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Here’s my view on what’s best for those younger gamers this Christmas:
Sesame Street: Once Upon A Monster (Xbox 360): I was lucky enough to chat with the developers about this game when I was at Gamescom last summer. They where quick to point out that they wanted a game that expressed the ‘cool’ of Sesame Street. They also wanted to make the game appeal to both adults and children. They were truly passionate about creating a game that will be a shared family experience.
Sesame Street: Once Upon A Monster is a story book experience designed to engage the child in both storytelling and action. They do this by using the virtual book as a framework for countless mini games that allow your child (or you) to dive in and out of the Sesame Street world through dancing, jumping, flying and more. Elmo, Cookie Monster, Grover, Oscar the Grouch and other characters join your child as they meet friendly new monsters and help them overcome their problems.
I LOVE this game.
Lego Harry Potter Years 5-7 (Xbox 360):
Every since Lego Star Wars and the rather excellent Lego Batman, I have always had a soft spot for this genre. Their mixture of easy gaming and multi-player gameplay have made them a family gaming staple.
Based on the last three Harry Potter books and final four films, LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 takes players through Harry Potter’s heroic adventures in the Muggle and wizarding worlds. From Privet Drive in Little Whinging to Diagon Alley, Hogsmeade and Hogwarts – plus new locations including Grimmauld Place, the Ministry of Magic, and Godric’s Hollow – players will encounter new faces, new challenges and new magic, preparing them for the ultimate face-off against Lord Voldemort.
The visuals have developed considerably since the first Lego games, with impressive cinematic effects.
A must for all Harry Potter games.
Happy Feet 2: This is a musical, fun game for all the family to enjoy (especially if you loved the film, as the game beats quite closely to that narrative). Littlest adored this game.
Help save the penguins from the threats and dangers to their penguin world. This mainly involves dancing which, in fact, has to be the MOST perfect way ever to prevent extinction. Gamers use dance moves to recruit penguins with their own special skills that help to defeat enemies. Littlest especially liked that she could tap to the beat of the music, compete in penguin dance showdowns and belly sliding races.
A definite for lovers of cute, dancing and gentle gaming narratives.
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Batman: Arkham City is one of those games that takes over your life…
I need to get something straight before we start. I am huge Batman fan. Though I love camp Batman, my heart lies with Dark Knight.
So I approached this game with some trepidation.
I knew it was pretty close to the Dark Knight universe, but after so many failed films I was really worried we were in for another insipid cash in.
I was wrong.
Batman: Arkham City is an ambitious and darkly beautiful game. The developers have gone to great lengths to capture the ‘feel’ of the Dark Knight world. This is not a tights-wearing universe of ‘boof’ and ‘bash’. Instead, you are treated to a gritty and often brutal world were the Joker is truly insane and more than one bad guy would love to see your Batbrains splattered on the pavement.
There are two things that stand out and make this game a classic.
The first is the storyline. Anyone who is fan of the comics will not be disappointed. The narrative is tight and convincing with all your favorite baddies making an appearance (you come across Joker, Harlequin and even Bane in the opening part of the game).
The second is the environment. Batman moves, glides and shoots his way across Gotham City. The ability to use the ‘Bat grapple’ to zip from roof top to roof top is quickly mastered and is one of the highlights of the game. You will soon be creeping about high above the baddies, timing lethal ‘bat kicks’ as you plummet from the rooftops.
So is it all perfect?
Well no.
To be honest, at times, the developers are victims of their own ambitions. The control system is complex, to say the least. You will often find yourself fumbling about to carry out what should be simple tasks. For example, Batman is equipped with lots of lovely gadgets, but swapping between them and then using each can be frustrating.
But it is a small flaw in an otherwise excellent game.
So if you are a Bat fan then this is a must-buy. If you are a gamer looking for a new challenge in the darkly beautiful world of Batman, then this game is well worth your consideration.
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It all started so innocently. G was looking at LoveFilm on the new Xbox dashboard. The family were sitting down to watch a film, a tin of Quality Street at the ready, and G was scrolling through LoveFilm’s collection of Christmas films.
‘Look,’ he said. ‘Jack Frost, best Christmas film ever.’
And that was it.
An hour later (the kids had devoured most of the tin of chocolates) we were still arguing just what was the “best” Christmas film of all time (seriously, Jack Frost!).
In the end, and to maintain sanity, we decided to list the top ten best Christmas films and leave it to YOU lovely guys to decide which is the best.
So…
It’s A Wonderful Life
Miracle on 34th Street
Elf
The Polar Express
The Muppet Christmas Carol
The Santa Clause
The Nightmare Before Christmas
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
Jack Frost
Scrooged
My vote goes to Elf (with It’s a Wonderful Life at number 2).
