tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29623048149529260432009-03-02T07:00:13.188Z.. a lot less developing a niche, a lot more carving a rut.Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03613026177837443204noreply@blogger.comBlogger138125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2962304814952926043.post-7865265307008652402009-02-03T21:45:00.001Z2009-02-03T21:45:23.580Z

The last few days have seen a strange mood descend upon London. The preverbial blanket of snow has seen people's usual sense of hurried activity and rushed anger somewhat muffled, instead to be replaced with an unbridled atmosphere of childish glee as the normally furious pace of London is replaced with snowballs and smiles. I was walking to work when I first noticed it: I had no idea who he was,

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03613026177837443204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2962304814952926043.post-64971472115708244592009-01-25T17:26:00.001Z2009-01-25T17:26:17.197Z

Yesterday, I went up to Leicester and found myself at the mercy of several trains and tubes. Normally, this isn't a problem: aside from the last couple of weeks, when my trains into work have been woeful, First Great Western has improved over the past months. It begun when I got a train from Twyford into Paddington. I left at 9:06 and was due on a train from St. Pancras at 10:25. Normally, no

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03613026177837443204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2962304814952926043.post-9078432705177983542009-01-18T21:38:00.001Z2009-01-18T21:39:13.582Z

I know that I haven't blogged since September, but I have an excuse.Actually, that's a lie. I don't. I've merely been snowed under with work and laziness, whoring myself around various Dennis IT titles and then spending my down-time watching DVD's and playing as many games as I can get my hands. The last few months have seen me encounter a huge variety of new things: on the gaming front, I've

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03613026177837443204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2962304814952926043.post-84479452082727888632008-09-21T11:18:00.003Z2008-09-21T13:12:37.913Z

I have been posting over the last few months, but my blogs just haven't been appearing. Sometimes the title would appear followed by no text at all. Which is a bit odd.Anyway, I think I've gotten rid of the problem but I couldn't salvage any of the afflicted posts. I have another My Favourite Games column that I'll try to post soon, anyway.

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03613026177837443204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2962304814952926043.post-78754757682651091262008-08-07T20:15:00.002Z2008-08-07T20:29:06.591Z

Oh dear. I appear to have gotten my whole office addicted to a flash game called Fantastic Contraption.As usual with these things, it's remarkably simple: a pink shape needs to get into an end zone, and you're given a limited palette of tools and shapes to make it happen. Build a fantastic contraption - the clue's in the name - and watch as an ingenious physics engine brings your creation to life

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03613026177837443204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2962304814952926043.post-43797664798334087382008-07-21T20:15:00.004Z2008-07-21T21:25:10.083Z

My God, don't some golfers moan. I've been watching and reading about The Open Championship, as usual, and you'd think that some of them hadn't seen wind before.'You've got rain blowing sideways', claimed Vijay Singh.'It's a matter of hanging in there', said an exasperated Robert Allenby.It didn't stop there, either. Players tramped off the course - especially after the first two rounds of this

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03613026177837443204noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2962304814952926043.post-6803571336695779212008-07-12T14:07:00.007Z2008-07-12T16:25:54.940Z

On a Friday evening, when I was younger, Mum used to collect me and my brother from school, and then we'd go over to visit my Paternal Grandparents. They live in a flat above my Dad's shop and, so, while we were waiting for Dad and Grandad to finish work, we'd chat, watch TV, all the usual stuff.Quite often, I'd take my MegaDrive with me and plug it into their TV and play and, more often than not

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03613026177837443204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2962304814952926043.post-84166663655935202682008-07-02T19:23:00.002Z2008-07-02T19:26:29.996Z

As the title suggests, I've been incredibly busy - mostly with work - lately. That'll teach me to take on writing most of Computer Buyer in a single month.I also got to go to Dublin and, as I've never flown or been abroad before, I was highly excited.Flying is amazing: I've told people at work that the next time a trip pops up where there's a plane involve, stick me on it. I've written more about

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03613026177837443204noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2962304814952926043.post-34008332042170442292008-06-17T21:52:00.001Z2008-06-17T21:57:28.924Z

