It took 8 months and a price decrease in excess of 50% (well for what I paid anyway, they still full price shiny new and in a box) but I relented and purchased myself a lovely motion sensor-tastic Kinect for me XBOX.
Gamestation did me a deal on a PSU'd up one for around £60, bargain and I was away. Set up did require a reshuffle of my 2nd living room, but I've set myself up with plenty of room now and usually, after some framing issues it seems to be all ok.
As I've said before I had concerns, not with the technology, it's a clever little thing and does it's job for the most part well. I of course got Kinect Adventures for nada which is enjoyable enough, but not exactly awe inspiring, bringing me back to an initial concern that it could get strangled by shovelware, and looking at the carnival games, biggest loser, cloned sports games etc games that have already shown up, it is creeping up, so I had a go an Kinect Adventures, which is a reasonable tutorial on how to use the gadget, not exactly engaging gamewise though.
So I popped in my vehicle and slid my arse down to blockbuster to acquire more software.
Firstly, one of the biggest draws to Kinect was Yoostar 2. Yes shallow, but lets face it, my pretty little face(!) combined with my outgoing nature and acting skills are never ever going to get me on TV. So this is as close as I'm ever gonna get. I'll be honest, I felt a little self concious, even in an empty room, acting out these scenes, but it was fun, and it's gone on the 'to buy' list. I also think I did a fooking awesome Ben Stiller monologue from the end of Meet the Parents... Sure. I got one question for you. It's can you deal with that!?! Class!
I also got myself a bit of Kinect Sports which is bordering on shovelware, but at times I really enjoyed. The track and field in particular was fun, and quite energetic! The football aspect is pretty dreadful, and doesn't know when I'm kicking the thing much of the time.
I do want an exercise game for it as I'm starting to get properly fat again, when I should be losing!! I am told that Your Shape is the best and EA is a bit pants. So I'll pick that up in the next few days maybe! Or the The other games return to their blockbuster home Friday.
In general use, it was quickly intuitive moving menus and the 'minority report' style moving stuff around menus is good. Voice commands are responsive and accurate, and considering my accent makes me sound like a backwards camp sheep loving villager, but Kinect is down with that. XBOX... Dashboard indeed.
In general I'm happy with my knockdown purchase, but still feel it needs more, I'm sure more will come, maybe in Star Wars Kinect. I don't think it will ever replace traditional controller, nor would I want it too, standing up to play every game doesn't sound appealing, plus the feeling of a controller is one I like, the feedback and vibration from something physical would suit many games better than air shooting etc.
It also takes photos of you in game, that means no more naked gaming, could you imagine if I accidentally published a pic of me doing javelin with my wang out, doesn't bear thinking about. But then again, unless it's on zoom, would anyone notice....
Wednesday 29 June 2011
Tuesday 28 June 2011
Wimbledon
As regular readers may know (if there are any) I like a bit of tennis (mainly men's to be honest, the women's tends to be 'big beefy US/Russian girl beating up poor 19 year old from Belgium' or something). I'm not a sporty type, I'm an overweight, greying, diabetic about to hit 30 so that's not exactly a surprise, but I was always OK with a racquet but these days, I watch. Mainly this is as I have nobody to play with, I've even signed up to that all play tennis site and... nothing. But that's off topic.
As a result of this love Wimbledon fortnight as the only non clay grand slam in the right time zone to watch comfortably (well work hours is a pain, but you know what I mean). So far this years as been quite interesting, as long as Nadal's foot holds up I can't see it being anything than a 1v4, 2v3 semi line up but here's hoping Tomic can do something after the other 'up n comer' Milos bowed out early.
From a UK perspective, Murray is playing well, he's had a couple of awkward matches in a row and has come through them quite easily. If Nadal is hurt and he get's a Fish semi... I think he's a finalist (I think I got the draw right anyway). The UK expectation doesn't seem to be so bad this year, and I think that's a good thing. Everyone is expecting a Nadal win, with maybe Djokovic or Fed or indeed Murray having an outside shot. It was obvious from the Del Potro game, Nadal can be beaten, so who knows.
