Life & style and Play

Health to provide Max Payne 3 soundtrack

The LA noise rockers follow the game-soundtracking example of Opeth, Trivium and others

24 Apr 2012

Ever since the very earliest days of home gaming and the release of the Atari 2600 (1977), videogame music has become a part of cultural life. The lack of processing power meant it was necessarily tinny, bleepy and repetitive. Despite this, 8- and…

Save up for some summer sporting action

2012 Olympics, Wimbledon and F1 at Silverstone on the calendar

5 Apr 2012

It’s shaping up to be a great summer, with London taking centre stage as the Olympics come to town. And as the eyes of the world are focused on the UK, this could be the year that re-energises our attitudes to sport and helps spectators make the…

David Kushner - Jacked

An entertaining, if hyperbolic, 'unauthorised' history of Grand Theft Auto

16 Mar 2012

(Collins) After a similar book on Doom, journalist David Kushner returns to familiar ground with Jacked. This ‘unauthorised’ history of Grand Theft Auto traces the game’s development from its early beginnings in Dundee to become one of the highest…

Sony PS Vita handheld console - playtest

We try out the new hardware with some of the PSV launch titles, including WipeOut and Uncharted

3 Feb 2012

Sony’s new PS Vita is a pretty impressive bit of kit. It’s the most powerful dedicated handheld gaming device on the market. In practical terms it’s pretty much a PS3 in your pocket. The full HD OLED screen really pops and, due to the processing power…

Tekken: Blood Vengeance

Fluid but uneven CGI movie based on the popular games franchise

1 Feb 2012

This is actually the third movie based on the immensely popular fighting games, but Tekken: Blood Vengeance (Manga Entertainment) is the first fully computer animated version and was originally available as part of the Tekken Hybrid package. It looks…

Preview of 2012 - Games

A look at the videogames that'll rule your world this year, including GTA V, Halo 4 and Max Payne 3

9 Jan 2012

First off the biggie: Grand Theft Auto V. We’ve seen the trailer and it looks like we’re back in Los Angeles, sorry Los Santos, for the latest instalment of the world conquering videogame developed by Edinburgh’s own Rockstar North. The shoot outs, car…

Spotlight: Starter for 6 - Salute

Starter for 6 is an enterprise training programme run by Cultural Enterprise Office

4 Jan 2012

What's your name? Danity Blame Name of business? SALUTE Tell us more SALUTE is a unique multi-platform lifestyle brand created by those in the know! Our core focus areas consist of Creative PR, Marketing, Events, our ‘SALUTE’ Digital Magazine…

The best family games this Christmas

Animal Croquet, Pointless, Angry Birds, Rory Story Cubes and Spyro the Dragon featured

13 Dec 2011

Animal Croquet One for the little ones or if you just fancy a very civilised mini game of croquet indoors. £24 (currently on special offer online at £16.50) from poshlittletots.com Pointless The much loved TV quiz show with Alexander Armstrong…

Battlefield 3 vs Modern Warfare 3 - review

The two big first person shooters go head-to-head

13 Dec 2011

First out of the blocks is Battlefield 3 PC/PS3/Xbox 360 (EA) ●●●●, sequel to the 2005 tactical FPS. For the first time in the series’ history we have a single player campaign and it’s a turgid affair, plagued by over-scripting and infuriating enemy AI.

Take a break this winter - without breaking the bank

Winter fun or winter sun?

23 Nov 2011

Whether you’re into winter sports or winter sunshine, look out for special deals and packages. Avoid school half-term and the Christmas holidays if you can, and be flexible about dates and times – flights are often cheaper mid-week or at unsociable…

Rockstar releases the Grand Theft Auto V trailer

Watch the latest release from the Scottish game developer here

2 Nov 2011

Edinburgh-based games developer Rockstar have unveiled the first look at Grand Theft Auto V, the latest instalment in the world-famous series. The trailer, while still occupying the fictional universe that GTA has always been set in (with one small…

NEoN Digital Arts Festival 2011

Highlights include works by artists Tom DeMajo and N55 and an event exploring the sound of stars

17 Oct 2011

Digital arts festival NEoN is once again transforming Dundee into an electronic playground for six days. With its series of film screenings, live music, DJ performances and workshops, NEoN’s main aim is to create works of art that couldn’t have existed…

Student Lock In!

