I think Ghost of Yōtei might very well be the prettiest game I’ve ever played. It’s got some styyyyle as well.

Stuff This Week #61

A Bank Holiday weekend this week meaning I had this Monday off. Another week that was a bit of a blur to be honest as work just will. Not. Stop.

Review : Mafia : The Old Country

Ah, I love the Mafia games. I have a long history with the mafia franchise and it’s truly one of my favourite things. What a great concept for games!

You don’t actually get that many gritty, historic gangster games vs your typical gruff soldier dudes and fantasy tropes. I think that was a big part of what interested me as a young 20-something when the first Mafia game was released on PC. I loved how grounded it felt.

These games are known for their detailed historical settings. Grand cutscenes and plots, with realistic gunplay and driving elements on top.

Of course, comparisons to the Grand Theft Auto series were bound to happen. But with its focus on realism, and the fact that whilst the games are staged in an explorable city, it wasn’t really an open world in the way GTA is, they’re really very different things. These are focused. Considered experiences.

25 years later, the series continues, having changed both publishers and developers over the years.

I got these adorable metal coasters and tin via the My Nintendo Rewards scheme themed off the coffee shop from the game Animal Crossing. I really love the style of them. Very cute addition to my desk.

Stuff This Week #57

A week of preparation and tasks, ahead of some well deserved time off.

You see some odd stuff doing paper-rounds

🇵🇹 My eldest just got back yesterday from a week in Portugal with his girlfriend. They had a wonderful time. He’s been doing some posts about what he got up to and some great photos. My son had a sleepover on Friday as well, so we have had another preview of being empty nesters in a few years. We filled in for my son’s paper-round on Saturday. Something I actually quite enjoy doing with my wife! It’s a pleasant walk around town. 🤣

Stuff This Week #55

Welcome to another week where the heat is on! Man it’s been a scorcher in the UK this week.

The photo on the screen shows a beach scene with several people along the shoreline. The sandy beach occupies the bottom part of the image, transitioning to the gentle waves of the sea that stretch towards the horizon. The sky is overcast, giving the scene a soft, muted light. Some individuals are closer to the water, possibly playing or observing the waves, while others are walking along the edge. The beach appears calm and peaceful.

We went to West Bay last weekend, which is a lovely part of Dorset. Just a beach, a few shops and some cute wooden food stalls selling chips. Everything you need.

The photo on the screen shows a smiling couple posing for a selfie outdoors. The man has a grey beard, is wearing dark sunglasses, and a black shirt. The woman has curly grey hair, is wearing glasses, and has a purple jacket. They appear to be at a beach, as the background shows sandy terrain and a cloudy sky.

🥵 Our office at work is so hot we’ve got 4 fans deployed at every window we can open. We just about get by until the afternoon when the sun shifts and we are roasting. Yesterday I unboxed another fan, built it and literally shoved it right next to my face for a couple of hours before I went home.

👨‍💻 I won’t keep moaning about work in these posts but it’s still a struggle with a lot going on and not enough resource to dint it properly. I have weeks of troubleshooting ahead of me on some pretty big technical issues (From waaaay before my time) to look at. Working for tech in health is a different sort of approach than when I did networking for private sector. The biggest loss back then you could cause was money. Now it’s peoples health and the brilliant people who give that cares ability to help people. For all my bellyaching, It’s a privilege to do this role, troubles and all.

I said to my wife (Who is a Nurse in the NHS) that there is “problems on top of problems, but I’m feeling strangely positive”. My wife says I’ve turned a corner and now I truly know what it’s like to work for the NHS 🤣

I have some ideas on how to change and improve things that I think I’m thinking about getting a bit more vocal about and start trying to put in front of the people that can change things.