It's womens quarter finals day today, so I'm not bothered about seeing it, but tomorrow should be an excellent day, chances are with the top 4 seeds coming through, but I wouldn't mind the semis being Tomic V Tsonga and Murray v Fish!
Never gonna happen.
Good points though, the BBC coverage has actually been pretty good, almost every night programs have been moved/cancelled/delayed to allow for late finishes. If only they held a few more of the rights to 1000s and the like. Although most of them are in the middle of the night to be fair...
I'm still expecting them to be straight on Murray's back as soon as he looks like bowing out though, that's the British way after all, support respectfully while circling ready to lay a boot in!
On an unrelated note I've purchased myself a bit of XBOX 360 Kinect, thoughts to follow!
As a result of this love Wimbledon fortnight as the only non clay grand slam in the right time zone to watch comfortably (well work hours is a pain, but you know what I mean). So far this years as been quite interesting, as long as Nadal's foot holds up I can't see it being anything than a 1v4, 2v3 semi line up but here's hoping Tomic can do something after the other 'up n comer' Milos bowed out early.
From a UK perspective, Murray is playing well, he's had a couple of awkward matches in a row and has come through them quite easily. If Nadal is hurt and he get's a Fish semi... I think he's a finalist (I think I got the draw right anyway). The UK expectation doesn't seem to be so bad this year, and I think that's a good thing. Everyone is expecting a Nadal win, with maybe Djokovic or Fed or indeed Murray having an outside shot. It was obvious from the Del Potro game, Nadal can be beaten, so who knows.
It's womens quarter finals day today, so I'm not bothered about seeing it, but tomorrow should be an excellent day, chances are with the top 4 seeds coming through, but I wouldn't mind the semis being Tomic V Tsonga and Murray v Fish!
Never gonna happen.
Good points though, the BBC coverage has actually been pretty good, almost every night programs have been moved/cancelled/delayed to allow for late finishes. If only they held a few more of the rights to 1000s and the like. Although most of them are in the middle of the night to be fair...
I'm still expecting them to be straight on Murray's back as soon as he looks like bowing out though, that's the British way after all, support respectfully while circling ready to lay a boot in!
On an unrelated note I've purchased myself a bit of XBOX 360 Kinect, thoughts to follow!
Monday 13 June 2011
iTunes library
I've become officially bored with the music on my phone. There were 1100 songs on there, but due to me putting on whole albums, much of that was faff and below standard album tracks, so got skipped, with increasing frequency.
So last night, I took an hour, which turned into 3 and redid the entire library. Many of the same songs remained but there was a vast majority of stuff I've forgotten about, all in all it seems far more listenable (is it a word??) too. Sadly there was some casualty's in that some songs are forever trapped on my dead pc (working on getting it back to life), I need my Best. Concert. Ever (Jonathan Coulton), my Dr Horrible albums, my Elbow album, even my solitary Glee song, but for now they're gone... (any donations to allow me to procure them via iTunes, my paypal is... JOKING)
Anyway, with some tinkering this playlist should be ok to take with me to Tenerife at the end of the week for my mates Stag Do. I'm also thinking of acquiring myself Nerd Do Well by Simon Pegg as reading material, books 2 for £7 in ASDA, very affordable even middle of the month. Only downside was, there was nothing else in the paperback section I really wanted. Any recommendations, there's a comment box below, hit me up!
Anyway lunch time over, back to work.
So last night, I took an hour, which turned into 3 and redid the entire library. Many of the same songs remained but there was a vast majority of stuff I've forgotten about, all in all it seems far more listenable (is it a word??) too. Sadly there was some casualty's in that some songs are forever trapped on my dead pc (working on getting it back to life), I need my Best. Concert. Ever (Jonathan Coulton), my Dr Horrible albums, my Elbow album, even my solitary Glee song, but for now they're gone... (any donations to allow me to procure them via iTunes, my paypal is... JOKING)
Anyway, with some tinkering this playlist should be ok to take with me to Tenerife at the end of the week for my mates Stag Do. I'm also thinking of acquiring myself Nerd Do Well by Simon Pegg as reading material, books 2 for £7 in ASDA, very affordable even middle of the month. Only downside was, there was nothing else in the paperback section I really wanted. Any recommendations, there's a comment box below, hit me up!
