After 80 years, why are guide dogs still so important?
Dogs are known to have aided sight impaired people for thousands of years. In the UK, Guide Dogs, known fully as the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, have been partnering highly trained dogs with blind and partially sighted people since 1931.
Last year, the organisation celebrated the 80th anniversary of their first partnership and Amy Sheppard discovers how, in the 21st century, guide dogs are more important than ever.
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- Listen to a radio package on why guide dogs are still important in the 21st century
- Watch a video of two minutes in the life of guide dog, Yates
- Look at a timeline of the history of the Guide Dogs organisation
- Read all about how Guide Dogs works
- Listen to Guide Dogs’ mobility team manager, Tim Stafford explain the types of dog used today
Brief Encounter With… Mogadishu’s Rosie Wyatt
Rosie Wyatt plays Becky in Vivienne Franzmann’s Mogadishu, which, following its world premiere and sell-out runs at the Lyric Hammersmith and Manchester Royal Exchange last year, has returned to the Lyric for one week only as part of a UK tour.
Can you explain what Mogadishu is about?
In the very first scene we see a school pupil assaulting a teacher and the play basically follows the spiralling effect of that one incident. The boy actually lies and makes accusations that the teacher assaulted him, and from then on there is a mushroom cloud effect of events between the boy and his gang of friends and the teacher and her home life. That’s where my character fits in because, although I play one of the school kids, my mother is the teacher. My scenes are generally about what’s going on, and how school affects our home life and our environment.
Tell us more about your character
She’s called Becky, she’s 15, and her mum’s a teacher. She’s really intelligent. As far as the play is concerned, she’s a bit of an outsider. The rest of the kids belong to this big gang that support one another and back each other up. You never quite see Becky’s friendship group or support group, and I think there’s a suggestion that she’s a bit of an outsider, but she’s brave and she is desperate to help her mother in the situation. Even though she’s actually powerless because she’s only a school kid, she does her best to stand up for her mum and clear her name.
How does it feel to be back at the Lyric Hammersmith?
I’m really excited. I wasn’t in the original cast so I haven’t done it there before, but half the cast has and they’re all really excited to come back. Those of us that haven’t done the Lyric are so excited because it’s a wonderful theatre. I’ve been an audience member there a couple times and just the whole space and environment of the Lyric is really wonderful. We rehearsed at the Lyric, so it’s really nice that that’s where the tour is ending. It feels like a complete circle. We’ve been told it’s been selling really well and most of us are based in London so all of our friends can finally come and see us. It’s like a homecoming.
How did you get involved?
I met the director, Matthew (Dunster), when I was in New York doing a show. He had a show which was part of a festival called Brits off Broadway, and I was recommended for the part. We met in New York and when I got back he called me in for an audition and it just went from there.
Did you meet Vivienne Franzmann?
Yes, we met Viv. This is the second outing for this production, so I think she was probably around much more last time when they were rehearsing, but we did see her. Between this year’s and last year’s productions there have been a few tweaks to the script. That’s generally what happens in new writing. Viv and Matthew worked really closely together on developing a script from winning the Bruntwood Prize to it being produced. I think the fact she was a teacher for 12 years is apparent, some of the conversations in the play, you can hear them in a school. It’s fresh and so true to how teenagers communicate with one another that you know that’s been observed directly. It’s fantastic; all the characters are well sculptured within the text. It’s her first play and I think she’s done an excellent job.
Why should people come see Mogadishu?
It’s funny, moving and really interesting. It talks about the school system and how sometimes the systems that are put in place don’t always work, meaning they let people down. It feels like every audience who have seen the play have opened some sort of debate; there’s always a lot of discussion afterwards.
Why did you want to become an actress?
Some of the cast members have been acting since they were much younger, like 15 years ago. It wasn’t until I started sixth form that I discovered theatre. I went to see some work at Stratford Upon Avon and we got really cheap tickets at the RSC because we were students. It was at the time of the Shakespeare’s complete works festival, which was a really exciting time to be in the town, and I saw so much. Apart from musicals, I hadn’t seen any real theatre before. As I was watching these amazing plays before my eyes I fell in love with the world of theatre. What it can do to you as a member of the audience, as you’re watching the performance by the actors live on stage. I started thinking, ‘I’d like to do what they’re doing’.
