View Full Version : My games career progress
Feel a bit mean posting my good news right next to Davey's crap news :o
But I'm really excited so need to post :D
Friday night I was feeling a bit crap and decided to make me feel like I was getting somewhere with my ambitions, to finally say sod it and email a selection of the reviews I've written both unpublished and two that were posted on http://www.xbox360achievements.org/
I emailed them to quite a number of different games sites ranging in size including one that an old Uni friend recommended to me: http://play.tm/
Got a reply back Saturday morning before work, after a brief email conversation, I now have a copy of Moto GP07 for the PS2 and The Darkness Within for the PC (which I've never heard of before) on their way to me to review and keep once I've reviewed. And hopefully if my reviews are any good, I'll have more on the way too :D
So erm yeah, bit excited :D Hoping it might finally lead me towards a career in what I enjoy most.
Wow, cooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ool, ice cool, that is wicked. Cognrats !
Davey_Pitch
12-11-2007, 11:22
Nice one Jen, hope it all goes well for you :cool:
Thank you both :D
Well excited about this :)
That's rather splendid news :)
Davey_Pitch
12-11-2007, 12:16
The Darkness Within for the PC (which I've never heard of before)
As police detective Howard E. Loreid, players are tasked to solve the murder of Clark Field, a wealthy man involved in the occult. At the top of your list of suspects is Loath Nolder; a highly respected private investigator who mysteriously abandoned his last case for reasons unknown. Rumor had it that he ventured to several exotic places around the world learning from tribe shamans and sorcerers. It remains a great mystery as to why Loath Nolder disappeared so suddenly, resurfacing five years later and resuming his investigations just as abruptly as he had left them. Why does this venerated P.I. now sit on the other side of the law?
This seemingly routine investigation takes a dramatic twist as strange and terrifying happenings begin to plague your psyche. You experience lucid horrifying dreams and are tormented by paranormal happenings. Why do days pass instead of hours when you sleep? What's real and what's not? As you pursue fugitive murder suspect Loath Nolder, you must face dire truths hidden deep within a haunting darkness and the recesses of your mind.
Sounds interesting.
Ooh sounds quite interesting :) I do love a detective story, just depends how it plays.
Davey_Pitch
12-11-2007, 12:21
There's a demo available I believe if you want to try it before you get it :)
Edit: http://www.mmpr.com/MMPRFTP/FTP%20Folders/Lighthouse/ - 152MB
Worth a go :) just looking it for it on ign now.
Just saw that the release date is tomorrow in the US :cool:
Just had a brief look at the demo. It's a bit crap :D
Ah well, sometimes I find it easier to write about crap games anyhow.
I appear to be in demand :o
Just had someone I know PM me to ask if I want a promo copy of Smackdown vs Raw 2008 providing I can get it reviewed by the end of next week.
And that's for a different site!
Don't get to keep it afterwards though.
This is starting to get busy ;D
Playing games as a job, thats not fair :p
I don't get paid for it yet :p
Be nice if one day I could get to that stage though :D
Justsomebloke
15-11-2007, 14:45
Congratulations :cool:
Good Effort.
Wellington
15-11-2007, 21:58
Nice one. Keep it going!!!
http://play.tm/
Look which review is on the front at the moment :D :cool:
I also now have Tabula Rasa on the way which is rather handy because I was considering buying it anyhow :D
Stan_Lite
19-11-2007, 13:12
Wahey, Jen's famous \o/
I take it you're not overly keen on Darkness Within then? :D
Well done Jen, hope this leads to bigger and better things :)
Erm no ;D
I have played worse, it was just very dull and uninteresting. Hopefully Moto GP is better, just about to start playing that solidly for a couple of days :)
Oh dear.. At least it wasn't Big Rigs (http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/driving/bigrigsotrr/review.html?sid=6086528) or Catfight (http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/action/catfight/review.html?sid=2538331)
Great quote...
"Just how bad is Big Rigs: Over the Road Racing? It's as bad as your mind will allow you to comprehend."
;D
http://play.tm/story/14707
And my other one up and currently the main story on there :D
I'll stop posting in here now, it'll get boring for you lot :o But I've currently got Tabula Rasa to review by next week then FEAR Perseus Mandate :)
Davey_Pitch
21-11-2007, 20:02
Keep the updates coming please Jen, it'll be good to see how you're doing :)
Ok, will do :)
And thanks both :) I'm really excited again :o I hope this buzz always happens :D
I'm up again for Tabula Rasa :D
Currently the front page review but it'll probably move down later in the day: http://play.tm/story/14822
Longest review I've written yet at 1.7k, there was tons to write about the game and I could have easily written more. Only took me about an hour to write up, just seemed easier than previous games to write about.
On a side note, the About section of the site now has my name properly accredited rather than Jennifer Jea.
Next up is Fear Perseus Mandate.
Davey_Pitch
28-11-2007, 13:55
I think I've done a review around 2.5k words, but I do have a tendency to perhaps go too in depth at times. Glad you're still enjoying it so far :)
I tend to easily be able to write about 1.2k words then it depends on the game and how much there is to talk about. Does seem to be getting simpler to find things to discuss though. :)
Bit paranoid as I've not had an email yet to say another game's on the way :o Although hard work, it's nice to know there's a steady stream :D
Pumpkinstew
28-11-2007, 14:31
I was in the Tabula Rasa beta.
I'll have to have a read through your review when I get in from work.
So, through a slight hint of cheekiness on both mine and their editor's part. Looks like I'll also soon be writing news pieces for http://thexboxdomain.net/
When I emailed play.tm a few weeks back, I also emailed the guys at thexboxdomain and got no response so I figured they weren't interested. Return to today, and I entered a competition on their site and left my blog address. 2 minutes later I got a comment from the editor of the site saying about how it's a pity I didn't email them about writing. Few email exchanges and I'm sorted. :)
Again, no pay etc. But I'm hoping that maybe with some hard work, it'll all develop into a nice looking CV and then possibly some potential for a 'proper' job in the future. I hope so otherwise I'll be hugely gutted as I really want to make a go of this. It's the one thing that really gives me a buzz.
Admiral Huddy
29-11-2007, 10:51
Sounds good Jen.
I love writing reviews, although my english and grammer isn't that great but I know plenty of people who can check my work. Secretary's have their uses :D
.. I've had two printed now and I'm in the throws of writing one now..
Nice one Huddy :) My next step probably sometime after Christmas is to start emailing around some magazines. I want to make sure I've got a decent background online first to hopefully aid my chances.
Just got an email from play.tm to say I'm getting sent a copy of UTIII and to make sure it's a priority as it's a big review. Must have worked my way up a bit now I'm starting to get decent games to review :D
Davey_Pitch
29-11-2007, 12:19
UT3, nice, I wouldn't mind giving that a go. Let us know what it's like :)
Yeah I'm rather pleased by it :) Probably ebay it afterwards (providing it doesn't get linked to my ID like Tabula Rasa did) but be nice to play a bigger game for once.
Davey_Pitch
29-11-2007, 12:28
I'm tempted to email Play.tm and see if they need any more reviewers. The problem I have with x360a is that I have to review the games I've bought myself. What I generally find is that if I've bought it, I want to play it at my own pace and enjoy it, not go through it looking for faults to mention in a review. I've always preferred reviewing games I've been sent as I'm much more analytical about it.
I remember you saying at the weekend, it's worth a go if you ask me :) Don't get if you don't try and all that. Luke's the one you need to email, he's the editor and seems a nice bloke.
Just don't get all the 360 games, that's what I'm trying to do :p
Fear Perseus Mandate review is up now :) http://play.tm/story/14869 For those too lazy to read it all, just don't buy it :p
I've just had UT3 arrive and that needs to be reviewed asap as a priority review. So should be sorted by Monday or Tuesday. I'm actually a bit nervous about writing it. I know that this is a review that people will actually read rather than the others were probably read by a smaller group of people.
