Alice:Madness Returns

Well today I purchased Alice: Madness Returns after having pre-ordered it a few weeks ago.  I played the original game from 10 years ago and was really looking forward to this one.  I'm not disappointed as it's stunningly beautiful, has excellent music and runs much better than I expected as I didn't have to lower any settings on my two year old system. 

My BIG gripe is the ridiculous protection and the hoops I had to go through just to install and play it.  I haven't bought a game from EA for years, but now I know why people hate the company so much.  Talk about punishing PAYING customers. 

I want to make it clear that I'm not promoting piracy at all, but I can see why people do it especially with EA games.  First I had to input a serial code which is normal and expected anyway, but then before I could even install it I had to give an email address and password for access to the website, then there was the actual online activation.  It all took much longer than it should have to just install a game let alone play it.
Thankfully, there were no issues with activation otherwise I would have been fuming to say the least.

Then there's no game manual.  All I got was a thin two page pamphlet with basic instructions on installing and how to contact them for support.  Oh, and a little note about how they are saving on paper products and that's why there's no manual.  That wouldn't be so bad except you can only access the manual online IN GAME only, so I can't just browse through it at my leisure without the game running.  Cheap bastards couldn't even come up with an offline PDF version.

At least the game is worth the $89 Aust, which I can't say for some I've bought in recent times. 

The graphics are excellent and crisp and the voice acting is also top notch.  The camera takes some getting used to after playing rpg's for so long and I started playing with the keyboard which works pretty well, but I think I'll continue with a controller for a better experience.  I bought an XBOX 360 controller for the PC last year for another game that I haven't played again except to try it out when I got it home.  It's still in it's package so it's time to break it out I think.

I'll add a couple of screen shots here later.

Meanwhile here's number five of six game play videos that I found very amusing and entertaining to watch. The narrator is hilarious and I've watched the videos a couple of times and I'm waiting now for number seven.
Sad isn't it...lol.

Beware teapots with retinas...as the level is called.

I'm a Supernatural Junkie (TV show)

I don't watch much television but there are a couple of shows I don't miss and one in particular.  I'm a HUGE fan of the Supernatural series and having just watched all of Season Six I was over the moon to find that Season Seven is about to go into production.  I thought I had read somewhere last year there wouldn't be another season, but I'm so glad to be wrong.

The acting is so good in this series, except maybe occasionally for a few characters who only feature in one episode.   Like Star Trek. You know the new guy is going to die a horrible death, but in Supernatural it's a really horrible one.  In a horror fan kind of way.    Heheh.....ahem...

After the cliffhanger at the end of Season Six I couldn't bear to think that was the end of Dean, Sam, Castiel and Bobby.  I even like Crowley, and Death has his charming side as well.  In a way the ending was a surprise and shock because even though events leading up to it shouldn't have been a complete surprise, I didn't really see it coming. 

I don't try to analyse movies or TV shows too much as it spoils it for me, and I never watch the "making of" extras as that also takes away some of the mystery.  The technical side, especially with CG is interesting in lots of ways, but I only watch some of those or at least the parts that don't really show the finer details. 

Anyway, come on September and I can get my Supernatural fix again.

Oblivion Screenshots Four

 Arena - The killing stroke

 In the Swamp - Resident Evil style

 Warrior Mage. 

Red in the rain

Overlooking County Anvil

Testing out a coffin for size and comfort.

Nina close up

Magma sword and robe from Waalx Animals and Creatures

GetUp! Sign the petition to ban live exports.

If you care about the welfare of the animals you eat before and as they are being slaughtered please sign the petition at GetUp - Action for Australia.  I have and I will continue to add my support.
http://www.getup.org.au/campaigns/animals/live-export/ban-live-export


At the time of this post 237,752 people have signed at GetUp which is pretty damn good for a population the size of ours.

EDIT...the numbers have skyrocketed since I signed.  Perhaps because it's just been on the News again.   Australia does care about human, animal and environmental rights despite the bullshit spouted by some areas of the media and people with vested interests in money and power.  


The video of the investigation is also there for anyone with a strong stomach and wishes to view just what has caused this controversy in case the links I added before have expired.  I've seen it once and tried to watch again so I don't forget about this abomination because it has to stop, but it makes my stomach churn when I see the first animal being jabbed knowing what's coming next.  I can voice my opinions, sign petitions and donate a small amount of money to the RSPCA and Animals Australia to help, but I cannot watch that video again. 

Just because these animals are raised for human consumption doesn't mean they should be tortured and subjected to the disgusting treatment as they have been in Indonesian abattoirs.   To tell you the truth, I'm not surprised about this kind of behaviour in this and other similar countries, and I'll say again, it has to stop.  If the Australian Government don't ban live exports permanently to all countries, the people who exposed this shocking, inhuman treatment will expose more cruelty, particularly regarding sheep sent to the Middle East.  I'm sure certain there are people who don't want that to happen.

I've already had my say in a previous post here.  My opinions haven't changed despite that the Indonesians say they are shocked by this as well, which I find hard to believe.  How is it no-one in a country known to have little to no human(e) rights, let alone animal rights, know this was happening and not move to stop it or at least expose it.  Then again, corruption is a thriving business in many countries.  Money talks and when it does people listen.  And let's not forget threats of reprisal and fear of their own authorities, and I dare say, each other.

The Australian Government and Cattleman's Association are as much to blame as it seems they knew this has been happening for up to 10 years and haven't done anything to stop it, so the Indonesians aren't totally to blame for their ignorance and cruelty.   Many abattoirs were closed here in Australia over past years, and jobs lost so our livestock can be sent overseas to be maimed and tortured.  Another wonderful example of money talks and gutless action.

Animals feel fear and in the above case stark terror, with good reason, and anyone who condones this is undeserving of being called human.   Perhaps other countries who export livestock should look into what happens to their animals and whether they care.

I will be following this situation and adding my support.  Voices can be heard, not only about this, but any injustice, at least here in Australia where we have freedom to speak out.

Oblivion Screenshots Three

Stand Tall

Gothic

Sand Storm in Elsweyr

Sunset Dreaming

Patience

Rogue