Where did you study?
I studied at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff, and graduated in July 2010. I had a fantastic time while I was there. As we weren’t based in London, they made a real effort to help us get contacts within the industry. A lot of the work I’ve done since graduating, I can trace back to contacts that I made while at drama school.
What other things have you done since graduating?
When I first graduated, I did a play called Bunny. It was a one-woman play by Jack Thorne, which I performed at a festival; I won a Fringe First and it went really well. It had a much longer life than when we toured it. I performed at the Soho Theatre for three weeks and then took it to New York, which is when I met Matthew. That was just amazing, I’d never been to NY before and for my first trip to be with a play was absolutely amazing. That was a real dream come true. I also toured a play called Love, Love, Love with Paines Plough, which is by Mike Bartlett and directed by James Grieve. I was in the original cast of that and we toured in 2010/2011 and I had a really great time. This is my third tour now, so I’m beginning to learn the life of booking gigs and living out of a suitcase; I feel like I’m quite experienced in that now.
Any dream roles?
There are a lot of things I would love to do. Since graduating, all the plays that I’ve done have been new writing, which I’ve loved - and I would like to keep connected to that aspect of theatre. But I would also love to do some classical parts, maybe some Shakespeare. I’d say it’s more about the type of people I want to work in and places I’d like to work. Performing at the Lyric theatre is a huge tick off my list. It’s one of those venues that you feel proud to perform at.
Mogadishu continues at the Lyric until 31 March 2012
- Rosie Wyatt was speaking to Amy Sheppard
This interview was published on whatsonstage.com.
Review Round-up: Buffong revives Moon on a Rainbow Shawl for NT
A revival of Errol John’s 1953 play Moon on a Rainbow Shawl opened last week at the National’s Cottesloe Theatre (14 March 2012, previews from 7 March 2012).
Set as returning troops from the Second World War fill the town with their raucous celebrations the play, directed by Michael Buffong, depicts a vibrant, cosmopolitan world that is as harsh as it is filled with colour and warmth.
The show’s cast includes Jude Akuwudike, Jade Anouka, Ray Emmet Brown,Burt Caesar, Trevor Michael Georges, Jenny Jules, Martina Laird, Joshua McCord, Danny Sapani, Tahirah Sharif and Lloyd Thomas.
Moon on a Rainbow Shawl continues in rep in the NT Cottesloe until 9 June 2012.
Matt Trueman
Whatsonstage.com
★★★★
“Errol John’s 1953 play is no mere poverty porn. By methodically laying out the obstacles that prevent escape, poverty’s cyclical grip, it’s too kindly and empathetic for that … In this, Moon on a Rainbow Shawltranscends both race and place … Michael Buffong’s… languid, heartfelt production … John’s play can be over-insistent and transparent, but Buffong always draws attention to its human side and perfectly achieves the atmosphere of scorched melancholy. He’s helped by a terrific ensemble, all comfortable with the slow pace, hanging silences and gorgeous intimacy of Soutra Gilmour’s traverse staging … Sapani’s softness ensures Ephraim never seems cruel … Martina Laird captures all of Sofia’s steely mettle with saintly patience … Strong work from Tahirah Sharif’s eager Esther and Jude Akuwudike’s dead beat Charlie in this fine find of a play.”
Lucy Powell
Time Out
★★★★
“Errol John’s bruising, brilliantly witty 1958 play. The inhabitants of five, down-at-heel rooms (lovingly rendered in Soutra Gilmour’s weatherbeaten design … Danny Sapani’s magnetic performance … It is the women who rule this space, and director Michael Buffong’s stage. Jenny Jules’s show-stoppingly bitchy hooker, Mavis, is engaged in an unceasing war with a foreboding matriarch, Martina Laird’s frowsy, formidable cleaning lady, Sophia … Buffong draws every ounce of comedy from John’s wonderfully precise, West-Indian dialogue … His huge-hearted production … The play hasn’t aged perfectly: its plotting creaks on occasion, there are few surprises, and some characters are not fully fledged. But the lead performances are simply firecracker fare and, as the pressure mounts and bruises blossom, this cramped, highly particular Trinidadian yard becomes a window onto deprivation everywhere.”
