You know that sometimes you come across an Xbox game that you know has flaws, that you know you really should hate – but it pulls you in and before you know it you just can’t stop playing? Well that’s Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine.

In fact, it’s a bit like Xfactor. You know what’s coming. You know exactly what you’re going to get, but you just can’t resist.

The gamer takes the role of a Ultramarine whose job it is to kill green skinned Orks (there is a more in-depth story but it seems incidental). You must battle your way through level-after-level of baddies, using an ever increasing variety of bladder-weakeningly cool weapons to deal death to the evil green ones. And, to be honest, this is the core of the game. It is also beauty of this game.

The battle action, be it shooting from afar or rolling up your armored sleeves and wading into the action with your chainsaw or mighty Warhammer, is just stunningly gruesome and disturbingly satisfying. Blood flows, guts spurt and Orks die.

It is magnificently addictive.

There are some flaws, there are some minor negatives, but for me the biggest letdown was the fact that this game failed to embrace the wonderfully vast world of Warhammer. It just seemed a shame that when the developers had so many weird and wonderful characters and races to call upon, they stuck firmly to Orks.

But the balance of play is perfect. As you develop your Ultramarine becomes almost god-like and on later levels you will find yourself wading through wave-after-wave of Orks as you single-handedly  save the day.

This game is no Call Of Duty. It’s not a technical first person shooter and it’s certainly not a high level strategy game. It is a plain and simple Hack ‘n Slay. If you come at the game expecting to flex your brain then you will be left cold. However, if you come at Space Marine expecting to wipe out evil Orks (by the bucket load) then you will not be disappointed.

Oh X Factor how I love you so! The final twelve have been chosen, one of them to be crowned the 2010 winner.

But who will it be?

The groups: FYD, 1 Direction and Belle Amie.

The girls: Katie, Cher and

Rebecca.

The boys: Nicolo, Matt and Aiden.

The over 28s: John, Mary and Storm.

After consulting my Magic 8 Ball,  my predictions for the final 3 are…

• Matt (fabulousness!)
• Rebecca (superstar with a touch of Hepburn)
• Cher (quirky and current)

I’d be happy if any of them won.

So, come on, let’s have some early predictions. Who are your final 3?

I wasn’t going to comment on last night’s X Factor live show,  but what was Dannii Minogue playing at? Is this the sister of gay-icon Kylie? Because what, no, really, what did Danyl Johnson’s performance have to do with his sexuality?  I am lost for words. I think Danyl was amazing, a true talent and not at all arrogant. Dannii ended up looking rather ridiculous.

(Even if you don’t watch the show, you can click here to see Danyl’s fabulous performance and Dannii’s outrageous comments and Simon’s loveliness)

And, moving on swiftly (for fear of my angry ranting)…

As the live shows have just begun I’ll offer my predictions for the final 3: Stacey Soloman, Joe McElderry, Danyl Johnson and my wild-card would be Miss Frank.

So, if you watch the show, who are your top 3 predictions for the final (and yes, you can have a wild-card too)? We can come back to this very post and see who is (spooky) right just before the final show. Ooooh, the excitement…

Following dreams often leads to rejection, insecurity and uncertainty. It isn’t always nice and the individual is often left wondering why they’re putting themselves through so much pain. But, as XFactor continues to show us (think of Alexandra last year), it is a brave person who shakes off that rejection and carries on. The basic message has to be that true failure only comes when you (yes, you) stop trying.

Last night saw Rikki Loney auditioning again. Last year’s clip of him got to me. Sometimes when things go wrong and it looks like all your dreams are falling apart, it’s almost easier to give up. Rikki didn’t. He came back, showing talent and determination. (good luck to the lad!)

But my favourite last night had to be Olly Murs. That boy’s got rhythm and soul. I love love loved him. He has a touch of the Will Youngs and the Gary Barlows about him, which is clearly a good thing.

[NB: the photo of Wolverine has absolutely nothing to do with this post, but my, isn't he pretty]

Last night’s X Factor show was all about the youngsters, but I found myself focusing on the reactions of those around the young stars, the people they’d brought along to support them.

Lucie Jones had such an innocence about her. Her parents’ reactions ‘did it’ for me, touched something inside of me that made me cry. They looked so proud of their little girl. Lloyd Daniels’ dad made me smile. And hearing Jade Fubara’s friends talk of her absolute talent warmed me.

To have people believe in you, to have people who truly wish you success and happiness, I think that’s what makes people fly towards their dreams. It’s that knowing that you have people there to fall back on, when or if it all goes wrong. I am so lucky, I have that too, I have that support. It makes all those negative voices, those who are full of doom and gloom, well it makes them powerless.

This week, I’ve been chasing my own dreams. I’m considerably older than those youngsters from the show last night but still I’ve been overwhelmed by the support and messages I’ve received this week. I’m going to blog all the details tomorrow or Tuesday, but in brief:

I’m going to be published again!

[squeal]

Because of the live audience, last night X Factor felt cruel. It felt like the cool kids were picking on the not-so-cool ones and it left me feeling a bit uneasy (clearly because I will, regardless of years, always be a not-so-cool kid).

It’s the fact that we all now know that the auditions have a number of stages BEFORE the one that we see, the one in front of the judges. So, those performers last night had passed through a number of stages and each one would have layered them with a little bit more confidence. Each audition would have made them believe a little bit more in their dream. But for some of them the only reason they were put through was for TV, to get them in front of the judges, in front of a huge audience and for everyone to have a big laugh.

I know, I know, that’s entertainment and that’s how the show works, but last night there seemed to be so much more of it.

Last night, ‘Stunners’ performed. They clearly thought that they were both stunning and had good voices. Someone had fuelled them, but there is no doubt that their success in the various stages before getting in front of the judges would have added to that. We saw and heard people laughing at them. We watched their dreams being shattered and, well maybe I’m getting far too soft in my old age, but I didn’t like it. I feel the same when I read a negative review of a book, it makes me think that dreams and ambition should be protected more.

I guess the counter argument is that if you put yourself out there, then you should be ready to accept criticism, that it’s part of the ‘game’. And that if you’re not good enough then someone should tell you, but staged humiliation in front of thousands of people, that just feels so cruel. As I’ve said, I’m getting soft in my old age.

But, saying all of that, I can’t help but be devoted to X Factor. I know, I know, I’m a hypocrite.

I loved the live audience last night. I love love loved seeing Simon sing along (3 mins 36 on the clip) with Jamie Afro. I did think that Miss Fitz were incredibly gorgeous and talented. And Rozelle Phillips, she gave me goose bumps and had the best smile in the world.

… it’s back! I HAVE to comment, but I’ll be brief:

Dermot was squeezable, I loved single parent Stacey’s reaction to Louis (‘I can’t believe you’re saying my name!’), Joseph from South Shields brought on my first tears of the new series by singing ‘Dance with my Father Again’, Duane’s rendition of ‘Ain’t no Mountain’ was corker and his reaction to Simon was both humbling and full of star quality. But, for me, it was the lovely Danyl who stole the show and, most impressively, he didn’t have a tear-jerking story to tell.

And, a brief message for my dearest Simon – I’ve missed you so. And, dearest Simon, all that stuff I said about Piers, I take it all back, I only said it to make you jealous and… well, I think you’re lovely and now that I get to watch you every Saturday and yesterday I received a copy of Simon Cowell: The Unauthorized Biography by Chas Newkey-Burden, my life is complete.