Comments (0)

By Threelight, 4 May, 2010 10:57 am

If yu don’t want to know about a certain level of a certain top-selling console game and it’s effect on my gameplay, then please go to another post (there goes my audience).

Okay, the rest of you people, and including X-Box 360 players, listen up. I’m talking about the multi-selling game Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. Last week I finally decided to buy the game at the reduced price (I was never going to buy it at the full price anyway, that’s why I’m not keeping up with what the rest are playing).

Admittedly there is a warning at the beginning of the game that a level in said game may be offensive, and whether you want to play it. I said “Sir, yes Sir! Of course I do, Sir!”. Having heard something about it, but only snippets. I also hadn’t read the Wiki page.

What I didn’t know is that this mission (or level) comes early on in the game, and it allows you, basically, to kill Russian civilians as part of an undercover operation. I suppose it’s how you react to it that matters. I chose to just follow the main character in the level rather than be involved in the shooting. I’m wondering whether any other gamers had done that while playing the level. The sound and visual effects are a bit, well, strange, with screaming civilians being shot all over the airport. I suppose the reason why the level was included was to give you that “crisis of conscience”  (okay what would you do in this situation?). Once that level is finshed with, the gameplay continues apace.

But that bit of the gameplay did take me a bit by surprise.

Comments (0)

By Threelight, 14 January, 2010 10:34 pm

It is nearly a full month since I bought my X-Box 360 (if I’m not mistaken, it was around 15th December). I was lent 6 games by Polyhex and Agent, and got 2 from them for Christmas. So, after only a month, I have completed one game, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed.

Lordy! It’s an absolutely brilliant game.It helps that I’m a Star Wars fan. And this, to me, is a very welcome addition to the canon. The story sucks you in, and the gameplay is absolutely superb, with the graphics out of this world (and the way they drew one of the characters: Juno Eclipse. Remarkable). X-Box 360 games centre around achievements – do something in the game and get a bonus type thing. Even though the amount I have for the game is slightly on the low side, at least I’ve finished it. Absolutely brilliant it is. It’s certainly kept me quiet.

WARNING: THE NEXT PARAGRAPH CONTAINS SPOILERS ABOUT THE GAME

My X-Box 360 avatar’s motto is: “You want me to do what?”. And that was precisely what I was thinking when the simple instruction came up on the screen: “Defeat Darth Vader”. I mean, what?? But after a while I managed to do just that…

Oh well, more games to go I suppose…

First X-Box 360 game rating: 9 / 10.

Footnote: Apparently this year, Part II is coming out! Mind if I go geek-crazy for a bit?

Comments (3)

By Threelight, 14 December, 2009 8:31 pm

After working 9 hour days on and off for a few days, the thought of having 3 whole days off filled me with some glee. Apart from having 8 hours sleep each night for 3 nights (muchly needed. And I thought those days were over), doing a small amount of Christmas shopping, and sorting a few things out. Oh, and my Dad’s 65th birthday celebration.

My brother bought his X-Box 360 round yesterday and we played for a couple of hours. Asked a few questions about it, and have now decided to take the plunge and get me my own X Box 360. I should be getting one quite soon. The graphics on the games impressed me, so I’m looking forward to playing on it (once I get some games for it!)

I am working from the ungodly hour of 7.30am tomorrow and Wednesday, which is surprsingly okay, but I still have a block/phobia/fear (delete as approriate) of 6am/6.30am starts. Waking up at 4.30 on those days doesn’t appeal to me one bit. I go into a bit of a tired phase for a few days afterwards.

I work in a bit of a dark office. The place is essentially one big room with windows on 2 sides. Even these are tinted to keep the sunlight out, and all you are left with is artificial light. As a result, this autumn and winter, I haven’t a clue as to when the sun goes down, and, if I am there early enough, the sun rises. The only bit of pure light that shines in the building is from a sky light in the break area. It’s a bit odd. From now until the weather changes or the clocks go forward, when I am working, I can’t see it going dark. In a way it’s a bit of sensory depravation. Unintentional I know, but sensory depravation all the same.

Can’t really complain. The countdown to summer starts next Monday (21st December, shortest day and all that).

Comments (0)

By Threelight, 12 January, 2007 10:39 pm

Yes, as someone just put it : it’s the end of the first full week back at work after the “holidays”. And if mine has been slow, boring and pedantic, then surely other people’s must have been the same. Am I right? I hope so!

Well, this blogger has been invited to a special do at the beginning of next month. Yes, it’s got to do with work, but I’ve got the invite, and so far, I’m going. It’s to celebrate the achievements over the past year where I’m working now. I have to go. I’ve only been there 2 months, and am beginning, slowly, to be accepted by the rest of them in the team. People know me by name (because the department I’m in is made up of two sections, both on either side of the room), which can only be a good thing.

At the moment, game wise, I’m playing “Far Cry Instincts” which at first I though was a tough game, but now I’m really into it. It’s one of the few games I’ve seen where you have to use some form of tactics and a fair whack of stealth to be successful. I like it now, it’s cool.