Michael Billington
Guardian
★★★★
“It amply justifies revival since, in its vivid portrait of life in a Trinidadian backyard in the immediate postwar period, it explains much about Caribbean history … I suspect John was an admirer of Tennessee Williams, since his tragicomedy is full of heat, streetcars and sexual longing … He pins down the conflict between high-flying aspirations and harsh realities in a cosmopolitan British colony: the most touching character is Charlie’s 12-year-old daughter who yearns to get to high school and recite poetry, but whose ambitions are held in check by poverty and her father’s ultimate disgrace … Even if it takes its time, Michael Buffong’s admirably restrained production treats the characters as real people rather than outrageous exotics. Buffong also gets fine performances from Danny Sapani … Jude Akuwudike as the hapless Charlie andMartina Laird as his long-suffering wife … Two richly remarkable contributions from Jenny Jules … Burt Caesar as the dude landlord … Justice, you feel, has at last been done to an important postwar play.”
Julie Carpenter
Daily Express
“A Caribbean classic (if a partially neglected one) the drama pulses with colourful life but is also steeped in a suffocating atmosphere…and is full of the thwarted hopes and ambitions of its poverty-stricken characters … The traverse staging in director Michael Buffong’s atmospheric revival captures the work’s claustrophobia … And yet the work – pioneering in its time and due a revival – proves less moving than I had hoped. Nevertheless, with a cast that bring their parts vibrantly to life, the production is warm-hearted and absorbing … Danny Sapani is like a muscular coiled spring … Martina Laird has a feisty resignation …Tahirah Sharif exudes an enthusiastic youthfulness … Jenny Jules is wonderfully self-flaunting as the loose neighbour they love to hate.”
Henry Hitchings
Evening Standard
★★★★
“Michael Buffong’s sensitive revival…comes across as an intriguing mix of kitchen sink drama and tragicomedy — poignant, yet dense with slang and warm humanity … A tightly packed design by Soutra Gilmour … Danny Sapani’s Ephraim combines strength and solidity with a constant flow of unsettling opinions, managing to retain a robust dignity even when he’s acting like a cad … Martina Laird makes Sophia the aching backbone of this little community, while Jude Akuwudike brings a muffled pathos to Charlie. And in Jenny Jules’s scene-stealing interpretation Mavis has a feline air of superiority … The play itself isn’t pacey, and the unfolding of events is largely predictable. But there’s real interest in the tangled elationships, which reek of ambition, yearning and regret … The production’s power gradually accumulates. Although there are moments of furious confrontation, for the most part its potency is quiet. With apt music by the Ebony Steel Band and an array of vivid performances, it’s a well-crafted slow burner, spiced with humour.”
Libby Purves
The Times
★★★★
“I was spellbound since the start, thrilled by one of the 20th century’s great neglected plays … Its warmth is universal. Michael Buffong directs and his cast — appropriately a Trinidadian rainbow from pale Creole to darkest African — displays what brilliant black British actors we now have … Martina Laird is a lovely Sophie: witty, impatient, warm, scolding, the eternal matriarch holding it together. She brilliantly does the cruel, wrenching moment of self-doubt … Young Tahirah Sharif gives the child Esther a luminous innocence;Danny Sapani as the emigrant powerfully conveys the battle between ambition and self-disgust, and Jenny Jules is a disgracefully funny, strutting, thrustingly tarty neighbour … Jude Akuwudike as Charlie is most poignant of all … The only cavil is the physical format: the yard is lovingly detailed, from the distressed, sun-cracked wooden porch to the communal tap. But Soutra Gilmour sets it between opposing banks of seats … But it’s the only flaw: lets hope this lovely production migrates to other stages. Meanwhile, just go.”
