Mario Kart 7 takes the checkered flag

Rev up those engines. Mario, his Nintendo pals and their driving machines are back and this time they are racing on the 3DS.

Stocking Stuffers for Mobile Warriors

Looking for that right little stocking stuffer for someone who uses gadgets on the road? If so, here are a few novel ideas that you may not have thought of to help ease that aching pain of selection.

WWE '12 brings change to franchise

Just as Rey Mysterio Jr. has masks, the THQ WWE video game franchise has had as many identities. There has been 'No Mercy', 'WrestleMania 21', 'WWE Raw', 'Legends of WrestleMania' and 'WWE All-Stars'. The most familiar and enduring franchise though was 'Smackdown Versus Raw', the greatest bunch of wrestling games ever made. Period.

RPGCast - Episode 204: "Skyrimlander Sword"

While it's a pretty light news week, Nintendo manages to drop a bomb on us. We even have to bring in a special Mitsuhide fashion consultant to understand the true ramifications of this unanticipated RPG mash-up. Additionally, we completely solve the debate over Western vs. Japanese RPGs.

Apple's Wireless Dynamic Duo

Whether you have a laptop or even a desktop, having a clutter-free place to type can help keep you productive focused and neat. For that, Apple has two nifty wireless, ergonomic and sleek devices - a dynamic duo - the Apple Wireless Keyboard and the Apple Magic Trackpad

'Rayman Origins' imply-say erfect-pay

Rayman creator Michel Ancel deserves a hearty thank you - heck, he deserves a slap on the back and a giant hug - for his latest creation, Rayman Origins.

RPGCast - Episode 203: "Arrow In The Knee"

Is anyone going to pay for Final Fantasy XIV? Will the Last Story ever come out in the US? Will Final Fantasy Tactics ever come out for iPad? Will Mikel ever find his Skyrim version number?

Is British public life dominated by men?

Today in the Guardian, features writer Kira Cochrane has produced a story that is already being widely quoted on the numbers (or lack thereof) of visible women in the media. "In a typical month, 78% of newspaper articles are written by men, 72% of Question Time contributors are men and 84% of reporters and guests on Radio 4's Today show are men. Where are all the women?"

On the one hand, this story is decently written and based on a sound idea. Not least because rather than write an article on lazy assumptions of representations, it goes to the bother of looking at whether the actual numbers match up with the perceptions of the author. This is a good place to start in any conversation about representation and is often overlooked in media or social commentary.

That said, there is a huge difference between "counting numbers" and "producing statistics". Or, indeed, evidence. My problem is not with the article per se, which after all is simply a feature for the Life & Style section of the Grauniad, but rather with the reception it's had on Twitter and elsewhere as if it is le dernier cri in proof. The article is an improvement on most other articles of its kind. But it is also at best a beginning of something that could, and should, be examined further in a way which is compatible with well-designed research.

But the widespread acclaim indicates there is a danger of not taking the piece any further, and adopting its conclusions wholesale as if it was a well-designed in-depth study. It's not (yet). It could be. For example, the article starts with "In a typical month" - to be unimpeachable, you must establish in what way the months selected were "typical".

Because the numbers match so closely with the author's a priori assumptions, care should be taken to assure the reader that the shows selected do not comprise a skewed sample. (Actually, this should be done anyway.) We need to know what the spread of shows on television and radio are that are considered topical, political, or sufficiently serious. Why was Question Time included, and Loose Women excluded? I don't think one is especially more in-depth or topical than the other. Why is Have I Got News For You considered, which is a comedy show, and Moral Maze not, which is a serious radio programme featuring many regular women panellists and guests? Or the Radio 4 News Quiz, hosted by Sandi Toksvig and featuring many women as guests? What about Women's Hour?

