First things first; the rest of the soundtrack to Gran Turismo Test Drive will be on YouTube shortly.
Also, I have recently purchased a HD capture card, which means I'll be able to record PS2 and PS3 footage in HD. With that in mind, I would like to re-do a couple of videos that I put up a long time ago; just like I have done with the Gran Turismo secret cars videos. Soul Calibur III - I'm planning to include all secret characters in just one video; as before I had to put the video up in three parts. Also the footage will now be in better quality, and there are actually a lot of characters I didn't include in the video. If you've played Chronicles of the Sword, then you'll be familar with the NPCs like Roin, Lupi etc. Now these characters can be created in Create A Soul mode, though the announcer won't say their name at the end of a battle; rather the job of the created character you made e.g. Sword Master.
Also, with my Mortal Kombat Shaolin Monks video, I missed out a few characters that I couldn't get to load at the time. Though I have since learned that they can be loaded - just on specific levels. There are still a handful of characters that won't load at all; Shao Kahn for example. With my Mortal Kombat Deception secret characters video, I missed Kitana out - and I also intend to show off all the secret characters' costumes and Onaga's special moves.
I have also bought a few more interesting discs lately, including a beta version of Tony Hawk's Project 8, a Japanese Dynasty Warriors 2 demo; and the Gran Turismo Special Edition 2004 Toyota demo. I actually missed out on that Gran Turismo demo earlier this year when I saw it on Ebay; however it sold for more than I was prepared to pay. Luckily I have now managed to find another copy for sale. :)
So I recently watched The Secret of Crickley Hall, which was a three-part BBC drama that concluded last night. It was good, and well worth a watch if you haven't seen it already. The plot centres around an old hall that was used to house evacuees during the Second World War. It's haunted by a load of kids that 'drowned' here during the war, as well as the master of the house who drowned with them during a flood. I don't want to give too much away, but it's a good little ghost story; that wraps up satisfyingly without any loose ends. Though after I finished watching it, I jumped on the internet and had a little Google search for a who-plays-who cast list. I was surprised to find that on IMDB, it had a ruthless score of 5.9/10. What a load of crap, but I guess people only critique things to whinge about them really; much like I'm doing here. Despite its score, I'd still recommend it. After all, IMDB only gave the film The Prestige 8.8 out of 10; and easily a 10/10 in my books - one of the best films I've ever seen.
SPORT
It's tough being a Manchester United fan at the moment. Ok, maybe not that tough; but when you grab a 4-3 win against Reading, it's very much squeeky bum time. It would be nice if we kept a few more clean sheets in future, but it would also be great if our defenders just behaved like human beings, rather than brainless zombies who aimlessly jog around a football pitch. You know, I once came across a YouTube channel with the purpose of showcasing every single mistake made by Jonny Evans... But on the whole, we're 3 points ahead of our noisy neighbours; and we'll only be level on points if the worst comes to the worst and we lose at their place next weekend. Our forwards are also scoring at will, particularly van Persie - what an inspirational buy from Fergie! Reminds me that I was recently offered Atletico Madrid striker Falcao for 23.5 million on Football Manager 2013. I passed on the offer at the time, he subsequently withdrew his transfer request, and signed for Manchester City about 6 months later for 34 million. I really wish I'd bought him... though on the plus side I did get Malaga wonderkid Isco for a knockdown 17.5 million!
YOUTUBE
So, what can I recommend for you to watch? Well lately I've been looking at the videos of 'Past to Present (PtoP) Online'. This user showcases beta builds and unreleased video games - right up my street! You know, I'd love to get my hands on a few beta builds of games. Demo discs do showcase a game at earlier stage of development, but some series of games don't have demos released to the public; the Smugglers Run series for example. I think it'd be good for my channel too, if I were to upload some footage of some games in beta form. I'll see what I can get hold of. :)
Also, I've been listening to Andy McKee lately, who's an acoustic guitarist. Not usually my genre but his talent is undeniable.
On a final note, I usually do a Christmas special video; though I'm not sure what to do yet for this year! Any ideas would be welcomed.
So, I'ven been having a look at Mortal Kombat Deception at the moment. I remember the game fondly from my childhood, as I really enjoyed playing through Konquest Mode which was a brand new mode of gameplay at the time. Konquest Mode would make a return in Mortal Kombat Armageddon, but in a more linear style of gameplay; rather than the more non-linear style that featured in Deception. By non-linear I mean that there were lots of side missions to do, that meant the player had to go wandering around the level to find and complete them.
What's more interesting is that MK Deception was never finished in the way that the designers originally intended. Konquest Mode was wrapped up quickly in order to coincide with the game's release date. Therefore, it has a few items for example, that serve no purpose in the game. Raiden's Staff and the Ninja Star for example. So I thought I'd have a look through the game to see if I could uncover anything that was potentially left unfinished.
So far, by using a walk through walls code that I created; I managed to find a koin chest and a koin in an out of bounds area in Earthrealm Village. Although not a beta feature, it's still quite interesting. :) There are also two huts that the player can't usually access in the playable area, though both huts' doors are locked. I'll look into a way of unlocking them. There are also a lot more huts that stay locked in the village, and the Shaolin Temple that seems redundant. There's a door at the top of the steps which is inaccessible, and also what looks like a side door; that the designers placed a koin chest in front of to stop the player from being able to access it.
That's all for now, hopefully I'll be able to make a video with some new information about the game. :)
On my daily excursions through the many pages of the internet, I came across two early builds of Smuggler's Run. The first is an early alpha build, seen here on YouTube:
I'd seen this video a couple of years ago, though for some reason I always thought it was a gameplay trailer release by Rockstar during the development of Smuggler's Run. Only lately have I realised that it's actually an early alpha build of the game which actually exists on a disc; rather than being a snapshot of a work in progress.
The second is a slightly later beta build. No footage of this one but here's an image of the disc. Thanks to Ptoponline (Past to present online).
