Its funny how work tends to detract anyone from the things that once made them enjoy life. I guess I am no different in that respect. And though I have tasted and most liked the most recent installment of the Command & Conquer series in the form of C&C 3: Tiberium Wars, I have not quite followed up on the other arguably less popular franchise, C&C: Red Alertand C&C: Red Alert 2.
I guess one of the main reasons why the franchise was somewhat of a turnoff for me was the whole time paradox plot employed in the storyline. Its a cool tool to use only if one is able to maintain a consistent link between events affected in the past and the consequence in the newly developed timeline. Needless to say that the whole prequel approach wasn't done to the best of what it should have been. And nothing has changed in the latest installment of this particular series.
Nevertheless, I thought that I should give it a try anyway what with there being not much to choose from in terms of real-time strategy games to date. And with it coming out this 27th October 2008, it won't be a long wait.
C&C: Red Alert 3 picks up (sort of) where the previous two games left off. People traveling back in time to "fix" the future to their own perception of what should have been. A new faction has been added into the mix to do battle with the Allies and Soviets. And its not that big of a surprise when this new faction just happened to be Japan in the guise of The Empire of The Rising Sun. The new units for all the factions seems cool but its difficult not to draw parallels with units from rival real-time strategy gaming series Starcraft, which has its own game out this year (that I'll talk about later). Even the rendering of the units and background and backdrop feel similar to that of their rival game.
One original concept that the game does not shy away from developing is the influence of sea based battle and support. It seems quite well thought through and certainly seems to blend well with other more conventional means of RTS style offense. Star studded names have also taken up roles as key characters in the game's film cutscenes, though how well this would pan out, I can only say when I actually play the game itself.
Either way, here are a few videos that I could find on Youtube for you to make your own judgment.
Next up would be the eagerly anticipated sequel to the popular RTS game Starcraft. That's right, Terrans, Zergs and Protoss are at it again in Blizzard's Starcraft II.
I've personally been waiting for this game for a long long long time. And it is certainly great to see that it is finally here. New units have been added to all three factions of this game and some new abilities were also added on to familiar units from times past. The same feel remains from what I've seen of videos of this game.
If anything I just want to get on with the storyline of that once caught me up so much in the past. To see what the future holds for the Terrans, the noble Protoss and the evil Zergs.
I've included some videos I've found on the gameplay on Youtube for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy.
I guess that's at least SG$130 that's going to fly out of my pocket come the end of this month.
Its that time again when distributors decide to release movies in the hopes of riding onto the pre, post and during festive bandwagon. Nevertheless, good movies are good movies and these are those that I wouldn't mind catching. Though to be honest there's none here that I'd truly say I'd rip myself in two over if I did not manage to do so. Though the film Call+Response and Pray The Devil Back To Hell does come close to that. Anyway, here goes:
Got a few horror and suspense flicks that I thought was rather interesting. The first one is definitely one that I'd love to catch amongst. And what with Halloween coming up, why not.......... And for those are fans of animation, there are two in particular that caught my eye. The first one being the more progressive of the two, melding contemporary flash with modern animation giving it an apt feel for the tale it portrays.And what is my rundown of upcoming films to catch if it doesn't include docu-movies or films that uplift you and make you question the morality of the social constructs in which we live in.
Anyone who knows me knows that I'm a huge fan of management simulation games. Business, sports, you name it. If there's one thing I like almost as much as penning down the would-be masterpieces locked within my psyche, it'd have to be tangling with the nuances of the world of management where you get to decide the success you want to achieve.
And the best of these simulations thus far has just been announced for worldwide release on the 14th November 2008. Football Manager 2009, the best in football management simulation that I have ever experienced or dare I say it the best ever in the simulation genre.
The brain child of Paul and Oliver Collyer who in their early 90s felt that there weren't enough football management simulations out there of quality decided to create one of their own and start up their own company Sports Interactive. And they have not looked back since. The 90s was also around the same time I introduced a pen and paper and folded-paper football men Subbuteo- type action-management game to my schoolmates. I guess it was a case of what-if for me.
Either way, I've always looked forward to the next release of this particular franchise, from when it was still called Championship Manager marketed under Domark then Eidos Interactive and still remain true to the original creators of the series when they renamed it Football Manager after somewhat bitter split from their previous distributors and switched over to Sega.
I've included a promotional trailer for the up and coming version of this franchise. The main features of this new installment that has got me so psyched has got to be the 3D match engine, pre-post match conferences, an actual media relations variable and more options in terms of training up and coming youth players.
I'm pretty sure that the announcement to be made today (or if it has already been made) about the changes in fares to the current rates on public transportation would be met by derision in most sections of the public. And I don't blame them because over here in tropical sunny Singapore, whenever a change in anything monetarily related is announed it is assumed to be a hike. Which has generally been the case over the decades.
And although there will be hikes according the article "Bus and train fares up on October 1" on Channelnews Asia's website, it would also come with some much needed increase in rebate value for transfers. Plus there would also be some reduction in fares though it wasn't really made clear as to exact when, why and hows. I guess its about time. Everything has been adjusted to inflation, albeit slowly but most definitely surely, so why not the public transportation rates. I mean sure, oil prices have been declining but everyone also knows that it can and will most probably spike over the days, weeks and months to come. Add that with the overall global financial climate, that sadly is affecting this island nation too and you can somewhat understand where all this is coming from. And its not like the government isn't doing something to help those with problems absorbing the increase in fares that will be implemented as stated in this article - "S$5.2 m to help the needy cope with bus, train fare hike", though I doubt such assistance will stretch into the middle class. And the fact that this proposed implementation went through so many checks and balances in itself shows that the government isn't just out to get more of the people's money.
Besides, the changes in fares are also timed with the Growth Dividends payout package for this year. That would definitely be helpful in staving off the perceived increase in living costs.
All in all, it's not going to be that bad and is most probably what is needed to keep the country running as smoothly as possible.
I'm sick, can't sleep, everything feels crappy and things seem to fall apart. So this is something I came across to help keep me sane and keep my spirits up......at least for the moment.
C&C: Red Alert 3 picks up (sort of) where the previous two games left off. People traveling back in time to "fix" the future to their own perception of what should have been. A new faction has been added into the mix to do battle with the Allies and Soviets. And its not that big of a surprise when this new faction just happened to be Japan in the guise of The Empire of The Rising Sun. The new units for all the factions seems cool but its difficult not to draw parallels with units from rival real-time strategy gaming series Starcraft, which has its own game out this year (that I'll talk about later). Even the rendering of the units and background and backdrop feel similar to that of their rival game.