13 Sep 2011

St James Shopping are hosting a Student Lock in on Tuesday 20 September 7 – 9pm and promises music and entertainment throughout the evening and great discounts at many of the stores. The perfect opportunity to stock up on those last minute essentials…

Dead Island

The game behind the stunning trailer is finally ready for release

25 Aug 2011

A young girl’s body lies in the grass, the image intercut with her running down a corridor pursued by undead hordes; time rewinds as she flies up, back through the window her father just threw her through as she grapples him from behind, biting a huge…

Foodies Festival Edinburgh returns in 2011

27 Jul 2011

Celebrating the finest food, drink and culinary talents, Foodies Festival will celebrate its fifth anniversary when the event returns to Holyrood Park on August 12, 13, 14. Having launched in Edinburgh five years ago and enjoyed unprecedented…

The best Scottish websites

The top 30 websites made for and by Scots

21 Jul 2011

When putting together this list, we weren’t necessarily looking for the biggest or the best-known cultural websites in Scotland. We were looking for unique and interesting ideas, cleverly realised and lovingly maintained on the web. This might mean that…

Top ten ways to get in shape – and stay there!

27 Jun 2011

1. Go slow Whatever your goal, whether it’s losing weight, toning up or eating better, start slowly, says diet and fitness expert Laura Williams. “Wearing yourself out by overdoing it is unlikely to get results. You need an exercise routine and diet…

Can Nintendo’s new 3DS handheld live up to the hype?

Playtest reveals augmented reality games as best showcase for 3D

7 Mar 2011

This piece could discuss technical specifications and the history of Nintendo’s innovative design, but instead let’s cut to the chase: does the 3D work? Happily the answer is a resounding ‘yes’. It’s actually pretty amazing. With the 3DS Nintendo have…

Win a Winter White getaway for 4 people to the Isle of Harris!

23 Feb 2011

Escape to a world of scenic Winter White beauty with a luxury break for 4 people at the stylish Hotel Hebrides. This intimate 4-star boutique hotel nestles on the harbour front of Harris’s capital, and offers sparkling white sea views at the front, and…

Gaming centres 1LevelUp and Twitch offer high-spec machines

Glasgow and Edinburgh centres blast loner stereotype

16 Feb 2011

There’s a tired stereotype that gamers are loners, locked in their bedrooms hunched over their consoles or PCs desperately trying to beat their high scores. However, gaming centres, such as the recently opened 1LevelUp in Glasgow and Twitch in…

2011's most anticipated gaming releases

Gears of War 3, Batman: Arkham City, Little Big Planet 2, LA Noire

16 Dec 2010

It’s January so the perfect time to look ahead at the videogames that will be rocking your console in 2011. As per usual sequels are big news. Gears of War 3 (Xbox 360, Microsoft, 8 Apr) will be making a full frontal assault on the first person shooter…

Ski, Snowboard + Xtreme Show 2010 hits SECC

Winter sports special features stalls, shows and Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards

10 Oct 2010

Yes, yes, we know: we’re bad people. Summer was barely there and autumn’s only just arrived, and off we go, blighters that we are, promoting winter, or more specifically all things snow. We would normally (honest) tell the freeze-friendly SECC to keep…

Sky Ride empties streets of Glasgow for cyclists

Six hours of car-free city centre cycling

15 Aug 2010

Fancy taking the kids cycling through Glasgow, without fear of clipping a wing mirror, or being sent flying by some crazy non-indicating driver? Well now’s your chance! For six hours, the city centre is all yours, so pull on the wee ones’ cycling…

Haute Cuisine as Festival in the Sky takes Edinburgh diners to new heights

10 Jun 2010

Edinburgh Festivals endeavour to take their audience to new heights: and this year they look set to take that idea further still, as diners are invited to eat at a table suspended 100ft above the city. The 22-seat dinner table will be suspended over…

