The current review backlog is finally complete, though the party ramps up again as early as tomorrow. I’m taking the afternoon off to read some magazines play some non-review games, and watch some movies with the other half when she returns from work.
Spent most of the week with Fallout 3. Certainly ended up a lot like Elder Scrolls in the wasteland.
Reviews
Viva Pinata: Trouble In Paradise (Xbox 360) at Games On Net
Crysis Warhead (PC) at Games On Net
FIFA 09 (Xbox 360) at Games On Net
Features
The Warp Pipe – The Tin Anniversaries (Part One) at Games On Net
posted by Matthew Keller at 2:30 pm
Just realised I didn’t write a post last week, and I don’t remember why.
I don’t think I’ve worked this hard for a while. 11 pieces in the last 14 days at a minimum of 1,200 words each. Yesterday was the first day in ages where I didn’t write anything, but I did make big inroads into Fable II. Got Dead Space sitting here as well, a few XBLA games, and one very popular RPG was meant to be here on Friday for a fast track review, but didn’t show up. So roughly 7 more pieces to write by the 31st.
Starting to get hot and sticky in Melbourne now. I do not like it.
Reviews
Mercenaries 2: World in Flames (Xbox 360) at Games on Net
Infinite Undiscovery (Xbox 360) at Games on Net
Features
The Warp Pipe – Twenty Years of the Sega Mega Drive (Part Two) at Games on Net
The Warp Pipe – The Game/Movie Problem at Games on Net
posted by Matthew Keller at 7:38 am
We decided this week that we’d be moving back to Queensland. Not an easy decision to make, but arguably the best of our options, and should certainly help us set up for the rest of our lives.
Tons of work to do, but I’m getting there. Six games on the whiteboard right now, with another two or three coming in this week. All need to be done by the 22nd for sanity reasons, as four more come out on the 23rd, and they’re all meant to be really good.
I think I need to iron out my time management issues. Certain pieces take far longer than expected, which has a bit of a flow on effect.
Reviews
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09 (Xbox 360) at Games On Net
TNA iMPACT (Xbox 360) at Games On Net
Spore (PC) at Games On Net
Features
The Warp Pipe – Twenty Years of the Sega Mega Drive (Part One) at Games On Net
posted by Matthew Keller at 10:33 pm
The workload is high, as are the stress levels. House hunting is not a whole lot of fun, especially when the couple is undecided on their plans for the coming year. Seven reviews on the run at the moment, and a bunch of features that need to be written ASAP. Would rather just sit around and watch movies for a week.
Weight loss stalled during the week after I binged on junk food to counter depression. I’m completely over diet Coke, so that makes the whole campaign easier.
Reviews
Castle Crashers (XBLA) at Games On Net
Facebreaker (Xbox 360) at Games On Net
Features
The Warp Pipe – LucasArts: A Fall From Grace at Games On Net
posted by Matthew Keller at 11:14 am
First week of controlled eating has yielded a loss of 2kg. Still a ways to go.
Lots of work to be done, many annoyances prevent the working environment from being adequate.
Reviews
Madden NFL 09 (Xbox 360) at Games On Net
Bionic Commando Rearmed (XBLA) at Games On Net
Galaga Legions (XBLA) at Games On Net
The Last Guy (PSN) at Games On Net
Features
The Warp Pipe – 25 Random Video Game Facts IV at Games On Net
posted by Matthew Keller at 11:13 am
The first quarter-century is over. I spent the celebratory day working, followed by eating a nice pizza from a non-chain restaurant, and gorging myself on cheesecake. The unfortunate side effect was a new record weight, so we officially started dieting this morning with a bowl of Bran Flakes and All Bran.
The review wave hits with full force this Thursday. I’m still wrestling with my early month work, but should clear that out shortly. It’s harder for the online folk because we don’t have the luxury of lead time, though following statements from the editor this week, it sounds like we should.
Print media is dead, but the publishers refuse to acknowledge it, using the defibrillators of exclusives and long lead times to keep a weak pulse going.
