05 5 / 2013
Remember me? It’s been a while…
Can you believe that last year was the last time that I updated here? Well, the truth is, I have been super busy! Since we last spoke, Nintendo Feed has grown bigger than I could ever have imagined.
I’ve also taken up a number of positions for different publications and life has been moving quite fast infront of me. The sad thing is, I’ve abandoned this place. However, I’m back now and I promise to be a little more active…
31 12 / 2012
Where Would I be Without Skype?
This world is one in which we are always connected, an early example of this new technology was the telephone and later on, the mobile telephone. When Skype came about a few years back, things changed. Skype offered a new way to be connected with voice and video over the internet.
I found myself using Skype about 5 years ago, after a recommendation from a friend. Since then, most of my friends, colleagues and family have all joined Skype and I now question my need for a telephone.
Skype allows me to do a number of things, I can enjoy voice chatting with friends and even connecting through video with distant family members. But when I’m not doing any of that, I will constantly have the Skype IM window open, chatting with a number of people.
Skype has connected me in many ways that I didn’t think I could be connected. Where would I be without this wonderful piece of technology? Where would I be without Skype?
21 12 / 2012
Hands On With Windows 8
Like many other computer users, I was caught up in Microsoft’s very own operating system from a very young age. Windows has always been my familiar environment for computing and it has always remained at that…
I buy a new PC with a version of Windows pre-installed, and it is very unlikely that I would then upgrade my operating system until I buy a new system. Although, it was different with Windows 8. With the very affordable price point of Microsoft’s new operating system, I thought I might aswell give it a try!
Having bought the new operating system a couple of weeks ago, I have used the operating system on my primary machine since then. Throughout this time, I have incorporated the new operating system into my daily life.
Windows 8 has received alot of criticism for it’s lack of Start button. I admit, some of this criticism initially came from my end, but I now understand life without the Start button. Infact, I have come to wonder why I ever needed it in the first place.
It’s because of this lack of Start button that Windows 8 now feels clean, fresh and easier to use. Everything is operated using a series of tiles from your new home screen and whilst the desktop was once the home of Windows, I now barely ever use it.
Windows 8 clearly shows how touchscreen devices and Personal Computers are drawing closer together. The ability to use apps on Windows is rather quite interesting, but whilst it’s a nice feature, I will always end up straying back to the original applications.
In conclusion, to say that Windows 8 has changed my life would be a very big exaggeration, but it has increased my productivity and turned my computing experience into a much more luxurious affair. Windows 8 provides a very well needed shakeup for the Windows operating system and shows there is still life in Microsoft’s innovation.
20 12 / 2012
Beautifully Red CSS Template
A little while back, I began designing web templates. After spending a considerable amount of time playing around with both CSS and HTML, I decided to sit down and design my first actual CSS template.
After spending quite some time polishing this template, I have taken the decision to publish it for use. You download the template from my Dropbox and please do comment with your thoughts and questions.
Edit: Due to the popularity of my template, it is no longer available as a free download and will soon be available to purchase for a small price.
06 11 / 2012
Shiny New Domain
Great news! I have moved my blog to a shiny new domain! As this blog and it’s community have grown, I decided that now was the time to create a suitable home for my Blog and Portfolio.
The blog’s new domain is (www.squashie.me.uk), but the old Tumblr domain will still redirect. Happy reading folks!
24 10 / 2012
Farewell, Mighty Ceefax (1974-2012)
I grew up in an age of change, as far as Technology is concerned. In my lifetime, I have witnessed some of the biggest changes in Technology. But Ceefax was there from the very start…
I prominently remember Ceefax from my Childhood. But if you don’t know what it is, you can easily be forgiven. As BBC’s television text service has drastically fallen apart in past years, due to the dawn of the internet.
Ceefex, founded in 1974 was the BBC’s flagship teletext service and allowed users to browse a wide range of information, just as the internet allows us to do today. But late last night, the service switched off for good and Ceefax was no more.