Jazz Bar hits a high note

9 Jun 2010

Huge congratulations to Edinburgh Jazz Bar following their award for the UK Jazz Bar of the Year. The award was presented to Jazz Bar creator Bill Kyle last month, and marks the third major award the venue has picked up in under a year, having been…

Edinburgh Festival of Sport

2 Jun 2010

It’s a sad but true fact that the closest many parents come to sporting activity is dropping their kids off at the swimming pool or standing at the touchline on a Saturday morning. Which is why Edinburgh’s Active Schools campaign has just launched its…

5 Things... Glamping

28 May 2010

The best glam camping options for 2010’s Scottish festivals...

Made in the Shade bring Springtime Jamboree craft to Edinburgh

14 May 2010

It’s two years since the ‘neo-craft’ collective, Made in the Shade began. As they celebrate their 2nd birthday with the first craft fair in Edinburgh, Carrie Maclennan looks back...

Five great female tribute acts

14 May 2010

Ahead of Misstallica in Glasgow, some all-female metal tributes...

Bright fashion futures at ECA Fashion Show 2010

14 May 2010

Vogue have talked in the past about the ‘Scottish contingent’ in fashion. Designers like Jonathan Saunders, Jamie Bruski Tetsill and Scott Ramsay Kyle (all GSA textiles graduates) and Holly Fulton, Graeme Black and Chloe Patience (all ECA alumni) have…

Edinburgh Skate Park opens

14 May 2010

It’s mean, it’s green, and it’s obscenely fun – Edinburgh Skate Park is now open for business. Sam Patterson, a long-time skateboarder himself, has been present at all stages of the park’s development. Niki Boyle speaks to him about his skate park…

Ewan Morrison and Mall Tales want your shopping centre stories

14 May 2010

The highs, lows, and occasional misfortunes of the everyday take centre stage this fortnight as part of a unique new storytelling initiative concerning the world of shopping malls. Inspired by author Ewan Morrison, in conjunction with award-winning…

How to get fit through jogging, swimming, skateboarding, frisbee and tennis

14 May 2010

Hey you! Lazybones! It’s warm outside, which means there’s no excuse for your sofa addiction anymore. Niki Boyle has the best suggestions for getting sporty through spring and summer...

Bard in the Botanics and Fête de la Musique return to West End Festival

14 May 2010

Myths and legends will be at the heart of Glasgow’s West End Festival 2010. The arts jamboree returns to the city next month for its 15th year. Showcasing its wares across 50 venues, this year’s line-up promises over 400 events. In keeping with previous…

Time to burn: Calorie counting

14 May 2010

How much exercise will offset that last custard cream you ate? Alice White is on hand with a handy comparative guide to burning off those calories...

The Garden of Cosmic Speculation

5 May 2010

Charles Jencks is the world-renowned architect behind many of Britain's most celebrated land sculptures, including ‘Landform Ueda’ outside Edinburgh's Gallery of Modern Art. Perhaps his most impressive design is the Garden of Cosmic Speculation, created…

Pedal It Pink cycle marathon in aid of Breast Cancer Campaign

4 May 2010

If you go down to the park today, you’d better go in disguise. And that disguise had better be pink. Breast Cancer Campaign’s women-only, pink-clad cycle ride, Pedal It Pink, is set to turn Edinburgh’s Holyrood Park pleasantly pastel this…

Graffimenco combines live graffiti with flamenco

4 May 2010

Like graffiti art? Course you do. Like flamenco dancing? Absolutely. Well, haven’t you been longing for somebody to put them together into one riotous burst of graffiti-splattered, passionate Spanish dance-art? No, we’re not entirely sure what the…

Affordable Art: Getting Started - Susanna Beaumont

29 Apr 2010

Buying and owning art can bring both pleasure and profit, and you don’t need stacks of cash to get started. We begin our guide with some tips from a prominent gallery owner...

Affordable Art: Getting Started - Hugo Brown

29 Apr 2010

Buying and owning art can bring both pleasure and profit, and you don’t need stacks of cash to get started. We begin our guide with some tips from an established collector...

