Live Blog: EGX 2015

A live blog of the events of EGX 2015. Ready to view at a time that suits you!

First Impressions: Orbital Gear

Harry, Satamer and I are going to EGX this weekend, and as part of the ticket, EGX are giving away a free game on Steam - Orbital Gear. Orbital Gear is a really fun, third-person, 2D space themed shooter, where the action revolves around players moving around and interacting with the various gravitational fields of planets in deathmatch. There is another gamemode, but due to the low amount of players on the servers, you can't find any games that are taking place, so currently the game is limited to DM and the single player game mode - Orbital Trials.

First Impressions: iOS 9

iOS 9 is out now and it is... Well, about the same really (for iPhone at least). A new font, rainbow Siri, new style of multitasking (on the other side now!), some iCloud improvements, a low powered mode, a redesigned notes page, an updated reminders app and... That's about it. Anyway, here's my first experiences with it:

App Review No. 93 Texas Word 'Em

Strong Points:
Unique idea
Varied words
Great, clean UI and graphics
Can play solo to practice your skills
Great risk and reward
No real gambling involved!
Regular challenges from other players

Weak Points:
Some words are a bit random and not what you would first think
Timer is sometimes a bit strict
Can only sign in as a guest or through Facebook
Advert appears as soon as you open the app
Some words are right in context and word length but not the 'chosen' word
Can't play against someone in real time
Some clues are the words that you would've thought would've been the answer

Rating: 80%

App Review No. 92 Alto's Adventure

Strong Points:

Great, clean art style

Easy to learn, hard to master gameplay 

Changes in scenery keep things interesting

Introduction of power-ups add variants to the gameplay 

Lots of characters
Nice sound effects and music

Weak Points:

Can get repetitive

Frustrating

Some challenges seem impossible or just random

Power-ups and characters are introduced to slowly

Some of the obstacles can meld into the background 

Not too many variants in obstacles
Speed decreased suddenly if you jump but do no tricks

Rating: 87%

Comments: Pokémon Shuffle Mobile Codes Don't Work!

After the release of Pokémon Shuffle Mobile there were two passcodes given out: one in the 3DS version to unlock a Lucarionite in the mobile version (which I've used) and one in the mobile version to unlock a Lucarionite in the 3DS version (which I can't use)...

Cheats and Codes No. 5 Pokémon Rumble World

The newest Pokémon Rumble offering comes with a selection of passcodes that will give you the edge in gaining ranks, buying balloons, defeating Pokémon and progressing in the game. Of course, it can also make the early game absurdly easy so use them at your own risk. Enter them in the Passwords section of the menu. If I have made a mistake or missed anything then please comment.
Sources: http://www.serebii.net/rumbleworld/passwords.shtml

Top 5 - Most Wanted 3rd Party amiibo

After the announcement of the Shovel Knight amiibo, the first amiibo made for a 3rd Party game, it got me thinking. What other 3rd Party game characters could be made into amiibo. Well, I thought about it and wrote/typed my thoughts down onto paper/webpage. Here it is:

First Impressions: Stealth Inc. 2

I got this game for free on Humble Bundle and have been quite impressed with it so far. The game is an open-world stealth game with 'test chamber' levels interspersed in to the main game, allowing you to try new techniques and compete in the global leaderboards. This is how I got on.

First Impressions: Pokémon Showdown

Oh, Pokémon Showdown, where have you been all my life? Right in front of me, apparently, having being released in 2011. I wonder why I haven't used it before... Hmm... Well, that doesn't matter, what matters is that I have found it now and that I intend to use it as both a training scheme for the forthcoming Pokémon World Championships UK Qualifiers as well as for a bit of fun.

First Impressions: Rocket League

I recently got this game on the PS4 after watching a couple of videos on YouTube and liking what I saw. I've got to say, this being my first football-esque game since PES 09, I was a bit apprehensive as I'm not very good at sport games, but I was quickly proven wrong.

Video Game Character of the Month - September 2015 - Guards, Grunts and Goons

Video Game Character of the Month

September 2015

Guards, Grunts and Goons
(i.e. AI)

Overview:
I think that it's time to celebrate some of the ignored, unloved and downright hated characters of gaming that, nevertheless, make your quests and adventures happen - all while trying to stop them. That's right, it is time for the Guards, Grunts and Goons of gaming to get the award!
And, now, for a bit of information on Guards, Grunts and Goons (and, more specifically, their AI):