 

Comments (2)

By Threelight, 3 December, 2006 10:34 pm

Ah, Sunday. The day before Monday.

Let’s see. On Friday night, I went out for a meal and a drink with people I used to work with, including some who still work there. We all went to a Chinese Buffet place in Manchester Central, and a great time was had by all. I only had 3 courses (sweet and sour chicken, veggie stir fry and ice cream), while some seemed to have 6 or 7!! Then we went to the pub. And that’s when it all went wrong.

 It must have been because the month is December that half of the north-west of England were congregating in the pubs of Manchester. As a result, it was impossible to get served in said pub because the crowds were about 3 deep. So I didn’t bother. I was idly moving about, when I was told that another group had moved to another pub, and it would be a good place to congregate. To cut a long story short, I missed them, because I was waiting for someone else to come back, and then I could tell them of the new venue. So all the rest of them disappeared.

Then I couldn’t find them. I ended up going home. No-one was answering their mobiles, so I couldn’t contact them. Had a good night though.

What all of this meant was I could leave the house early and start my Christmas shopping. I’m happy now that I’ve started. I only have a few to get, and that’s it. While I was out, as well as the pressies, I got myself the 5th season of “24“ , a few CDs including “The Beatles – Love“, and a couple of X-Box games : “Lego Star Wars II“ and “NHL 06“. Addictive games, both.

And today? I did nothing.

Good, exciting weekend, eh?

Comments (1)

By Threelight, 12 September, 2006 8:35 pm

I know, just under a week since my last post. I have plenty going on in my ife at the moment, but in a way, I’m choosing to be private about it. Which is strange, because that is not in the spirit of this blog. This was set up for me to vent some frustrations out, and, really it’s my own private place of t’internet (albeit now with a small audience.) So I suppose I’d better update you with what’s going on.

Well, since we’ve been given the final date of working at my employ, we are now just a bit relaxed in what we’re doing, even though that doesn’t mean we are not working. So, we have more time to look around (well, more than last time, anyway). I’ve got 2 interviews with reasonable agencies this week, but feel that because I’m actually working (the perverse thing about the whole thing, is now that we have been told to look round, we have been given more work to do, and also to make notes about how long it takes us.) So I wish, at the end of the day, that I could have left sooner, but that’s the way things go. So I’m trying to fix things up so the transition from old work to new work is as gentle as possible. However, I think I’ll be in for a slightly rocky trip.

Over the last week, I have chosen my viewing of 9/11 type programmes quite carefully. Last Thursday I watched the documentary about the dayy itself, which was incredibly informative, and highlighted a few things I wasn’t aware of. And then I watched “The Path to 9/11″, which, to me, served it’s purpose. As the title suggests, it puts the evens of 11th September into their historical context, with some diversions from the truth, but I suppose that’s why it’s called dramatic license. But I didn’t partake in any silence of any kind at work, because none took place anyway. Which is probably a good thing.

At the weekend, I managed to finsish a major personal project that I’d been doing on and off for the past 3 weeks. I’m glad I finsihed it. But once it was finished, I found I really had nothing else to do that weekend, happy that I’d finished at least one task in my list of many.

Then back to the drudge of work…It’s been suggested that maybe because of the big payout I am due because of being made redundant, I should take some time off to chill out for a whle. I’mm not so sure…I still have to decide about that.

Oh yes, I’m playing “The Godfather” at the moment. It’s turned a bit boring on me…anybody know of cool X-Box games to play (old X-Box, not 360)?

Comments (0)

By Threelight, 1 September, 2006 12:21 pm

Yes, I know, it’s an early post. There’s quite a logical reason.

On Wednesday morning I woke up feeling tired and generally not to well. That was after waking up at about 1am that morning wanting to eject the previous days foods and nutrients from my body. I went into work, but then was able to leave at 1pm, and come home and sleep. I didn’t feel any better the next day. So, I stayed home. I did hardly anything, but strangely enough wasn’t able to sleep during the day. I woke up this morning having already decided that I wasn’t going into work today, just to make sure I recover fully, you understand…

I think that now I’m possibly over the worst of it. I just felt really down and rough (someone at work said I looked a bit pale, hence me leaving work early).

As is my wont, I am trying to analyse what exactly caused me to be ill. I can put it down to having a mixture of food on Tuesday, but normally I can deal with things like that. This “sickness” appeared from nowhere, and I was feeling a bit flu-ey too. I know that the changes at work are becoming more and more apparent (as in, changing the physical layout of the office, and bringing new furniture in. SO the place I work at is no longer the place I remember. But then again, it could be the fact that there’s been a distinct change in the weather. I have no idea.

At least I know this: when I go into work on Monday, I should be as refreshed as I possibly can be.

So, yesterday was spent playing “The Godfather” on my X-Box, which I’m really into now. It’s quite good, even though at times you wish the story wasn’t quite as linear as what it is. At times you get to play out some scenes from the movie, in full pixelated, X-Box style, so it heightens the excitement quite a bit. But it’s really good.