🪻Our garden lavender has literally exploded and we must have evey bee in a 5 mile radius hanging out at our house. we’ve tried to tie it in a bit so it doesn’t cover our path but it’s still growing. Every time I walk the house and disturb them they all fly off. I feel like some sort of bee tamer unleashing my tiny striped minions every time I leave the house and disturb them 🤣

The photo on the screen showcases a close-up of a bumblebee nestled among vibrant purple lavender flowers. The bee is clearly visible, with its fuzzy black and yellow body and translucent wings delicately resting on the blooms. The lavender flowers are in full bloom, displaying rich purple petals and green stems, creating a lively, natural background. The interface shown suggests that this image is being edited or prepared for publication on a blogging or content-sharing platform, with options to save the draft or publish the post.

🏋️ Weight loss continues. I’ve lost 22kg at this point. Someone at work actually commented on how I looked this week (First work person to do so!). That person is now my favourite work person in the world and I would literally die for them. 😍

🛒 We are doing one of my favourite things today. We are going to Costco! 🥳 I love the fact I can buy 20 chicken breasts, an armchair, a petrol lawn mower, a lemon tree, get my tires done on my car, visit an opticians, get a paddle board and solar panels. ¹ All under one roof. I may do a post later if I get anything particularly exciting or interesting.

A man in a Costco bib with a photo of his face on it saying “welcome to Costco I love you” — A great film if you’ve never seen it

📺 I have the final epiosde of Murderbot left, which I’ve enjoyed very much. So I shall do a review post soon. Nearly everything I’m watching at the moment is an Apple TV show I think. I’m so excited for Foundation to come back as well.

It’s funny, as if you compare Apples entrance into TV/Film compared to their continually lacklustre entry into the gaming sphere it’s pretty evident they could do this if they want. They just don’t’ understand or care about games… And that’s why Apple Arcade is filled with shovelware like “It’s literally just mowing”. ²

🎮 Still very much enjoying my Nintendo Switch 2. Playing a few Switch 1 games that run better on the new hardware. Primarily Yakuza Kiwami at the moment exploring the dark streets of Kabukichō (or Kamurochō as they Retitle it for the game). I hope the rest of the series come out for Switch 2. When I had a Steamdeck it was my Yakuza machine and I’d love to mop up the rest of the series I’ve yet to play on the Switch 2. Man it needs more proper Switch 2 games though. I hope the rumoured Red Dead 2 port announces soon.

Read up on the nothing phone and headphone launches. They continue to be a really interesting little company.

Anyway, I need to finish this coffee, hit the shower and get ready to go to Costco. Have a wonderful weekend everyone 👋

Links

😻 Look at this cat

If you like video games, and relaxing, strangely specific videos about say… where the rivers come from in that game, or if the wires for the power grid in a game actually lead anywhere… Any Austin is your guy. I’ve been finding these relaxing, funny and interesting.

I have been very lax at finding other posts this week, but I’ve been posting a bit more directly to my lovely social.lol Mastodon instance. I’ve enjoyed reading peoples posts and reviews of things. Wow that Superman movie is scoring all over the place huh?

I won’t buy any of that, but it does make me laugh the sheer range of bizarre stuff they sell.
There are some decent stuff in Apple Arcade, but it’s few and far between. It’s a bad service.

Stuff This Week #54

It’s been a couple of weeks. Work again made me miss last weeks 🙄

Though I did find time to post a weird post I kinda dig… some family stuff and edit some photos.

My 28 Weeks later review is very nearly ready as well! Hoping to post it this weekend. 🧟

Stuff This Week #52

Another week where I’m afraid I just….didn’t do that much besides working and coming home. Haven’t wrote that much at all… Family have been busy though. Lots going on!

