fun. - Walking The Dog single review

fun.

Walking The Dog - 6.5/10

Label: Hassle

Released: 22 November 2010

New York three-piece fun. are currently supporting Paramore on their UK tour, and if 'Walking the Dog' is anything to go by, then we could be hearing more of them in the near future. The song is at times infuriating but undeniably catchy, and laden with so many hooks it should reside in an abattoir. There's no denying that 'Walking the Dog' is a well-crafted pop song by a band and a songwriter who know their way around a hit, although it is a little too cute for its own good.

The clipped guitars channel the essence of Vampire Weekend, although the song doesn't really stray far enough off the beaten track to truly stand out in amongst the indie-pop crowd. The performances on the single are impressive across the board, with a cheeky drum intro and a suitably fuzzy disco-bassline complementing the tone of the song perfectly. Nate Ruess' voice impresses throughout with vocal harmonies bursting out at every opportunity although, on the pre-chorus especially, he resembles a certain Mika, which is either a good or a (very) bad thing depending on your taste.

In essence, this is an extremely competent release from fun., althoug,h with their obvious talents of songwriting and musical ability evident throughout the three-minutes-40 track, it would have been nice to see Ruess and co trying to add a little darkness to the bright beacon of pop that 'Walking the Dog' turns out to be.

Pujol - Third Man single review

Pujol

Third Man - 9/10

Tracks: 1. Too Safe 2. Black Rabbit

Released: Thursday 18 November 2010

Alive at the Same Time is a blistering slice of garage-rock from Nashville native Daniel Pujol. Perhaps the most impressive thing about the single is that Pujol manages to craft some truly great pop hooks while retaining a DIY edge; it's no surprise to see him listing influences such as The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, as the songs seem to combine the hook-laden nature of the former with the attitude and 'guitar-god' swagger of the latter.

The EP kicks off with the ferocious 'Too Safe', with Pujol bawling, "I stabbed my wallet through my hand until I could feel it", acting as a riposte to convention and reservation. The song is effectively broken in to two halves, with the first being a more traditional verse/chorus with a breakdown, before Pujol unleashes a great solo outro along to crashing cymbals; if you're not hyperventilating by the end of it, then there's something very, very wrong with you.

The second track 'Black Rabbit' is a joyous stomp with Allman Brothers-esque guitar licks tossed alongside a chorus that's infectiously catchy, and the cry of "lapin" (French for rabbit) to get things going can only be a good thing; highly recommended.

Les Savy Fav: live review

Where: Komedia, Brighton

When: Monday 15 November

9/10

There aren't really many words that can do adequate justice to a Les Savy Fav gig; singer Tim Harrington remarked on the jubilant Komedia crowd reeking of "stinky, feculent life", and by god it was good to be alive.

Support act Sky Larkin got the crowd warmed up with a solid set; despite some kit problems for the otherwise-impressive drummer Nestor Matthews, Katie Harkin’s soaring vocals and ballsy guitar work (matched by Douglas Adams’ intense basslines) found an appreciative audience.

When LSF hit the stage, nobody knows what to expect, and tonight was no different; Harrington (with wig and shades in tow) delivered an ironic opening speech on self-help, geeing up the eager fans.

While the New York rockers have an impressive back-catalogue spanning two decades, seasoned fans have said that the only real way to experience the band is live - and when Harrington leaps in to the crowd in opening track The Equestrian and grabs you in a sweaty embrace, it's hard to disagree.

In any other band, Seth Jabour's dynamic guitar playing would surely steal the crowds' hearts, but Harrington is LSF's 'ace in the hole'.

Harrington is a law unto himself; the bearded wonder is a screaming, serenading, tour de force of pure energy that provides a counterpoint to the band's intense, professional performance.

At one point the singer demanded that the crowd issue the "vegan socialist" barman with £1 coins to aid his financial plight, and engaged in a hilariously unsuccessful plea to a burly on-stage bouncer to smile for him to delighted chants of "Smile!" from an eager crowd; this was the work of a man who was simply born to perform, and despite some technical hiccups with his mic, he didn't disappoint.

It seems to come as no surprise to the rest of LSF when Harrington launches himself into the crowd and spends entire songs there.

While Harrington stripped and fought his way through delighted and bemused onlookers, the band simply got on with what they do best - tearing the paint off the walls with one of the best rhythm sections around, and guitarists who intuitively complement each other.

LSF raced through tracks from throughout their career including the likes of Patty Lee, High And Unhinged, and even breaking out Who Rocks The Party in the encore. While there was an emphasis on material from new album 'Root For Ruin', there was enough for fans young and old to sink their teeth into.

The highlight of the night was undoubtedly The Sweat Descends, with a performance of the fan-favourite that utterly encapsulated the band; the song was halted midway through the first verse by a stage invasion of joyous dancers that almost destroyed the drum kit, although Harrington kept things going with a plea to join him in singing a cappella.

Just when all looked lost, the kit was fixed, and the band stormed through the song with an intensity that belied their years, confirming that there are few, if indeed any, bands that can currently match LSF's ferocious energy and talent.

Harrington was, inevitably, the last man left standing onstage. He thanked the fans, exclaiming: "I could just stand here all day", before hurling the microphone down and exiting to a chorus of cheers.

