April 2010
1 post
Dynamicism isn't one of my strong points. Neither...
I realise I’ve been neglecting this humble blog of mine. I can only apologise to you literally none of my readers, as I’ve been busy with StartGame (which is going well: we’ve got a new recruit and the site is looking pretty swish).
Between that and work, and real life, I’m not writing a lot for here, but I’m going to make more of an effort from now on.
In the...
January 2010
11 posts
StartGame
I have some very, very, veryveryvery good and exciting news for you coming up here.
As a writer, it’s always good to know your work is appreciated, or at least that it’s featured, so I’m delighted to tell you about StartGame.org a new gaming website, run by my good friend LiquescentShadow.
We are a four-man team of young(ish) writers bringing the masses industry articles,...
Close one!
Whoooo, almost nearly went to start playing Solitaire there. Or does that count? I said no video games, but is a computerised represetation of a real-life card game considered a video/computer game?
Better play it safe, I don’t want to make myself a liar.
TSA Story Tennis: The Signup
The following is taken from a thread in TheSixthAxis’s forums, created by myself. It’s basically collaborative storytelling by many members, some of whom edited it slightly, most of the editing done by myself on here, so that it flows a bit better. (the contributers are, in no particular order: myself, mynameisblair, Zuler, tobo_56, Boomshanks, iNsAnE_gAmInG, theshockwave, Manorhowze,...
My Sabbatical Update 27/1/2010
Okay, so it’s been a couple of weeks I’ve not been gaming, and you know what? I feel a little better.
I can devote more time to other pursuits, which is pretty damn good for me, as I can play my guitar a bit more.
Obviously, I’ve had some cravings, it’s not been all too easy, but I have thus far managed to avoid playing anything. I’ve thought about playing stuff,...
The Black Box Has Been Cracked Open
It had to happen eventually. The PS3 has been hacked. It’s only taken 3 years, but it is quite a feat for Geohot (the hacker who has succeeded in cracking the uncrackable).
While I don’t condone what he’s done, I do applaud him and his 5-week intense procedure, it’s hardcore progarmmers like him who help keep the world running on computers, and no doubt, he’ll be...
What Does Gaming Mean To You?
Seriously, what do you think of when you hear “game” being mentioned? Do you think of a rousing game of Scrabble or Monopoly with the family? Do you imagine shooting players in a virtual world? Do you get a soft spot for waggle-stick, er, waggling family-friendly fun in the living room, with Mum joining in, even though she thinks she “can’t do it”? When I think...
Matt Hazard Blood Bath and Beyond: Review
Let’s face it, Matt Hazard’s first outing was a critical and commercial flop. It meant well, and the heart was in the right place, but it was about as exciting and thrilling as a piece of concrete. On the floor. OK, yes it was funny with a half-decent script and some solid voice acting, but it was severely let down by the last-generation graphics and sub-par gameplay. Distinctly...
A Sabbatical
What I am going to do here, is lay down a set of rules that I am setting myself for the next few months. Some of you may find this a bit shocking, so if you are a gamer of a nervous disposition (HAH! sorry, couldn’t say that with a straight face) look away now.
I have been gaming less and less recently, but have picked up a little bit in the past few weeks, because I’ve had more free...
Gaming Puns and General Randomocity (Part 1)
Will the next Wii be called the Wiiii, or the Wii Wii? Or will they go the whole hog and call it the Pii?
They missed a trick with Army of Two The 40th Day. They should have called it Army of Tutu. Geddit?
Exam:
If they did a game based on a film, based on a game based on a film, how bad would it be? Use annotated diagrams wherever possible.
If Matt has a submachinegun, a .45 pistol, a...
15 tags
Society and Gaming
As a geek, one of my choices of escapism is through the medium of computer/video gaming. I immerse myself in the games; I marvel at the mechanics and I fantasize about the worlds and the characters and the stories. Recently, I have embraced online gaming through my PS3, enabled through my continuous computer usage and enjoyment of games, but it has its drawbacks. I’ve been gaming for about...
Happy 2010
So, it’s that time of year again, when we need to get new calendars because the old ones are out of date, we make up lame, photocopied and generic resolutions which are quickly forgotten, we tighten our belts after the Christmas period, we look back on the years gone previously and we look forward to the year to come.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Right, enough small-talk, let’s get to the gaming...
December 2009
3 posts
4 tags
Operation Fighting Game: Frustration Rising
I have previously pointed out some of the major flaws in Tekken 6. After playing it for another half hour, I have come to the conclusion that it is one of the most frustrating games in the history of gaming. Christ, you feel like you’re getting somewhere even when you do fail at Tetris (widely regarded as one of the Top 10 most frustrating games ever).
But it’s not the only...
Canabalt
This little gem of a game is one of my latest discoveries, and it’s brilliant.
It’s so simple: it has no colours, and only uses one finger to play. One finger.
Basically you play this pixelated little man running through an undetermined city’s rooftops escaping from an unknown disaster (by the looks of it, it’s Cloverfield, Independance Day, 2012 and War Of The Worlds...
What I've Been Playing 5/11/09
Yep, you guessed it, Uncharted 2. Aren’t I boring?
Finally got the MAG beta code fully patched and running. Thereupon I discovered I am rubbish at FPS games. I always knew this, I just forgot about it temporarily after having not played any PvP ones for a while.
Erm, what else?
I procured a special code from Sony for owning a PSP Go, which entitled me to a free copy of either Gran...
November 2009
9 posts
7 tags
What I've Been Playing 28/11/09
This week has been kind of slow for gaming for me.