Size, as ever, matters. What are the audience sizes for the shows, since clearly that is important? So, too, does sampling. Since it's presumably not practical or useful to count all appearances on all media, there needs to be a way of assuring that the ones considered in such a study comprise a representative sample of media, audience types, and audience sizes. This is something almost no examination of media topics outside academia bother to do (and many inside don't do it either). But if the shows can not be shown to be representative, the stud's conclusions could be accused of being skewed, and the results not taken seriously.

The title of the article, with its unexplored "why?" also presents the danger of interpreting an outcome as if it is the same as the opportunity. Why, indeed, should there be more women on Question Time, when the percentage of female MPs is only 22%? This surely this is a problem that needs to be addressed at root level (why are there not more women in government, considered for such positions, or running for them?) and not by whingeing about token women on politics shows.

The reaction to women going on some of these shows can be extremely negative, which makes other women considering whether to appear think twice. Remember when Fern Britton appeared on Question Time, and the furore over her opening her mouth on topics other than what we thought she should talk about? I was asked to go on QT last year and turned it down because I expected much the same reaction. Would a similarly placed man in media have had the same dismissive reception as Britton, particularly from women like Amanda Platell perceiving them as "lightweight"?

Similarly, the format of the Today programme on Radio 4 is extremely off-putting. Would you like to be shouted at for two minutes first thing in the morning on a show that prides itself on manufacturing controversy, or have a reasonable discussion over on Women's Hour? That, incidentally, is the question more-or-less as it has been put to me by the PR folks at Orion in the past. Come on, it's not even a contest which most women (and men) would choose given the option.

Age is also part of the mix. As one twitter correspondent (@petehague) commented, "I think that the entire debate misses the point that experienced commentators represent past gender policies ... i.e. if you want to get a professor of economics on TV, your selection is influenced by undergraduate gender balance decades ago." And not only the undergrad balance, but especially the percentage making it through study to professorships. David Starkey and his ilk are still rocking up peddling their schtick because, well, the women with the best and most cogent arguments to counter him are not at his level of academic or media experience yet. This phenomenon is almost certainly at work outside the academia bubble as well. And given the continuation of the trend in which women for various reasons choose family or life balance over single-minded pursuit of their careers, it may well never happen.

Finally, we must ask why it is women in media, even ones like say, Laurie Penny, who seem committed to an ideal of being a political writer, end up doing pieces about dating and handbags. Is it because when such assignments are offered, writers would rather take the job than turn it down? And does this, over time, contribute to an impression that anyone who has done so is destined to "lack gravitas"? There is a pink ghetto even - no, especially - at the Guardian. Isn't it ironic that Cochrane's piece is in the Life & Style section, rather than, say, Comment Is Free? On the same day when a man's thoughts on his Movember 'tache does get a spot in CiF?

So in short, while I broadly agree with Cochrane's thesis that it would be nice to see more women on shows like Question Time and Have I Got News For You, I'm not sure the critical applause is warranted. Yet. And I don't think it constitutes "proof" much at all apart from being about those shows on those days. Interesting? Yes. Generalisable to all media at all times? No. The difference between anecdotes and sampling is subtle (perhaps too much so for most media) but crucial.

You may be wondering why this matters on an issue in which most people are in agreement. It matters because if an argument is seen to be slapdash or half-baked, it throws the conclusions into doubt regardless of how worthy they are. It matters because for there to be change it's important to know the real and not imagined extent of the problem. And it matters because if something is worth doing, it's worth doing right. There's a germ of an interesting idea in there. The real question is what is to be done with it?

Безымянный

A psychiatric report has ruled that Anders Breivik, who murdered 77 people in a killing spree, is unfit to stand trial. It turns out he's a nutter.

Twenty injured in act of 'competitive shopping&#39

A woman who pepper-sprayed other shoppers at the Wal-Mart in Porter Ranch had armed herself with the caustic spray to gain an advantage in the fight for merchandise at the Black Friday sale.

Excellent. A higher marginal propensity to consume among retarded Americans is precisely what is needed to get us out of this slump. I see this as a strong buy signal for stocks.