He could have stayed there all night and no-one in attendance would have had a problem with it - apart from perhaps a sour-faced bouncer, that is.

Le Rev: 'Lucky You' single review

Le Rev

Lucky You

7/10

Lucky You is a genuinely intriguing track from Le Rev, the LA duo composed of CC Sheffield and Nico Chiotellis. It hints at a band with genuine promise, but one can't escape the feeling that there's a fantastic song lurking somewhere within this one that never quite escapes.

The first 15 seconds of the track are a statement of pure intent, with a spine-tingling guitar line from Chiotellis that's perfectly complimented by and off-beat drum intro. This is followed by the alluring voice of CC Sheffield and excellent guitar-work underpinning the verse, which all points to a band that are both confident and talented.

It's a shame that when everything about the middle-eight practically begs for the song to explode into life, they revert back to the first verse, which feels a little on the safe side; it disappoints, but only in the sense that the obvious potential isn't fully realised.

Sheffield sings on the track: "There's more to me than you'll ever see", and on the basis of this track, there's enough here to recommend Le Rev - but just a little more could have turned this from a good song into a great one.

Also included is a remix of the track; usually remixes seem like a mere afterthought, but the eRNEST&AMz remix of Lucky You is genuinely fantastic, and highly recommended in its own right.

Nani: from outcast to ever-present

In November of last year, Luis Nani’s Old Trafford career looked set to end with a whimper; inconsistent performances frustrated fans that were all-too-aware of the deep talent lurking somewhere inside the young Portuguese, and his outspoken rant against Sir Alex Ferguson’s coaching methods looked to be as good as signing his own death warrant: ""When he thinks something is wrong, everything is screwed." Other players have been slung out for much, much less.

However, a heart-to-heart with the manager in January led Nani to believe that he still had a role to play for United; for perhaps the exact same reasons that Nani’s career seemed to be stagnating (his prodigious, yet inconsistent ability), Ferguson was prepared to give the winger another chance to prove himself. The youngster is now repaying Ferguson’s faith – and how.

While the talking point of the weekend will undoubtedly be Nani’s cheeky tap-in to put United 2-0 up against Tottenham, to focus solely on that one event would be to ignore the match-winning performance that the winger supplied; a sumptuous assist for Nemanja Vidic’s header, tricky dribbling, and a shot that rattled the crossbar from 25 yards confirmed that this is a player who is enjoying his football.

Nani’s questionable goal effectively ended the match as a contest, but Tottenham had given up the ghost long before. The only thing more “farcical” than ‘the event’, as it should now be named, was Harry Redknapp’s decision to play a five-man midfield with no ball-winner (save for Jermaine Jenas; figure that one out) and no forward target man until an hour had passed by.

With all the talk of Wayne Rooney’s future dominating headlines, a few of the other players have, surprisingly, got on with the task of trying to win some football matches. Fans wary of seeing the young Portuguese disappear back into his shell after world-class performances against Arsenal and Bayern Munich have not been disappointed, and the winger has stood up to be counted on. No longer are his contributions a mere glimpse of what he could achieve; four goals and eight assists in the league this season confirm his new-found consistency, and follow on from an impressive finish to last season.

The key to Nani’s form seems to be the faith that Ferguson has shown in him to play a pivotal role in the post-Cristiano Ronaldo team. In his outburst a year ago, Nani commented that despite the strength of a performance, the lack of a guaranteed start next time around “shatters your confidence.”

With one Portuguese winger winning the Ballon d’Or at United whilst the other kicked his heels on the touchline, there was the feeling that Nani was simply ‘Ronaldo-lite’; a less effective imitation of the finished article. The comparisons were rightly unfair, as anyone save for a certain diminutive Argentinean would fall short of the impossibly high standards set by ‘CR7’, but Nani is fast becoming his own man, imploring: “I am Nani and not Cristiano Ronaldo.” Competition from the dependable Antonio Valencia for the right-sided position has undoubtedly improved his consistency, and the timing of the Ecuadorian’s unfortunate injury has coincided with Nani’s most impressive run on form to date.

The winger has shown that his confidence comes from playing, and the bigger the better: “I want to be one of the best. I'm not scared to play in the big games; they are the most beautiful in football.” Nani has always had an abundance of natural ability, but it seems as though he has finally learned how, and when to use it, to the disappointment of defenders and goalkeepers everywhere.

In the wake of steep debt and an uncertain future, the shadow of Ronaldo’s success may still loom over Old Trafford, but Nani is intent on stepping out from underneath it, and becoming the only Portuguese wing-wonder that United fans chant for.

Darwin Deez live

Deez dazzles Digital

4/5

Digital, Brighton

Friday 22 October 2010

“I’ve been working on who I am for 15 years; maybe I need another 15 before the next record.”

And with that, Darwin Deez kept the audience guessing at Digital on Friday night, delighting the packed venue with, as his MySpace page suggests, “indie rock with a side of calisthenics”.

Support band Naive New Beaters did a stellar job of gearing up the audience, no doubt helped by the appearance of Darwin Smith himself in their closing song, complete with indoor sparkler.

When Darwin and his band hit the stage proper, they gave a performance of pure energy and never let up; highlights included the soaring ‘Up in the Clouds’, ‘Constellations’, and the band’s biggest hit to date ‘Radar Detector’, which had the audience roaring along in unison.

