Jon Favreau moves from directing huge Hollywood blockbusters like Ironman and Cowboys Vs Aliens, back to his roots of independent cinema and boy does he do it well!
Chef focuses on Carl Casper and his trials as a father, chef and ex-husband. For such an "independent" film it does contain some of Hollywood's biggest names. His 2nd in command and friend is John Leguizamo, the ex boss is Dustin Hoffman and the Critic that drives Casper to follow his heart is Oliver Platt.
No one is out of place and everyone is perfect for their roles. Dustin Hoffman is the ideal choice for a set in his ways business man, who wants to have a great chef, but is keen to stick to what his restaurant knows.
Oliver Platt is a superb tech-savy reviewer to Jon Favreau's superb chef, inept social media user. This plays so nicely with his son helping him find his place and how it can develop his cooking outside of the restaurant.
Emjay Anthony plays the son whose devotion to his father is beautiful to watch. It is a touching story of a fathers struggle to be what his son wants and needs. It is the self discovery as a father who thinks he is not enough to realising that just being himself is all that is needed and that he can have a unique and perfect relationship with his son.
The story plays through Caspers life in the restaurant to owning his own pop up food van and how he can be all that he wants with his family and friends and not just what he thinks of as a chef or father.
It is a fantastic film that is currently on Netflix (UK) and one that everyone should watch. It is a fun 2 hours and well written, acted and directed.
It is a film you might have missed as it was not a huge release (like Iron Man) but it lets Favreau return to his perfect environment for making films (like Swingers) that is quirky, personal and just down right enjoyable.
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Monday, November 30, 2015
The Angriest man in Brooklyn - Film Review
This 2014 film is almost prophetic. It looks into the life of Henry Altman, played by Robin Williams. This film was one of the last that Williams would make, and becomes more poignant because of that. Unlike the last performance of Heath Ledger as the joker (this film is no Dark Knight), Robin Williams takes the normal over the top comedy persona and transforms him into an angry, bitter and tormented character who has forgotten how to be happy. It is a short drive through human error and personal realisation that culminates in a touching end to the film.
While the film only scores 10% on Rotten Tomatoes I found this 83min film oddly charming. It misses some of the themes it tries to hit, but not by too much. If you are a less critical film viewer the film is enjoyable.
It has a pretty stellar cast with a few enjoyable cameos, and while there are arguably many flaws to the film, it is short enough to forgive them. The film touches on themes we can all relate to, even if some of the themes are not addressed as well as they could have been. The biggest mistake is trying to play the last 90 minutes of the characters life in semi real time. From the little I know of New York and Brooklyn, far too much happens or at least the journey the characters take would be unrealistic with the confines of the time frame we are given to believe is unfolding before our eyes.
It does however provide a few genuinely funny moments, with some very old jokes. A cameo from James Earl Jones as a shop keeper with a stutter was to me funny on a few levels. Not only because of the (almost) tired written jokes that they are using, but the fact James Earl Jones has such a strong, recognisable voice. Darth Vader, Mufasa and many more (little trivia from this is James Earl Jones and director Phil Alden Robinson worked together on Sneakers).
Peter Dinklage as Robin Williams' brother is amazing, this actor is even, in bad films a shining light of awesome.
Louis C.K. is in this fleetingly and while I had trouble believing he and Mila Kunis could be together, the fact his only scene is a sex scene, made it all the more funny. To give Mila Kunis her credit as an actress, in that scene she plays so well the look of someone enjoying the activities to disappointment and dejection.
The main down side is the, what appears to be, amateur use of green screen effects. The scene that is shot on green screen would have been a logistical nightmare to try to practically do, I get that. However it stands out like a sore thumb. I think they could have achieved the same results maybe shooting different scenes or in other locations but the fact they went with this option is a shame. It looks like it was thrown in at the last minute and heavily detracts from the rest of the movie.
Overall this was a reasonable film that meets its expectations, as long as your expectations are not too high and you don't ask too much of it. It is funny in places and has a genuine message hidden inside it somewhere. The idea of not putting off your life till tomorrow and accepting each other, and more importantly your family is more important than you realise. It's never too late to rekindle lost connections, however angry they make you.
While the film only scores 10% on Rotten Tomatoes I found this 83min film oddly charming. It misses some of the themes it tries to hit, but not by too much. If you are a less critical film viewer the film is enjoyable.
