Anyways I should get back to my essays

Ok, this may not be a surprise to some people that I have mentioned this to, but recently I... got a hold of most of Stephen Chow's films. (Be them directed, written, or just even starring him)

Before I did this I had only seen Kung Fu Hustle in the first year of uni; having taken it out of the library through pure curiosity, and it wasn't until perhaps a month ago, when I was looking on Love film’s world cinema section and saw The King of Comedy (not the Scorsese film, mind) I was immediately interested by its synopsis and sort to find it, after tracking it down I was not disappointed, and the film was one of the best (as in funniest) Cantonese films I had ever seen..

It's definitely something about the way Cantonese is spoken, a person can be so animated, similar to the amusing Escape from Hong Kong Island, the acting scenes are also helped by Chow's face, which he enunciates with a lot. His films follow the practice of 'Mo lei tau', generally used to mean, makes no sense. Something that I had already seen an early example of in Jackie Chan's Fantasy Mission Force, and what's best is that Mo lei tau can be either verbal or slapstick, physical humour being a good friend of mine I find myself enjoying his films to no-end, and on occasion having to bring Catherine into my room so I can show her something utterly absurd and humorous.

So far I can say that I have seen a total of seven of his films so far, Kung Fu Hustle and Shaolin Soccer being so-so. But found great enjoyment in God of Cookery, King of Comedy, The Lucky Guy, Tricky Brains 2000 and Forbidden City Cop.

One complaint I seem to hear a lot of his films are that Chow only ever plays the same character, which is slightly true, but not wholly. There are certain themes that seem to run quite a lot in his films, primarily he plays an under-achiever that beats the odds (king of comedy, Shaolin soccer, Forbidden City Cop) or an arrogant overachiever who has a lesson in humility before fighting back (god of cookery, Kung fu hustle) playing a sort of underdog of characters, but I feel that although he is playing similar characters, each film has a sort of breath of fresh air, which I love so very much.

So I recommend his films to all; even though a few people I know hated Shaolin Soccer (which i sort of do as well because I had to watch a dub!!!)

I am a bit disheartened watching his newer films now that I have gone and seen his older works; and find his emphasis on cgi rather than verbal humour to appeal to a wider audience is not as effective to myself, but nonetheless I want to see CJ7 when it released in the UK (unless they chose to dub it) because it looks just as sweet and funny as his films in the past (despite having the largest budget in Chinese history.

Another reason I love his films so are their surreal humour, not too mention Lee Kin-Yan's many appearances as a cross-dressing man with his finger up his nose.

When it comes to relationships, your resident weirdo is not very accustomed to them. But from last august; just before amecon I had the luck and fortune to be asked out by the incredibly warm and cuddly Tim *see picture, because he probably wouldn’t like me posting a photo.

All is well, I went to see his family. For some reason he agreed to coming round our house for the Christmas holidays. So it was pretty cool that for once I would get to spend Valentine’s Day with someone (Catherine always getting attention from people, not forgetting poor Ben)

The day began in an extremely exciting fashion as any other does, doing all the dishes that had mounted up during the start of the week, and having to go down to the shops to pick up some eggs so the day had already started amazingly, then I pretty much sat at my computer for about 3 hours until Tim arrived and surprised me with a most beautifully huge rose accompanied none other than with pussy willow (the most amazing plant in the world.)

Along with my awesome new best friend, who is very squidgy; a definite plus, and the awesomely cool 25th anniversary blade runner OST. So all-in-all making him amazing boyfriend of all time, and me crap because I couldn’t think of anything that I could get him

After hanging around for a little bit we set out for the Red Lion for tea; unfortunately the weather had turned Wednesday night, and it was bloody freezing, and then attack of the crazy dog at someone’s window wasn’t very helpful either.

The Red Lion was nice and cosy and the tea light at the table gave off a lovely burning-candle-type-smell, plus also proved almost hypnotic to look at until I realised just how bright the flame was, to have it burnt into my vision.

Had an awesome starter of bread crumbed camembert (much nicer than my own attempts at bread crumbing cheese!) with apricot jam melted for a sauce, best -omg- thing I've ever had! Especially with some buttered bread!

My main course was very interesting, an aubergine gateau, which had a tad too much feta cheese but was damn yummy, especially as the skin of the aubergine had crisped up and had turned crunchy! yumm!

After that went down -which was hard to do as there was so much of it that I couldn’t actually finish, something that does not happen often to someone like me!- we shared a real nice Lemon torte, which admittedly did go well with poured cream -even though squirty cream owns all cream types!-

Which made for a very amazingly nice dinner, the main conversation being very video-game based, as well as Tim's hopes for stereotype wars (and a dream for zombie apocalypse) which I won’t mention, but OMG it has to be done!!!