In light of some criticism that the last UK tour was a little light in content, the band excelled here with a tight rhythm section, a creative, dynamic lead guitarist in the shape of Zach Cole Smythe, and Darwin Smith’s mesmeric melodies and complex chord patterns.

Bassist Andrew Hoepfner said that he was thrilled with the set, suggesting that it “...might have been the best set since I rejoined the band in August”.

Smith said that he can cope with the rigours of playing, dancing and partying while touring because: “I have a high metabolism so I bounce back easily”, and it certainly showed in the fantastic dance-offs in between songs; if you’ve ever wanted to see a four-man dance routine to a medley of Orinoco Flow and Rage Against the Machine, then this was the gig for you. Naive New Beaters also got in on the dancing fun, giving the gig an intimate feel.

When asked about the diverse nature of the show, Smith told us that: “I get bored easily and need to be creative”, leading to him experimenting onstage. For example, Beyonce’s ‘Single Ladies’ was mixing into ‘Walk Like An Egyptian’ before the band segued into the penultimate number ‘The Coma Song’, leaving the audience dazzled by Deez’s variations.

There was even space for an impressive rap from guitarist Smythe, who explained that: “I only started rapping with Darwin two days ago, so it was fun for me”.

The dynamic nature of the performance perhaps raised more questions than answers as to Smith’s future, but whatever Darwin wants to do next, this show confirmed that he’s confidently a few rhythmic steps ahead of the current indie clatter.

Darwin heads back to Brighton in March at Concorde 2, and it’d be a Deez-aster to miss him.

The stunted growth of a muddled blog...

I’ve predominantly used my blog as a way of advertising my writing to, well, anybody that will read it! I set up my blog in June, and managed a whole three articles in three months, which was a poor attempt at trying to see if people interested in what I had to say, as I wasn’t saying anything.

However, in September I realised that I was starting my NJCT course with Brighton Journalist Works in a month, so panic set in. Handily, I was working as an online news writer for a small company called Big Briefs; our job was to provide video games news and previews for TalkTalk’s website, so I thought it’d be a great way to effectively dump all of my writing on to one internet page, rather than telling people to look for my work across the oceans of internet pages, knowing that they wouldn’t do so. The operative word is dump, as the blog is currently a bit of a mess!

There are quite a few gaming news stories, a few football opinion pieces, and album reviews. I’ve also applied to be a live music preview writer for the Brighton What’ On Guide; if I get that then I’ll be uploading quite a few live previews of shows in and around Brighton in the coming months, with more live/album reviews to go with them.

Since I’ve started the course, I was informed that due to financial reasons there’ll be no more work from TalkTalk, which is a minor kick in the teeth in terms of the volume of blogging I was getting into the swing of in September, although it’s a great place to put up any news stories that I find for myself on my patch for The Argus.

On Thursday 14 October I uploaded an article about a poetry event at Hove Library from the previous night, and provided a hyperlink to the Community page on The Argus site where it is also placed, so I’m getting into the swing of combining all the different aspects of social media in one (albeit clumsy) fell swoop.

I think I’m trying to be all things to all people (well, all two followers so far), so perhaps a bit of refinement here and there wouldn’t go amiss in terms of providing a consistent form of text and pictures, and adjusting the page so that the multi-coloured candy background doesn’t blind readers.

Performing poets shine at Hove Library

Hove Library hosted a open mic poetry event called 'Every Day is Poetry Day' on Wednesday 13th October 2010.

Poetry lovers gathered for a free evening of open mic performances at Hove Library on Wednesday evening for the 'Every Day is Poetry Day' event.

A number of published and amateur poetry enthusiasts showed off their talents, as well as being treated to the expertise of three special guests in Ben Graham, Yvo Luna, and Rosy Carrick.

The event's organiser Louise Halvardsson, who performed under her stage name 'Lou Ice', was pleased with the evening, saying: "Everyone gets a chance, and it's nice to have some real quality performers".

The performances took place in the Children's Library section, and the strong content of some of Graham's and Alice Kelly Purnell's work in particular juxtaposed wonderfully with the surroundings.

Special guest Yvo Luna spoke of her links to the 102 year-old Hove Library: "My earliest memories of literature were at this Library…lots of pony books!"

Graham thoughtfully performed a relevant local piece entitled 'Ken Kesey on Hove Lawns', speaking of "rainy-day women and sour-flowered children…on that Victorian promenade", providing the audience with a surreal slice of local history.

Following National Poetry Week, Purnell explained the important cultural role that poetry can still play: "People need to laugh (with all the problems in the world)…and we're lucky to have such a rich language".

Another performer, Ann Perrin, said that her experience as a former puppeteer gave her the courage to perform, exclaiming: "You have to go for it!"

On a professional note, one of Luna's humorous pieces, entitled 'Recycled' (about the fate of our recycling), even featured our very own Argus paper: "The Argus, for example, gets turned into soup" - food for thought indeed!

Les Favy Fav - Root For Ruin

New York rockers Les Savy Fav are heading to Komedia on November 15th, and if Root For Ruin is anything to go by, you won't want to miss them.

After 15 years of intense live shows and critically-acclaimed recordings, it seems as though it the might finally be the indie rock quintet's time in the spotlight.