It has a pretty stellar cast with a few enjoyable cameos, and while there are arguably many flaws to the film, it is short enough to forgive them. The film touches on themes we can all relate to, even if some of the themes are not addressed as well as they could have been. The biggest mistake is trying to play the last 90 minutes of the characters life in semi real time. From the little I know of New York and Brooklyn, far too much happens or at least the journey the characters take would be unrealistic with the confines of the time frame we are given to believe is unfolding before our eyes.
It does however provide a few genuinely funny moments, with some very old jokes. A cameo from James Earl Jones as a shop keeper with a stutter was to me funny on a few levels. Not only because of the (almost) tired written jokes that they are using, but the fact James Earl Jones has such a strong, recognisable voice. Darth Vader, Mufasa and many more (little trivia from this is James Earl Jones and director Phil Alden Robinson worked together on Sneakers).
Peter Dinklage as Robin Williams' brother is amazing, this actor is even, in bad films a shining light of awesome.
Louis C.K. is in this fleetingly and while I had trouble believing he and Mila Kunis could be together, the fact his only scene is a sex scene, made it all the more funny. To give Mila Kunis her credit as an actress, in that scene she plays so well the look of someone enjoying the activities to disappointment and dejection.
The main down side is the, what appears to be, amateur use of green screen effects. The scene that is shot on green screen would have been a logistical nightmare to try to practically do, I get that. However it stands out like a sore thumb. I think they could have achieved the same results maybe shooting different scenes or in other locations but the fact they went with this option is a shame. It looks like it was thrown in at the last minute and heavily detracts from the rest of the movie.
Overall this was a reasonable film that meets its expectations, as long as your expectations are not too high and you don't ask too much of it. It is funny in places and has a genuine message hidden inside it somewhere. The idea of not putting off your life till tomorrow and accepting each other, and more importantly your family is more important than you realise. It's never too late to rekindle lost connections, however angry they make you.
Thursday, November 19, 2015
Tropico 4 - PC - Game Review
A couple of years ago I left the world of PC gaming and really hit console gaming, and played my Xbox360 with a group of mates online pretty much everyday. It was the time Call of Duty 4 caught the online gamers market and we progressed together into Modern Warfare 2. The hours we put into that game were crazy, and there are many videos of me and others playing. (This being my favourite.)
Some of the guys were great at this online play. I was not one of them! I enjoyed playing, the friendly banter but generally sucked myself at the actual game.
My life has changed, and I play on the console a lot less than I did. I now have a child (not a complaint I promise) which limits the time during the day I have to spend on this sort of thing, and also I no longer stay up till 1 or 2 in the morning playing, only to get up at 6 to go to work and still function. That would not happen. 10 is a late night now!
All that being said, I have mentioned in a previous review how I can use my laptop to game while relaxing with my wife in the evening, watching TV and drinking tea (but not too late or I will be up at 3am to use the toilet).
One of the games in my rotation of PC playing now is Tropico 4. I bought this game as part of a Steam sale (dangerous times of the year!) in about 2013 if my achievements are anything to go by. I played it for a few hours back then, but it slipped of my radar for something else. I decided to give it another chance and I am so glad I did. This game is brilliant.
If you are buying it on Steam today it will cost you £14.99 however for £29.99 you can get the Collectors bundle which includes a boat load of DLC. If you are in no rush, and frankly if you are reading this and have waited that long for a new game, a Steam sale is just around the corner (at the time of writing Christmas is just 35 days away, which usually means a sale of epic proportions) and I would see if it hits the sale before spending £30 on the game. Granted it is worth that much, but if you can get it cheaper why wouldn't you?
So when I first played I think I just did some sandbox level and didn't really get how to play or what it was about, but this time I am attacking the missions and love it. You have a specific challenge to beat and it is a great way to progress your skill in the game and what to do.
So what is Tropico 4?
Tropico 4 is a top(ish) down land management simulation, where you manage the buildings and production on an island. It is similar to SimCity (which is how I found the game). You can choose to be a tourist trap, industrial powerhouse or maybe mine and produce resources for export. Ultimately you end up doing a combination of all 3 to maximise your income streams but some play the game as an extra challenge focussing only one one facet of you as a person/dictator.
