LGF: At Eurogamer Expo

Just posting from Eurogamer Expo day 1, played a bunch of games and just stopping to refuel. Good news so far - one of my complaints with Mirror's Edge has been fixed, the cut-scenes are skippable. Good stuff.

LGF: LittleBigPlanet

Yesterday I popped along to Covent garden to have a play of LittleBigPlanet, and this is how I got along:

LGF: Guinness World Records: The Videogame

As part of the DS: London record attempt, TT Games where showing off their new Wii Minigames compilation (a real gap in the Wii's library...) "Guinness World Records: The Videogame".

It looks alright, I guess. I has online leader boards, and a bunch of other stuff. I was one of 4 lucky people who got the chance to play it. The balloon popping game involved holding the Wiimote in your hand and waggling it as fast as you could. That's the game.

Check it out:

LGF: DS:London Record Attempt

As part of the London Games Fringe, DS:London made an attempt at breaking the record for most people playing the DS in one place at one time. The record was previously held by some Australians.

Here's what we got up to:

LGF: Girl Gamers Tournament

I didn't actually mean to go to this event, but it was in the same place as the DS Record Attempt, so we caught the final few rounds.




The level of skill varied between the different players, some were new to the games, and some were seasoned experts, but everyone had a lot of fun.

Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 - Review

Pro Evolution Soccer 2009, PS3 - £27.98 delivered

Review by Amitai Winehouse



As a pre-warning to anyone reading this review, I must tell you that I am reviewing the Playstation 3 version of this game. As far as I am aware, the PS2 Version will likely be the same as last year with minor updates. They have done the same for the last 2 or 3 years.

Last year was not a good year for PES. Poor online play. Not 'next generation' enough for consumers. FIFA arguably catching up. A horrible port appearing on arguably it's biggest non-USA console, the PS3. Konami had a lot of work to do, and I can gladly say that they've done that and more. The graphics are better, the atmosphere is better, and the gameplay is what it should be, unlike FIFA.

Pro Evolution Soccer has always been renowned for one thing, even in the days of Oranges11, and that is quality football. It's been called the "Football Fan's Game", and never is this more true than in 2009. From the minute your first game kicks off, you feel as though you are in the stand watching a match, a real match. Players move realistically, the ball flows, and every pass seems to count. When the ball hits the back of the net, you can't help but celebrate ever so slightly.

Yes, a lack of licenses does bring you out of the realism every couple of minutes, and it's never fun to play against North London Blue. But the inclusion of the Champions League and an apparent patch in the coming months which will add more licensed teams might help this. The Champions League includes everything you'd expect, including the opening video, and most importantly, the theme music. The coverage plays up the history of the Champions League as you play it, and once again you find yourself immersed in what seems to be a real game, thanks to Champions League branded TV Broadcasting.

If there is one place PES can be faulted over recent years is a lack of innovation. The Be a Legend mode is ripped straight out of FIFA, but there is one huge difference. As I said before, PES seems like a real game, and therefore when John Smith runs out onto the pitch for Real Madrid, you can't help but think that you yourself are appearing in front of a packed Bernebau.

This game is not perfect, and despite the beauty of it, we still have not reached photo realism, and many players are still the generic people we'd expect sadly. However, as a full game, PES 2009 trumps the 2008 effort in every single category. If you didn't own that, I'd recommend it outright for any console. For the PS3, if you owned 2008, I would again say it is worth paying full price for 2009. As someone who never experienced the Xbox 360 version of 2008, I don't know if it was any good, but I'd argue that some of the new features in '09 are worth whatever cheap price you can find at the end of this review.

Judgement: Worth a buy.

Pro Evolution Soccer 2009, PS3 - £27.98 delivered

LGF: Video Games Live

Wow, Video Games Live was the perfect kickstart to the London Games Festival. A lot of fun, and really well put together. Everyone had a great time time.

Here's what we got up to:


Classic Arcade Medley:


Tommy Tallarico opening/Metal Gear Solid:


Canapés and Wine:


We were going to try and grab Tommy and Jack for a few words, but they got mobbed by a massive queue of people, so we just decided to mingle, and have some wine and Canapés.

