A Gaming Diary
PC
Naked War (PC)
Oct 10th
I’m currently play three games. One against an online acquaintance, one against a reviewer and one against someone I don’t know who picked up a challenge I posted on the web site. A good mix. It’s too early to tell who’s winning in two of them, but in one of them I’m already very much on the back foot.
It’s a really good game, actually. Great to play in short bursts, but also checking-mail-every-ten-secondsly addictive. Er… you know what I mean.
Naked War (PC)
Oct 6th
I’ve completed one game and had an excellent time.
I lost horribly – I was playing one of the game’s programmers, after all – but by the end I almost knew what I was doing… Except when I didn’t jump out of tank even though I thought I’d asked myself to.
Odd.
Anyway, it’s great fun and well worth investigating.
Naked War (PC)
Oct 6th
Multiplayer turn-based strategy played over email.
Only done a few turns so far, but the interface is nice, it runs on rubbish PCs and it’s got a nice style to it.
Stay tuned for future updates, but first impressions are that it’s well worth a look. Could be an indie sleeper smash. Or something.
Dark Messiah of Might & Magic Demo (PC)
Oct 1st
Oooh pretty.
Freezes for half a second whenever it fancies – maybe when it loads a new sound effect? – which shouldn’t be a big deal, but as it tends to happen during combat and set pieces kind of ruins the game.
Same problem as in Half-Life 2, as it happens, but it happens to a much greater extent here.
Half-Life 2: Episode One (PC)
Oct 1st
COMPLETED!
Very good game when it wasn’t crashing all over the place. I’m thinking about playing Half-Life 2 through again now, but I might wait for the 360 version and play it there instead.
Company Of Heroes (PC)
Oct 1st
Just had to defend a French town from a German invasion.
Awesome.
I failed the first time, but was far better prepared the second time and withstood the onslaught with the use of barbed wire, mines, anti-tank guns, sandbags, machine guns and, eventually, tanks.
And a sniper.
Very, very intense.
Company of Heroes (PC)
Sep 30th
Another mission. I had to capture a town. The main thing I discovered is that snipers are utter, utter bastards.
I’m really loving this game. It’s nice to have a few small squads that you care about, rather than billions of tanks.
It’s a really about using everyone to the full and trying to make sure they survive. I’m doing far fewer suicide runs in this than in a standard RTS.
Company of Heroes (PC)
Sep 30th
Gosh.
Another intense strategy game on the PC.
I just had to defend a road against a convoy of German troops. I lost nearly all my little soldier guys and there were huge explosions everywhere and panic and fire and… oh!
Somehow, despite some vehicles getting through I was told I did a good job and it was on to the next mission…
Or rather, it was time to save and take a break before the stress killed me.
Defcon (PC)
Sep 29th
Just done the tutorial so far.
I’m not sure that I’ll be very at good this game.
And it gives me chills.
TOKYO 8.4M DEAD
Half-Life 2 Episode One (PC)
Sep 25th
Finally, again, some more play of this.
I’m very near the end now and enjoying it immensely, but it’s bed time.