Might also be a decent chance at getting more big games in the future too :)
Oops my 3rd post in a row :o
http://play.tm/story/14926 - Unreal Tournament 3 review is up :)
I've just had Bladestorm arrive for the 360 to review, makes a change to have a 360 title. As well as that, the xboxdomain editor's emailed me to say he's sorting out my access for the site and that he wants me to review some Arcade games so I should receive a code for most likely Undertow this week. :)
Did you get round to emailing play.tm Davey?
Creature
04-12-2007, 12:41
:shocked: Bladestorm. I've been thinking about getting that. Eager for the review as the demo was good.
I call didbs if you sell :p
Yup I'll be selling it once I review it :)
I'll let you know, and I'll even let you read the review before you consider buying, which I never let the ebayers do ;D
Davey_Pitch
04-12-2007, 13:31
Did you get round to emailing play.tm Davey?
Not yet, but I will do in a bit, internet is playing up here in work today :)
Good luck when you do :)
I've just been playing Bladestorm. I don't quite know wtf is going on but I'm enjoying it so far. I have heard it has quite a steep learning curve so guess that's why. Seems to have a lot of potential and I didn't instantly hate it like I did with Samurai Warriors :)
Bit perplexed by the fact I got 150 points just for saving my game but I'm not complaining, just doesn't feel like an achievement :p
Also just got another 50 points after the first battle!
Creature
04-12-2007, 21:31
The demo was a bit easy I felt, I just kept running in and killing things with no problem whatsoever. Is the game pretty much the same?
I really want to get into reviewing , but I can't write them for ****. Oh well.
Pretty much. I've died once or twice but that's mainly been my own fault/I've decided to be silly and run into a huge crowd of people.
I'll let you know if it gets harder :) I might be a poor judge though as I've not played the series before.
Bladestorm review: http://play.tm/story/15018
It's good fun, flawed but fun. Been playing it a fair bit since the review which is a rarity for me.
Been ill the past week so took my time a bit with getting it done.
Not actually got another game on the horizon yet :eek: Hopefully sorted soon though!
Creature
10-12-2007, 22:12
Right, i'll be getting that at some point then.
I'll definitely be selling it on, although not sure what price :o
But let me know if you're interested :)
Davey_Pitch
10-12-2007, 23:22
Adding my own good news to this thread, I've also been accepted to the Play.tm review team and hope to get something sent to me for review soon. Still need to resign from X360a though, must sort that soon :o
NokkonWud
11-12-2007, 00:31
I've read that play.tm before. Some good reviewers on there, not sure about a "Jen Jey" though, she's not very good.
I've read that play.tm before. Some good reviewers on there, not sure about a "Jen Jey" though, she's not very good.
:eek:
This will be remembered come February :p
http://play.tm/story/15521
New article by me, article rather than a review this time :) On whether, or more how, games are becoming more mainstream.
Only thing is I did run out of steam part way through and am dissecting it to pieces now still :p But oh well :o
Stan_Lite
16-01-2008, 10:53
Nice piece Jen :)
The houseparty you refer to sounds very familiar - this party didn't happen to take place in Liverpool in February did it?
Admiral Huddy
16-01-2008, 11:16
Some of my reviews are here
http://www.huddysworld.co.uk/PCGaming_CompletedGames.shtml
Davey_Pitch
16-01-2008, 11:39
Nice piece Jen :)
The houseparty you refer to sounds very familiar - this party didn't happen to take place in Liverpool in February did it?
I'm guessing it was. She does forget though that in another room another bunch of people were busy playing Guitar Hero 2 while the rest played the Wii ;D
Good spot :p
I forgot about GH shockingly enough :shocked:
It's an idea that's been rolling round my head though since about then :)
Davey_Pitch
18-01-2008, 15:38
Woot, cover story :D
http://play.tm/
leowyatt
18-01-2008, 15:43
excellent :D
Nice one :) It's always a good feeling.
Woo, review copy of the new Advance Wars on the DS incoming :D
And I've got a review to write of my new TV :)
Davey_Pitch
25-01-2008, 21:31
Bah, wish I was getting the Advance Wars, it looks a great game :)
Hoping it is :D I really enjoyed the first one.
You had any news of any games to review Davey? I know Luke said that there weren't many review copies of anything about yet but he was hoping there would be soon. I'm guessing some lucky sod probably has Burnout Paradise to do!
Davey_Pitch
25-01-2008, 22:24
Nothing yet, I might email him and see if he wants me to do anything in the mean time.
I spoke to the guys at x360a and they're actually happy for me to work with Play.tm and still do reviews for them as well. Might knock out a review of something I already own just to keep ticking over :)
Heh, now that's funny. Considering they didn't want me writing for x360a and x3h at the same time but refused to admit it was because they didn't like x3h :p Instead they said they just didn't want me writing for more than one site regardless of what site ;D
I'd have much preferred it if they'd been honest but ah well. :)
Next week's getting quite busy now, Advance Wars review, TV review and I want to crack on with my OU course I've just started so I can get ahead a bit before I start work. :D
Advance Wars review is up :) http://play.tm/story/15829
Although I've just noticed a grammatical error I didn't notice last night when I submitted it :o
Got a Lineage 2 expansion pack on the way to review next too.
Davey_Pitch
01-02-2008, 10:17
Nice review Jen :) I'm currently being sent the Art of Fighting Anthology on PS2 to review. Never played the SNK fighting games before so I'll have to do a little revision before I play it, though having never played the series may help me judge it from a less biased perspective :)
Nice one :) I've never played the games either so be interesting to hear your views.
What's Art of Fighting like Davey? :)
I've just had Jack Keane arrive, a point and click adventure for the PC that looks like it's taken a lot of inspiration from Lucasart games which is no bad thing at all :D
Davey_Pitch
13-02-2008, 15:05
It's not bad. Not up there with Street Fighter but certainly not a bad figther by any stretch of the imagination. I'm nearly done with my review of it now, I wanted to have it finished last weekend but I've run over a little bit :o
You? Run over a little? Surely not :p ;D
3k words or more? :D
Davey_Pitch
13-02-2008, 15:36
The review itself isn't that long (it is merely a collection of 3 older games after all) but it's just taken me longer to do than I thought it would do.
Ah fair enough :) I thought you were doing a marathon review like you usually do :D
Davey_Pitch
13-02-2008, 15:38
Heh, trying not to. It's a bad habit which I should really reserve for the bigger and better titles. :D
Warhammer Online is on the way to me :D
I need to get on with Jack Keane though :o Lost track with it thanks to the mess of last week.
Just read through this thread. Pretty cool Haly, nice work :thumbsup:
I write film reviews, would love someone to come along and offer me a salary for doing it!
Thanks :)
I'm hoping one day someone will offer me a salary too ;D i might send a few speculative emails in the near future about it though, get the ball rolling maybe.
Davey_Pitch
02-03-2008, 02:55
Woot, my first Play.tm review is up :)
http://play.tm/story/16459
Congrats :D Interesting read :)
;D Kitten yeah that party wasn't bad at all :p :D
Davey_Pitch
04-03-2008, 18:49
No reviews currently to do, so I'm kinda stealing a former idea of Jen's and writing an article about the 360 achievement system, and whether it's a great gaming invention or just a giant willy waving exercise. I figure it should stimulate some debate and it's a topic I enjoy talking about so I can hopefully write a good article about it. :)
You git :p I suggested that when Luke said to go for the Mainstream gaming article instead ;D
I don't mind :) Be interesting to see your take on it :D
I'm getting Warhammer done for the end of tomorrow and reviewing my TV for the spin off site so plenty to do :D
Davey_Pitch
04-03-2008, 19:31
Sorry Jen, if I'd known you'd already suggested it I'd have thought of something else to write about.