You issue edicts and these can be to help the island (social security/free housing) or be a way to subvert the masses (bribe faction leader). Through all this you are also balancing the islands factions needs (religious/environmentalists) with the global factors of the USSR, USA and to a lesser extent Europe, China and the Middle East.
It is great fun to choose a path (mine nearly always ignores the environmentalists and religious) but this can cause problems as strong decent will cause rebels and protests against you and the government. It then comes to election day and you choose to make a speech, or not and even if there are going to be elections. Are they fair elections or do you rig the vote? It has many great twists that you have to consider when running a small island nation.
There are also in built problems you can't avoid (earthquakes, volcanos, oil spills) and you then have to try to manage the clean up. If they happen at the start of a game your funds are low, meaning clean up can take longer hitting you in the wallet.
After a while the missions can feel a little repetitive as you essentially start on a small map with the same few starting features and follow the story from there. Some missions require you be pro environmental, or pro religious and you follow that path to conclusion, some focus on tourism or industry, and while this is part of the problem of it feeling repetitive actually that is why you become a better player in the long run.
If I was to now go back to a standard sandbox map, I would have more confidence in certain areas. I would try to work with every area I had to make money. Divide up my island into tourist traps and industrial pollution zones.
It's also worth mentioning that you have to worry about traffic and where to place your garages in Tropico 4. If things get busy on the roads the transportation of raw materials and goods can take a while to get about and again impact your wallet. (It's not just garages, its construction offices and teamsters offices).
With the DLC I have more story modes I have not touched yet (I want to do the main campaign first) but they also offer other options. In the main game the highest export I can produce is fine jewelry, however in one of the other DLC's I could make cars. This has a much higher export value, but I expect you have to mine more things and may have other things you needed to compete one unit for export (at a greater cost).
So should you buy Tropico 4, well, I think so because I did. It's fun and if you are into "god-like" strategy games (Age of Empires, Civilization etc) then this game fits nicely into that genre of strategy type game. If you never liked SimCity, then stay away this game is not for you. I will keep playing this (along with Prison Architect) and build my islands (or prisons) and love every minute of it.
On the flip side to all this you can also now get Tropico 5 (hence why this review site is called I guess I missed that). Although there are many people that prefer 4 as by all accounts 5 was rushed a little to market, fixing some problems but causing others.
So in short, check this game out it's worth it, especially if you get it cheaply on Steam then it's worth the punt even if you never liked this sort of game before.
Thursday, November 12, 2015
Attack the Block - Film Review
This film is now on Amazon Prime (in the UK) and I had heard about it when it was first made, but never really thought about watching it.
It was pointed out that the main actor (John Boyega) in Attack the Block is going to be in the new Star Wars, so I thought now is the time to watch it and see if the good things I had heard were really true.
The film is written and directed by Joe Cornish who I had known in the 90's for his alternative comedy as part of the Adam and Joe show. It was a great TV show, but definitely of its time.
Looking at his history now and before Attack the Block, he had only done TV and since then, he has not worked on all that much, writing credits for The Adventures of Tintin and Ant-man (4 year gap between the two) are all he appears to have done. This for me is a shame!
I liked Tintin (but haven't seen Ant-man) however I loved Attack the Block.
This is a very good thriller/horror monster movie. It takes a very British sense of humour and film making and looks at the classic troupes for a monster movie and uses them perfectly to create a tense thriller.
The main protagonists are set up to be unlikable characters, who victimise a young lady in the first few minutes of the film. Their paths cross again and go along way to create more conflict but offer both parties a chance at redemption.
The film takes the traditional cliche of characters and uses them to its full advantage, giving the characters a chance to actually feel more real than most major film releases. Listening to interviews of the cast on Youtube afterwards, the kids sound very similar to the characters they play with their accents and speech patterns (not quite as emphasised, but still there) However the leading lady appears quite posh and very English when in actuality the actress Jodie Whittaker is as Yorkshire as you like.
The tension through the whole film is fantastic and takes you on a very claustrophobic journey through the council estate in London, as the characters try to defend and escape the incoming invasion.
Joe Cornish has said in many interviews how he wanted the alien effects to be practical and not just CGI, and they are (although they are enhanced afterwards) the actors talk about being chased by the physical alien (a man in a costume) and getting scared. It does feel a little like a UK version of Aliens. The fact the sets and monsters appear touchable and real gives the film a genuine tension rather than thinking oh this is all just green screen effects.