So what have I got planned for the weekend. Well, I have a few things to do tomorrow, and then on Sunday, Chez Threelight is being graced by Polyhex and Agent’s presence.

Adios. There may be more posts over the course of the weekend…

Comments (0)

By Threelight, 21 August, 2006 10:37 pm

A lot has happened where I work over the last few days, One of them directly concerns me. I am not going into exactly what transpired on Friday, becuase to do so, would mean a very long boring post. I may just say something in the near future. But what I will say is that it got my Boss involved and my Boss’ Boss involved, and all concerned parties were on my side, and I caused a slight change in who we are being treated. So a slight victory there. But on Friday I was very, very angry.

I had a quiet weekend of doing things I needed to complete. I watched a few TV programs, and also played on the good ol’ X-Box, which I’ve probably been ngelecting over the last few weeks.

Today, Dumb Blonde said goodbye to us: she is moving from Comapny HQ to another company. Now, yes, I may be calling her Dumb Blonde, but boyoboyoboy, what a body. Nice eyes, too (and yes, I mean her the eyes in her head.).Wearing tan trousers, and a white top, showing a but of quite a slim, tanned midriff, hair like she’s just come out of the shower… okay, that’s how I’ll picture here (wearing the clothes, not coming out of the shower…although… back to reality then!)
She said goodbye to us, and was almost going to say more to us other people who are leaving soon, but then turned away. She probably realised she opened up this can of worms to begin with, all those months ago…but strangely enough, I don’t blame her for what happened later on in the year (long story, Check the archive if you’re not sure…I write enough about it!) Why she’s leaving, I’ve not yet worked out. Time to get my spies in action (it’s helpful knowing people at Company HQ).

Comments (0)

By Threelight, 14 May, 2006 9:35 pm

Well, all in all it’s been a good weekend.

Polyhex and Agent came round for a little visit yesterday on their way to the Trafford Centrre and asked me whether I’d like to tag along. I said yes. If that was what the Saturday crowds are like there, I’d hate to think what it’s like at Christmas. Loads and loads and loads of people, everywhere, and not one of them watching the FA Cup Final (against form, I didn’t watch it, even though I was planning to, if I didn’t fall asleep first). Then a couple of hours later, ended up at TGI Fridays for a bit of an enjoyable meal. I was well fed, and didn’t eat anything the whole evening, so full was I.

One of the things that surprised me though, is that by about 11pm, I was so, so, so tired, that I went to bed at a godforsaken early hour. (11:15), and woke up at 9:30 this morning. I obvously needed it.

After helping out with a few things around the house for about an hour, I sat down, determined to get as far as I possibly could with “Halo”. Finally, after about 4 hours, I completed the whole game. It’s only taken me about 8 – 9 months to complete, that’s all. Inbetween, I must have completed a few other games, but I’m quite happy now I’ve complete both “Halo” and “Halo 2″. I’m a bit angry that “Halo 3″ will only be available for the 360…Grrr. I know that “Halo” helped launch the X-Box, but still.

Earlier in the week, I finished reading a very interesting book called “Moondust”, which was enjoyable. What did the astronauts who walked on the Moon feel like, on the Moon, and after they splashed down. Some of the things that they did or thought may surpeise, but they did what they had to do. They did a job, that’s all. Nothing special about it. My favourite quote in the book, which speaks volumes about where we are now, is:

“I can now tell my kids that when I was young, they put men on the moon, and you could fly to New York in two-and-a-half hours!”

Priceless.

Comments (2)

By Threelight, 11 May, 2006 9:18 pm

Okay, over the past few days I’ve decided something.

This blog will no longer detail the bad things that go on at my employ. Yes yes, I’ve probably said the same thing before (unfortunately WordPress doesn’t allow you to link to a specific entry. I’m sure there’s a way – I just haven’t worked it out yet). But this time I’m serious. I want to change this, even though it was good to have a record of what big managers have been doing to me and the department, but I feel just a tad uncomfortable and I feel that now it’s beginning to bore me, as well as my loyal readers (and I’m sure I have some. Hello? Anybody there?). I may just make an exception and report something that was said, or the news is groundbreaking, but otherwise I’ll leave well enough alone.

So therefore I’ll only report the good things that happen. Like The Gorgeous One In The Office wanting me to take her away to my castle and have my wicked way with her, or any gossip that I may hear about things (who was doing who with what in the storeroom sort of thing), but apart from that, I won’t report anything. Unless Sexy Secretary does something which is worth reporting. But that’s your lot.

In gaming news, I’ve finally completed a section of “Halo”, which I’ve been stuck on for months and months. I’ve finally progressed to the next level, and only one more level to go after that, and that’s it. You may find this a bit crazy, but I completed “Halo 2″ before “Halo”, for the simple reason that I got the former before I got the latter. But I miss Lara Croft. I suspect that she’ll call me to play once too often, and I will have to heed her call. Which I’m not complaining about at all.

Before I go, here’s a joke (excellent one, if you ask me)

Q : What do John Prescott and an MFI flatpack have in common?

A : Just a few screws in the wrong places and the whole cabinet falls apart!

Good night, and thanks for listening!!