Kids collectable games: Gotta catch 'em both

Due to its inventiveness and just all around coolness, I voted 'Invizimals' for the PSP, the best kids game of 2010 right here on G4.

Pro Evolution Soccer 2012 is the little soccer game that could

In an era where big budget sports games and exclusive deals are stifling competition and innovation, seeing an upstart try to make an impact is admirable. This is really where Pro Evolution Soccer 2012, or PES 2012 for short, comes in, because it's going up against a soccer brand in EA's FIFA that has been in the lead for a long time now. Can PES 2012 close that gap at all?

Attack of the Kirby clones

There are certain rules in Nintendo-dom that simply can't be broken. Mario jumps, Link swings the Master Sword, Samus shoots from her trusty arm cannon, and Little Mac trains in his pink jumpsuit.

RPGCast - Episode 201: "I Got 99 Problems But LAN Play Ain't One"

Torchlight II gets delayed and Chris gets counseling to deal with his feelings. We learn more about Japanese culture and what it means to be a LAN gamer today. Finally, the most important lesson we learn is that of Vanguard Bandit's US release date.

Sex Appeal

Безымянный

I just read Morgue for Whores, Roy Edroso's first novel.

I don't know if you can imagine a plot by Martin Amis, with dialogue by Guy Ritchie, about a crime-fighting dog. Well, it's nothing like that, mercifully. In many ways, it's the opposite of that.

You can buy it here. Three thumbs up. Recommended.

'Driver: San Francisco' a real treat

Driving video games can be separated into two types: simulators, and everything else. The former puts a focus on minute realism, vehicle customization, jaw-dropping graphics and accurate physics. The latter typically throws all of that out the window, and no game proves this point more than Driver: San Francisco.

THE SAFEST INVESTMENT

The only really safe investment is wine, at times like these. If it goes up, you make a profit; and if it goes down you can drink it. Whereas when your shares or your nickel futures crash, that's that. The money has somehow vanished out of existence, as though you had you set fire to a pile of £50 notes.

Just this afternoon, while the bond markets were panicking, I invested in a case of Tesco Lambrusco Rosé Light (was £5 a bottle, now £2.35) and some Peruvian chardonnays (maison fondée en 1998; 39 Clubcard points.) These vintages could easily have doubled in value by the time I retire in 2035.

The key to understanding the Eurozone crisis is this: the ECB aren't incompetent; they are sadists. Until you've grasped that, none of it makes any sense. They want people to starve to death.

Links:
-Fine wine investments
-Tesco special offers

Comedians: a list

England, 2011

The Prime Minister, the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Mayor of London were all in the Bullingdon Club, we're occupying Kabul, our parliament still has bishops in it, and now we’re preparing for war with the Persians.

On the other hand, it looks as though the ban on monarchs marrying papists may soon be lifted.

Безымянный

The heart always sinks when South Americans say they are preparing the traditional dish of some province. You know you're in for beans again, perhaps with offal and fried snout of pig.

If you're lucky, you might also get some foul root which, because it tastes worse than hyena anus, they think is an aphrodisiac.

New DS titles: One winner, one loser

Looking to capitalize on the success the Pokémon franchise has had, would be copycats still surface from time to time. If you've played the best of the best, it is hard to accept any substitutes, particularly when they are just shadows of the original.

Безымянный

Them bankers, at Goldman Sachs and that, they should pay them bankers the same wages our boys get in Afghanistan.

Stay tuned. More opinions later.

Безымянный

William Perez, Colombian politician / mobster, was released from jail 54 times for dental work.

That’s a lot of dental work. He must look like Liberace by now.

Something hoist something petard

It is with some interest that I have been following media reports of the alleged conduct of Ashton Kutcher, a well-known campaigner against sex trafficking. As has been pointed out elsewhere, the "problem" his advocacy claims to address is certainly hugely overstated and possibly being manipulated by people who are at least as interested in money and credibility as they are in philanthropy.