I believe the owner of this image sold this disc a few years ago by the way. Anyway, so this got me thinking about GTA III again. (I bet I sound like a broken record...) I'd always thought that the best shot of owning a beta build of GTA III was to hunt down the disc that was playable at E3 in 2001; though now I'm wondering if there's an even earlier disc out there. Possibly an alpha build like the earliest Smuggler's Run footage that I posted above. Obviously I'm just speculating, but it's nice to think that there may be an even earlier build out there; containing the game around this stage of development:
Even though it came out over ten years ago, Gran Turismo 2 is still being discussed on the web today. Roadhog360 from YouTube has recently launched a small website, to further improve the longevity of Gran Turismo 2. He could do with a few viewers and forum posts, so I'm posting it here in case anyone is interested: http://gt2info.ucoz.net
I just thought I'd post a small list of video games that I'm currently
interested in buying. Some of them are quite rare, so I'm having trouble
finding them. So on the off chance that anyone wants to sell a copy,
get in touch! :) Games marked with a strikethrough are ones that I have recently purchased. Gran Turismo Test Drive Disc (Single version or Pule Pule / Pure Pure version)
Gran Turismo 2 Test Drive Disc Grand Theft Auto III E3 2001 Demo Gran Turismo Special Edition 2004 Toyota Demo Gran Turismo 4 Press Kit Gran Turismo Concept 2002 Tokyo-Seoul [NTSC-J/KR] Gran Turismo Demo KB Toys [NTSC-U/C] Gran Turismo Limited Edition PlayStation discs 100 million
Gran Turismo Concept 2002 Tokyo-Geneva Press Pack [EU] Gran Turismo Concept Mitsubishi Airtrek Turbo Special Edition [NTSC-J] Gran Turismo Concept Daihatsu Copen Special Edition [NTSC-J] Gran Turismo Nissan 350z Edition (Press Pack) [NTSC-U/C]
Gran Turismo Nissan Micra Edition (Press Pack) [PAL-UK] Gran Turismo VW Lupo Cup Japan Training Version 1 [NTSC-J] Gran Turismo 4 BMW 1 series Virtual Drive Gran Turismo 4 BMW 1 series Virtual Drive Dealership Gran Turismo 4 E3 Press Kit Gran Turismo 3 A-Spec Demo [NTSC/UC]
I'll be adding more to the list whenever I come across something that
I'd like to own. I'd probably also be interested in any items that are
in any way similar to those that I have posted above.
Send me a message on YouTube (MattJ155) , or email me at mattj_155@hotmail.co.uk
I just thought I'd post a small list of video games that I'm currently
interested in buying. Some of them are quite rare, so I'm having trouble
finding them. So on the off chance that anyone wants to sell a copy,
get in touch! :)
Gran Turismo Test Drive Disc (Single version or Pule Pule / Pure Pure version)
Gran Turismo 2 Test Drive Disc
Gran Turismo 4 Press Kit
Gran Turismo 5 Press Kit
Gran Turismo 5 Prologue Press Kit Gran Turismo Concept 2001 Tokyo Collection Gran Turismo Concept 2002 Tokyo-Seoul [NTSC-J/KR] Gran Turismo Concept 2002 Tokyo-Geneva [NTSC-J] Gran Turismo Demo KB Toys [NTSC-U/C] Gran Turismo Limited Edition PlayStation discs 100 million Gran Turismo Concept 2001 Tokyo Promo [NTSC-J]
Gran Turismo Concept 2002 Tokyo-Geneva Promo [NTSC-J/Chinese]
Gran Turismo Concept 2002 Tokyo-Geneva Press Pack [EU]
Gran Turismo Concept 2002 Tokyo-Geneva Promo [PAL-UK]
Gran Turismo Concept Mitsubishi Airtrek Turbo Special Edition [NTSC-J]
Gran Turismo Concept Daihatsu Copen Special Edition [NTSC-J] Gran Turismo Nissan 350z Edition (Press Pack) [NTSC-U/C]
Gran Turismo Nissan Micra Edition (Press Pack) [PAL-UK] Gran Turismo VW Lupo Cup Japan Training Version 1 [NTSC-J] Gran Turismo Special Edition 2004 Toyota Demo [NTSC-U/C] Gran Turismo 4 BMW 1 series Virtual Drive
Gran Turismo 4 BMW 1 series Virtual Drive Dealership Gran Turismo 4 E3 Press Kit Gran Turismo 3 A-Spec Demo [NTSC/UC] Gran Turismo 4 Prologue Special Hologram Cover [NTSC/J] Grand Theft Auto III E3 2001 Demo
I'll be adding more to the list whenever I come across something that
I'd like to own. I'd probably also be interested in any items that are
in any way similar to those that I have posted above.
Send me a message on YouTube (MattJ155) , or email me at mattj_155@hotmail.co.uk
Since my last post on this subject, there have been a few updates to report. Firstly, the Rockstar E3 Press Kit I bought from Ebay arrived and it's a nice thing to own. It obviously contains no demo, only screenshots, some videos, a trailer and a press release statement. However, it came with a name (probably the press officer at the time); Jeff Castaneda. I managed to contact Jeff and ask him about the demo that was playable at E3. Nice guy, however he couldn't really help me and instead, directed me to Rockstar support.
The trail went dead for a while, when I was contacted by a user on YouTube; with some snippets of information about a German journalist that had owned the demo, and sold it on Ebay. I am currently investigating this lead, though I have no idea how far I'll get with it. It would be great to talk to a previous owner though, as that would be a big step forward in tracking down the disc.
Look at this picture; do you recognise it at all? Well if
you don’t, it’s a school bus in Grand Theft Auto III. It’s not a mod either; it’s
one of many things that was either cut or changed during the development. You
can still see school buses near 8-Ball’s bomb shop in Portland, though they’re not
driveable; they don’t even have any wheels! Speaking of 8-Ball, he was
originally white rather than black, and was named Mullin. Last year, Rockstar
did an online Q and A with fans about GTA III; where beta features such as
these were explained. I’m going to do my best to detail what is now known about
the early stages of GTA III’s development, and what is still a mystery.
At any point during
the development of GTA III, did Claude ever speak?
Many people have seen this trailer where Claude appears to
say; “Get out of the car!”
Here is Rockstar’s explanation:
“This is fake. This is
an old bit of gameplay footage, for sure, but we think the voices were added at
a later date by someone online as at no point did we plan for Claude to have a
voice or even design how a speaking protagonist would be implemented until Vice
City.”
