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SS-GB

Adapted from Len Deighton’s 1978 alternate history novel, and starring Sam Riley and Kate Bosworth, SS-GB premieres on BBC One on the 19th February 2017.

Produced by Sid Gentle Films Ltd and written by Bafta Award-winners Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, SS-GB is a complex thriller focusing on British Detective Douglas Archer.

Forced to work under the brutal SS in occupied London, Archer is determined to continue to do his job in the service of his country, but against impossible odds.

We first meet Archer in 1941, with the vast majority of England and Wales are under Nazi occupation after losing the Battle of Britain. Pockets of resistance continue to show their defiance against the occupying German forces, but after a German pilot is murdered by a British Resistance fighter, tensions in London could not be higher.

When investigating what appears to be a simple black market murder, Archer is dragged into a much darker and more treacherous world where the stakes are as high as the ultimate outcome of the war. The elusive American journalist Barbara Barga may hold the key – but can he trust her? And when his lover Sylvia endangers her life by bravely making a stand against the oppressive regime, Archer is forced to confront a deeper dilemma. Can he carry out his duty to defend law and order when he is working for the wrong side? What is he willing to risk in the fight against fascism?

The trailer and the images released so far, show a disturbing image of London under Nazi occupation. What may have happened if the proposed Operation Sealion was successful and Britain had lost the Battle of Britain in 1940.

Though most experts agree that there was little or no chance of Operation Sealion ever succeeding, many people have wondered and extrapolated what could have happened if it had indeed taken place and the Germans were victorious.

The background of SS-GB offers a range of gaming scenarios across different kinds of actions and scales. I may explore these in a later post once I have viewed the first few episodes.

Reopening the X-Files

As many of you know the X-Files is coming back.

I really enjoyed the original series of the X-Files there was something at the time fresh and different about the series and of course the relationship between Mulder and Scully really made a difference.

The X-Files is an American science fiction horror drama television series created by Chris Carter. The program originally aired from September 10, 1993, to May 19, 2002, on Fox, spanning nine seasons and 202 episodes. The series revolves around FBI special agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) investigating X-Files: marginalized, unsolved cases involving paranormal phenomena.

I am currently re-watching the original as it is on Amazon Prime, but you can get the DVD boxed set for a reasonable price too.

Back in the 1990s I started developed a skirmish set of rules, entitled FEDS, the inspiration for which was the X-Files. The idea of FBI Swat teams fighting down bad guys and monsters seemed like a good idea for lots of fun games.

Looking forward to the new series, though not sure where I will be able to watch it.

Dad’s Army hits the big screen

So the first trailer for the reboot of Dad’s Army is out.

It hits the big screens in 2016. It has Toby Jones as Captain Mainwaring, Michael Gambon as Prviate Godfrey, Bill Nighy as Sergeant Wilson, Tom Courtenay as Lance-Corporal Jack Jones, Bill Paterson as Private Fraser and Daniel Mays as Private Joe Walker. And Catherine Zeta-Jones will set pulses racing in her role as visiting journalist Rose Winters

Any reboot is always a challenge, however I am quite looking forward to watching this when it comes out. The characters are not quite the same as the long running TV series. Bill Nighy though makes the role of Sergeant Wilson his own.

Though Tom Courtenay makes a cracking Corporal Jones.

Spectre

New trailer for the new James Bond film, spectre.

Dark Future coming back….

Well note quite, it is coming back, but as a video game.

It’s coming…

Need we say more?

Doctor Who in Lego

Well what do we have here, the Doctor in Lego.

Oh and K9 and a TARDIS.

Okay so not a proper set (just yet), but for the forthcoming Lego Dimensions console game.

The game uses “real” Lego which are then “brought” into the game. There is a real mix of brands, for example the starter set has Batman, Gandalf and Wyldstyle (from The Lego Movie).

You can expand the game with packs and these have so far included figures from the Lego franchises such as Ninjago, but also Wonder Woman, Lord of the Rings, Wizard of Oz and Back to the Future.

With the release of some instructions, we now know that there will also be an expansion pack for Doctor Who.

The copyright notice for Doctor Who is quite interesting as it includes details of Daleks and Cybermen.

BBC logo © BBC 1996. Doctor Who logo © BBC 2009. Dalek image © BBC/ Terry Nation 1963. Cyberman image © BBC/Kit Pedler/Gerry Davis 1966. K-9 image © BBC/Bob Baker/Dave Martin 1977. Licensed by BBC Worldwide Limited.

From this I would ascertain that we will see Lego Daleks and Cybermen, very likely in the game, but could mean Lego Daleks if and when more Doctor Who Lego is released. The BBC does not hold all the rights to all the Doctor Who monsters, therefore licensed products need to both licence Doctor Who from the BBC, but also need to licence Terry Nation (estate) for the Daleks.

In addition to Doctor Who we have also seen packs for Jurassic World, Scooby Doo, Portal and The Simpsons.

Our rules have changed

Total War: Warhammer

Our rules have changed, and with change comes war on a scale as yet unimagined.

Gigantic monsters, flying creatures, legendary heroes and storms of magical power take their place on the battlefield, alongside thousands of warriors clashing in real-time tactical battles. All at YOUR command.

In the turn-based campaign game of statecraft & empire building, you will find the Old World an unforgiving and treacherous place, filled with endless war and cunning alliances alike. Whichever race you choose to play as and however you seek conquest, you will be faced with a conflict that threatens to tear the very fabric of reality asunder.

Oh it’s a computer game…