I tell you what; if there’s one game I’m really looking forward to being released in the near future it is most definitely Grand Theft Auto IV. With the release of Rockstar’s newest trailer the game looks so amazingly spectacularly better than its predecessors! (Here’s to hoping it’s just as addictive and fun as Saints Row).
On a strange note; and something always very important to me, viewing the new trailer makes me question who exactly they are using to voice the games protagonist, for eastern European accents; can’t think of many actors. I also hope of course for an all-star cast this time around again (because you don’t really expect any less from most next-gen platform games). Though I hear that they are looking for a more realistic approach and are looking for voice actors more suited to the roles.

Before I get into the nitty and gritty topic, I do feel that I must apologise for my long absence; I know you all miss me; but with recent laptop problems (thanks Paul ) and moving back and forth from home to Newport everything’s been a bit of a muddle, plus I’ve been busy doing loads of fun stuff (which you’ll no doubt hear about soon) hence I’ve not really found any time to write (gotta be in the mood, you see) but I come to you now in all my writing glory.

A few weeks ago I was writhing in agony for some Fallout 3! But this trailer has gotten me in the mood for some sandbox-European-accent-gun-toting-random-activity-fun; so undoubtedly for the moment I’ll just play some Saints Row, and -as unbelievable as it sounds; from my former mixed opinions of the game- I hope that the newest Grand Theft Auto instalment will actually be able to best it!

Now of course, talking somewhat of Rockstar’s classic series; Grand Theft Auto, I can’t help but mention their now –possibly infamous- banned game Manhunt 2; because hell, I want to get in on the bandwagon, because frankly I feel all the press has been rapping it pretty bad.

After reading a few articles in the Sun and the Times (yes, I know, I read in the best print in the whole of the UK!) you’ve got to note just how seriously the BBFC are taking this, that anyone importing the game has the likely chance of it being held at customs indefinitely, let alone exporters the possibility of being fined £2k!

So Manhunt got a little press itself; the whole Stefan Pakeerah incident which apparently had nothing to do with manhunt, with –I’ve read- the victim owning the game rather than the assailant, not to mention that not many critics really liked the game, but to me, it was fun. It was the sort of game –like Hitman- that rewards patient gamers, allowing for silent and deadly kills; which to me are all a bit of fun. Ok… so that may be a bit sadistic, but everyone needs some sort of outlet for these things, I know that when I play Manhunt its all very over-the-top, but there is also something very satisfying about cracking someone’s head with a hammer.

Personally I’m a little pissed at this whole thing because games seem to have a hell of a lot of censorship and bad press; whereas films are literally able to do pretty much anything these days –I know, films are voyeuristic as opposed to performing the actions in videogames- especially seeing as we have such artistic and profound games being released these days; hailed as masterpieces in the medium; so where’s our Evil Dead of the video nasties for the gaming world; because not too many published violent games with actual half-decent content get made. Plus Saw, Hostel, various-torture-related-films, anyone??

Because after all, these games –I find anyway- are the sort of thing you pick up to unwind, you don’t usually play something like Manhunt or Grand Theft Auto if you wish to play a deep involving game; hell, half the people that play Grand Theft Auto probably don’t even play the main story, because it’s a pick up and play sort of game. Alright, Manhunt is a little different, and there is somewhat of a story to back up the mindless slaughter. But in its own right, it’s the sort of game you might play when you’re a little angry, which gives it even more points for cathartic casual gaming.

Now, even though I never actually finished Manhunt (got stuck a bit and never went back) I was actually sort of looking forwards to Manhunt 2; with better graphics and –hopefully- better controls. I wouldn’t have rushed out and bought the game the second it came out; I probably would have pulled out the first one and played it through (like I was doing with God of War before I found the sequel at £13.99!!) But unfortunately it seems as though Manhunt will never see the light of day; perhaps though, in the distant future, I’ll find a fake version of it in someone’s pile of games –RE: our coincidental find of a fake Thrill Kill.

Now, I don’t know about you, but all this talk recently of sadistic violence has put me in the mood to give Manhunt another spin; so I’ll leave you while I try and play our PS2 copy in the Xbox!

I’m joking… but I feel it will be in my pile of games to play when I can get to the PS2.

If you recall about a month back to when I wrote a loving little piece of the amply good, short lived Fox show Drive, you may remember my slight mention of another such shortly lived show Wonderfalls. Now at that moment I had only watched the unaired pilot (because those things seem to float around the internet) but Wonderfalls -critically acclaimed mind you!- is one really great piece of television and has introduced me to Mr Bryan Fuller.

No, he wasn't a writer on Buffy, in fact he has never stepped anywhere near the Whedonverse. But he acted as creator of Wonderfalls, -the also axed though not Fox, and newly discovered- Dead Like Me, and has a new series Pushing Daises in the works, as well as currently working as a co-producer on Heroes. Now I'm not jumping ship and disowning Joss Whedon...

But Bryan Fuller is pretty darn amazing, perhaps not as amazing as Wonderfalls, but co-creating the show I suppose he should get some credit :P

So Lets talk a little bit about Wonderfalls, from the get go it is pretty clear why the show was cancelled, not to blow any horns, but the show was far too unique, never before have I seen something quite like Wonderfalls, partly because the focus of the show is Jaye; a university graduate who lives in a trailer park and works as a retail assistant in a souvenir store at Niagara Falls, oh yeah, and she has inanimate animals talk to her from time to time, telling her -cryptically- to do things. All of these inanimate animals are all computer generated, and looks pretty amazing compared to some special effects in TV even these days.

It would not be as great a show as it is, if it were not for the cast; primarily Caroline Dhavernas who plays Jaye; who is one of the ‘freshest’ characters I have seen on television in a while. She’s amazing! She doesn’t care what people say or think about her, has a no nonsense attitude, she’s like a strange hybrid cross between Anya (Buffy), Early Cordelia (Buffy) and just as laughout loud funny (which is something I love television for!

So, as I’ve mentioned a couple of times already, Wonderfalls was cancelled by Fox, like Drive they got to show four episodes before the rug was pulled out from underneath them, but one magical bonus, was that they had shot 13! Episodes of Wonderfalls already; consequentially meaning that the remaining nine episodes were never aired –because fox suck- but, the cast and crew of Wonderfalls were dedicated, and after a ‘save wonderfalls’ campaign a DVD of all 13 episodes; plus extras was released.

So that's about it, sort of a rant on Bryan Fuller and wonderfully endearing Wonderfalls, but do not be deceived by some of my words, as much as everyone loves to hear it Joss Whedon is still the most amazing writer in the history of ever :)

Oh, yeah, and P.S. Fox: "You suck!" for cancelling some awesome stuff and... Sarah Conner Chronicles... what?

Ok, so I'm not the biggest fan of Fallout; I want to be, but like many other games I didn't see it when it was released and have since then not really had the time to play it; I've always oogled over the intro's to both games. Interplay have always managed to create this amazing feeling, and such an engaging setting, and to me, it looks like Fallout 3 is going to be fabulous!

After a countdown started a while ago, Cristian got me slightly interested in the prospect of a third game in the series (not like it's been asking for one :P)

You can watch it here in all it's glory

and if there's one thing it manages to do, it sure sets the mood, and has got me going for a bit of Fallout *drool*

With the inclusion of the Ink Spots again (yay, love that old retro american sensibility of the previous games)

Guess I'll be waiting for fall 2008 in anticipation ^_^