Author: Felix

Jericho

Jericho is a drama about what happens when a nuclear mushroom cloud suddenly appears on the horizon, plunging the residents of a small, peaceful Kansas town into chaos, leaving them completely isolated and wondering if they’re the only Americans left alive. But in this time of crisis, as sensible people become paranoid, personal agendas take over and well-kept secrets threaten to be revealed, some people will find an inner strength they never knew they had and the most unlikely heroes will emerge.

I really liked Jericho the TV series and was very disappointed when they cancelled it after just one season. Was pleased when it was renewed for a second season.

At the end of season two the series started to get really interesting… and then the series was cancelled!

A third season was published as a comic, but though nice, it’s not just the same.

There were lots of great ideas that could be transferred to gaming scenarios from Jericho. From small skirmishes that wouldn’t seem out of place in the old west, to large scale modern tank battles.

Flames of War TOG2 Mid-War Monster

The Tank, Heavy, TOG 2 was a prototype British super-heavy tank design produced in the early part of the Second World War in case the battlefields of northern France turned into a morass of mud, trenches and craters as had happened during the First World War.

In the end it never went into production, but as part of the Flames of War Mid-War Monsters range you can buy it and use it in alternate history games. I liked the concept and the model on the Flames of War website is quite inspiring.

Flames of War TOG2 Mid-War Monster

The Flames of War boxed set contains three of these monsters.

The hulls are quite plain in comparison to other tanks in the FoW range, however that is much more down to the actual design of the tank.

Flames of War TOG2 Mid-War Monster

Flames of War TOG2 Mid-War Monster

The tracks are two metal castings for each side. The turret is the same one that was eventually used on the Challenger A30, it was from a design perspective easier to use what was developed for the TOG2 then design a completely new turret for the Challenger in the time they had available and with limited resources.

Flames of War TOG2 Mid-War Monster

However this is a different casting to the one found on the Challenger model. It looks like it should be pretty simple to put together, but first to clean up the metal and resin castings.

Flames of War TOG2 Mid-War Monster

I do hope that we see future “monsters” for Flames of War, there are some nice concepts and ideas out there for both Early-War and Late-War, though I have a hunch that these did not sell as well as expected.

See the workbench feature on these huge tanks.

Playing with Lego

After posting my last blog posting on a Lego video game, I should point out that there are also versions of Lego Harry Potter for other platforms including the Mac and other platforms. There are also other Lego games for other films and these are quite a lot of fun too.

One the many games that are out that I have enjoyed is Indiana Jones. I have the first version on the PS3 and have played the same port on the Mac.

As with all the Lego games, there is a tongue in cheek humour about the game and this is not a Legolisation of the films, no this is Lego Indiana Jones, it looks and feels like Indianan Jones, but isn’t a copy or a duplicate, it is special in it’s own right! This has all the fun aspects of the films, but in Lego.

As with other Lego games, there are puzzles and strategies you need to do before you can move onto the next level. Freeplay means that even if you finish all the levels, this doesn’t mean you have finished the game. The little film clips are amusing and cleverly done.

Quite like the idea of the sequel which is available on the Mac.

LEGO Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues combines the fun and creative construction of LEGO bricks with the wits, daring and non-stop action of one of cinema’s best loved adventure heroes. With a unique and hilarious take on all the Indiana Jones films – including for the first time ever Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull – LEGO Indiana Jones 2 follows Dr. Jones’ escapades from the jungles of South America to the Peruvian Ruins and beyond.

You can get LEGO Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure for the Mac and other platforms, Wii, PS3, Xbox and Nintendo DS. The first Lego Indiana Jones is also available.

The other Lego game I like is Star Wars and there are now quite a few versions out.

I have played the Complete Saga on the PSP (well part two) and the Mac.

This is the definitive LEGO Star Wars comprising the first two games and expanding them with new characters, enhanced visuals, and more bonus levels than you can shake a lightsaber at.

LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga is a family-friendly game, which is both funny and challenging. Pick and choose your characters wisely to engage in combat, solve puzzles and work together as a team to defeat the dark side.

Like the other Lego games, much of the same kind of play, but in the Star Wars universe. Like Indy there is a tongue in cheek aspect to the game and the little film clips, which makes this great fun for all the family.

Quite looking forward now to playing Lego Pirates of the Caribbean having recently had a quick go in the local computer store.

Never liked the films though….

Madame Vastra

Did you enjoy the reptilian Madame Vastra character in the recent episode of Doctor Who, A Good Man Goes to War?

She was the Silurian in the Victorian era, who in the Doctor’s hour of need helps him solve the mystery of River Pond, as she owed him a debt. She was living in disguise in London with her friend and maid, Jenny.

Well it appears that there may be a spin-off series with Madame Vastra and her adventures in Victorian London.

When?

Who knows, as Steven Moffat probably doesn’t have the time to write it.

Lego Harry Potter


In celebration of the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows- Part 2, LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 for the iPad and the iPhone is only £1.99 which compared to the cost of console versions and PSP versions is much cheaper This is really good value for what is a compelling and fun game. There are over forty levels in the game.

What Lego have done with their games is add a tongue in cheek element to the films they have made games of and as a result if you know the films you can smile at the little jokes that are interspersed in the little clips included in the game. So a perfect combination if you like Lego and Harry Potter.
The game itself covers the first four books/films of the Harry Potter universe and you start in Privet Drive before finally fighting you know who at the end of the Goblet of Fire.

As with many Lego games (those on the PSP, PS3 etc) the game is a combination of puzzles, logic and, in the case of Harry Potter casting spells.

Great fun to play and well worth getting.

DUKW

The DUKW (colloquially known as duck) is a six-wheel-drive amphibious truck that was designed by a partnership under military auspicies of Sparkman & Stephens and General Motors Corporation during World War II for transporting goods and troops over land and water and for use approaching and crossing beaches in amphibious attacks.

The Flames of War model has a large resin hull with metal components.