Year: 2012 Page 1 of 3

Games That Never Were: Arena

On 23rd December 2012

As some people may know, I’ve dabbled in the world of game development before. I’ve never been particularly good at it, if I’m honest, not really down to anything other than a lack of good ideas, and a lack of time to do any ideas I had justice.

It’s something I keep meaning to have another bash at, not in any serious manner of course, just in a “bedroom programmer” kind of way.

Still, I thought I’d make a post about a game of mine that never quite made it past development. It ranks as the most ambitious game project I ever undertook, and actually got quite far down the line.

Gallery: Old and busted, meet new hotness…

By gazchap

On 9th December 2012

In Cars, Photography

No, I’m not talking about switching girlfriends…

For the last year or two I’ve had a Recaro interior from a Mitsubishi Evo IV in my GT-Four. Well, the front seats anyway – the rear seats were facelifted Celica seats, and my door cards had been falling apart.

So, I took the car to a chap up north called Simon, who does a bit of automotive interior trimming in his spare time, under the banner of Hide ‘n’ Seat Interiors. I explained what I wanted, and he obliged for a bargain of a price, at least two thirds cheaper than other companies had quoted me.

XCOM: Enemy Unknown (PC) Review

By gazchap

On 3rd December 2012

In Games

Arthur C. Clarke once said, “Two possibilities exist. Either we are alone in the Universe, or we are not. Both are equally terrifying.”

It’s always been one of my favourite quotations, so it’s rather fitting that it gets a prominent place (right at the start of the intro sequence) to a reimagining of one of my favourite games.

X-COM: UFO Defense (or, to give it its European name, UFO: Enemy Unknown) was developed by the Gollop brothers, Julian and Nick and was released in 1993 by Microprose to an unwitting audience.

With it’s crazily in-depth layering of micromanagement, strategy and turn-based tactics, the game was a great success and went on to spawn it’s own franchise, from the enjoyable-but-flawed sequel Terror From The Deep to the frankly abhorrent first-person shooter X-COM: Enforcer.

I was introduced to the original game on the Amiga, by a friend of mine who didn’t make it at all clear to me just how addictive the game was – so my obsession with X-COM is all his fault.

Jog On! – Failure!

By gazchap

On 3rd December 2012

In Blog

After starting so well (I successfully completed Day 1 of Week 2 of the Couch-to-5K programme) I’ve fallen by the way side, as the lack of updates to the blog is testament to.

However, it’s not all my fault. I’ve had a ridiculously busy (and in some ways, depressing) last couple of months, and have had (and successfully fought off) Man-Flu as well. However, a nasty chesty cough has lingered around for the last four weeks, and given how breathless I get after just walking a short distance with the cough, I didn’t want to risk running.

That and it’s bloody cold out there.

So, it’s not so much of a failure as more of a temporary set back – as soon as the New Year starts, and my cough is gone I’ll start the programme from scratch.

Time to post some more updates.

Jog On! – Week 1, Day 2

By gazchap

On 3rd October 2012

In Blog

Week 1, Day 2 of the Couch to 5K programme.

Oddly enough, I travelled exactly the same distance (1.67 miles) at exactly the same average speed (5.01 mph) and pace (11 minutes 58 seconds per mile.)

The only difference between tonight’s workout and Monday’s is that tonight I only burned 201.3 calories, as opposed to 227.7.

Other than that, I can report that tonight was easier. How much of this is because I’m already getting used to running, and how much of it is because I had proper running equipment on tonight, I don’t know.

I can also state quite clearly that running is both easier and goes by quicker when you’re running to music that “sets the tempo” – tonight I was listening to Daft Punk’s soundtrack to Tron Legacy – the R3C0NF1GUR3D remixes.

Jog on!

By gazchap

On 1st October 2012

In Blog

For as long as I can remember, I always wanted to be a gangst… no, hang on. Let me start again.

For as long as I can remember, I always wanted to be fitter. Yes, that’s better. Fitter. I’ve always been horrifically unfit, mainly because I spend most of my working life (and most of my spare time) either sat in front of a computer, sat in front of a TV with a computer on top of my lap (a laptop computer, if you will) or sat in the driving seat of some sort of motorised carriage (which has a computer in it, just to keep the theme going.)

iPhone 5 Confusion – A Balls Up!

By gazchap

On 14th September 2012

In Blog

If you read my post from this morning about my confusion ordering an iPhone 5, you’ll perhaps have noticed similar posts appearing on various technology/Apple blogs around the globe.

This morning, Apple’s store clearly stated that iPhone 5 orders would receive a bundled 30-pin to Lightning adapter. They even went as far as to suggest that you could purchase an additional adapter to ensure that you had “a second adapter for your home or office.” That’s pretty conclusive as wording goes, there can be no argument that it meant something else.

iPhone 5 Confusion

By gazchap

On 14th September 2012

In Blog

After Wednesday’s announcement of the hotly-anticipated (and widely leaked) iPhone 5, pre-orders opened today on the Apple Store websites around the world.

Despite saying that I wasn’t going to buy one, I have indeed caved and bought one – but only because I know I can sell my 4S for a substantial chunk of the cost of the 5, thus making it an almost-free upgrade. A no brainer really.

Addicted to Fallout… again

By gazchap

On 29th August 2012

In Games

I’ve long since had a fascination with nuclear weapons, specifically the effects on Earth (and the human race) should a nuclear war ever occur.

Obviously I’d much rather it didn’t, but it is interesting to really think about just how well society as a whole would cope with mutually assured destruction.

Restaurant Review: Bistro Jacques, Shrewsbury

By gazchap

On 11th August 2012

In Reviews

The Shrewsbury Flower Show is in full swing, and Alex and I decided to take a brief trip into town to check out the crowds, have lunch and perhaps go for a bit of a walk while we were at it.

Unfortunately, the walk didn’t really happen (we had to get back to the car before our parking ticket expired!) but lunch definitely happened, and I’m really rather glad it did.