The image shows a person's upper arm with a freshly done tattoo of a cat. The tattoo depicts a detailed, line-drawn cat sitting within a rectangular frame. The cat has an alert, slightly serious expression, with its tail curled around its body. The tattoo appears to be covered with a protective transparent film, which is common immediately after getting a tattoo to protect it from infection and irritation. The person is wearing a dark shirt with the sleeve rolled up to display the tattoo, and they have a white strap, possibly from a bag, over their shoulder. In the background, there is an orange chair and part of a table visible. — Note the missing front leg, just like Trio our dear cat

💉 My son has got a tattoo 😳 It’s nice! But I’ve been joshing him every time it comes up in conversation or I see it I’m doing a “😱 look at this ink on my baby boy!” Sort of way that has made him constantly roll his eyes ¹. Tattoos are one thing I’ve just never done, and now I’m so old it’s not even worth considering. I’m so indecisive it’d literally take me a decade to decide what I’d even have 🤣

Stuff This Week #51

We made it everyone! Another week ticked off. Not a bad one as it was a 3 day work week for me as I booked off some time to celebrate Nintendo Switchmas and get my gaming on.

It’s here! Setting it up now!

This photo shows a Nintendo Switch handheld gaming console in the process of downloading a system update. The screen displays a progress bar indicating that the update is 22% complete, with an estimated 5 minutes remaining. The console is resting on a cushioned surface, possibly someone’s knee or the armrest of a sofa. A charging cable is plugged into the top of the device. The background is softly blurred, featuring warm indoor lighting and some indistinct furniture.

The image shows a Nintendo Switch 2 model bundle with Mario Kart accompanied by a Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, both in their original packaging. The boxes are placed on a patterned fabric surface, likely a sofa or bedspread. In the background, there are two framed artworks hanging on a plain light-coloured wall. The left artwork features Princess Peach, while the right one portrays Mario, both in a stylised, vibrant design. The scene has a cosy, casual feel, suggesting a recent unboxing or display of new gaming equipment.

It’s Nintendo Switch 2 day! 🥳 My order is hopefully on track to arrive so I’ll be looking out of my window and checking my phone for delivery updates until it arrives! 😂

A man looking out of his window through some blinds with a tentative look on his face. — Where’s the delivery van?

Stuff This Week #50

A week of progress! At home and at work. I did a bit of a rambling post here about work, relaxation, hobbies and so on. I shan’t go on about it again in this post 🤣 But here’s what we’ve been up to this week!

The image shows a picturesque harbour scene with several sailboats moored in the turquoise water. In the foreground, a black crow is perched on a stone railing, looking towards the harbour. The background features charming, multi-storey buildings with pastel facades and slate roofs, some adorned with colourful flags and banners. The overall atmosphere is bright and serene, with clear blue skies enhancing the coastal charm. — 🐦‍⬛ Looking out

Review : The Precinct

The image is a promotional graphic for a game titled "The Precinct," set to release in 2025 by Fallen Tree Games. It features a stylised, illustrated depiction of a police officer in uniform at the centre, set against an urban cityscape backdrop with buildings and structures. In the foreground, there are two cars: one is a classic blue-and-white police car with flashing lights, and the other appears to be a civilian or suspect vehicle, involved in a chase scene with visible sparks. A police helicopter is also flying overhead, adding to the dynamic action atmosphere. Below, there is a floating city-like structure with buildings extending downward, creating a surreal effect. At the bottom of the image, a rating of 3 out of 5 stars is displayed. — Whoop Whoop

Ahhh B-Games. Like B-Movies, they’re the smaller releases that don’t garner as much attention as the AAA tentpole releases. Indie games sort of blur the lines on B-Games nowadays regarding how they’re published, who finances them, how polished they can be, and many other factors. The lines between AAA, Indie, and B-Games aren’t all that straightforward anymore.

For me, a B-Game is a lower budget, possibly sliiiightly unpolished release. But that doesn’t mean it hasn’t got heart. I’d say the Precinct fits that definition perfectly. It’s an ambitious swing for the fences by a small team ¹ that wears its intent proudly on its sleeve. The game has lots of mechanics and an open world to play within but it doesn’t necessarily always gel together as smoothly as it could. There’s chunks in the formula. But that’s ok. Sometimes we like chunks.

