The truth is out there: LEGO The X-Files

10 years in the making, an official LEGO Ideas set is coming soon based on the sci-fi series The X-Files, which centres around two FBI agents, Agent Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson), who carry out paranormal investigations. The series debuted in 1993 and ran for 11 seasons, becoming a worldwide phenomenon in the process.

During the nineties, I was sold on the conspiracies and bought the official magazine, comics, books, CDs, posters, and season box sets on VHS and then, latterly, DVD. This was an era when a new series of Doctor Who on television was a pipe dream.

The X-Files set was designed by user WetWired and features an intricate diorama of a forest UFO scene above a recreation of Fox Mulder’s famous basement office. The set will comprise approximately 2,020 pieces and includes seven minifigures: Fox Mulder, Dana Scully, “Grey” Alien, The Jersey Devil, Assistant Director Walter Skinner, Syndicate Leader and Eugene Tooms.  

Discover more sets on LEGO AU, CA, UK and US (affiliate links).

Are you excited for a LEGO Ideas The X-Files set? Let me know in the comments below.

No One Will Save You on Disney+

It's the 30th anniversary of The X-Files (streaming on Disney+), and tales of alien abductions are as popular as ever.

Earlier in the year, I rewatched Fire in the Sky on Freevee, which was nightmare fuel and a far cry from director Steven Spielberg's Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

20th Century Studios has dropped an official trailer for No One Will Save You.



Read the official synopsis:

"From 20th Century Studios, “No One Will Save You” is an action-packed face-off between Brynn (Kaitlyn Dever) and a host of extraterrestrial beings who threaten her future while forcing her to deal with her past."

Writer-director Brian Duffield (Spontaneous) evokes Signs, Super 8 and 10 Cloverfield Lane.

No One Will Save You will be exclusively on Hulu and Star on Disney+ on 22nd September.

Will you be watching No One Will Save You? What did you think of the trailer? Let me know in the comments below.

Babylon 5 remastered on HBO Max

Following the cancellation of Doctor Who in 1989, there was an unfillable void vacated by my favourite time traveller until the BBC's beloved sci-fi series returned in 2005.

Star Trek: The Next Generation came to the fore with a Marvel UK tie-in and Playmates Toys' action figures and accessories as an early nineties sci-fi renaissance began, across the Atlantic, heralded by Steven Spielberg's SeaQuest DSV, Babylon 5 and The X-Files.

All of which became synonymous with undergraduate studies at Bournemouth University.

SeaQuest DSV and Babylon 5 both utilised Amiga Video Toasters and were the subject of lively debate in computer animation studies. George Lucas' Star Wars prequels were still a few years away, non-linear media production was still in its infancy and prohibitively expensive for the homebrew crowd (myself included) before Steve Jobs returned to Apple, democratising the industry with the iMac and iPhone.

"Sooner or later, everyone comes to Babylon 5." - Commander Jeffrey Sinclair

Babylon 5 was originally shown on Channel 4 in the UK running for 5 seasons between 1993 to 1997. J. Michael Straczynski's sci-fi opus, a galaxy-spanning retelling of The Lord of the Rings, quickly became a touchstone in the space opera firmament. There were countless carshare and water-cooler conversations with fellow fans when I was hired as an online journalist following graduation.

Babylon 5 embraced long-form storytelling and the late Mira Furlan, who played Minbari Ambassador Delenn, would go on to star in JJ Abrams' Lost (available on Disney+).

A passion for computer-generated imagery (CGI) was rekindled when I bought an iMac DV SE in the summer of 1999 and subsequently published in 3D World magazine in the early noughties.

This is a very convoluted way of saying, I never saw Babylon 5 (nor spin-off series) after its original transmission and, as I toiled tirelessly on Bryce 3D, Poser and Photoshop, I yearned for the adventures of Commander John Sheridan (Bruce Boxleitner) and crew of the titular space station.

So, it was a surprise to see Ged Maheux, friend and co-founder of the Iconfactory, tweet Babylon 5 has been meticulously remastered for HBO Max. Seemingly in the spirit of Paramount's Star Trek: The Original Series and The Next Generation but stopping short of updated visual effects. Incidentally, I recently rewatched stablemate V AKA V: The Original Miniseries, on SyFy, and the eighties anti-fascist allegory benefits from its original widescreen presentation.

Alas, the subscription-based streaming service from Warner Bros. isn't available in the UK, but I'm hoping Nick Smith will be able to review Babylon 5 on HBO Max. The remastered series is also available to buy (affiliate link).

Babylon 5 has deservedly become a cult classic and will find a new generation of fans. How about a reboot utilising technology developed for Disney+'s The Mandalorian, HBO Max?

What are your memories of watching Babylon 5? Let me know in the comments below.

When you wish upon a Star

Today is the last day you can avail yourself of an annual subscription to Disney+ for £59.99 before the Star brand launches, in non-US markets, on Tuesday.

Star launches on Disney+ on 23rd February with hundreds of films and television series from Twentieth Century Fox and Star Originals in Europe, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. Lost, 24, Desperate Housewives, Family Guy, The X-Files, Die Hard and many more will be available to stream.

As Star isn't optional, an annual subscription increases by 33% to £79.99 but existing subscribers can renew for £59.99.

Given the amount of content, coupled with an ongoing global pandemic and The Walt Disney Company pivoting with new movies (such as Mulan and Raya and the Last Dragon) simultaneously released in cinemas and at home, I'll be renewing like many of the 95 million subscribers to Disney+.

