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Free your iMind

I often follow the external links from Zeldman‘s site, sometimes for the CSS / standards related sites, but mostly just for a new journal (or blog) site for a bit of casual coffee break reading.

However, I find myself wishing there was some way that these sites could be filtered for Apple fanboys and girls. Every sickly, sugary post I happen across praising an iMac or a frickin iPod is so unbelievable nauseating that I’m clicking the killer × as fast as my Microsofttm Intellimouse® can carry the pointer.

If someone could explain the deal with Mac’s to me then I’d be eternally grateful. I mean, what is it? Some kind of cult? Do you have to hand over your firstborn if you don’t become an Apple whore the second you start using an item of their usually over-designed consumer electronics?

On the other hand, if none of you MacWhores can explain it to me – I could provide a handy exorcism session free of charge. Just read the following:

Apple did not pay you to own their hardware. Apple products are not cheap or free. Apple products are expensive – they are not some wonderful gift to yourself that should be a pleasure to spend the cash on. Apple is not your friend. They don’t know you. They do not give a shit if you mention the company, link-back to them with every blog post, nor do they give a rats ass whether you’re using your iBook whilst bungee jumping or not. As long as you buy their stuff, that’s good enough for them.

Further to that – YOU have paid them for their product. That’s all you need to do – nothing more – just use the thing and STFU about it.

And most importantly…

There is very little or no chance that Steve Jobs himself will turn up at your door, thank you kindly for all the free plugs you’ve been giving his company and bestow upon you the gift of new Apple products for life.

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Journal

Demolished

I forgot to mention that imdb fixed the incorrect goof I pointed out to them. Sadly they fixed it by removing it – not what I had in mind… I wanted an “Incorrectly regarded as goofs:” placed in front of the offending goof, so I could forever more be entertained with the knowledge that I’d pointed it out.

Ah well, maybe next time =o)

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Game On

Primal

I picked up Primal by SCE Studio Cambridge at the weekend after trading in a shed load of unwanted titles. It was a bit of a punt, really, as although I’ve been looking forward to the game since I seen some preview code a year ago, it has had fairly restrained review scores on the net.

Fortunately it’s turned out to be pretty damn cool – not that I’ve played more than ten minutes or so – Fliss played most of the five hours plus it took to complete the first level on Saturday night and I have to say I’m impressed by the quality of the graphics and the character interaction.

The levels are simply enormous, and although you are taking a pretty linear path through them sometimes, they are still big enough to give you a good sense of being lost in a very well crafted world.

A couple of niggles would be with the camera and the combat system. Firstly, the camera is very jerky, especially when you run up a set of stairs… not sure why that couldn’t be smoothed as it does take a bit of polish off of the sublime environments. With the combat system it just doesn’t feel like you have much control over Jen and most enemies can be beaten by just tapping away and hoping for the best.

After battling through the first level, we’re on to the second realm – the water world of Aquis, where the graphical quality betters the gothic ruins of the opening level. The scenery is simply stunning at times, and I think you’d be hard pressed to find a better looking or sounding title of a similar genre on any of the current consoles.

At this early stage in the game, despite the aforementioned niggles, I would really recommend it to anyone who likes a good adventure game – especially if you appreciate attention to detail of a high quality.

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