Quick Review: F1 2010

Last week I got to play (and take home) the latest racing game, Codemasters’ F1 2010. To be honest… it’s pretty big!!!

Much like your good selves I'm still trying to work out why they’re bringing out a 2010 branded F1 game… in 2010, with 2011 looming. Surely this game will be redundant in two months??? (Surely they could have at least dropped in 2010-2011 “Season”) Anywho, we’re not that troubled by this irrelevant info as we’ll be playing it next year and beyond.

As this is an official FIA licensed game all of the drivers appear – including legend/ dinosaur Schumacher  which adds to the drama as you know what the drivers are like during career mode. As soon as you enter one player mode you’re sucked into the weird and wonderful world of an F1 driver. The press are trying to speak to you, your agent and team are trying to help you and you find yourself spending as much time in the practice sessions as you do in the race.

Here is Lewis Hamilton and his brother Nick giving the game a go. Lewis mentions the level of detail they’ve gone to. “It’s so good that they have my gloves on it.”

The controls are VERY responsive – maybe this was due to the VisionRacer with full Logitech steering we were (trying to) handle. Ok so apart from NEEDING a VisionRacer, the experience was a pleasant one. And in the comfort of my own home, sans VisionRacer, it was just as good. Loving the graphics, the damage, and the ability to corner cut WITHOUT getting a black flag. We haven’t seen an F1 game on the 360 or PS3 in a while; we think it was well worth the wait.

4/5

The New Nintendo DSi XL is ME!!!

I don't own it... YET!!! March 5th 2010.

BMW's New Mini Countryman (a 4x4 Mini???)

What??? Joining the established hatchback, Clubman estate and Convertible is the Mini Countryman... are they crazy?

The Future of Magazine Publishing?

This is sick...

Mag+ from Bonnier on Vimeo.

Cotchin Fridays: The New Xbox Experience (NXE)

What are your views on the new dashboard…?



After months of hype, reports and games-based gossip posted on several forums by people who think they know more about the Xbox than Bill Gates and his entire development team put together, Microsoft officially launched the ‘New Xbox Experience’ earlier this week. That’s right, Wednesday 19 November the Dashboard, Marketplace and Xbox 360 interface was changed, but was if for the better? Danny Walker takes a look at the changes and finds out what Xbox fiend MC Narstie thinks of it all…

If you haven’t updated already, it’s a simple, straightforward process.

‘Please wait while the New Xbox Experience update is applied’… and then a few moments later…

‘Welcome to the New Xbox Experience’ is closely followed by a pretty excellent intro. The screen is soon plastered in dynamic HD visuals where pixel-rich cars accelerate over elegant flowers and it culminates in what can only be described as a lava and firework eruption which devours your display. That fun part is momentarily overtaken by the new terms and conditions. These consist of 1000s of paragraphs, 27 actual terms and other bits and pieces that you can and can’t do. We’re almost sure these are double the length of the last set of T&Cs, if you can remember that far back.

After you ignore scrolling down and click accept to the new conditions (it will take THREE hours to read them all) you’re next asked to Choose an Avatar. Much like Nintendo’s Wii’s Mii, you select what your new online entity will consist of. In short; there are 90 different hair styles but only about nine selections of t-shirt and it is very hard not to make your character look like a special guest at a Graham Norton house party. In this sector you can also take a picture of your digital face and save it as your new Gamer pic… nice.

The New Dashboard…
- Welcome
What’s Hot – with videos of what is new (Mirrors Edge, Call of Duty, etc).
Xbox Essentials – stuff you already know like how the pad works etc.
New Xbox Experience – replay the intro video.
Hide Channel – does what it says on the screen. Hides the channels that you don’t use.

- Spotlight
Basically stuff they’re promoting from the Marketplace. The perfect place for Microsoft to get your money points.

- My Xbox

This is much like the old dashboard with your gamer profiles, game stats and system settings.

- Game Marketplace

Here you can play games with your new avatar characters.
– A Kingdom for Keflings
– Uno
– Hardwood Hearts

- Video Marketplace
Here you can rent standard and high definition movies from the biggest movie studios…

Magnolia Pictures - Ong Bak and such.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM) - Carrie, Species and the immense Rocky.