Donate your pants to Zimbabwe and Ethiopia

29 Apr 2010

Lingerie emporium Boudiche has found a charitable use for unwanted bras and knickers, as Claire Sawers discovers...

Shoppulse ideal site for those who like to get in first?

29 Apr 2010

‘We’re sending you over to Topshop right now’, the website Shoppulse tells us, with a slight trace of urgency in its cyber tone. A useful new portal, it tells you what new lines of clothes, shoes and accessories are added daily to high street and…

Cash in your attic?

29 Apr 2010

A Bit like an online version of Cash in the Attic, the website www.valuemystuffnow.com lets you send off photos of art, jewellery, music merchandise, ornaments etc, then receive a valuation direct to your inbox. It’ll cost you (valuations start at…

Concrete Wardrobe showcase

29 Apr 2010

Carrying on its tradition of showcasing a ‘Maker of the Month’, Broughton Street’s Concrete Wardrobe shines its light towards Teresa Green during May. The textile designer silk-screens flying birds, sketches of coffee pots and scribbled doodles onto tea…

Pop-Up Flower Shop

29 Apr 2010

Flower arranger Charlotte Lawson (or Lotte to her friends) will be running a pop-up flower shop in the Made in the Shade Maisonette in De Courcy’s Arcade, Glasgow, on Sat 8 & Sun 9 May. She’s a fan of vintage containers to display the posies and…

The best things to do in Glasgow

22 Apr 2010

Where to … … take a walk Dumbarton Road is Mecca for enthusiastic charity shoppers (tip: start off at the Salvation Army near Byres Road) – make a day of it by wandering round the junk and vintage shops of nearby Ruthven Lane first. (Kirstin…

We Saw You...

22 Apr 2010

Andrezj Sliwa, student, 20, Mexico. Magdelena Slowik, student, 19, Poland. HIM: I can’t even remember where I bought my stuff! Although my Vans were definitely from Schuh. I’m half Polish-half Mexican, and I picked up my t-shirt and jeans somewhere…

A guide to green vegetables

21 Apr 2010

Historic records indicate that we once ate food fresh from places near where we lived, such as back gardens and local farms, thus cutting down on the need to transport food across the globe and avoiding chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Here’s a…

Growing your own veg not just for the green-fingered

The Editor's green blog

21 Apr 2010

It's weekend catch-up time on the Green Blog, and yes, it did get dirty over the last few days. On Saturday I wandered, blinking, into the sunlight of my back-yard to see what I might be able to cultivate for myself. I was pleased to find that I…

A Better Way To Work

16 Apr 2010

With endless tram works bunging up Edinburgh, there’s never been a better time to get on your bike, and one new eco-travel project wants to help city commuters do just that. A Better Way To Work – managed by Edinburgh-based cycling and recycling charity…

Cleaning Up the Streets - A day with Edinburgh's environmental wardens

15 Apr 2010

Paul Dale spends a day with Edinburgh’s environmental wardens, and finds the job of the recycling police is a far cry from Miami Vice.

Green directory for Edinburgh and Glasgow

15 Apr 2010

Community Projects Abundance Edinburgh Go green and eat like a king. This Edinburgh-based group makes leather, vinegar, cider and cheese from harvested apples and pears that would otherwise be binned. www.abundanceedinburgh.com Edinburgh…

Boteco do Brasil, Falafel and Leo’s Beanery among recent food and drink openings

15 Apr 2010

Glasgow Boteco do Brasil 62 Trongate, Merchant City, 0141 548 1330, www.botecoglasgow.com, £13 (lunch/dinner) A ‘boteco’ in Brazil is more of a neighbourhood bar than a full-on restaurant, and this new establishment on Trongate is as much about…

Growing pains: Guerilla gardening in Glasgow

15 Apr 2010

Glasgow’s Guerrilla Gardening campaign is currently transforming the Townhead area of the city centre with seed and bulb-bombing tactics. Their cause resonates with a lot of green-fingered but flat-bound gardeners, desperate to make the most out of any…