Noooo, I wasn't serious with the calling you a git :) It's a good topic choice and I'm sure you'll do it proud. And now I want to read it anyhow :D
I haven't really got the time at the moment to do any articles for a bit anyhow so it'd be a while till I got the chance. I've got a few other ideas up my sleeve for when I've got some time though. :)
http://play.tm/story/16611 Warhammer: Mark of Chaos: Battle March - quick summary: Get Dawn of War instead if you want a Warhammer RTS :p
I now have 3 (:shocked:) games on the way to review:
Shin Megami Tensei Persona 3 on ps2
Lost Empire on PC and a preview build of the latest Europa game.
Davey_Pitch
08-03-2008, 00:30
I've got 2 goodies on their way to me at the moment, though Luke didnt say what they were and I want to be surprised when they arrive (please let it be Bully on the 360). :)
You never know :D
I quite like the look of Persona 3 after a quick google, always happy to play more RPGs :D
Had a break for about the past 6 weeks, and just returned to it. Being sent a copy of Age of Conan which I've been interested in anyhow, handy :D
Davey_Pitch
21-05-2008, 18:01
I still haven't done the article or reviews I've got to do. I really should get them done and find a good excuse for why they've not been done sooner :o
;D
I've been promising an article for a while but Luke's not bothered about it being on the backburner at the moment which is handy.
Know anyone that's reviewed Penny Arcade? Just tried the demo and it really seems like my cup of tea, just want to see other people's opinion on what you get for your money (1600 points :|)
I'll keep an eye out for when they do :) I'm resisting the demo, it's too pricey, so if I don't play the demo, I won't know what I'm missing :D
Good plan! I wouldnt have bothered if I didnt have 2400 in the bank that's been sitting there since Feb ;D
Only thing on the horizon for them is Duke and Soul Calibur and they could be months away.
AoC arrived today. It's been installing for an hour and it's still not overly close to finishing ;D
Hope there aren't too many patches after that, this could take a while!
AoC arrived today. It's been installing for an hour and it's still not overly close to finishing ;D
Hope there aren't too many patches after that, this could take a while!
Is that downloads, sheer amount of data, or badly organised CD/DVDs?
When WoW came out I was off work (lung op) and remember being on TeamSpeak moaning with other MMORPG friends of mine about how long it took to install. Wasn't that the data was particularly large (only 4CDs) but the files on the CDs were laid out in such an illogical order it could never get any speed up.
That's just off the discs, 2 DVDs worth. It took just under an hour and a half in the end. Now waiting for the 632mb patch to download so that's added another 30mins to it.
I remember installing WoW with 4 cds, right pain :D Luckily I have the collector's edition of that so I have the DVD included too, just didn't have a working DVD drive at the time.
Age of Conan review up: http://play.tm/story/18507
My first review in over 2 months :shocked: Felt very out of practice doing it. Good fun game at the moment imo, who knows what happens next though as like I said in the review, MMOs change so bloody fast they're hard to review. I haven't reached the end game content yet either and I've heard bad things of that being a bit sparse at the moment.
Probably way behind the times, one word review:
Tony Hawk Downhill Skater - Wii
Crap
Pure unadulterated pimpage (actually isn't this entire thread exactly that? :o): Just updated my blog to include all the reviews I've done for various sites :)
Need to mess with the layout a bit to make things look nicer, but the content is there. Nokkon's idea to stick everything together and it makes sense.
Not too sure if anyone reads this thread but me now ;D
But Bourne Conspiracy for the 360 is on the way for me to review :D I've heard some pretty crappy things about it but I like having 360 games to review as it's the main format I play.
Plus they sell better on ebay afterwards :D
Davey_Pitch
29-06-2008, 19:37
Bah, I'd love to have a copy of Bourne, I love the films and I'd love to play the game at some point. I guess I'd better do my current reviews first though :/
You're not still on Dynasty Warriors 6 are you? :p
This is only my second review since late March so I deserve a decent game imo :D
Davey_Pitch
29-06-2008, 23:39
I am :o Just had no motivation to get it done. I really should knock the review out, I actually started it then just couldn't get back to it for some reason.
Tsk :p
Motivation = more games to review in the future :D
Creature
30-06-2008, 02:17
I'm always open to recieving free, post-review games.....
This not-so-subtle hint was brought to you by lack of sleep.
;D
Unfortunately anything I can sell after reviewing, I do. My finances aren't very good at the moment so it's my only option until things improve :/
I do get a few PC games that look like copies but aren't (just the way they get sent!) so people are always welcome to them. I know Pheebs got my copy of Jack Keane not long ago :D
I think at the moment I've got quite a few PC games floating about that I'm not sure what to do with, and things like Age of Conan and Lineage 2 that are tricky to sell on b/c a free account's already been set up for the review :(
Bourne Conspiracy up now: http://play.tm/story/19256
Brilliant idea, not overly well executed. Starts out great fun then turns into the same thing over and over again. I have played plenty worse though ;D
I'm writing a preview piece for the WoW Wrath of the Lich King beta so after 2 days of patching (!), I've finally logged on. My WoW account is inactive although I was planning to resubscribe sometime so I thought I'd have to for the beta.........I don't :D
Was really pleased to get this task :)
A mahoosive bump (and four posts in a row :eek:) but hopefully people will be interested in this :)
Thanks hugely to Daz letting me know that a position was open a few weeks back, I am now on a trial period writing for www.xboxgamezone.co.uk :D
Along with getting more games to review, the most exciting benefit for me is 'after a review period the opportunity to attend press events.' which sounds very promising!
As well as a reference for when applying for future positions :)
Again unpaid as before (and I'm still writing for play.tm, just finished my 19th review for them), but good experience, free games, and hopefully one day I can take the bold step to take it further into a 'real' career.
Either way it's doing something I love so I'm happy :D
leowyatt
27-10-2008, 16:51
Glad it is all going well for you :)
Davey_Pitch
27-10-2008, 16:51
Nicely done Jen. I applied for that one as well, but I guess I wasn't as good as you. Well played :)
Aww, didn't realise. I'd have crossed my fingers for you as well as me.
Did you have to answer all those questions and write a news release on Soul Calibur 4? It was like a proper interview process ;D I've got paid jobs for less work :D
Davey_Pitch
27-10-2008, 16:55
Nope, didn't even get a reply to my original email. I'm not too surprised really, I've not done any reviews for a while (my own fault admittedly) so the ones I linked to in my email are not my best. I'm really happy for you though, I know how much you enjoy it :)
Thanks :)
Get writing yourself when you get some time ;) I like your style :)
Davey_Pitch
27-10-2008, 17:50
I plan to, but I need to beg Luke to keep me on, considering he sent me 2 games to review that for some reason I never did (though I still have them, and can still do them). I'm actually going to email him now and apologise and take it from there :)
Doh. What was the second game? I remember Dynasty Warriors 6, didn't realise there was another.
I haven't reviewed anything for a few weeks, last one was Sonic Chronicles for the DS. I'd like to hit 20 soon though, then I'll have done 20 reviews in a year which isn't bad going. :)
Davey_Pitch
27-10-2008, 17:54
It's Dragoneer's Aria for the PSP, a decidedly average RPG :/
Never even heard of it :o
I've had a run of a few games I've looked forward to reviewing so I'm waiting to have crap sent to me that I have to suffer :p
Intrigued to see what the first game will be with xboxgamezone though.
Davey_Pitch
27-10-2008, 18:02
Heh, I can only imagine the crap games I'll get should Luke keep me on, and for good reason. I can't expect to get good games after such a long absence, I'd expect the crap ones and then hopefully go on from there.
I think it does work a little like that, I've noticed I've only just started getting decent ones but then again I've not quite reached the level of stuff like Fable 2 (not that I wanted to review it!) or Gears 2 etc.
For anyone who's interested:
My first review for XboxGameZone is up :)
Fifa 09 (http://www.xboxgamezone.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1801&Itemid=36)
Should have the new Spiderman game on the way to me now :D
Davey_Pitch
13-11-2008, 03:04
Nice review Jen, though I did notice one mistake. You mentioned that you can only play the Be A Pro mode for three seasons, when it's actually four seasons :)
Oops :o Not sure how that happened. I'll ask for it to be changed over to the correct number :)
Thought I'd update here to keep everything in one place :)
In the past couple of weeks, I've reviewed both Dungeon Maker (http://www.halycopter.com/reviews/?p=103) for the DS and WoW: Wrath of the Lich King (http://www.halycopter.com/reviews/?p=98) for the PC (play.tm seems to be acting up atm hence the links to my blog instead).
