Short blog: Sleuth Is Out Now

Thank You For Your Patience.

 Sleuth,the app I reviewed earlier this week is now available to download after a few teething problems. Matt Thomas and his company, SimWave wish to offer their opologies to all who were trying to download the game on monday and I would like to personally ask anyone who was wanting to download the game to do so. These technical hiccups can happen in the gaming world and unlike mega AAA releases like Assassins Creed Unity where the devs can afford to release a broken game and patch it, knowing full well they will make their profits whether they do so or not, smaller devs like SimWave simply cant afford things like this to affect them.

   So please do download the game. I gave it rather glowing praise as a simple but fun and addicting word game in my review on monday. I stick by that and as a free download it truly wont affect you at all to give it a try.

   Thank you

Short News: Java is a pain

Unfortunately SimWave have been unable to release their game Sleuth today due to technical difficulties with Java. My heart really does go out to Matt and his workfellows and I have been assured the game WILL be released at some point this week.
   I dont normally beg, but for small companies like SimWave this can have a fatal butterfly effect on everything. I implore anyone and everyone who was intending to download the game to remain patient and please please give the game a download when it does release. In the mean time check my review of the game in the previous post.
  Thank you for your understanding.

Review: Sleuth, Android/IOS

The Game Is Afoot! Well Actually Its An App...

Any who have been following my Blog over the last week or so will know that I was approached recently by a delightful fellow called Matthew Thomas. He and his acquaintance's at SimWave Consulting have developed an app called Sleuth and he very kindly asked if I would review it. And thats exactly what I am doing here today. So what is Sleuth? Is it the next AAA masterpeice that demand's your attention? Or is it something that Sherlock wannabe's will deduce to not be their Deer Stalker hat of choice? Read on and find out...

Small Does Not Mean Insignificant.

So starting with the easiest, what is Sleuth? Well it is a trivia app, available later on this week for Android and IOS. The aim of the game is to guess as many words as you can within the time limit. To do this, four pictures appear on the screen,one after the other, regarding different subject's (so film, sport, places etc *ed) and the quicker you answer them the better the score you have at the end.
   There are games like this in drove's on Android and IOS but this one does have me hooked for a few reason's. Firstly, there is a score attack quality to the game and I must say I am addicted. Because you are constantly on a timer and the four picture clues do not reveal themselves straight away, it does add some excitement to what would otherwise be a dime a dozen app. Also unique to Sleuth is the community these guys hope to create through the game. There are online leaderboards so you can compare scores with friends, and there is a physical prize that SimWave Consulting will give to the person who gets the best score at the end of the month and year. Those being a rather nifty Sleuth T-shirt for the monthly top score and a "grand prize" for the person to gain the highest annual score.
   Its these little touch's that I dont see very much in apps like this so I can do nothing but praise the app for being that little bit different from the rest.

What I Would Pay For This Game.

So no, this isnt the next big AAA masterpeice but maybe it can demand some attention. It's a harmless enough game and one that I am rather addicted to. No it isnt going to set the world on fire but that does'nt mean it is not worth a look. The game is free if you are okay with ads invading your game and 99p if you would rather have ads abolished from the game. Whether you wish to spend the pennies to remove the ads is entirely up to you though I would consider giving the free version a download. At the very least it helps small companies like SimWave to get their foot in the door. And that is something I am willing to do for these guys. After all they have given me this small chance to gain a bit more popularity so to me the decision is elementary. Okay enough with the Sherlock jokes! Please do give this game a try, all it cost's is a little bit of you attention and you never know, you could be fighting me for that mysterious grand prize...

I Would Pay Attention To Sleuth.

Review: #DRIVECLUB PS4

Good Things Come To Those Who...

