It is amazing that still developers and major publishers believe they can get away with releasing games that feel totally unloved and unfortunately this game falls into this category:

It is time to look back right to the launch of the Xbox 360 console when one of the first titles released for the new next generation platform included Need for Speed Most Wanted. At this time, any problems generally could be forgiven as most of us understood the challenge developers undertook in trying to learn an entirely new system. We are now years past this first experience and we expect so much more from any of the newly released games, yet here we are under intense sufferance with the latest Need for Speed in the series.

Link: Need for Speed Undercover Review for Xbox 360

Yes it is teasingly close to Christmas and what better way to share the seasonal spirit than with an Xbox 360 avatar export facility! Alright, there are other things in life with higher priorities, however you can have fun exporting your avatar on the new Xbox 360 – Free your avatar website.

Here you can select your avatar by entering your gamertag, set the size of the image (presets available for Facebook etc), select a background, zoom in and out and export to a *.jpg file for use on various applications and websites.

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When I was asked to produce a Yamaha Tyros3 promotional DVD, I was excited and a little daunted by the prospect for a few reasons. This was my first venture into promoting anything through the use of video, it was to be my first widescreen DVD (previous ones were in 4:3 format) and I had just 1 week to edit it all together with a total of one hour and fifteen minutes running time. Gulp! I was never going to pass up on the opportunity though as it also gave me access to the latest flagship keyboard a few months before public release!

It was a little stressful at times, however I am very happy with the end result and my thanks go out to Glyn Madden, who did a fantastic job of creating a structure and presenting the keyboard and of course James Sargeant for his performances and co-presenting. The first feedback from the subscribers of the Yamaha Club Magazine have been released in their latest edition:

Congratulations on your excellent DVD introducing the Tyros3. In addition to being a wonderful advert for the new instrument, the DVD itself is very entertaining, superbly produced and informative. - Tony Hayes

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My all time favourite console has to be the SEGA Mega Drive. There were just so many titles that captured my imagination and unfortunately for them, emptied my parents wallet, that it was hard not to fall in love with this plastic shell that housed the power and scope allowing 2D gaming to really shine.

SEGA has released a fair few titles on the Xbox Live Arcade not to mention other consoles, but now you have the opportunity to really experience the good old days of some truly exceptional gameplay that still has me enthralled. Announcing the ‘SEGA Mega Drive Ultimate Collection’ available on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 at some point in early 2009.

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To say I adored the original Golden Axe at the arcade would be an understatement, but this latest return doesn’t inspire anyone:

If it wasn’t for the arcade game Golden Axe, I doubt I would be as interested in gaming as I am today. Heck I might not have even become a journalist! The original Golden Axe managed to open my eyes up to a world of immersive imagination of wonders and all for just 20p a go. I fed coins into that arcade machine faster than a speeding bullet and all just to satisfy my lust for adventures into bizarre yet wonderful worlds.

Link: Golden Axe: Beast Rider Review for the Sony PlayStation 3