Interestingly, on Quora, which Kutcher has called "the smartest place on the internet" (you know, because academic journals and research forums are where the dumb kids hang out), there was a question not long ago which asked, "Why is it so common to include voluntary prostitution in the category of sex trafficking?"

Kutcher stepped in, as did others, in defence of the idea that foreign-born women voluntarily choosing to enter sex work - such as, say, myself (and yes, one of them did mention me specifically) are trafficked. Also people being transported over state and international borders, or something.

When you hear the word "trafficking", maybe you imagine a foreign child being kidnapped and sold into sexual slavery. Not only is that not accurate, it's also not what the lobbyists against sex work even seem to believe themselves. But it is an assumption they appear happy to exploit. As the Quora discussion shows, Kutcher and people like him claim that "trafficking" includes people going into sex work willingly and migrating willingly. In other words, equating consensual sex work with involuntary slavery. Actually a lot of other "rescue industry" types buy that as well. It's a stand with a lot of errors of logic, but it's their platform, they defend it, they own it.

Right. Now, let's check out an article from the Daily Mail dated 03 October 2011 (no link since Istyosty has gone now, HuffPo covers it and so does The Frisky, also it's screensnapped below). It includes quotes from someone who not only claims to know the person Kutcher allegedly cheated with, but who also appears to indicate that the presence of girls like her at celeb parties is, shall we say, not entirely without reimbursement.

Here's the bit in the Mail that caught my eye:

Naumoff, who arranges for good looking girls to be shipped to certain hotspots,  also told the newspaper: 'Sara’s a great girl. My job is to round up hot girls and bus them into clubs in San Diego or Vegas.

The girls get free booze, food, whatever, and they attract rich and famous guys to the clubs. It’s a two-way street. The girls get to meet rich men and the guys get what they want.’

Which is? ‘Sex, obviously.’

Is Naumoff paid to do this? If so, by whom? The Mail doesn't say.

You could be charitable and interpret this as kind of an introduction service. But then again, some of the men in question are already married. You could alternatively think this setup sounds an awful lot like people being reimbursed for travel and sex. Which might not only count as prostitution to some people, but trafficking as well. If you were the sort of person who was inclined to see things that way.

Me? I don't believe anyone who enters any kind of quid-pro-quo relationship, be it sex for money or naked hot tubbing for a drinks tab, and does so willingly, is trafficked. So far so sugar daddy. But read the Quora opinions, and consider what's being quoted in the Mail, and ask yourself whether you think this alleged situation would tick the rescue industry's boxes for "prostitution: trafficking" or not. Whatever would the missus think?

RPGCast - Episode 193: "Ride Zee 1080p Shoopuf?"

We settle the question of which Final Fantasy deserves an HD remake the most. Alex gives us his impressions of the highly anticipated Xenoblade: Chronicles. Then Minecraft punishes Roy for daring to support its development.

INSANE HATRED OF CYCLISTS

The driver in this clip turned out to be an employee of Brazil's central bank, which has raised interest rates at all five of its policy meetings this year. The under-explored relationship between hawkish monetary policy and insane hatred of cyclists would make an interesting study.

Безымянный

When I first suggested filling Chicago airport with millions of bees, tended by former convicts, they all said I was mad. They said the same about Christopher Columbus.

I refused to take no for an answer. Like Luther Vandross nailing a worm to a church door, I could do no other. I’m going to fill that airport with bees, I said, whatever the cost, whoever gets hurt.

And today, my friends, that dream came true.

Secure your home with Rogers

With the new 'Smart Home Monitoring' service, Ontario homeowners can truly be the masters of their own domain.

Cease & Desist letter sent to Fotopedia, abuser of Creative Commons

I was sad to discover that photos belonging to both Violet and I are being reproduced without our permission at ‘photo encyclopedia’ Fotopedia. I’m a firm believer in Creative Commons and copyright reform, and so I license practically all creative work I produce under a Creative Commons Non-Commercial Use Share Alike license. This includes all […]

'Defense Force', a great summer find

Once recognized as a leading "survival horror" series, the F.E.A.R. franchise has shifted towards your more traditional fire-person shooter experience with each subsequent instalment.