Seems probable, right? Well I can shed at least a little bit
more light than Rockstar can on this matter. I recently bought the press disc
that was given out by Rockstar to the press at E3 in 2001. The trailer in
question features on this disc, with voices and all. So it seems as if this
trailer is not a fake after all, though I would assume that the voices and
sound effects within the trailer were added by a Rockstar employee; and therefore
a talking Claude would have never been implemented in the game. It is possible
that the trailer in its finished state wasn’t seen by the powers that be at
Rockstar; and so could have been added by a single designer gone haywire. This
one remains a bit of a mystery.
Darkel
Darkel was a character that was cut during the development
of GTA III. He was to be a revolutionary street urchin who would have given out
rampage-like missions. However Rockstar decided to go back to the traditional
rampage style missions and Darkel’s part in the game was cut. The only mission
of his that is known to still exist in the game is ‘I scream, you scream’,
which was given out to Claude by El Burro. Here are Rockstar’s comments on the
matter:
“Darkel was just a
crazy bum who gave you some crazy missions. They were removed a few months
before the game was done and long before 9/11 because they just weren’t as good
as the rest of the game, and tonally they were a little odd. He started with 5
missions and they were slowly all cut. When only one or 2 were left, they were
all removed as the character just didn’t work alongside the other characters. None
of these missions involved blowing up buses of school children although that is
a funny rumour!”
Another rumour is that Darkel gave out a mission where the
player had to fly a plane into the Love Media Building. Rockstar have never
commented on this, however they have revealed that the Dodo was never meant to
be flown; meaning that this mission is probably just a rumour.
“Because we were
making a driving and shooting game - even that, as a combination of core
gameplay elements, was very, very radical at the time. The Dodo was never meant
to be flown very much at all, and it certainly wasn’t grounded as a result of
9/11 – it was just a fun thing that people then went crazy with when they
figured out various bugs that let them fly it!”
There were other cut characters too: Curtly, Butler
(presumed to have been Salvatore’s butler) and Novy. Tom Novy’s song ‘Back to
the Streets’ was used in a trailer and it is rumoured that it was to feature on
Head Radio. Both Novy and his song were cut for unknown reasons; however the
textures for him and Butler remain in the game. Other characters simply changed names before the final
release of the game. Salvatore Leone’s name was originally Frankie Sorvino; therefore
making Joey’s surname Sorvino too.
Other Stuff
A lot of the other stuff that was changed between the first
look at GTA III and the final release was mostly cosmetic. A beta map design
shows that Francis International Airport was located in Staunton Island, before
it was moved to Shoreside Vale. Shoreside Vale looked slightly larger than it
ended up being, having more roads near where the airport would eventually be
placed.
The graphics were a lot more ‘cartoonish’ in the earliest
stages of GTA III’s development, and Portland went through a few design tweaks.
The police station and hospital were changed and there was originally no
subway. The Police cars were originally blue rather than black, which is
potentially one of the few changes Rockstar made in light of 9/11.
“(GTA III after 9/11
was) about 1% different. We removed only one mission that referenced terrorists
and changed a few other cosmetic details – car details, a couple of ped
comments, lines of radio dialogue etc – the game came out a very short time
later. The biggest change was the US packaging which remixed the previous
packaging into what became our signature style – because the previous packaging
[which was released as the cover of the game in Europe] was, we felt, too raw
after 9/11. All of the more extreme rumours are amusing but impossible to have
been achieved in such a short period of time.”
So that’s about it. There’s just one thing left to cover
really.
The year was 1999. My parents had bought me a Sony Playstation
the previous Christmas and Tekken 3, amongst other games; had come with it. I
loved Tekken 3, and I’m still addicted to the series today; eagerly awaiting
the impending release of Tekken Tag Tournament 2. But during the first year
that I owned my Playstation, I was oblivious to all the other titles that Namco
had released.
Then one day, my friend brought round a game for me to play:
Soul Blade. This game was the first in another series of fighting games that Namco
had produced, alongside Tekken. We inserted the game into the console, and
started to play. I mentioned that I’m still a fan of the Tekken series today,
well I’m still a fan of the Soul series too, and it’s all thanks to the
impression that Soul Blade made on me.
So recently, I purchased Soulcalibur V and dived straight in
to the new mode of gameplay; Story Mode. It doesn’t sound like a new mode at
all, but the difference is that you’re forced to take control of a new
character called Patroklos, and guide him through a series of battles divided
into twenty episodes.
Unfortunately for me, Patroklos wields a sword and shield;
similar to the characters Sophitia and Cassandra. Now I know that this type of
move set will suit some people, but it’s just not for me. Besides, if the game
designers are going to force you to play as just one character through this
story mode; then they should give you the option of selecting a move set. At
the very least, the player should be able to earn different weapons and move
sets as they progress through the story.
Now, what makes this mode even less appealing is that
instead of cut scenes, you’re forced to watch still images in sepia tone. There
are a few cut scenes, but they’re few and far between. The lack of effort that
was put into the main innovative feature of the game is quite astounding. The
innovation of a new mode has been a staple since the very first game in the
series. Many fans of the series loved the Edge Master Mode of Soul Blade (named
Weapon Master Mode in Soulcalibur II); but the mode I always enjoyed best was
Chronicles of the Sword from Soulcalibur III.
Not only did Soulcalibur III introduce the option to create
a character, but Chronicles of the Sword actually gave your created characters
a purpose in the game. Your character would begin as a rookie cadet for the
Grandall Empire and work up to commander of the Arthias rebels through 20
Chronicles. This mode still offered players the chance to fight 1 on 1, but
also brought in an element of turn based strategy. Unfortunately, this mode was
plagued by a glitch that reportedly wiped the save game from your memory card;
though I never experienced this myself.
But in any case, such a mode of gameplay was never included
in a Soul game again, and neither was the popular Weapon Master Mode. Soul
Calibur IV offered the Tower of Lost Souls mode, but what it boiled down to is
just a survival mode with a fancy title.
There are some good elements in Soulcalibur V; the controls
are as good as ever and so is the music. But they are both a continuation of
what was already good about the series, and where this game falls down is just
a lack of innovation this time around. I’ll always hold out for another game
like Soulcalibur III, which felt innovative and fresh. The soundtrack and controls
were as good then as they are today; but it came with the exciting additions of
Chronicles of the Sword and Create a Soul modes. It seems as if my search for a
worthy successor to Soulcalibur III will go forever on, just as Siegfried is
forced to endure the never-ending quest; to rid the world of the cursed blade, Soul
Edge.