Anyway lunch time over, back to work.
Friday 10 June 2011
Jonathan Coulton - Bristol last night
So, last night was the eagerly awaited (by me) Jonathan Coulton (w/Paul and Storm) concert in sunny Bristol. Thankfully, to spare me a solo trip, Cerys decided to come along. I double checked (by tweeting the artists, twitter makes the whole world a bit weird) that the concert was seated so the foot wasn't a massive issue beyond walking round to get something to eat first, still looked sore though.
Paul and Storm opened and I'm sure they only managed to actually get through about 6 or 7 songs in 45 minutes. By no means a bad thing as to be fair they were consistently funny and got good level of interaction going from the (very geeky) crowd. All in all a excellent support act!
Not quite sure why Paul was so obsessed with the time, but hey, OCD manifests itself in many ways.
Then it was time for the main event, well I missed him actually coming on, as I queued for a drink for aaaages, and decided to hold off on a pee, no sign of him, still holding, nothing, holding, run to toilet. Come back and he's up there. Hadn't started though!
After a bit of faffing he got underway with Millionaire Girlfriend, Ikea etc. I'm not going to give you the full setlist as:
a) I can't remember it
b) At that type of concert it'll be up by lunchtime today anyway! Probably here or here.
He played a few songs off his upcoming album, Artificial Heart,, including a weird one done with some kind of harmonies app on his iPhone/Macbook. To be fair with the exception of Good Morning Tucson which didn't seem to sit quite right, they were good! He of course rolled out a few 'classics' and got the crowd singing to Skullcrusher Mountain, the 2 portal songs and Re: Your Brains, ablelly assisted for about 1/3rd of the set by Paul and Storm again (arrr).
He came back for an encore containing sweary song First of May (including a bit of freebird) and closed with a rosing rendition of Neil Diamond's Sweet Caroline. Before throwing his guitar plectrum perfectly down the aisle between the seating (hell of a shot to be fair), far to fast and far away for anyone on either side of the centre (including myself) to react to catch it. I'm guessing someone just picked it up!
Overall was a cracking show, good blend between music and humour. What would have made it perfect, if Storm had caught the tambourine at the end, not his fault though, poor throw by Paul. Would also have liked better or I'm Your Moon on the setlist, but hey ho.
I also purchased myself a fetching 'Code Monkey' T-Shirt. Which was nice, if a little pricey, but what concert t-shirt isn't?
Paul and Storm opened and I'm sure they only managed to actually get through about 6 or 7 songs in 45 minutes. By no means a bad thing as to be fair they were consistently funny and got good level of interaction going from the (very geeky) crowd. All in all a excellent support act!
Not quite sure why Paul was so obsessed with the time, but hey, OCD manifests itself in many ways.
Then it was time for the main event, well I missed him actually coming on, as I queued for a drink for aaaages, and decided to hold off on a pee, no sign of him, still holding, nothing, holding, run to toilet. Come back and he's up there. Hadn't started though!
After a bit of faffing he got underway with Millionaire Girlfriend, Ikea etc. I'm not going to give you the full setlist as:
a) I can't remember it
b) At that type of concert it'll be up by lunchtime today anyway! Probably here or here.
He played a few songs off his upcoming album, Artificial Heart,, including a weird one done with some kind of harmonies app on his iPhone/Macbook. To be fair with the exception of Good Morning Tucson which didn't seem to sit quite right, they were good! He of course rolled out a few 'classics' and got the crowd singing to Skullcrusher Mountain, the 2 portal songs and Re: Your Brains, ablelly assisted for about 1/3rd of the set by Paul and Storm again (arrr).