Are you looking forward to the arrival of Star on Disney+? Let me know in the comments below.

Buffy joins Star on Disney+

The Walt Disney Company has announced its biggest content drop for Disney+!

The Star brand launches on Disney+ on 23rd February with hundreds of films and television series from Twentieth Century Fox and Star Originals.

Highlights for fans of cult sci-fi and fantasy include Buffy the Vampire Slayer and The X-Files. These seminal series sustained me during the nineties and early noughties before Doctor Who returned in 2005.

Grahame Robertson, a social media friend and fellow fan of all things geek, pointed out that we don't know which version of Buffy the Vampire Slayer will appear on Disney+. This aberration is the source material used on All 4, Amazon Prime and Netflix. Pro-tip: keep hold of your DVD box sets.



Emma Caulfield, who played demon Anya in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, currently stars in Marvel Studios' WandaVision. Incidentally, the multiverse mystery of WandaVision is underscored by Emmy winner Christophe Beck (Frozen) who composed the magnificent music of stablemate Buffy the Vampire Slayer: there are echoes of the episode The Hush in Wanda's theme.

Jan Koeppen, President of the Walt Disney Company EMEA, said: "Star will be an integral part of Disney+, making it bigger, bolder and even more exciting. The arrival of hundreds of TV series and movies including our exclusive Star Originals will make Disney+ the premier destination for high quality entertainment with something for everyone."

Buffy the Vampire Slayer spin-off Angel, a series I fondly remember discussing with a care nurse who looked after my late mum, is conspicuous by its absence as is Joss Whedon's other series, Dollhouse.

Whilst we're at it. There's no Roswell or Dark Angel, created by James Cameron (Avatar). Hopefully, not for too long.

As Star isn't optional, Disney+ will rise from £5.99 to £7.99 a month. However, I'm using the streaming service daily and have no plans to cancel as lockdowns continue over the coming months.

What are you looking forward to watching on Star? Let me know in the comments below.

Star launches with The X-Files on Disney+

Star launches on Disney+ on 23rd February - a month after my birthday (hint, hint). The Walt Disney Company has announced the first films and television series coming to the new adult brand.

Lost, 24, Desperate Housewives, Family Guy, The X-Files, Die Hard and much more will be available to stream on Disney+ from next month. Hopefully, the Alien and Predator franchises won't be too far behind once pre-existing distribution deals have lapsed. Incidentally, Marvel is now publishing all things xenomorph and cloaked alien hunter following the acquisition of Twentieth Century Fox film and television assets.

Star Originals is expected to include Hulu's live-action Aliens series outside the US. Channel 4 is currently showing The Handmaid's Tale but that will most likely be added to Star, too.

All this extra content comes at an inevitable cost.

As Star isn't optional, Disney+ will rise from £5.99 to £7.99 a month. However, I'm using the streaming service daily and have no plans to cancel as lockdowns continue over the coming months.

NOW TV will most likely be a new year cancellation casualty as I'm watching 4K UHD content on Apple TV+, Amazon Prime and Netflix (a subscription was gifted at Christmas).

Are you looking forward to Star showing mature content on Disney+? Let me know in the comments below.

Twin Peaks reboot premieres this May

The grandfather of watercooler television is back. Twin Peaks returns to US TV screens on 21st May with original showrunners, David Lynch and Mark Frost, at the helm.

Lynch directs the entire 18-hour series, which picks up 25 years after the people of a quaint northwestern town were stunned when their homecoming queen, Laura Palmer, was shockingly murdered and her body was recovered, wrapped in plastic, on the shore.

Kyle MacLachlan reprises his iconic role as Agent Dale Cooper alongside a host of returning cast favourites including David Duchovny (The X-Files).

The original series ran for only two seasons in 1990 and 1991. However, its cultural impact can be felt to this day.

Sky Atlantic has exclusive first-run rights to the upcoming Twin Peaks reboot in the UK. However, no transmission date is known.

Bryan Fuller takes the helm of new Star Trek TV series

The new Star Trek television series has found its showrunner and Rob Wainfur considers the possible implications for the future of Gene Roddenberry's enduring sci-fi franchise...

Guest post by Rob Wainfur

Finally some good news for Star Trek fans. Bryan Fuller is on board for the new TV series on CBS. The end of 2015 and the beginning of 2016 hasn’t been the best start for Star Trek. In comparison that other Star franchise, Star Wars is riding high on the back of the success of The Force Awakens. The $2 billion box office takings vault has recently been opened for JJ Abrams' vision of a galaxy far, far away and fans are heaping praises on how well the franchise is being managed and the direction it’s taken.



In comparison Star Trek fans have set their phasers to maximum setting and turned them on the current producers of Star Trek and the franchise owners. The new trailer for Star Trek Beyond was shot down quicker than it took Troi to destroy the Enterprise in Generations. The trailer just didn’t seem like Star Trek with a Beastie Boys soundtrack and the over emphasis on action. It looked more like a new Guardians of the Galaxy movie than a new Star Trek. Even Simon Pegg was critical of the trailer saying: “I didn’t love it, because I know there’s a lot more to the film.”