I just thought I'd post a small list of video games that I'm currently interested in buying. Some of them are quite rare, so I'm having trouble finding them. So on the off chance that anyone wants to sell a copy, get in touch! :)
Gran Turismo Test Drive Disc (Single version or Pule Pule / Pure Pure version)
Gran Turismo 2 Test Drive Disc
Gran Turismo 4 Press Kit
Gran Turismo 5 Press Kit
Gran Turismo 5 Prologue Press Kit
Grand Theft Auto III E3 2001 Demo
I'll be adding more to the list whenever I come across something that I'd like to own. I'd probably also be interested in any items that are in any way similar to those that I have posted above.
Send me a message on YouTube (MattJ155) , or email me at mattj_155@hotmail.co.uk
Most people would consider Nintendo World Championships (Gold) as the holy grail of gaming. For good reason too, as it is probably the most expensive piece of gaming memorabilia out there; often selling for over £20,000 in those rare instances where it comes on the market. The only item that springs to mind which could fetch more, is if any of the Atari Swordquest treasures ever appeared for sale.
Just like Indiana Jones' father in The Last Crusade, who devoted his life to the search for the holy grail. Well, that's like me with the Grand Theft Auto III Beta. Well, in reality; I've only being looking around for a couple of months now! But still, I'm here to note down those small pieces of information which I've gotten so far.
For people that don't know; Rockstar never released an early beta for public viewing. There are very early screenshots, where the graphics were more cartoonish, there were school buses populating the road; along with many more things that would go on to be changed in the final release. The first trailers and video clips came along after the game had been worked on a little more. Then finally, a demo of the game was playable at E3 in 2001. However, this wasn't a case like Gran Turismo 2000; which was given out at the Playstation Festival 2000 in limited quantities. The beta GTA III was never given out, not even to the press.
In fact, Grand Theft Auto III had a fairly dismal time at E3 2001; as people were more impressed with the look of State of Emergency. Hard to believe that this GTA III is the same game that still generates a big amount of interest today; leading Rockstar to release a 10th Anniversary edition of the game last year. After E3 2001, Rockstar decided to pursue different routes to showcasing their impending releases; never bringing a playable demo to E3 or any other convention again. This is still the case today, as Rockstar decided not to showcase GTA V at E3 this year, much to many fans' surprise.
I briefly spoke to Jeff Gerstmann, former editorial director of GameSpot; who played this GTA III demo at E3 in 2001. Here are his thoughts at the time:
When I asked him for any other information regarding the beta demo at the time, he said:
"People played it at E3, it was never sent out to the media, as far as I know."
Unfortunately, no one really knows what happened to it after the convention. Many fans believe that any beta material is still in the hands of Rockstar. But it's important to note that most beta screenshots and video clips come from a work in progress; a code that's constantly being worked on. To my knowledge, the only instance where a beta version of the game was put onto a disc was for E3 in 2001.
Anyway, my search goes on... Though it should be noted that I have recently purchased a rare Rockstar press kit from E3 in 2001. It's not the demo itself, but it will contain information and possibly some screenshots and video clips from the game as a work in progress.
Eric Cantona; one of the first names on fans' lips if asked to name a Manchester United legend. The flamboyant Frenchman scored 80 goals in 5 years for the Red Devils, was listed in the 100 League Legends List, and in 2002 he was inducted into the the English Football Hall of Fame. A tremendous talent, signed for just £1.2 million in 1992, by Alex Ferguson.
Other great deals by Fergie include, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (£1.5 million), Roy Keane (£3.75 million) and Cristiano Ronaldo (£12.25 million). Just three names that are synonymous with Manchester United, and have gone on to fully justify and exceed their transfer fees. But this got me thinking; has Fergie still got the same eye for a player, in the transfer market today? Roy Keane's transfer from Nottingham Forest was then a British record fee, so it's obvious these days; that you can expect to pay a little bit more than that.
So why have Chelsea reportedly agreed an £8 million fee for Inter Milan and Brazil's Maicon? As a United fan, I think the position we need to strengthen most is the defensive / holding midfielder role. But Rafael is also less than competent at right-back, and Smalling or Jones could only fill in there, as they are both centre-backs primarily. It seems absurd to me, that Fergie hasn't even contemplated a move for Maicon since he's available on the cheap, or another right-back that would serve us for a handful of seasons.
Also, Ronaldinho became a free agent this summer; leaving Flamengo after a row over unpaid wages. I would have loved to see us snap up the Brazilian legend on a free transfer; but again no contact was established and Ronaldinho went on to sign for Atletico Mineiro just a few days later. Yes he's not as good as he once was, but let's not forget; Fergie snapped up Laurent Blanc on a free transfer in 2001. The commanding centre back did a decent job for us, despite his age of 35.
However there is some good news, as Sir Alex has bought well in Shinji Kagawa. As one of my favourite players, he possesses good passing and dribbling abilities, and has an eye for goal. Our second new arrival is Crewe's youngster Nick Powell. Firstly, I'm pleased to see us beat Arsenal to the signing of a young, potential star; but I'm also pleased to see us buy British talent. I wish that a lot of the big teams would scower the lower leagues more, rather than buy from abroad; but United aren't too bad at that in general. Chris Smalling and Phil Jones to name another two bought Englishmen.
But it remains to be seen if Fergie can counjure some more off-guard, inspirational signings. Will he uncover the next Nemanja Vidic? (a £7 million bargain) or perhaps the next Roy Keane? In any case, our midfield is dire need of a holding midfielder; as our search for the next Roy continues since 2005. It also remains to be seen if we can keep up with moneybags Manchester City and Chelsea. Chelsea already opening their cheque book to sign Marko Marin and Eden Hazard this summer.
After crashing out of yet another tournament on the back of a poor
performance, my first emotion wasn't anger; nor disappointment. It just
left me feeling optimistic that things can change in the future. So,
what should be done?