The characters fight more than just the aliens with other smaller parts playing to cause the lead roles trouble. It is a well thought out and well crafted film.
For fans of the horror/thriller/alien genre films this is a must watch. It is not too long, and keeps the suspense going from start to finish as the film does not get bloated with unnecessary plot devices. Everything that is there is there for a reason and a well thought out one too. Even the IMDB strap line is short and sweet "A teen gang in South London defend their block from an alien invasion."
If you have not seen this film yet, watch it now. You will not regret it. It is funny, slick, tense and just a great 90 minute film that keeps you entertained from the moment you start till the moment the credits roll.
It was pointed out that the main actor (John Boyega) in Attack the Block is going to be in the new Star Wars, so I thought now is the time to watch it and see if the good things I had heard were really true.
The film is written and directed by Joe Cornish who I had known in the 90's for his alternative comedy as part of the Adam and Joe show. It was a great TV show, but definitely of its time.
Looking at his history now and before Attack the Block, he had only done TV and since then, he has not worked on all that much, writing credits for The Adventures of Tintin and Ant-man (4 year gap between the two) are all he appears to have done. This for me is a shame!
I liked Tintin (but haven't seen Ant-man) however I loved Attack the Block.
This is a very good thriller/horror monster movie. It takes a very British sense of humour and film making and looks at the classic troupes for a monster movie and uses them perfectly to create a tense thriller.
The main protagonists are set up to be unlikable characters, who victimise a young lady in the first few minutes of the film. Their paths cross again and go along way to create more conflict but offer both parties a chance at redemption.
The film takes the traditional cliche of characters and uses them to its full advantage, giving the characters a chance to actually feel more real than most major film releases. Listening to interviews of the cast on Youtube afterwards, the kids sound very similar to the characters they play with their accents and speech patterns (not quite as emphasised, but still there) However the leading lady appears quite posh and very English when in actuality the actress Jodie Whittaker is as Yorkshire as you like.
The tension through the whole film is fantastic and takes you on a very claustrophobic journey through the council estate in London, as the characters try to defend and escape the incoming invasion.
Joe Cornish has said in many interviews how he wanted the alien effects to be practical and not just CGI, and they are (although they are enhanced afterwards) the actors talk about being chased by the physical alien (a man in a costume) and getting scared. It does feel a little like a UK version of Aliens. The fact the sets and monsters appear touchable and real gives the film a genuine tension rather than thinking oh this is all just green screen effects.
The characters fight more than just the aliens with other smaller parts playing to cause the lead roles trouble. It is a well thought out and well crafted film.
For fans of the horror/thriller/alien genre films this is a must watch. It is not too long, and keeps the suspense going from start to finish as the film does not get bloated with unnecessary plot devices. Everything that is there is there for a reason and a well thought out one too. Even the IMDB strap line is short and sweet "A teen gang in South London defend their block from an alien invasion."
If you have not seen this film yet, watch it now. You will not regret it. It is funny, slick, tense and just a great 90 minute film that keeps you entertained from the moment you start till the moment the credits roll.
Friday, October 02, 2015
Interstellar - Film Review
So Interstellar has polarised opinion.
We all know Christopher Nolan is a great director. Some think he dropped the ball this time.
Well, I am going to start by laying my cards on the table straight away. I really liked it. I thought for all its flaws (some of the dialog is mixed badly and is hard to hear) it was a really enjoyable film.
It is a clever idea and one that works nicely to take you through a very enjoyable story.
Like with most films you have to suspend disbelief and some parts you have to let go more than you would normally do for a science fiction film, but for me they did not ruin the film, I just let them wash over me as minor holes in the overall story. One of the big ones people bring up is about how Matthew McConaughey gets involved with the program in the first place (I am trying to avoid spoilers for those who have not yet seen it, all 5 of you). To me this gripe of some, is almost quite a clever look into the eternal chicken and egg question. How can one event influence another situation when it first needs that event to have already happened.
Visually this film, like all of Nolan's work is stunning. The imagining of space, black holes and worm holes is clever, beautiful and if you look around YouTube to some respected scientists, actually pretty accurate.
The use of time and gravity in the film are cleverly played out, making quite a tough concept for people like me, understand some of physics and the laws that it works to.
