Simon Munk, writer

Videogames of 2012

2012-01-27T17:31:00.000Z

Done for the start of January for The Sunday Times' InGear section - here's my take on the biggest games of 2012 and what will be the hot videogame trends of the year, including Sony PlayStation Vita, Wii U, casual games, FIFA Street, Star Wars: The Old Republic (I know it technically arrived in 2011!), Halo 4, the Tomb Raider reboot, Grand Theft Auto V, Call Of Duty: Black Ops 2 and BioShock

Mountain bikes, Mail On Sunday

2011-07-04T10:47:00.001Z

A relatively recent spread of mountain bikes - one for all types of rider - in the Mail On Sunday's Live Night & Day magazine. Tested on Epping Forest's finest steep slopes and muddy puddles! (Ignore the fact that it's credited to my mate Chris Haslam - a subbing mistake. Also ignore the fact that some of the forks are the wrong way round - that's down to the photographer, not the tester ;-)

Commuting for dummies, Mail On Sunday

2011-04-04T11:07:00.000Z

Excuse the sporadic posting here - far too busy doing other stuff elsewhere! Blogging, reviews and features for MSN, features for Stuff, Mail On Sunday and US websites, regular gadget coverage for Flipside, E&T and others as well as copywriting, of course. Anyway, here's a spread I did for The Mail On Sunday's Live Night & Day magazine on commuting kit, that didn't appear online.

Ethical, environmentally-friendly bike manufacturer

2010-08-25T12:09:00.000Z

Bicycles are great for the planet - getting people out of cars and requiring little more than bananas, flapjacks and the odd bit of oil to run. But most bike manufacturers aren't taking the environment into account much in manufacture. Racer Rosa Bicycles make made-to-measure handbuilt bikes. The frames are made in Italy from Italian steel and shipped to the UK, then assembled with components

Sat Navs reviewed in The Mail On Sunday's Live Night & Day

2010-08-25T12:01:00.001Z

In-car satellite navigation systems from Garmin, Mio, Navman etc. get the once-over by me in The Mail On Sunday's Live Night & Day magazine. Pictured is the winning TomTom GO 750 Live.

Heavy Rain, BioShock 2 and Aliens vs Predator game reviews

2010-02-17T17:33:00.000Z

Heavy Rain for the Sony PS3 is supposed to be an interactive movie. Actually, it's better than that - more on which as soon as I can here. But peep my reviews at MSN Tech & Gadgets and Electric Pig for the full emotional rollercoaster. BioShock 2 also gets the review treatment at MSN Tech & Gadgets from me. The original was that rare beast: an intelligent, adult and philosophically sophisticated

Bayonetta and Darksiders reviews

2010-01-11T10:43:00.001Z

Bayonetta and Darksiders reviews at MSN's Tech & Gadgets Gaming section, by me. The overspill from the Christmas avoidance of Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 has begun - with two big games turning up for release on 8 January 2010. Bayonetta's witch-with-guns-in-her-heels flamboyant take on the Devil May Cry shooting-punching combo genre is just about perfect in terms of its visuals and combats.

20 biggest games of 2010

2009-12-16T11:06:00.000Z

The 20 biggest games of 2010? Step right over to MSN Tech & Gadgets to see my take on the games that are going to dominate next year's release schedule. Included in the list are: Mass Effect 2, God Of War III and Halo: Reach. Of course.

WiiMote and motion-sensing gaming explained

2009-12-01T15:37:00.001Z

By me in the latest (January 2010) issue of FHM: motion-sensing technology explained. From the WiiMote and Motion Plus to Natal and the PS3 Wand on the gaming side. And the Philips uWand and Firebox Wand remote controls too.

Stuff Dec 09: Xmas games, platform games in history, Sony PS3 Slim review

2009-11-18T17:02:00.000Z

A slew of pieces from me in the December 2009 issue of Stuff Magazine, just got subscribers' copy.1. Christmas games (in a big "12 Days Of Christmas" feature) including: Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, New Super Mario Bros. Wii and Assassin's Creed II.2. A history of platform games from Donkey Kong in 1981 to Super Mario 64 to 2008's Mirror's Edge. And a sidebar on "missing links" including

Flipside Gizmos: Apple Nano, Halo Wars Mega Bloks and more...

2009-11-18T08:01:00.000Z

My latest gadgets for Flipside Magazine are now online. The site has the new Apple Nano plus Halo Wars Mega Bloks kits, Jedi Training Sphere mind-controlled toys, Rovio robots, gnarly Bell Jimbo Philips cycle helmets, magic wand remote controls, light-up umbrellas, petcams, Alcatel Tribe cheap Blackberry-a-like QWERTY phones, and the PCTV picoStick - the smallest Freeview box in the world.The

Script surgeon: Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

2009-11-14T12:55:00.007Z

Part of an occasional series where I give my views on videogame scripts… There are three specific areas where immediate improvements could have been made to Modern Warfare 2's script and plotting. Two, I very much doubt were in the hands of the scriptwriter. But I'll detail them nonetheless... The controversy. I'll get to "No Russian", the Airport massacre level in a minute. But first, the

Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 reviews

2009-11-12T17:31:00.000Z

My thoughts on Modern Warfare 2? Largely excellent - a pulverising run through ever-more ludicrous and grin-inducing action setpieces. Epic, exhilirating and massively slick. But there are some caveats - short, silly plot, and one-note in its relentless speed. More on my thoughts at MSN Tech & Gadgets and Electric Pig. I also didn't like much of the dialogue - but I'll come back to that in a

Exposure lights review

2009-10-30T14:39:00.000Z

Exposure LED bicycle lights - designed for serious road and off-road usage, these high-power lights dazzle with their compact, internal-battery, rugged design. Why are they a must buy? Read my review at Stuff.TV.

Electric bicycles review - The Sunday Times

2009-10-23T18:25:00.000Z

Five electric bicycles tested in The Sunday Times' InGear Test Bench section. The juiced-up Brompton-a-like GoCycle, lightweight modded Cannondale Capo (by Cytronex), a marathon Giant Twist Freedom CS, a budget iZip and quick-off-them-mark Urban Mover. But I'd still say you get fitter and enjoy your ride more on a bicycle powered solely by two legs and some food.

Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising reviews

2009-10-05T16:23:00.000Z

The hardcore, freeroaming/open world first-person military simulation shooter gets put through bootcamp by me for IGN UK, in full, explosive detail. Or just get the strategic sitrep from Electric Pig.

Halo: ODST exclusive preview for FHM

2009-09-22T15:48:00.000Z

My last videogames piece for FHM's Filter section for now (due to budget cuts). But hey, at least I went out with a bang! A preview of Halo: ODST, complete with exclusive images in the magazine. The words are online here.

Sony PS3 Slim review for Stuff.TV

2009-09-09T16:12:00.000Z

The Sony PS3 Slim tested and rated by me at Stuff.TV - Stuff Magazine's website. In short, the slimmer shape is very welcome, as is the excellence of Blu-ray playback and bigger hard drive. Less good is Sony's online service in comparison to the Microsoft Xbox 360 - which also continues to command the best games.

Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 gears review

2009-08-04T14:08:00.000Z

By me over at The Guardian Bike Blog - Shimano's new fancy electronic gears get a mangling.