Stuff This Week #49

This photo showcases a close-up, angled view of a vintage black car. The focus is primarily on the front right section, highlighting the round headlight, amber indicator light, and chrome bumper with its reflective surface. The vehicle's classic design is evident from its smooth, glossy paint, chrome accents, and retro-style hubcaps on the front wheel. The background reveals a cobblestone street with blurred elements of a building and some greenery, suggesting an outdoor urban setting bathed in natural daylight. — See this photo on Glass

This has been quite a social week, and the next couple of weeks will be building week as our chimneys and a couple of other bits are due to start.

I had not one, but two social engagements this week! Sheesh! Mr Popular or what? One was a social for the end of the rugby season at my son’s rugby club. That was a few beers and some chitchat with a little bit of a late night 🥱

Yesterday was a meet the parents ¹ of my eldest’s girlfriend where we spent a lovely evening out in their garden having a BBQ.

I’m certainly a bit of an introvert. My social muscles are certainly not the most hench 🤣

It is nice to get out and about on occasion, mingle and take that social leap though. I’m glad I did it. I am however glad of a quiet Sunday to relax before heading back into work.

Stuff This Week #48

It is yet another bank holiday weekend in the UK, so I have a 4 day weekend baybeeee 🤘

This photo captures a serene coastal scene with a paddleboarder gliding across calm, blue waters. The paddleboarder, dressed in dark clothing, stands upright on a red paddleboard, using a paddle to navigate. The foreground features a pebbly beach with gentle waves lapping at the shore. In the distance, green cliffs and rolling hills stretch along the coastline under a hazy sky, adding depth to the tranquil seascape. — We walked Weymouth beach on Saturday morning. I cannot say enough about how good it feels to walk in this beautiful sunshine at the moment.

Stuff This Week #47

Look at these pigeons ❤️

I skipped a week of blogging sadly, just because work has just been wild recently, but I’m trying to get back into the swing of things now 💪

Taming a new TV : Calibration Conundrums 🤪

The image shows a large flat-screen television placed on a light wooden cabinet with a chevron pattern on its doors. The TV is displaying a high-resolution video game scene featuring a female character dressed in detailed, futuristic armour, holding a weapon. She stands in a snowy mountainous landscape under a partly cloudy sky with the sun setting, casting a warm glow and reflections on a frozen or wet surface. To the left of the cabinet is a wooden shelving unit with some electronic devices and cables visible. The wall behind is painted a dark green colour.

So apart from removing our old power sockets and some touch up painting the office is basically done now and I’ve started to move my video game stuff into what we’re calling the “media room”.

It’s been a long time since I’ve got a new TV. My old Samsung 4K LED set must be at least 6 years old, probably 7.¹ It’s still staying in service in the living room, but my game playing stuff is now moving to the media room.

The LG G4 55” set I went for, like most TV’s nowadays, especially with gaming features like variable refresh rates and such are like little PC’s with a bajillion fiddly controls you can tweak to make sure you get the proper ² calibration for image quality. Out of the box, they’re typically calibrated for showrooms with the brightness and contrast blown out, as well as every smooth tweaking option enabled. Even TV’s that have a Home or Showroom setting still lean towards showing off with brightness and flash vs a natural balanced image.

So. I knew I’d have some work to do with the set, but I didn’t want to make myself go crazy or be obsessive about it. I’d already done some research before delivery on what I needed to do by checking out a bunch of resources online.

Stuff This Week #46

The image shows two smartphones placed on a wooden surface with a greeting card positioned between them. The card has a red heart on the front with the words "Happy Anniversary" written below it in elegant script. The phone on the left displays a photo of a smiling couple, with the man wearing glasses and a beige jacket, and the woman having dark hair and a bright smile. The phone on the right shows the same couple, with the man also wearing glasses and making a playful facial expression, while the woman beside him has curly hair and a relaxed smile. They are much older in the second photo.