It is a well crafted film, with some good performances. It has a few moments that are weaker that you would expect from the actors involved, and some of the questions raised by the films own internal logic are questionable but again I suspend my disbelief and look at it with a little less cynicism. I think it tries to show that even great men and women can have internal struggles and wrestle with their own position and ethics. While it may not achieve this in the best way possible, and for some kills what the film was trying to set up in the first place, I try to look past that again put it into the context of the film in general.
I admire Christopher Nolan as a director and love his work, I admire what he tries to do for a film even if I don't always enjoy it. I am one of the few people that did not love Memento when it came out. I may even need to re-watch it to see if I was overly harsh first time around. I did like the concept back then, but found it frustrating to watch, essentially seeing the same scene over and over again, adding a little and losing a little each time. It was clever. I am not disputing that, but did not engage me as a viewer.
Interstellar engaged me as a viewer despite having its own internal issues for either plot or character development.
Most people agree now that Christopher Nolan makes a good film and this blip for some will not stop them going to see his next film, which to me is a good thing. There are few directors today that get to do their own unique take on life, the universe and everything. Whether the attempt is good or bad, until the overwhelming majority of a directors work is bad, I think they should be given the artistic control to try. People like Nolan, Burton and Depp have great and bad work, but you would hope they keep pushing to make great films again.
As a closing thought I would suggest that you watch Interstellar with an open mind, and see it for what it is. The attempt it makes and what I think it does achieve as an enjoyable film. You may want to write it off and that is fine too. Ignore it and wait for the next Christoper Nolan film to see if it is as grand in scale as his past work like this and Inception. It would be a shame to see him neutered for trying to be creative.
We all know Christopher Nolan is a great director. Some think he dropped the ball this time.
Well, I am going to start by laying my cards on the table straight away. I really liked it. I thought for all its flaws (some of the dialog is mixed badly and is hard to hear) it was a really enjoyable film.
It is a clever idea and one that works nicely to take you through a very enjoyable story.
Like with most films you have to suspend disbelief and some parts you have to let go more than you would normally do for a science fiction film, but for me they did not ruin the film, I just let them wash over me as minor holes in the overall story. One of the big ones people bring up is about how Matthew McConaughey gets involved with the program in the first place (I am trying to avoid spoilers for those who have not yet seen it, all 5 of you). To me this gripe of some, is almost quite a clever look into the eternal chicken and egg question. How can one event influence another situation when it first needs that event to have already happened.
Visually this film, like all of Nolan's work is stunning. The imagining of space, black holes and worm holes is clever, beautiful and if you look around YouTube to some respected scientists, actually pretty accurate.
The use of time and gravity in the film are cleverly played out, making quite a tough concept for people like me, understand some of physics and the laws that it works to.
It is a well crafted film, with some good performances. It has a few moments that are weaker that you would expect from the actors involved, and some of the questions raised by the films own internal logic are questionable but again I suspend my disbelief and look at it with a little less cynicism. I think it tries to show that even great men and women can have internal struggles and wrestle with their own position and ethics. While it may not achieve this in the best way possible, and for some kills what the film was trying to set up in the first place, I try to look past that again put it into the context of the film in general.
I admire Christopher Nolan as a director and love his work, I admire what he tries to do for a film even if I don't always enjoy it. I am one of the few people that did not love Memento when it came out. I may even need to re-watch it to see if I was overly harsh first time around. I did like the concept back then, but found it frustrating to watch, essentially seeing the same scene over and over again, adding a little and losing a little each time. It was clever. I am not disputing that, but did not engage me as a viewer.
Interstellar engaged me as a viewer despite having its own internal issues for either plot or character development.
Most people agree now that Christopher Nolan makes a good film and this blip for some will not stop them going to see his next film, which to me is a good thing. There are few directors today that get to do their own unique take on life, the universe and everything. Whether the attempt is good or bad, until the overwhelming majority of a directors work is bad, I think they should be given the artistic control to try. People like Nolan, Burton and Depp have great and bad work, but you would hope they keep pushing to make great films again.
As a closing thought I would suggest that you watch Interstellar with an open mind, and see it for what it is. The attempt it makes and what I think it does achieve as an enjoyable film. You may want to write it off and that is fine too. Ignore it and wait for the next Christoper Nolan film to see if it is as grand in scale as his past work like this and Inception. It would be a shame to see him neutered for trying to be creative.
