-definition video playback and up to 100 hours of audio—more than four times the audio playback of the latest touch-screen phones.
* The connectivity and media acceleration technologies required to enable the latest Web 2.0 applications, from effortless web browsing and social networking to GPS and mapping applications.
The NVIDIA APX 2500 applications processor is sampling today with key customers and will enter into full production by the end of Q2 2008. For a live demonstration of the APX 2500 applications processor, please visit NVIDIA at Mobile World Congress 2008 in Barcelona, Hall 1, Booth # 1C34.
NVIDIA Announces High-Definition Computer on a Chip
Feb. 11th, 2008 8:33 am
NVIDIA claims the APX 2500 is "the world's lowest power, high-definition computer on a chip," providing 10 hours of 720p HD playback and 100 hours of audio, the ability to decode, encode 720p video and support up to 12 megapixel camera sensors. It can ouput 720p video via HDMI and up to SXGA (1280x1024) for LCD/CRT support. As you'd expect, it can handle all types of movie, image and audio files and formats.
Below is the press release with the announcement and the first images of the prototype NVIDIA is showing in Barcelona.
NVIDIA Introduces APX 2500—The World's Lowest Power, High-Definition Computer on a Chip
New NVIDIA Applications Processor and Microsoft Windows Mobile Combine to Enable Smartphone 2.0
MOBILE WORLD CONGRESS 2008—BARCELONA, SPAIN—FEBRUARY 11, 2008—NVIDIA Corporation, the world leader in visual computing technologies and inventor of the GPU, today introduced NVIDIA® APX 2500, a breakthrough applications processor that enables intuitive 3D user interfaces and engaging high-definition video on connected Windows Mobile phones. The APX 2500 applications processor delivers an unprecedented 10 hours of 720p HD playback—an industry first for video quality and power consumption on a mobile device, as well as stunning HD camcorder and ultra-high-resolution photo imaging capabilities.
"This is the dawn of the second personal computer revolution," said Jen-Hsun Huang, president and CEO of NVIDIA. "Technologies are converging in amazing mobile devices, that have all of the rich, visual capabilities of a modern PC—from watching movies and making video calls to surfing the web and playing 3D games. The APX 2500 combined with Microsoft® Windows Mobile, will make the next generation of smartphones our most personal computer."
NVIDIA has worked closely with Microsoft on the development of APX 2500, marking a significant milestone in a long-term relationship that has seen the companies share a passion for making interaction with technology more visual and instinctive across multiple platforms. The combined engineering efforts of the two companies will ensure that next generation versions of the Windows Mobile operating system will harness the capabilities of the APX 2500 applications processor across challenging multimedia use cases.
"Microsoft is dedicated to providing people true mobile freedom, so that they only need to carry one device for both communication and entertainment," said Todd Warren, corporate vice president of Microsoft's mobile communication business. "We are delighted to work with NVIDIA to offer our users an amazing visual experience on the next-generation Windows Mobile phones."
The NVIDIA APX 2500 applications processor, which is the culmination of 800 man years of engineering, delivers:
* The industry's first HD (720p) playback and capture capability for handheld devices.
* A new ultra-low-power (ULP) GeForce® core that is fully OpenGL ES 2.0 and Microsoft Direct3D® Mobile compliant and the lowest power 3D hardware solution available for acceleration of intuitive 3D user interfaces.
* NVIDIA nPower™ technology, enabling over 10 hours of high-definition video playback and up to 100 hours of audio—more than four times the audio playback of the latest touch-screen phones.
* The connectivity and media acceleration technologies required to enable the latest Web 2.0 applications, from effortless web browsing and social networking to GPS and mapping applications.
The NVIDIA APX 2500 applications processor is sampling today with key customers and will enter into full production by the end of Q2 2008. For a live demonstration of the APX 2500 applications processor, please visit NVIDIA at Mobile World Congress 2008 in Barcelona, Hall 1, Booth # 1C34.
Friday, 22 February 2008
Ninja Gaiden 2.. HAWT!!
I want this game so badly... it hurts and I sometimes cry myself to sleep
I guess I'll be crying till sometime in summer then....
I guess I'll be crying till sometime in summer then....
Gears of War 2. Nuff Said.
The new Unreal 3 engine looks incredible. Pay attention to the water effects
Re-Emergence Day = Sometime in November
Re-Emergence Day = Sometime in November
Tuesday, 19 February 2008
RIP HD-DVD
Well that of £100 down the drain! Best get my XBox 360 HD DVD drive on ebay quick!
Oh well it was good while it lasted.
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/02/19/ft_hd_dvd_obit
Oh well it was good while it lasted.
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/02/19/ft_hd_dvd_obit
Friday, 11 January 2008
Resistance 2
Details are finally leaking on Resistance 2 for PS3, there showing that this is going to be an incredible title, amazingly for Insomniac who have already put out the fantastic Ratchet and Clank this year, this title will also be out in 2008!
- 8 Player Coop!
- 60 Player Matches Online!!
- Levels are partially random generated so are never the same each time you play them.
- 3 Different Classes
- Each team in the 60 player matches will have different objectives! So lots of mini battles/objectives going on inside one huge battlefield!