Following on from the relative success of 2005's Let's Stay Friends (which saw track "Raging in the Plague Age" appear on Grand Theft Auto IV), their latest album is a blistering ride that'll kick you in the teeth and break your heart at the same time; no small feat.

The lead singer Tim Harrington is a topless, bearded force of nature in the flesh, and it's reassuring to see his raw power captured so effectively on opener "Appetites"; if fans were concerned by rumours of a split before …Friends, then the barked refrain of "We've still got our appetite!" is a declaration of intent if there ever was one.

To have one talented guitarist could be considered a stroke of luck, but in Seth Jabour and Andrew Reuland, Les Favy Fav have two gifted musicians whose layered melodies are a joy to behold, particularly on "Dirty Knails". Other highlights include "High And Unhinged", a bittersweet rebuttal to hipsters from "the bottom of a barrel", and "Let's Get Out Of Here", a radio-friendly stomper that should should see audiences swooning to Harrington's come-on lines.

One minor quibble is that when a couple of the tracks don't quite measure up ("Sleepless In Silverlake" is a main offender), the dip is at odds with the album's frenetic quality. However, it's impossible not to get swept along by Root For Ruin's heartfelt intensity; Harrington wants to dance with you, sing to you, and sleep with you all at the same time, and when he's in this kind of form, it'd be hard to resist.

88%

Michael Jackson MMOG coming next year

Well, it was fairly predictable that Michael Jackson's Estate would look for other avenues of revenue in which to keep the King of Pop's legacy relevant, but we certainly didn't expect this; they are teaming up with SEE Virtual Worlds to bring us a massively multiplayer online virtual world set to launch in late 2011, that celebrates Jackson's life as "...an artist and a humanitarian." Hmm.

Apparently, this is just the first of a virtual reality universe of connected planets tied to licensed franchises produced by SEE Virtual Worlds. In a gushing press release, it was announced that: "The new planet, currently slated for launch next year, will be an immersive virtual space themed after iconic visuals drawn from Michael's music, his life, and the global issues that concerned him. At its core, Planet Michael is a massive social gaming experience that will allow everyone...to connect and engage in collaborative in-game activities. Entire continents will be created that will celebrate Michael's unique genius in a way that underscores his place as the greatest artist of all time."

Martin Biallas, CEO of SEE Virtual Worlds, said: "one of our primary goals was to build an interactive environment where fans from all over the world come together to affirm Michael's life-long dedication to fostering global friendships. In building a space worthy of those global connections, we envisioned a magical, enjoyable place that will capture that zest for fun and life that was at Michael's very core."

Planet Michael is one of the first themed planets that SEE Virtual Worlds will publish for the Entropia Universe, a vast dynamic 3D environment created and provided to end users by MindArk PE AB. The Entropia Universe features several existing planets and combines a "revolutionary" cash economy with "cutting-edge" graphics. Although Planet Michael is a free-to-download world without monthly subscription fees, the real world in-game economy features gameplay monetization that allows players to take on dozens of different occupations and, in certain instances, contribute to a charitable cause at the same time.

The news of subscrition fees means that it may be costly, however, so it'll be interesting to see just how interactive the game is, or whether you simply put in a wad of cash a month to join other MJ lovers in a MMOG. But, we're willing to see if it turns out to be the first in many of celebrity-themed MMOGs, as this could be a lucrative business for many stars and their estates, and a chance for younger fans to connect with Jackson, so to speak.

Bioshock Infinite demo footage released

Fans of the critically-acclaimed game series Bioshock will be screaming within their diving helmets in glee at the fact that Irrational Games (a 2K games studio) released footage from the BioShock Infinite demo for an exclusive 24-hour period on Xbox LIVE and Xbox.com on Tuesday.

However, the really good news is that today, for us lucky so-and-sos, Irrational Games will post the footage on BioShockInfinite.com and distribute the video worldwide. Previously presented only to limited (lucky) press audiences behind closed doors, the demo video that won IGN's Gamescom Game of Show Award will be shown to the public for the very first time, and we can't wait. Of course, we've seen the full demo, and we literally cannot stress enough how promising the game looks.

For anybody who hasn't seen the glorious mini-demo, it opens with the game's protagonist, former Pinkerton agent Booker DeWitt (fantastic name, we have to say), battling through the streets of Columbia, a crumbling city in the sky. When we say city in the sky, think of balloons, futuristic travel, old-school American values, and a heavy dose of blood and fire. Anyway, DeWitt has come to rescue Elizabeth, a mysterious young woman imprisoned there since childhood. As DeWitt and Elizabeth merge their powers in a desperate bid to escape the city, viewers will witness "intense indoor and outdoor battles, new weapons and abilities, and dangerous new enemies including Elizabeth's terrifying captor."

BioShock Infinite, planned to release in 2012, is in development for the Xbox 360 and the PS3, and we can't wait for it.

BBC commissions new set of Doctor who games

http://tiny.cc/kwwsu

After the impressive success of the first batch of Doctor Who: The Adventure Games recently released online by the BBC, a new set has already been commissioned for next year.