Just finishing up a review of Spiderman: Web of Shadows for the 360, for http://www.xboxgamezone.co.uk/ then I'll be working on The Last Remnant and the Mines of Moria add-on for LoTR Online for play.tm, as well as Scene It: Box Office Smash for xboxgamezone.co.uk.
Bloody busy in other words! Really must get round to seeing how I could make some money out of this ;D
Davey_Pitch
29-11-2008, 18:39
I should add that I'm back to reviewing as well now :) Currently working on reviews for Rock Band 2 and Don King Presents: Prize Fighter. Rock Band 2 is of course excellent, and while Prize Fighter is better than I thought it would be, it still doesn't hold a candle to Fight Night Round 3. Top notch career mode though, just a shame the boxing action isn't in the same league.
Is it worth a rent at least Davey?
Davey_Pitch
29-11-2008, 18:53
I'd say so, if you're into boxing games. As I say, the career is excellent, really drawing you in with lots of video footage featuring real boxers and actors talking about you, documentary style. The action itself is okay, but it has some problems, like collision detection often being a mile off, the slowness with which your boxer gets his guard up if you're taking a few punches, and jabs not seeming to go anywhere near as far and as fast as a jab should. The training games are good fun though :D
I'll stick it on my rental list sometime or see if it's at work :) I really liked Fight Night despite never watching Boxing.
I have to toot my own horn because who else will? ;D
Just had an email re my Lord of the Rings Online expansion pack review:
I got a shout from a US PR agency working for Turbine today; they like your review of the Moria expansion so much they want to use some quotes in official places.
\o/ Nice to see :)
Psymonkee
14-01-2009, 01:21
Nice one! :)
Back of box? :>
Doubt I'd get that lucky! I should know soon where it'll be placed though :)
NokkonWud
14-01-2009, 01:51
Well done Jen :).
Creature
14-01-2009, 15:37
I should add that I'm back to reviewing as well now :) Currently working on reviews for Rock Band 2How did this review go Davey?
Also, nice one Jen, good to know it's all paying off one way or another :)
Davey_Pitch
14-01-2009, 15:54
I thought it was good, take a look and see for yourself - http://www.xboxgamezone.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1838&Itemid=36 :)
On to my 4th review now for XboxGameZone, which is Call of Duty: World At War. Came through today for me so I'll be spending a bit of time on this over the next week or so :)
NokkonWud
14-01-2009, 18:10
Yay, Davey can join in the MP fun. I know there is myself, you, Haly, Wyrdo that have it, I'm sure a few others too. I know 4 other people personally that own it :p.
Davey_Pitch
14-01-2009, 18:45
Excellent, you lot can help me get the co-op achievements then :D
Certainly :D I've not played it much at all yet, in hindsight I probably shouldn't have bought it :o
So certainly up for co-op :D
I've got MK vs DC Universe to review at the moment as well as participating in a beta for a PC game that I can't disclose yet due to NDAs.
It's been an exciting past month for me.
Besides writing a review for MK Versus DC Universe (http://www.halycopter.com/reviews/mk-versus-dc-universe-360), an article on the Rise of the iPhone (http://www.halycopter.com/reviews/the-rise-of-the-iphone) and a preview of BattleForge (http://play.tm/preview/23098/battleforge/). I also had some exciting news and a great opportunity.
First up, I should be getting paid shortly for future pieces for play.tm thanks to a syndication deal with jolt.co.uk and playboy.co.uk. It won't be huge amounts of money at all but anything's better than nothing!
The more exciting news is that I had the opportunity to go to London yesterday to see Resident Evil 5 in action (and play it) thanks to an event at Capcom that XboxGameZone were invited to. I got to play the game for a couple of hours, interview the head of PR for Capcom about the game and meet Aceybongos \o/ Aceybongos is a lovely chap, really friendly and welcoming and we had a good laugh as well as a play of Resi Evil 5 co-op :)
Rather promisingly, he seemed to think I was going about it the right way to get a career out of writing which is good!
Exciting stuff that I'm definitely trying to improve upon.
Oh I also got a promotional Resident Evil 5 bag which looks rather cool:
http://www.halycopter.com/images/resibag.jpg
So now to spend today writing up my article on my day and the interview with Capcom. I'm also working on a review of Sypro: Dawn of the Dragon to be completed in the next few days.
Busy times!
I've not had time of late! Been manic with deadlines etc. But it's there on the backburner for when I have a lull which is probably soon :)
Very cool Jen :) Nice milestone too!
Yeah :D Hopefully the first of many :)
Finished the article now, worked non stop all day excluding a 30min lunch break and got done about 7ish. Absolutely knackered now ;D
NokkonWud
15-02-2009, 01:06
Aye, like I said on MSN, congratulations and definitely a step in the right direction.
Congratulations and glad to see the hard work seems to be paying off. :)
Davey_Pitch
15-02-2009, 01:37
I'd congratulate you, but I'm just jealous :p I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a Dead Rising 2 press day, as I'll injure anyone who tries to get on that ahead of me :D
Thanks :) I'll accept your jealousy as a good thing Davey :D :p
People kept trying to get DR2 info off Capcom yesterday, they were annoyingly tight lipped :p
Davey_Pitch
15-02-2009, 03:04
Yes, my jealousy is a good thing :) Obviously gutted I couldn't go myself, but really happy you went and enjoyed it. As I said, I'm mainly jealous you got to meet Acey :p
Yeah that was a particularly good spot of luck that I didn't expect :D
NokkonWud
15-02-2009, 03:20
But Jen is in cosy with Capcom now Davey ;).
That's excellent Jen :) Great you got to meet AceyBongo's. Were they doing an Inside Xbox feature anda re we going to see you on Live!
Noooo, thank god ;D
I think he was just there because he wanted a go of Resi Evil 5 too :D
I think a few photos were taken so if there are any, I'll stick em up.
Davey_Pitch
15-02-2009, 14:53
But Jen is in cosy with Capcom now Davey ;).
As will I be if I get to go next time :p
The article is now up :)
It's been split into two parts, the Hands on preview and the interview with Capcom's Head of PR.
Also some photos but none of me :p The second photo I was just out of shot but talking to Acey at the time while watching two guys playing the game. There is a photo of me about somewhere that's a group shot but it's not on there, I'm pleased to say ;D
Anyway links:Resi Evil 5 Hands On Preview (http://www.xboxgamezone.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1890&Itemid=2) and the interview (http://www.xboxgamezone.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1888&Itemid=2).
*is proud of herself*
Davey_Pitch
16-02-2009, 00:30
Well done Jen, I'm proud of you as well :)
As an aside, my Rise of the Argonauts (http://www.xboxgamezone.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1887&Itemid=36) review is up :)
Thanks :) It seems very little was changed from the piece I submitted, which is brilliant as having never done anything like this before, I was sure lots would be changed ;D
Going to read your review in a bit as I'm really interested to see your opinion on it as it looks just my kind of thing :D
NokkonWud
16-02-2009, 00:46
The RE5 hands on needs justified alignment :p.
I don't deal with that :p
Edit: It seems it's because the CMS is crap and if the text is justified, the photos won't centre correctly.
*waves to Lisa lurking* :p
NokkonWud
16-02-2009, 01:54
Ah, I had that problem on my blog, was a pita, but it is possible.
Davey_Pitch
16-02-2009, 09:59
*waves to Lisa lurking* :p
Stop lurking and get signed up :p
I don't tend to post on here with new reviews anymore, as there's quite a regular amount and I'd be a spammer practically :p
However, I have to link to this one ;)
My first review to be syndicated on the playboy.co.uk website :D
For obvious reasons, it's probably NSFW as it's on the playboy site and has a few scantily clad women but: http://playboy.co.uk/entertainment/games/151759/2/Codename-Panzers---Cold-War---review/ is the link.