Looking at the match at a whole,
we were thoroughly outclassed by a side that previously looked some way
off the best two teams in the competition; Germany and Spain. I still
believe that either Germany or Spain will win the tournament, but the
gap in quality between England and Italy tonight was tremendous.
Let's
go back to the start of the tournament to when the England squad was
first announced. Roy Hodgson picked the squad which most people expected
him to pick. I was disappointed to see that he didn't make any bold
decisions in terms of selection. Stuart Downing's inclusion and Micah
Richard's exclusion were of particular interest. Taking into account the
lack of expectation surrounding England's chances in this competition,
it would have been good to see some wild card players being picked.
Perhaps Swansea's Scott Sinclair rather than Stuart Downing; or Norwich
City's Grant Holt. Plus many felt that Micah Richards should have been
picked rather than the eventual deputy right-back Martin Kelly. Though
it has to be said that Glen Johnson played well all tournament.
Nevertheless, the real problems the England squad has
is our footballing style; and our dwindling national pool. Spain and
Barcelona have proven that the future of football lies in intricate
short passing; much like Ajax's total football that dominated the early
1970s. Perhaps tiki taka is too extreme, but Italy played a short
passing game tonight; and when they did attempt a long pass, it often
came from the assured foot of Andrea Pirlo. There's a patience that
comes with a short passing game, that's also imperative to success.
As
expected, England regressed back to our tired, old, impatient,
long-ball style. Andy Carroll did a good job of taking the ball down,
but however once at his feet; he couldn't find a pass for love nor
money. Our forwards also seemed nervous on the ball, particularly Ashley
Young. The Italian players were perfectly happy to pass backwards if
there was nothing on ahead; but the England players played a Milan Baros
'head down and run' style. This often lead to us getting crowded out
and inevitably losing the ball. If we're to have any success in the
future, we have to ditch these archaic tactics; and get our youngsters
learning the more modern, short 1-2 passing style.
Lastly, the amount of imported foreign talent in English football
has had an effect on the amount of quality game time that our English
(and British) players receive. Martin Kelly played a reported 12 games
all season, yet was included in the squad as the third best English
right-back; (after Glen Johnson and Micah Richards.) If the national
squad is going to have any success in the future, then it will rely on
bigger clubs developing youth talent at the club, and buying from the
lower leagues in English football more often.
After all, let's take a quick look at how many current Barcelona
players came through their youth team: Puyol, Pique, Valdes, Busquets,
Xavi, Iniesta, Pedro, Thiago, Fabregas, etc.
Here's to the future of the England national team!
Just a quick one to say which videos I'll be working on in the next few weeks; after I finally completed my GT1 secret cars video.
So alike to the picture I posted before; I am intending to upload some footage of the re-created beta taxi from GTA III. Just got to get the codes for the beta wheels working properly, then it'll be ready to go!
Also, I'm working on a secret characters video for Dynasty Warriors 2; and I'll also be loading up the secret and beta tracks from the early Gran Turismo 2 demo.
Just last month I hit 9,000,000 views. I don't think I've ever released a video to celebrate hitting a views target before; so I'm planning on doing one for when I hit 10,000,000. Hopefully it'll be ready in time; and I'll give just a little clue out for now. Fans of fighting games will definitely enjoy seeing these characters.
It's that time of year again; it's the summer month of June and people are outside enjoying the fine weather. But for gamers, June means E3; new and upcoming video games! The biggest surprise for me this year was the announcement of Ratchet & Clank Q-Force; set to release this Autumn. (Ratchet & Clank: Full Frontal Assault in North America) Oh, and Ratchet & Clank titles usually come out when they're supposed to; and don't get delayed like other series. #granturismo5delayedforabouttwoyears
In an age where I find it difficult to get excited about too many games, Ratchet & Clank is definitely an exception. Insomniac Games give a certain care and attention to R&C, and it's evident when playing them that every fine detail has been given the same amount of development time. In addition, R&C is one of the few series that has strongly benefited from next gen graphics. A big reason for me to play these games is actually the planetary scenery. It's always stunning, and no two planets in the R&C universe look alike.
So, what information on R&C Q-Force has been released so far? Well not too much of course; as it's only the first time the game has become public knowledge. But, the game will go back to the classic R&C style gameplay; rather than the gameplay style of All 4 One, or Ratchet: Gladiator to name another exception. It's great news, as the classic R&C games are always the games with the most replay value, and the most memorable for me.
Insomniac Games CEO Ted Price comments; that the series will return to a 'classic feel, camera, controls and weapons', and also that there will be various new online features that will bring about 'a whole new way to play Ratchet & Clank with your friends'.
Although this is all the information we have so far, by the use of the term 'Q-Force', we can infer certain things. The Q-Force were last involved in Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal, and were a team of space cadets formed by Captain Qwark to defeat Dr. Nefarious. It is unknown what happened to the group after the end of Up Your Arsenal, although Captain Qwark commented in the last game; that Dr. Nefarious is a fine addition to the Q-Force. Though, this was before Nefarious, together with his side-kick Lawrence; stole a space ship, and parted company with the All 4 One team.
I am currently trying to re-create the beta taxi in the PS2 version of Grand Theft Auto 3. Here I have re-created the the taxi that featured in a lot of later beta screens. Yellow body, yellow bumpers and these wheels.
In earlier beta versions, the taxi had different wheels, which I am also looking to add to the taxi. I'll probably make a YouTube video when I finish both versions. But for now, enjoy this picture! :)
For those of you who are avid watchers of my YouTube channel; you'll know that I quite like rare demos. The reason being is that usually there is a good amount of beta content lurking in early demos of games; more-so than in any final version.
So the other day I was casually having a cup of tea and watching telly; when I thought I would indulge in a couple of my favourite Ebay searches. These searches consist of 'Gran Turismo rare' amongst others. To my surprise; a new item had been listed that corresponded with my search; 'Gran Turismo Demo, from E3 1997.' I nearly required a change of underwear. To see any demos from E3 is quite rare; but what also made this listing interesting was that I had never seen this demo in any person's Gran Turismo collections before. There are quite a few extensive collections displayed on the internet too.
