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News For Sunday, March 16 A Tale of Rock nominated for award: vote now!
Comments: 4 | Posted March 16, 2008 by James Spafford
In semi Thumbs related news, 'resident artist' John G's short animated film, A Tale of Rock, has been nominated for a You Tube award - which it truly deserves!
I'm going to shamelessly ask you all to go and vote for his movie over here. You'll find it in the 'Short Film' category and if you haven't seen it yet, now is a good opportunity ;)
News For Wednesday, November 21 Giant Enemy Crabs thought to be real, world eats humble pie
Comments: 5 | Posted November 21, 2007 by James Spafford
Earlier today, Marek sent me a link to this article on the BBC entitled “Man-sized sea scorpion claw found”, joking about Giant Enemy Scorpions, and having another laugh at Sony’s expense. However, after actually reading the article I stumbled across this stunning paragraph:
The size of the beast suggests that spiders, insects, crabs and similar creatures were much larger in the past than previously thought, the team says.
This has shattered my world. The previously hilarious Giant Enemy Crab meme has been shot to the ground, and Sony finally has their proof that Genji really is historically accurate. They will surely now prepare a PR backlash, and hit the world for Massive Damage. Oh… it just doesn’t have that sting any more :(
[Taken from The Gaming Fascist]
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News For Saturday, November 10 Portal is Thumbs' New Poster Game
Comments: 2 | Posted November 10, 2007 by Alex Ashby
She Blinded Me with Aperture Science explores just what makes Portal so special and the effect it has had on the games industry. Possibly while wanking.
From the article:
Portal received little attention in the hype surrounding the release of Valve's Orange Box this autumn. The flagship titles (Half-Life 2: Episode Two and Team Fortress 2) were smothering all other competition, and even its own creators described Portal as merely "bonus content". But almost overnight the world fell in love with this little sleeper hit in ways not seen since Katamari Damacy.
Portal is unique in the current gaming climate. Not for any one particular element, but rather as a result of drawing them all together. Being a 3D puzzle game is already enough to consider it a rarity, but for me the really distinguishing features begin with its story. Not that it's especially deep or rich, but that there is one.
News For Friday, November 2 Idle Thumbs content breeds contentment
Comments: 0 | Posted November 02, 2007 by Alex Ashby
The world is left reeling in the wake of a new Idle Thumbs content. It's coming was foretold, and you, brave adventurer, are the one destined to read what lies beneath so that you can fulfill the prophecy and take your place in legend as: The Entertained.
We present: Getting The Short End
Bigger is better: an axiom familiar to us all and, to be honest, one that has a lot going for it. Leg room, bank balances, two-bedroom flats; personal experience can attest that all these would be improved with some widening of the margins. When it comes to video games, however, the message isn't always so clearly applicable.
The subject of acceptable length in video games is hardly an untouched one, but the insistence of the gaming media (and public, for that matter) to dish out criticism based on precisely that, coupled with my ever-shortening short fuse, has compelled me to get up on my podium once again and wretch until I'm sore.
Read the rest. It is good.
News For Friday, October 26 Double Fine Halloween Competition
Comments: 0 | Posted October 26, 2007 by Rusalka Clarke
Double Fine are running a Pumpkin carving competition over on the official Action Forums. To enter, all you have to do is post a picture of an excellent Double Fine-themed pumpkin that you have created.
The prizes haven't all been decided yet, but we do know that a signed Psychonauts poster is going to be one of them.
The closing date for entries is the 30th of October. Good luck!
News For Tuesday, October 16 [Get Out Of My Blog] Halo 3 is not an option...
Comments: 0 | Posted October 16, 2007 by Bob Watson
There will be no queueing overnight, Westminster Council put the kibosh on such events in London anyhow.
There will also be no joining thousands of n00bs online to yell abuse, and I will also sadly not get to watch Rockstar attempting to subvert the Bungie-worshipping masses with free GTA:IV lewts either, as they apparently/allegedly did at the NYC Halo 3 launch - bribing the milling gamer hordes in an attempt to dilute the current Halo hysteria.
Bob will not be playing Halo 3 any time soon.
How no? Find out!
[Get Out Of My Blog] Outrun With Mud! Innit!
Comments: 0 | Posted October 16, 2007 by Bob Watson
O SEGA Rally. O beauteous thing. O awesomeness unbounded.
Listen:
You can keep your Forza 2's with their hardcore physics and their elegant driver progression, your DiRT's and their stunningly atmospheric cockpit view...
Bob plays the Sega Rally demo, and explodes with glee unbounded!
Explore the glee!