As the last remaining Analogue service was turned off last night, Ceefax went graciously with it. Ceefax will always be a memorable part of my childhood, farewell Mighty Ceefax, you served us well!
25 9 / 2012
Hands On With Gnomoria (PC Download)
After playing Gnomoria, I have suddenly gained alot of respect for gnomes. I will be sure never to miss-treat them again, in fear of the little characters running off and starting a whole new life in the wilderness.
Gnomoria is all about helping these little fellers to get started and eventually build their master kingdom. It’s a pleasant strategy driven game that is much akin to the likes of TOWNS and Dwarf Fortress.
Gnomoria features the ability to craft, build and mine amongst other things. This all takes place on a randomly generated landscape. It’s very interesting stuff.
The game is currently only available in Alpha, but even at this stage, there is already alot of features in this game. And of course, it’s available at a discounted price because of it’s Alpha status.
The landscapes featured in Gnomoria are truly beautiful. They fit hand in hand with the block style graphics that are included here and can be spread across a range of different world sizes.
As with alot of Sandbox Village Management games, it all depends on the time you are willing to put into Gnomoria. If you are willing to spend hours, then you will be able to build a pretty awesome kingdom and fully utilize all the features.
A small problem is the lack of guided gameplay. The game doesn’t really include much in the way of tutorials or guides as of yet and the controls are currently a little awkward. But this is completely understandable considering the game is still in the Alpha stage of development.
Gnomoria is currently available for only £5.99 on Desura, and there is hope for a Steam release very soon. Gnomoria already has an awful lot of content, and that’s why I’d recommend picking this up today!
22 9 / 2012
The Poke recently remixed Nick Clegg’s (Liberal Democrats) apology over rising tuition fees. In the space of 24 hours, the Youtube video was a complete success.
Clegg himself gave the go-ahead for the song to be released on iTunes. The charity single is heading for Christmas Number One in the UK.
03 9 / 2012
The Nintendo Gamer Days (1992-2012)
Last week, some extremely upsetting news arose. Nintendo Gamer Magazine will close it’s doors in September 2012. Here is my tribute to the long standing publication…
Nintendo Gamer started out as Super Play Magazine to coincide with Nintendo’s Super console at the time. The magazine then evolved as with every new Nintendo system.
The Magazine evolved into N64 Magazine followed by NGC and was then transformed into N Gamer to coincide with the release of the Wii. Then finally, N Gamer became Nintendo Gamer for a short period before closure in September this year.
Issue 80 of Nintendo Gamer will go on sale on 6th September and will be the final commemorative issue of the Magazine.
For me, this is one of the saddest moments in Video Games history. I have been a reader of Nintendo Gamer a long time before it took up that name. Over many years, I have built up a large collection the magazines.
Whilst I have also been a reader of Official Nintendo Magazine since the start, I particularly like Nintendo Gamer for it’s independent reviews.
One of the most striking parts of Nintendo Gamer is it’s wild humor. For me, it’s the hilarious puns that make Nintendo Gamer the magazine it is.
Nintendo Gamer is made of a whole lot of good. In fact, the only bad thing about Nintendo Gamer is the fact that it has to come to an end.
Super Play, N64 Mag, NGC, NGamer and Nintendo Gamer you have changed alot of things. But the thing you have changed the most, is my life…
02 9 / 2012
Ubisoft 25th Anniversary Collection
Just the other day, I picked an awesome compilation of games from a local store. The Ubisoft Classic Collection, which celebrates 25 years of Ubisoft.
The awesome compilation includes 5 boxed discs containing five of Ubisoft’s most iconic games spanning over their 25 year history. The set includes…
- Assasin’s Creed (The Original)
- Beyond Good and Evil
- Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
- Rayman 3 Hoodlum Havoc
- Far Cry
That’s quite an impressive set of games and I managed to pick the lot up for only £7 from my local Morrisons store! I really do recommend it, even if you aren’t a fan of the big U.
