The Great Horace Move

Posted 07.06.2010 6 2637

Now Playing: Resistance 2, BlazBlue Calamity Trigger, Super Mario Galaxy 2
Now Listening to: Florence + The Machine and Jay-Z
Now Watching: Glee (It's Camp and Great)

This week see's me hurling ass across a few counties as I move into my new village based location (long story).

However after signing all my documents and trying to get the ball rolling it now seems that I might well be that 8% of the country with no BROADBAND!!!!

At first I wasn't too concerned sure I'd miss online gaming, ok it means most of my shopping online will be done in the constraints of work time....

But then it hit me..

No WiiWare updates, no more iPlayer, no more skype calls to my worldly friends.

I've become prehistoric.

In the modern age our demands and expectations are constantly changing, usually for the better more latest products and services. But to now be placed into the realm of the old dialling rotatory phones would I also have to jump back onto the dial up wagon??

In a means to hopefully resolve this and restore some levels of comfort to my spiralling problems, I decided to stump up and get my AT&T mini sim removed from my iPad and have now invested in a three Sim supposedly I will have connection, out doors lol!

But I think what is more surprising is our dependence on technologies which have been around for less than 10 years in a non commercial sense. And how embedded technology has become in our every day life.

Needless to say the next few months might be a challenge... What a Great Horace Move this is turning out to be!

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Just a regular Saturday

Posted 29.05.2010 4 2552

Now Playing: BlazBlue, Monster Hunter Tri, Super Mario Kart
Now Watching: Little Lost Hobbo

As my afternoon escapes me I am wondering how I use to spend hours playing on my SNES until my fingers developed blisters and I could only muster a random fireball on street figther 2 (which I brought as an import for the bargain price of ��£83).

Now reluctanly in my 30s I find that while I want to play games for hours on end the whole process bores me some what.

Games are harder and take longer to complete, we have achievements to gain or we are no longer seen as a man but a mere child.

Gamers these days have a lot to measure up to and if you've not completed Devil May Cry 4 without using a save and in 6 hours, you might as well find a cliff to jump from because unlike the Master Chief you suck.

So when did this actual gaming culture shift occur?

In some ways I hate the develops that have occurred as while I really do want to be part of the latest gadgets and consoles I find that I now am that distant relative to gaming.

So now I am left having a regular Saturday until I to can live like a Life on Mars when gaming was fun.

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Sorry it's been a while

Posted 26.05.2010 5 2666

Now Playing: Mirror's Edge - iPad

So over the past couple of months I've been extremely busy with work, the new BBC website, the latest iPlayer Beta went live today (please go and have a look). We've been busy developing new apps for the iPhone 4G and iPad to take advantage of the higher resolution and performance increases.

So all in all extremely busy.

So what now.... In a few short weeks Nintendo will be showcasing the final design of the 3DS YEY!!!

Trying to work out what I can say after being slapped silly so need to be good.

But I can say that with a degree of confidence that the new hand held will support Flash 10.1 don't ask me how I know but I do and some other bits and pieces oh and one more thing so the slap is worth it...
new overlay OS!

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React, Reboot and Enjoy

Posted 28.03.2010 4 2620

Now Playing: Battalion Wars 2, Red Steel 2

So with the recent purchase of Red Steel 2, I've dragged the Wii out of it's storage box and given it a quick dust down.

I played roughly the first hour of Red Steel and actually thought it was pretty good, although the movement into enclosed zones is slightly annoying and makes it always feel your in a very small environment than part of something alot bigger.

Anyway after my boot and play I decided to visit the Nintendo Store and top up my Points balance to download some new WiiWare games.

So the first one I got was Max and the Magic Marker........ OH BOY what a cool game, I wasn't sure who the intended player is suppose to be but the game is extremely good and got me thinking about all my other Wii games which I'm gonna give another reboot.

I've now played 5 hours on the Wii, my right wrist aches but I've just had the most enjoyable afternoon in a long while... granted I've not been able to snipe or get a clan going....(huff) but I actually think that maybe a few of those old Wii games are actually pretty special.

So until I jet off on my usual visit to Asia and Oz I am dedicating my time to the Wii in order to feel that once again I'm a Nintendo fan boy but to really enjoy those titles that I probably didn't spend enough time with before.

Battalion Wars 2.... it really is that good

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This is me

Posted 19.03.2010 10 2671

Now Playing: Killzone 2 and GoW 3
Now Listening to: Alicia Keys - The Element of Freedom

So today it's gonna be like the old show and tell sessions we had in school.

(not sure if that is legal these days....)

Anyway so I work for the BBC in there Future Media division, we get to see and play with all the latest kit before it even gets announced, we get to build and think about how we can use these new platforms to strengthen the BBC brand... all pretty cool.

Our recent successes have been the introduction of the Wii iPlayer late last year (2009) it was a technical achievement for the hardware as the limitations of the Wii caching meant a separate encoding system was needed. But it works and because of the efforts of the teams Nintendo look to us in strengthen there platforms with great content, not just on the Wii but upcoming portable devices.

The way media will be delivered in any form is changing, it's a really exciting environment and I'm really pleased to be involved in it.