[Get Out Of My Blog] Chow Yun-Fat Is Not Mr Fucking Potato Head
Comments: 0 | Posted October 16, 2007 by Bob Watson
..."Give a guy a gun and he thinks he's Superman! Give him two and he thinks he's God!!"
So I've got the Jose Cuervo in, grabbed a bottle of lemonade, procured a small tumbler and a pack of Chinese cigarettes, and curled up on the sofa to enjoy Hard Boiled and get my Woo on.
Anyway:
I lose count of the number of fatalities in the final hospital shootout (again), the movie ends, and I decide to replay the Stranglehold demo on me 360. And I'm struck by a contrast...
More ramblings on Stranglehold, Mass Effect and The Uncanny Valley from the Bob-blog over here.
News For Monday, October 15 [The Gaming Fascist] Skeletor loses Guitar Hero contest
Comments: 3 | Posted October 15, 2007 by James Spafford
This weekend I attended a Guitar Hero contest at the local Cinema, not as a contestant however, despite my immense showmanship and obviously God-like skill at Guitar Hero.
Touted as the largest in the UK, the contest was judged by the manager of the local Game store, and some emo twat with a terrible haircut from a local band. Twenty contestants played a song of their choice on any difficulty level and then were scored not on the built in score, but by the two judges, awarding them out of 10 for performance and technical ability. The best 10 would go through to the next round, then 3, and then 1 winner who walked away with a £700 surround sound system, runner up won a GH3 pre-order...
Read more on The Gaming Fascist
News For Friday, September 21 [The Gaming Fascist] I'll give you something to cry about...
Comments: 4 | Posted September 21, 2007 by James Spafford
A long time ago I attempted to write an article for Idle Thumbs that discussed emotion in video games, after many drafts it was abandoned as a failure, the argument was not clear. The ideas from it are something I’d like to continue to discuss though, and so I’ve decided to try and do that here, keeping it as coherent as possible by chopping it down, but with the disclaimer that it might not pan out… although it should open the topic for discussion at the very least!
“When will a video game make us cry?” It was this question asked too many times that made me snap, everywhere I went some asshole would raise their hand and ask it to people, and every time they did, I died inside a little more. It’s a question thrown around all the time and it annoys me for at least two reasons. First of all because that has already happened (and been written about before, so I’m not going to cover it), and second, why is crying the pinnacle of emotional achievement that games need to strive to achieve? Aren’t there other emotions out there? I don’t think the people that ask this fully understand what they are blathering on about.
Read more on The Gaming Fascist
News For Tuesday, September 11 Get out of my Blog!
Comments: 3 | Posted September 11, 2007 by James Spafford
 Some say the Idle Thumbs staffers are lazy, some say they are dead, both of these could be true. However, one of them has launched a new blog, it's about games, and you can read it.
Get out of my blog offers the very latest in gaming and non-gaming thoughts from the brain of Bob Watson, famed reviewer and player of the pink DS.
His latest post concerns the creation of a Wolfenstein Movie from the writer of the not-at-all-bad-actually Silent Hill adaptation, and prior to that a strangle rambling about Global Conflicts: Palestine... what the fuck is Global Conflicts: Palestine? You'll have to go here to find out! Or Google it.
In other blog related news, Marek announces that he hasn't played Bioshock, and I announce that I have. Just another thrilling day of news from the Games Media Nominated Idle Thumbs Blogosphere
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News For Friday, August 31 Idle Thumbs staff surprised to discover Idle Thumbs still exists
Comments: 7 | Posted August 31, 2007 by Ben Andac
Thumbs has just been nominated as part of the annual Games Media Awards event. We’re in the Non-Commercial Website or Blog category, alongside the likes of Alice Taylor’s Wonderland blog and UK: Resistance.
As well as being humbled and happy we are also confused as fuck all things considered. Still, we’re never ones to turn down an invite to drink booze, so we shall be attending – if only so we can punch Keiron Kieron Gillen in his ugly face (sorry RAM Raider - we couldn't resist jumping on the bandwagon) and also shout at Gary for making this video-cast... thing.
Full details and list of finalists can be found over at GamesIndustry.biz.
News For Monday, July 30 [The Gaming Fascist] Taking binge drinking to the next level
Comments: 1 | Posted July 30, 2007 by James Spafford
Last night I dreamt of drinking in a pub. This is not uncommon being the alcoholic that I am, but this time the pub was different - it was an interactive RPG pub.
Upon entering this pub, the punter would notice a giant board behind the bar, at the top of which a sign was illuminated, “Level 1” it proclaimed. The only drinks on selection were very basic – house wine, beers and spirits. By buying a drink, the pub earned a certain amount of experience points, and when it got enough – yes that’s right - the pub levelled up, and a new sign lit up on the board. As with all RPGs, the level up brought with it some new skills, or in this case it unlocked a new selection of drinks, slightly more exotic than the first...