I decided to act - opening bid of £3.18, (equivalent to the starting bid of $5.00) with a maximum bid of £10.00. I thought I could potentially go past £10.00, but I'll keep an eye on things first. So a couple of days pass; no one else has bid. I'm getting a little bit excited now; but stopping myself from getting too excited in case I was outbid. I even devised a sniping strategy; in the circumstance that I was outbid. The auction was due to end at 2:40 a.m. Thursday morning, and I even toyed with the idea of staying up until the auction was over.
Two days from the end of the sale; I woke up only to find an email saying that the item had been taken down. I had my last exam of my masters course later that day; but it's safe to say that I could think about nothing other than the great injustice that had just taken place. Why had the item been taken down? If the seller had decided to keep the item, then I wouldn't blame them; but can a seller take down the item for that reason in accordance with Ebay rules? These were just a few of my thoughts as I rode the train back to Sheffield.
I then got another email, saying that I had received a message from the seller who had denied me the opportunity to own what I would consider; a rarity. The message was of a polite and apologetic tone; and he had listed the reason for the premature ending of the auction.
The disc was cracked.
He had noticed a crack on the cd case, and decided to make sure the disc was okay; only to find out that it wasn't. On one hand I was disappointed to learn that it was broken, but on the other I felt glad that I at least had closure. Me and the seller exchanged pleasant messages over the next day, and I decided to add him as a favourite seller; to see if he decided to sell any more interesting items like the GT demo in future.
Then last night, I had a quick Google just to see if a cracked CD could be fixed. I was sceptical of my own thought process, though I looked anyway. I was pleased to find that although a permanent fix wouldn't be possible, a temporary fix could be done to last long enough to get the data off a cracked CD.
I messaged the seller and I am currently waiting for a response. Worst case scenario would be that he has thrown it away, as it is broken. Anyway, we'll see what becomes of it...
So, I was browsing for GTA V info the other day; which was fruitless as Rockstar have released very little since the trailer debuted last November. But I came across a questionnaire posted on gtaforums.com. So I'm giving it a go!
GTA IV
Most Memorable Moment(s)?
What are your favourite memorable moments from playing IV?
Well I have a lifetime's memories from playing the whole series, but from IV; not so much... I'd say probably what I end up doing on every GTA title, attempting to find and capture secret vehicles. If you watch my YouTube videos, you'll presume that I mean vehicles that can only be acquired through the use of cheat discs. But I simply mean the bulletproof, fireproof etc. cars that you usually find during missions. I think the one I remember most fondly from IV was specifically the Police Stockade, and other unique vehicles.
Favourite Features?
What was your favourite IV feature e.g Physics?
Tough one actually, not to narrow down my choice; but to pick one at all... You see, although there is no doubt that GTA IV was a good game; I felt that the PS2 titles felt superior in comparison. All things taken into consideration, maybe the ragdoll physics; though I would refrain from saying physics generally. This is because I didn't like the car physics, and in addition, definitely not the driving camera!
Another thing I was quietly impressed with, was the graphics. The game looked really nice, and I'm looking forward to seeing how Rockstar can create a next gen countryside on GTA V.
Favourite In The Series?
Did you prefer IV to previous titles? e.g Vice City, San Andreas etc...?
My favourite game in the series has always been GTA III. But as far as features and the landscape itself go, I'd say San Andreas was the best in the series so far.
Overall IV Rating Out Of 10?
Did it exceed your initial expectations?
Whilst GTA IV was undoubtedly a good game, it doesn't have the same appeal and replay value as any other game in the series. A lot of minor things needed perfecting; e.g. the driving camera. (It always moves to the side of the car when turning a corner, so you can't see what's ahead of you after taking a tight bend. That is unless you manually adjust it using the R3 stick, which is unnecessarily complicated.)
I didn't particularly like the storyline too much, or Niko himself. The city had little exploration opportunities like desert or countryside, and was unfortunately a carbon copy of New York.
7.5/10.
GTA V
Future Expectations?
From playing IV post hype, do you expect V to live up to your expectations?
In certain aspects, I do. I already know that the game is going to be a carbon copy of Los Angeles, which is unfortunate; as I would prefer Rockstar to show some originality and create a new and interesting city. I just hope the vehicles won't go the same way.
But I am looking forward to the exploring the countryside! And I know that I said that I didn't like the gimmicks like playing pool, getting drunk etc, but I have to admit that when I saw people playing golf in the GTA V trailer; I was excited at the prospect of being able to play golf in GTA V!
Future Dream?
What do you want most to do in V e.g Story, Exploration, Multiplayer etc...
Well I kind of answered that already; but the countryside and golf! Not to sound posh or anything... I am also looking forward to exploring Vinewood and potentially a Beverley Hills type area. I'm also looking forward to finding out more about the protagonist and storyline. Vehicles and secret vehicles as well.
Impressed Or Let Down Slightly?
Did the trailer do it for you, are you excited and eager for this game most of all upcoming titles?
Mixed feelings. It's a shame that the city is simply Los Angeles, though I'm excited to explore the surrounding areas. Other than that it's hard to say as not much was given away other than the location. At this point we have no idea who the main character will be and what he will be like. It is presumed that the narrator of the trailer will be the main character, but there are alternative theories floating around too. We also have no idea of the storyline that will feature in GTA V.
Overall GTA V Trailer#1 Rating Out Of 10?
Did it exceed your initial expectations?
I'm going to sit on the fence a little bit and say 8/10. Marks taken off because of lack of originalty of the city; but marks added because of the addition of the countryside area. Also, the protagonist seems American, (if we are to believe that the narrator is the protagonist) and that's the way I like it best.
The game also looks nice and bright, in contrast to the dingy Liberty City. It almost has a Vice City feel about it in that sense, which is promising!
With thanks to 'GtaVComments' from www.gtaforums.com for the questions.
I was just thinking yesterday whilst playing GTA III, and with the impending release of GTA V later this year; if I could take all the best elements from the GTA series and whip them all into one great game, what would I get? In fact, in my ideal world; this is what Grand Theft Auto V would be.