Six simple steps towards a greener lifestyle

15 Apr 2010

You might not be ready to go all Richard Briers in The Good Life just yet, but there are some effective steps you can take towards a greener lifestyle that will cost you only a tiny amount of time, money and effort. John-Paul Holden runs down the six…

How upcycling transforms used objects into ones of greater value

15 Apr 2010

Upcycling – the process of turning unwanted items into products of greater value – might sound like a dubious idea (another eco-concept that’s all trouser fluff and no trousers perhaps?) but it does raise the point that with most recycling the final…

Six essential eco-gadgets

15 Apr 2010

Spend yourself green! John-Paul Holden suggests you kit out your life with these must-have eco items

Convection heater first casualty of war on waste

The Editor's green Blog

15 Apr 2010

The List’s editor, Jonny Ensall, ditches bad habits in favour of a fortnight of green living. I am not the Earth’s best friend. If I’m honest, we rarely see eye-to-eye. My side of our relationship is based around a lot of taking and not much giving.

How the capital sound of Edinburgh's music scene is rising

31 Mar 2010

For a long time it’s felt as though Edinburgh’s music scene has had to play second fiddle to its cooler, bigger West Coast brother, picking up on Glasgow’s trends and regularly borrowing its records, its clothes and a little of its cachet. But while the…

God of War III - The academic analysis

22 Mar 2010

I spent my youth browsing encyclopaedias and ancient Greek dictionaries rather than playing computer games; always thinking of history, and book-learning, as real fun. It’s from this academic standpoint that I approach God of War III, a game that is…

Bioshock 2

22 Mar 2010

(2K Games) Xbox 360/PS3/PC Set eight years after the events of Bioshock, this standalone sequel improves on its predecessor without escaping its shackles entirely. Here, the player takes charge of the very first Big Daddy, a hulk genetic…

Darksiders

22 Mar 2010

(THQ) Xbox 360/PS3 You take on the mantle of War (of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse fame) as angels and demons clash and the fate of the world hangs in the balance. While Darksiders won’t win any awards for originality, it’s an undeniably…

Bayonetta

22 Mar 2010

(Sega) Xbox 360/PS3 It’s been a strong few months in the world of action gaming, as Bayonetta proves. Directed by Devil May Cry creator Hideki Kamiya, you take control of a shape-shifting witch for a frenetic ballet of blood, bullets and blades.

Reasons why Glasgow is brilliant (and Edinburgh is baws)

17 Mar 2010

So, Glasgow's better than Edinburgh, right? Better clubbing, better music, better shopping, cheaper travel, why would you ever want to get on the train to Waverley? We want to hear your reasons why Glasgow is miles ahead of its neighbour. Remember…

Reasons why Edinburgh is resplendent (and Glasgow is radge)

17 Mar 2010

So, Edinburgh's better than Glasgow, right? Better arts venues, better eating & drinking, better architecture, more civilised residents, why would you ever want to get on the train to Queen Street? We want to hear your reasons why Edinburgh is miles…

The best Wi-Fi cafés in Edinburgh and Glasgow

The Wi-Fi try guy

17 Feb 2010

Wi-Fi connectivity has become a staple feature of many handheld and portable gadgets, so you would think that the companies making them would have perfected it by now. Well, of course they haven’t, but is the technology good enough to at least beat the…

Valentine's Day: Love letters to Glasgow

3 Feb 2010

Dear Glasgow. We love you. We sincerely do. You’ve given so much to us over the years, we felt we just had to say something – as did some of your more well known inhabitants. Here, an assortment of Glasgow's finest list the people, places and things…

Valentine's Day: Love letters to Edinburgh

3 Feb 2010

Dear Edinburgh. We love you. We sincerely do. You’ve given so much to us over the years, we felt we just had to say something – as did some of your more well known inhabitants. Here, an assortment of Edinburgh’s finest list the people, places and things…

We Saw You

3 Feb 2010

I Saw You List reader, sending your I Saw Yous into the magazine for 15 years, and making an institution of our ‘missed connections’ service. From the truly foul, to the achingly romantic, to the depressingly desperate there’s a lot of Glasgow and…

Creative hub Central Station stage Dundee Pop-Up event

3 Feb 2010

Central Station is fast garnering a reputation as the essential online hub for artists, designers and filmmakers to share their work and forge creative partnerships. Now this artistic melting pot is putting together a special one-day event to the City…

Why independent shopping is cheaper than the high street

20 Jan 2010

Small, local independent shops are just as keen to reward regular customers for loyalty as their big-corp bretheren, and none of the offers below will leave you with the anticlimax of realising your three years’ worth of Boots points only entitle you to…

News from the shop front - January 2010

20 Jan 2010

We usually concentrate on independent shops here at List Towers, but we’re genuinely saddened to hear that Borders UK are going into administration. The Glasgow store in particular has been a real gem, with a dedicated and knowledgeable staff always…

More for less: Attractions

20 Jan 2010

Attractions If you’ve exhausted the National Galleries or the National Museum of Scotland and you’re jonesing for new exhibits The Edinburgh Museums Collections Centre offers something a little bit different. A self-described ‘Aladdin’s cave’ of…

Darksiders

13 Jan 2010

XBOX 360/PS3 (THQ) If you’re hungry for action, Darksiders should satiate any hunger pangs for third person thrills. Taking it’s cues from the likes of Devil May Cry, God of War and Legacy of Kain you take on the mantle of War (of the Four Horsemen…

Best of a decade: Grand Theft Auto IV released

2 Dec 2009

GTA IV shifted a massive 3.7 million units on the first day of release, and went on to become one of the best-selling games of the decade. Henry Northmore looks at how a Dundee-based games design company produced a worldwide phenomenon Grand Theft…

DJ Shadow and Grandmaster Flash launch DJ Hero

4 Nov 2009

Why did no one connect DJing and video gaming sooner? Both involve single-minded obsession, blinding dexterity, copious alone-time, and – potentially – serious carpal tunnel damage. Fortunately, Activision made the connection and expanded their Guitar…

Your Healthy Living Show

9 Jul 2009

Ah, the great Scottish diet. (You can make up your own joke involving the words ‘deep’, ‘fried’ and possibly ‘Mars Bar’ here, or just recycle one of the thousands already out there.) People who like to mourn such things will often mourn the fact that we…

FUEL - Pole position

14 May 2009

When you think racing games, you picture unaffordable sports cars tearing around tracks based on real-life circuits in exotic parts of the world. FUEL is different. It rips up the rulebook and delivers something more ambitious. Set in a future where…

Take Me Out

2 Apr 2009

From cycling, pirate ships, dolphin watching and woodland walks to face-painting, castles, beaches and alien designs, Anna Millar handpicks some of the finest days out and events this Easter, whether you’re a big or a little kid

Fool’s paradise

2 Apr 2009

The large scarlet doors marking the entrance to the former Lawson’s Timber retail site on Edinburgh’s Lady Lawson Street look innocuous enough. What the guidebooks don’t tell you is that this is actually a portal to another world. Behind the Big Red…

In The Frame

2 Apr 2009

A glut of ceramic centres has sprung up recently, offering lots of creative fun – but at a price. If you can only run to a pottery painting session every few months or for a birthday treat, there’s no need for the kids to miss out on a regular dose of…

Easter Eggcitement 2009

2 Apr 2009

Chicks, Eggs & Bunnies Week Mon 6–Thu 9 Apr, 10–11am. £8 per day. Imagination Workshop, 136 Marchmont Road, 0131 466 0148. Make a chick, egg or bunny in this Easter-themed workshop. Price includes a chocolate egg. Ages 6+. Easter Egg-citement…

Behaviour

2 Apr 2009

Theatre, it’s fair to say, suffers from an image problem. Despite being an utterly flexible and inventive art form, most people still associate ‘theatre’ with a red plush seat and the passive consumption of a story for two hours (perhaps pausing briefly…

Resident Evil - Capcom interview

5 Mar 2009

Videogames have delved into the world of horror for a good number of years. Haunting Ground, The Suffering, Jericho, Alone in the Dark and many more have fought for the crown, but Resident Evil is the daddy of them all. On its launch back in 1996 it was…