Monday, September 28, 2015
Prison Architect - PC - Game Review
This wonderful game has been in development for a good few years. The first Alpha video and blog was the 26th Sept 2012 and I interviewed the guys at Eurogamer expo back in 2012 as well. (The last year I got to go before being a dad!) iTunes Feed
So after all that time and according to Steam the 82 hours I have been able to put into it, it is going from Alpha to Version 1 release.
If you have not had a go with it yet, do not be daunted there is something for you!
Let me explain, as best I can a little about the concept. It's a top down simulation of running a prison. You have to build from a small budget (starting games it's $30,000) a prison that reforms its in mates, and also makes money. To start with the $30,000 is small but you can apply for grants from the government and get an advance of cash to help which then you use to complete the item and get the rest of the cash.
So one of the first grants requires you to build a small holding cell, canteen, kitchen and this pays out a fee. You can then expand on this with Cell block A, 25 cells then more and more. Offering other programs and situations (the food grant and education reform program I have never quite finished).
Once you have had enough of that first prison, don't worry you can sell that and get a lump sum (depending on how lucrative the prison is) to start your next one, your next idea can be bigger and more adventurous and has a sense of wonder to it. Here is where they hook you, now you have more freedom, I can get to this stage quicker, worry less about can I afford something.
The Steam community also has some truly fabulous examples of love and attention spent on prisons that you can download and play through and learn from. I am still struggling to make a prison profitable over time.
I am also not great at precision layouts as you can see (if you have the game) with this prision.
It was my first attempt using the gangs option. So far it was not the gangs causing me problems!! It's my own mismanagement of funds and resources.
One of my first prisons took the idea of making each cell a self contained prison, I may revisit this one day as the game has evolved since I tried this. There is now a prison cell quality gauge and reward scheme for those prisoners that deserve a TV or a book shelf, maybe a window.
The game has evolved from having only a few features, to an in depth look at micromanagement and all the things you can do with it. The number of rooms has increased, you can now have not just a holding cell but a reception for the new intake of prisoners. A spiritual room, a shop to spend their money. The prisoners can trade contraband, which you can track through confidential informants. Guard rotations and happiness plays into this as well, the game is huge if you want it to be. You can also, like myself play at a slightly lower level of setting deployment but not worrying about the schedules of those deployments.
There have been so many revisions, fixes and ideas brought to the game that the only real way to keep up is follow the (now complete) Alpha video series on youtube. They are funny, often heart-warming commissaries from the developers about the development of the game. You can tell they have fun working on this game together. You can tell that they love what they do. It's a strange feeling of getting to know someone through their work (like you would an actor). You think you know Tom Cruise because you have seen his films and interviews, who he really is maybe a complete mystery to you actually, but there is a space in your heart for him. It's the same with these guys, I have no idea how big or small Introversion is as a real company, they seem like they should be massive, but I also know that they are probably Chris, Mark and a handful of other friends making a great game possible.
I used to write and podcast for Sweetffa.com and was lucky enough to get the press passes for a few Eurogamer Expos shows and get a few free demo codes for games. I never realised I could for Prison Architect, but I am gald I payed for it (OK when it was on offer in a Steam sale, but still!). I was given at the same show a copy of Tiny Troopers which is a great game but Steam has me playing it for 4 minutes.
My regular Steam list of games reads like this:
Age of Empires 2 - 7 hours
Banished - 22 hours
Football Manager 2012 - 1232 hours
Game Dev Tycoon - 16 hours
Papers Please - 52 minutes
Prison Architect - 82 hours
Tropico 4 - 16 hours
Uplink - 29 minutes
OK so PA does not quite hit Football Manager levels of addiction, but it is 2nd in my list.
My excuse is FM2012 has been played on my laptop on the arm of the sofa while watching TV, it's harder to do that with Prison Architect (but it can be done!)
This game has evolved but always within the framework of a sandbox game, however for version 1 the sandbox could be quite daunting (even with the first mission you get when you first get the game). So how have they fixed this? Well there is now a fully developed story, broken in to 5 parts that get harder as you progress. I am guessing that they are like Tropico 4 in terms of scenario based problems within a constructed environment. You don't have to build from scratch you play that problem of a prison prone to riots to its logical conclusion of either watching the place burn, or making it a happy place of reform and repentance.
