Red Flatulence Guerrilla

This is not a review, just a gripe and some thoughts.

Destruction is gratifying and Red Faction Guerrilla has it up to your eyeballs. But talk about stuffy game structure Driving to a mission marker to start a mission then drive to the mission proper. Fail the mission, the drive has to be repeated. Game filler, it's boring.

If a mars civilian is run over or if a mission is failed or you die then you get penalised a few points off the morale bar. I'm cool with not deliberately running people over in this game its not like they ask for it like in other games like GTA or Saints Row. Trying to get out the garage is a bitch when one them walks in front of the vehicle.. come on now.. that's just teasing. However I'm not cool with a civ walking in front of a tank/mech in a sector liberation mission causing morale to fall from 100 to 93 then finding out that once a sector has been liberated moral can't be boosted back up.

Getting penalised for failing a mission or dying is not on my thumbs up list, having to drive back to a mission is punishment enough. The points demoted aren't significant n themselves, about 3 but they do accumulate and points gained from completing a mission can be reversed. Morale does count as there is an achievement, Power to the people, Raise the Morale of 3 sectors to 100% and the morale means more support from civ's..

The mechs rock, they cause so much devastation, as long as the target isn't moving to fast, and those annoying EDF (baddies) armored cars are eradicated in a clumsy swoop of a mechanised log. Who doesn't love rampaging in a mech? The bummer is you can't save vehicles, I tried by taking a dying mech back to base, saving game, then reloading but there was no spawn fresh mech waiting for me.

Also loading times suck, especially restarting a mission and viewing the map. It's not so bad on the Elite, the Pro loading times were up to 12 seconds just to view the map.

The weapons are a lot of fun I haven't bought them all yet like the grinder and rocket launcher because I just keep upgrading the nanorifle. Nanorifle is the favorite so far, it disintegrates everything and nothing stands a chance, plus the disintegration animation is fun to watch.

Other than the EDF and mars civs/rebels there are the marauders.I like their character design and weapons, very Tuskin Raiders hanging out at the Thunder Dome.

World's most expensive escort

Slightly amusing and random bit of trivia that I thought would share with you.

No doubt you have seen the banners adds for Evony Online, they are plastered everywhere. The new face of their latest add campaign is, Natasha, the worlds most expensive escort. I don't know if Evony online has approval for Natasha's image from her employer, Dynasty Queens, or Natasha herself.

Let me tell how I stumbled across this. I listen to a NationalRugbyLeague (NRL) podcast, FireUp on FBI. The hosts are very jovial about the going ons of NRL on and off the feild and take their banter to new imaginings. On particular podcast they were talking about how they looked into who is the worlds most expensive escort, long story why, which they found out to be Natasha from Dynasty Queens.

So today, when I was just doing my daily Lol cat visit, I recognised a dress that had caught my eye before. It took me few seconds to think from where I first saw that dress & then double checked Dynasty Queens site.

Somehow I don't think that any of the female in game models will live up to any ones expectations but it'll be a hell of a lot cheaper.

Highway to the beer zone

I went to the Australian Gaming Expo last Monday, which I've been to every year since 2003 (or was it 2004?) It gives a chance for people employed by gaming companies to go check out what the competition has on offer, then sneak off and drink with workmates or sneak home early.

For publicans and club honchos, its an opportunity to see new games/tech and wheel and deal.

It became apparent several years back that there wasn't much follow through with the pubs/clubbies and empty promises were being made. The lure of booth babes and show girls and the scattered beer lounges clouded their minds and did exactly the opposite flesh and booze intended.

They have kept at least one beer oasis going at the show in the recent years of the funtime cut back. It has been funny to witness the evolution of the anti probation, from handing out sample sizes of light beer to full serves of full strength beer.

This year I saw a total of three booth babes, of those three, two were at Azure stand and a Polaroid camera was at the ready for a memento with the babes. I wanted one but missed out. Hopeully, I'll post a photo soon.

WMS Gaming booth had easily the knock out of the show with their Top Gun system. The sound is incredible. Many cabinets have been long installed in American casinos, it'll be interesting to see how many are installed in Australia. I personally see TG being a hit with punters, for novelty reasons, it's staying power is a matter of maths.