More of my boozy dream on The Gaming Fascist.
News For Saturday, July 14 John Godwin's Tale of Rock
Comments: 4 | Posted July 14, 2007 by James Spafford
One of our resident artists John Godwin recently finished his final piece for University, an incredible animated short entitled A Tale of Rock. I thought some of you thumbs types might be interested in seeing what John has been up to recently!
Whilst Thumbs was alive, John worked on art for articles and reviews such as Ace Combat 5 and F.E.A.R. His previous work can be found on Idle Creations (name apparently a coincidence)
News For Saturday, June 16 Microsoft forces young children to sell their sex on the internet
Comments: 10 | Posted June 16, 2007 by Rusalka Clarke
Nick remembers why he was tempted the first time someone suggested paying him.
"The Xbox 360 had just come out and games were about 50 quid.
"I was thinking, 'If I could do this on a regular basis, I could have a lot of games'."
Read more about Microsoft's forced child sex industry here.
News For Wednesday, June 13 [gameslol] Idea: shower karaoke
Comments: 1 | Posted June 13, 2007 by James Spafford
Some of my friends were talking about how much they love SingStar. I’ve never played it, and I said I was curious how I’d score in this game as I usually don’t sing unless I’m in the shower.
gameslol-post.jpgHmmm. Many people sing in the shower. It is a widespread phenomenon. I know this because I looked it up on Wikipedia: “Bathroom singing, also known as singing in the bathroom, singing in the bath, or singing in the shower is a widespread phenomenon.”
Anyway, it had us thinking…
find out more about Marek's thoughts on Gameslol
News For Tuesday, June 12 [The Gaming Fascist] Welcome to the Jungle, watch it bring you to your knees.
Comments: 1 | Posted June 12, 2007 by James Spafford
Hi ho, hi ho, it’s back to WoW we go… Yup, the inevitable has occurred, and my WoW subscription has been reactivated again. Why? I ran out of games I really want to play again, sure, my girlfriend has stolen the TV to play MGS which confines me to the PC, yes… but there is a bigger reason this time too – I’m really poor this month and WoW is a money saver, preventing the emptying of my wallet by keeping me off the streets and out of trouble.
I’m talking about WoW like it’s a last resort, an affliction or a chore, something I don’t really enjoy and fall back to when times get too boring. But in reality I would be playing it more often anyway if it wasn’t for Stranglethorn Vale...
Read more on The Gaming Fascist
News For Friday, May 18 [The Gaming Fascist] Currently playing: Sonic and the Secret Rings
Comments: 1 | Posted May 18, 2007 by James Spafford
Back to work after almost two weeks off means no more sleeping all morning and then sitting around in my pants playing video games, thinking about all the painting and decorating I’m supposed to be getting done. It does however mean that my brain is far more awake and I’m able to actually formulate some written pieces on here!
The most obvious thing I should be writing about would be God of War II, a game I was very much looking forward to and did indeed complete last week, but I’m going to save that for another time, because right now I want to cry openly about Sonic and the Secret Rings.
I knew that this Sonic wouldn’t be amazing, but I did wish with all my heart for this game to be kind of good, and it was even semi promising. Nice little details we’ve been missing for ages shine through: the game plays kinda fast, and the comic book style cut-scenes use images of real Sonic, not new extreme Sonic. Sadly however, this game can be summed up with one word: unnecessary. The excellent simple idea behind it is choked by a caustic cloud of smog, which blots out the sky and covers the game in a thick layer of horrible, gooey muck.
Read the full rant on The Gaming Fascist.
News For Monday, April 30 [The Gaming Fascist] Decapitated goat carcass reviews God of War II
Comments: 1 | Posted April 30, 2007 by James Spafford
Over the weekend many of you will have read the sensationalist crap spewed forth once again by the finest of all news publications – The Daily Mail. Apparently, whilst celebrating the launch of God of War II in the UK, Sony slaughtered and decapitated a goat, stuck it on a plinth and invited party guests to shit directly into its neck hole. Guests were also forced to rape scantily clad girls and run amok wearing deeply disturbing looks upon their faces. This of course is all totally unacceptable and you can read all about it over here.
I don’t care about all that though, because despite the incredibly amusing read it provided whilst I munched away on my Sunday roast in the pub, a little box-out was what caught my eye: The Daily Mail’s incredibly well researched God of War II review. This is an article full of trusty insight, reviewed by a man who positively oozes with an unparalleled knowledge of the gaming landscape… that or it was written by a decapitated shit-filled goat carcass.
Read the goat's review on my blog, The Gaming Fascist.