I'm reviewing this game for Den of Geek this week - so be sure to look out for the review when it goes online.Anyway, I got home tonight and I've been playing on the game for an hour or so and, so far, I'm pretty impressed.It does get off to an odd start, but you're thrust into the action pretty soon. It's incredibly cinematic, switching from intricate, gorgeously animated cut-scenes to gameplay

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03613026177837443204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2962304814952926043.post-34747962727611134852008-06-15T12:24:00.002Z2008-06-15T12:44:54.186Z

I have a friend.Surprising, I know. But that's not the point of this story.As far as I can tell, she's a total and utter World of Warcraft addict and, as far as I can tell, it's having a detrimental effect on her life.We used to talk quite a lot - either on the phone, or on msn, or via text message - and were really good friends. We've known each other for a long time and get on really well.

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03613026177837443204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2962304814952926043.post-39624113501998603952008-06-05T21:21:00.003Z2008-06-05T21:31:34.852Z

I've just got home from an HP-hosted pub quiz with prizes - we won pint glasses - and a free bar. Eight double whiskys later and I'm back, so it's all good.Work's good too. Products are arriving and things seem to be arriving on schedule so, touch wood, everything's going to plan.I've got a new laptop! It's a Dell XPS M1330 and I'm delighted with it. It's been bought as a tool to work on the

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03613026177837443204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2962304814952926043.post-30349632311222234532008-05-31T15:24:00.002Z2008-05-31T15:54:51.580Z

News broke yesterday that, in an effort to prove to the rest of the world that they had been telling the truth, the Brazilian Government released pictures of a previously-uncontacted tribe that they'd, well, contacted.Specifically, they'd flown a plane directly over the tribe's village a couple of times and took pictures - mainly of their various houses and huts, as well as a group of villagers

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03613026177837443204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2962304814952926043.post-14076932735522864032008-05-27T21:45:00.003Z2008-05-27T22:06:26.160Z

So, had a very busy weekend - well, Sunday and Monday at least.Saturday, I did absolutely nothing. It rocked.On Sunday me, Dad, Brother and Cousin went to the PGA Championship, at Wentworth. It's one of the bigger European golf events of the year - the winner takes home almost £600,00 - and it was an excellent day. The conclusion to the golf was pretty exciting, but the beef pie with mash was

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03613026177837443204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2962304814952926043.post-15307140806904559572008-05-23T20:41:00.002Z2008-05-23T20:51:05.711Z

So, on Tuesday I got a ticket to go to an advance press screening of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, so I could review it for Den of Geek.The film's a bit special, but you'll have to go and read my review to find out.In the meantime, I seem to have totally overloaded myself with games that I'm just aching to play.As well as rushing around London on release day to get hold of a

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03613026177837443204noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2962304814952926043.post-91148505001958184352008-05-12T21:13:00.002Z2008-05-12T21:44:02.952Z

Amidst the heat and sultry humidity of the weekend, there was a serious undertone: the last round of matches in the Premier League season.Crucial for two reasons: the potential crowning of Manchester United as champions, and the potential relegation of Reading - my main team - to the Championship. Sadly, they both came true. It's not as if I can celebrate United winning the league when I know

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03613026177837443204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2962304814952926043.post-23452152112421344362008-05-11T21:45:00.003Z2008-05-11T22:03:51.749Z

Just got back today from one of the best weekends I can remember having - I've visited the lovely and wonderful Beth in Leicester.Got to leave work at 5 on Friday - thanks to Tim and David's solar-powered generosity - and so was on a train before six. I would have been on an earlier one, but I had to wait for four - four! - tubes to go past before I could even get on one to St. Pancras. As I

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03613026177837443204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2962304814952926043.post-37743784832756215702008-05-07T21:45:00.003Z2008-05-07T22:02:33.562Z

I've been reading a book by Jane's Addiction and ex-RHCP guitarist, Dave Navarro and, well, it's a little odd.Titled 'Don't Try This At Home: A Year in the Life of Dave Navarro', the book follows him, month by month, as he allows unmetered access to his life at a time when he was conducting a unique, artistic experiment. In some down-time between bands, he'd bought an antique phone-booth and made