Aural Pleasure

As we live in an apartment complex we don't crank the sound up as much as we would like when playing, especially late at night. They'll also come in handy when we are playing different games at the same time or when one of us falls asleep on the couch. So last week we pre ordered twoTurtle Beach 360 headphones, one wireless and one wired, only one wireless pair can be used per transmitter.

They come out August 28th. Can't wait to use them, won't get gangked by combine anymore.

Recently finished Z.A. Recht's Plague of the Dead, the first book in the Morning Star saga and started A.E. vanVogt's "Moonbeast". I've read vanVogts work before and he is a favourite of my Aunt. I grabbed the copy at Surry Hills markets, having never come across the title before. I had to read it before passing it on.

Having just finished the contrast between the authors is colossal. I know it's not a far comparison by any means, but where I was just skimming over paragraphs with, Moonbeast sporadically jumps into my head during the day. I can't wait to pick it up again.

Choking The Chicken

We took the Americans to the Roosters game last night at the SFS. The game was a shocker with the Roosters losing to the Eagles It was disappointing to those who hadn't seen an NRL game before, in fact we left early because a few got bored.

Most of us kicked on afterwards until the jet lag caught up with the Seppo's. I better get use to the nauseating hang over I woke up to this morning, it's going to be one of many in the coming weeks. Going to stay away from Pure Blonde and nasty Rose, if only more places sold Boags Classic Blonde. Good thing I didn't get on to the spirits.

Number of shirts torn = 0

Number of rides = 0

They expected it last night and I want to lull them into a false sense of security.

Two game trailers caught my eye today, Rage and Where The Wild Things Are. Although I haven't played Fallout3 because I don't really get into RPG's, Rage does remind me of it and those reasons are glaringly obvious. Unlike Fallout3 I think I'll be on the lookout for Rage, I dig my shooters. Mutant models and twisted characters definitely adds to the desirability.

From what I've seen of Where The Wild Things Are movie, it is sure promising however the game is a different story. What a surprise.

Barbecuing a shoulder of lamb tonight for RoboticButtocks, then some gaming to be had and finally try Batman Arkham Asylum demo.

Sanity for all.

ZBrush was being a bitch today. I'll ask a mate tomorrow if has any ideas about the issue.

Judging by who is signing on to XBL tonight it looks like it's going to be a Gears Of War2 love in. RoboticButtocks is already asleep in my lap and my eyes are getting heavier.. want to join in on action but don't think I'll make it to the controller.. or maybe I will...

It'll be a good idea to get some sleep while I can, The Seppo's arrived in Sydney town today and they play hard. The Seppo's are from CorpHeadquarters of RoboticButtocks place of employment.

BTW Trials = wicked fun and I've only played 2 levels. I haven't played it before XBL, I'm told there are user generated flash levels.

Mum informed me yesterday that they (Mum and her partner, Tez) are moving back down to Canberra from Sydney next week. Tez just accepted a job at DOM in the encryption dept. They have rented a secure property with lots of greenery, a pool and within 1km of Dad's place, who my sister and the family dog, Kasper, live with.

Mum smacked down cervical cancer earlier this year, so going back to Canberra will be better for her. As country city has her friends, family, fresh air, old running tracks & more opportunities to pick fights with Dad (which gives Tez a bit of a break).

Excersise as it is everyday 2hrs weights 2hrs cycling (light/medium')

I eat diabetes for breakfast.

Miss China.. out there...want those boots.

Have a lot to do on this site so please bear with me.

The TV people called today (post-poned due to rain) and said I could join in on the Sydney Weekender shoot. Turns out the location was further west than I had anticipated plus I have a lot of unwrapping & texturing to get through so I passed on the opportunity. Priorities.... although if it was paying....

@talsit_de_cod pointed me to a sweet website, Dorkbot, a place of creative and weired collaborations. Worth checking out, there is something there to tickle everyone's fancy.

Watched some Co-op on Revision3 tonight. For the record; if there is a zombie crises, I will grab my shot gun but I won't pack my bags because if you can't do it naked than it's not worth doing. I might wear sparse, carefully placed armour to keep RoboticButt happy, otherwise it'll be "Keep warm!" *grumble grumble* *BLAM! headshot* "you'll catch a cold" *grumble*

Co-op latest episode did inspire to get some Gears of War 2 action in at some point within the next few days. It's been a few months at least.

