Casual online gaming...

So this blog, moving on from the previous review, is going to concern itself with the world of online console gaming. A rather testy subject for some, who assert that it is a cause of growing levels of unfit and poorly motivated children, online gaming has nonetheless become more and more popular in recent years. Indeed, if you were to ask most twenty somethings have they played online, then most would probably say yes, be it on an MMORPG such as World of Warcraft, or on Call of Duty on Xbox Live.









(World of Warcraft - perhaps the most (in)famous of all online games)


I myself am certainly one of those twenty somethings who play games online, regularly in fact, on Xbox Live. This blog therefore is a catalogue of sorts, of my experiences and observations of hte types of people who you will notice online. I make no apologies that I make some sweeping generalisations, this is merely my perspective and observations, and that is only really from playing on the Xbox...

1) The competitive player.

Perhaps the most common sight online, this person plays to win. Not to be confused with the Spoilsport, this person takes losses in their stride, and will acknowledge their teammate's achievements. They are often found at high levels, with many unlockables or suchlike, but are usually willing to help you out. If you're on their team...

2) The Spoilsport

Much like the competitive player, the spoilsport plays to win. But, unlike the competitive player, the spoilsport is willing to kill teammates, or deliberately get in their way. Although incredibly vexing to play with, when you know you're facing someone of this ilk, it is oh so satisfying to take them down a peg or two.









(Call of Duty 4 - One of the most populous games online and home of most, if not all, of these individuals...)

3) The Child

Perhaps the biggest complaint of any online gamer is the plethora of loudmouthed, uncouth and generally aggravating children that frequent the wilds of the online gaming world. These individuals, whether actually children or not, delight in singing at/ verballing abusing/ deliberately obstructing any and all players they come across. Still, when you take them out in any way you can revel in their cries of 'Zomg, you f*****, you suck, I hate you and your mum.' And other such erudite responses.

(Fifa 10 - Probably the most successful online football game ever)


4) The power gamer

Almost a combination of profiles 1 and 2, the power gamer normally plays fair and square, but if he/she can further their character by taking you down, then they will. However, they can be usfeful to lurk with for a while, as they can help drag your skills up to. Even if that often leads to them deliberately targeting you for being somewhat of a freeloader...

5) Friends

The category with with I play the most. Friends are people you either know in real life, or well enough to hold a conversation with at the very least, and this makes gaming so much more fun. Be it storming an enemy stronghold, smashing in a game winning goal or any other activity, it's made so much more fun when you know who you're beating/bantering with. Indeed, it's only when you play with friends that you can have conversations such as:
"Tango spotted. Up high behind the rock."
"Ok, I'll drop him."
"Hold fire, I'll move up to cover you..."
"Take the shot."

Unless you're an actual soldier, there is no other time you can say the following with a straight face. And that, right there, is the joy of playing with friends, it's the natural evolution of make-believe and playing in the park. Where we used to run around shouting 'BANG' and then arguing over whether we were dead or not, we now have Xboxes and Call of Duty. How times have changed...


And now, an added bonus, a countdown of my current top 5 moments on Xbox Live, as played with my friends.

5) Hammer Down! In a usually explosive and chaotic game of Red Faction Guerilla, a friend and I decided to just use our sledgehammers and duel to the death. It must be pointed out that we only ever play this game amongst the two of us, and just because it is the perfect game to blow off steam.

What happened; Lining up with each other, both equipped with Jet Packs, we launched ourselves at each other and swung away. Jousting, future Mars style. It was one of the funniest things we've ever played, almost nothing compares to watching your friend get smacked across a map whilst flying through the air.

4) Greatest Comeback of All Time! A simple game of Fifa 10, using our Pros, became the most intense thing. Ever. My team: Newcastle United, his: Tottenham Hotspur, with both our Pros in the line up. (The Pros being a character that bears your likeness, in a team that you'll never ever play for...still, it fulfils one childhood dream...)
What happened; I took a 1-0 lead, through a goal from my Pro. He promptly scored to make it 1-1. Then 1-2. Then 1-3. Then the tides shifted, 2-3, 3-3, 4-3. In the 85th minute he equalised to make it 4-4. Then in the 86th, 5-4 to me. Then in the 92nd minute, 5-5. So. To extra time. The first half was all even. Then the second half began, and fate was on my side 6-5, then, with his team utterly demoralised, 7-5. It was, undoubtedly, the most tense match we've ever played.

3)It's the Bro Code! Playing a Team Deathmatch on Modern Warfare 2, my friend and I holed up in a building on the Invasion map. We only ever play the game as a duo, as it's much more fun to be able to talk and work together with someone. In doing so we have a Gentleman's agreement, in that if one needs help, the other comes running.
What happened; We were holed up in a building on the map Invasion, doing quite well and getting a fair few points, when my friend took bullets, and was dropped into his Final Stand. Needing me to cover him while he regenerated he called for my help, and I obliged by running over to him and standing nearby. Then, through the window comes a grenade. Trying to save both of us, I attempted to hurl it away, but only got it far enough to save my ally - I was too close. However, he recovered in time to take out the grenadier and avenge me. That moment was as cinematic as they come.