All in all, it was a great evening, I'd definitely love to go again. Video Games Live have also just put out a retail CD in the UK "Video Games Live - Volume 1", and it has a great selection of tracks, with something for everyone. You can get it here for £9.98 delivered.

There was lots of gamer in joke, and audience participation. I was a little concerned it might be a bit pretentious, but not even slightly. If you've never seen a Live Orchestra, but would be interested in seeing one, Video Games Live would be a great first experience of a Live Orchestra.

It was always going to be the case, but there was some songs I would love to hear them play. But they told us to contact them with any requests, and I will be doing.

Brilliant night.

The Road to LGF



I've not had much sleep, not got a seat on the train to London, and the train is delayed. I have a big cup of hot Tea. London Games Festival is going to be brilliant.

Video Games Live is tonight and I can't wait, I'll be sure to report on it.

London Games Festival GO!

London Games Festival is about to kick off, and as you may know, me and Willeth will be there, and we'd love to see some of you guys if you're going to be there.

Here's the (provisional) events I'm going to be at:


Video Games Live
- 24th
A Live concert with Tommy Tallarico, Jack Wall, and the English Chamber Orchestra performing classic and contemporary Video Game music at the Royal Festival Hall. I'll be at the 4pm showing.

DS World Record
- 25th
I'll be helping set a new record for most DS players together in one place, at the Rocket Centre at London Metropolitan University at 4pm.

LittleBigPlanet - Covent Garden - 26th
I'm probably gonna check out the 'creative workshops' in covent garden, and see if I can do/make something cool.

Eurogamer Expo 2008 - 28-29th
The big event, I'm going to be playing as much as I can, definitely RE5, Left4Dead and Fallout 3.

GamesIndustry.biz Career Fair - 28-29th
I may also try and get a job

Rock Paper Shotgun: THE LONDON THINKOSIUM - 28th
I'll be at the Alphabet Bar, I'm sure this is going to be a right laugh.

If you can't make it to any of the festival, I'll be record as much of it as I can, so watch this space. If you are going to be about, shoot me an email on lewiep@savygamer.co.uk, and we'll have to meet up!

Xbox 360 Premium 60GB - £142.18

Tesco are selling the 60GB premium for £144.71, which is an incredible price. You can save a couple more quid by getting it from PC World via their pricematch.

You can order one to collect in store, and get them to pricematch it +10%.

Far Cry 2, PC - £19.99

Far Cry 2, PC - £19.99 delivered

Fatal Fury Battle Archive - Vol 1, PS2 - £13

Fatal Fury Battle Archive - Vol 1, PS2 - £13 delivered

Includes:
Fatal Fury,
Fatal Fury 2,
Fatal Fury Special,
and Fatal Fury 3.

World Heroes Anthology, PS2 - £13

World Heroes Anthology, PS2 - £13 delivered

Includes:
World Heroes,
World Heroes 2,
World Heroes Jet,
and World Heroes Perfect

King of Fighters Anthology, PS2 - £13

King of Fighters Anthology, PS2 - £13 delivered

Includes King of Fighters '94, '95, '96, '97, and '98.

Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, Wii - £12.99

Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, Wii - £12.99 delivered

Endless Ocean, Wii - £9.99

Endless Ocean, Wii - £9.99 delivered

Bioshock, Xbox 360 - £12.99

Bioshock, Xbox 360 - £12.99 delivered

Tomb Raider Anniversary, PS2 - £4.99

Tomb Raider Anniversary, PS2 - £4.99 delivered

Castlevania Double Pack, GBA - £11.98

Castlevania Double Pack, GBA - £11.98 delivered

make sure you pick "Amazon.co.uk" on the right.

Contains Aria of Sorrow and Harmony of Dissonance, which both looks fantastic on the DS.

Lair, PS3 - £9.98

Lair, PS3 - £9.98 delivered

make sure you pick "Amazon.co.uk" on the right.