Etón Red Cross Emergency Radio

Everyday you hear about new all-in-one devices that will slice and dice and even promise to do your laundry for you. Now the Eton Canadian Red Cross Emergency Radio will not do any of those things for you, but it is a multifunction device that is practical, affordable and something you wish you had long ago in case of an emergency.

RPGCast - Episode 186: "Chomping at the Eyeco"

Zelda is finally getting her music played in a fancy LA concert hall. The UK is finally getting Trails in the Sky. And Mega Man Legends 3 fans are getting what they deserve...at least according to Capcom.

F. E.A. R. 3, few scares but lots of fun

Once recognized as a leading "survival horror" series, the F.E.A.R. franchise has shifted towards your more traditional fire-person shooter experience with each subsequent instalment.

'Shadows of the Damned' a twisted turn

For some people, subtlety is simply not an option. Salvador Dali had his melting clocks and lobster telephones, Robert Plant has his obvious and endless sexual innuendo, and Michael Bay has his extreme close-ups and nonstop explosions.

...And Now For Something Completely Different

This is not about sex, and not about The Sex Myth. This is about the old blog, and the growing scandal in News International's paper the rules they played by. And as Prince Humperdinck so eloquently put it, I always think everything could be a trap.

Very early on in blogging as Belle de Jour, I had an email address associated with the blog. It was with one of those free email providers and not very secure. Later, I wised up a touch and moved to doing everything through Hushmail. But for some reason I kept the old email up and running, and checked it occasionally.

So on the day of the book's release in the UK, I logged on to a public library computer in Clearwater, Florida, and had a look at that old account. There was a new message from someone I didn't recognise. I opened it.

The message was from a journo at the Sunday Times. It was short, which struck me as unusual: Come on Belle, not even a little hint? There was an attachment. The attachment started downloading automatically (then if I remember correctly, came up with a "failed to download" message).

My heart sank - my suspicion was that there had been a program attached to the message, some sort of trojan, presumably trying to get information from my computer.

Now, I understood the papers regarded all of this as a game. There were accusations that the anonymity thing was a ruse to pump sales. It wasn't. I was really afraid of losing my job and my career if found out. But I knew the rules they played by. And as Prince Humperdinck so eloquently put it, I always think everything could be a trap.

I did several things:

1. Alerted library staff that I thought there had been a virus downloaded on to the computer, so they could deal with it.

2. Phoned a friend who knew my secret. I explained what happened. He agreed to log in to that email account from where he lived, halfway around the world, open the email and send a reply, so they would have competing IP address information.

3. Alerted the man who owned the .co.uk address pointing to my blog, someone called Ian (who to my knowledge I have never met). He confirmed he had been contacted by the Times and asked if I was indeed in Florida. He told them he didn't know (which was true).

Point 3 is the part that makes me think my suspicions were correct. I hadn't replied to the message from the computer in Florida, so why would they have a Florida IP address? They did get a reply from "my" account, but it would have had an IP address from Australia.

(It's been suggested on Twitter that this could also have been because of a read receipt or embedded images. However, if my memory serves - and it usually does - the service I used did not send read receipts and I had images/HTML off as a matter of habit. There could of course be other explanations for what happened, but it is certainly true that the Times were trying hard to find me. Thanks for the comments, I hope this answers any concerns.)

Getting your fax straight

In this modern age of digital communication, VOIP, texting, smart phones and Skype, most of us in the financial industrial still have one big foot still planted blatantly in the 1960s. And no, it is not the shiny suits still worn by some insurance agents.

RPGCast - Episode 184: "Happy Freaking Birthday"

We try to figure out what the heck it is that Nintendo should do with those pesky JRPGs. Nintendo tries to figure out what to do with those pesky mobile phones. Namco Bandai tries to figure out what to do with those pesky Witcher guys. Rosestorm plays more Dragon Age.