PLEASE help.
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In our house Christmas isn’t Christmas without local pantomime. So, as part of our Christmas countdown every year we try to see a local show and clearly we’re all expert in what we expect from our Christmas pantomime viewing. We want to shout ‘BOOOO’, we want Benny Hill type running, we want in-jokes about local football teams, we want ghosts, we want smoke machines and we especially want camp (lots OF CAMP!). We want to be screaming out ‘Oh no it isn’t’ and ‘He’s behind you’ and possibly to partake in a bit of audience participation in the form of a song (with actions).
So this year we journeyed up the road to New Brighton (on the Wirral) for the Floral Pavilion’s performance of Aladdin and, oh yes, our expectations were fulfilled.
Andrew Agnew, who is best known as the Crime Busting P.C. Plum (Balamory), was utterly perfect as Wishee Washee. He stole the show. Seeing his dance moves to ‘We Built This City’ might actually be my highlight of 2011. And the interaction between him, PC Ping and PC Pong was both sleek and amusing. (I will NEVER look at P.C. Plum in the same way again…)
Abanazar was especially evil as Dean Sullivan (Jimmy Corkhill in Brookside) took on the role. His performance was effortless and I am possibly a little bit scared of him now. And the frocked-up Dame was played by the super-talented Anthony Williams. He was also director of the performance, which (in my eyes) makes him a bit of a wizard. His performance of ‘Born This Way’ (with Andrew Agnew providing a rap) was utter genius. And his legs in tights and a short skirt were a lot special. It is utterly unfair that a man can look THAT good in a short skirt and tights.
So, the almost three hours that we spent in the theatre were utterly Christmassy hours. There was thigh slapping, river dancing, powerful songs, jazz hands and the stage settings and changes were without flaw.
I’ve been to a few pantomimes at the Floral Pavilion but this one was streets ahead of the others.
For me, having Littlest grab my hand when a ghost appeared on stage (He’s behind you!) and me giggling at corny jokes and ogling a semi-naked genie and thoroughly enjoying innuendo, well that’s what pantomime is all about. And when P.C. Plum (yes, I know that’s not his name) was sending out birthday wishes and kisses, I reckon one was especially for me (a girl can dream!).
So that, for me, is the start of Christmas. It’s about embracing a good honest British tradition, it’s about having family fun and (most importantly) it’s about laughing together.
If you’re local and get a chance, do catch a performance of Aladdin at New Brighton Floral Pavilion. It’s running until Monday 2 January 2012 and all details can be found here.
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It’s not often that I get overly excited about (non-singing) gaming, but this tablet is a bit special.
But before I get too carried away here’s a video thingy that shows just why the uDraw is so fabulous…
Udraw is not a game as such, but more of a controller, it’s a GameTablet.
uDraw Studio: Instant Artist comes packaged with the uDraw GameTablet. Instant Artist turns TVs into digital art studios and allows players to tap into their imaginations, complete art lessons, engage in creative activity-based gameplay, or simply draw freestyle with a wide variety of brushes, colour palettes and art tools.
OK, this is all well and fabulous and Littlest loves the drawing, but why am I so excited?
Well. It’s NO secret that I love my super heroes and so you can imagine my excitement at Marvel Super Hero Squad: Comic Combat. In short, this game has become one of my all time favourite games.
Using the uDraw stylus, players can command their favourite Marvel Super Heroes, including Captain America and Thor. The tablet allows players to direct attacks, wield weapons and build barricades in the Marvel Super Hero Squad universe. Players can even shake the uDraw GameTablet to create an in-game earthquake.
Marvel Super Hero Squad: Comic Combat also features a distinctive ‘cell-shaded’ comic book art style that brings the characters to life, as well as a variety of challenging new stages, including The Helicarrier, Baxter Building, The Vault and Sanctum Sanctorum. And, for that very reason, this is possibly why I have engaged so much with the game and the uDraw GameTablet.
The growing library of uDraw titles will also include Pictionary™: Ultimate Edition, a new, high-tech version of the family game favorite.
Now, I used to hate the boardgame version. I am rubbish at drawing and tend to use my hands and speak too much (making people SHOUT at me for cheating). But this game has brought hours of family entertainment (and will continue to do so over Christmas!). All the rules of the original Pictionary board game still stand, but it’s been spiced up with a sleek 3D board, customisable game pieces, new clues, and a suite of drawing tools. I especially liked Family Fun, which is an all-new mode allowed us to customise our gameplay, game length, clue categories and win conditions. Available exclusively for uDraw on Xbox 360 and PS3, the game features new clues, vibrant HD environments, customizable gameplay and new functionality including intuitive touch screen gestures.