Given that the first three 'episodes' (designed to partner the TV series) were downloaded over 1.6 million times, it's fair to say that the games are providing a great counterpoint to the television series. A key part of the games' success appears to lie in the authenticity of the material; the main characters of the Doctor and Amy Pond are voiced by the real-life actors (Matt Smith and Karen Gillan), whilst a number of scriptwriters for the show, including Steven Moffat, have worked on the games themselves. So, any fans expecting a naff spin-off with cheesy voice acting and weak stories will be pleasantly surprised by the effort put in by the BBC and the developers, Sumo Digital.

Simon Nelson, BBC vision's head of multiplatform, said: "Given the success of the first series, we'd be daft not to recomission. But it's not just about the numbers; the feedback we've had has been overwhelmingly positive. Our audience has been introduced to a new form of drama - and, for many, these have been the first computer games they have downloaded. We've set new standards in audience participation - and we think we've really helped push the concept of families actively playing together."

This is an important starting point for the BBC, as they've been making a concerted effort to break into new digital avenues of late; gaming would present a popular way to reach a new generation of computer-literate fans, particularly the younger audiences, and help sustain interest in the franchise in between the filming breaks. A fourth title in the first series is due to be released towards the end of the year, and with Smith and Gillan signed up for the next batch of games, we're expecting the Doctor's games to slip in to our lives as if they've always been there. But he won't be pulling any of that fancy time-travel stuff, as we've got control al delete for him to contend with. And a dodgy graphics card.

Halo: Reach hits 200 million dollar mark in 24 hours.

http://tiny.cc/bb6qj

Well, if it's the last hurrah from Bungie in terms of the Halo series, at least they're moving on to other projects with a nice wad of cash; "Halo:Reach" has hit 200 million dollars in sales in the US and Europe in its first 24 hours of release.

Based on U.S. sales alone, "Halo: Reach" is now the biggest entertainment launch of 2010 in the U.S., eclipsing the three-day opening weekends of Hollywood's biggest blockbusters like "Iron Man 2", "Alice in Wonderland" and "Toy Story 3" in a single day, which is quite frankly preposterous. Phil Spencer, corporate vice president of Microsoft Game Studios, said: "Halo: Reach" is the biggest game Microsoft has ever released, and its launch has already surpassed every game, movie and entertainment launch this year. Every major instalment has grown in scope and popularity, firmly cementing the 'Halo' franchise as one of the most popular entertainment properties in the world over the past decade".

The press release gives us a general synopsis of the game: "The blockbuster prequel to the "Halo" trilogy, "Halo: Reach" tells the tragic and heroic story of Noble Team, a group of Spartans, who through great sacrifice and courage saved countless lives in the face of impossible odds. The planet Reach is humanity's last line of defence between the encroaching Covenant and their ultimate goal, the destruction of Earth. The legendary battle of Reach will set into motion one of the most iconic sagas in entertainment history."

While we'd perhaps argue that other games have done tragedy with fewer lasers, it's hard to argue that this game will become iconic when looking back at this era of blockbuster gaming. Tens of thousands of retail stores around the world hosted midnight madness events on Monday night to celebrate the arrival of "Halo: Reach," the biggest instalment yet in the blockbuster franchise hailed by the Guinness Book of World Records as the most popular video game series of all time.

In cities around the world including London, New York City and Seattle, Microsoft and retailers hosted launch events where thousands of fans gathered to compete in tournaments, win special prizes and meet the creators of the "Halo" universe. At Westfield Shopping centre hundreds of fans queued from the early hours of Monday to be some of the first people in the world to grab a copy of Halo: Reach as they were joined by Jun and Carter from Noble Team.

Big game; big sales; big news; but what next for Microsoft and Bungie? Bungie will move on with enough moolah to actually lead an intergalactic war, whilst Microsoft will hope that whoever takes over the "Halo" franchise will lead them to infinity and beyond. Sorry, wrong franchise...

Deus Ex: Human Revolution news arrives from the Tokyo Game Show

http://tiny.cc/f9sk7


Fans of the superb Deus Ex series will be delighted with the latest news coming from thr Tokyo Game Show this week. The trailer looks stunning, with a vast cityscape, deadly protests, cloaking devices, giant hulking killers, and guns; lots of guns.



We're happily informed by Square Enix that Deus Ex: Human Revolution "...is the return to one of the most critically-acclaimed video game franchises of all time, telling the story of Adam Jensen, a man cybernetically augmented against his choice who finds himself in the middle of global conspiracy to which he holds the key." Eh? No, we don't understand it either.

However, the guy who is presumably the protagonist in the trailer has a load of weapons seeminly spawning out of his hands, so you might get to screw about with one mean shapeshifter; if there's any justice in the world, Square Enix will make this so. More information is given about the role of your character; apparently, Jensen is "...a security specialist, handpicked to oversee the defence of one of America's most experimental biotechnology firms. But when a black ops team breaks in and kills the scientists you were hired to protect, everything you thought you knew about your job changes.
At a time when scientific advancements are routinely turning athletes, soldiers and spies into super-enhanced beings, someone is working very hard to ensure mankind's evolution follows a particular path. You need to discover why - because the decisions you take and the choices you make will be the only things that can determine mankind's future."


With the art design and futuristic setting, this title reminds us a little of the film "Blade Runner", but with a dash of Japanese cyberfunk. And yes, we've just made that phrase up. The game has no release date as of yet (although early 2011 has been suggested), but it'll be out on PS3, Xbox360 and PC, and it looks suitably fantastic; here's hoping that it'll follow in the series' proud tradition of innovation and playability.