A completely overhauled graphics engine, i was gonna put some screen shots up but the place i was going to get them has just pulled them due to copyright! Believe me, they are jaw dropping.
- 8 Player Coop!
- 60 Player Matches Online!!
- Levels are partially random generated so are never the same each time you play them.
- 3 Different Classes
- Each team in the 60 player matches will have different objectives! So lots of mini battles/objectives going on inside one huge battlefield!
A completely overhauled graphics engine, i was gonna put some screen shots up but the place i was going to get them has just pulled them due to copyright! Believe me, they are jaw dropping.
MGS4!
Drooool!
Finally confirmed for a Q2 2008 release, apparently Konami can now play the game from start right through to finish, they are on the 'final push'
Highlights from the new clip from CES are the lighting in particular is fantastic and if you notice his octocamo suit changes to look like the material snake is taking cover against.
Will ship with Metal Gear Online Starter Edition, not much detail on it yet, it will be online playable out of the box as well but looks like there will be DLC to follow to get the most out of it.
Devil May Cry 4!
Stunning!
Looking forward to this one! Already pre-ordered for release day (8th of Feb!) Capcom have confirmed that the PS3 and 360 releases will be identical, the only difference ive found mentioned is that the PS3 version can install 5 gig to the hard drive to remove load times between areas.
Slightly dissappointed that you aren't going to be Dante this time but a new character called Nero, shouldn't distract from the fun too much tho i imagine, especially with 60fps at 1080p, Yummy!
Sunday, 6 January 2008
Turning a corner
Hey!
Sorry havent been on this for a while, just wanted to wish you all a happy new year!
Couple of interesting things happened last week in the technology world
Warner are giving up on HD-DVD from May 2008 and going Blu Ray exclusive, The HD-DVD group promptly cancelled there appearance and presentation at CES, New Line Cinema quickly followed suit in switching leaving only 2 studio's supporting HD-DVD.. all predictions are now that HD-DVD will die a quick death. Rumours of a 360 with a built in HD-DVD drive have been around for a bit, i would have thought MS would now be seriously reconsidering its release.
Apple are expected to offer Mac's with Blu Ray starting at Macworld in January also, i really don't see any other outcome but the death of HD-DVD in the current situation.
My main concern was Lord of the Rings being on Blu Ray which is now definite!
Another exciting change for 2008 is the final studio, Sony BMG, have now committed to releasing Music without DRM, finally! Its really beginning to look like 2008 could be the death of music DRM.
1 HD format and No Music DRM! 2008 is looking up!
Ill try and get back into the swing of posting, hope your all good.
Sorry havent been on this for a while, just wanted to wish you all a happy new year!
Couple of interesting things happened last week in the technology world
Warner are giving up on HD-DVD from May 2008 and going Blu Ray exclusive, The HD-DVD group promptly cancelled there appearance and presentation at CES, New Line Cinema quickly followed suit in switching leaving only 2 studio's supporting HD-DVD.. all predictions are now that HD-DVD will die a quick death. Rumours of a 360 with a built in HD-DVD drive have been around for a bit, i would have thought MS would now be seriously reconsidering its release.
Apple are expected to offer Mac's with Blu Ray starting at Macworld in January also, i really don't see any other outcome but the death of HD-DVD in the current situation.
My main concern was Lord of the Rings being on Blu Ray which is now definite!
Another exciting change for 2008 is the final studio, Sony BMG, have now committed to releasing Music without DRM, finally! Its really beginning to look like 2008 could be the death of music DRM.
1 HD format and No Music DRM! 2008 is looking up!
Ill try and get back into the swing of posting, hope your all good.
Saturday, 1 December 2007
The Xbox 360 Fall Update (Dec 4th 07) Details! Xvid and Divx!!
Fall Update Details
Movie previews, Xbox news feeds, and expanded user profiles highlight the new additions to the Xbox 360 dash.
by Nate Ahearn 
US, November 30, 2007 - Every six months the Xbox community is aflutter with wonderment as to what the next system update will bring. Message boards are inundated with guesses and theories, rumors flow through the entire Internet, and then the moment strikes when the update is released and the world knows for certain what new improvements Microsoft has added to its system. That time has come again and we've gotten our grubby paws on a pre-release version of the fall update to bring you all of the details before it hits the streets. Strap yourself in and get ready to find out how your Xbox 360 dashboard will be changed forever once December 4 rolls around.
The Xbox Originals Menu
New Xbox Live Blade
Inside Xbox
New Marketplace Blade
Game Store Content
New Arrivals to Marketplace
Xbox Live Arcade Hits --Gamers have been wondering why XBLA games rarely see price drops. Well, this is your new bargain bin, ladies and gents. This one is essentially Platinum Hits for Xbox Live Arcade games. Bankshot Billiards 2 and Lumines Live can be found here for 800 MP (US$10) with Marble Blast Ultra, Small Arms, and Zuma Deluxe dropped to 400 MP (US$5).