Star Trek fans, this one included, turned to a fan movie for a proper Star Trek fix, Star Trek Axanar. The production values are high with gorgeous looking sets, impressive special effects and an all-star line up from the world of Star Trek including Gary Graham as a Vulcan ambassador, Richard Hatch as the sweet-eyed Klingon General Kharn and Kate Vernon as Starfleet Captain Sonya Alexander. Prelude to Axanar had already been released with the likes of Tony Todd, a wonderful actor who I remember from one of the best Star Trek Deep Space Nine episodes, The Visitor. But at the end of 2015 it was revealed that CBS and Paramount had filed a lawsuit against Axanar Productions to halt production on the new fan movie. Although they are fighting the lawsuit it seems that the suits behind Star Trek have forgotten how Star Trek has got to where it is today. Star Trek stands on the shoulders of its passionate fans. The last thing you want to do is turn those fans against you but that seems to be exactly what’s happening. Something had to be done.

There’s been a slither of good news for Star Trek fans. On Tuesday it was announced that Bryan Fuller is to front the new Star Trek TV series which will hit TV screens on CBS in 2017. This is great news as Fuller has a heap of experience in the Star Trek universe. He was the writer for two episodes of Deep Space Nine (my personal favourite Trek series) ‘The Darkness and the Light’ and the excellent and deeply atmospheric episode, ‘Empok Nor.’ He was also the producer of 25 episodes of Voyager and writer for a whole heap of episodes including the enjoyable two parter, ‘Workforce.’

It’s a promising sign and the equivalent of an injection of Ketracel-white that we have someone with Star Trek experience on board for the new show. Fuller has also proven he’s not lost his touch when it comes to quality, bringing the popular Hannibal and Pushing Daisies to TV, both of which ooze quality. He’s also working on American Gods which has a lot of Neil Gaiman fans waiting with baited breath.

What can we expect from Fuller? Well a few years ago he teased us in an interview about some ideas he had for a new Star Trek TV series. He teased us with the idea of how The Next Generation crew would evolve from JJ Abrams' alternate universe vision we see in the new movies and even leaving the Enterprise behind all together and have a new ship called The Reliant. No, it won’t have three wheels.

Executive producer Alex Kurtzman said some promising words on the state of Star Trek and in particular bringing Bryan Fuller on board. “Bringing ‘Star Trek’ back to television means returning it to its roots, and for years those roots flourished under Bryan’s devoted care. His encyclopaedic knowledge of ‘Trek’ canon is surpassed only by his love for Gene Roddenberry’s optimistic future, a vision that continues to guide us as we explore strange new worlds…Bryan is not only an extremely gifted writer, but a genuine fan of ‘Star Trek.”

Whatever his vision ultimately turns out to be, right now I feel a little more optimistic for the future of Star Trek. I hope Fuller, along with the studios, remember what Star Trek fans actually want and maybe they can take a leaf out of Chris Carter’s book. The X-Files recently returned for a tenth season and Chris Carter, the creator realised that fans were the driving force for the return, so gave them exactly what they wanted, more of the same. He along with the cast and crew visited comic-cons around the world and listened to the fans and what they wanted to see from the return of Mulder and Scully. So far the season has done exactly that. It’s not dumbed down. It has the original cast and wonderful scripts. It’s like we’re watching the classic seasons of The X-Files all over again.

Let us hope the new Star Trek doesn’t get dumbed down and producers don’t feel the need to make all the cast 20 years old or younger which seems to be happening more frequently in TV and movies. Keep the technobabble, that’s Star Trek and keep the science too. Less action and more story. Less love triangles and more interesting characters. Don’t just make the main cast three dimensional. Make ALL the characters interesting like Deep Space Nine did. Am I asking for too much? No. All they need to do is go back and actually watch some Star Trek to get the idea of what we want. Listen to the fans, embrace them and their creativity. That way Star Trek will live long and most definitely prosper and that’s good for the fans, studios and producers. I think Bryan Fuller is well on the way to achieving that. Make it so Bryan.

Rob Wainfur
www.thebeardedtrio.com
Facebook: Thebeardedtrio
Twitter: @thebeardedtrio

The X-Files return gives Channel 5 a ratings boost

After a 14-year break, ignoring the underwhelming second movie in 2008, The X-Files returned to UK television screens last night.

The series premiere gave Channel 5 its highest rated US drama launch since 2009. An average of 3.5 million viewers tuned in and this doesn't take into account streaming and recording of the episode. The X-Files will very likely become one of Channel 5's most viewed shows in 2016.

As a huge fan of The X-Files in the early to mid 1990s, voraciously consuming books, comics and more before transmedia storytelling became de rigeur, I was excited to see FBI agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) back.

Doctor Who, Star Trek and Star Wars have all been successfully rebooted in recent years. So, why not The X-Files too?

The series premiere has left fans deeply divided. So, I'll pass you over to fellow X-Phile Andrew Lewin who investigates the premiere "My Struggle". By all accounts the mini-series improves dramatically.

Is the truth still out there? Let me know in the comments below.

The Lone Gunmen revived in The X-Files

The Lone Gunmen, who starred in their own short-lived spin-off series in 2001 and appeared to meet their end in The X-Files ninth season, are back in Fox's much-anticipated mini-series reboot.

The news was broken by actor Dean Haglund on Twitter. The popular trio comprised of Frohike, Langly and Byers, played by Tom Braidwood, Dean Haglund and Bruce Harwood respectively, will be joined by DC Universe star Robbie Amell (The Flash). Amell has been cast as Agent Miller.