From 'Berbaflop' to 'Dimistar'......

"United squeezed past Liverpool with a sumptuous hat-trick from their in-form forward, once again raising questions about their reliance on Wayne Roo..."

If you were to tell the majority of journalists that a United player was to hit a hat-trick on Sunday, reports like those above would almost unanimously have been filed, telling of Wayne Rooney's glorious return to form. But it wasn't to be. The man from Croxteth continues to stumble through a post-World Cup/affair haze in a drunken stupor.


No, the striker that is leading the line for United, dragging them on to victory when it seems as though they'd rather stop playing at 65 minutes and have a lie down, is in fact one Dimitar Berbatov -also known to those of you who frequent online message boards as 'Berbaflop'.

Yes, the "genius", as hailed by Sir Alex Ferguson, hit a stunning hat-trick against arch-rivals Liverpool, including an amazing bicycle kick that is sure to be a contender for goal of the season. Berbatov is (whisper it) finally beginning to look like the mercurial talent that Ferguson paid £30.75 million to Tottenham on that final transfer day in 2008, and for a number of United fans, this would have been incomprehensible even a few weeks ago.

Granted, Berbatov had a great pre-season, and came back looking fitter than ever before. His delightful lob against Chelsea in the Community Shield was written off as a meaningless goal in a friendly. The first goal of United's season, at home to Newcastle, was similarly labelled as a game in which he should, nay must, be scoring. However, after his overall performance against Everton (including the audacious finish to put United 3-1 ahead), many declared him man of the match in the absence of Rooney, and people have started taking notice of the Bulgarian once more.

Berbatov has always had the natural talent to outplay his opponents; it's just been a question of confidence and fitness that have clouded his career at Old Trafford thus far. After the game, he said: "I am going home with a smile on my face but I am nothing special." The somewhat-introverted joy at his goals, and the dignified approach to his substitution further reinforced the notion that this is a man who, despite his obvious talents, does not necessarily enjoy the limelight.

Indeed, he has at times looked uncomfortable in a United shirt, seemingly ill-at-ease amongst the plethora of stars that litter United's squad. But his new-found fitness ("I ran six miles every day during the off season") and desire to get in to goalscoring positions like the ones against Liverpool has meant that he is now vital to United's chances of making an acceptable start to the season. The sheer audacity that was apparent in his superb bicycle kick for the second goal is proof of the confidence now coursing through him.

However, before he is hailed as having finally 'arrived', the test will be to see whether he can maintain the high standards with which he has started the season. With Rooney suffering an alarming dip in form, it'll be intriguing to see whether Ferguson will allow the duo to continue to work on a partnership that has so far failed to blossom.

Although Rooney may have been the golden child last year, the quiet Bulgarian is fast making himself virtually unplayable, and as a consequence, undroppable. So which is it to be; 'Berbaflop', or 'Dimistar'? Perhaps for now, we should just call him Dimitar Berbatov, and let him play some football.

Ico and Shadow of the Colossus coming to PS3 in HD

We loved Ico more than mere words can describe. We also loved Shadow of the Colossus; in a different way, but it was love all the same. So, to say that we're pleased that Sony have announced plans for both to remastered in HD and available for the Playstation3 is a slight understatement.

Ico is hailed by a number of critics as the finest game ever made for the Playstation 2, and its 'spiritual successor', Shadow of the Colossus arguably scaled ever greater heights (no pun intended) in creativity and imagination.

The two titles received Metacritic scores of 90/100 and 91/100 respectively, and we're eagerly awaiting the polish that Sony will be putting on to both. Whilst the games looked undoubtedly beautiful at the time, a standard release would potentially be in danger of looking quite dated when compared to some of the PS3's more illustrious titles. However, the HD upgrades to both games will hopefully ensure that gamers new to the titles will enjoy them just as much as contemporaries of the two breathtaking titles.

There are as yet no release dates for either game, although the information coming from the Famitsu magazine, where the story originated, is that they will be released separately in Japan; whether the games are released in one box-set when they come to PS3 in Europe could be a big decision for Sony, although we're willing to bet that not many would be able to pass up the chance of owning the titles in a shiny, current-gen format.

We'll be scanning press releases for any more info about these two titles, as they're bound to delight new and old fans alike when they reach our shores. In the mean time, we might just dust off our PS2 and battle some giants.

FIFA 11 demo now available online

It's nearly here; the juggernaut that is EA's annual FIFA football series rolls on for another year, and in anticipation of FIFA 11, EA have decided to be kind and release a demo for us to get acquainted with the series' new additions.

The demo is available for Playstation 3, Xbox 360, and PC, and you get the chance to play as any of Chelsea, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Juventus, Bayer Leverkusen and Olympique Lyonnais.


The FIFA 11 demo features an exhibition match with 3 minute-halves (short, but you can't have it all...) in Real Madrid's home stadium, Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, and users will be able to upload created in-game videos to EA SPORTS Football World, if showing off is your kind of thing. In a neat twist, fans who go to Facebook to play EA Sports FIFA Superstars and complete achievements will receive exclusive access to Arsenal and Emirates Stadium to play in the FIFA 11 demo. This is an intriguing addition, as it may potentially mark the beginning of a trend towards rewarding players in-game for interacting on social networking sites.