Profile Expansion -- The oddest addition, and likely one that nobody saw coming, is the biographical additions to the profile page. Now while editing your online persona you can add in any name you like, as well as any location; city and state, and a short bio about yourself. We were able to create the oh-so-mature name of "s3cks with elephants" without a problem so we're sure to see plenty of inappropriate and fake titles out there once the update drops. Sure, that kind of defeats the purpose (the intention is to have a proper name to go with someone's Gamertag), but it's too much fun making up obnoxious fake names not to give it a try.
Enhanced Video Codec Support -- This addition will please the majority of the video streaming Xbox 360 community. MPEG4 Part 2 support which, in layman's terms, opens up DivX, Xvid, and Nero Digital compatible videos to being sent through your Xbox 360 from your PC and onto your TV. What kind of content that is, well, Microsoft had no comment on that.
Movie Previews -- Another exciting addition for the video and movie enthusiasts of the world is the movie preview which can be accessed by simply clicking on any piece of marketplace video media for purchase. Whether it was movies or TV shows, every one that we clicked on had a short preview available that played after a short buffering sequence. Who knew that Bad Girls from Mars was worth renting?
Parental Controls -- The only item on the list for the parents of the world to hang their hats on is the new Family Timer. For Mom and Dads out there who feel like their children are sitting inside too long playing that blasted Xbox 360, Microsoft has given you the ability to set daily or weekly limits on the amount of time the system can be turned on. Play for a second longer and the system will shut down.
The Little Things -- There were two nuances that we saw while tooling around that were worth mentioning as an aside to the main features listed above. First, there's a snazzy new fade to black that happens when you turn the system off. The Xbox 360 used to pop off instantly, and while it may be a small change, we do like the gentler power-down procedure in comparison. Second, and this is an even smaller detail, some of the Guide's menu items, such as your friends list, now expand and contract depending on where you're scrolling. Essentially it makes the gamertag you've landed on more prominently featured on the screen. Again, it is small, but it's an improvement nonetheless.
While this fall's update is generally small in the way of bona fide new features that will advance your experience with an Xbox 360, what is here can be described as nothing but solid additions to the system. Xbox Originals are sure to have thousands downloading the original Halo onto their hard drive, added codec support will appease videophile gamers the world over, and the new parental controls will hopefully force more children away from their television for a few hours out of the day.
Keep an eye out for the fall update to hit Xbox Live starting around 2 AM PST on December 4.
Profile Expansion
Movie Preview Now Available!
Family Timer
While this fall's update is generally small in the way of bona fide new features that will advance your experience with an Xbox 360, what is here can be described as nothing but solid additions to the system. Xbox Originals are sure to have thousands downloading the original Halo onto their hard drive, added codec support will appease videophile gamers the world over, and the new parental controls will hopefully force more children away from their television for a few hours out of the day.
Keep an eye out for the fall update to hit Xbox Live starting around 2 AM PST on December 4.
Wednesday, 21 November 2007
Just ordered my 8800GT + Crysis!
Spotted this great deal and could resist any longer, so glad I returned my GTX.
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-041-EA&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1008
On a separate note I received an unexpected order confirmation from Play earlier today. For a moment I thought someone had hacked my account as I haven't been onto play.com in ages. Checked the email and it was my preorder for UT 2007 / UT3 that I placed over a year ago when the due date was 2nd Jan 07! Anyway should be busy with two great PC games now. So, anyone else getting these gaming beauties?
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-041-EA&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1008
On a separate note I received an unexpected order confirmation from Play earlier today. For a moment I thought someone had hacked my account as I haven't been onto play.com in ages. Checked the email and it was my preorder for UT 2007 / UT3 that I placed over a year ago when the due date was 2nd Jan 07! Anyway should be busy with two great PC games now. So, anyone else getting these gaming beauties?
Thursday, 1 November 2007
Crysis Demo
Tried the Crysis demo last night. Wow it's the most beautiful interactive slideshow ever! ;-)
Damn wish I still had the 8800GTX :-(
TBH with everything on low using my old 6800GTS I get about 25FPS which is just about playable, but obviously doesn't look nearly a nice. Just waiting for 8800GT to come out so I can get two! Should then be able to play it with everything maxed out so it looks like this!
Damn wish I still had the 8800GTX :-(
TBH with everything on low using my old 6800GTS I get about 25FPS which is just about playable, but obviously doesn't look nearly a nice. Just waiting for 8800GT to come out so I can get two! Should then be able to play it with everything maxed out so it looks like this!
Wednesday, 31 October 2007
Friday, 19 October 2007
Escapist's Review of Halo 3
Loving the escapist reviews, this guy has a great style.
Here's his 'reality check' review of Halo 3.
Perhaps a little harsh given he didn't play the Halo 1 & 2 but he does make some valid and amusing points. Lee knowing highly you regard Halo 3 you may find this a bit upsetting! ;-)
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/zeropunctuation/2304-Zero-Punctuation-Halo-3
Here's his 'reality check' review of Halo 3.
Perhaps a little harsh given he didn't play the Halo 1 & 2 but he does make some valid and amusing points. Lee knowing highly you regard Halo 3 you may find this a bit upsetting! ;-)
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/zeropunctuation/2304-Zero-Punctuation-Halo-3
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