Film and TV, Game Reviews, General

Vic B’Stard’s week in review: game patches, Skyrim, Weta Cave, Tintin and Assassin’s Creed Revelations

Vic B'Stard
I like Skyrim...a lot!

Game patches are, generally speaking, a good thing. Being human, we all make mistakes. At least when a mistake is made in a bit of game code, developers have the opportunity to fix things.

At the moment I’m patching Battlefield 3 on the very same laptop that I’m writing this text. I’ve already patched the game on my desktop. I say patched, but we are not talking about a couple of megabytes here. The patch for EA’s shooter weighs in at around 4GB. In little old NZ where nobody actually has any money to spare and internet data is closely monitored (as well as charged for at ridiculous rates), EA’s 4GB patch will eat into a considerable amount of the average Kiwi’s meager internet data limit.

Lucky me then, as most of my business is carried out via the intertubes, I have a larger that usual data limit giving me the luxury of downloading the same astronomical patch twice. But even I, in an attempt to limit my internet bill, tried to lower my internet data cap last month; only to raise it back up this month. Continue reading Vic B’Stard’s week in review: game patches, Skyrim, Weta Cave, Tintin and Assassin’s Creed Revelations →

Film and TV

Doctor Who Christmas Special- mini prequel video

Doctor Who Logo
Christmas Who soon!

Now I love a bit of Doctor Who. Granted it’s an acquired taste and yes, you probably shouldn’t bother taking another look at any old Who prior to Paul McGann’s TV movie in the 1990s.

A few years ago I had another go on my favorite Tom Baker story, Logopolis (which saw the be-scafed one transform into Tristram from All Creatures Great and Small), not good; some things are best left to nostalgic memories. The same goes for Terry Nation’s Blake’s Seven. Continue reading Doctor Who Christmas Special- mini prequel video →

Film and TV

New trailer for Dallas revival show

Dallas cast
All together now. Da, da-da, da-da, da da da-da.

A new trailer for TNT’s Dallas revival has been released.

Turner Network Television are bring back the most (in)famous family in television history. For thirteen seasons, from the late 1978 to 1991, TV audiences around the world were glued to their sets as the trials and tribulations of Texas oil tycoon family, the Ewings unfolded in front of them. Continue reading New trailer for Dallas revival show →

Gaming

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim soundtrack now available in a 4 CD set

Skyrim title
Game of the Year!

My love affair with Skyrim continues. I just can’t get enough of it.

Even though I have the Xbox 360 collector’s edition, having seen the game running with all the settings turned up, I’m tempted to buy the game again on the PC. Perhaps for the second playthrough.

I’m not sure what it is about the game that really does it for me. I did enjoy Oblivion to the turn of 170-odd hours of gameplay (the longest time I’ve played a game, even longer that my 120 hours on FFVII). Continue reading The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim soundtrack now available in a 4 CD set →

Gaming, General

Vic B’Stard’s (late) week in review: Elite, Rollercoasters, Disneyland, Halo and Assassin’s Creed

Vic B'Stard
Broke and tired!

My wallet exhausted, my gaming schedule full, it’s time once again to take a look at my week in review.

Too many games to play has meant a delay to my usual weekly editorial missive. I’ve spent the last couple of weeks been lost between the a return to the ringworld of Halo, the battlefields of Modern Warfare 3 and the icy tundra of Skyrim. Before I embark on my journey to Constantinople in Assassin’s Creed Revelations, here’s a few words.

British outfit Frontier Developments’ main man, David Braben was one half of the team, along with Alan Bell, that was responsible for the genre defining, nay creating, game called Elite. Without Elite there wouldn’t be any number of space trading games, including the massively popular Eve Online. For me, thirteen-years old at the time, it was my first introduction to the illusion of a living breathing virtual universe, and it was incredible. Continue reading Vic B’Stard’s (late) week in review: Elite, Rollercoasters, Disneyland, Halo and Assassin’s Creed →

Gaming

Assassin’s Creed Revelations Animus Edition unboxing

Assassins_Creed_revelations006
Ezio's final revelation!

Assassin’s Creed Revelations brings to a close the saga of Ezio Auditore da Firenze after three Assassin’s Creed games featuring him as the lead character. To celebrate the end of this chapter in the Assassin’s Creed chronicles, Ubisoft have released a special version of their new game, the Assassin’s Creed Revelations Animus Edition.

For me Assassin’s Creed Revelations marks the end of a barrage of triple A titles that started with Deus Ex: Human Revolution way back at the end of August. Since then we’ve been treated to the likes of Dead Island, Gears of War 3, Batman: Arkham City, Uncharted 3, Skyrim and loads of other fantastic titles.

I’d reviewed the last two Assassin’s Creed games for Game Console back when they were released. I was even fortunate enough to be flown over to Oz for a face-to-face with Assassin’s Creed II‘s creative director, Patrice Désilets. My intension for the fourth game in the series, Assassin’s Creed Revelations, was to simply play though the game at a leisurely pace rather than actually review the game. The best laid plans and all that; as it happens, I’m actually going for the Assassin’s Creed review hat-trick. Look out for my Assassin’s Creed Revelations review on techday.com in the next week or so. Continue reading Assassin’s Creed Revelations Animus Edition unboxing →

Comic Books, Gaming, General

Vic B’Stard’s week in review: Uncharted 3, Battlefield 3 vs. Modern Warfare 3, Robin DLC, Halo and Skyrim

Vic B'Stard
MW3 vs. BF3...there are no winners in war!

I’m so weak. Despite promising myself I wouldn’t, I got myself a copy of Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 for the Xbox 360 and I’m rather glad that I did.

It’s one week after the release of the fantastic Uncharted 3: Drakes Deception and I’ve yet to actually finish playing the game. Although playing though the game in bite sized chunks has allowed be to savor the experience. I know that I’m not far from the end now, and I’ll be sad when it’s over. I’m really enjoying the game, as I did the previous two. I’ve dabbled a bit with the multiplayer, both during the beta and with the retail release. As fun as it is, I can’t see it pulling me away from Battlefield 3…or Modern Warfare 3.

Now that I’ve played both EA Games’ Battlefield 3 and Activision’s Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3, I’m about as in the middle of the two publishing powerhouses’ willy waving contest as one can, unfortunately, be. EA’s public fighting talk and Activision’s aloof, faux high-ground taking retorts have resulted in both publishers being caught with their trousers down. Continue reading Vic B’Stard’s week in review: Uncharted 3, Battlefield 3 vs. Modern Warfare 3, Robin DLC, Halo and Skyrim →

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