Paramount Pictures - Iron Man and much more.

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment - Interview with a Vampire and the Matrix Triology.

- Friends

This features all your friends in a weird police-like line-up. You can also have a LIVE Party??? (Which is basically a conference call with up to seven Xbox Livers). You can voice chat while you play games, share photos in real time and “entertain friends all over the world.” Nice.

- Inside Xbox
More videos.

---
What RWD like?
We do like the new use of the Xbox Guide button. This now gives you easy access to EVERYTHING with the touch of a button. Play your games, speak to friends and listen to music effortlessly.

Surprisingly installing games to hard drive is easy and pretty useful. After all the Internet chatter we though we were going to hate this new feature but… it did exactly what it said it would. Quieter play and faster loading times. Gears of War 2 took approximately 10 minutes to upload to the hard drive (taking up 6.7GB of space) so apart from renting movies there is a new reason for that spacious 120GB HDD.

What RWD didn’t like?
Those stuuuuupid avatars. They’ve been rinsed more than Paris Hilton. What’s next Microsoft a Light Gun? A brand mascot that looks like a green hedgehog? Or better still an overweight Italian Plummer? Come on…

Mr Narstie tells RWD his views…



RWD: Hello, MC Narstie, we contacted you cos we know you’re a big Xbox Live gamer…
MC Narstie: Hello, hi… top of the morning to you…
Hello… hi…
Yeah, I’m a massive Call of Duty fan, oh my days… and Fight Night…
Cool…
Whoever is not on Call of Duty: World at War is a wasteman [laughs].
Wow, it only came out the other day, give people time…
It’s a religion man, it’s like Pro Evolution Soccer… I like to do all my skills on Pro cos I can’t do it in real life.
So what do you think of the New Xbox Experience?
Its ok you know. It’s some big daddy sh*t.
How long did it take to create your avatar? And did you make it exactly like you?
Of course!!! Sexy guy on the web. Definitely, come one man. I wouldn’t want to be a skinny computer guy!!!What are your thoughts on the New Xbox Experience?

Pro Evolution Soccer 2009: Essential Updates

Before you buy PES 2009, READ THIS FIRST…

The second leg of my Pro preview features everything you need to play PES to death this weekend. Yesterday we covered the things we noticed when we popped our Pro 2009 cherry and that was a lot (have a read). Today, we need to reveal the essential updates to make your copy sing and dance like Michael Jackson (hopefully, it will look better though).

Team and League Names…
Firstly edit the team names so that Merseyside Blue becomes Everton, London FC become Chelsea and so on. We all know who is who but if you’re clueless check out the squad names that are clearly visible in edit mode. This is like detective work for some teams but you’ll figure it out. You can also turn the ‘English’ League into the ‘Barclays Premier League’, which is handy when you’re choosing domestic clubs.

Team Kits and Emblems…
Kits and badges take a little longer to change but the new pixel edit mode makes it that little bit easier. Utilising the LIVE Vision Camera (you have got one of those, right?) you can take photos of kits, badges and sponsors to give your Pro that official look. You should see the Arsenal I made, it wasn’t too shabby. Doing all the unlicensed teams could take weeks, if you really want this you might as well buy FIFA; as we all know Evo is all about gameplay and Konami’s 2009 edition is just that.

Transfers…
Ok, so the squads aren’t exactly up-to-date but a few simple changes and everything will be as good as gold (like a winner’s Champions League badge).
Here are a few essentials…

Arsenal
Philippe Senderos – On Loan To – AC Milan
Armand Traore – On Loan To – Portsmouth
Mikael Silvestre – From – Manchester United
Justin Hoyte – To – Middlesbrough

Everton
Louis Saha – From – Manchester United

Manchester City
Robinho – From – Real Madrid
Shaun Wright-Phillips – From – Chelsea

Manchester United
Dimitar Berbatov – From – Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham Hotspur
Roman Pavlyuchenko – From – Spartak Moscow
Pascal Chimbonda – To – Sunderland

There are more but I had to play Become A Legend mode. It’s so addictive I haven’t even started a Master League yet.

