Today sees the release of Red Faction: Guerrilla for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 here in the UK. The game is an action adventure game that takes place on a sandbox style planet Mars.

I’ve reviewed the PlayStation 3 version of the game for my gaming website Gamebrit.com, and the review in full can be read in full here. Below is a small excerpt of the review can be seen below:

“Red Faction: Guerrilla offers plenty of gameplay, yet sadly the poor storyline and the lack of variety within the game world brings the overall experience down and fails to truly engage beyond the first few hours. A fun experience at first, that soon becomes a chore. The real enjoyment is to be found in the multiplayer modes, which really are explosive pure fun. “

• Time for Sunday dinner. Note to self: Backup Macbook when I get home. #
• VidZone for the PS3, interesting. Hope it has a nice selection of videos on offer. We shall see. #
• My Time Machine Hard Drive is full, it’s now deleting old backups. I’m in dire need of more storage space. #
• Job hunting online at 3am. Fun! #
• Finally updating Safari to version 4. Annoying tabs ahoy? #
• Listening to all four parts of Planisphère by Justice. Love it. #
• Not sure which @woothemes to pick, I can choose any one for free due to their T-Shirt giveaway: http://is.gd/F8SA Decisions, decisions… #
• Watching @dabookerman doing some 3D work for @gamebrit. Nifty. #
• Just got feedback from some Uni work. Higher mark than I was expecting. It will do. #
• RT @gamebrit New GTA IV DLC announced: The Ballad of Gay Tony, also coming to retail: http://is.gd/FCKH #
• Just gave inFamous a go, need to give it some more time later, seems fun so far. #
• RT @TheNextWeb The most geeky tattoo, ever. – The Next Web http://bit.ly/h7yq9 (via @tweetmeme) #
• Listening to the Jaguar Skills Gaming Mix: http://is.gd/I6Da #
• And I’m already impressed, Justice and Daft Punk. #
• Is it just me who has troubles with Safari and the Wordpress backend? #
• Nice hypothetical Olympic 2012 posters: http://is.gd/Ibb9 Love how he hasn’t used the official logo! (via @mikekus) #
• Checking out the Google Wave video: http://wave.google.com/ #
• RT @dysonism Toy Story 3 trailer! Wooo http://bit.ly/9io2F #
• RT @abduzeedo #fridaygiveaway: Got a Pixelmator license http://bit.ly/J5uZi to give away, just RT this to participate! #
• After a few days using Safari, I am back on Firefox. #
• RT @gamebrit Want to know when the big three press conferences are on this year at E3? UK times (GMT) can be found here: http://is.gd/JT9h #
• The weather is lovely again today. Sitting down in the sun preparing some stuff for @gamebrit’s E3 coverage. #

Over the past few days I came across a few videos on YouTube that I figured graphic and web designers could relate to, so I thought it best to share them here, as they amused me, check em out:

After months of putting it off and changing things, my new blog design is finally live for all to see. I posted all the way back in February of 2008 that I was working on a blog design and back then it had a very different feel. Since then not only did I tweak the design, I also started from scratch with a new look a few months back.

The new design, as you can see, features the personal branding logo I created for my business cards. Having this logo on both my cards, and my blog will help people associate with me easier, and strengthen my personal brand overall.The design as a whole has a very similar layout to my previous theme, showing the information I deem most important in an effective yet traditional way. One area I am particularly pleased with is the subscription box, which features a number of links on how to stay updated with the blog and me. In addition to the subscription box, the first left column is a nice touch, which not only puts a face to the name, but also provides a super quick glance at what services I provide, along with links to see my work.

Upon launching the design I realised I had forgotten to edit the comments section, so this is something I need to work on quickly. This is my first attempt at coding a Wordpress theme, so I’m happy with how it looks. Be sure to let me know your thoughts.

• Have so much I want to do, just not to sure where to start. #
• In the University library with @elnacho for possibly the last time ever. #
• Me and University = Done. #
• RT @thelinc Dizzee Rascal to return to the Engine Shed http://ow.ly/7B63 #
• Just saw an IBM ad with someone claiming “I’m an IBM’er”. Come on now. #
• About to head into the studio with @elnacho to record a #GBCAST for @gamebrit. #
• Editing my CV yet again. #
• RT @mike_elgan iPhone won’t let you type the word “neat.” Try it! http://bit.ly/PHVpt #
• RT @gamebrit UK Followers: ASDA have cut the price of the Wii to £145 for 4 days only! #
• #theapprentice soon. Woo! #
• BYE DEBRA! #TheAprentice (via @elizabethfish) plz… #
• Dammit Debra survives. #theapprentice #
• Me in my @woothemes t-shirt I picked up at FOWD: http://twitpic.com/5mdum #
• Giving Espresso another shot. I wish the CSS functionality was more like CSS Edit. #
• RT @gamebrit Enter our LittleBigPlanet Contest to win your very own Sackboy! http://is.gd/C8TN #
• RT @liammckay Free Webmaster Pixel Icons: http://led24.de/iconset/ Very nice set. Preview here: http://bit.ly/Ijj9X #
• I watch far to much Grand Designs. #
• Episode 6 of the #GBCAST is up on iTunes now, or you can grab it here: http://is.gd/CtlJ Staring yours truly. #
• Laughing at @Elnacho’s buff Pikachu impression on this weeks #GBCAST. #
• May look into giving Windows 7 a try on my busted PC. #