The X-Files returns in January 2016.

You will believe again in The X-Files

The X-Files cast and crew have taken to social media and posted tantalising teasers from the set of the upcoming mini-series.

The original pilot episode remains a touchstone in setting the look, feel and tone of a series. The nod to Steven Spielberg's Raiders of the Lost Ark did not go unnoticed by genre fans.

I was sold on the conspiracies and bought the official magazine, comics, books, CDs, posters and season box sets on VHS and then, latterly, DVD. An era when new Doctor Who was a pipedream, Buffy had yet to crossover from cinema to television and the Star Wars prequels were nothing more than speculation - a fun pastime with friends.

Yes, there was The Lord of the Rings reprise Babylon 5, Space: Above and Beyond and more, but none captured the pre-Millennium zeitgeist as adroitly as The X-Files, which was catapulted from cult to mainstream cultural phenomenon, making Mulder and Scully household names.

As a fan who became disaffected with the later seasons and swore never to watch the second movie, I want to believe, again. Seeing the onset photos of Mulder (David Duchovny) and Scully (Gillian Anderson) is a giant step towards that goal...

The revival is a thing and it premieres January 2016 on Fox.

Continuum comment read out on SyFy!

During last night's high-octane episode of Continuum S2, on SyFy UK, I was surprised and delighted to hear my tweet read out on air during an ad break:

"... Continuum evokes fond memories of watching The X-Files..."

This typifies social media engagement at its best. Viewers can use the hashtag #Continuum during and after the show to continue the conversation with actors, producers and fans of the series.

For the uninitiated, Continuum is a Canadian science fiction series, which centres on the conflict between a group of rebels from the year 2077 who time travel to Vancouver, BC, in 2012, and a police officer who accidentally accompanies them.

On Twitter? Follow @johnhood.

Scare Tactics

The Mac OS X security scare season is upon us again! However, there are some basic built-in measures, which every Mac User should have enabled, that should make life difficult for those Cylon computer viruses.

Built-in Firewall
The Firewall (accessed from the Sharing Pane in System Preferences) is disabled (by default). Switch it on and, whilst you're there, click on Advanced and select these boxes:

•Block UDP Traffic
•Enable Firewall Login
•Enable Stealth Mode

Security
Go to the Security Pane and select these boxes:

•Disable automatic login
•Require password to unlock each secure system preference
•Use secure virtual memory

Safari
Go to Prefences, General and deselect this box:

•Open "safe" files after downloading

There, that was easy wasn't it? Now, spend sometime reading Corsaire White Papers.

Please note that the above configuration (using Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger) is only a suggestion. I take every care in the preparation of this web site. However, it is for information purposes only. I accept no liability for any loss or damage incurred as a result of acting on or refraining to act on information or other material within this site. You should always seek professional advice on the facts of your particular matter.

3D Combat Evolved

One of my most enduring memories as an undergraduate (and losing valuable book time), was playing the original award-winning Worms (1995) on the Sony PlayStation! Team 17's turn-based opus relied on the player's ability to correctly judge the trajectory and the power necessary to inflict devastating damage (on a par with shock and awe) against the clock (usually around 30 seconds, but this could be adjusted higher or lower). All the while trying to achieve mastery over the wind. You see, the wind can be unforgiving and weapons that are vulnerable to air current can be rendered impotent.

After 9 previous iterations including Worms Pinball and Blast, the basic premise remains intact (and relatively unspoilt) as the franchise inevitably segues to luxurious 3D in 2004! And the impish dialogue and black humour (motifs of the franchise) still remains cuttingly humorous. Friends' star Matthew Perry would be pretty proud of that achievement!

Porting progress
Feral Interactive is never merely content to publish key titles ‘per se’ on the Mac platform! Whenever working with UK porting house Zonic, it is always the partnerships intention to provide Mac gamers with compelling "added value" as a reward for our patience. This release is no exception to that golden rule.

In the case of Worms 3D (alongside the development of XIII), a rare opportunity to improve the graphics arose. It was noticed that whilst playing Worms 3D that at high (or low) resolution the interface was blurred! The original Adobe Photoshop files, used during development, were leveraged to replace all the interface graphics and weapons that Feral had been given assets for. And to avoid alienating the Mac gaming community, the PC keyboard was appropriately replaced by a Mac version!

Carnage candy
Worms 3D inspires obvious graphical comparison with Pangea's Bugdom series! And possesses looks that would make even Earthworm Jim blush with envy! Everything has an organic Play-Doh look and feel, which would delight the artists at PIXAR. The textures are simpler than Unreal Tournament or Halo, but then that's wholly appropriate given the context, and the game runs smoothly under Mac OS X 10.3.4. Support for Full Screen Anti-Aliasing (FSAA) is available for those equipped with a compatible graphics card. Is it time for an animated television series from Warner Bros. and attendant merchandise such as action figures, I wonder?

Existing Worms fans will be delighted to learn that bazookas, grenades, dynamite, air strikes and sheep made it safely from 2D, with the addition of brand new weapons to take advantage of the more expansive 3D landscape.

Customised combat
The single player (SP) mode still rotates predominantly around randomly generated battlefields against computer-controlled teams (the level of difficulty can be adjusted).

Alongside the obligatory Tutorial and Campaign modes, Team 17 have introduced the new Challenge mode, an offering where players can participate in various objectives such as firing-off a shotgun at as many targets as possible before time runs out to unlock bonuses such as medals and secrets.

