Yeah, I read that review not long after my post. Methinks a download is on the cards (with the usual caveat regarding my bastard internet connection - which hopefully should be sorted by 6pm when I arrive home).

Some rather lame speculation that the next GTA will be set in LA.
While I'd love a return to San Andreas with the new engine, I'd be a bit surprised. It seems a lot more likely that they're researching for LA Noire.

I don't think there are many people who have a PSP (besides me and GY), but I've been playing Kingdom of Paradise (aka Key of Heaven) for the last week or so, and it's really damn good (to my surprise).

It had been sitting on my shelf for ages, but once you get past the slow beginning it's really very fun. It's maybe the first RPG style game where level grinding actually isn't a chore.

Nice anime style story & graphics. Cool but simple fighting (where you get to choose and combine your 'Kung Fu'- Kenpu).

I love Mini Ninjas.
That is all.

I've been working my way through the campaign of Starcraft II. It's kind of weird playing what is at its heart an incredibly old school RTS - massed units, feverish resource harvesting, not much in the way of tactics - that is so beautfiully presented. The in game graphics look really nice, especially the real time lighting effects. What's really impressive, though, is the way they've made the campaign more than the perfunctory romp through scripted missions it usually is in an RTS. Don't get me wrong, the scripted missions are still there, but a) there have been a couple of really intriguing ones among the few I've played so far, and b) in between missions you get to wander around a sort of hub, upgrading units, unlocking tech, talking to crew members and watching a variety of cut scenes. The story's pretty run of the mill so far, but it certainly makes experiencing it more interesting than usual. I doubt I'll be playing too much multiplayer though - it's just not a style of RTS I have much desire to get good at, unlike CoH or Men of War.

I've also played through about two thirds of Limbo. It's even more gorgeous than I thought it would be, and I'm actually really enjoying the puzzles. They're certainly not as taxing or as complex as Braid, and a lot of them are trial and error, but it's all done in a manner that reeks of thinking about player response. For instance, you'll come across a situation, and do the first thing that comes to mind - press a button, for instance. This will kill you, usually in a particularly gruesome and amusing fashion. So you learn from your mistake and do the other thing you were thinking about. Often, you'll then be presented with a similar situation, and applying your knowledge, do the other thing. This kills you, in an even funnier manner. Alternatively, when it's feeling slightly less cruel, it will allow you to use your newly acquired knowledge of how not to die to kill the thing that's now attacking you in equally amusing fashion. It's very satisfying in that respect.

NBA Jam is confirmed for the XBox (and PS3)... but it's not quite the full game and you have to buy NBA Elite to get it. Jokers.

I'll probably be getting NBA Elite anyway.

Just completed Mass Effect 2.

Fuck me.

Counting down the hours until the third.

Continuing the retro-gaming theme, any RTS’s I should investigate for the original Xbox?

I’m still working my way through GTA:SA but I’m stuck on that mission where CJ has to defend his pal’s model shop from attack by bomb-dropping radio-controlled aircraft.

On a whim I bought Fight Night Round 3, the first boxing game I’ve played for a good fifteen years and although I’m still just flailing like medieval re-enacter I’m starting to win fights.

Here is an article about female lead characters in games and sexism and formulaic development ect that I thought was interesting.

Haven't posted in here for a while, and since it's GamesCom, I thought I do a round-up of what's getting me excited in the world of games.

Elemental, Stardock's fantasy turn based strategy game, is out next week. I played a bit of the beta and it seemed really good.

Footage of Portal 2 being played. It's been dated for February 2011 and Stephen Merchant will be voicing Wheatley.

GT5 will have a kart racing mode.

Paradox, makers of super-hardcore strategy games, are making some sort of Transport Tycoon-esque game. Could be amazing, could be rubbish.

Awesome old PC games Dungeon Keeper and Jagged Alliance 2 are getting a graphical lick of paint. DK is one of may favourite games of all time

I used to love JA2 - that update looks interesting.

I'd prefer a proper new game (i.e. JA3) though.

I've gotten hooked on Deadball Specialist for iOS. A freekicks game with two modes--a timed quickfire mode with no wall, and an increasingly difficult challenge mode where more opponents get added to the wall.

The Witcher 2 looks quite tasty. I'm all about Minecraft at the moment though.

i used to love dungeon keeper

YOUR MINIONS REQUIRE FEEDING, YOUR HATCHERY IS TOO SMALL

JACKPOT WINNER

I preferred DK2, but I think I was in the minority on that one. Either way, it'll be nice to get Horny back.

I always associated that game with Warzone 2100 for some reason. Anyone remember that?

Now go play this and be thankful for free games too.

A coupla my mates went to GamesCom, over in Cologne, they're all excited by Guild Wars 2.

In an excellent bit of hijinks, my friend realised he could use one of the Guild Wars 2 demo PCs to join the same game area that the developer was using in his presentation, to the whole Com. He jumped in, typed 'SUP CHUMPS? and threw a fireball at the developer. The presentation promptly crashed. Isn't that great?

Hahaha! I'd love to see a clip of that.

I'm struggling to find Mac games to occupy me. Currently working through Gratuitous Space Battles (build spaceships, decide strategy, sit back and see if it works) but I need something new.

Have you tried Steam? They put out a Mac version a while back and Valve are porting all their games to Mac. Moreover, a bunch of other publishers seem to be doing the same now there's a good distribution platform.

Yeah, had a look - a couple of interesting things but nothing grabbed me massively. (And I'm not getting hooked on City of Heroes again, that cost me a lot of sleep!)