From the developments of our new Game brands being developed in house to out sourcing, our test plans for 3D driven technology to our open Canvas platforms that allow even Nintendo to have there own TV channel it's a nerd like me that loves his job.

Please Please Please check out the new Doctor Who website which will go live at 13:00 22/03/2010

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What just happened

Posted 15.03.2010 4 2541

Now Playing: Final Fantasy XIII, Kill Zone 2
Now Watching: True Blood

So after a week of expecting some great news, some huge surprise from Nintendo I've been left disappointed.

The guys have returned to the office today and they all have stated that it was a very uneventful GDC. The games which where displayed are still pre alpha and raw, things crash and often make developers feel embarrassed but you take these failings knowing that these guys and gals have invested countless hours to present something to the world or behind shielded curtains to be judged.

GDC didn't ignite and maybe that was because last year in a recession hit world we all needed to be seen to invest in something and we all needed hope, I know it seems like a stupid remark but in those hard times developers wanted that �£40 so to announce key titles early got buy in.

This year we get nowt. So now the hype train has departed but things are still a foot for E3 will be here in a few months and hopefully then our little Nintendo will reward us.

Until then I'll keep the gossip wheel turning.

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Reggie Speaks

Posted 10.03.2010 0 2441

Nintendo of America president and COO Reggie Fils-Aime has claimed that the company is not yet ready to seriously think about releasing a new home console.

Speaking to Forbes, Fils-Aime commented: "When the software developer comes forward with an idea that can't be executed on the current platform, that's when we start thinking seriously about the next system. We're not there yet, from a Wii perspective."

Fils-Aime was also lukewarm about the importance of high definition graphics and 3D technology, saying: "For us, technology is not an endpoint. Technology is an enabler for fantastic consumer experiences. So from a hardware standpoint, we are always looking at technology. But in the end, the technology has to enable a new, unique experience."

"So when people talk about high definition for the Wii console our feedback is that that by itself will not create a brand new experience," he continued. "Therefore, we're not interested. What we have to push for are groundbreaking new experiences. Technology has to enable it, not to be a means all by itself."

Asked whether the company had any plans to sell virtual items, in an apparent comparison between Miis and the Xbox's Avatars, Fils-Aime was clear that, "We don't think it's an idea that creates value for the consumer."

On the question of increased competition from Microsoft and Sony's forthcoming motion controllers Fils-Aime cautioned that: "Our competition will face their own challenges. They'll have to create compelling software. They'll need to offer it at a price point that makes sense."

"They will be separately challenged because the motion-enabled part of their business will only be a small part of their line. For us, it's core to what we do," he said.

Fils-Aime also dismissed any talk of competition with Apple and its handhelds, stating: "There's been no data to suggest an encroachment on our business."

"On the other hand, we recognise that consumers have a limited amount of entertainment time, and anything that takes entertainment time away from the Nintendo DS, DSi and Wii is a competitor," he said. "And so from that standpoint, we need to build experiences that are compelling and sticky, and that consumers can get excited about. That's our challenge."

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All systems go!

Posted 09.03.2010 0 2398

Now Playing: Final Fantasy XIII, Kill Zone 2
Now Listening to: Timbaland Shockvalue 2 (not that good)
Now Watching: Damages

It's GDC '10 and a few of my lucky colleagues have jetted off to get all the juicy gossip which I can't wait for, looking forward to some of the conferences which are planned and all prepared to watch the video streams at some insane times.

Motion control is gonna be the expected big subject discussions from Sony and Microsoft but with a key push at E3 with key software to go live with the devices.

Nintendo will use the forum to announce something new and exciting to steal some thunder from the S&M camps (sounds wrong I know).

If your under 15 make sure you hunt down ROAR now online

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Thank the lord

Posted 05.03.2010 1 2465

Now Playing: Heavy Rain, Monster Hunter Unite

It's the weekend and time to reflect on a manic week.... reflecting over with haha.

Next week the GDC'10 kicks off on Tuesday and I'm looking forward to some new announcements. Especially from Camp Nintendo on the Friday (12th).

This evening I shall sit down and attempt to complete Heavy Rain for the second time, I am struggling to see the point in playing the game 6 times... it really isn't that interesting.... sorry but it's true, get past those graphics and it feels extremely limited besides there is only so many times I want to go through the action of drinking some OJ.

Someone has just mentioned to me something about Custom Robo making a come back??? But the first DS game didn't fair to well in the sales department so i doubt it will come to anything. But it would have some good enhancements especially with the built in camera feedback for Wifi matches....

Anyway I'm off

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A day unlike any other

Posted 04.03.2010 3 2488

Now Playing: Heavy Rain & God of War 3
Now Watching: Being Human

Sorry for the lack of updates, it's been extremely manic at work. But on the positive lots of exciting stuff going on.

A new look Dr Who website is soon to launch and actually is pretty darn impressive especially from a creativity point of view.

Sony is busy with a new firmware release which will resolve the dreaded clock issues from occurring again and more interesting Nintendo has a new firmware update coming out soon also

Did you know that the Wii User Interface can be changed to look completely different, much like the XBOX 360... strange but true

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