Last thing… If you’re pressed for time, make sure you sort out the team you support first, obviously fans of officially licensed teams like Manchester United and Liverpool don’t have to bother. And finally, we’ll see you online on Friday.

STOP PRESS!!! News just in: Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 is set to have a November update! The press release reads… The download will be available in about three weeks, and updates four Spanish sides – Athletico Madrid, Sevilla, Racing Santander and Valladolid, – all of whom will be officially licensed. Furthermore, it will also update the kits and team rosters of many teams within the game. The UEFA Champions League mode will also benefit from the new update, with twelve more teams added to the club list, with proper UEFA Champions League kits and kit markings added. Amongst the teams fully updated within this mode now will be Marseille, Juventus, and Basel.

Pro Evolution Soccer 2009: The First Night

Last night was the first night of the rest my life… words by Danny ‘Evo’ Walker

Ok, so yesterday I opened a suspicious package and was rushed straight to hospital to my house to play Pro Evolution Soccer 2009. On the way, my creative cranium was carving out certain thoughts, ‘What if FIFA 09 outshines this year’s Evo outing?’, ‘What if I don’t like this year’s Pro?’ and ‘What if Bradley and Stacey never get back together?’ A very nervous journey home, I assure you.

With EA’s recently released football franchise improving tenfold it was a tentative start as the Lionel Messi featuring intro worked its magic on the Xbox in true 720p form (I need to upgrade, you’re right). After the first exhibition match – in new Champions League mode – I was clear the new Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 is big. It’s deeper than the inside pocket of King Kong’s best dinner jacket.

The first thing I noticed that you don’t pickup in the annoying demo is that Pro Evo is slick. The new ‘Become A Legend’ mode is addictive as whatever Winehouse is on, hence the reason I was late this morning. After starting at a random non-league club I was soon snapped up by Sunderland, following that stint in the reserves I found myself being watched by talent scouts and during the Christmas break Newcastle came-a-calling.

From the 17th onwards…
When you get to play the full version on Friday you’ll realise each pitch feels different – especially Wembley – and the grass acts as an extra force of nature that will make or break your through balls. The re-worked passing model is exactly that, reworked and players no longer pass to Casper the Friendly Ghost on the touchline. You’ll also note the serious edit mode allowing you to pixel edit badges and more.

On reflection, last year’s Pro was a little lacklustre, 2009 features essential changes that make this the best Pro yet.

So you think you’re H-ar-D? (Review of Microsoft’s Xbox 360 HD-DVD player)

Have a gander at our dummies guide to quick and relatively cheap High Definition… words by Danny Walker (Your favourite dummy's favourite dummy)



So everyone's talking about HD and you still don't have a clue, thinking it’s just someone's initials or something. First of all, HD stands for High Definition as opposed to the lesser Standard Definition and it can be applied to gaming, video, television, radio and shopping (believe me, when women shop there is nothing standard about that).

Before you think about buying the add-on for your beloved Xbox 360 (please tell me you have a 360 as the HD-DVD player won’t work on its own), you need to have a TV in the words of Fonejacker “Ready for the Hurd”. This means your visual equipment needs to be able to except the signal sent from the 360. If it doesn’t have a little white sticker on it, you need to get yourself down to Argos (or online as there are quite a few bargains to be had nowadays).

Those currently content with loaning your mum’s 14 inch black and white portable this article isn’t really for you. I suggest you stay in the past and forget about the future… it’s just too big a step for you right now. But those willing to upgrade the easiest way to obtain the next level of luxury is to get yourself a television with a decent output. This means your HD-ready TV needs to have the best contrast, brightness and be the biggest size you can afford.

Once you have a decent TV – try not to go below 17 inches, you could go smaller but you might as well be watching the footage on your phone – you need to hook it up to your 360 and then the HD-DVD player to that.

Thankfully, the HD-DVD add-on works straight out of the box. There is a setup disc that gets your Elite, Premium or Core box ready to play High Definition movies. This adds software or something to the unit as well as an interesting icon where the “play game” symbol is – splitting it into Play HD-DVD or Play Game. After the software is installed there is a simple USB wire that hooks up to the back (or the front) of the unit and you’re ready to go.