#DRIVECLUB has had a very long road to drive down. Sitting here writing this review I am faced with a mix of emotions and memories. If I were to think back to when this game was first anounced in February 2013 (At the PS4 anouncement event *ed) it would be full of shameless schoolboy excitement and hype. Memories of game director Paul Rustchynsky gushing over the power of the PS4 and how it had allowed his team to show details like individual stitching on the cars seats. The graphics looked astoundingly realistic and phrase's like "Gran-Turismo beater" were thrown around with reckless abandon. Also announced was "#DRIVECLUB PS plus edition", a free version of the game for all PS plus subscribers. As a PS4 launch game many gamers (myself included) simply could not wait.
   Fast forward to just a few week before the PS4 launch and emotions and memories would take a downward spiral as #DRIVECLUB was delayed until "early 2014". Early 2014 brought with it more bad news with more delays and more disapointment. Infact #DRIVECLUB was not released until Early October 2014 and what a pitiful release it was. So #DRIVECLUB is a bad game? No, its actually brilliant and one of this generations best racers. So, as is becoming standard with my reviews allow me to explain this contradiction.

Wait For It, Wait For It!

It is common knowledge now that upon release  #DRIVECLUB, despite the numerous delays, was a mess. The promised online features were non existent. Upon starting a race you would have horrible and distracting red wording slide accross the screen informing you that the #DRIVECLUB servers were not working, thus prohibiting you from playing the game as intended. No club consisting of friends and other online players earning points for you was able to be made.

   Also promised and not in the game at launch were the incredible weather effect's. Even in snowy Canada the day was as bright and clear as any you would see in sunnier climes.

   And perhaps the biggest promise to break was the admission of the PS plus edition of the game, forcing excited gamers like myself to have to purchase the full game if they wanted to play the game at launch.

   Gameplay itself was,and is, solid. The cars handle well and you can tell alot of attention has been made to ensure the cars feel realistic, yet arcadey. You do have to brake unless you wish to be eating grass yet at the same time can throw the cars around rather satisfyingly. Its a nice unique blend and the games best mechanism by far. But looking back to October 2014 utilising this handling in single player only races around bland environments, thanks to the lack of weather, felt extremely bare bones. There was no drift,speed or racing line challenges that could be created on the tracks by other players. No clubs or community to speak of and the game was certainly not worth the full price punt Evolution Studio's and Sony were asking for.

I Would Pay £10 For #DRIVECLUB

But wait, this review isnt finished! Yes the game that was released in October deserves the above price placed upon it. But Evolution Studio's thankfully knew the initial release of the game was not up to the standards us gamers were expecting. So they set out to right these wrongs with constant updates regarding their server status, dragging the game to the online community a few weeks after release. At this point the servers were far from stable and though it was now possible to have an online game it was still shaky at best. 
   Weather was still non existent at this point and the PS plus edition was "delayed until further notice" creating further frustration and disapointment in many. Infact, #DRIVECLUB could not really be considered a full game, with all the features we were expecting, until several MONTHS down the line. It was in January that the game finally had its dynamic weather effects, fully functioning online clubs, a fantastic photo mode, challenges that could be created between players and clubs and any sort of functioning community in the game. 

To rectify this discrace Evolution Studio's did provide us with many free dlc packs including new cars, events and, more recently the new area of Japan to race upon. But to many this will have been too little too late. This is what makes #DRIVECLUB such a difficult game to review. Because if you are one of the unlucky ones who purchased the game at launch you have more than likely lost interest by now as the initial game was not substantial enough to hold the attention. If you are one of the few who stuck by the game however it is a much rosier picture. I love my racing games, so thankfully stuck with the game. Playing #DRIVECLUB with the weather effects in motion finally give you an indication of  what the devs were intending to achieve in the first place. An incredibly visceral, visually stunning and intense racing game. Its rare for this gamer to praise graphics over gameplay. But with the weather effects switched on the game just comes alive, with droplets of water swaying up and being realistically swished away by the animated windscreen wipers. Reflections of the car and evironment glisten in the wet road with puddles being distracted and deformed as the car of your choice zooms through. Its really rather amazing and one of the first visuals Im seeing in a game where I truly feel like next gen is here. Add to this the feeling you are never alone in the game,even in singleplayer, with challenge markers left by the community sporadically spashed over parts of the track. The game finally (such an overused word in this review! *ed) feels like it should have done in the first place: Well made.
   Rather brilliantly Evolution Studio's say they are not done with updating the game either, with video replays promised for March and further dlc expansions being made up until June.
   