I assume there probably aren't many female writers on there ;D So that's cool.
On the review side of things, it's really not one of my best. I hate writing reviews for middle of the road titles sometimes, it was a game that managed to be entirely functional yet do absolutely nothing particularly well. Right pain to write about :p But still, first review (of hopefully many) on the playboy site :D
NokkonWud
06-03-2009, 13:15
If you can't get a pro job after saying you worked with Playboy then there's something wrong.
Davey_Pitch
11-03-2009, 10:00
Not to be outdone for too long (:p), I've also had a review published on Playboy.co.uk (syndicated from Play.tm (http://www.play.tm)!
http://www.playboy.co.uk/entertainment/games/154053/2/Deadly-Creatures---Wii-review/ (prob NSFW)
Like Jen this review also isn't my best, and quite short for me (about 1100 words when I usually hit near 2000), but this was also a middle-of-the-road game that I found difficult to write too much about :)
Very impressive both :) I'll have a look later :D
Nice one :D I saw it was up last night but forgot to mention it.
Sounds an interesting game, I wouldn't buy it but does sound intriguing :)
Knew I shouldn't have been sitting around today thinking 'hmm not got much to do' ;D
Now reviewing another game and writing an article on whether games can be educational. Plus the Shellshock 2 review of course.
At least in the first two cases it's money :D
Besides the usual review writing that I've been carrying on with since the last update, I'm now a podcast star.
I say star in the loosest sense of the word ;)
I was invited to be on Big Red Potion, a gaming podcast, that imo provides quite intelligent debate. For some reason, they thought I'd be good on it!
This was my first ever podcast so I was nervous to say the least!
But Sunday afternoon, we got recording and it's now up on iTunes and here: http://www.thegamereviews.com/page-26-Big-Red-Potion.html
It's on how games age, hopefully I held my own well and didn't sound too shy. It was good fun, great amount of adrenaline afterwards :D
I've not heard it yet and admittedly I hate my voice so I might not hear it :p But I'd appreciate if anyone can spare the time, to give it a quick listen. It is an hour long though :o
Psymonkee
27-04-2009, 23:46
Downloading, will listen :)
Just realised: guy's put the wrong link on there!
http://media.switchpod.com/users/shoinan/BigRedPotionEpisode11.mp3 is the one you want.
Obviously nps there if you're downloading through iTunes. I've just let him know so it should be changed asap :)
Edit: He's changed it to the correct link on the site now :)
Psymonkee
28-04-2009, 00:01
Yep that was the one I grabbed *phew* :D
Right off to listen and PUDDING! :D
Having heard the first 5mins and about an hour in (off to bed now), I actually do go from 'OMG I'm talking on a podcast, aaaaaargh, I know what I'll do, I'll laugh a lot, that will work' to 'I can string a sentence together and talk half intelligently about a subject I love'.
So may I recommend: Skip the first 10-15mins ;D
Still hate my voice though :p
Psymonkee
28-04-2009, 01:02
Nope listening to it all :)
(all 1 hour 20 mins! :D)
Davey_Pitch
28-04-2009, 09:16
Nicely done Jen, will give it a listen at some point. How did you get invited on there? Someone like your blog/reviews and invited you on? :)
I'm listening. You sound good Jen and you're really funny (in a good way!) I think the hosting guy has a little crush ;)
Nope listening to it all :)
(all 1 hour 20 mins! :D)
Hope you liked :D
Nicely done Jen, will give it a listen at some point. How did you get invited on there? Someone like your blog/reviews and invited you on? :)
Pretty much :) I've got the guy in charge on twitter and he invited me on. He originally invited me on about a month ago but I wasn't able to do it due to work but he invited me again.
I'm listening. You sound good Jen and you're really funny (in a good way!) I think the hosting guy has a little crush ;)
;D
Glad I sound good! :D
NokkonWud
28-04-2009, 12:28
What's his Twitter handle?
http://twitter.com/shoinan is the British guy presenting it.
http://twitter.com/SlamVanderhuge is the US guy presenting it.
:)
NokkonWud
28-04-2009, 12:48
Fankoo Haly!
it's annoying me now, I want to jump in and say 'crap graphics?' you know NOTHING about crap graphics unless you grew up with an amstrad or a 48k spectrum. NOTHING I TELLS YA ;)
;D
It's amazing how quickly we forget! I moan when a game takes a few seconds longer to load than the average game, yet I used to quite happily put up with C64 loading times.
leowyatt
28-04-2009, 15:09
48k loading times were the worst :p especially if the tape got a kink in it ;D
NokkonWud
28-04-2009, 15:13
I used to go around my neighbours house, she'd boot it up, we'd go play upstairs or outside and come back about 30 minutes later to play the game \o/.
(blue and red screen, blue and red screen, blue and red screen)(squiddly yellow & blue screen)
[duuuuuuuuuuuuuh, duh.....duuuuuhhhhhhh][deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee]
repeat until load or crash (right at the end), occasionally stopping to add [poke>3543345] or similar.
(hopefully those with spectrums can recognise that ;D)
Admiral Huddy
08-07-2009, 08:42
Far Cry 2
Publisher : UBIsoft
Developer : UBIsoft Montreal
Release date : 24th October 2008
Official website : http://farcrygame.ubi.com/
What's it about?
An epic first person shooter, you are mercenary whose single mission is to search and eliminate a notorious arms dealer that goes by the name of “The Jackal” and that’s your main objective. The trouble is you are thrown into a vast free roaming African landscape covering at least 50km of wide open space so finding him isn’t going to be that simple.
The game provides realistic environments such as day, night, soaring temperatures and bad tempered militants who want your blood. The journey to your objective can’t be achieved without getting your hands dirty and making alliances is key to you finding your man. Of course there are other factions such as the ULL and APR that will hand out choice objectives along the way but the games remains open and your destination remains in your hands. The entire landscape is seamless wit roaming animals and breathtaking views.
My Review:
You know as soon as you start this game that you are in for something different, something big and something very special. Far Cry 2 promises a vast free form environment where for the first time, you can within reason, seamlessly explore as far as the eye can see without any loads or cut scenes. You can run, walk, drive, swim, and even hang glide your way around the gorgeous African landscape at your hearts content.
Without a doubt, the environment is simply out of this world. When you’re not being chased by a bunch of militant extremists, it’s hard not to actually take a look at the breathtaking views and stunning landscapes. Day does turn to night and Far Cry 2 provides amazing African sunsets which I wonder how many gamers hit the screen-print button at some point or another. My guess is quite a few. It’s actually quite hard to believe this is a computer generated image based on ideas and imagination. That said this is no place for picnic.
The game is ultimately about locating a known arms dealer who goes by the name of the Jackal and stop the civil war that troubles these parts. However, to find him you collect intelligence on his whereabouts by entering the world of the enemy and embark on their missions for information.
The game is split into two maps. The north; where the game starts, and the south, with a small conjoining bit in between which doesn’t count. Both areas are massive and cover 50km between them so you best be ready for a lengthy game. This isn’t a quick experience by any means unless you don’t intend to complete it. However, a lot depends on what objectives or missions you take in the process.
You can obtain your primary missions from either of the two factions; the ULL or the APL. To obtain these missions you must visit the faction leaders when you have no pending quests. The faction leader will reward you in advance with diamonds, the local currency. However, you will normally get a phone call for an alternative mission from one of your buddies. The choice of mission you take is yours and this leads to some confusion in the game. There is no direction or incentive in which mission you should take. The outcome regardless of your choice has no impact on the game, its progress nor its ending which is a shame really because you need to know who’s side you are really on.. For example [Spoiler warning]; I have just accepted a mission to report the location of a gold pile to the ULL. Alternatively, my game buddy has asked me to obtain a gold ring of a king in the same location. I can’t do both, I have to choose. The problem I have here is that I have no idea who I should be working for or where my loyalties really lie? You have no idea what your character is really trying to achieve by being here in the first place. I guess if you start choosing sides, then the game turns into more of a RPG than a simple FPS.
