Pit Crew Panic!

So this would normally be on my Gaming Diary, but it’s a little different and marks both the first proper use of my new camcorder, and the first time I’ve uploaded a video to YouTube. I give you, then, a video of me playing Pit Crew Panic! on the Wii.¬¨‚Ć Oh Lord.

Pit Crew Panic! (Wii)

I think this video I made more than explains the game: If it doesn’t, then I don’t know what more I can say. I am, however, more than a little confused as to why there are just 6 different things to fix, when the trailers show way more. You seem to accumulate “cog points” (or something), but I can’t find a use for them. I thought perhaps they’d unlock stages, but no. Two player versus (“Abnormal”) mode is quite good …

BBC Rant: The Complainening

I just sent this off to the BBC: (This complaint also covers the reporting of the same story on BBC TV and radio) I find it disgusting that the BBC would report on a story like this in such a poorly researched manner, effectively scaremongering and propagating untruths. The real news story is that some companies (both at home at abroad) are supplying Nintendo DS consoles with power supplies that are not tested to British Standards. Also, some companies sell …

The HM Customs/BBC fact-free report

This is where lies become fact, isn’t it? Parents warned on fake consoles (BBC) Lets just ignore the woman from HM Customs who doesn’t have a clue what she’s talking about, and doesn’t seem to know how to answer questions coherently either, and just move on to the subject. It would appear that Nintendo has been complaining that people have been buying DS consoles abroad for less money than they are over here in rip-off Britain. However, since ordering the …

Fallout 3 (360)

That’s it. I’m retiring from Fallout 3 for a while – probably until the downloadable content arrives, anyway. I’m not bored with it, there are still things left to see and do, but I’ve hit 1000 achievement points and 100 hours play, so it seems like a natural place to pause and move on to other games. And what an amazing 100 hours it was. I loved every minute, was totally engrossed in the world, and so long as there’s …

New camera shinyness

After what must be around 6 years of loyal service, the time has come to finally replace my ageing (and broken once and repaired) Canon IXUS II digital camera. Well, I say replace – it isn’t going anywhere. I just wanted a new one. Yes, even having just bought a new camcorder. There was nothing especially wrong with the IXUS. It takes good quality pictures, is pretty quick, and has plenty of options and functions I rarely even needed. It …

Fallout 3 (360)

Yeah, yeah – another week, another 7 days of emptiness on this diary. It’s not my fault – it’s Fallout 3. Because Fallout 3 is the greatest game ever made ever. Possibly. Well, since the last greatest game ever, anyway. I am now more than 77 hours in. 77 hours. That’s a long, long time. It’s more than three whole actual days. And am I bored yet? Of course not. Having said that, I am starting to run out of …

Redirecting Application Data causes IE settings headaches

The time came to finally trial redirecting user Application Data folders to a network share, rather than have them roam on the network. I knew how to do it, but it never seemed to work properly, so I’d not done it previously. This week, I gave it another crack. And it works! Sort of. Unfortunately, although it correctly maps Application Data back to the server, all the settings in Internet Explorer (like the branding and, most importantly, proxy stuff) fail …

Fallout 3 (360)

The clock ticked past 60 hours play this evening. Very few games ever get to this point. GTA IV did. Oblivion did. Both Viva Pinatas did. But most games are over and done with before they even get to 25 hours. 60+ is for something special. And Fallout 3 is special. It’s everything I hoped for, and more. It’s Oblivion, without being Oblivion. And I’m still nowhere near done. Today I found Oasis. Not the band, but a… place. A …

Banjo-Kazooie (360)

Hey, Rare! You can keep your Nuts & Bolts rubbish. THIS is what you need to be doing. Proper, decent, fun platformers. Not confused drivey/flyey/jumpy/mini-gamey RUBBISH. Using the Super Secret Link to Xbox.com, I managed to buy this in advance of the real release date (the Wednesday after next, I think), and played it today. What is good: It’s the N64 game all over again. Only with slightly better graphics, no fogging, and a few nice Xbox 360 features like …

It’s the Final Countdown

Well, it isn’t really a countdown, as usual practice with countdowns involves starting at a number and count down to zero. But although “28” is the start figure, it might stop before 0. Or after.¬¨‚Ć It’s just a guideline! What am I talking about? Expected Baby Arrival Day, of course! Today marks the beginning of the final 4 weeks. Are we ready? Of course not.

Fallout 3 (360)

Yes, look. I know I haven’t updated this diary again for several days, but the thing is, I’ve only really been playing Fallout 3. A lot. And more. 58 and a half hours elapsed, says my saved game. That’s a lot of hours. And I’m still not done with it. I’ve a fair few quests yet to even find, let alone start, and loads of locations yet to see. I picked the “Explorer” perk as the final one upon reaching …

Cubello (Wii)

Today was New WiiWare Download Game Day on the Wii’s Shopping Channel, and I bought this and Strong Bad Episode 3. Just in case I run out of Fallout 3 to play, or something. I gave Cubello a bit of a go, and it seems quite nice. I think I need to fiddle with the brightness settings or something though, as the black and grey blocks are both black, and the white and light blue blocks look the same.

The new Xbox Dashboard

I don’t like it.¬¨‚Ć Not only because I installed it accidentally, but also because it keeps freezing and the Marketplace is broken.¬¨‚Ć And I can’t find anything. And so much just seems pointless. I’m not saying the old dashboard was perfect, as it wasn’t. But this is bad in a different way. Thankfully, the install-to-hard-drive option makes the pain more bearable. It really speeds up the loading times on Fallout 3, and reports are saying that the difference it makes …