First Impressions: Torchlight II

I've always wanted to try out this genre of games but I felt that I never really had the time to appreciate them fully. Diablo III arrived and while I was tempted, the price tag of a newly released game and the stories of people spending hundreds of hours on the game stopped me. Then Torchlight II appeared on my recommended list during the Steam summer sale. It was under £5. I thought it was a bargain so I bought it and made myself jump in when the holiday's came around...

First Impressions: Pixel Gun World

Pixel Gun World is the successor to the mobile phone version game Pixel Gun 3D although it seems to be more like a port as it has basically the same features. It's in beta now and you can download from here: http://pixelgun3d.com/. I enjoyed the original game although it was quite laggy on my iPhone 4 and so I eventually had to delete it. Running the game on my laptop however, is a much sweeter experience and I have enjoyed it so far. That is... when I got it working...

PC Building: Week 7 - Building Part II - Non-Required Components

This week, I installed the last few critical components into my machine (my HDD, SSD and CPU cooling fan), and added the rest of the components to the motherboard to produce a machine that I hope will boot.

First Impressions: Fallout 3

Welcome to the vault. It may not be the best place in the world but at least it's safe. I think... Here you can grow up in carefully controlled conditions, get a Pip-Boy 3000 at age 10 for all your hoarding needs, pass the G.O.A.Ts at age 16, get your perfect job role assigned and work for the rest of your life for the good of the vault. Remember, the Overseer is watching.

First Impressions: Mirror's Edge

Run, jump, wall run, run, BANG! Hit the wall. Lost momentum. Try again. Run, jump, wall run, AARGH! Fell down. Lost my life. Try again. Run, jump, wall run, run, jump, pray. Made it. Phew. Turn corner. Drink in the glorious sights. Repeat.

App Review No. 90 Does Not Commute

Strong Points:
Good graphics
Great music
Good sound effects
Funny, strangely intriguing storylines
Powerups are kept even when you lose
Interesting gamelpay
Environment effects/different types of cars keep things interesting

Weak Points:
Checkpoints have to be bought for real money
- This can get rid of some of the addictiveness

Rating: 73%

App Review No. 89 Tiltagon

Strong Points:
Interesting control scheme (that actually works quite well)
Graphics are quite clean

Music and sound effects are good

Two difficulty modes adds a challenge

Addictive

Weak Points:
Frustrating (and the frustration is intensified by the control scheme; especially when on a moving vehicle, like when many of us play these games)

A lot of the colour scheme is poor 

A huge jump in difficulty from Hard to Hard +

Rating: 67%

PC Building: Week 6 - Building Part I - Core Components

This week, I began to put my components together in the case to create a bootable machine. I attached the basic components (CPU and RAM) to the motherboard, connected the PSU and mounted both items into the case.

App Review No. 88 SimCity BuildIt

Strong Points:
Pacing starts out well (if a bit quick)...
Graphics are good
Music is good
Sound effects are good (especially when you level up)
The Global/Friend Trade Center is helpful
Offline mode is a nice touch
Very easy to make basic materials
Building is almost instant
Upgrades are good for pacing, length and aesthetics
Being able to move buildings is a great idea
Being able to watch videos/get presents from other cities is a great way to get rarer items/(in the case of videos) Simoleons
The cargo ship is a good idea and helps get you Simoleons/Golden Keys...
Dr Vu's Disaster Tower is an interesting concept...

Weak Points:
...and then completely collapses
Simoleons are quite hard to get
Advanced materials are harder to make
Storage fills up very quickly
No way to lock materials on the Global Trade Center to friends only
Upgrade storage/expansion items are hard to get without keeping the game on for hours
Residences have to be close to beaches/mountains in order to benefit (and so some, especially older, cities may need a complete redesign)
... but the materials you need often take too long to make in order to use it
... but using it/rebuilding your city can be too expensive to warrant it

Rating: 77%

Recap: ESL One Frankfurt 2015

On Saturday the 20th of June me and my father travelled to Frankfurt for the ESL One DOTA 2 tournament. We managed to stay for 3 quarter final games before we had to return to the UK, and I'll recap the day's events now.

App Review No. 87 sn

Strong Points:
A nice reinvention of Snake
Gradual difficulty
The free movement aspect leads to some interesting maneuvers
Addictive

Weak Points:
Some graphical lag/jagged animation
For a reinvention, there's not much changed
The 'snake' head follows you just in front of your finger (not on it)
Frustrating

Rating: 50%

50,000 Views Extravanganza!

We've done it guys and gals! We've made it to this amazing milestone of 50,000 views! From our humble beginnings of the 100 view milestone to our first birthday and 25,000 views to our second. And now this. We are halfway to 100,000 views everyone! That is a very big number. Thank you to all of you for reading, commenting and sharing this humble little blog and allowing it to grow and flourish. And now, onto the new/returning/the-ones-we-said-we-were-going-to-do-but-never-did features!

PC Building: Week 5 - Last Minute Changes and Ordering

After a discussion about cooling with my Dad, I have decided to replace the stock CPU cooler, I have decided to buy a Coolermaster Hyper 212 EVO, as reviews state that this will give my components a longer life, and the system will run cooler and quieter. I also decided to change my mouse, keyboard and headset for a bundle, as they were cheaper, and matched better together.

I also received the case for Christmas, and have gained enough money to order my components from various sources. All in all, it cost just over £900. 

Merry Belated Christmas (again), and Happy Belated New Year!

This has been a Behind the Team post from Thomas (The Stacinator). Bye for now!

PC Building: Week 4 - Completed Price Comparisons

This week, I completed my price comparisons for the Non-Required Peripherals, meaning that I was ready to start buying my components next week, with my money from Christmas.

Merry Belated (or early) Christmas Everyone!!

Video Game Character of the Month - July 2015 - Lt. Morgan - Battle Nations

Video Game Character of the Month

July 2015

Lt. Morgan
Battle Nations

Overview:
"Lt. Morgan reporting for duty, sir." 
"At ease, Lt. Now, I think it is time to talk about your promotion." 
"Oh, thank you sir!"
"Now, as you know, you have performed admirably as part of the 95th Rifle Company and so..." *Sniff, Sniff* "Is that alcohol on your breath?" 
"Alcohol? No, no, of course not!" 
"Lt. you are dismissed."
And, that is why Lt. Morgan is a Lieutenant and not a Captain. 
Disclaimer: this may, or may not, be based on accurate information
Now, for a bit of info on LT. Morgan: