Hot Heart

Well, the other problem is whether the horses have been given drugs that would not be administered to animals intended for consumption. Though, yes, the main worry is about what else has been getting through. ...and to think they won't let us have proper Mountain Dew.

no u

Well, the Arkham games weren't exactly great because of their stories (well, Asylum was but it wasn't anything new, and it did have that final boss...). Just that the gameplay rules. Brotherhood was bloated and exposed weaknesses in the mechanics. Thankfully, the Arkham games fare a lot better there already.

Some gameplay.

http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/40427c7af8/between-two-ferns-oscar-buzz-edition-part-1

LEGO Lord of the Rings. Got hooked to this one and I think it might be my new favourite of the LEGO games. Partly because I had forgotten how much I love the films but also because it fixes a lot of the problems with the older games. It makes good use of the story by actually switching who's in your party (or parties after the split) relative to where you are. As in, you lose Gandalf after Mordor, Legolas and Gimli are without Aragorn after the warg attack (but rejoins almost immediately once you toodle over to Helm's Deep), etc. There are some really fun elements too, in the way it presents 'boss' characters, or getting to ride an Ent and smash everything to bits without a care. And there's some funny writing in the new fetch quests, though I can tell that 100%ing the game is going to be more annoying. Firstly, because certain levels contain on-rails sections that are triggered at the relevant plot point (running for Buckleberry Ferry, charging out of Helm's Deep) where I'm sure there are also collectibles; which means replaying a level multiple times if you miss just one thing. Secondly, because certain bits feature the worst 'platforming' ever with a really horrible pseudo-lock-on mechanic that sometimes keeps you rooted to the spot or 'unlocks' you and sends you too far over the next platform. Hmm, I get the feeling I should just be reviewing these games to get all my thoughts out.

Did a slavery-themed double bill yesterday. Lincoln. It starts with a really terrible bit about a portentous, symbolic dream (though maybe that was recorded as part of Lincoln's history) and, thankfully, leaves it at that. At times, it was tricky to follow some of the elements at play (I assume it's easier for an American audience), but it picks up soon enough and keeps things explained with a minimum of painful expository dialogue. Besides Daniel Day-Lewis, there are lots of great performances that elevate its story. Tommy Lee Jones and James Spader are the other real standouts, but there are great people in smaller parts. My favourite scene would have to be when a racist guy tries to shoot James Spader's character over the whole Thirteenth Amendment thing. Overall, it does a good job of making the history both accessible and engaging. Django Unchained. I have to confess, I'm not a big fan of Tarantino's newer stuff, and this film is barely above an 'OK' for me. It's an odd proposition because the film is just too fucking long but some of the better moments (the baghead segment) could be trimmed. It spends too long on the middle portion, where it tries to establish the dramatic tension, with the result just dragging. And while I get that Candie is a terrible man (as it has to point out at least three times), I never felt like I cared either way about what happened. But, hey, if you want loquacious characters and over-the-top gore, there's that in there, too.

Drive is good because it is quite uncluttered, but still surprisingly deep. Seems a little more like Taxi Driver than anything else, to me anyway. Though I guess it has that hypnotic quality about it.

Have to say, the game has piqued my interest. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXTCeoxIHR0 Disappointed they didn't get the Rockstar Games voiceover guy...

Xbox LIVE used to far outstrip the online offering of PSN. But as competition goes, Sony upped their game; improving the framework, supporting developers and introducing their own subscription service. It's pretty safe to say that PS+ wouldn't exist were it not for Xbox LIVE. Anyway, MS has mostly sabotaged their own gaming side of things, plus my gaming habits and tendencies have changed, so I can't see myself wanting the next Xbox except maybe for Halo (nor the next PlayStation either, really). Plus, having ads and a subscription service just pisses me off. Their research may show that their plans will make more money, but it's not something I, as a consumer, would care for. Sony has shown a strong offering for gamers, while MS is going a different route (one already adequately supported by PC). Honestly, the subscription fee really doesn't bother me financially, but I feel a little insulted by MS's decisions. And even that's too strong a word. Just disappointed, I guess.

http://imgur.com/a/1OqgQ

http://okcebooks.tumblr.com/

http://imgur.com/a/Ms1tS

No, but The Last Wish (collection of short stories from where it all began) makes for a nice introduction to the universe.

I must have missed that. Nice!

I don't think she's really mentioned in the games, which is why I was unsure about her fate in the later books. The only events I know of are the ones mentioned: Geralt's 'Surprise Child', powerful and unpredictable magic potential (a 'Source' or 'magical atom bomb'), orphaned and later fled from Cintra after Nilfgaardian invasion, in wilderness for a little until reunited with Geralt, taken to witchers' keep to be trained and given witcher mutagens. Triss brought into help, particularly with magical situation, recommends someone more skilled (Yennefer) so sent to a temple to be raised there, hidden away. The Adda comment was because she was supposed to be 'abnormal' even after being turned back from her striga form, but the first game ignored that and made her into a fully developed, hot redhead who Geralt can bang. Which does make him a little creepy... EDIT: Also, yeah, W&S should know more than us all. He's holding out on us!

http://youtu.be/dl7hXzPDLeA

I put a link a couple of pages back, near the top.

Yeah, I am totally buying legitimate copies when they do arrive but I kinda want to read them in the next decade, and it's easier than learning Polish.

You saying I'm a mutant?! I just happen to have reread The Last Wish recently and am currently working my way through Blood of Elves again now that there are fan translations for the rest of the books.

She was on her own for a little bit after the massacre, but not a great deal of time. Then he took her to Kaer Morhen and made sure she was safe and trained, etc. Though, I can't confess as to knowing what happens in the rest of the novels...but I'm going to work my way through the fan translations! p.s. I'm not particularly fond of lilac or gooseberries. TRISS 4 EVA.

Geralt going for Ciri would be like going for Princess Adda after she was turned back from a striga- OH WAIT. Seriously, though, that would be major creepy considering she is very much like his child. She is 12 in the first novel. I can also say that him going towards Triss has nothing to do with his amnesia. He and Yennefer run very hot and cold despite being 'cursed' to each other, while she has always been there.