Players can pass levels with Gold Silver or Bronze. As an incentive, getting Gold and finding secret areas (in SP) unlocks more hidden weapons and levels for the multiplayer mode.

The Challenge mode is somewhat repetitive, but completionists will no doubt find it a noteworthy addition all the same. Also the code system that was used to generate levels in the original is included in Worms 3D. And the codes for the PC version work on the Mac. It's worth searching the web for sites dedicated to collecting these cross platform codes!

Ultimately multiplayer (MP) mode is the signature element of the Worms franchise and here 2-4 teams can compete against each other in highly addictive sorties. The landscape of war can be edited; players can select to play in Lunar, War, England, Horror, Pirate or Arctic (in day, evening or night)! Or alternatively choose a randomly-generated landscape, or one that you've unlocked in the Campaign mode. In the mood for a chat, taunt or want to privately discuss tactics (with fellow team members and allies)? That's here too!

Worms 3D is compatible with GameRanger. Therefore, I urge you to 'fire-up' GameRanger as the MP mode is far more engaging than the SP experience because of human interaction - watching an enemy worm sink into the icy depths, underscored by a suitable quip, is a very satisfying accomplishment. Worms 3D MP is a luxurious treat and may close the deal for gamers unmoved by the series anaemic SP mode.

Blasted Bug
Subsequent to the GM release. MP games work on a LAN, but there is a bug in the network detection check which will cause all network games to be disabled if the Internet cannot be reached.

Zonic are working on a fix for this and it will be included in the first patch. In the mean time, if you can get your LAN connected to the Internet, you should be able to play locally.

Got Worms?
The transition to what could be construed as a more liberating 3D context, has introduced new challenges and complications that can confuse! You can toggle the camera between 3rd person (default), 1st person and blimp views. However, at times I found orientation difficult - the 3D terrain is more problematic to gauge than in 2D. And it requires greater effort (not necessarily a negative) to accurately judge how far to shoot a missile in order to target it anywhere near an enemy. This can lead to frustration, which often detracts from the pleasure of playing.

And now for the conclusion
Worms 3D is a solid port and clearly the product of stringent QA (Quality Assurance). Kudos to Feral and Zonic. With spruced-up graphics, a multitude of tactics available, coupled with the ever-changing, randomly-generated landscapes, Worms 3D is a pleasant antidote to the glut of FPS releases.

However, I was left with a yearning for the 2D side scrolling pleasures of old and the absence of an engaging soundtrack was remiss! The score of Worms 3D isn’t as impressive as the sound effects. Whilst I'm not looking for a John Williams orchestration, the music didn't serve the action and was turned down in favour of the amusing dialogue and spot effects.

As I completed this review Team 17 officially announced 'Worms Forts Under Siege'! The Worms saga continues...

Gameplay: 8
Graphics: 9
Sound: 7
Value: 8

Overall: 8 (out of 10)

Cel-shaded Conspiracy

XIII Preview
With the imminent release of the Macintosh port, it’s IMG’s “raison d’être” to tackle the daunting task of another hands on preview courtesy of those fine folks at Feral Interactive. And a rare chance for this comic book fan (and former fine art student), with a predilection for the darkness of an American McGee's Alice, to experience an interactive 3D graphic novel (graphic novel was a term coined by Will Eisner; comic book with high quality storyline and artwork)!

If 'Retro Chic' found favour in the quirky No One Lives Forever (a veritable pastiche on UK television's The Avengers) and its first sequel, XIII takes the First Person Shooter (FPS) into the labyrinth of 1920s to 1950s inspired Dark Deco!

Bourne Again
Acclaimed French/Canadian developer UbiSoft serves up a self-referential cocktail in which film director Doug Liman’s The Bourne Identity stars X-Files superstar David Duchovny (as the titular character). And Adam West (General Carrington), television’s 1960's Batman, returns to a setting that acknowledges the source medium that made him an international cult star - comics.

XIII is a complex story of betrayal and intrigue based on the original French comics by Belgian's William Vance and Jean Van Hamme (who took part in the production of the game). The XIII comic series is replete with Byzantine plots that would delight even the most demanding fan of ABC’s award-winning Alias television show.

JFK
The President of the United States has been assassinated, and everyone (most notably large guys with guns) possesses a compelling argument that you did it - even you're not sure! As the story unfolds, you'll learn more about your mysterious past, discovering that you are number XIII (shades of Patrick McGoohan's seminal TV series The Prisoner) of The Twenty, a mysterious shadow organization, the group that perpetually want to see you dead - there's no chance to discuss 'issues' over cappuccino in a virtual Starbucks. Your eventual goal will be to clear your name of all charges (if only you could remember your name…), and get to the bottom of the conspiracy.

So it's clear that the story is a little more involved than, say, the riveting backstory behind Doom! To do the job, you'll have the usual array of weapons and gadgets. There are 13 standard weapons, including crossbows, assault rifles, and rocket launchers, each with an alternative-fire mode. You'll need to choose your weapons and tactics carefully, though, because you can only hang onto four weapons at a time.

Sans Solo
XIII is not entirely flying solo as he is accompanied, at key stages, by Major Jones, a sassy female operative voiced by multimedia diva Eve. During these stages XIII will have to battle enemies while receiving covering fire from Jones and vice versa. So be prepared for some bombastic fire fights with other characters as you progress through the game.