[Cumulomentis] Preventing Quicksaves
Comments: 1 | Posted April 30, 2007 by Marek Bronstring
At GDC this year there was a series of speedy 20-minute lectures where the topics were tightly condensed and used to brutally subdue your brain—crumpled and weeping.
One of these was How To Help Your Players Stop Saving All The Time by Randy Smith (given a pretty complete write-up on Gamasutra) which touched on the psychological reasoning that players’ use to decide whether or not to save or load. I mention this because I think it’s worth considering, but it’s not strictly what I’ll be talking about.
Read the full post on Alex' blog Cumulomentis.
News For Thursday, April 26 [Gameslol] Stop feeding the troll
Comments: 1 | Posted April 26, 2007 by James Spafford
The Virginia Tech massacre gave a certain attorney from Florida yet another podium from which to eject his nonsense into the world. Am I the only one who is sick of people paying attention to him?
a trollJ.T. has mental issues. You don’t have to be an amazing judge of character to know that. Just by looking at his writing style or his behavior in court it’s immediately clear that the inside of J.T.’s mind would be too extreme even for a Psychonauts level. So why do we listen to this guy?
Read the full article on Gameslol.
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News For Wednesday, April 25 [Gameslol] Books on game design, creativity & marketing
Comments: 1 | Posted April 25, 2007 by James Spafford
 I love reading non-fiction books. Sometimes I’ll blast through one just so I can look at myself in the mirror and exclaim “I… Know… EVERYTHIIIIIING!!!” just like former astronaut Jack Austin did. Then inevitably I find out that my newfound knowledge has affected my life by only a mere fraction of a percentage and depression ensues.
Anyway, I thought I’d share with you some of my favorite books from the past few years, just in case you have a similar addiction. Most of these books are games-related. If you know of any good books that I might be interested in, leave a comment!
Check out the full book list on Gameslol
News For Wednesday, April 18 [The Gaming Fascist] Currently playing: God of War
Comments: 1 | Posted April 18, 2007 by James Spafford
Whilst the junkies of the internet complain that there is a horrific and doom laden Wii drought right now, I’ve been stuck in something far worse: A full on apocalyptic gaming famine, with the looming threat of a global extinction-level event that not even Bruce Willis with a death wish could prevent.
These last few months have been horrible. Coming straight out of a WoW binge some weeks ago, I desperately sought something meatier, more engrossing and vaguely intriguing. I found nothing. I could bore you for many, many paragraphs with the games I failed to enjoy, but instead I thought I’d share with you some thoughts on the game that finally saved me.
It came out ages ago, it really isn’t anything groundbreaking, but it is really fun to play. You see, whilst Alex is desperate for a game that can provide him with more than simple fun, my brain craved fun like a thrill seeking pregnant heroin addict. Luckily a friend came to my salvation and thrust God of War into my withering hands.
Read the rest of this article on The Gaming Fascist.
News For Friday, April 13 [The Gaming Fascist] Is England a Third World country?
Comments: 1 | Posted April 13, 2007 by James Spafford
As we continue to abandon this sinking ship, each of us has inflated their blog life jackets and taken a plunge into icy unknown waters. The following rant is taken from from mine:
Is England a Third World country?Actually, don’t answer that, let me rephrase - Why do we have to wait so fucking long for games to be released here after their release in other countries? Well we all know the answer to that question don’t we? - localisation and translation. We have to wait for games to be translated into a multitude of other languages, so that all our friends across Europe can play the game in their mother tongue.
The game is already in English – the language named after your country - but tough shit, you have to wait, oh also pay more when we do finally release it, cheers! Do European gamers even play the localised versions? They do? Well fine then… Let them wait for it if that’s what they want, don’t include me, ugh.
I often wonder if visiting American gamers laugh at us, giggling in that obnoxious way we probably do too when we visit somewhere like India or Turkey and discover their latest musical fashions are from 1994 and that they still like Michael Jackson. A trip to America is like a trip into the future - people arrive home laden with all the games, movies and technology most people won’t get their hands on until next Christmas, some with Hoverboards, Sports Almanacs, and dreams of becoming the next Biff Tannen.
Read more of this insignificant rant on The Gaming Fascist.
News For Friday, March 30 GTA IV Trailer - Ten things you didn't see Review
Comments: 11 | Posted March 30, 2007 by James Spafford
UK publication Computer and Video Games today released its review of the teaser trailer to Rockstar North's upcoming Grand Theft Auto IV (PS2, X360). For those on the fence about whether the CVG piece is worth checking out, we've gone hands on to break it down with our full review of CVG's review.
The immortal Chris Remo makes a random return to Thumbs for a one off Extreme Power Review. Read it, go on.
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It is not as bad as it seems, because the voltage is quite low.