In preparation for the eventual release of FIFA 11, EA announced the line-up of stars that will adorn the game's packaging worldwide. This list compromises a wide range of players, including: Kaka, Wayne Rooney, Petr Cech, Karim Benzema, Hugo Lloris, Mezut Oezil, Rene Adler, Georgino Chiellini, Andres Iniesta, Tim Cahill, Ricardo Carvalho, Landon Donovan, Carlos Vela, Sergei Semak, Valentin Stocker, and Jakub Blaszczykowski - phew! The new features, such as Pensonality+, Fight for Possession and Pro Passing, look set to make the game more physical and realistic, although we highly doubt whether there's a 'cheat on your spouse' trick with a flick of the right analogue stick.

While it's easy to sneer at the FIFA series, it is impossible to deny that it has improved dramatically in the past four years or so, and EA should be applauded for the effort that they've put in. While the purists may still love Konami's PES series, we're predicting that the latest instalment from EA will be a stormer.

Study shows games improve your decision making

http://www.talktalk.co.uk/games/news/2010/09/15/study-shows-games-improve-your-decision-making.html

It's official - a study at the University of Rochester has shown that playing games can officially improve your decision making. If only they could have told our parents when we were young whippersnappers!

In a research product that features in the September 14th issue of 'Current Biology', researchers presented a group of players and non-players with a series of dots and were asked to identify the direction of the dots' motion. Tests varied in difficulty based on the number of dots that were moving in the same direction. Intriguingly, the study found players were able to make their decisions faster, and more accurately, then those who didn't play action games - notch one up for the FPS genre!

The researchers concluded that: "Unlike standard learning paradigms, which have a highly specific solution, there is no such specific solution in action video games because situations are rarely, if ever, repeated. Thus, the only characteristics that can be learned are how to rapidly and accurately learn the statistics on the fly and how to accumulate this evidence more efficiently". While it's an emerging area of study, it's encouraging for gamers to know that all those 'wasted hours' can actually have a positive effect on the human brain.

Researchers have said that the unpredictability of some shooters and other action games could play a factor in how quickly players can make decisions; as action games are becoming more complex, you are required to constantly evaluate routes, ammo, health, enemies and objectives all at once.

So the research means that whenever somebody is on at you to stop playing those pesky games, you could potentially argue that you are improving your decision making in preparation for your glittering future as a world leader. Far-fetched, but it's worth a try...

Manchester United - the implications of Valencia's injury

A disappointing 0-0 Champions League home draw against Rangers last night was made even worse for United by the news that Antonio Valencia is probably out for the season after breaking and/or dislocating his left ankle in an innocuous challenge with Kirk Broadfoot in the second half.

I'll start with the obvious and say that I hope Valencia makes a speedy recovery; regardless of club loyalty or a player's character, nobody likes to see injuries like that on the pitch.

It was especially unlucky seeing as it was a legitimate challenge by Broadfoot, and it was just an unfortunate combination of speed, the pitch, the stress on that particular joint, and the distribution of his body weight.

Anyway, it'll be intriguing to see what this means for United this season. I think that Valencia's injury will certainly affect how Wayne Rooney plays, or rather, the way in which Sir Alex Ferguson decides to utilise him.

Rooney got a lot of his goals (especially headers) from crosses by Valencia last season, following clever play by Valencia and Berbatov. Nani has shown that he can be a great crosser, and while he may arguably have more natural talent than Valencia, but he doesn't necessarily have the consistency to deliver crosses on a reliable basis as Valencia did last season.

Although he provided two sumptuous crosses for goals at Everton last week, the rest of his game was off-key, and it'll be interesting to see what the undoubted spell on the right wing will do for his overall performances and consistency. It's also not being that fair on Nani to expect his to just fill Valencia's shoes, as he's a winger that likes to cut in and shoot, rather than a more traditional winger such as Valencia. Thus, telling him to fill Valencias role on the right might be counter-productive, and could limit his game.

Nani aside, United don't really have another winger who is either talented enough, old enough or consistent enough to play on the left or right and be a conventional crossing winger, so I would think that Ferguson will have to adapt how United play this season. Nani will probably be made the full-time right winger, being allowed to cut in from the right more often, and the left-sided duties will be shared between Park, Obertan, Giggs and possibly even Fabio or Bebe.

Although Ryan Giggs has transformed into a fine creative central midfielder over the last few years, it's not surprising that he doesn't really have the necessary pace required to be a marauding left wing any more; whilst Park is great for big games, he sometimes lacks the intricacy needed against lesser opponents (such as in last night's game).

So, I think it's a perfect (as perfect as a horrible injury can be) opportunity to allow some of the younger players to stake a claim on the left, or perhaps adapt the formation to become more solid, with more or less the same players, but playing in a different manner.

What it does mean is that Rooney will probably have less chances to score than last season, as he won't realistically have somebody feeding him reliable crosses, and as a result, he may drop deeper to make things happen. However, Berbatov has looked good, and perhaps it might be the start of a more flexible formation of something like three in the centre, with three attackers/forwards.