As a counterpoint to the adventures with Major Jones. Adam West’s General Carrington is bereft of any armoury, so it’s your duty to act as human shield during the rescue mission!

On top of the world
From the Baywatch opening (not the O.C?) to rooftops and snowy mountains, the Mac gaming tourists amongst you will be well served as you unearth that most post-modern of questions – Who am I?

Enter the Manga Dimension
Sometimes referred to as Manga Dimension or non-photorealistic rendering (NPR), cel-shading arguably entered the video game lexicon in the seminal Jet Set Radio Future (JSRF) (From Sega development team Smilebit) and, perhaps most famously, changed the look of Link in Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. XIII (Thirteen) witnesses cel-shading's maturation in the over populated FPS genre!

Cel-shading is much more than a superficial stylistic treatment in XIII; it underscores the game’s comic book roots and (excuse the terrible pun) is a marvel to behold! For example when an enemy appears, he'll get a close-up panel (a comic book convention sometimes referred to as a box or frame) of where he is, so you can home in on his exact location. A direct kill will witness his timely demise in delicious close-up and includes the obligatory "AARRGH!" (literally known as a sound effect by comic book artists)!

Gore
While not on a par with the visceral thrills of a Resident Evil, XIII splatters stylised blood in a manor akin to Grand Theft Auto (GTA). This title is not recommended for the faint hearted or younger players - an audience it adroitly askews.

Battling the Dark Side
The single player (SP) mode serves a solid storyline encompassing 13 missions (which cover 34 levels) that should take around 25 hours to complete (depending on the player's prowess). However, the multiplayer (MP) option secures greater repeat play value since it combines all the modes present in the PS2, GameCube, and PC and XBOX iterations. And the crowning achievement is that all too elusive Holy Grail - Mac vs. PC conflict!

It must be noted that Bot AI in SP mode isn't showcased in a glowing manner here, but MP Bot engagements can get intense!

God is in the detail
Although my preview hardware was within the minimum system requirements (Mac OS X 10.3.3, 800 MHz iMac G4, 512 MB RAM and GeForce 2MX), sound was choppy and poorly synced. The sound effects are all in a real time. Therefore evincing the need for more powerful hardware such as nVIDIA's GeForce FX 5200 Ultra and ATi Radeon 9800 Pro cards.

Adorned in the stylistic trappings of the graphic novel tradition and powered by Epic games’ UnrealEngine2 (a.k.a. Unreal Warfare Engine); Ubi Soft invested 2 years of R&D! XIII promises to deliver a unique, if not signature, FPS experience for those gamers whose hardware can smoothly run Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell and the Unreal Tournament franchise.

Feral Interactive sent IMG a preview based on a very robust beta build (1.0 RC5), which is the current version being tested by Ubi Soft. Last minute tweaks and installation changes (my preview copy was sent on 3 CDs) notwithstanding, it gave this reviewer an excellent insight into what to expect. The retail edition of XIII will bow on a single DVD. Feral Interactive's Edwin Smith kindly shed light on the decision to adopt the DVD medium:

• To preclude the need for a multi CD ROM release
• Only one installer needed
• Nice and clean look and feel with 1 disk, which is more "Mac like"
• Add enhanced video files with higher file sizes, desktops and even other demos to a game DVD
• Anti-Piracy

Not Just a Pretty Interface

Apologies for the recent disruptions. Yesterday I attempted to back capture older posts and convert them to MP3 files. This should be completed during the next few days.

With so much time spent on refining Blogger's code candy, my portfolio site has played second fiddle! However, I'm now making the transition from using Adobe's GoLive CS to Adobe (formerly Macromedia) Studio 8. Studio 8 is considered the 'professionals' choice and I'm inclined to agree.



Dreamweaver 8 is light years ahead of GoLive CS and I'm currently using the built-in code rewriter engine to remove GoLive's 'garbage'. Whilst a WYSIWYG editor is no substitute for a powerful text editor, Dreamweaver offers the best of both worlds. I have yet to experiment with Fireworks and Flash (arguably the reason why Adobe purchased Macromedia).

Here's a very cute new Mac OS X application that resides in the menu bar. Menuet:

Menuet allows iTunes users to control the app in a variety of ways, including hot keys, click controls, a menu featuring full browse and smart browse options, and of course the uniquely skinnable remote. Included in version 1.0.1 is an initial set of eleven skins, ranging in style from minimal, to futuristic, to whimsical. Skin support was a focus in Menuet's development, and feedback was taken seriously from community designers, including IconFactory veteran David Lanham, to insure powerful and flexible specifications that support most iTunes functions, animations, and more.

Well worth the $12.95 (£7.50 GBP) fee for a single user license. Please tell them who sent you.

Whoa, that was like a... Jedi moment

The following, exhautive, review is based on the R1 release of Lost Season 1.