In short, the picture quality is three notches above superb - King Kong being my only frame of reference. The sound is pretty strong too. It makes it seem as though the oversized PG Tips Primate is in your living room. The image is never blurry or rushed like some standard DVDs and action sequences are a joy to watch. You can use the (supplied) remote to navigate just like a normal DVD too, which allows just anyone to be the master of their own front room.

The only downside though is, A – it’s not integrated and B – Not all film company’s are supporting the format, choosing to go with Sony’s Blu-ray. Those who are onboard are really going for it though, re-releasing some very popular titles (did I hear someone say Top Gun). Some films also come on a combo disc, which is pure genius. On one side will be HD content and the other a regular DVD – which can be played in all standard players. Genius right?

HD-DVD will be around for sometime yet (despite what the Sony fanboys are spouting) and Microsoft’s Xbox 360 and its increasingly popular add-on player is the cheapest place to get both HD gaming and video.

A great choice for 360 owners, film geeks and/ or lovers of home entertainment.

Xbox 360 Elite & Slimline PSP: So are you gonna upgrade?

This week more details were released about Microsoft’s 360 Elite…


Firstly, the price. £329.99. And secondly, the release date. August 24. Not only is the Elite console in a lovable matt blank but it’s packing a HD punch the Premium and the Core units can only wet dream of. Up to 1080p – television permitting – can be obtained right out of the grey box via the supplied HDMI cable. Not only that but, if you like to get your Marketplace download on, it also features a weighty 120GB hard drive. As there’s not much there - bar limited demos - we don’t see the point just yet, but it’s a start. Give us some of the TV content the Americans are lapping up and we’ll be even more grateful.

The PSP just got slimmer


Not much is known about the slimmer PSP just yet as it was announced at E3 only this week. If you don’t know what E3 is, it’s like that day at Primary School when you get to bring in a toy/ game. Only its multi-billion dollar companies instead of spotty kids and it’s the latest in mind boggling gaming technology and not your brother’s Gameboy with the battery cover missing. The best bit we do actually know is that it has VIDEO OUT… finally. So you can hook your 33% lighter machine, 19% slimmer machine (20% for us as ours is gathering dust) up to your TV’s S-Video and dem-way-dere!!!

So are you gonna upgrade?

Oh Shit!!! Pro Evo 6

Oh Shit!!! Pro Evo 6
Originally uploaded by Danny Walker 1.

Quote of the Week - They Sent Two Xbox 360's!!!

Ok, so it’s the middle of my working day and I get a call from my brother. Why am I telling you ANOTHER pointless story? Cos the conversation went like this…

Excited older brother: You know I got a 360 for my birthday?
Me at work, typing and talking as I do: Yeah… [Hoping there was more to the story]
Even more excited older brother, waiting to tell me the REAL info: Well… Instead of sending one Xbox 360, THEY SENT TWO… [Waits for reaction]
A no longer typing me: WTF!!!
Older brother in gloat mode: I know .
Me in blag mode: Oh shit, you gotta hook me up…

The conversation ended with me trying to scam/ blackmail/ con my own brother. I’ll let you know how it goes. Meanwhile please take ONE second out of your busy day to enter the poll. Remember... Every Poll's A Goal!!!

Every Poll`s A Goal Should My Brother Give Me His FREE Xbox 360? Yes, after all you`re family. Yes, but I don`t know about give. Heavily discounted maybe. I don`t know. What have you ever given him? No!!! He should give it to me or sell it on eBay sharpish. (ps - If you choose this option you are a gay) view results

Nintendo Drops A Lite Load

I was bored on the plane back, so I wrote a proper review of the DS Lite...

Nintendo used to rule the handheld gaming market, much like the colonel and his secret recipe, they were finger licking good. Even from those early days of Super Mario Land and the ORIGINAL must-have battleship grey GameBoy, you couldn't get close. So to cash in on their portable popularity they fed the consumer (us idiots) multiple variations; the doomed 'Pocket', pointless 'Colour', quirky GBA, money-spinning GBA SP and now the remixed 'DS', the DS Lite.