What I Would Pay For This Game

Yes, #DRIVCLUB is a difficult game to review. Still in the air is the PS plus edition of the game, and that is a true shame and something that should not really be forgiven.You could shout outrage at your pc screen/ laptop/ T.V for its worryingly persistent lack of presence. And I would be hard pressed to argue with that. More to your loss however, you could be a stubborn oaf and declare the game has had its chance and it blew it. Its here where I can say with confidence if you did so you would be missing out on what I believe to be the premier racing experience on PS4. It is all a matter of sensibilities I suppose. Let me say it like this: If you have some disposable income and are looking for a racing game for your PS4, I would not find it difficult at all to heartily recommend #DRIVECLUB as the game for you.

I Would Pay £35 for #DRIVECLUB

Short Blog: Time for some sleuthing...

My First Week Has Been Mind Blowing.

I never thought after just one week of doing this blogging lark I would garner the attention of an actual game developer. Yet exactly that has happened. I've recently been in touch with a super young fellow called Matt, who has, along with his cohorts at Simwave created himself a trivia app called Sleuth.

He has very kindly allowed me to review a copy of the game which will be available on IOS and Android devices. It would mean a whole bunch to both me, him and Simwave if you would take a look at the website: www.sleuth.ninja 

  A review of the game will be coming very very soon. In my later years of life on this spinning rock (wow I sound so old! *ed) I'm finding the smaller, Indy and mobile games to be much more to my liking than the many samey FPS games involving massive guns and Michael bay style explosion porn. Sure I love a good shooter. I recently reviewed The Order 1886 and gave it a glowing recommendation so of course I know games like that are great. But more people should realise there is room for the smaller games too. Variety is the spice of life after all.

  So please do stay tuned for my review of Sleuth. Its a dog eat dog world out there and I'm certain Matt and the guys at Simwave would appreciate the attention.

  Thanks

22 "inovative" lines to plead for likes/shares/thumbs up etc.

I Promise I Dont Stalk. Anymore.

I haven't been doing this blog for very long at all. Just over a week actually and its dawning on me that to get any sort of recognition requires not just hard work, but creative begging too. There are quite a few "beggars" out there,some of them witty, some of them cringeworthy yet all of them memorable. And thats what makes a difference. It doesn't really matter how annoying,strange of outragious the line is. If it sticks in the grey matter then you have a chance of earning those fabled likes or shares.
  So I thought it would be fun to think up some of my own. Some will be shamelessly straightforward, others you may find just shameless. Feel free to use them if you like. You never know,  you may get a few likes in the process. Or not...

1: Sharing is caring
2: Like me and i'll love you
3: Like this page. It'll cure cancer
4: Like me or I'll cry
5: Like,share,comment. Or don't bother Im not fussed...PLEASE LIKE ME!
6: If I get to *** likes (insert milestone number) a girl I like will sleep with me
7: If I get to *** likes a girl you like will sleep with you
8: If I get to *** likes my wife will sleep with you. (NO SHE WILL BLOODY NOT *wife)
9: Jab/prod/smash/bash/poke/bump/grind...? the like button
10: Share my page, prove my faith in humanity is worthwhile
11:

Or other animal based plead's!

12: The like button will gain you eternal glory in the afterlife

13: If you don't press the like button you be in the afterlife...

14: The haunted lady will haunt you unless you and 10 other friends like my page. Keep the chain going!!!!!

15: Share me and I'll share you...erm...

16: If you like me and you know it click the link.If you like me and know it click the link etc etc

17: 

So click the like and share button yo!

18: 

Allow me to help. Use the pointer thingy and press the left button of the thumb icon thingy.

19: 

So allow me to send you to the realm of Elven prosperity. If you would but lend me the like...

20: BROFIST!

21:  If you are wondering whether to like me and share my page, ask yourself... What would Jesus do? 

22: Please sir, can I have more likes? Sad face... 

So there are a few prime lines to entice your future followers!

Okay so in reality most of these are probably not the best way to go about gaining the attention of the masses. But you would be surprised what strange and properly silly lines some people say that does the job of sticking in the mind. 