Psyko Carbon Review

Back in November, we reviewed the Psyko Audio Labs , PC 5.1 Gaming headset. We put it through its paces and while we decided that it was certainly a true sound wonder, we did feel that it could use a few enhancements.

When Celebrities Attack

By now, you may already be aware of Ashton Kutcher's campaign against the Village Voice, sparked by an article critical of the substance and message of his anti-trafficking adverts. The Voice has form on this one: their earlier article about dodgy stats that get bandied about in the trafficking discussion is a must-read.

The usual disclaimer... I am (as indeed all of Kutcher's critics are) opposed to trafficking in any form, including child sex trafficking. But we must not let emotion exclusively carry the day; it achieves nothing. The Voice hits the nail on the head when they sum up anti-trafficking efforts: "an emotional reaction, based on good intentions, but grounded in bogus information."

The problem of bogus information is this - campaigns such as Kutcher's conflate all sex work with child sex trafficking, and child sex trafficking with all trafficking. Approaches that do so not only encourage criminalisation legislation that harms consenting adults, but also obscures the real victims. How? By using vastly inflated numbers for one kind of trafficking, and pretty much ignoring everything else. Actual children being actually trafficked for actual sex are rarely, if ever, found by the kind of scatterhsot brothel raids and streetwalker crackdowns so many seem to consider "succeses" in the anti-trafficking effort.

Please, please stop kidding yourselves. The raids you hear about are not successes. They are vast wastes of time, money, and manpower. And many groups receiving funding meant to help victims of trafficking seem instead to be lining their own pockets. There is undoubtedly work to be done eliminating trafficking of men and women for any kind of labour. It almost certainly isn't the approach anti-traffickers think will work.

Kutcher’s response against the Village Voice has included tweeting advertisers on Backpage.com, accusing them of supporting slavery. So far, so "concerned". And then this tweet:

Like a lot of people, Ashton Kutcher seems to have some pretty confused ideas about sex work. To be in a position of wanting to help people, yet still falling back on ridicule and stereotype when talking about them, is inexcusable. Someone who says,

"I’ve spent the last 2 years meeting with every expert on the issue of Human Trafficking that I can find, reading countless books, meeting with victims and former traffickers, and studying effective international models to combat trafficking."

Maybe Ashton should have made time for a little bit of victim sensitivity training in there somewhere? (Not that he's known for politically correct tweeting, mind. He seems to channel the spirit of Littlejohn every now and again.)

Kutcher's response has been strongly supported by the Family Research Council who are regarded by many as a hate group. The FRC is one of the main contributors to the Witherspoon Institute’s “research” on pornography that conflates the adult industry with trafficking. That report contained significant input from Patrick Fagan of The Heritage Foundation – you know, those people whose work inspired Reagan’s covert Cold War military actions.

The Witherspoon report encourages celebrities to “use the bully pulpit” and abuses suspiciously similar dodgy statistics as Kutcher’s campaign. And while it doesn't name particular celebrities to be promoted as faces of such bullying, a similar document from Abt Associates does - it specifically names Kutcher's wife, Demi Moore.

I know a little about what it's like to be asked to comment on issues you don't necessarily have expertise in. Sometimes, journalists and television shows approach people like me to provide commentary rather than, say, academics in the relevant fields. It's unfortunate but it's a fact of media life. And I do try, by following academic discussions and talking with friends who are professionals in, say, sex education or the porn industry, to at least not come off as too much of an ignorant tit. I would shudder in horror, though, to ever be described as a "leading player" in the debate around trafficking or related issues. Something that Kutcher and his wife Moore seem to have no problem with. The strategy clearly works, with significant numbers of Kutcher's followers joining in his Twitter tirade, and the man himself being promoted as somehow more of an expert on the issues than, ya know, actual experts.