There is also an escape mode, a flip on the game where you take your prisoner and try to escape any number of prisons that can be found on the web. (I am really looking forward to this.)
Once October the 6th has passed and the game is launched I will update you on the new features. I might really try to start recording videos as well.
Until then, all I can say is this game is worth the investment, it is fun, addictive and a genuine product of people who love what they do and love gaming.
So after all that time and according to Steam the 82 hours I have been able to put into it, it is going from Alpha to Version 1 release.
If you have not had a go with it yet, do not be daunted there is something for you!
Let me explain, as best I can a little about the concept. It's a top down simulation of running a prison. You have to build from a small budget (starting games it's $30,000) a prison that reforms its in mates, and also makes money. To start with the $30,000 is small but you can apply for grants from the government and get an advance of cash to help which then you use to complete the item and get the rest of the cash.
So one of the first grants requires you to build a small holding cell, canteen, kitchen and this pays out a fee. You can then expand on this with Cell block A, 25 cells then more and more. Offering other programs and situations (the food grant and education reform program I have never quite finished).
Once you have had enough of that first prison, don't worry you can sell that and get a lump sum (depending on how lucrative the prison is) to start your next one, your next idea can be bigger and more adventurous and has a sense of wonder to it. Here is where they hook you, now you have more freedom, I can get to this stage quicker, worry less about can I afford something.
The Steam community also has some truly fabulous examples of love and attention spent on prisons that you can download and play through and learn from. I am still struggling to make a prison profitable over time.
I am also not great at precision layouts as you can see (if you have the game) with this prision.
It was my first attempt using the gangs option. So far it was not the gangs causing me problems!! It's my own mismanagement of funds and resources.
One of my first prisons took the idea of making each cell a self contained prison, I may revisit this one day as the game has evolved since I tried this. There is now a prison cell quality gauge and reward scheme for those prisoners that deserve a TV or a book shelf, maybe a window.
The game has evolved from having only a few features, to an in depth look at micromanagement and all the things you can do with it. The number of rooms has increased, you can now have not just a holding cell but a reception for the new intake of prisoners. A spiritual room, a shop to spend their money. The prisoners can trade contraband, which you can track through confidential informants. Guard rotations and happiness plays into this as well, the game is huge if you want it to be. You can also, like myself play at a slightly lower level of setting deployment but not worrying about the schedules of those deployments.
There have been so many revisions, fixes and ideas brought to the game that the only real way to keep up is follow the (now complete) Alpha video series on youtube. They are funny, often heart-warming commissaries from the developers about the development of the game. You can tell they have fun working on this game together. You can tell that they love what they do. It's a strange feeling of getting to know someone through their work (like you would an actor). You think you know Tom Cruise because you have seen his films and interviews, who he really is maybe a complete mystery to you actually, but there is a space in your heart for him. It's the same with these guys, I have no idea how big or small Introversion is as a real company, they seem like they should be massive, but I also know that they are probably Chris, Mark and a handful of other friends making a great game possible.
I used to write and podcast for Sweetffa.com and was lucky enough to get the press passes for a few Eurogamer Expos shows and get a few free demo codes for games. I never realised I could for Prison Architect, but I am gald I payed for it (OK when it was on offer in a Steam sale, but still!). I was given at the same show a copy of Tiny Troopers which is a great game but Steam has me playing it for 4 minutes.
My regular Steam list of games reads like this:
Age of Empires 2 - 7 hours
Banished - 22 hours
Football Manager 2012 - 1232 hours
Game Dev Tycoon - 16 hours
Papers Please - 52 minutes
Prison Architect - 82 hours
Tropico 4 - 16 hours
Uplink - 29 minutes
OK so PA does not quite hit Football Manager levels of addiction, but it is 2nd in my list.
My excuse is FM2012 has been played on my laptop on the arm of the sofa while watching TV, it's harder to do that with Prison Architect (but it can be done!)
This game has evolved but always within the framework of a sandbox game, however for version 1 the sandbox could be quite daunting (even with the first mission you get when you first get the game). So how have they fixed this? Well there is now a fully developed story, broken in to 5 parts that get harder as you progress. I am guessing that they are like Tropico 4 in terms of scenario based problems within a constructed environment. You don't have to build from scratch you play that problem of a prison prone to riots to its logical conclusion of either watching the place burn, or making it a happy place of reform and repentance.
