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

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 Knight Lore, Tomb Raider and Portal.
3. Long-term and in-depth of the Sony PS3 Slim.
Go buy it now!

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

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 magazine has even more - reviews of the Veho-UK Muvi - the world's smallest digital camcorder, the Sony Walkman S series and news on Dahon's iPod-loving bikes and Electrolux's insane vision of the kitchen of the future.

Script surgeon: Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

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...

Read more »

Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 reviews

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 separate post...

Exposure lights review

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

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

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

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

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

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