Having been back from London for over a week now I thought it best to blog about my time in the capital. For those of you who don’t know I was in London in order to attend Carsonified’s ‘Future Of Web Design’ conference, which I blogged about back in February.

The conference itself provided several highly interesting talks, and although not all of them focused specifically on where the web was heading (the future), the twelve talks overall provided enough engaging content to muse over. One particular talk delivered by accessibility expert Robin Christopherson proved extremely captivating (listen to his talk). During his presentation Robin demonstrated how a visually impaired individual browsed the web. The shear effort it required was truly staggering and really made me think about accessibility issues on the web, along with highlighting the many things wrong with the web today were accessibility is concerned.

Mike Kus from Carsonified supplied the audience with some beautiful slides to gaze over as he presented thoughts on graphic design with the web space, including one tip I that stuck with me: Imagine a web site design as a printed product, ask yourself, would this work in print? Molly Holzschlag, the last talk of the day, gave a great talk about dealing with clients, why open web standards are important and what’s wrong with Internet Explorer. Mark Boulton’s discussion on the importance of typography online was also superb, and got a few laughs due to the appearance of ‘good old’ comic sans. 

In addition to the talks on offer, Microsoft were also present at the event showcasing there Surface technology. I had a brief hands-on experience with the Surface table, and it is an impresssive device, although at £8000 I doubt I will be getting one to replace my coffee table any time soon. WooThemes, a premium Wordpress theme thing I regularly blog about, were also present at the event, and I even managed to grab a free t-shirt from the WooThemes gang, so thanks once again to Adii and co. All in all the event proved valuable and insightful, although unfortunately my business cards did not turn up in time. 

Beyond the food for thought gained it was nice to just escape Lincoln (and University) for a few days and enjoy some time away with my partner Beth, along with meeting some friends while there.

• The Apple Store is down, interesting. #
• RT @gamebrit Hey folks, another new #thegreatindoors comic is up for your viewing pleasure on Gamebrit: http://is.gd/wpIm #
• I wish Lincoln had a Pret a Manger. #
• Checking out some pictures from #FOWD on Flickr. #
• Handy little trick to get super quick access to recently used application in your dock: http://is.gd/wEKt #
• Just made a tasty Lasagne, yum. Now Uni work looms. #
• RT @tweetmeme Apple To Buy Twitter? | Twitter Bulletin http://bit.ly/HOxSQ #
• My business cards came today. I will be sure to blog about it soon enough. #
• Working on my last ever assignment for University. #
• Checking out what 1 vs. 100 on Xbox Live is going to be like, I want to play! http://is.gd/xf5H #
• My Internet is going frustratingly slow. #
• This is cheeky: http://bit.ly/wc8eM
  Boo Xbox Live! #
• Having troubles trying to get a footer to stick to the bottom of a page. #
• Duke Nukem For-Never, an article I wrote for @TheLinc on how the Duke may never be seen again: http://is.gd/y1m7 #
• Just found out Keifer Sutherland is facing assault charges for allegedly headbutting some guy, and season 8 filming begins next month. #
• Putting a music playlist together with @elizabethfish for a party later. #

