Modern Warfare 2

So tonight the biggest game in history saunters on to shelves on a wave of five stars and 100%'s. Almost as predictable as the reviews is the moral outcry against it. Including the rather fantastic statement on the Daily Mail website that players "could plot terror attacks against civilians". This is of course nonsense of the highest degree, taking something completely out of context. But this is also the world we still live in. Video games make more money than any other medium of entertainment, the Wii has even brought gaming into the living room (albeit through the medium of scales and waggling). Yet still the Daily Mail and its blinded followers cannot realise that just because its a video game that doesn't mean its for children. Its got an 18 certificate for a reason, its not there just to make it look like a DVD case. Its there to prevent little Jimmy from blowing off a terrorists head after a tough day of SATS tests. Its like we're in the moral outcry of Betamaxes of Evil Dead circa late 80's all over again. Keith Vaz even had the moral superiority to raise the issue in parliament while opening with the statement "I've neither played nor seen the game". This does not mean you are on the high horse for avoiding it, it means you have no idea what you're fucking talking about. Thankfully my new hero Tom Watson shot him down (HEADSHOT) with a surprisingly knowledgeable viewpoint. Even saying he took the time to see the game. Probably lucky enough to get his pre-order delivered early. Probably on expenses too. Lucky git. He also has taken the time to set up a Facebook group called Gamers' Voice with which he aims to set up a pressure group to stand up for the industry as a whole. This is new ground now, maybe we're on the road to change? Who knows, its too early to say. But with around 3,000 members already after one day you can't shake the feeling that something may well be afoot.

Various Titbits #2

There's been a lot of those hyped American shows lately. Like a constant stream of them. Do we blame Lost? Yeah probably. Haven't been with it for a while now though, I'm going to try and slip back into it. Anyway, True Blood is the latest in this line. Its about vampires, which makes me shiver usually in thought of the gothic HSM shit casket that is Twilight. Werewolves are now cooler than vampires because of that crap pile. Tru(e) Blood though puts a different spin on it though, with vampires coming out of the coffin because a synthesised blood equivalent has been discovered. Which puts an surprisingly sane view upon preceedings. Undoubtedly it being a product of HBO helps this and I'm thankful for it. Its refreshing to see some sci-fi kind of television that isn't completely shit (Charmed, Buffy, Angel, Supernatural - there's a great many more than those too). I'm excited about episode two, Channel 4's fantastic catch up service is also a great blessing.

I really thought that I'd enjoy Generation Kill more than True Blood being the rabid Wire fanboy that I am. But the late time-slot, the crappy stream and the same unforgiving atmosphere as The Wire made this a difficult one for me to slide into. I'll give it another go over the next few days, as its going to be worth watching for just the 8 or so episodes that it is. I guess you forget what it was like watching those first few episodes of The Wire where not much was happening and you're debating why you're there. Looking back, it seems silly that you could have ever comprehended such nonsense.

Its been a really long summer this year for me. My relative inaction was a main contributer to this I guess but television did not help my stupour. But thankfully now its Autumn and animations favoured child has returned. I refer of course not to the horrificly misjudged shit fest that is "The Cleveland Show" but of course to South Park. Starting exactly where you'd expect, they're ripping into Micheal Jackson. Only through the medium of The Sixth Sense. Now I'm guessing that this one may have been in planning for a while, MJ's fate is not fresh by South Park standards. But still, to make shows so consistently funny in such a short amount of time should be applauded. God I've missed you South Park.

Squeezed a viewing of Dead Man's Shoes. A wonderful little film, disturbing all the way through thanks to an amazing performance from Paddy Considine. Its my favourite Shane Meadows film mainly thanks to its simplicity. It gives no other impression than being a story of revenge, a simple tale just well told. I highly reccomend it, its probably one of the better films set in the north of England.

I finish of with my induction tonight into the syrup filled delight that is The Evil Dead. Inspired by the gross-out brilliance of Drag Me To Hell I thought I'd pick up this trilogy and give it a whirl. Its pretty much what I expected, disgusting, hillarious and cheap as hell. Great fun though, you can see why its garnered cult status. I'll see how quickly boredom gets induced in me these next few days to find out about the rest of the trilogy. Considering Swapgame have sent me Guitar Hero 2 instead of any of the 5 games above it on my playlist this seems likely.