I applied for a QA testing job at Guerrilla Games the other week, these guys are known for their Killzone games, which incidentally I haven't played yet (ouch). For quite some time it looked like I was actually gonna get the job too, I was told as much last thursday by the head QA tester. But someone with actual testing experience came in and snatched that, much desired, position away from me :( According to the peeps I was part of the final 3 to be picked, but didn't make that final cut. Fck.

Problem is, I now have to focus on getting another job, and that's hard. I was really looking forward to getting my hands dirty on gametesting and really set my mind to it. Especially because I don't know what I really want to do, this looked like a great break. Maybe this will mean that softwaretesting itself is where it's at for me. I will seriously keep a look out for a similar job, I hope there's something likewise that I can do and will enjoy.
In its wake of talking about Killzone, and re-playing the demo numerous times, I have started a search for a cheap copy of it. While I was getting some minor motion sickness from the demo it did look, and play, very decent. So instead of gaining an extra mouth to feed, Guerrilla may actually have secured themselves another sale. Sly folk.

Critter Crunch has made its USA debut on the PSN btw, I will most likely snatch a digital copy of it when it comes Europeside.


Tuesday October 20, 2009 -- #105

It has recently again become clear to me how versatile gameconsoles have become. In the past I've only had experiences with machines that would play games and nothing but those games. The NES, SNES, N64 and GameCube were confined to those little discs/cartridges you could buy and there it would end. Seeing as the GameCube wouldn't play either music CDs nor regular DVDs it really was a case of the ugly boy in the class, compared to the PS2 and Xbox which had more features built-in.

Since the beginning I already have fallen in love with the PlayStation Store (PSN). This little internet store alone makes for a lot of hours of browing and gaming without ever having to change, or even insert, the gamedisc. It surprised me how much of an addition that is. All machines have a likewise store nowadays, but that doesn't take anything away from the power such an additional feature has. It really does bring something to the gamingworld. Next to that there are functions like the browser and friends options, which have since become standard, but still add a lot to the enjoyment you can have from such a machine. And the other day I was made, happily, aware of another: uploading user generated content to the web. It had already appeared to me that a game like Monsters had this; you can upload gameplayclips to youtube. But since scoring a nice goal in Fifa 10, it became clear how far internet-options have been intwined into games. With just the click of a button you can upload that homemade goal and share it with everyone. Utterly brilliant. It felt like a ray of sunshine piercing the dark clouds that surrounded my ideas about consoles and integrated internet options.

There are also options to generate twitter updates and to save your Killzone2 stats on websites for the world to see and compare, and don't even get me started on the online coop abilities several games have. It has taken some time to dawn on me, but online capabilities are being used on gameconsoles in extremely cool, and useful, ways.

I have a link to "my footballworld" in the footer, but I'll also be sure to include any great goals I am able to create in here.

Sunday October 18, 2009 -- #104

» Really looking forward to Heavy Rain. Will it be any good though? Hmmmm.

Well it took me quite some time, I believe I started thinking about a re-design in the second week of having my site live, but here it is. Hope you like it, but if you don't... fck you. There's still a lot of work to be done in the back, but you needn't worry about that. Everything should be showing up as normal and if it doesn't you can always give me a shout through the modern wonders of ie-mail.

With this new version I can post bigger (wider) movies and pictures - so you can actually see anything - and I changed the font size somewhat - so you can also actually read something. Hope everything works out and I won't be lured into changing it again after a full week.

It's been interesting to read my previous posts, especially as it spans a little over 2 years! Not a good reason for using the bold-tag? Well I think it is. I can also post links in a new style, which doesn't use up as much space as normal postings. Seeing as single line stories aren't really stories at all I see this as an improvement. So might you. Or not. FCK YOU!!

So all is well, and hopefully you will read some interesting stuff over the coming 2 years. 2 years!
Sorry for saying "fck you" to you, didn't mean it. Well barely meant it.

Saturday October 17, 2009 -- #103

» The Pythons receive a special award by the BAFTA: cheerios!

Bunnies! This picture almost makes my head pop with cuteness overdose.



Here's more about this pygmy bunny. Can't say I read it, I just stopped properly functioning after seeing the pictures and youtube clip. Awwwwwwwwww

Friday October 16, 2009 -- #100

It's obvious that I am a digital football god.


Friday October 16, 2009 -- #99

After Up, The Fantastic Mr.Fox and 9 there's another possibly good animated movie coming: Cloud With A Chance Of Meatballs. The trailers definately have won me over right now. While anything not-Pixar-related has a lot to proof, I am willing - after seeing Monsters vs Aliens - to give it a chance. If the trailer means anything, this could very well be a Shrek-affaire: good for children and very good for adults too. I really like the style and colours they have used. And honestly, how can a movie portraying a weather machine that has hamburgers and spaghetti bursting from the sky possibly be bad? I'm foaming at the mouth just be watching the trailer.

Sunday September 27, 2009 -- #98

It is coming! The beast is coming! GT5 is slated for a march 2010 release. Late sure, but positive nonetheless.

Thursday September 24, 2009 -- #97

CGSociety has a cool new article on the upcoming animated movie 9. This has come in somewhat under my radar, but it looks very promising from what I've seen thus far. Not completely convinced it's meant just for us "adult" viewers or with a mixed adult/child audience in mind. I'm hopeful it's meant just for us grown ups, you know those who are mature, wise and educated. Yes that means me too!

Reason I'm hoping for that is because I'm pretty much done with the fluffy panda's and cuddly family movies. Give me some to grind my brain on fgs.

Wednesday September 23, 2009 -- #96

I'm back and I want a Zune. Now.


Monday September 21, 2009 -- #95

I'm off for a lovely week in The Ardennes. Lots of biking, hiking, swimming and more 'ings to be done. Once I get back I'll... be back. Well you know.

Was pretty much finished with a refurbishment of this place, but right then I felt I wanted something else instead, so you'll just have to wait and see. Please come back and see, it'll be pretty.

Thursday September 10, 2009 -- #94