Almost ate a whole packet of sherbet bombs to myself today, that's ok....(not really), did 4hrs exercise yesterday and 3 & qtr today. Half of that exercise is weights, the other half is light cardio while I do work.

Get some action from the back section.

Gav, one of our talented friends, come around yesterday and fixed the Sony Wega tv. Praise be to Gav and his hardware dexterousness! After that we went to see the Roosters Vs Tigers. Roosters put up a good fight and didn't play as bad as they had in the past. At least my tips weren't buggered, in fact I'm in the lead for one of three comps *gloat*. Take that @mossy79

This evening RoboticButt and I will crank up our 360s and get our Red Faction campaign on (before/after GoodGame). I've dropped the setting down to casual for this one game, heard from a few sources that missions get really frustrating later on. I can see that now, there is a lot of unnecessary boring arsed driving in Red Faction.

I'm having a lot of fun with the game although personally I think Saints Row2 had bigger laughs, variety and charm. Not to mention the co-op, who would pass up a chance to play with a naked, tattooed, Cockney speaking retarded looking Jesus?. Still haven't completed all the side missions in Saints Row 2 and there are a ton of achievements.

Called about this Cheeky Monkey post for the Sydney Weekender TV op. They had all the people they needed when I rang but they have me as a stand by. They'll call around 10 am if I'm needed which is fine with me as I don't live far from where they are filming.

RoboticButtocks came across some fresh street art today (pictured above), check it out on his flickr

Exercise today; 2hrs weights, 2hrs bike

Sorry, no pony for you.

I didn't end riding down to Bondi nor did it rain, not riding turned out to be a safe idea, there were a lot of nutbags and trashbags encountered on the drive there.

Now I understand why the people behind the Bioshock2 marketing stunt held it at the frigid break of dawn. It's not so it would provide an eerie environment for

a Big Daddy to appear on the beach or the morning mist to reveal an approaching boat, upon which the faithful fans and dedicated jurnos would be showered with photo ops or information.

Who ever had done this (ninjas) had used the cover of dawn to plant plastic bottles on the beach (bottles and contents pictured below). They then ran to cover to watch the people gather together in shivering clumps of fooled penguins, pick up the bottles, wait and then look wistfully towards the ocean. Pff... I don't know, how about having someone dispensing some of those bottles with actual merlot inside for the oldies and energy drink for the sprites? It's not that hard to do.

Still, it was all a bit of an adventure, I gained some plastic propaganda to junk my place with (docs could look kind of cool framed), made some new friends and the beach at dawn was pretty special. RT @aussie_kozy Sunrise at Bondi http://twitpic.com/d2tva

Well played ninjas, well played.

Thank you @RoboticButtocks for taking pics while I was bbq'n.

Big Daddy Mania

In Sydney the poly world seems to be leaching into the real, yesterday and today it was the Halo Warthog appearance at Cockatoo Island.

In hindsight I should have jumped an unsuspecting journalist and attended in his place. mmmmm James Kozanecki skin suit.

Tomorrow dawn will be the Bioshock2 marketing dooby wacky at Bondi Beach. Had a hard time convincing RoboticButtocks to go,

but good god man, it is cutting into to his sleeping time. It'll be an adventurous bike ride especially so since it is forecast to

rain tomorrow (ssssssh don't tell Buttocks).

Still have to find out where exactly on Bondi Beach it will be.... but dammit I'll ride a Big Daddy yet or get a photo with one.

Until then I'll make do with moaning and stomping around the house.

So here is my gaming pain; we have 2 x 360 in our household, one (Robotic's) is hooked up to a projector and the other (mine) to a sony crt monster

and the monster carked it last week. On occasion, I get to play a Half Life2 game I had started on Robotic's console before I got my own.

A chip was from the US and a friend is going to come around on Sunday to fix it. I'm praying to the maker he can do it. We are taking him to

the Roosters v Tigers game on Sunday to say thank you, if he fails, I get to keep his girlfriend