----------------van der Sar-----------------
Rafael------Ferdinand----Vidic--------Evra
------Fletcher----Scholes----Anderson------
--Nani-----------Berbatov--------Rooney---

Rooney has shown that he can play well on the left, and with Berbatov's improvement in terms of his work rate and finishing, his clever play could be great for Rooney and Nani to link up with from inside left/right positions, as Malouda and Anelka do at Chelsea.

Given Rooney's general poor form recently, it might be better to give the in-form Berbatov more responsibility up top, as he's shown in the first few games that he finally seems up to the challenges of being at United. Width could come from giving the attacking full-backs (Evra, Rafael, Fabio) more license to get down the wings with the extra protection afforded by a third central midfielder, and the central midfield could do with an extra body at times, especially in the big games.

So, hopefully Valencia's operation will be a success, and he'll come back relatively soon. In the meantime, Ferguson has some thinking to do.

Halo: Reach launches worldwide

http://www.talktalk.co.uk/games/news/2010/09/14/halo-reach-launches-worldwide.htmll

Since midnight last night, the most devoted Halo fans amongst you will have undoubtedly been playing Halo: Reach, the latest instalment in the series.

The game went on sale at 00:01 this morning for the Xbox 360, and thousands of retailers opened up especially to meet the huge demand. With fantastic reviews across the board, the latest game, set as a prequel to the other games, will surely sell millions, and be one last big success for Bungie before they move onto new projects. 34 million copies of Halo games have been sold already, so this title could push those figures up quite nicely in the coming months.

While Bungie's press release suggests (somewhat comically) that "...millions of people around the world will embark on a mission of courage, sacrifice and valour in Halo: Reach", the game apparently packs some emotional firepower to go along with all the shiny bullets you've got squirrelled away. According to Bungie, "Halo: Reach tells the tragic and heroic story of Noble Team, a group of Spartans, who through great sacrifice and courage, saved countless lives in the face of impossible odds. The planet Reach is humanity's last line of defence between the encroaching Covenant and their ultimate goal, the destruction of Earth. If it falls, humanity will be perched on the brink of destruction." So you're under no pressure - just save our last hope of salvation from imminent destruction at the hands of powerful aliens...

Phil Spencer, the corporate VP of Microsoft Game Studios at Microsoft Corp, stated: "When it comes to the size and scope of a franchise and especially the dedication of the fans, no game is bigger than 'Halo'... With 'Halo: Reach,' we're delivering on our promise to redefine blockbuster entertainment experiences and ultimately help make this year the biggest ever in Xbox history." Just to give a sense of the scope in this game, more than 2.7 million players participated in the "Halo: Reach" multiplayer beta in May, making it the largest console video game beta test on record, and more than triple the size of the historic "Halo 3" beta. So if you fancy getting an Xbox 360 especially for this title, then you can actually purchase a customised Halo: Reach console and other accessories to go with it. The game's out now, and be sure to get practising for what will be genuinely epic multiplayer modes - we know we will.

Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock preview

http://www.talktalk.co.uk/games/previews/2010/09/13/guitar-hero-warriors-of-rock.html

Yes, it's that time again; there is another Guitar Hero release on the near horizon, so we'll be dusting off our leather trousers and getting down to the pound shop for some discount hairspray. And perhaps playing some music too.


Anyway, the latest in the long line of games in the eponymous series is entitled 'Warriors of Rock', suggesting that Activision are ready to reclaim their place as top dog in the music sim market, given the rising success of such titles as DJ Hero. Given the statment of intent, the setlist had to pack a punch to make any real impact, but even a casual glance will tell you that this is one of the most impressive setlists to date. Aerosmith, Black Sabbath, The Cure, Fall Out Boy, Foo Fighters, Interpol, KISS, Linkin Park, Muse, The Offspring, Queen, The Rolling Stones, Slayer, The White Stripes, and ZZ Top are just some of the 90+ names that feature, with loads more picking up the slack, while there will undoubtedly be a whole host of DLC songs to add at your own leisure.

Tom Riley, Vice President of Music Affairs for Guitar Hero, said: "We engaged our fans to find out what they really wanted and then hand-picked over 90 tracks that deliver the ultimate rock experience. From the new guitar controller to the gameplay to the on-disc set list, Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock is truly a return to rock." And rock we shall. So, along with a whole host of new songs, there are a number of new additions to the series in 'Warriors of Rock'; Quest Mode is an all-new story mode this time around, whereby you "...join with friends on an epic rock journey (and use) unique, game-changing powers to help the Demi-God of Rock take down "The Beast" to save rock.
Not too much of an ask then for our sweaty fingers.


The controller has also been redesigned, and is customisable; all essential parts are now contained within the neck allowing removable 'wings' to be replaced with alternatives, giving gamers the chance to tailor the guitar controller to their own unique styles, for those of you who like to rock out in style. Party Play, Competitive modes and any combination of up to four instruments all make a return for 'Warriors of Rock', while another new mode, Quickplay+, promises to be fast and furious for those seeking a quick burst of frenetic fun.

It'll be interesting to see whether Activision's hugely successful series can keep up its popularity, given the sheer number of Guitar Hero games on the market already. However, judging by the setlist, new custom guitars, and the new modes available, Activision won't just be sitting back and cashing the cheques - they'll definitely be making some serious cash, but they'll rock all the way to bank.

Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock is out on 24th September 2010, and is available for the PS3, Xbox 360, and Nintendo Wii.