Disc 1 (2:48:39)
Pilot - Part 1 (42:13) 
Pilot - Part 2 (40:17)
 Tabula Rasa (43:27) 
Walkabout (42:42)



Disc 2 (2:51:38)

White Rabbit (42:30) 
House of the Rising Sun (42:44) 
The Moth (43:14)
 Confidence Man (43:10)



Disc 3 (2:51:13)
Solitary (43:08)
 Raised By Another (42:45) 
All the Best Cowboys Have Daddy Issues (42:08)
 Whatever the Case May Be (43:12)



Disc 4 (2:51:24)
Hearts and Minds (43:17) 
Special (43:15) 
Homecoming (41:36) 
Outlaws (43:16)



Disc 5 (2:52:01)

In Translation (43:02)
 Numbers (43:06)
 Deus Ex Machina (42:39) 
Do No Harm (43:14)



Disc 6 (3:34:43)

The Greater Good (43:15) 
Born to Run (43:14) 
Exodus, Part 1 (43:16) 
Exodus, Part 2 (1:24:58)

Video

Unlike the US 4:3 broadcast (only available in widescreen for HDTV consumers), Channel 4 is airing Lost in its original 16:9 aspect ratio. The DVD retains the 1.78:1 formatting and eclipses the PAL standard definition picture with 480p (compatible television required). The transfer is so vivid that it’s easy to forget that you’re looking at a screen. The image pops and colors are luxuriant.

Audio

The perfect presentation is not exclusively limited to sight. The sounds of the island are all encompassing. My Kef 5.1 speaker setup heightened the tension to such a degree that there were times when it became almost unbearable (check John Carpenter’s The Thing or Jurassic Park for comparison). The audio mix would be worthy of Skywalker Sound's Gary Rydstrom.

Extras
Often dubbed as "bonus features," "special features" and "added value", for many DVD consumers they're a compelling reason to buy a DVD set. The Mouse House has come a long way since those first, faltering, steps with Warner Home Video. A time when "special features" were anything but, and consumers should have sued for compensation.

Commentary Tracks
Pilot Parts 1 & 2 - Executive producers J.J. Abrams, Damon Lindelof and Bryan Burk
Walkabout - Executive producer Jack Bender, Co-executive producer David Fury and Terry O'Quinn (Locke)
 The Moth - Damon Lindelof, Bryan Burk and Dominic Monaghan (Charlie)
 Hearts and Minds - Executive producer Carlton Cuse, supervising producer Javier Grillo-Marxuach, Maggie Grace (Shannon) and Ian Sommerhalder (Boone).

The Genesis of Lost (8:40)
The tale of how Lost became a TV show. This featurette includes interviews with executives from ABC, and the producers of the series.



Designing a Disaster (7:59)
How did they construct one of the most incredible series openings of all time?

Before They Were Lost (22:55)
The formation of the cast as told by JJ Abrams, Damon Lindelof, April Webster (casting director), Bryan Burk, and the crew. There are lots of audition tapes included in the featurette, and you can watch the entire tape in...



Audition Tapes (23:34)

Audition tapes for the cast members. Matthew Fox (3:31), Evangeline Lilly (2:53), Dominic Monaghan (1:16), Naveen Andrews (2:01), Yunjin Kim (1:10), Daniel Dae Kim (0:46), Josh Holloway (1:20), Jorge Garcia (1:57), Ian Somerhalder (1:36), Maggie Grace (1:48), Harold Perrineau (1:35), Malcolm David Kelley (1:22) and Emilie de Ravin (2:19). These are pretty interesting, especially because there are things that didn't make it into the show, or actors are auditioning for different characters.



Welcome to Oahu: The Making of the Pilot (33:20)
Self explanatory and artfully leveraging the DVD medium a la Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy.

The Art of Matthew Fox (6:07)
When watching Party Of Five, it was clear that there was an inherent sadness in Matthew’s studied performance of Charlie and one that may or may not be autobiographical. This feature arguably lends further credence to my observation! I hope his photographic endeavors touch you as deeply.

Lost @ Comicon (1:50)

The cast and producers headed to Comicon last July where they debuted the pilot. Now this looked like fun unlike Bournemouth’s Excalibur.

Lost: On Location (43:42)
A few featurettes that focus on an episode, or a single aspect with shooting it. The Trouble With Boars (5:19), House of the Rising Sun (7:19), Confidence Man (4:24), All the Best Cowboys Have Daddy Issues (4:56), Whatever the Case May Be (2:58), Hearts and Minds (6:20), Special (3:05) and Exodus (9:21).



On Set With Jimmy Kemmel (7:15)
Kimmel visits the set of Lost. This had me in stitches and the ‘monster reveal’ culminated in hyperventilation!

Backstage with Driveshaft (6:40)
Dominic Monaghan talks about "Driveshaft," and the "hit" song that they sang. The producers explain the idea behind the song, and how it was recorded.

The Lost Flashbacks (4:35)
A couple of flashbacks that weren't shown on TV, which makes them "Lost Flashbacks" and not "Lost Flashbacks." I really enjoyed the Claire flashback. At the Airport: Claire (3:07)
 At the Airport: Sayid (1:28)



Deleted Scenes (14:41)
There are 13 deleted scenes from the first season.



Bloopers from the Set (4:17)

Live from the Museum of Television & Radio (10:56)
The chemistry between the cast and crew is palpable, and it’s a genuine shame that this was only an appetizer.

Scriptscanner

If you have a PC you can read the script to the pilot episode while it plays.

Sneak Peeks (14:22)
Trailers for movies and TV shows can be found in this section. The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe looks enchanting, and maybe the movie of the year for me. There are trailers for The Chronicles of Narnia (2:33), TV on DVD (1:56), Lost Season 2 - spoiler free! - (0:32), Alias Season 4 (1:19), Desperate Housewives Season 1 (0:32), The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2:25), Scrubs Season 2 (1:33), Dark Water (2:33) and Jimmy Kimmel Live (0:59).