That said, after awhile you tend not to care and off you go about your business. The missions can send you to any corner of the map depending which mission you have accepted. You’ll be spending a lot of time travelling to your location which is where the bus can come in handy. The buses allow you to travel to various corners of the map bypassing both time and confrontation.
You can of course, take a vehicle, Jeeps, 4WDs, cars etc, but you will soon be stopped by various outpost which block your progress. These posts are strategic points for ammo, weapons and fuel and can be overcome with little effort. However, what’s really annoying about these posts is that they are reoccupied as soon as you travel a few miles up the road and back again. Learning from experience you tend after awhile not bother stopping and drive past taking out what you can in the process. It would have been much better if the post remained unoccupied for a given period, say 24 hours for your hard efforts.
To help break your journey, there is the matter of finding lost diamond cases. I personally got too caught up trying to find the diamond locations which added to the time I spent playing this game. Diamonds are the only viable currency in this war stricken land. A good supply of these diamonds will help you buy or upgrade weapons at various armoury shops. The shops too will offer you missions to complete so that new weapons can be unlocked.
To help you locate the diamonds, your vehicles and PDA are fitted with a diamond proximity which flashes green when you are near a lost diamonds. This means normally hoping out of the car or boat for search around. Diamonds aren’t all by road and riversides and can be scattered anywhere. Some are easy to find, some are harder and some are located on high cliffs which you realise after 10 minutes or so that they are inaccessible other than by a glider, in which caser there should be one around. If you find a glider, then you know you are near a diamond which can only be accessed by this means.
When travelling, keep an eye on your medication. Yes your character is ill and contracted malaria on day one. He obviously ignored all the travel warnings before travelling. In order to stay healthy you complete secondary objects in which you are rewarded anti-malaria tablets.
At some point, you will complete the first mission. All your buddies are exterminated, are extradited to the southern section and the game feels like its restarting all over again. This feels like all your hard work has been wiped off and you are playing this to repetitive strain.
Eventually, you do meet the Jackal and the game does end. However, I can’t help feeling slightly disappointed. After 50 hours plus of game play, the game abruptly ends. I’m not sure what I was expecting really but it felt like an anti-climax.
Overall the though, the game is a superb balance of game play and graphical goodness even though the missions can become tiresome and repetitive. They provide some interesting and intense exchanges which may take some planning and forethought
Most games in the past would have you believe in a free form world not held back by boundaries and linear game design but never deliver on this promise. Far Cry 2 is the exception. Its slick interface and smooth “go anywhere you like” approach is truly next generation. I have to give this game a 90+ score because it truly delivers where all other games have failed.
My Score : 92%
Briggykins
08-07-2009, 08:47
Nice review. I loved FC2, was one of my top games of 2008. It had its flaws but it just kept me coming back for more, and it looked gorgeous.
Matblack
08-07-2009, 09:04
I lasted an hour at most with FC2, I searched and searched but couldn't find a plot :(
MB
Admiral Huddy
08-07-2009, 09:11
It's a mindless shooter really which you can just load and go without any worry about consequences but sometimes I don't mind that... Which is why L4D is just so attractive at the moment.
I have Fallout 3 loaded and ready but I just can't seem to find the will to get started..
Davey_Pitch
15-07-2009, 10:38
A wee update for those interested :)
At the start of last week, I was officially a reviewer for two sites - XboxGameZone, and Play.tm. Thanks to Jen who put in a good word for me, I was contacted by the head guy at The Portable Gamer. An email conversation later, I joined their review team and was given a couple of iPod Touch games to review. My first review went online last week (Real Tennis 2009), while my next review should hopefully go online today/tomorrow (International Athletics).
I made the decision at the start of this week to quit my position at Play.tm. Despite emailing the head guy there repeatedly to let him know I was free to review games, I was kept out of the loop and pretty much ignored, despite review games going out to other people on the team. I obviously burned bridges when I was there last year and didn't get a couple of reviews done inside any respectable timeframe, though if he wasn't willing to give me another real chance, he should never have taken me back on. Anyway, I emailed in my resignation on Monday morning (and I've still not had any reply, another sign of his lack of interest in me).
On Monday afternoon I advertised my services as a freelance reviewer on Games Press, a website for games journalists and website owners. A few hours later, I had an email from the head guy at Xboxer360.com, asking if I would be interested in reviewing for them. Another short email conversation later, and I was welcomed to the team. That was followed by another email yesterday enquiring about me, but the conversation is still ongoing there so hopefully I'll know one way or the other soon.
I also saw an advert last night on Games Press for a freelance reviewer to do a review for Pixelated Gamer for Worms on the iPhone/iPod Touch. I offered my services and was lucky enough to be given the review, so I now have a nice shiny copy of Worms on my iPod to review (and it's bloody awesome as well, I'd have paid money for it).
Hopefully I can get myself a PS3 at some point this year as most of my reviewing is done on the Xbox and most of the freelance reviewers out there also concentrate there, so if I could get a PS3 I'd hopefully open myself up to several more review opportunities. For now though, I'm happy as things look to be going well for me again :)
Congrats on your progress Davey :) Pixelated Gamer seem a nice bunch, I'm doing a couple of reviews for them at the moment.
Things have got really busy for me the past week or so, which has been lovely as I've felt a bit in a rut with things. I'll update more tomorrow though as hopefully I'll have a link to provide for an article I'm really proud of as it's something very different from my usual stuff. :)
Davey_Pitch
15-07-2009, 11:26
Sounds interesting Jen, I look forward to reading it :)
Psymonkee
15-07-2009, 11:32
I keep meaning to have a dabble in this :)
Must get something sorted....
Davey_Pitch
15-07-2009, 11:36
If you want any advice on it then I'm sure Jen and myself can provide you with some if you have any questions :)
Psymonkee
15-07-2009, 11:40
I've seen you guys tweeting and Re-Tweeting like mad :p
Bug me tomorrow after 3 and I'll sort something out :>
Well things have certainly picked up for me this past week or so :)
Things are pretty mental actually! In a good way, but still mental. As an example, my to do list (which I'm completely relying on to ensure I get everything done on time) lists 6 reviews and 1 article all to be done by next Friday :shocked:
So where to begin in my update...
I'm still writing for play.tm, recently completed a review of Ice Age on the 360. I get paid a bit for each review for them so that's nice, plus of course they go on the playboy site which must be good for something.
XboxGameZone is still going too, Sacred 2 review will be imminent now that I've accepted it will take hundreds upon hundreds of hours to actually complete :p
I'm now also writing plenty of iPhone reviews for http://theportablegamer.com Been doing that a couple of months now and written 16 reviews for them with the next up shortly. http://theportablegamer.com/author/haly/ if you want to have a look, they're different from my usual thing as they're much shorter.
TPG are connected to http://gamesareevil.com/ who have hooked me up with a few games too. I recently had to review Cocoto Platform Jumper on Wiiware, it was an urgent review and I managed to get it done within 2 days. Think they were grateful as since then I've been given review code for Madballs in Babo Invasion (the other XBLA title that came out the same day as Monkey Island) and been posted from the US, two DS RPGs to review. :D
Plus, I've been reviewing Worms 2 for a site that were advertising for someone to do this one off.
Then I had pixelatedgamer.com get in contact via twitter and offer me Harry Potter on the DS, then subsequently the same game on the Wii. So that's in progress, with one review being done this weekend.