I spent Wednesday out doing something interesting for once, so I didn’t get much done then. On the flipside, LittleBigPlanet for PSP got delivered on Monday, so I’ve been engrossing myself in that. It’s a scaled down port of the PS3 version with all-new levels. Well, it’s not really a port then is it? I suppose not....
1 tag
What I've Been Playing 21/11/09
Uncharted 2 Among Thieves. I completed on Normal mode, and started a Hard playthrough and a Very Easy (to get most of the trophies and treasures), and I’ll probably do a Crushing playthrough next year. Could end up being my first Platinum.
That’s about it really, currently downloading the Critter Crunch demo and contemplating buying Metal Gear Solid from PSN for my Go.
I fully...
6 tags
What I've Been Playing 14/11/09
Ain’t life typical? You change the format of a gaming blog and the week after, you actually start playing handheld games.
I finally got around to downloading LocoRoco and PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe for my PSP(s), so I’ve had some quick gos on them (pardon the pun). Well, I say quick gos, I’ve done 2 levels in LocoRoco and about 7 in Monsters. Reviews of these two games will come...
“Somebody set up us the bomb.”
– Engineer, Zero Wing
“For Great Justice.”
– Captain, Zero Wing
8 tags
Modern Warfare 2
Everybody’s talking about it, you can’t escape it. No not John and Edward, Modern Warfare 2.
Love it or hate it, it’s here, it’s been released and the internet has been going mad for it.
News just in at around half 7 tonight (UK time) is that the PS3 version has been patched and apparantly it sorts out some issues regarding the online and trophies, I don’t know,...
The State Of Gaming: Portable Edition
Okay, time to get heavy: I’m going to throw down some opinions here, so if you can’t handle it, please leave the room now.
Are they gone? Good, it’s just you and me now, mwahahaha.
First off, let me say that I have been neglecting my Nintendo DS, mostly due to lack of enthusiasm for it, the wealth of simply better games elsewhere and the heavy pricing for the DS games.
Yes,...
What I've Been Playing 7/11/09
This week was kind of a big week for me: I took delivery of both Uncharted 2 Among Thieves and Tekken 6. I got these on Wednesday, and the first thing I did was tear Tekken a new one.
Tekken 6:
I love Tekken, I really do. It’s probably my favourite beat-em-up game of all time.
My absolute favourite iteration was 3. It was graphically superior to anything else, had a massive roster and...
How do I fit it all into my busy schedule?
Okay, so, i’ve said it before, but I’ve been neglecting my portables recently, and as such, I haven’t got anything to say for you guys, and for that I apologise.
This weekend, I have a holiday, so I’m expecting to get some serious gaming done while I’m not working, and maybe go out and socialise Saturday night, so you can probably expect a post or two this weekend.
...
October 2009
13 posts
I suppose you could call it an apology.
I guess sorry is in order here: I haven’t been updating too often simply because I could think of nothing to write. i think they call it writer’s… something, the word escapes me. It’s like there’s a big block in front of my mental processes or something.
Anyway, I picked up a couple more Minis: Vempire and Pinball Fantasies.
Pinball Fantasies is easy enough to...
PSP Go! Go! Go!
I realise now, that I have done the thing I wasn’t supposed to do, which was complain about something, without first giving out my review of the product in question: the PlayStation Portable Go.
My fist impression was “it’s so small” (and we’ve heard all the jokes before, so if I hear any, I’m liable to start throwing things) and “it’s so...
Damn you, play dot com.
I must admit my disappointment at not playing Gran Tourismo on my PSPGO right now. I feel like I have been excluded from free content by a cruel twist of fate, strict terms and crappy postal options.
I originally ordered my little beauty on release day on the first of Rocktober, tempted by the prospect of a free complete game worth around about £20 (depending on where you go…), but by the...
A compromise at least...
With the release of the PSP GO!, with it’s non-UMD-drive-ness, many are worried about the retail impact of this venture: no physical copies of games reduces retail sales on the platform, but I think I may have a solution:
During the bus ride home from work, it occurred to me: they could release the games on disc. Put them on DVDs to be ripped from at your PC/PS3 and transferred to the...
iPod Touch/ iPhone impressions.
A few months ago, I purchased an iPod Touch. It’s great; I use it for music, apps and games, surprisingly.
There is an entire wealth of gaming content available through Apple’s most excellent App Store, with at least one game to suit everyone: casual to hardcore (but mostly casual).
Peggle
If you haven’t played Peggle, go play it, seriously. If you haven’t heard of it...
“I often find myself staring into the abyss. What’s more disconcerting is...”
– Some dude who was really switched on.
Kingdom Hearts: The Portable Phase(s)
I am a big fan of Final Fantasy, not so much Disney, but it’s OK. Therefore, when I first heard about a game co-developed by SquareEnix and Disney, I was both overjoyed and a little saddened.
But, after seeing more and more of it, and playing the very first game, Kingdom Hearts, I fell in love with it. It shoudln’t have worked, but it did.
I then picked up Chain Of Memories on the...
“I often feel lost in a perpetual flood of information and idiocy of others. Or...”
– Me, just now
Playstation Minis
I’ve been playing a couple of the new Minis that launched with the GO last week, and I must say, I’m somewhat impressed.
I purchased Fieldrunners, Funky Punch, and Kahoots. Tetris was available, but I don’t want to get that now, else you probably won’t see me for a good few months as I get absorbed into the frankly ridiculousness of the simplicity and addictiveness of...
Introductions
Hello, and welcome to Portable Gaming with peespee, with your host peespee63.
As you may or may not know, I am an avid gamer. I love games, I love gaming and I love playing them.
I’ve had handheld consoles about as long as I have been gaming (way back when I was about 4 or 5 and got my SNES and Game Boy, good times) and so far I have owned a Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance,...