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03613026177837443204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2962304814952926043.post-38915742979130066282008-05-03T20:46:00.003Z2008-05-03T21:21:11.110Z

Never have I found making conversation, in certain circumstances, so easy as I have the last week. On Tuesday, the ice-breakers were the same all day: 'do you have any PS3 copies?' or 'Do you know where has any PS3 copies?' were frequently used. Zavvi did, thankfully - 4 left when I paid my money.Come the end of the week, though, and the statements and questions have changed. This morning, as

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03613026177837443204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2962304814952926043.post-31471781958288501942008-04-27T20:04:00.002Z2008-04-27T20:14:39.264Z

Another week, another blog post. This resolution to post more often really isn't going well.In my defence, though, it's been busy: work has seen me staying late the last two nights of the week, I was at football on Tuesday. The rest of my evenings have been taken up by rampaging all over Cyrodil or talking on the phone with the lovely Beth.I've also had a little dip into Pro Evolution Soccer 2008

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03613026177837443204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2962304814952926043.post-31166037016375155792008-04-20T21:00:00.003Z2008-04-20T21:49:41.661Z

I got The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion for my birthday, but haven't been able to really get into it until the tail end of this week - and, good god, what a brilliant game.Like the rest of the Elder Scrolls titles, it's set in a region of the same country, Tamriel - this time it's Cyrodil, and peace is threatened by the assassination of the king and the opening of portals into Oblivion. And, in

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03613026177837443204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2962304814952926043.post-49153691463377319982008-04-15T21:10:00.002Z2008-04-15T21:50:13.913Z

So, the resolution to post more - once every two days, at least - hasn't exactly gone well. But, for once, I do have an excuse: I went to Aberystwyth for the weekend for my birthday celebrations and I'm still recovering.Got there on Friday night not long after midnight thanks to Chris and his gorgeous Alfa, and chilled out, chatted and went to bed - without going to the pub as we'd planned. We

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03613026177837443204noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2962304814952926043.post-37819509124541017082008-04-08T21:40:00.002Z2008-04-08T21:53:52.760Z

So, as of yesterday, I'm 22. Does it feel any different to 21? Apart from a nagging feeling that death is a teeny bit closer, at least in periods of 12 months, not really.I do have some more stuff. CD's, books and games - the usual.Going up to Aberystwyth at the weekend to celebrate with all my friends and I can't wait! We're going to The Bay, too, which is always better than Pier. Should be

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03613026177837443204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2962304814952926043.post-40339925603588612662008-03-30T21:01:00.002Z2008-03-30T21:15:51.344Z

Went into HMV last week - Thursday I think - because I wanted some new CD's. Wasn't sure which, but I'd just been paid and felt like some spendage.Avenged SevenfoldIs probably the unexpected CD of genius that I found in the metal section. They're a metal band, you see, and I did like the single but do get a little wary about buying potentially loud CD's. I don't want to hear a single that's quite

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03613026177837443204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2962304814952926043.post-10772322283398903202008-03-25T21:36:00.005Z2008-03-25T22:32:14.198Z

So, Team Fortress 2. Like World of Warcraft, it's the elephant in the room that it's impossible to ignore at the moment if you're talking about online games.I got The Orange Box for Christmas but didn't play it much; work was busy and I didn't think the PC in my room could handle it. But a reformat and some optimisation later - and playing with everything on low settings - and, well, there ya

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03613026177837443204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2962304814952926043.post-14624910664380425642008-03-23T20:12:00.005Z2008-03-23T21:09:33.784Z

Football fans can't have missed the earth-shattering amount of hype that Sky have been dribbling out of their sports channels for the past three months: today is Grand Slam Sunday - the day when, thanks to the happily coincidental fixture computer, the top four teams in the league collide on one day.Nothing to do with TV schedules, you understand.So we're watching Manchester United v Liverpool -

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03613026177837443204noreply@blogger.com3