Finally (and most excitingly on a personal level), I'm now writing articles for thegamereviews.com I've known this site for a little while, as the podcast I featured in is done by a couple of the guys on the site, so when a position came up I thought I'd apply, I was lucky and got the role. :)
It's very different from my usual stuff, as I'm writing articles rather than reviews. It's great so far, it's more challenging than the review work but much more rewarding. My first article was part of a column they used to run called Rumour Killers, it went up last night and seems to have had good feedback so far.
http://www.thegamereviews.com/article-1435-Rumor-Killers-Tomb-Raider-Reboot-Resident-Evil-5-Wii-and-PSP2s-Crazy-Specs.html is the link, and the main one I'd love people to check out. :)
Ooh and also TGR marks the second paid role for me, although it is very low paid, and I'm certainly doing it more out of the love than anything else.
Anyway, that was a huge update. Well done if you're still reading! Like I said, the last couple of weeks have been mental ;D
That sounds excellent Haly :) Well done you :)
I'm incredibly jealous, would love to do stuff like this!
Thanks :) And well done for getting through the post, didn't realise how long I'd rambled for till I just checked now :o Had a lot to catch up on :D
I wasn't aware most of this was unpaid!
Depends on the site really, but quite a lot of the content isn't, or at best, it's very low paid. All about doing it for the love/occassional freebies/eventual hope that if you're any good someone might pay you for it.
Pffft, stuff that! :p
Good luck though, if it's something you love doing and it looks to develop into a career then I'm very jealous :)
Guess it depends on what you enjoy. I love it :) I love writing analytically, I get huge satisfaction when someone gives me good feedback, I'm a sucker for seeing my name up on a site, and I just plain enjoy writing about something I love, simple as that really :)
Guess it depends on what you enjoy. I love it :) I love writing analytically, I get huge satisfaction when someone gives me good feedback, I'm a sucker for seeing my name up on a site, and I just plain enjoy writing about something I love, simple as that really :)
You rock at writing reviews too Haly so you should without a doubt keep it up!
You rock at writing reviews too Haly so you should without a doubt keep it up!
Thanks :)
Davey_Pitch
17-07-2009, 22:08
Guess it depends on what you enjoy. I love it :) I love writing analytically, I get huge satisfaction when someone gives me good feedback, I'm a sucker for seeing my name up on a site, and I just plain enjoy writing about something I love, simple as that really :)
Exactly the same as me. Getting free games is a bonus of course, especially if it's something I was going to get myself, but I do it because I enjoy it :)
Pffft, stuff that! :p
Good luck though, if it's something you love doing and it looks to develop into a career then I'm very jealous :)
Oops only just saw your edit Kreeeee. Thanks :)
Annoyingly I edit almost all my posts with extra content :p
Things got busy this past month and I like it :)
Skipping over the usual things that are still going as well as ever, I've written one article in particular I'm quite pleased of, mostly because of the personal element to it.
Pity that I don't think many people actually read it but it was a bit of a niche piece and I suspect the average reader wanted to read about the new WoW expansion pack instead ;)
It's on Motion Control and Disability, from a somewhat negative perspective rather than the usual look at things. It's a personal piece as it directly affects my Mum. http://thegamereviews.com/article-1470-Motion-Control-and-Disability-.html is the link.
Anyway, the main news is much more exciting, at least for me it is :p
I was promoted to UK Reviews Editor for theportablegamer.com and gamesareevil.com
This means I liaise with PR contacts, request games for review, appoint an UK and European based review team and of course still write reviews!
It's cool to have new responsibilities and already enjoying emailing various PR people within the industry to request games.
Currently there's only 3 of us on the European review team (including our very own Davey Pitch!) but as the games flood in when Autumn hits, I expect this number to increase.
Only been doing it a couple of weeks but doing well so far.
Had Ashes Cricket 2009 on the 360 arrive and more excitingly, Batman: Arkham Asylum for the PS3 is arriving today or tomorrow which was good going :)
Also got a few other games yet to be released promised to us but can't name them just yet.
Davey_Pitch
24-08-2009, 14:00
As I've already said to you Jen, I'm really happy for you the way things are going of late. Being made a reviews editor is awesome, and having done it once before, I know how much work it takes to do it and to do it well. I'm sure you'll be awesome at it :)
I am jealous of you getting Batman though :p
leowyatt
24-08-2009, 14:08
Batman has got excellent reviews
Yeah I'm very pleased to have Batman on the way :D Didn't have to worry about abusing my power as I'm currently the only PS3 owner on the team although that'll be changing soon. I like to think I'll be fair when it actually comes to decision making.
As I've already said to you Jen, I'm really happy for you the way things are going of late. Being made a reviews editor is awesome, and having done it once before, I know how much work it takes to do it and to do it well. I'm sure you'll be awesome at it :)
Thanks :)
Congrats Haly, although I don't really rate that article as it seemed biased.
Congrats Haly, although I don't really rate that article as it seemed biased.
Of course it is :) Same as many articles boasting about how wonderful the Wii is for some people. It was never really intended to be 100% objective. But then again there's a whole other argument for whether any writing can be objective imo.
and thanks :)
Streeteh
24-08-2009, 15:04
Is there such a thing as unbiased journalism? I struggle to think of any examples.
Yeah that's the thing. There's always an angle.
Briggykins
24-08-2009, 15:07
Enjoyed the article and it made me think about something I don't usually consider, so seems a success to me. (It's more op-ed than a review imo so bias is not only excusable but necessary). Did you study English or creative writing in any way Haly? You seem to write very lucidly.
Enjoyed the article and it made me think about something I don't usually consider, so seems a success to me. (It's more op-ed than a review imo so bias is not only excusable but necessary). Did you study English or creative writing in any way Haly? You seem to write very lucidly.
Thanks Briggykins :)
Only studied English up to A Level standard. I was an idiot and studied Media Studies at University. In hindsight, I wish I had studied English but as previously stated I was an idiot when I was 18 :D Although at least it was all theoretical so there was plenty of writing and analysis.
Streeteh
24-08-2009, 15:22
Batman has got excellent reviews
Sadly i'm pensive. Farcry 2 got great reviews and so did spore and i'd rate them as some of the poorest, high-profile games i've played in a long time.
Also, the publishers put a ban on websites and magazines publishing reviews before release unless they rated it 90% or higher, because of this all the currently released reviews are going to be great.
Davey_Pitch
14-09-2009, 12:26
I guess it's time to add my own recent news to this thread :) As well as being taken on by Jen as part of the UK Reviews team at GamesAreEvil, she also let me know about an opportunity she'd heard about. Jen had been offered a position as Senior Reviews Editor at Goonlinegames, and because of her identical position at GrE, had to pass on the opportunity. The chap in question had asked her to pass the information on to anyone who she thought may be interested, so of course it came my way. A few emails back and forth later, and I became the new Senior Reviews Editor at Goonlinegames (thanks a bunch Jen :)).
Much like Jen, this role involves me contacting PR companies and publishers, asking to be put on mailing lists and for review copies of games. I've already had my first game through last week (Guitar Hero 5) and several more are hopefully coming my way as well (including Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 next week, fingers crossed). It's really interesting doing it, contacting all the companies and trying to get review copies without sounding like we're just begging for free stuff. Now is a good time to get in with PR people though as the seasonal rush is just about to start so the more people I get in touch with now, the more chance of getting some of the holiday highlights landing on my doormat in the coming months.
Add this position to my existing review sites, and for the first time I'm finding myself inundated with reviews. I currently have 7 reviews on the go at once, though thankfully only a few of them have very tight deadlines. It's just as well I love doing this as currently I'm finding it very hard to find the time to play my own games just for fun (I've owned Batman: AA over a week and only put 2 hours into it so far!). Still, I wouldn't have it any other way :)
Glad it's going so well for you Davey :D Goonlinegames looks a very promising site, was gutted that I couldn't take the position! So I'm very glad it's gone to you :)
I just discovered something ridiculously cool for me:
I wrote a review for Madballs in Babo: Invasion back at the end of July: featured here: http://gamesareevil.com/2009/07/review-madballs-in-babo-invasion-xbla/
A quote from it has been used in an ad campaign for the game. Said advert is in the latest copy of Edge as well as the Official Xbox 360 Magazine :D
Rather pleased by that :)
For anyone who has the latest copy of Edge, it's on page 172. Top left hand corner of the ad.
