So I’m going to be playing host to a 6 year old this evening (baby-sitting duty) and I decided that it’s about time he got into XBox360. So I thought I’d check everything out and AARRGGH! A red ring of light! Immediately panic set in and I had visions of my gorgeous machine going away.
A panicked call to Microsoft sorted me out of course. 4 light is nothing more that a badly connected AV cable. I felt so stupid, but it just goes to show how we get programmed by what we hear and read. My first thought was total failure. For any other piece of kit I have I’d have gone through all of the plugging/un-plugging before even getting worried.
Anyway all is good and we’ll be having fun in cars later!
So, the very first podcast I ever recorded was for Planet Technologies all about our ISV program. I’d put forward that it’d be really cool to reach out to our market space in a different way and I though podcasting was a good idea.. thats when I got the job.
The first kit I used was my PC and an Altec Lansing all-in-one headset thing. Software was initially the free utility from Wildvoice, but I got a little frustrated with that after I managed to delete everything I’d recorded, so I did some searching around and a copy of Propaganda instead, which I’ve continued to use up until very recently.
The audio quality is not bad with this set up, but not great. I’m actually tempted to go back and re-record this particular one but it also reminds me of how much better I’m getting nowadays.
The quality of the voice is pretty much down to the quality of the microhone in the headset itself and the requirements for it to be all but touching ones lips in order to be effective (they are designed this way of course), there is a lack of crispness to the tones and everything seems to be a little.. well foggy sounding. Having said that.. I’ve listened to quite a few podcasts which were, let’s say less than fantastic in their overall sound so there’s probably a lot to be said for this type of cheap, entry-level set up to get you sound out there!
The headphones are supra-aural but are a decent enough size so that, for me at least - being a circumaural fan, they did an effective job of delivering the sound and comfort I wanted.
So here’s the scoop; I haven’t finished this game yet and I’m not sure that I’ll even get around to it. Let me fill you in!
The graphics are fine. Good render speeds, smooth action and very effective visually. The gameplay however leaves a lot to be desired, and I mean A LOT!
The piece of action which has tipped me over this particular edge is the ‘Hoover Dam’ section when playing as the Autobots. Bumblebee is working his way into the control enter and has to bash down a number of doors to get there… fair enough! OK, behind each door is a wheeled drone which immediately scoots off to alert it’s masters (why they have to do this in person I’m not sure, but moving on..) agan I have no real problem with this as a concept, but you’d think after the first one, your dumb character would be ready to blast seven shades of oil out of the things as soon as they appear, but no, every time Bumblebee simply watches idly by as they trundle off and you have to transform and drive after them to make up for this ineptitude! Rubbish!
Oh! And that brings me on to the controls! I don’t like having an on/off switch as an accelerator and brake. Why do I have to have to put up with this when there are a pair of perfectly good analogue controls availble being used for weapon and shield control.. AS ON/OFF SWITCHES!
I switched over to try the game as the Decepticons at this point and, actually enjoyed the game quite a bit more. Is this wrong? The wanton destruction, the mayhem, the carnage (OK so there’s actually no carnage so to speak, but the hint of it is there.) Am I an Evil character?
The answer is of course no. (I think) it’s just that it’s more fun to smash things and win than to be careful and win.
I may re-visit this one at some point, but for now, it’s going on the ‘I should have thought twice.. it’s a movie tie-in’ pile.
