So, Borderlands is released tomorrow night. I can't wait. It's Diablo meets Fallout 3 meets Mad Max. Score.


Anyway, gaming has been standard lately-Fallout 3 PC version modded to silly degrees, Gears of War and Halo 3: ODST from time to time.

Photography has been going well-Just finished my latest studio shoot with Max, next up is Josh in 2 weeks time. Got some stuff going out for print before long too, exhibition time.

Speaking of exhibitions, EuroGamer Expo next week-I can't wait. All the new games I want bar Splinter Cell: Conviction are there, and I'll be meeting with a bunch of my ZombiePimps ([link]) in London.


Portfolio is steadily taking form, here's to the future.

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Been a while since I updated mah journal, simply because I've been busy working on my websites, doing photo shoots, Photoshopping and gaming my arse off. Photoshop CS4 is useful, but ugly.

So, here's a run through.

CrypticMetaphor website (my personal graphic design site): 70%
ZombiePimps.net 3.0 Flash version(my Xbox LIVE clan site): 20%
My portfolio: 40%
ZombiePimps introduction video: 85%
Photostory pictures: 50%
Photostory magazine article: 5%

Whew. CrypticMetaphor -should- be up by the middle of February, hopefully sooner. Right now it all relies on when I get paid, so I can actually upload the stuff necessary. ZombiePimps.net 3.0 is on it's way, once I've Photoshopped the graphics for it, it's just a matter of working it around in Flash.

The video is done, more or less. All that needs to be done with it is syncing the audio and fixing up two of the clips, which I have better versions of now.

The photostory pictures are done, but I've scheduled a re-shoot, to see if I can do any better. The magazine article will wait until that's done.

Aaaand now onto games!

Gears of War 2 was, and still is, a tremendous disappointment. Such hype and pedigree, but the result was crushingly bad. In fairness, the campaign was seamless. Really, really damned good. The problem is, I didn't buy Gears 2 for the campaign. Gears of War 1 was one of the best modern shooters to date, and Gears 2 was set to raise the bar. Instead, it tried to pick up the bar, which then fell on it's head and put it into a coma.

The patch fixed some stuff, and removed the glitches, but it's still a shaky mess. Ho-hum.

Left 4 Dead however, is one of the best shooters when it comes to fun. It's not particularly advanced, long or made of chocolate, but it's SO entertaining. I mean, 4-player co-op against hordes of ZOMBIES at 3am...Doesn't get much better. Can't wait for any DLC to come out, I'd love some new levels, but I'll be playing it regardless.

Fallout 3 was the best game of last year. I was sceptical when I heard Bethesda were taking up the Fallout series, but they proved themselves with this. I cannot wait for the DLC, the game had me hooked from day one.

Fable 2, as I had sadly expected, was pretty shit (which is actually a good description, come to think of it. Oh, and there's a rhyme! I'm on fire. Ouch).
It looks nice, the visuals are comical and smooth, and the combat is simplistic but well done. However, that's where the niceties end. The AI is HORRIBLE, you have to have a bloody dog with you at all times (can't I have a bear, a cat, or a moose or something?), and the storyline is about 3 minutes long. Seriously, there's jack all length to the game. Even the DLC for it is boring and short. Peter MoLIEneux does it again.

Saint's Row 2 is an unexpected gem. I didn't enjoy the first one at all, due to the clumpy gameplay, ugly graphics and models, and the whole "gansta" pastiche of it all. Saint's Row 2, however, is an absolute triumph. Better than any GTA game, and far superior to it's predecessor. It's sheer madness and humour are enough, but the variety and customisation bring it to a whole new level. Bright, metallic purple APC with 30" wheels with spinners? Check. Combine Harvester with nitrous? Check. Jumping out of a helicopter dressed as a pimp only to land, steal a bike and use a katana while driving it? Check.

Armored Core For Answer. Asian robot/mech game with customisation and online co-op?
Bad translation.
Brilliant game.
'Nuff said.

Last thing to talk about is Castle Crashers. If you haven't heard about it, look it up. Then buy it. It's a great game to play with friends, and it's truly a new-classic. A side-scrolling RPG/hack 'n' slash with 4 player online co-op and over 20 unique playable characters, 40+ weapons, magic and pets?

Yes please.

Dawn of War II next month, wooh.


Anyway, that's enough from this wall of text.


Adios people, have a good one.

So, we're reaching the end of the year. I've just started college again after a years break, and I'm enjoying it. Met some new people, learned some new things and am generally a happy chappy.

Doing a National Diploma in Photography, currently doing primarily darkroom work, as well as basic Photoshop* and photography, which I already know. Still, it's nice to know what you've been doing is actually correct.


Finally got my website on track, it should be hitting the interweb pipes within the month. I tell you, doing your own website is drastically harder than someone else's. Ah well, as they say, you are your own worst critic, eh?

Sadly, all good news comes with the bad. The bad news is that all the new games are coming out shortly, which means a chunk of my funds is doomed, not to mention time. I'll manage.**
Also, on the note of the title of this journal, my internet has been really poor as of late-it's been about half as fast as it normally is, only hitting about 8MB/s, which is quite frustrating, and to top it off it disconnects every now and then.


More new pics coming soon!

Notes:

* CS4 announced for November, woot.

** Does anybody happen to know how to build a working time machine? It doesn't have to travel, just has to freeze time (aside from me and videogames).

Oh, and congrats to Pelicanh [link] for being granted a senior membership!

So, I've just brought a new PC. Been after one for a few months, finally saved up for one.

It's fucking AMAZING. Honestly, this thing handles applications like a nuclear missle would handle turtles.

Specs:
Core 2 Quad (Q6600)
4GB RAM
2GB Graphics (nVidia)
500GB Hard drive
Vista x64 (I still hate Vista, but it works fine on this)
HDMI-out
ASRock motherboard
Galaxy III case with blue cold cathode lights

It also runs Crysis on maximum detail.

All of that for only £352 including postage fees.

Oh, I also ordered Super Smash Bros. Brawl, so if anyone wants to play me online, put your friend code here or whatever.


Next on my list:
22" HD monitor. 4 more weeks.

Right, well...If you're in the know, you'll know (or be playing) GTA IV. The game is a godsend. It's the best videogame in about 11 years. It's beautiful, addictive and as funny as you'd expect from a GTA game.


But it sucks up your LIFE.

I was playing last night (Sunday), as per usual, looked at the time and it was 12:24am. I say to myself "I have to get up early tomorrow, I'll just do one more mission".

The next time I look at the clock, it's 4:03am.

Hence the lack of updates. Sorry! I'll try to get a few of my current works up.