He came back for an encore containing sweary song First of May (including a bit of freebird) and closed with a rosing rendition of Neil Diamond's Sweet Caroline. Before throwing his guitar plectrum perfectly down the aisle between the seating (hell of a shot to be fair), far to fast and far away for anyone on either side of the centre (including myself) to react to catch it. I'm guessing someone just picked it up!
Overall was a cracking show, good blend between music and humour. What would have made it perfect, if Storm had caught the tambourine at the end, not his fault though, poor throw by Paul. Would also have liked better or I'm Your Moon on the setlist, but hey ho.
I also purchased myself a fetching 'Code Monkey' T-Shirt. Which was nice, if a little pricey, but what concert t-shirt isn't?
Wednesday 8 June 2011
The Human Centipede 2
Heard yesterday that the Human Centipede 2 has been officially banned by the BBFC. To be honest I'm not sure what I think of it. The original was a bad bad film, poor acting, dreadful script, didn't actually show any of the detail of what it hinted at, little horror, no suspense... you know the kind of moderate low budget horror that tried desperately to shock I'm talking about. But I watched it, and got through it.
Then the 2nd one came along and promised to fill the gaps in substance the first one left, promising! However, by all accounts all it tried to do was be a gross as it could with even less substance as the first, resulting in the ban. In a way I do think that they BFCC may have a point, but in a bigger way I'm thinking, how dare you fell me what I can watch.
All this ban is going to do is send everyone who wanted to see it + some extra now curious people onto the Internet to find the film and they'll watch it anyway. By banning something with the availability of information on the web, all you essentially do is make people keen to see what the fuss is all about.
Of what I read plot wise, it sounded a little sick (you have to think who writes these things) but compared to something like 'A Serbian Film', which I've never seen or have any desire to see, which was given a certificate as a slightly cut version in the UK, it sounds like nothing. So why ban it?
Things have come a long way in society since the days of cannibal holocaust and the like trying to shock, then subsequently being banned. With the rise of such things as the internet, is it right to ban things anymore, when they will just be freely available to anyone who wants them? Warn yes, but if there can be no real containment... why ban and create an extra stigma and hype? This has potentially created an audience where previously there was none, or at best a quite small one.
It wasn't going to be stinking out cinemas, I believe it was a straight to DVD jobby. No doubt it was awful and so wasn't going to gain popularity through content quality. Censorship is great publicity!
Then the 2nd one came along and promised to fill the gaps in substance the first one left, promising! However, by all accounts all it tried to do was be a gross as it could with even less substance as the first, resulting in the ban. In a way I do think that they BFCC may have a point, but in a bigger way I'm thinking, how dare you fell me what I can watch.
All this ban is going to do is send everyone who wanted to see it + some extra now curious people onto the Internet to find the film and they'll watch it anyway. By banning something with the availability of information on the web, all you essentially do is make people keen to see what the fuss is all about.
Of what I read plot wise, it sounded a little sick (you have to think who writes these things) but compared to something like 'A Serbian Film', which I've never seen or have any desire to see, which was given a certificate as a slightly cut version in the UK, it sounds like nothing. So why ban it?
Things have come a long way in society since the days of cannibal holocaust and the like trying to shock, then subsequently being banned. With the rise of such things as the internet, is it right to ban things anymore, when they will just be freely available to anyone who wants them? Warn yes, but if there can be no real containment... why ban and create an extra stigma and hype? This has potentially created an audience where previously there was none, or at best a quite small one.
It wasn't going to be stinking out cinemas, I believe it was a straight to DVD jobby. No doubt it was awful and so wasn't going to gain popularity through content quality. Censorship is great publicity!
Friday 3 June 2011
Andy Murray
OK this is only partially about him, it's also partially about the attitudes towards him especially with Wimbledon on the horizon.
Yes, today he lost, he lost 3 good sets to arguably one of the greatest clay court players that has ever been, he lost to someone that in 7 Roland Garros appearances has ever lost 1 solitary match (take a bow Rob Soderling), he lost to (until later on tonight at least) the #1 ranked player in the world. He enjoyed his best ever run in RG, playing on a surface he enjoys about as much as he enjoys major surgery, won himself 720 (up from 180) ranking points and pulled further away from #5 ranked player in the process.