Reviews
Soulcalibur IV (Xbox 360) at Games On Net
Braid Review (XBLA) at Games On Net
Ratchet & Clank: Quest for Booty (PSN) at Games On Net
Features
The Warp Pipe: Games of Q4, 2008 Part II at Games On Net
posted by Matthew Keller at 10:45 am
After 4 years, the 3200 was moved on, and the 8400 has slotted in in its place. New computers are fun, but backing up and transferring old data, and re-installing programs is a real drag, especially when there is work to be done.
Six reviews on the run now, plus Warp Pipes that need to be prepared in advance. The review backlog at GON must be insane, because only one review I published in August is live on the site.
Features
The Warp Pipe: Games of Q4, 2008 Part I
posted by Matthew Keller at 11:27 am
The Internode folks re-launched their site this week. Internode Games Network is now Games On Net, and it looks a lot more professional. Hopefully the improved look will be beneficial to all.
I have this problem where I start on a million different projects with all kinds of ambitions, and then drop them by the end of the week. Two projects keep recurring – the video games guide book (inspired by the Maltin movie guide), and a video game.
The former is easily doable – it’ll take 10 years, though. In that time I’d have to educate myself on about 15-20 years of “micro computers” such as the Sinclair range, Atari 8-bit and ST, Commodore 64 and Amiga, and so on.
The latter I could put together in under a year, but it’s really damn intimidating, even trying to use the most basic of tools. I’d love to do it all myself, but I suck at the art stuff (unless I use simplistic shapes). I have been looking at AGS as my first point of call – it’d be easy enough to get a game up and running with stick figures and simple backgrounds while learning more about the scripting side of things before moving onto anything ambitious.
I always have the worst timing with these little projects I want to work on. Right now we’re entering the thick of the review season; I’ve already got five on my plate, and need to make the most of the steady, high paying work flow that this time of the year grants. Yet I’m impatient and want everything now.
Features
The Warp Pipe – Most Wanted Remakes II at Games On Net
posted by Matthew Keller at 11:58 am
I did not realise that it had been 4 weeks since I made an entry. For some reason I think I’ve been busy, but I look at the amount of work I’ve done this month and start to think otherwise. Had I really been busy, I wouldn’t be rushing five reviews out the door today.
We haven’t done a whole lot over the last month. Charly and I watched the complete Dragon Ball series, I played a bunch of games, went to Queensland for my grandparents’ 50th wedding anniversary, and looked after a sick Charly when I got back.
From here on out, the gaming release schedule becomes ridiculous, and I get to do around 10-12 reviews a month. Good for the bottom line, bad for sanity and sleep.
I’ve decided to buy a new PC. My current one is now over four years old, and the extra opportunities for PC gaming freelancing are more than enough to justify the outlay. Phase one upgrades; a new monitor, new mouse and new keyboard, are now complete. Phase two is the box.
Reviews
Buzz: The Master Quiz (PSP) at Internode Games Network
Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 (XBLA) at Internode Games Network
Features
The Warp Pipe: Most Wanted Remakes at Internode Games Network
The Warp Pipe: Subsection Medley I at Internode Games Network
The Warp Pipe: Subsection Medley II at Internode Games Network
The Warp Pipe: Rescue Mission at Internode Games Network
posted by Matthew Keller at 9:57 am
The insane time of the year is fast approaching. I’ve got three reviews on my plate already, and am in the midst of stage 2 of About.com guide training. I find out if I have that gig on Saturday. If I get it, the monthly payment will help me save for the move at the end of the year.
Of course, I happened to miss the Thursday deadline for giving the editor my categories to check over, so I could be out of the running already, but I am beginning to hypothesise that I’m the only one in the training.
Up to Queensland in a little over two weeks. Scary to think that it’s almost been 6 months since I was up there last.
Been pricing parts for a new PC. It’s tough to decide when I should fork out the money for the machine, and how much I should cough up. I was aiming to get everything in under 2,500, but once I add the monitor and Windows Vista to the package (which I don’t really need but should have), it creeps past the mark. Prices will descend a lot more as the year goes by, though.
Reviews
Alone in the Dark (Xbox 360) at Internode Games Network
Features
The Warp Pipe – 25 Random Video Game Facts at Internode Games Network
posted by Matthew Keller at 10:10 am