• Dam punk kids…. #
• My business cards have been dispatched, yay! Hope they show up for Wednesday. #
• My MacBook is going super slow today, not cool. #
• RT @thelinc: Leaked correspondence shows that SU was interested in hosting Carnage in Lincoln. More at http://ow.ly/463p #
• RT @TheNextWeb This is BIG. Facebook officially opens up the news stream. – The Next Web http://bit.ly/4OoZM (via @tweetmeme) #
• A backlash to today’s Facebook news is pretty much guaranteed I think. Watch this space. #
• RT @gamebrit Feature by @RobBurgess detailing the upcoming OnLive service: http://is.gd/uWQ5 #
• News just in, train fares are expensive. More at 11. #
• Really need to pack for #FOWD in the morning. #
• I am going to sleep well tonight. Here I come dream land. #
• Please don’t run out of ink Mr. Printer. #
• Handed in my dissertation. Yes! #
• Finally home, time to chill. #
• It’s Apprentice time! #
• Need to get to sleep, up early for a train to London tomorrow for #FOWD. #
• On the train down to London, using the onboard Wi-Fi. #FOWD #
• Typical, UPS just updated with ‘Out For Delivery, Lincoln’. #
• Just got to #FOWD. @higoodbarry is kitting me out with some Kimono. Later I eat cake. #
• #FOWD just started, I’m sat in the fourth row. #
• “We’re in this field, because we have short attention spans. There’s something new out there everyday.” – Jim Coudal #fowd (via @utku) #
• Listening to Meagan Fisher talking mobile web design. #FOWD #
• Swine flu at #FOWD http://twitpic.com/49ivy (via @yaili) #
• Just tried Microsoft Surface, really impressive. #
• Mark Boulton “Typography’s not on the web, it IS the web” #fowd http://twitpic.com/49kr1 (via @yaili) #
• “I dont think comic sans is completely bad. Its all about context” #fowd (via @simonmcmanus) #
• fascinating watching a blind user navigate the BBC site with a screen reader. Total eye opener #fowd (via @aarmitage) #
• Microsoft are on stage explaining Watchmen via Surface….yeah. #FOWD #
• Some pics of Microsoft showing off Surface: http://twitpic.com/49twa http://twitpic.com/49twb (via @vladgeorgescu) #FOWD #
• Everyone is looking pretty bored. We get it, you can move pictures around on Surface. #FOWD #
• I’m not clapping this. Yeah, rebel! #FOWD. #
• I guess you have to look back, before you can look forward. #FOWD #
• But yeah come on, make with the ‘Future’ already. #FOWD #
• That picked up at the end. #FOWD #
• This is far more engaging. #FOWD #
• Something ugly happened with #ie8 – compatibility mode – @mollydotcom #FOWD so true. (via @aarmitage) #
• Spot the rouge tweet in my FOWD feed: http://is.gd/vE5A I’m looking at you @permanenttemps, lol. #
• Don’t worry twitter followers my FOWD tweets are over for today. #
• Heading into central london to meet @dabookerman and @permanenttemps. #
• Just about to catch the train back to Lincoln after a fun few days in London. Just got some Wi-Fi, 158 emails, boo. #

With the Future Of Web Design taking place this week, I decided I ought to get myself some business cards printed to hand out while at the event. I designed the cards myself, and went for a double sided card, with rounded edges. The cards also give a glimpse of what my new blog theme will look like in terms of colour scheme, along with my new personal logo.

What do you think? I ordered the cards from OvernightPrints.co.uk, but don’t let the name fool you, I did not recieve the cards the next day, in fact they are still on their way, I just hope they turn up before my journey down to London. I will be sure to blog about the cards, and the quality of them once I get them, so look out for that. If you can recommend any printing companies, then please feel free to leave a comment.

• In the library with @ElNacho, it’s so dam hot in here. #
• 24 time. #
• Ah no time for 24, heading out to the Lincoln SU Media Awards. #
• Good luck to all those nominated at tonights SU Media Awards, especially @elizabethfish and the @thelinc! #
• Jai Ho just came on at this award ceremony. Yes! #
• Congrats to @thelinc for winning best reporting of the year. #
• RT @tweetmeme Win a Tweetie License | Twitter Bulletin http://bit.ly/14DebL #
• Two pieces of junk mail today, Virgin Media, I’m not in a cable area so stop trying, and really, a lawn care service? I live in a flat. #
• In the library, work, work, work. #
• Just got done watching this week’s Apprentice, enjoyed it tonight, fun creative task. #
• Just renewed my Flickr Pro account for another year. #
• RT @jonwheatley Yahoo just pulled the plug on Geocities. It’s the end of an era. http://is.gd/u7TP #
• Just ordered some business cards, hope they turn up before FOWD London next week. #
• RT @TheNextWeb Blogs aren’t dead. They are maturing! – The Next Web http://bit.ly/13nqVY (via @tweetmeme) #
• Listening to Biffy Clyro now. I am a mountain, I am the sea! #
• I joined twitter 490 days ago – http://whendidyoujointwitter.com ? #
• Just sat in the office and then out of silence I hear a Dixie Horn from a passing car outside. Burnout anyone? #
• The Apple Mighty Mouse is far from mighty, in fact its god awful. #
• Finally booked the hotel for London next week. #