Nintendo had it good until the day Sony dropped a little bomb on our shores aka the PSP, since then there's been a battle over the money in mother’s purses - not to mention the increasing efforts from just about every mobile phone company. Hence the reason for the Duel Screen's Trisha -like makeover. Version one, the big, fat and heavy box waddled behind the curtain then revealed itself as a slimmed down more attractive distant relative. On first look at the DS Lite its very had to see that they were even related.

Boasting a clearer, brighter and more eye-friendly screen, Lite's got a load of qualities. With 45% improved battery life, better pen and a slicker than slick look that warrants a place on Batman utility belt. Games played Lite seem more fun somehow, as players are proud to show off their console. Its obviously kept the standard button layout - although moving the 'Start' and 'Select' buttons - and gaming is as sturdy as any other previous outing.

Compared to its biggest rival, Sony's Portable PlayStation, Nintendo's latest pocket pal holds its own and then some. Obviously in terms of media the PSP wins hands down, but Nintendo never make machines that multi task. Instead the production line constantly churn out games consoles that are built for ONE thing... Games! Sure there are various add-ons to convert the DS into a media player but who needs them when you're on World 8 of New Super Mario Brothers or you've just found out you are actually smarter than you're girlfriend on Dr Kawashima's Brain Training: How Old Is Your Brain?

Apart from the lack of media (if you yearn for that sort of thing) the only downsides to be found are as follow; Even version one owners would rip off their own grandma to get their mitts on one. The lightest of touches - from those very mitts - leaves the surface looking like its been sexually assaulted by a grease-soaked mouse. And the small unnecessary fact that it isn't packing infrared, but much like the belly button, what's it used for anyway?

If like me, your PSP is gathering dust balls the size of King Kong's love sacks and/ or you're embarrassed to pull out version one on the train, sprint to the nearest retailer and purchase the new DS Lite - before they bring out a new one. Preferably not in black as that would be copying me.

What The F*ck!!! - Sony Mylo

What the hell will they think of next???

I Think I Just [Nintendo] Wii’d Myself

DannyWalker1.blogspot.com Plays Nintendo Wii
Originally uploaded by Danny Walker 1.

Who said being Deputy Editor of RWD didn’t include taking half a day off to play Nintendo’s forthcoming 3rd Generation console??? Cos looking back at my contract I swear this kinda shit was written in.

In-between some long arse hours, England’s dreadful World Cup exit and moaning about not having a Boy Better Know t-shirt I recently found my way along to check out the Nintendo Revolution Wii. Sorry if you missed out but it was an invite only shindig, for computer game geeks and press. Luckily I fit into both of those most hated of categories and had a wail of a time.

PS - We weren't allowed to take pics of the screen cos it doesn't come out 'til crimbo - So if any Nintendo bigwigs are reading (as if), it was Raj Kapone. Email me and I'll give up his details in a flash - obviously in exchange for a console. [And don't try send me a SNES - YOU KNOW WHAT I WANT!!!]

I Just Did a Sex [Nintendo] Wii

DannyWalker1.blogspot.com Plays Nintendo Wii
Originally uploaded by Danny Walker 1.

I’m not even gonna lie I haven’t been hyped over a console in tiiiiime. Here I am playing Wii Sports – Tennis. Very very big, innovative and cash worthy. Check my Federer serve!!!

The PS3 is on the horizon yes, but I hear you’re gonna have to re-mortgage your little sister’s playhouse to even afford a controller so boy? I think I know which way I’m headed. Unless Sony wanna send one, two [eBay P's] my way of course!!!

Ps - Don't watch the free three tee

This Controller Is Taking The... Wii

DannyWalker1.blogspot.com Nintendo Wii
Originally uploaded by Danny Walker 1.

By far the best thing about the Revolution Wii, is the controller. It senses where you move it and whatnot with some crazy arse ‘Johnny 5’ sensors. Apart from Tennis (which I was unbeaten on), Golf, Baseball, Warioware (me thinks), I played a biggle Duck Hunt type game (granted I lost to Raj), where the controller/ mega wand acts as a mo-fo gun, so the possibilities are blooming endless… don’t even get me started on this bad boy add-on>>>