Mad with Moxxi

Borderlands was one of my favourite games of last year, so much so that I had almost completed the game 100%. Until they started releasing DLC that is. While I'm happy to pay for extra content, what annoys me is that the new achievements show up in your achievement list even if you don't download the extra content. It makes it really hard to resist spending your microsoft points.

This wasn't such a terrible thing when it came to Zombie Island. I was happy to wander around collecting zombie brains and then more braaaaaaains, while continuing to work towards 100% achievment completion. But Mad Moxxi's Underdome Riot was a different story. As I was being mauled for the millioneth time, I realised with horror that I would never be able to tick all the achievement boxes. Leaving me extremely annoyed that I'd been cajoled into buying DLC that then made it ridiculously hard to get the achivements (the main reason I bought it).

This leaves me with a dilemma - should I download the latest 'Secret Armory' content? Am I annoyed enough at Mad Moxxi to make me boycott the next DLC? Possibly. Possibly not. If Mad Moxxi agrees to put down the loud hailer and stop telling me I'm rubbish, we might just make up and put this whole terrible affair behind us.

Played the game, got the t-shirt.

Was checking out upcoming new releases on the Game website the other day... I've been following the development journey of the Alan Wake game pretty much since I was old enough to grasp a controller, so I was pleased to see that there's going to be a collector's edition. Also, if you preorder (either editon), you get a downloadable t-shirt for your avatar. The weird thing is that I'm more excited about getting a t-shirt for my avatar than I would be if I was getting a t-shirt for me (see earlier post for my rant about ludicrously large gaming-related t-shirts).

The limited collector's edition is designed to look like a book and is 'hardbound in quality linen.' Unfortunately in skim reading I skipped the first two words and was getting way too excited about the possibility of an Alan Wake duvet. Here's what's actually included:

• Game Disc in box with unique art
• Exclusive In-Game Audio Commentary and hints by Remedy.
• “The Alan Wake Files” a 144 page book that includes a short story written by Alan Wake and compiles the FBI dossiers investigating the events in Bright Falls.
• Exclusive Xbox 360 bonus disc with special content:
  - Exclusive Xbox Theme and Avatar
  - A token for the first downloadable content available for Alan Wake through Xbox LIVE
  - Video Documentaries/Behind The Scenes
  - The Theme of Alan Wake
  - The World of Bright Falls
  - The People of Bight Falls
  - Alan’s Missions
• Exclusive Audio Disc with Soundtrack and Score

Answers on a postcard...

The other day I was reading 360 magazine and came across a competition to win a copy of Metro 2033. Being a bit of competition fanatic, I was all set to email in my entry... but to my surprise, you have to POST your entry. You have to actually send in your answer on a postcard. Crazily retro.

Don't get me wrong, I'm still going to enter. I'll just expect my prize to be delivered by a carrier pigeon, or perhaps a postman riding a penny farthing...

Top Five Game Sounds #1

So what's number one? Well, for me, it's a sound that gives me goosebumps, while at the same time giving me the confidence to sneak up on big, burly guys, silently take them down and dump them in a rubbish bin where the body will never be found...

Game: Splinter Cell

Sound created by: Night vision goggles
Sound: Whirrr...

I'm a big fan of the Splinter Cell series (particularly the night vision goggles), so was particularly upset to read the following blurb on the soon-to-be-released Splinter Cell: Conviction -

'Sam Fisher can no longer rely on his trusted bag of tools and iconic goggles. He's gone beyond being a double agent. Now he's a fully fledged fugitive without the intel of 3rd Echelon or the support of his friends. Those custom gadgets can't be found at your local hardware store.'

Excuse me? Does this mean there won't be night vision goggles? I don't think I could bear it. And anyway, while 'those custom gadgets' might be tricky to find at your local hardware store, somebody should tell Sam Fisher that you can get a fully functional pair of goggles as part of the prestige edition of Call of Duty: MW2.

Top Five Game Sounds #2

Time for an old-skool entry in the top five. Because frankly - who doesn't love Sonic? Well, possibly not Dr Robotnik and people that work at Nintendo. Anyway, second place in this countdown of top game sound effects, goes to...

Game: Sonic the Hedgehog
Sound created by: Collecting gold rings
Sound:  Kerching!

I spent around 80% of my childhood collecting those sparkly gold rings. The other 20% was spent forming an intense hatred of rock, paper, scissors, courtesy of Alex Kidd. I particularly enjoyed collecting rings in a loop the loop (see above) or in the snakey high-speed tunnels.

Losing rings was hearbreaking, especially when followed by death. Very similar to the feeling of losing studs in any of the Lego games. GET THE BLUE ONE! Sorry, where was I? The sound of gold rings being collected by a blue hedgehog, that's right. A truly iconic gaming sound... but not the number one. Think you can guess what it is? Add a comment below...

Achievement unlocked

Recently in my web travels I've come across some pretty funny, alternative xbox achievements that people have created. Like this...

Genius! I've gathered together some of my personal favourites below. I'm particularly jealous of the person who created the last one :(

Top Five Game Sounds #3

Okay, so this one isn't from a specific game, but I couldn't let the top five go by without giving a special mention to a sound that's made me happy on so many occasions...

Game: Everything
Sound created by: The glorious xbox
Sound: Blip!

I'm not ashamed to admit that I'm a total achievement hunter. Recently, while playing 1 vs 100, I intentionally got three consecutive answers wrong just to get an achievement. Admittedly, it's likely I would have achieved this feat without trying particularly hard, but I was keen to hear the ping! as soon as possible. I'm a total sell-out when it comes to the ping.

I can have a really unproductive day, but as soon as I hear that sound I can't help but feel like I really... achieved something.