Review - Something About Spartans: Halo 5 Beta Test.

Disclaimer. This review will probably feel like a story of me playing the game rather than an professional review. Enjoy.

So as you are all probably aware that the new Halo 5 Guardians multiplayer beta is now out, and I am just as excited to write a review blog as I was to play the game. If you know me as a physical human being rather than a digital profile you are most likely aware Halo is one of my top 5 favourite game franchises gliding a little behind mass effect so this one feels special to blog about. And yes, I would do anything to be in Cortana's shoes and sit in his hat all day.

So, Halo 5 multiplayer is without a doubt the love child of 2 different franchises and yes the one of the parents of this beautiful baby boy is CoD. Playing the game today I noticed I was clicking 'X' to reload and clicking the left analogue button to sprint, not only that I was even using the left trigger to aim down the sight, weird for Halo but somehow it works. So after attempting to no-scope some Blue Team ass-whipes and then ending up in close combat trying to melee attack I found myself throwing grenades instead, the joys of getting used to 'RB' being a grenade button, not melee (insert slightly annoyed emoji). So the new control layout seems practical but easy to complain about if you a thrown into the mix of other "testers" but even with the new layout I found myself kicking more Ass than Duke Nukem could even dream.

So the graphics, pretty basic to be honest. I TEASE YOU. The graphics are very satisfying just as Bunjie delivered during halo 3 or 343 during halo 4, very spectacular. Although a friend of mine dislikes the plastic looking armour, I couldn't agree more, sometimes the spartans look like they are cos-playing and not walking, not so talking death machines. However, the guns new styles are very tasteful, very bulky and futuristic looking for all your Spartan's every day needs. Seriously though the battle rifle, DMR, even the handgun have all had sexy new make overs that is going to make Kim Kardashian herself feel ugly.

AND GAMEPLAY. Yes as I mentioned earlier this is the love child of 2 very well known and loved (or hated) franchises, but the speed of the fighting feels alot more quicker, However they have introduced a kill cam feature similar to cod so you can see who pasted your face with that fuel rod launcher. The aiming is more precise and you can do some dazzling new tricks like an arial ground pound where you punch the floor while jumping and if you aim in mid air down the sight your spartan hovers while you turn the opponent into a triangle of cheese (full of holes). Another thing I noticed is that your armour doesn't recharge if you are sprinting or doing any kind of special armour ability, so watch out if you taken a few hits.

I guess I can safetly say when Halo 5 Guardians comes out , I will probably be sitting in the freezing cold just like the local wildlife waiting for GAME to open so I can grab my copy and run home like Charlie in the Willie Wonker film and force cos-playing spartans to kill each other. And just for your pleasure I even left some you some proof I kicked ass in one of the games. Thanks for reading and happy new year!

A Talky Blog – Me- chinery, Cyber Dragon-etics and Intricacy

So if you have been keeping up with my blog, by that I mean you've read the first post and decided to come back and read this one so I thought I would give you all a little bit of info about the guy behind the consistent type errors you may find and my love for synthetic animations.

 If you hadn’t figured I am a gamer with a hard on for mechanics, cybernetics, robotics and anything that is bigger than ten foot. So yes The Reapers from the mass effect series would be considered one of my favourite enemies in gaming, but then again so would The Terminator’s T-800. I am a very big fan off Yu-Gi-Oh’s “Cyber Dragon” considered  one of the best cards in the Generation X era, but who needs details you’re here for games not children’s card games.

It’s interesting to think that people today take for granted the work in animations and games and forget how much time it takes to actually finish the perfect model with simplistic or intricate designs.  Let’s take Optimus Prime in Transformers, each component you get to see even the smallest of details would have been gone through the whole, modelling, texturing and rigging process. I cannot express my love enough for the amount of effort what goes into Computer Graphic Imaging (CGI) when modelling machinery. Just think if we could build 3D models of vehicles and re-arrange each component into a 25 foot machine using software, then maybe all we need to do is find the power source and the materials then maybe we could build transformers ourselves. Meh I go far too into my head.

I recently started modelling my own cyber dragon from Yu-Gi-Oh, and doing so has answered so many questions to why Konami haven’t made a Yu-Gi-Oh game where all the monsters are 3D. Imagine having to model, texture AND rig over 2000 monsters and their summoning/ attack animations, the fans would love it but Konami love money way too much to spend that much time into making a game only a specific audience would play. So I have decided to leave you with something, The Cyber Dragon, still a working progress. Enjoy!

Just in case (to save my ass) I merely built the model and I don't own the design.

The First - The Start of an Educational Adventure

So the first semester of my university degree is over, a degree studying and building content for video games or animated films. When I first started the course I had a rough idea what to expect, confusing computer programs, people with expert knowledge in the software, expert skills in drawing and then there is you in the room, with the quality of work feeling like everyone is going to critic or judge you based on your ability as an artist or your ability to model 3D shapes.

However that is not that case at all. Everyone has their own talent and brings their own set of skills, their own techniques and styles. The only difference between students is the experience, everybody is creative in their own way.  It is crazy to think all of us students thrown in the same boat together, rowing at the same pace, learning the techniques which will eventually lead to employment.

Now to think, in the first 3 months of starting The Art of Games Design course and I have built one character model, a car model and now attempting the next assignment which is to model the TSB building in Carlisle. However this isn't as basic as it sounds, this will be marked by Turn 10, for those not aware Turn 10 is a well established gaming company responsible for the well known Forza series. So it needs to be perfect, or I am going to get shot down like the Normandy SR-1

It's exciting to think that they will be the ones who will look at our classes work and gives us a chance to show off our skill to potential future employers. But scary as they will shake their heads at us as forgetting how we would have been 3D modelling for 4 months at this stage and point out every flaw that our project has. Unless you're a demi god at 3DS Max. (Thor will always be a god in my eyes especially with that hammer.)

Now starting the assessment for Turn 10, I have realised my love for 3DS Max, and the passion inside to model. I have now started modelling my own work along with the coursework once they are finished and fit the quality of deserving your (the reader's) attention I will blog the models and the processes involved in making them for you to applaud or scrutinize at your own curious pleasure.

Now that the first semester is over and being ready for my christmas break of doing more Uni work and stuffing my face with turkey and Malteasers it's safe to say that I have had a very good start of a new degree but it's going to be worth it in the long run. Have a good christmas and try not to ruin your eyes from too much League or GTA V. Peace.