Horror Games Roundup

5 Mar 2009

With the launch of Resident Evil 5 Henry Northmore looks at why it’s a great time to be a fan of digital terror Silent Hill: Homecoming PS3/Xbox 360 (Konami) ●●●● Silent Hill has always been one of the most disturbing titles on the market…

Fuzzy Felt Folk & Country Crafting

19 Feb 2009

The award for homeist, cutesy-ist event of the fortnight goes to this new monthly craft session where you can learn cross stitch or to knit your own beard (we didn’t make that up, either – it actually says that right here). All set to a hand picked…

Last word: Amanda Hamilton

22 Jan 2009

Best known for detoxing the nation, nutritionist and television presenter Amanda Hamilton stops by to talk Morten Harket, Buddhist retreats and extra-terrestrials

New venue brings downtown New York to Edinburgh

19 Nov 2008

Edinburgh’s art scene has another new addition. The Bowery on Roxburgh Place in the Southside, opened last Saturday and takes its name from one of the famous city's hippest streets. The venue aims to replicate the quirky and semi mod attitude of the…

Air apparent

2 Oct 2008

I am so stupid. I’m shuffling forward on a bench in a King Air plane above Hollister, California. Only now, at 15,000 feet, after a quarter of an hour of shivery anticipation, and a mere stride from an open door to the sky, do I realise the implications…

BloodRayne II: Deliverance

18 Sep 2008

The name Uwe Boll may well strike fear into many a gamer’s heart. The German director is famed for his videogame adaptations, with his myriad of delights to date, including House of the Dead, Alone in the Dark, In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege…

Unusual Gameplay

14 Aug 2008

Time to burn your joysticks and throw away your control pads as game developers begin shifting away from the norm by introducing some innovative, unorthodox and plain silly methods of play this summer. If you thought the future was here when the Wii hit…

Game On

14 Aug 2008

Too Human Xbox 360 (Microsoft) Third-person actioner as you play cybernetic god Baldur in the first part of a mighty, world-conquering trilogy from developer Silicon Knights. It mixes hardcore melee and long-range combat as you battle humongous war…

Edinburgh Interactive Festival

7 Aug 2008

Now in its sixth year, the Edinburgh Interactive Festival is offering even more for gaming enthusiasts. To complement the usual conference, the games screenings are expanding with sneak previews of videogames. Expect hands-on exhibits, a recruitment…

WALL-E

Video Game Review

17 Jul 2008

Whatever the merits of the original work, game-of-the-movie titles tend to be rushed to market to coincide with a cinema release for the most cynical of purposes. The multiple development years that characterise genre-defining titles such as Halo and…

RSNO: Video Games Live

19 Jun 2008

Last year in the UK, videogames overtook the music industry in terms of money made and it looks like the film industry could be next. But today’s gaming technology is working in tandem with these industries in interesting new ways, making cut-scenes…

Grand Theft Auto IV

8 May 2008

Typical, isn’t it? You wait two years for the most anticipated videogame of all time and it turns out all wrong. What have Rockstar being doing with their time? The driving feels different. They’ve changed the shooting. And Liberty City is only a…

Hammer on the web

8 May 2008

The internet has irrevocably changed the way we consume media. ‘Instant’ has become standard and even institutions like the BBC have taken to OnDemand in a big way. Access to downloadable films old and new is increasing and, of course, piracy and…

Online gaming

28 Feb 2008

Downloading media has become increasingly easy in recent years. Your mobile phone can download games, your television can stream radio and DVDs can be rented over the net and played on your games console. While users are increasingly warming to the idea…

Retro technology

14 Feb 2008

In some ways Jack Black and Mos Def’s new film Be Kind Rewind (see our review on page 46) highlights the end of an era for old technology such as the VHS. Today it’s hard to imagine DVD disappearing completely and being replaced by Blu-Ray and HD DVDs…

Retro websites

14 Feb 2008

www.aquarterof.com From Anglo Bubbly and Wham! bars to foiled chocolate cups and Space Dust, this website is a joy to behold for those of us nostalgic for long-forgotten treats. Oh, to return to the days when a two pence Highland toffee was the size…