There is also an escape mode, a flip on the game where you take your prisoner and try to escape any number of prisons that can be found on the web. (I am really looking forward to this.)
Once October the 6th has passed and the game is launched I will update you on the new features. I might really try to start recording videos as well.
Until then, all I can say is this game is worth the investment, it is fun, addictive and a genuine product of people who love what they do and love gaming.
Monday, July 20, 2015
The Kingsman - Film Review
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2802144/
So at the weekend I got round to watching the 2014 Matthew Vaughn film Kingsman: The Secret Service.
I had heard good things, and I do like Vaughn's' films, but does hype always carry through? Well in this case it's a big YES.
It is a strong story in the vein of classic Bond-esque spy thriller, however it knows just what it is doing and references it's history. As they say "this is not one of those films".
I don't want to spoil the story, I liked going into it knowing it had a good reputation, but not knowing what it was really about, and if you are reading this then and don't know much try to keep it that way. It made the film better. Hype serves a purpose in this digital age, but actually it can give away too much in trying to get you interested.
I will say it has a very strong cast, with some fantastic performances from Colin Firth, Mark Strong and Jack Davenport. Mark Hamill is in it, and my wife would not believe it was him! However the stand out for me was the new lead man Taron Egerton. He was perfect for this and I want to see more. I could watch this film again and again, and see new parts every time.
It is a far fetched (based on a comic book) story that has you gripped and engaged and laughing and crying for each character as the film plays out a classic spy film with just a touch more violence. I guess it is Kick-Ass meets James Bond, which is unsurprising as Vaughn did Kick-Ass and handled that comic transition really well.
The action sequences are like watching a violent ballet, beautifully shot, slick, fluid and enthralling. They are handled with precision and while they don't feel like a real fight such as maybe Paul Greengrass might do, they feel like a perfect over the top spy action adventure that keeps the audience wanting to stay on the roller coaster. The nice thing though is some films like this feel like they are just leading you from one action sequence to the next with "acting" being an aside to the next fight. This is not the case for Kingsman. It has a story that is fun, silly but with heart that has you feeling for each character, almost at times empathising with Samuel L. Jacksons brilliant bad guy.
In conclusion, this film is worth a watch. It is funny, it has heart and is just right for every spy film fan out there.
So at the weekend I got round to watching the 2014 Matthew Vaughn film Kingsman: The Secret Service.
I had heard good things, and I do like Vaughn's' films, but does hype always carry through? Well in this case it's a big YES.
It is a strong story in the vein of classic Bond-esque spy thriller, however it knows just what it is doing and references it's history. As they say "this is not one of those films".
I don't want to spoil the story, I liked going into it knowing it had a good reputation, but not knowing what it was really about, and if you are reading this then and don't know much try to keep it that way. It made the film better. Hype serves a purpose in this digital age, but actually it can give away too much in trying to get you interested.
I will say it has a very strong cast, with some fantastic performances from Colin Firth, Mark Strong and Jack Davenport. Mark Hamill is in it, and my wife would not believe it was him! However the stand out for me was the new lead man Taron Egerton. He was perfect for this and I want to see more. I could watch this film again and again, and see new parts every time.
It is a far fetched (based on a comic book) story that has you gripped and engaged and laughing and crying for each character as the film plays out a classic spy film with just a touch more violence. I guess it is Kick-Ass meets James Bond, which is unsurprising as Vaughn did Kick-Ass and handled that comic transition really well.
The action sequences are like watching a violent ballet, beautifully shot, slick, fluid and enthralling. They are handled with precision and while they don't feel like a real fight such as maybe Paul Greengrass might do, they feel like a perfect over the top spy action adventure that keeps the audience wanting to stay on the roller coaster. The nice thing though is some films like this feel like they are just leading you from one action sequence to the next with "acting" being an aside to the next fight. This is not the case for Kingsman. It has a story that is fun, silly but with heart that has you feeling for each character, almost at times empathising with Samuel L. Jacksons brilliant bad guy.
In conclusion, this film is worth a watch. It is funny, it has heart and is just right for every spy film fan out there.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)