For your information: uDraw GameTablet is available for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Wii.
UDraw Key features:
- Utilising the full capacity of PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, users can play, draw, print, and share their creations in HD.
- From pinch-and-stretch zooming to free-form finger-painting, the uDraw GameTablet responds directly to your touch.
- Xbox 360 and PS3 controls are directly integrated into the uDraw, eliminating the need to dock a controller.
- Tilt, shake and jump through games with enhanced tilt and motion features.
- The uDraw stylus offers 256 points of pressure sensitivity, providing amazing freedom to bring your creations to the screen in detail.
- Players will connect and create from the comfort of their favourite spot with wireless interaction between the uDraw and their game console.
- Includes Instant Artist.
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On Sunday G and I had a rather unusual afternoon in London.
We’d been invited down by Xbox to hear all about their big update, which started hitting Xbox 360 consoles around the world yesterday.
Having been to many Xbox events now, I can honestly say that my experience on Sunday afternoon was completely ‘out of box’, representing just how forward-thinking Microsoft are being.
The afternoon was at supperclub in London. A perfect venue, only about thirty bloggers invited. We waited by the bar (of course) and then were shown into the dance room venue. Bed seats lined the walls and, possibly eased by the cocktail already consumed, it wasn’t long before I had my shoes off and was happily lounging on the bed-seat.
That’s when more cocktails were delivered and the demonstration began.
There were clips about the new features of the Xbox Live update, in amongst performances and food. And that’s when it all became a but surreal (think Twin Peaks meets Britain’s Got Talent).
There was a leather clad Avenger-style dancer, who shook her utterly pert bottom a lot and made sparks with an angle grinder and a guitar. Ace. Then a drag queen who stripped to white underpants and climbed up (and wrapped himself in) a shower curtain, whilst the Psycho music played. Seriously, blood came from his mouth onto the shower curtain at one point. And then he lay on the floor for ages and pretended to be dead. I ABSOLUTELY loved him. Then there were breakdancers and a man called Paul gave out hugs.
And food. Four courses of wonky food.
But one course looked to be delicious macaroons. I love cake, I was excited. But then on biting into them it was discovered that they contained fish paste and chicken liver. That experience may have disturbed me for life. But there wasn’t time to dwell, as dessert was served in a metal cat food bowl.
And, then, we went home.
Basically, the launch of Bing on Xbox allows customers to search entertainment services using their VOICES. Last year, Kinect for Xbox 360 allowed gamers to use their bodies and voices to play their favourite games and entertainment. You’ve seen the adverts, the gamer is the controller. This year, the power of Kinect combined with the search intelligence of Bing is turning your voice into the ultimate remote control.
With Bing on Xbox, you can use your voice to effortlessly find the games, movies, TV shows and music you want, by simply saying what you’re searching for. You say it, Xbox finds it. Simple! (I’ll be interested to see how it copes with accents!)
And, in addition to offering the best blockbuster and Kinect games, Xbox 360 consoles are set to deliver live and on-demand TV shows, movies, videos, sports, music and news. TV and movie fans can instantly stream live television via Sky, as well as enjoy a variety of fantastic content from the likes of AlloCiné (Screenrush), blinkbox, Channel 4, Channel 5, Crackle, Dailymotion, LOVEFiLM, MSN Video, MUZU.TV, YouTube and Zune, as well as, in 2012, the BBC.
I have attached photos. Because, really, that’s the only way I actually know it all happened.
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Many of you know that I’m a gamer, but you won’t know that I’m an Xbox Live Ambassador.That’s because it’s only just happened. I got to go to an utterly bizarre Xbox event on Sunday. But before I can tell you about THAT (and boy do I want to!), I am inviting any gamers who read this blog to take part in this survey.
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(To celebrate the launch of ‘The Night Before Christmas‘, I’ve a SIGNED (and wrapped in Christmas paper) copy to give away at the end of this post)
All Lydia’s ever wanted is a perfect Christmas…
So when her oldest friends invite her to spend the holidays with them, it seems like a dream come true. She’s been promised log fires, roasted chestnuts, her own weight in mince pies – all in a setting that looks like something out of a Christmas card.