Returning home to an even colder night we were to watch a film -as I had opted out of the cinema- and I popped in Brazil, which maybe I shouldn’t have done as it is a fairly long film, but one of my favourites.. So, sorry if you didn't enjoy it as much as I did

So if you are reading this, I will remember it, and it was a really lovely day, thanks Tim *sends much love your way*

I am a bad bad, very bad person! I have owned the Longest Journey for at least 4 years, maybe longer, and to tell the truth somehow I have always told myself I've never had the time to really play it, I've tried many times in the past years, installing it, getting somewhere in the first chapter and never really exploring enough to get any further.

If you want excuses the game seemed too serious, or maybe it was the setting was the usual bright colourful happy I'm used to in adventure games, that and my game always used to crash for some reason.

So I decided to give myself the time of day to play it, and it's took me maybe a week maybe less to play through it in my spare time.. and I'm just ashamed that I hadn't played it further.

Of course, being an adventure game there were times that I needed a little helping hand, and I literally praise the ground that the uhs-hints system was built upon, the amount of times that thing has helped me with adventure games without spoiling anything for me is great. But I did play as much as possible trying to work things out by myself, but its like Freecell, every-now-and-again you need a bit of a push in the right direction if you aren't thinking straight.

The game is a absolute jem, and one of the first engaging almost-feminist games that began a nice slow flow from similar-like minded companies in Europe.

It was funny, it was sad, it had an amazing female character (who I hear was not so likeable in Dreamfall) it told an amazing story, and I know why Carlos loves it so much!

It creates an imaginative world full of diverse creatures, each with their very own characters and mannerisms, its a marvel of game design and involved me in it's story far more than any other games I have played of recent

It referenced Brazil, and I'm sorry, but when a game does that, well it wins prizes ^__^

Also, the brain-man of the game, Ragnar Tornquist, has a fairly interesting blog here

Having finished the game I am now raring to play Dreamfall, and I bid you adiou

Now I don't mean to be at all rude, but the centre of Cwmbran is not very nice... it looks a little like a dump, now don't get me wrong, I'm not badmouthing it or anything, but it does, sorry, the hills and valleys all very beautiful, but the shopping centre looks like it was transported out of the eighties and hasn't changed since.

Though saying that, it appears that Cwmbranians have impecable taste in games.

Visiting both the local Gamestation and recently arrived Cash Generator -which is far nicer than the one in Newport- both myself and Catherine found a literal treasure-trove of items!

Not only did gamestation have a Resident Evil 4 gamecube that was originally new but had to be marked as pre-owned at £24.99!! Dude! and to top it off I got to pick up a couple of 2 for £20 for a tenner as a special offer. Sorry, Game, but you're a bit smelly at the moment, and right now I'm in love with Gamestation, although there are a few things that I'm pretty annoyed about.. well I say a few I mean one.

They have stopped selling retro games in Gamestations!!

So now we have hardly any places that we can purchase retro games conviently

It is a sad day for Charlotte, but then I did get my nice shiny console and these two games;

I'd been meaning to check out Contact for a while being a Grasshopper game, and it is a pretty neat RPG. Although Suikoden V is not happy, having thought I didn't actually have the game I bought it, but I had not shown the series much love for a while, and I do infact own it! *cowers in shame* So I am hoping to go to Gamestation soon to swap it for something equally as tempting!

Now this is not the end of my tale! Oh no, because I stopped in at Cash Generator, because they could have something decent, and they did actually, and a lot of their games aren't badly priced.

It is official I am a chav... now we all know I very much enjoyed Saints Row; in fact its possibly one of my most favourite games on the console, its also easy to guess I am waiting in anticipation for Grand Theft Auto IV... but now it is the ultimate sign.

I became a chav when I bought some

We went to Cwmbran yesterday, cause I was bored, and wanted to do something, but that was impossible because the internet is outdated, so instead me and catherine took the time to do a bit of shopping, and thought we might as well visit the Asda there; as it is huge! (and on occasion their games can be unusually cheap for some reason) There were no cheap games, there was the awesome make your own pizza, which we took them up on. But the highlight of the shopping trip was at the checkout, when I spotted these.

Now it was plain to see that they were indeed plain Loveheart rip-offs; the most grossest sweets in the word; dont ask me why, I was never a big fan of refreshers either. I was at a debate whether to get them or not, until I saw the various phrases available in the pack.

The instant I saw it I knew I needed a 'you what?' quite a violent phrase if you ask me, cause they sound like fighting words, and they pretty much are. So I was over the moon when I opened up my packet in anticipation of the various new phrases and words I might learn; and found that I had the whole medley of chav slang.

Not only did I get 1 'you what?' I recieved 3!!! Not to mention the 4 'bothered'!, 3 'chav', 'mint' and 'whatever' 2 'minger's and 'proper' and the obviously less popular advertisment that you are indeed eating 'chav sweets' a 'respect' and an 'in it'

I must say I was thoroughly pleased with my purchase, and believe I may have even expanded my vocabulary for the better. I can only dream of such a job as he-who-chooses-what-phrases-are-used.