:)
NokkonWud
21-09-2009, 00:23
That's pretty awesome!
Thanks :) I thought it was pretty cool :D
Davey_Pitch
21-09-2009, 11:23
Awesome Jen, you need to get a scan or something so we can see it :)
And as if by magic: http://www.halycopter.com/images/edge.jpg
Forgot to include the link the other day :o
Thanks :) I thought it was pretty cool :D
It is :)
Davey_Pitch
22-09-2009, 13:15
Well I've got my first phone interview today, speaking to one of the producers of EA's The Saboteur about the game. A bit nervous as I've never done anything like this before, but looking forward to it as well. The game seems good as well so should be fun talking about it :)
Thanks Abooie :D
Nice one with the phone interview Davey! Good luck with it all :) Only interview I've done so far was with the Resi Evil 5 PR guy, I think I'd be incredibly nervous with a phone one though. I'm rubbish on phones ;D
Hope it all goes well and let us know how it goes :)
NokkonWud
23-09-2009, 14:49
Well I've got my first phone interview today, speaking to one of the producers of EA's The Saboteur about the game. A bit nervous as I've never done anything like this before, but looking forward to it as well. The game seems good as well so should be fun talking about it :)
Really hope you get it too, The Saboteur looks rather awesome.
Davey_Pitch
23-09-2009, 14:56
Unfortunately due to technical difficulties (they had trouble contacting me on my home phone number) it'll now be an email interview. Still impressed by what I've read about the game though, after Mercenaries anything done by Pandemic gets my attention.
Unfortunately due to technical difficulties (they had trouble contacting me on my home phone number) it'll now be an email interview. Still impressed by what I've read about the game though, after Mercenaries anything done by Pandemic gets my attention.
I read an intersting preview about the game in games(tm) a few months back and it certaintly sounds interesting but it didn't jump out as a must pre-order.
I'm still unsure (and this leads to possibly questions) about the actual gameplay. It sounds a bit like a watered down Just Cause or Assassins Creed but with Thief like, stealth like gameplay, maybe with a smattering of Uncharted and fps? Interesting but certainly raises many many questions.
Actually just from rereading the preview I've suddenly got a spike of interest :) Looking forward to your interview.
Oooh necro bump!
I was aiming to bump this up once I made some good money from the writing gig. It hasn't quite happened yet. I'd put a lot of that down to the recession and general dodgy financial climate as I know I've not been alone in this problem in recent months.
Having said that I feel like I've made some progress in the last 9 months or so. Quite a lot has happened really.
Currently I'm writing for a few different sites, mostly reviews. One site: www.gamepeople.co.uk I write reviews but from a different perspective than the norm. It's called the Considered Gamer but I'd say it's more from the emo perspective personally :p Rather than reviewing whether the game's any good, I focus more on its storytelling and how it makes me feel. Erm yeah, emotastic ;) It seems to do well though and I've been featured on The Escapist (http://www.escapistmagazine.com/) because of it which isn't bad going at all!
I've also just been appointed editor at Resolution (http://www.resolution-magazine.co.uk/) which is quite a big undertaking. Its original editor has gone onto another site in a paid role so there's some good potential there for getting somewhere. It's going to be a fair bit of work with contacting PR people and arranging schedules so that there's regular content available, but it should be good.
Most of all of course, I'm still enjoying it :) There's a lot of work involved despite being voluntary but I wouldn't do it if I didn't enjoy it! Hopefully the hard work will pay off eventually. It might not be paying the bills just yet but it's fulfilling which is something!
Ridiculously huge bump but I quite like everything in one place to consult at a later date and hopefully see how far things have progressed. :)
Should probably get the title changed though as it's not overly descriptive!
Anyhow....
Things have changed massively since last time.
In September 2010, I was given an opportunity at an iOS focused news and reviews site called 148apps.com. Having previously worked with one of the editors in a voluntary position, he approached me to say that they'd merged with 148apps.com and were looking to take on paid staff. I said yes with glee!
It paid off so well that in November 2010, I left my part time job at Blockbuster. Bit of a risk to take at the time but it's gone *touches wood* very well!
Since then, I've been earning more money and more consistently too (Blockbuster were not the best of employers with me often only working 4-6hrs a week minimum wage!). I'm also much, much happier with my work life as I'm doing something I love :)
Besides the 148apps stuff, I've been working towards getting noticed elsewhere.
In March 2011 I was asked to write a 32 page strategy guide for Final Fantasy III (at that time, recently released for the iPhone). Having been paid a really rather nice sum of money for a week's work, my guide turned up on iTunes last month: http://itunes.apple.com/gb/book/final-fantasy-iii-video-game/id452330119?mt=11
Recently, having gained enough self confidence, I've been trying to feature elsewhere so been pitching article ideas all over the place in the hope that something sticks!
Something stuck and has just gone up today :D
It's another iOS focused piece, this time for GamePro. It's the 6 best JRPGs available on the app store: http://www.gamepro.com/article/features/222212/the-6-best-jrpgs-on-iphone-ipad/
I'm proud of it :) Featuring on a site of that size with my first pitch is very cool! Plus I've had some fantastic feedback from numerous peers including Jaz Rignall whose work I used to read all the time years ago! Hopefully it's a sign of things to come :)
Oh and I'm still sometimes writing for play.tm/playboy.co.uk which is always a good conversation starter ;D
It's quite amazing to think that this time last year I felt very trapped in my job and was going through a week of hell (due to a rota mixup, 8 members of staff were off in the same week leaving 4 of us, only one of us able to open or close the shop, to run the shop by ourselves - it's open 12hrs a day 7 days a week and is huge!). Having earned a lot that week, I bought myself an iPhone 4.
Who'd have thought back then that iPhone 4 would have played such a pivotal role in getting me out of that place?! :)
So yes, horn tooting will stop now :p
Wow Jen, that's some amazing stuff going on there. Really, really pleased for you :)
Thanks, means a lot :)
I've got some plans for where I want to get published next so fingers crossed I do it soon :D hopefully made some solid inroads!
Del Lardo
26-08-2011, 11:03
Excellent that you have been able to make money from doing something you love. Congrats!
Well done. Glad I bullied you relentlessly into having some self-belief ;)
Great news hun :) You're doing meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeega! :D
Thanks all :D
Well done. Glad I bullied you relentlessly into having some self-belief ;)
That you did :)
That sounds like things are going VERY well. That's fantastic news! :)
Bloody hell Jen, thats incredible! Well done you, hope you're proud of what you've achieved!
Well done. Glad I bullied you relentlessly into having some self-belief ;)
Funny its not working on you when I do it ;) x
I rather like your writing style too :) Makes for entertaining yet interesting reading :)
That sounds like things are going VERY well. That's fantastic news! :)
I rather like your writing style too :) Makes for entertaining yet interesting reading :)
Thank you :)
Bloody hell Jen, thats incredible! Well done you, hope you're proud of what you've achieved!
Funny its not working on you when I do it ;) x
Thanks :) I am feeling rather proud of myself at the moment :D It's a good feeling!
Kitten definitely needs more self belief too :D
Pumpkinstew
26-08-2011, 14:11
Good to hear a success story in these times of woe :)
Congratulations and Keep bucking the trend, Haly
semi-pro waster
27-08-2011, 11:32
Glad to hear it's all going well for you. Your writing style is definitely a strong point for you, it comes across as friendly yet informative and there's clearly a passion for the subject which shows through. :)
Thank you :) very kind of you to say that!
It's great to see someone doing a job they both enjoy and actually relish. Well done!
I never come in this forum so didn't know about this thread, and you already know how proud and happy I am for you, but BIG CONGRATS to you for all your hard work anyway!
Del Lardo
28-08-2011, 12:36
Haly, have you got any recent examples of you work? I'd be very interested in having a read.
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