But her winter wonderland is ruined when she finds herself snowed in with her current boyfriend, her old flame and a hunky stranger. Well, three (wise) men is traditional at this time of year…
The cold weather is upon us, Christmas is a mere 18 DAYS away and so what better time to offer this festive giveaway! And Scarlett Bailey’s debut is a PERFECT book for this time of year. I LOVE that it is truly and absolutely set in the Christmas period (books that use ‘Christmas’ but don’t embrace it are a pet hate!) and that the pages are brimming with festivity. This is a novel to snuggle down with, to juggle with a mug of hot chocolate and a tin of Quality Street. I can promise that you’ll be left with a Christmassy warm glow.
Romantic, funny and packed with likeable characters – what are you waiting for? I absolutely recommend ‘The Night Before Christmas’ to you all.
Talking to Scarlett:
What are your top 3 Christmas films? My top three Christmas films are ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’, what’s not to love the gorgeous James Stewart talking to a Christmas angel! ‘Miracle on 34th Street’, obviously Santa is real, duh… and ‘Holiday Inn’ which is actually quite a terrible film, but its got Bing singing ‘White Christmas’, which is my all time most favourite Christmas song. I do have to add a cheeky shout out to ‘Elf’, best Christmas film of recent years, love it.
And your all time favourite 3 Christmas songs? Oh, well ‘White Christmas’ (by Bing) that man had the touch, his vocal stylings always bring a tear to the eye, ‘Fairy Tale in New York’, for a song that is basically about bitterness and recrimination it’s awfully festive, and ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’, sung by Jude Garland, which also brings a tear to the eye. Come to think of it, I’m a bit maudlin aren’t I? Pass the whiskey….
What will you be wishing for this Christmas? A life size chocolate model of Johnny Depp that comes alive when no-one else but me is around. OR an iPad. I think Magic Johnny Depp is a more realistic prospect.
Do you prefer a mince pie, Christmas cake or a dollop of sherry trifle? None of those things, I’m not a fan of fruit, even when its soaked in alcohol. I like a Chocolate Fudge Yule log (must include plastic robin and holly leaves) with a glass of Bailey’s on the side.
Will your Christmas tree be decorated in all one colour or a mix of memories? It will be festooned in tinsel, lots of cheap, nasty, sparkly tat, extending all the way back to my childhood, including the most vile, slutty 1970s Christmas fairy you have ever seen, but which I would not part with. I’m not a fan of wicker, twiggy, ginghamy, dried oranges, so called tasteful decorations. I think a tree should look like a Slade Christmas single in physical form.
Which 3 people would you like to spend Christmas with (living or dead)? Hmmm. James Stewart, Cary Grant and Gregory Peck. What? I’m a sucker for old style movie star leading men. They don’t make them like that any more. Sigh…
And do you, in any way, think Simon Cowell will end up in my Christmas stocking(s) this year? Listen, if I can get Magic Chocolate Johhny Depp, I don’t see why not.
I’ve a SIGNED copy ( wrapped in Christmas paper AND with a bow) of ‘The Night Before Christmas’’ by Scarlett Bailey to give away. Simply leave a ‘please pick me’ comment by 3pm (GMT) December 9, then I’ll pop all names in a mug and ask a small child to select a winner. This competition is open to all.
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About the author: Scarlett Bailey has loved writing stories since childhood. Before writing her debut novel, ‘The Night Before Christmas‘. she worked as a waitress, cinema usherette and bookseller. Passionate about old movies. Scarlett loves nothing more than spending a wet Sunday afternoon watching her favourite film back-to-back with large quantities of chocolate. Currently she lives in Hertfordshire with her dog, and very large collection of beautiful shoes.
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I am very VERY delighted that four stories from ‘Freaks!’ have been selected to appear in Issue 7 (Winter 2011) of The Moth Magazine.
This is a biggie for me (and I’m sure for the talented Mr Perring too). The stories chosen will give people the first taste of what to expect in ‘Freaks!’ (eek!) but also not quite. By this I mean that the mighty Darren’s illustrations won’t be in The Moth Magazine, so that big reveal is still to come (in only FOUR months now!). It’s all a bit terrifying really (these are my first short stories to be published!), but having four stories selected to be in a magazine that is so well-respected in the short story world is a huge honour. I am very proud of ‘Freaks!’ but that’s a different blog post, one for nearer publication (FOUR months!).
And, I especially like that the four stories selected are said to be written by both Nik and I. This reflects the actual collection of short stories. Because, in ‘Freaks!’ the writer of each separate story is NOT revealed (I mean, it could even be that some of the stories were written together). Because that’s what ‘Freaks!’ is all about. It’s about secret identities and not everything being as it first appears.
To buy Issue 7 (the current issue) of The Moth Magazine and get a taste of four of the stories from ‘Freaks!’, go here. And, as an additional selling point, there is a poem in there from the talented Mr Pack. Bonus!
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