So what kind of character would take the lead role? I've always loved GTA III, and without a second thought I'd say it's definitely my favourite from the series. But the character that I always loved the most was Tommy Vercetti from Vice City. Tommy was voiced by Ray Liotta, who did a fantastic job with the character. There's also a big sense of satisfaction that comes from playing as a character who starts out as somewhat of a nobody, then as you play through the storyline; eventually takes over the city. Tommy's humble beginnings in Vice City saw him take part in a drug deal that went sour, leaving him to attempt to gain back Sonny Forelli's money in any way possible. By the end of the game, he'd disposed of Ricardo Diaz, Lance Vance and Sonny Forelli; leaving Tommy as top dog in the city. I'm not sure what it is, but I get a greater sense of power and control when I'm playing as Tommy, more-so than any other character. He feels like a boss; a character that's a born leader.
The 'humble beginnings to top dog' was the template for both GTA III and VC really, though while playing as Claude in GTA III, I didn't quite get the same feeling of 'owning the city' by the end of the game. Maybe it was the lack of a mansion safe house, like Diaz's (or should I say Tony Montana's?) home in Vice City. In addition, other characters in the game refer to Claude as Fido; which is a name usually given to a companion or second-in-command. In San Andreas, CJ was a satisfying main character to play as, however the story line focused more on street gang wars than disposing of top crime bosses. Finally, Niko Bellic of GTA IV isn't a character I was particularly able to warm to.
So where would the setting be? I'd definitely prefer it to be a completely original city, rather than a more-or-less copy of a real city; GTA IV - New York. I thought San Andreas was the best of the bunch, in terms of exploration. There were 3 distinctive types of city, plus countryside and desert land. I remember seeing a new myth appear on the internet every week about something lurking in the countryside or desert, whether it was Leatherface, Bigfoot or the Epsilon Program; and that only made me want to explore the areas more. I'm also in favour of another GTA title that's set in the past. By the looks of the GTA V screenshots so far, it looks like it'll be set in the present time. So that's two in a row now; as GTA IV was also set in the present. So, they've covered the 60's with GTA London, and since covered the 80's, 90's and naughties. Obviously there's a gap in that list; the 70's. I know Driver Parallel Lines was set in the 70's already; and to be honest it captured the zeitgeist very well. But I'd love to see what Rockstar could do with a game set in the 70's; after all it'd probably be even better.
So what about the vehicles? I've always preferred the classic set of vehicles; Sentinel, Cheetah, Infernus etc. A few new additions are ok, but personally I like to see different incarnations of all the names we recongise. Alike to the setting, I prefer to have some originality with the vehicles. All the cars and cities in GTA are based off one thing or another; but I'll always be for 'loosely based' rather than 'exact copy'.
Other stuff. I've heard that Rockstar are omitting all the activities like going bowling or hanging out with friends. All I can say is... THANK GOD! That's where Saints Row gains an advantage over GTA as you're not wasting time playing darts or dinning at fast food outlets. When playing it you're very aware that you're playing a game and that's how I think it should be. Rockstar went down the wrong line whenever they attempted to make GTA too alike to real life. Whether it be going internet dating or simply going for a burger at Cluckin' Bell; it's just an annoyance that you're forced to deal with. Things like that should be dropped in favour of a fun, fluent game.
I'll start it off with MediEvil. If you haven't played this PS1 game before, then I urge you to. Due to playing the beta demo a few weeks ago, I had to dig this game out and play through it once more. It may have come in the middle of a few coursework deadlines; but I don't regret it one bit! Also, some smartypants has not only found a full beta version of the game online (maybe the promo release?) but dubbed the full version voices and sound effects onto it too. (The beta version .iso was without sound)
Also, I've been itching to play GTA III again; unfortunately my PS2 library is at my parents' house and I'm stuck here in my GTA-less flat. So, what did I do? Bought the promo version off Ebay. The wisest way to spend a student budget is definitely not spending £20 on a game you've already got. Well, technically it is the promo version; and GTA promos are among the rarest.
As well, I dug out Tony Hawk's Pro Skater. Yeah that's right, the first game in the series. With the news of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater HD releasing this summer, I had go old school and play the first one again. For those of you who don't know, THPS HD will be a combination of Tony Hawk's 1 & 2, with next gen. graphics and gameplay etc. I also found a beta full version of Tony Hawk's 1. Unlike MediEvil where there are just a few differences / beta qualities, the Tony Hawk's beta is full of beta content! I'll be uploading a video of the content soon.
I'll be uploading some footage of Gran Turismo 2000, and an early GT3 demo as well. Plus secret characters from Dynasty Warriors 2 is also on my to-do list.
I'm going to list 5 things that I enjoyed about the game, and 5 things that could have been improved on.
Ok, so let's start with 5 things that I was pleased about.
1. The number of cars in races was increased. It was about time that the 6-car race became extinct. From Gran Turismo to Gran Turismo 4, all we knew was races that consist of 6 cars. Now, finally we get to participate in 10 and even 12 car races. Much improved.
2. Desired car brand licensing. Again, Yamauchi listened to the fans and gave us numerous new companies including Ferrari and Bugatti. Though it's disappointing to see that RUF still replaces Porsche.
3. Graphics. If it's one thing that Gran Turismo 5 succeeds at, it's graphics. The game looks great.
4. Types of races. It's good to see more types of races being acknowledged, rather than just a standard lap race. There are challenges where the player has to overtake all the other cars in 1 lap, and also time trial challenges.
5. The tracks. It's great to see tracks like Monza and the Nurburgring being added. Most players will never drive those tracks in real life, so it's nice to get as close to that as possible. Although some tracks that players have been asking for, for a long time; still haven't returned. *cough*RedRockValley*Cough*
5 things that could have been improved.
1. B-Spec Mode. It was introduced in Gran Turismo 4 as a way of giving the player a break during Endurance races, whereby the computer would drive for you. In Gran Turismo 5, A-Spec mode (where the player drives) and B-Spec mode are entirely seperate. B-Spec mode becomes its own entity, quite like a Football Manager game; instead the player's role is more like a team boss. The problem this causes is that the player can no longer use B-Spec in A-Spec mode endurances races. Can you imagine completing the 24 Hour Endurance race without it? Yes you can take breaks but, any way you look at it; you've got to complete those 24 hours all by yourself.
2. Damage. I mentioned how good the graphics are, but the same can't be said for the new addition of damage. It's hard to shift one pixel, let alone cause any major damage. Newton stated that 'every action has an equal and opposite reaction', well not on Gran Turismo 5... No matter the force of the shunt, the damage received does not represent the severity of the accident.