Then why is the general public's reaction to pan and criticise? There's a good proportion of people who love seeing Murray fail. They probably be gutted if he did win anything. These people generally watch tennis when it's occasionally on BBC 2 (when Murray indeed gets to a decent round of a major), Queens and Wimbledon, they know of few other tournaments but think they are an authority and what they see is all there is.
Having something to have a good rant and moan about is far more fun than saying unlucky to a gallant loser and this brand of people lap it up with honours. They spout comments about his mental strength, but made no such comments when he was pretty damn excellent to come back in the 4th round from 2-0 down. They say he'll never win anything, but have never seen him win one of the 6 masters series titles he's won, at that level he's only ever lost 1 final. They say he's winy and moans... but generally the same people idolise footballers so let's say no more there.
Some people don't like him for a football related joke, I've made that joke too so they must hate me as well! If I look bothered, it's wind...
Was Murray perfect today? No, of course not, he wasted more break points than some people get in a season, but look at the company he was keeping. There's little doubt he made errors, but also, playing to the standard he was there's little doubt he'd have battered most players on the tour today. He should feel gutted he lost today, as he lost and if he was happy losing... well that's just not the right mentality, but he should also be happy with the performance, he did well. It was straight sets, but god they were long, so many games were deuce, it was close.
Wimbledon is coming and once again Murray will be on a hiding to nothing. Win it, yay! Don't win it, even if he loses 65-63 in the final set of the final and he'll be a bottler, mentally unstable, perennial loser all over again.
Yes, today he lost, he lost 3 good sets to arguably one of the greatest clay court players that has ever been, he lost to someone that in 7 Roland Garros appearances has ever lost 1 solitary match (take a bow Rob Soderling), he lost to (until later on tonight at least) the #1 ranked player in the world. He enjoyed his best ever run in RG, playing on a surface he enjoys about as much as he enjoys major surgery, won himself 720 (up from 180) ranking points and pulled further away from #5 ranked player in the process.
Then why is the general public's reaction to pan and criticise? There's a good proportion of people who love seeing Murray fail. They probably be gutted if he did win anything. These people generally watch tennis when it's occasionally on BBC 2 (when Murray indeed gets to a decent round of a major), Queens and Wimbledon, they know of few other tournaments but think they are an authority and what they see is all there is.
Having something to have a good rant and moan about is far more fun than saying unlucky to a gallant loser and this brand of people lap it up with honours. They spout comments about his mental strength, but made no such comments when he was pretty damn excellent to come back in the 4th round from 2-0 down. They say he'll never win anything, but have never seen him win one of the 6 masters series titles he's won, at that level he's only ever lost 1 final. They say he's winy and moans... but generally the same people idolise footballers so let's say no more there.
Some people don't like him for a football related joke, I've made that joke too so they must hate me as well! If I look bothered, it's wind...
Was Murray perfect today? No, of course not, he wasted more break points than some people get in a season, but look at the company he was keeping. There's little doubt he made errors, but also, playing to the standard he was there's little doubt he'd have battered most players on the tour today. He should feel gutted he lost today, as he lost and if he was happy losing... well that's just not the right mentality, but he should also be happy with the performance, he did well. It was straight sets, but god they were long, so many games were deuce, it was close.
Wimbledon is coming and once again Murray will be on a hiding to nothing. Win it, yay! Don't win it, even if he loses 65-63 in the final set of the final and he'll be a bottler, mentally unstable, perennial loser all over again.
Truth is allot of people love a 'failure' as they then feel better about themselves, that's nothing Andy's done, that's just a bit of human nature.
Early Learning Centre
Yesterday was my darling Gracie's 3rd birthday, much merriment was had and I think everyone enjoyed themselves thoroughly. However, not all went 100% according to plan.