2) Ghillie Dive! Playing a one on one hunt the sniper match (in which one person is a sniper and the other hunts him) on Call of Duty 4, I pulled off a miracle dive over gunfire to land a hit with my knife. Like a Ninja.
What happened; On the Overgrown map of Modern Warfare, I was hiding in a bush, overlooking the central house. Upon seeing my friend drop from it, I vaulted the wall, sprinting along it to kill him with my knife. Unfortunately, he turned and saw me, opening fire. Doing the first thing I thought of, I jumped over him, above his head and lashed out with my knife, gaining the most outrageous kill I have ever pulled off.

1) Escape! Simply the most outrageously cinematic thing we have ever done. On Grand Theft Auto 4, in a free party game, with the police on.
What happened; We both were milling about, behaving like hedonistic individuals, when I accrued a wanted level. Seeking shelter, I hid inside a bowling alley, behind the check in counter. As wave after wave of Police came in, I repelled them. My friend who had, wisely, left me before he became caught by the Police was off gallivanting around trying to find a helicopter. Upon hearing his triumph at discovering one, I called for Evac (and I said Evac...). Happily obliging, he flew his newly acquired gunship through the Police helicopters, to land on a nearby beach. Opening fire with the gunship's weapons, he cleared a path and blew open the doors. Sprinting through the doors, I vaulted the railing and landing with a roll, and got up to sprint to the helicopter, all the while plumes of sand indicating the police fire nearby. Clambering aboard amidst a hail of bullets (we were both wanted by this point...) we took off and managed to evade our pursuers. Needless to say, we dished out some serious high-fives the next time we met, and it has gone down in the annals of my own gaming history as one of the greatest spontaneous moments ever.
















(The Annihilator - My saviour. Sure, GTA may be one of the most controversial games ever, but it definitely is fun. And it's a game...)


Well, that concludes this blog. I hope you found it entertaining. Please feel free to comment an tell your own online tales if you have them.

Oh, and remember, they are only games, and you should go outside every now and again...

Let's try a review of sorts.

So, the first thing (well...second after the Inaugublog) that I think I shall talk about are my feelings towards the TV series The Clone Wars, George Lucas' televisual foray into the 3D CGI world of Star Wars.

Initial impressions so far, for the second series are positive; it seems to have learned from the often laboured dialogue of the first, and has pushed more mature themes forwards, such as the issue of Mandalorian terrorists.

The first series often felt as if it was trying to find it's feet, the overall storyline often feeling compromised due to the telling of individual characters. The inclusion of races such as the Lurmen brought up feelings of emnity that are usually saved for Ewoks (even if I quite like Ewoks...), and occasionally the tales smacked too heavily of moral tales - looking at The Gungan General in particular...

Some, however, stood out in other ways. 'Rookies' was a highlight, with some strong dialogue and action, as well as a sympathetic cast. A further highlight were the episodes concerning Ryloth. Giving a broader view of the war from three standpoints, the often isolated battles as presented felt more coherent, and they introduced the characters of Waxer and Boil, two clones whose camaraderie was very refreshing.












(Waxer, left, and Boil comfort Numa, a Twi'lek orphan they discover during the fighting on Ryloth.)

The second series then, with a strong foundation to build upon, set about creating a more dynamic, action-orientated series, reflecting the fact that this was a brutal Civil War.

Opening episodes 'Holocron Heist', 'Cargo of Doom' and 'Children of the Force' brought a small narrative into the tales, blending them well, and resetting the cast in a more agressive stance - as well as bringing the new Boba Fett to light; Cad Bane.

The second series also brought more epic set pieces, with 'Landing at Point Rain' being particularly noteworthy in terms of action and direction; showing that even Jedi could make errors of judgement. It also brought back issues of humanising the often robot-like clones, especially in the episode 'The Deserter', in which a clone and Captain Rex have to assess their own positions as people, rather than just cogs in a war machine.









(Cut Lawquane, the clone who chose his humanity over warfare.)

The episodes surrounding Mandalore also brought up the past of Obi Wan, letting viewers glimpse a side of him that is just as fallible as his impetuous Padawan, a refreshing change of direction and pace - even if Anakin steals the show with a few well placed one liners. These episodes also bring in the Mandalorians. Although familiar to many with knowledge of the Expanded Universe, for others this was the first time this race was brought to life outside of video games. Presenting the ideas of terrorism on a neutral planet hammers home the idea of a galaxy totally splintered by war, and shows how planets were also riven by internal strife - it was not a case of choosing one side to fight for.








(Duchess Satine of Mandalore and Obi Wan Kenobi share a moment, a relationship that brings to light how even the most noble of Jedi were not above the lure of their emotions.)

Overall then, these series have brought to light new issues in the Star Wars universe, humanising the clones, showing the fallibility of the Jedi, and exploring the scope of the war. Whilst there are critics, be they of characters, or how these stories fit into the established Star Wars canon, or how the show has overwritten other works, it cannot be doubted that The Clone Wars has brought Star Wars to a new audience, which cannot be a bad thing...

Inaugural blog... Inaugublog...

So, this idea of blogging has been a vexing little thought flitting around in my head for a while...so I decided that I'd take the plunge, and publish some of the aforementioned neural sparks onto the interwebs.

As a basic premise, this will be home for any and all of the following; games, foodstuffs, stories, anecdotes, comic books and films, perhaps even reviews and discussions of those that get my juices flowing.

From Star Wars to Warhammer, from Green Lantern to Peter Pan in Scarlet, I will endeavour to do justice to the plethora of topics in my mind, hopefully bringing them to you in an entertaining manner...

Well. That'll do for my blog manifesto... The dreaded Inaugublog is complete. Now, where to next?
...