3. Racing series. Nascar is a disappointment - especially at Daytona. Formula 1 is a disappointment as the only licensed F1 team is Ferrari. The rest of the field is made up of stock Formula Gran Turismos.
4. Too many laps! On Gran Turismo, the longest race was 60 laps of Grand Valley. Now we have races that last 24 hours... I get bored before it's anywhere near finished.
5. The A.I. This is the cherry on the shit sundae. The A.I. simply isn't good enough. The biggest challenges on the game are probably time trials. I want a challenging race, with good A.I., like on Gran Turismo 1. This is what happens in an average race in GT5. The player overtakes the other cars on the first lap... and stays there for the rest of the race.
(Extra) 6. Prize cars and cars at the dealership should be kept seperate! Remember what the prize car was on GT2, for getting all Gold on Special License? The '99 Toyota GT-One TS020. That was the only way to unlock that car. I remember spending hours working on my times, just to try and get it. Finally, I was able to reap the rewards and drive that car. Now, either the license prize cars can often be won or bought elsewhere; or they're not worth winning at all. On GT4, one of the prize cars was the Ford Model-T. Just simply not worth the effort... Also, many times; a prize car won on a lengthy championship or race can be bought or won elsewhere. It's soul destroying when you've just completed a championship that's taken a fair amount of time; and winning a car that you've already bought.
Twelve-thousand visitors entered Sheffield’s Botanical Gardens this weekend to attend ‘A Magical Christmas’, which ran for three days from the 9th to the 11th of December. The event is supported by Sheffield City Council and this year helped to raise funds for St. Luke’s Hospice, with any surplus used to sustain Sheffield’s parks. Kevin Cheetham (correct) of Sheffield City Council said: “we just go through the charities and try to share the help out. This year it’s St. Luke’s.” Two years ago a similar number of guests attended, however last year’s celebration was cancelled due to the three feet of snow that Sheffield was blanketed by.
Lately, Sheffield has really come alive with Christmas Spirit as the city welcomed stall holders from across Europe to participate in the Christmas Markets attraction in the precinct and Peace Gardens. Sharrowvale Road is also hosting a Christmas market of their own, and several businesses on Eccleshall Road have put up miniature Christmas trees above their shops; in a similar fashion to the nearby quaint village of Castleton.
‘A Magical Christmas’ gives the public the chance to see the gardens after dark, lit up by no more than festive fairy lights and tea lanterns. The pavilion’s interior has also been decorated with yet more illuminating displays, accompanied by homemade fairies and mythical scenes. Any parents who expect a kids’ convention would be pleasantly surprised to find craft stalls selling jewellery and Christmas decorations, complemented with the temptation of a jacket potato rather than burgers or hotdogs. “I had lovely jacket potato with chicken korma!” commented happy customer, Rebecca Harper.
Meanwhile, children were treated to steam train rides and the chance to see Santa Claus before Christmas Eve. Saint Nick was present on all three nights, though unfortunately Santa’s Grotto is still based in the North Pole. “It’s just a quick appearance from Father”, said Kevin Cheetham (correct), “he’s very busy, he’s got a lot to do, it’s only two weeks ‘til Christmas; so he’ll be busy wrapping presents and filling his slay up.”
Frank and Doris Riddell, aged 94 and 91 of Woodley, Stockport celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary last weekend. The couple married on November 8th 1941. In the same year, Frank who was in the Lancashire Fusiliers was sent to India and Burma; not returning to his wife until after the Second World War was over.
Frank played football for Northwich Victoria and was due to sign for Manchester City before he was called up to the army. During his time fighting abroad, he would often send money and luxuries like bananas back to Doris. He said: “I enjoyed many aspects of army life, but it was hard of course to be separated from my wife for such a long time. I think we have made up for it now though.”
After Frank returned from the war, he found work at Crown Wallpaper and the couple moved to nearby Romiley, and started a family soon after. The Riddells later moved to Woodley, where they still live today.
As well as their three children, they are succeeded by their four grand-children and five great-grandchildren; all of whom made the journey to celebrate their Platinum wedding anniversary with them. Frank and Doris also received a celebratory card from the Queen, and they’ll receive another if they reach their Oak Anniversary. (80 years.)
Frank summed up their seventy years together by saying: “there is no particular secret to being married for so long, we just put up with each other. We have had a very good life and travelled about a great deal.”
This will be the last season that Rotherham United play their home games at Don Valley Stadium. Scheduled to be completed by the 11th July, The Millers will relocate to the New York Stadium, in the heart of Rotherham. The ground is named after the local area, as in the 18th century, steel was exported to America to build fire hydrants in New York. The ground will cost £20 million pounds and will have the capacity to seat an initial 12,000 people, with the possibility to expand in the future.
Described as a “soulless venue” by press officer Matt Young, Don Valley Stadium sits in the heart of an industrial estate. However Rotherham’s new ground is located “in the heart of the city” and is part of the plan to “bring the team back to the town.” However, with Rotherham currently averaging an attendance of 3,706 for their home games; 12,000 seems a long way away. Due to the new location, the club believes that they can attract average attendances of “8,000 people in the first year”.
Darlington F.C. opened the Darlington Arena in 2003, which was built to seat 25,000 fans at a cost of £18 million pounds. The club is now in administration and last season, recorded a mere average home attendance of 1,886. “The chairman wants promotion next season” says Matt Young, “or the manager will be under pressure.” But The Millers would surely need to attain promotion twice in order to achieve the 9,500 average attendances that local rivals Barnsley and Doncaster enjoy in the npower Championship.
At Rotherham United’s first home, Millmoor; the never finished ‘Main Stand’ still lies in a half-built state. The stand would have been able to seat an extra 4,500 fans, all seated and covered, and was due to be completed during the 2006–07 season. But this had still not come to fruition by the time Rotherham United entered administration in March 2008, and the ground became disused.
At a cost of £20 million pounds, it seems like no expense will be spared in the construction of this “iconic” new stadium. Assistant press officer Ben Shepard noted its “sloping design” and the New York Stadium will even contain “poly-carbonate in the roof to keep in the atmosphere.” In short, this is a big statement from a club who want to achieve big things. But as Rochdale A.F.C. have proven, a promotion can take as long as 41 years.