Not bad for a guy whose credentials, according to his Twitter profile, are: "I make stuff up."

The Voice article pointed out that it's not known how many of the millions, if any, raised by Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher's campaign have actually gone to helping victims directly. With their charity having only been launched 5 months ago, and apparently no financial reports as yet available, it's hard to know when that pointed question will be resolved. I'd like to add another dimension to that question: how many of the millions raised by Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher could be coming from groups such as the Family Research Council?

The well-meaning Twitter fans following Kutcher's lead probably don't realise they're being taken for a ride on the facts front. It can actually be very hard to sort the real from the fake when people keep repeating made-up stuff as true. So I guess my question now is, why are Kutcher’s millions of fans seemingly totally okay with this movement's possible links to the far-right hawkish Christian lobbyists? And when will the likes of Kutcher and Moore realise they're the ones being used, not by evil evil sex traffickers, but by conservative groups with a frightening agenda?

New "Red Faction" falls apart

There's something to be said for simplicity - a horror movie without all the gore and fancy CGI; a roadster that doesn't need a fancy sound system, heated seats, and power everything; an acoustic guitar and a great voice.

Single

Slutwalk

RPGCast - Episode 179: "Transfarring"

RPGCast lets you transfer all the creamy goodness of RPGamer.com right into your portable MP3 player. We call this technology "transfarpg". Also, you are immortal.

RPGCast - Episode 178: "Dropping a Deus"

The Legendary Zoltan gives us another lesson today. Then we examine the merits of premium addons to subscription services. Finally, Square Enix tempts us with iOS game release windows and a chest of goodies that RPGamer's resident dragon will surely want to horde.

Shiver me timbers! Lego 'Pirates' is a treasure

It happened to Indiana Jones. It happened to Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker too. It even happened to little Harry Potter. Sooner or later, you just knew Jack Sparrow would be next.

Weekend musings – BitCoin, PlayStation Network and Google IO

BitCoin I’ve spent the last few months researching BitCoin, which for those who don’t know is a p2p currency system that is (sort of) de-centralized and certainly delineated from any government control or intervention. There’s some pretty sophisticated technology behind it which ensures true scarcity (the fundamental issue for any economic model) but it also […]

RPGCast - Episode 177: "Stop That Cat"

Diablo 3 may be hitting beta this year, WoW may be changing to mini-expansions, and PSN may come up this month. We've got more coverage than just things that always get delayed, though. For example, a new game about the racial tensions between Orcs and Humans.

3D Ghost Recon shoots from the hip

The Ghosts are back. America's elite Special Forces unit is badder but not exactly bigger than ever in 'Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Shadow

Thoughts on a “risk averse BBC”, as covered in the Guardian today

Maggie Brown asks in the Guardian today ‘whether the BBC has become too affraid to take risks?‘. Her piece focuses around the dreaded “BBC Editorial Policy Unit” which was set up to appese the fallout from the 2008 Russel Brand prank call debacle and the prior findings of the Hutton Inquiry. “Russell Brand-gate” was about […]

RPGCast - Episode 174: "Action Jensen Saves the Preorder"

What appeals more to you, an alpaca or an action figure? Perhaps you've been waiting to play a strategy RPG version of your favorite MMO? Ah, I know. You've been so excited about the upcoming Colosto-Wii that you've been looking for some concept art for it. Well we have you covered.

23 and John Doe: thoughts on today’s genetic testing sale at 23andMe

Genetic testing startup 23andMe is running a ‘1-day sale’ that removes their normal up-front testing fee of $199. The catch- you have to agree to subscribe to 12 months of their genetic update service, whatever that is, @ $9/m. Seeing as I’ve had two friends ping me about the promotion, and its now ended up […]

Amazon’s incorrect priorities when it comes to copyright enforcement on the Kindle

Bill Schneier has highlighted two types of fraud currently occuring on the Amazon Kindle Marketplace due to lax copyright enforcement. The first type of fraud stems from content farm behavior moving onto Kindle – with scammers sucking up content across the internet, uploading the content as Kindle eBooks to Amazon and then using fake accounts […]

RPGCast - Episode 171: "We Don't Cover RPGs"

It's a very special RPGCast today. First off, we've got a report from the latest Insomniac community day. Manny helps us decipher In-n-Out's secret menu. Finally, Anna teaches us about a charity Pokémon Patchwork Gym effort to raise money for Japan.

