Saturday, 19 January 2008
Friday, 18 January 2008
With the latest and biggest disappointment so far of the synergy between the gaming and film industry presenting itself in the pre-pubescent mess that is Hitman, one must ask the question: Is the film of the game such a good thing?
With the gaming industry progressing out of childhood and into a more mature, and culturally accepted medium of entertainment, surely the like of Uwe Bull et al are doing more harm than good. Gaming and gamers are now, thanks to the corporisation of all things geek (Ugly Betty demonstrating this in the TV medium astutely), seen not just as the sweaty, lazy, drugged up creatures of the night that they once were. Gone is the day of spotty male encrusted in front of his computer or "baby", pizza in one hand, redbull in the other and donning an XL T-Shirt with "There's no place like 127.0.0.1" on it. Now gamers are almost actual "people".
Of course the influx of the all powerful Hollywood dollar into the industry is good for the coffers but if Hitman is anything to go by, it's not good for anything else. Hitman Blood Money was without doubt the sleeper hit of 2007, a beautiful culmination of the previous games rolled into one witty, shocking, brutal and polished title. The film didn't even do shocking! How can a film about a genetically engineered mercenary, who will kill ANYONE for the right price, not even manage that? Seriously, the Hitman games have always not just done that but also made you aware of the fact. In addition the marks you are commissioned to take out often weren't just the black and white evil, generic, terrorist bastards you find in most other games/films. Sure they often have a HUMAN flaw, but who doesn't? You are fighting fire with fire. Because how else could you garrote the innocent daughter of a crooked businessman just to complete your mission?
The saddest thing is that unlike previous titles this one really had the potential to do well. Uwe Bull wasn't directing for a start! Of course the biggest problem the film really had was that it was neutered from the start; how can you make a film about a Hitman who kills people through: lethal injection, garrote, knife, electrocution ect with a 15 certificate? Aliens Vs. Predator anyone?
Still looking forward to the Grim Fandango movie?
Still looking forward to the Halo movie?
Still looking forward to the World of Warcraft movie?
Bad films such as Hitman will only cause the perception of the industry and we the gamers to revert right back to where it started, in the gutter.
After all, there is no place like 127.0.0.1.
Wednesday, 16 January 2008
Freedom in games, it's a good thing isn't it? Surely the idea of being funneled down corridors, with a freedom akin to that which gravity grants you, is all but moribund? Well I'm not so sure. Ever since titles such as Doom 3, Quake 4 and Painkiller (and their subsequent iffy reviews due to their corridor mentality) "freedom" has become the buzz word to adorn game boxes worldwide. Games that promise "unparalleled levels of freedom" or an "unprecedented level of freedom" are now ten-a-penny and with the latest rebirth, like a phoenix from the ashes, of the Co-Op, it feels like we shall be reveling in our unprecedented and co-operative freedom for all eternity. Why would we bother with the lonely experience of a never-ending funnel, when we can drink with many others from the fountain of eternal freedom?
Because there is always to much of a good thing. Case in point: Just Cause. Just Cause offered freedom to such an extent that one would find themselves lost and bewildered by the sheer scope of the playground you were placed in; and more crucially gave you so little focus or direction that you were never compelled to actually explore it. Miles and miles of virtual miles that never once were embraced by my virtual feet. It took hours to travel from one side of the group of islands to the other! And why? To complete a cliched task which echoed many missions you had already completed. That's not freedom! It's just being forced to commute further!
That said at least there was no Co-Op!
Ahhhhhhh beautiful, lonely, depressing freedom.
Tuesday, 15 January 2008
After Alan culminated his time Karting with podium finishes in 1996 and 1997 respectfully and of which, “the Kart Grand Prix at Silverstone was the highlight of the year”, he got involved with a certain 1978 MGB GT (Rubber Bumper). “My mate had it at the time and took me out for a ride”, Hersey recollects, “he had being doing it up”. By this point though Hersey notes he wasn’t interested in racing, after all it was exactly what he had done for the last 15 years. However he “took it round the block” and liked it; “it felt involved.” After acquiring the vehicle and with the help of Moss Europe and Motobuild Alan finally took the plunge and at Silverstone last year took the MGB GT out for a spin.
So, for this former racer, how did the MGB and Silverstone stack up? “It was a crisp winter day, with a greasy and wet track” Alan recalls. In fact as a day on track went it was quite odd, as “every session was red flagged”, and “none of the tyres were warming up due to the cold”. As for the car itself Alan summed it up as “horribly understeery”. Despite this however Alan says he had great time in the 1.8 litre MGB GT and so did his wife, even though she had declined to drive due to a misplaced driving licence. As for Silverstone Alan states that it is definitely “more exciting than it used to be” and just as fast as he remembers. Despite his history with Silverstone however, Alan says he prefers to drive on tracks that he didn’t race on when Karting; he has a particular fondness for Cadwell as well and highlights this as a must visit circuit if only to experience The Mountain. Indeed if you thought the drop off on the Paddock Hill Bend was intense, you should experience The Mountain!
So as the date for Silverstone draws on a pace so does Alan’s anticipation to take the new and improved, 70,000 miles on the clock, MGB GT out once again. This time he’s got bucket seats too… although at this moment in time they are refusing to fit due to the gearbox’s relative position to the handbrake! But what does he think of MGoT? How does it live up to the racing days of old? Alan pauses for a moment, and then notes sincerely, “racing is and always was a very self centred sport, but a track day isn’t like that at all – I can take my son with me, it’s a social event and that’s the beauty of it”.
One such member of today’s menagerie is Richard Stone. Richard, of Gem Stone Graphics in Crawley, has been a member of the MGCC for nine years and today, here at Brands, it is his first track day with MGOT. Driving a 160 BHP MG-ZR with a 0-60 time of 7.5 seconds, bought from Summit MG for £4000 and technically classed as a “commercial light vehicle”, Richard is familiar with only Silverstone racing circuit. As I meet with him after his first session on track to discuss his impressions of Brands, he seems excited. I soon realise this is due to the Paddock Hill corner, of which Richard likens to “driving off the edge of the world”.
Indeed Brands is an imposing track for newcomers. With a slick conglomeration of hairpins, smooth, off camber curves and sickeningly breakneck straights you need to stay switched on to clock up a good time. Today is no exception; in fact with a constant supply of mildly heavy rain the track appears even more imposing. However as each group comes back into the Paddock the exhilaration is evident, there are smiles all round; this track may be taxing but boy does it seem rewarding. Richard, who as well as his ZR owns a MG Midget which he wishes could be race specified sometime in the future, seems to be of the same opinion and quickly notes how “great” the track is.
But how does the ZR, or “the van” as Richard likes to refer to it handle out there? Quite well apparently! This is no doubt thanks to the stiffened rear suspension, elevated ride height and the lack of anything at all behind the front two seats. It looks good too; well I’ve always been an advocate of go faster stripes, but go faster Gem Stone Graphics! Apparently according to Richard even if the graphics don’t make the ZR go faster, they have on occasion being known to drum up attention for the business.
So Brands remains a fun, challenging and exciting track to drive, but what about the record for the Indy Circuit? Who holds that? Maybe it would be in reach? One second let me just… oh… I don’t believe this! The lap record for the Indy Circuit at Brands Hatch is held by, Scott Mansell!