I say to them bravo!

For making the most absolutely useless pile of crap that I have ever seen for 26p. Who the hell did you think were going to buy them?! Other than small adolescent children who for some reason dream of becoming a chav one day!

Ok, I haven't updated here in ages (sorry loyal followers) but I've been very busy at my shiney christmas tempage job in GAME!

So I've had hardly any time to play the pile of games that have wraked up, and still need to do my uni assignments *gulp* but I thought before I do any of that crap, I'd celebrate Christmas; which was awesome by the way, thanks to Tim for coming round our house.

Just before the gay old time had at home though, I thought our little house deserved some christmas cheer (trust me this is actually the most christmassy it got)

So I made these

I hope everyone else had a great gaming christmas, and a happy new year as well!

Oh my lordy Weirdo where have you been?? We haven't seen you for months.

Well I have been about, here and there you know the score. Went to the Assassin's Creed event in London (part of the London games festival).

As well as the awesome C12 in Milton Keynes (my love of Erik Avari!)

then recently a LAN tournament at the Alt-yr-yn campus set up by the Games Society, and another console tournament last saturday.

Also managed to go to the Super Mario Galaxy launch which was a good laugh.

But none of that compared to the best news of all.

NEW S&M SEASON!!!

As a teaser for all us hounding Sam and Max fans, Telltale decided to release us an episode before Christmas; and rightfully so.

In Episode 7: Ice Station Santa Sam and Max have to literally save Christmas.

What can I say? Their newest episode is as great as ever; I must say the writing seems to be a tad different, may have some extra writers on board perhaps. But the overall set up has been greatly improved, with a hint system for those not used to Adventure games, a tutorial for likewise, and even the ability to have Sam run as opposed to that slow plod he used to do

Hell they even managed to stick the C.O.P.S in there as well as another song by Jared-Emerson-Johnson. Not to mention the awesomely different boxing minigame they included as an integral part to the episode.

All-in-all it was pretty damn awesome (as you may have guessed) and I just cannot wait for episode 2 to come around!

If you live in a hole (by my standards anyways) then you may not have heard of Double fine’s newest original amazing mishmash of a game; Brutal Legend!

Yes, this news does come rather late on my blog of all that is holy, but I've been busy and stuff... that's enough of an excuse.

Who am I kidding; there is no excuse for not getting out the excitement and perhaps even merriment that Tim Schafer is working on a new game! (Wait scratch that) Has been working on a new game for months maybe longer in secret hiding, where no one can see what's happening, but somehow everyone knew what was going on, and only because Jack Black wore a Kochamara t-shirt to some American Idol thing, not to mention being spotted in Whispering Rock T-shirts also.

So yeah, where was I? Oh yes, how excited am I!!! Come 2008 (the year of everything mind you!) There will be more delectable Tim Schafer goodness on the shelves, and it features Jack Black; so everyone will buy it and rejoice at the amazing sales!!

What's the game actually about? I hear you ask... well you assume the role of Eddie Riggs; roadie and some crazy imaginative stuff happens and you are transported to sort of the world of rock and metal. This is where the amazingness comes into play.

Now I hear you saying, Charlotte you're not a fan of metal... well no I'm not, unless for some strange crazy reason David Bowie came under the classification, but it's that magical clichéd world full of skeletons and strange album covers that the game will be sponging from.

How will they be allowed to sponge from them? I hear you ask; well they've got the backing of like a million pretty darn famous bands! I know, how awesome is that!

Ok, ok so it's going to have an awesome story, and some amazing dialogue thrown in there, that's a given after all. But what else does it have? Well it may not have the crazy imaginative designs of Scott C (see Psychonauts characters and general all art) but it's still got a lovely cartoonyish vibe going, DF will hopefully always stick to this characteristic, as it's a lovely –almost- pass down from adventure games (who wants realism after all).
What is does it have? It's pretty much a hack and slash action, but (dare I mention it again) with an actual coherent, original story!! (bye bye Devil May Cry )

So this game is pretty much gonna rock 'nuff said.

Thank you for asking so many questions, I've never heard you talk so much!

Now I don't mean to gloat, but how awesome is our pumpkin this year?

Of course, my pumpkin, once again game-related is a reference to this years game of the year (in my opinion I've already forgotten everything that came out because of it's brilliance and writing) Portal. Because you can't not finish the game and not love it.

I dunno about you guys, but I love pumpkins, ever since a few years back when I did my first (the very nice and easy bat-logo) I always look forward to doing them the next year, and on the theme of game-related pumpkins make them even more fun.
So then the second year I progressed onto pac-man, and no not the shape of a simple pac-man, I went all out and did a cute cartoony one.
The third year was fun, as it was our first birthday at uni, which called for a special one, namely Mr Mario

And if you thought that was it, think again!