Easter Eggs (1:58)

Alternate Main Title Sequence (0:22) – Just terrible and evokes the X-Files opening titles. Want to find it? Put in disc seven, go to "Tales from the Island" and press left twice, then enter.

Locke and the Orange (1:36) - Want to find it? Select "Tales From the Island" on Disc 7, then highlight "Main Menu," press right, and then enter.

In summary
When you have the collective talents behind Alias, Buffy, Angel and Batman: The Animated Series how can you go wrong?

Theories regarding how the Sydney to LA Oceanic flight crashed are as abundant as they are diverse. Are the passengers dead and struggling to make peace with their past lives before moving on or is it The Truman Show meets Survivor? Whatever. Discuss by all means. But, as my Media Studies tutor once said – the journey is often far more interesting than the destination!

There’s a liberal sprinkling of Star Wars and Star Trek in-jokes set against a Planet of the Apes backdrop. Hurley's "Dude" manages to remain humorous and so revealing of the character - a gentle giant a la Chewbacca. And then there's Sawyer who immediately reminded me of Solo - I couldn't stop grinning at the lines including "Princess", "Sulu" and "I'm a complex guy!" And John Locke's character resonates as I'm a paraplegic due to a serious head injury in first school - a classmate was pushed into me. And, yes, I was in a wheelchair...

The inaugural season of Lost is the finest DVD presentation of a television series I’ve viewed since purchasing my first Sony DVD player in 1998. Yes, it really is that good. This is a seminal seven-disc treatment and only Battlestar Galactica (2004) can take the edge off withdrawal symptoms.

The Space Museum

The return of the iconic diabolical dustbins to Doctor Who is welcome. However, my impressions of Dalek are problematic!

The gallery of alien exhibits was a fun poke at The X-Files and post WWII American neurosis. The inclusion of a Mark 5 Cyberman helmet was chilling - especially as the framing centred the Doctor's face within the reflected mask. In another saga that would be considered foreshadowing! I digress.

The revelation that the Doctor destroyed the Daleks and Time Lords, to end the Time War, delivered an emotional punch and dramatic gravitas (as did his duality). The torture scenes were unexpected and darkly unsettling.

The chase format and incidental scoring are becoming tiresome and the mutant reveal was awkward and unsatisfactory - why show it at all? Are the producers concerned that a Saturday evening audience lacks the requisite imagination/creative mind? If the producers desire clever homages they could have emulated the nightmarish voice treatments used in The Brain of Morbius or The Horror of Fang Rock. Am I being too fussy here?

Artistic choices aside. Dalek is a terrific yarn and all the better for the absence of Davros (increasingly unhinged during the '80s). The two-part season finale could be a corker if the writers avoid heavy continuity with the show's past. Don't bring back the Movellans (who defeated the Daleks) or Davros. Leave the Daleks to their independence under the auspices of the Dalek Supreme. Now wouldn't it be a cool twist if the Master returns or that Rose's compassion was pivotal to the Daleks victory in an altered timeline?

A word to Character Options. If you need anyone to review your 12" radio-controlled Dalek, please drop me a line!

The Mercedes-Benz of fighting games

On Friday I installed Xcode 1.5 (Apple's developer suite bundled with Mac OS X 10.3 Panther) and compiled a test build of MacMAME in parity with the PC version. This was my inaugural Xcode project and, invariably, one is liable to make mistakes. In my case I set the Build Style to Development as opposed to Deployment (has to be set manually). Development culminated in myriad files, but no end user application! A total of 4 hours downtime, but educational nonetheless. Although the majority of developers currently utilize CodeWarrior, Xcode is an investment-free alternative for Mac-based hobbyists.

The ongoing improvements in Sega emulation are tangible and Dead or Alive++ is virtually playable. It was a joy to play as Kasumi (my favorite character) and best my opponents with stunning visual results.



The Dead or Alive franchise is not merely eye candy. However, the casual viewer would be forgiven for thinking so. I've ordered Dead or Alive Ultimate (for XBOX) and will post my review soon.

By the Lords of Kobol!

The notion of Sky's re-imagined Battlestar Galactica was, initially, met with derision. Until I started watching S1 (currently airing in the UK ahead of its US debut) and was delighted to discover that the series owes more to the paranoia of the X-Files (Cylons replacing Colonials) and the Vietnam analogy Space: Above and Beyond than its namesake (not dismissing S1).

The Cylons are no longer a cyber-reptilian race (as described in the 1978 Grandreams annual), but are robotic slaves that rebelled and overthrew their human masters - now the Cylon war machine relentlessly pursues the embattled survivors across the galaxy (as in the original premise). The CGI is superlative for episodic television, and the dogfights ape the cinematography of Apocalypse Now (see also Star Wars: Attack of the Clones).

Not all is perfect in this brave new world. Human actors replacing the colourful Cylon variants of the original is too convenient and unimaginative. And the CGI Cylon Centurions are cumbersome a la the Sandtroopers in Star Wars: A New Hope (Special Edition and DVD release).

As I missed the mini-series* and opening episodes of S1, it remains to be seen if the Cylon Imperious Leader has transferred to the new format (albeit in a radically different guise, for example as a super computer along the lines of Skynet)!

*I may checkout the R1 DVD release and post a review in the future.