I mean, look at Pewdiepie...

Review: Hatsune Miku Project Diva F. PS Vita

To try it is to...

"What the heck is Hatsune Miku?". I'm sure that will be the first question on many's lips. Just know that many, many other's will consider that an insult as the correct question should be "Who the heck is Hatsune Miku?". To put it simply, Hatsune Miku is a Japanese popstar. A HUGE Japanese popstar with a unique voice, typically massive eyes, bright hair and skimpy-bordering on inappropiate-dress sense. To the uninitiated your next question may be: "So what? What makes her different from the countless other Japanese pop idols". Well how about the fact she dosn't exist? Thought that may get your attention. Allow me to explain.

  So Hatsune Miku is indeed a HUGE J-pop idol with sell out tour's a plenty, a plethora of merchandise including, of course, two PS Vita video games (The first of which in question here *ed) and yet she does not exist in the real world. Yes, those crazy Japanese went and made a digital pop star. Hatsune Miku is all digital,even down to the synthesized voice referred to commonly as a Vocoloid. Everything about the persona that is Hatsune Miku is made, produced and animated using a computer. And she is, in my opinion, excellent.

Rhythm Action At It's Finest.

So thats Hatsune Miku. "But what about Hatsune Miku project diva F?" will no doubt be the third question on many's minds. Well Project Diva F is, rather obviously, a rhythm action game featuring the pop diva and her digital friends performing new and well loved song's. These songs range from 200 bpm monster J-pop dance tunes to slower,smoother balads. The soundtrack is really quite ecclectic and excellent. And when I say excellent, what I really mean is excellent with a great big mysterious asterix (* for those wondering *ed) next to it. In other words I'll come back to that shortly.

  The aim of the game is to press buttons in time to the song played out onscreen. All the  PS vita's face button's come into use,pressing them as the icon's fly toward the relevant cross, circle, square or triangle button's. The touch screen comes into play too requiring deft swipes and rub's at certain intervals. Bonus section's appear during tricky section's and only "good" or "cool" button presses are acctepted ensuring intense play on harder difficulties. Button icon's can litterally fly from anywhere on the screen so concenration and focus is needed to get the games "excellent" rating.  This all adds up to a very addictive, very challenging game.

On top of the standard rythm gameplay there are various extra modes to keep you in Hatsune Miku's world including a Tamagotchi-esk game involving dressing, feeding and touching (... *ed) Hatsune or one of her digital friends. Dresses,toy's and various miscellaneous item's are rewarded in the main game and its here where you can use them for your pleasure. If the above sound's worrying and borderline perverse then dont worry. It's innocent enough and is an optional extra. Another optional extra is an augmented reality mode where Hatsune and friends can be put in various poses and photographed over a real world background. 

  Both these extra modes are a neat addition and thankfully optional. Some people will love the pet mode, others may want to stear clear. They dont impose on the main game at all.

Its All A Matter Of Taste.

Earlier I put a wopping big asterix next to my statement of the music in Hatsune Miku Project Diva F being "ecclectic and excellent". I do indeed believe the music to be upbeat, addictive, feel good, just a little zany and extremely catchy. However that is just my opinion. Opinion's, especially opinion's on music can vary wildly and while one person may think Mozart is a musical genius, other people may think the same of Jedward or The Cheeky Girls. Its a sad fact and the reason I cannot wholeheartedly recommend this game to everyone. The cheesy and over the top japanese performance's in this game will be utter brilliance to some and a bit too much for many. If you are still reading up to this point then chances are you are in the former's camp. This game is the ultimate definition of "niche" which to a few will only make the game more attractive and enticing to them. I am one of these people and after giving the game a try I can say with no shame that I am a fan of not just Hatsune Miku Project Diva F, but of the J-pop star herself.

What I Would Pay For This Game.

While I cannot recommend this game to everyone. Anyone with an interest in rhythm action games, Japanese culture, or just willing to give something different a try should absolutely do so with this game. It's pretty. It's crazy. It's Japanese and I am glad I decided to give the game a bash.

I would pay £15 for Hatsune Miku Project Diva F