WWE goes over the top with All-Stars

Playing 'WWE All-Stars' is like watching a match between John Cena and Cody Rhodes: you are either going to really like it or really hate it.

Dressing Up Your iPad 2

With the new and improved iPad 2 hitting the Canadian market, it opens the doors to some real cool and innovative accessories. And whether your interests lay in fun, fashion or just good old solid protection, there's nothing more important than keeping your new iPad 2 well-dressed for any occasion.

On iPads, tablets and Microsoft’s vacant bet in the non-post-PC world

It was interesting to read tonight that Microsoft’s chief research and strategy officer, Craig Mundie, isn’t sure whether there is a long term future for tablets such as the iPad. “I don’t know whether the big screen tablet pad category is going to remain with us or not,” is what he specifically said. I find […]

RPGCast - Episode 169: "Ooky Games"

This week, Anna Marie is scared of Aya Brea. Then we see Free Realms pretend to be free. Finally, Cthulu Saves the World gets the best subtitle ever. Also, go donate to Japan.

RPGCast - Episode 167: "In the Quad"

Torchlight conquers your console gaming time. RPGamers pimp their sexiest character nominations. Finally, Magicka napalms its way to our hearts with its new expansion.

RPGCast - Episode 166: "Zelda: Still Not an RPG"

Zelda is 25 years old, but we still have to call a spade a spade. Dragon Age II has two buggy releases this week, but Sting gives us hope with a new title announcement.

'Dead Space 2' screams silently

At first glance, Dead Space 2 has everything a horror game needs to be considered great - one of the most harrowing opening sequences ever made for a game, terrifying creatures, amazing lighting and sound effects that will have your pulse racing, and a handful of spectacular setpieces.

3DS an eye-opener and then some

The release of Nintendo's new 3DS handheld is quickly approaching, and believe it or not, Nintendo seems to be doing its best to sell the system short.

The short domain release and PC

This post has been a while in the making, around March last year I bought my initials SJ.co.uk for £x,xxx – at around the same time Nominet announced they were going to release previously held back short domain names like A.co.uk or AA.co.uk. Reading the announcement it was clear before going to the general public […]

RPGCast - Episode 163: "Release Gauntlet!"

It's a week of release dates and pre-order bonuses. But we've also got some interesting statements from EA about The Old Republic. Sony may also be spicing up the NGP's appeal with a way to play UMDs.

RPGCast - Episode 162: "NGP vs. 3DS"

The details of both next generation handhelds are out there. Which will you be getting? We debate the merits of both while trying to figure out other important issues like exactly what Atlus is bringing over to the 360.

'Breach', good value and good fun

I know what you are thinking, bub. Why does the world need another military multiplayer? The answer is simple. You cannot get the kind of fun 'Breach' dishes out for under twenty-five bucks anywhere, anyhow.

Hello, New Zealand

For those of you who’ve found their way here via the Radio New Zealand show “Summer Nights”, welcome. And, indeed, kia ora. This blog isn’t updated much these days, so here are a few highlights.

1. My trip to North Korea

2. An invention: Pepto Bismol Ice Cream

3. And another: the Scotch Ostrich Egg

4. In which I write to the contestants of the second series of The Apprentice and mess with their heads

5. Neil Armstrong: The Truth

6. Quiz: Despot or Sexpot?

7. An educational tool: my amazing animal portal

8. Eating at the Fat Duck

Also…

9. My Guardian writing, including eating animals alphabetically

10. Kittenwar!