The arrangement suggests the passing of time within the marriage. — Yes, I’m using the same image as my Mastodon post! 🤣

A week of celebrations and adjustments as it’s my wedding anniversary and the first week completed of my doing my compressed 4 day working hours.

💍 22 years of marriage! We certainly had a beautiful day to celebrate on as well. We went for a cocktail in the afternoon ¹, then in the evening we deliveroo’d pizza express and tucked into the champagne and chocolates I’d bought for her ²

My wife got me some beautiful Japanese stationary. A MD paper dotted notebook, a nifty Kuru Toga self sharpening mechanical pencil and the cutest cat eraser you ever did see.

The image shows a fountain pen resting on a cream-coloured notepad or journal placed on a wooden surface bathed in warm, natural sunlight. There is a small clear plastic packaging beside the pen, possibly containing an ink cartridge or nib. Part of a woven straw mat and a decorative ceramic object with a geometric pattern can be seen in the upper part of the image, adding texture and contrast to the scene. The overall composition gives off a calm, minimalist, and aesthetically pleasing vibe, perfect for writing or journaling. — Look at it! ❤️

Stuff This Week #45

The image is in black and white, showing a bird perched on the edge of a flat rooftop or ledge. The bird appears to be looking slightly upward and to the left. The background is clear with no visible clouds, giving an open, uncluttered sky. The composition highlights the contrast between the bird, the ledge, and the sky, creating a minimalist aesthetic. — Love a Jackdaw

A more chilled week this week, with some progress and some frustrating-ish customer service!

🍔 Weight loss continues. I’m at the point now where my belt on its smallest notch is now still too loose for me and my jeans feel like they’re falling down 🤣

My wife says I should embrace Vinted for some new duds, but it’s not for me. I think I’ll just put in a modest Uniqlo order instead.

🏠 The “Media Room” as I’m referring to it is nearly complete now. Flooring is in and the sofa was delivered. No TV yet though thanks to John Lewis 😢 but it will be here next Friday. John Lewis customer service was so poor and confused, they actually ended up giving me a £10 gift voucher as an apology twice… After the headache of dealing with them I’m not going to correct them. 😆

The photo depicts a small, minimally furnished room with light-coloured wooden flooring and cream walls. Against one wall is a simple, dark grey sofa with button-tufted cushions and light wooden legs. To the right of the sofa stands a black floor lamp with an exposed bulb encased in a clear glass globe. On the left side of the room, there's a white door with a frosted glass panel and a small window next to it. A wooden piece of furniture, possibly a low cabinet or TV stand, is partially visible in the foreground. The room appears to be in the process of being set up or decorated, as indicated by exposed wiring near the ceiling and some items on the floor.

Next steps are curtains, blinds and a rug before the TV finally arrives. We are having the electrics swapped out as two of the sockets are dodgy, but that’s as few weeks away. Some nice over the wall industrial style metal power is going in instead. Excited to see how that looks as I’ve always liked the look.

Stuff This Week #44

Well, It’s official today 🥳🎂
One son is now legally a fully functioning adult 😳 How did that happen?

A week of celebrations and multiple very big changes! But good ones.

The black-and-white image shows a young person with curly hair wearing a plaid shirt, sitting at a table. They are holding a drink in a glass with a salted rim, appearing to be a margarita or similar beverage, and looking directly at the camera with a neutral expression. The table is filled with various items, including glasses, a bottle, and bowls of food. The background is plain, with soft lighting that highlights the subject. — The Birthday Boy 🎉

We’ve had a lovely day celebrating his birthday, with a fabulous meal at Rise Cafe Bar and he’s off to Spoons tonight with his friends. We’ll see what the aftermath of that is tomorrow. 😬🤣

Very proud of the young man he’s become and he’s on the verge of his own adventures. 🥲 I’ve got all this to go through again in a couple of years with my other son as well!

Tagged “Games”

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