As you may have read in the past bad service, especially in service industries bothers me, it bothers me greatly. So...
Last Friday we ordered a scooter (3 wheeled thing, we're not trying to kill her) from the wonderful shop that is the Early Learning Centre. They amazed me with next working day delivery... for FREE, a decent price for the item, which annoyingly we found 2 other places the same shortly after placing the order.
It looked beautiful (as scooters can be I suppose) pink, flashing lights, like an epileptic fit with wheels and adjustable handle bar height!
Now first annoyance, after expecting it the Tuesday we found a little note on their website, next day delivery on this particular Friday didn't actually mean it, obviously skip the bank hol, but then for some reason all orders would be delivered on the Wednesday, bit annoying, no big deal though as the birthday was the Thursday.
Morning breaks on a sleepy Wednesday morning in Merthyr Tydfil, I trundle my way down the a470 as I do every morning, back in Merthyr the entirely predictable plot plays itself out, hours pass, hours upon hours dawn does turn into day and day into evening and evening into getting quite late but still quite light (they deliver up til 9pm) and does the scooter show, of course it doesn't.
An excited 2-about-to-be-3-year-old wakes up in the morning of her birthday. She runs downstairs and opens her presents, she's very excited, but her parents feel bad, as one of her main presents is missing! While stuff goes on to distract, her wonderful and caring father (cough*me*cough) nips down to argos and buys an almost identical one for the same cost and gives that to her instead. Still any sign of Yodel, the ELC's unreliable delivery agents? Go on guess, I'll give you 2 goes...
So we head out to take Gracie for her wonderful birthday lunch over in Ebbw Vale Brewers Fayre, she loves it. We then visit family members, she loves it, we get back home at say 6:20 or so... delivery note! Eventually they've got to us and left it 2 houses down the road. Nice.
Suffice to say they'll be getting their scooter returned, and along with it will be a little complaint letter. If Argos has been out of stock I'd have had a very sad little 3 year old on my hands. Bastards.
Think it's worth writing to Watchdog?
As you may have read in the past bad service, especially in service industries bothers me, it bothers me greatly. So...
Last Friday we ordered a scooter (3 wheeled thing, we're not trying to kill her) from the wonderful shop that is the Early Learning Centre. They amazed me with next working day delivery... for FREE, a decent price for the item, which annoyingly we found 2 other places the same shortly after placing the order.
It looked beautiful (as scooters can be I suppose) pink, flashing lights, like an epileptic fit with wheels and adjustable handle bar height!
Now first annoyance, after expecting it the Tuesday we found a little note on their website, next day delivery on this particular Friday didn't actually mean it, obviously skip the bank hol, but then for some reason all orders would be delivered on the Wednesday, bit annoying, no big deal though as the birthday was the Thursday.
Morning breaks on a sleepy Wednesday morning in Merthyr Tydfil, I trundle my way down the a470 as I do every morning, back in Merthyr the entirely predictable plot plays itself out, hours pass, hours upon hours dawn does turn into day and day into evening and evening into getting quite late but still quite light (they deliver up til 9pm) and does the scooter show, of course it doesn't.
An excited 2-about-to-be-3-year-old wakes up in the morning of her birthday. She runs downstairs and opens her presents, she's very excited, but her parents feel bad, as one of her main presents is missing! While stuff goes on to distract, her wonderful and caring father (cough*me*cough) nips down to argos and buys an almost identical one for the same cost and gives that to her instead. Still any sign of Yodel, the ELC's unreliable delivery agents? Go on guess, I'll give you 2 goes...
So we head out to take Gracie for her wonderful birthday lunch over in Ebbw Vale Brewers Fayre, she loves it. We then visit family members, she loves it, we get back home at say 6:20 or so... delivery note! Eventually they've got to us and left it 2 houses down the road. Nice.
Suffice to say they'll be getting their scooter returned, and along with it will be a little complaint letter. If Argos has been out of stock I'd have had a very sad little 3 year old on my hands. Bastards.
Think it's worth writing to Watchdog?
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