Hot Heart

http://www.newstatesman.com/alex-andreou/2013/01/welfare-debate-and-end-reason

It's OK. Though, I think the medal streak and unlock system mostly ruins it. UC2 was far better in that regard. It's such a slog until you can get an M9 like everyone else, and then you'll still have people with far better perks than yours (because they have so much money from playing lots, they can buy expensive temporary boosts). I found myself adjusting fairly well later on, and I completely owned at the London Underground map (home advantage? ), but I still preferred UC2's simpler setup. I'm sure there are other issues I had, but I can't quite remember them it's been so long since I played.

http://batmanrunning...hit.tumblr.com/

I played one mission, which was actually a modified version of an Uncharted 2 level. The bit with the camp in the jungle and then a big fight near that hut where snipers start appearing, too. Had to carry Smooves' noobness through that one. The arena stuff is still pretty fun though, especially if you're with friends/decent teammates.

I need to play some more co-op Uncharted 3, especially the actual missions rather than arenas. That was usually pretty fun (and quite challenging).

o rly? Cool. I was just waiting for it to become cheap enough (like, really cheap). I really enjoyed the first game, so that's good to know.

100 Diagrams That Changed The World.

Spec Ops: The Line. Went 75% off on Steam after the sale has ended.

http://www.screencuisine.net/screencuisine/television/justified-returns/

So cruel. No one should be made to listen to that, even cats.

Out of all the people who own it, I think only Atomsk has beaten it. And that was on New Year's Eve as well. (Unless the 'Borderlands' in your GDoc meant the second game, in which case that's 3 people?)

I suppose this goes here. And I suppose I'll get round to beating the game at some point...

If you're only using the outfit and not the model, I'll gladly take her off your hands. Provided shipping's not too expensive, OBVIOUSLY.

Maybe this is old, I don't know. http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/B002ATI4VG/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

Zavvi had a 2 for £12 on blu-rays, and since I didn't get them for Christmas I bought No Country For Old Men and Rango.

The other day, I got gifted Magicka by the ever so awesome MetalCaveman (for whom I got VVVVVV in return). So, if anyone wants to play with/get killed by someone who has no idea what they are doing, then just let me know!

The Good, The Bad And The Multiplex by Mark Kermode. I've not always agreed with his reviews (who can say that about any reviewer?) but he sure knows his stuff. This was actually a christmas gift from my sister, who wasn't too sure if I'd like it or not. There was a danger at the start. The first chapter is amusing but sounds too much like a comedy sketch in the way it goes to extremes, which kinda puts me off. Plus, it sounds like Grumpy Old Men (UK TV show) where even minor annoyances are exaggerated/inaccurate. Though, I have learned that he thinks Marlon Brando is severely overrated and that he loves Zac Efron (and his hair) because he reminds him of 'proper' film stars from decades OK (perhaos Battra92 would have liked him). Really though, the anecdote is part of an attack on multiplexes and how a lot of their failures are really their own fault for not showing proper respect to films nor their audiences. And it's a pretty convincing argument. The stuff that follows is very interesting too, and makes the case that if Hollywood follows some fairly simple rules they can't actually lose money on blockbusters in the long-run (using plenty of examples). Which then begs the question as to why they are making so many dumb films (encapsulated in his question 'Why have Michael Bay if you can have Chrisopher Nolan?') when a smarter script does nothing to harm them. It touches on the history of distribution (and the 'theatrical window' thing that Strangelove actually brought up in a status update today). Then he goes on to tear apart 3D for the fad that it is, and points to the numerous occasions, since the invention of cinema, where stereoscopy has failed. The 3D chapter is starting to drag...as you can tell I may have covered all the essentials but am currently still on the chapter, but it's an entertaining read. If you have any interest in film/cinema then I recommend it.

Recently made some Kindle purchases. - A Billion Jokes by Peter Serafinowicz (follow him on Twitter so I've seen a few of them already, but he's hilarious and it was only £2) - The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt. I have heard very good things, plus it was 99p.

I suppose that's one of the many extras not included on the UK edition of the film.

Love that film. "Bad. Sleep bad." And then he's terrible at maths later, too.

Not sure how you came across it, but I know Eurogamer has this weird layout with a 'Popular Now' section sitting quite prominently. Around the end of the year, all sorts of older articles tend to resurface because they're linked in 'highlight' or 'looking ahead' lists.

Noooooooooooooooooo. *attempts to look sad*

Not really. The Carl character seemed like a complete blank space at that point, so the rest just looked a bit like cliched emotional manipulation. I guess it's hard to qualify, because I get the intention behind it, but him being mute and just gawking all the time as a kid then made it seem almost like he was bullied into being with Ellie. For me, there seemed an odd disconnect between that representation and what came after.

Up. Was on TV the other day. Can't say I was as wowed as other people, judging by what I'd heard. It was funny in a really bizarre way, and I think the perfomance by the kid was surprisingly good (owed a lot to the excellent, nuanced animation), but I wasn't really struck by the 'emotional' element. And it's not because I'm dead inside, because I totally got teary-eyed at Toy Story 3!