Quentin Letts
Daily Mail
★★★★
“A well-balanced play and Michael Buffong here directs a strong production that had me pretty damp round the headlamps by the end … The most obvious thing about the show is its doorstep sandwich-thick dialect. Many lines will be lost to the average English ear, particularly at the start of the evening. You still pretty much get the drift of what is being said but it is not always easy. Martina Laird is super as tired, dignified Sophia.Danny Sapani provides balance as Sophia’s desperate neighbour Ephraim. Ray Emmet Brown does a comical turn as the tart’s suitor. Tahirah Sharif makes a touching teenage daughter, particularly when things start to go awry. If you can fight your way past the accents, you are in for a sweet show that leaves you counting your blessings.”
This article was published on whatsonstage.com.
Cinderella’s glass slippers hit Guildford’s streets this autumn
A free, interactive street performance of Cinderella will take place in Guildford over the weekend of 13 and 14 October 2012.
Based on the classic story, the musical will be performed by both professional and amateur performers in various locations across the town centre. It will play out in real-time over the weekend, with Cinderella running away from the ball at midnight on 13 October.
Attending members of the public are encouraged to get involved with the characters, spread the word using social media and share photos and videos online. The story will also be made available on the web, as it happens across the two days.
It follows last year’s staging of The Passion, starring Michael Sheen, which was similarly performed on the streets, beaches and hills of Port Talbot in real-time, over two days at Easter.
Story Un (Ltd) are behind the event, which was formed by artistic director, Jenifer Toksvig; operations director, Tim Saward and producer Lia Buddle. The team are seeking singers, dancers, magicians, circus performers and stewards, among a variety of other roles, and details can be found on www.storyunltd.com.
This article was published on whatsonstage.com.
Show Pics: Kissoon & Robinson star in all-black Godot
West Yorkshire Playhouse and Talawa’s all-black staging of Beckett’s Waiting for Godot opened this week (7 February, previews from 3 February 2012) at Leeds venue’s Courtyard Theatre.
Directed by Ian Brown, the production has a cast which includes Jeffery Kissoon as Vladimir, Patrick Robinson as Estragon, Fisayo Akinade as The Boy, Guy Burgess as Lucky and Cornell S John as Pozzo.
Beckett’s funny and poetic 20th century classic follows Vladimir and Estragon over two days as they argue, get bored, clown around, repeat themselves, contemplate death and wait. They are waiting for the one who never comes, Godot.
West Yorkshire Playhouse recently released photos of Waiting for Godot, which continues in Leeds until 25 February 2012 before touring to London, Birmingham, Winchester and Ipswich.
The photo story was published on whatsonstage.com.
Whatsonstage.com Club Newsletter - 27 Jan 2012
Hello Club member,
Happy Chinese New Year! This week, we’ve entered the Year of the Dragon - the year of good fortune. We can’t promise you luck for the whole year, but we do think 2012 is going to be a good one!
As many of you will have seen this week it’s been announced that Whatsonstage.com has been acquired by Time Out Group. We’ll be retained as a separate but complementary brand within the Time Out Group and will continue to be run by Terri so no need to worry about too many changes.
It’s your last chance to get advanced booking for ABSENT FRIENDS and save £1 on our Group Outing on 6 March. Alan Ayckbourn’s classic comedy stars an astonishing cast of TV, stage and film talent, including Elizabeth Berrington, Reece Shearsmith and Kara Tointon.
Just after, we have a Club Night to SHREK THE MUSICAL on 8 March. Come and join Shrek and Donkey at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, on their quest to save Princess Fiona in an all singing, all dancing take on the Dreamworks animation.
Celebrate the 60th anniversary of West-End favourite, THE MOUSETRAP with a free programme and post-show Q&A with the producer and cast on 28 February.
LONG DAY’S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT stars Whatsonstage.com award winner David Suchet at the Apollo in our Club Night on 9 April.
David Haig has received rave reviews for his performance in Alan Bennett’s comedy THE MADNESS OF GEORGE III so come and see for yourself in our Group Outing on 7 February and get a free programme and post-show Q&A with the cast!
Last but not least - there are only 4 days left to vote in our Whatsonstage.com Awards so if you haven’t already please do now and make sure to spread the word! Don’t forget to use #wosawards if you’re tweeting (which we hope you are)!
As always, happy theatregoing!
All of us at the Club
This newsletter was emailed to Whatsonstage.com Club members and can be viewed here.
Have a Night Less Ordinary in Poole
Poole’s Lighthouse is giving away more free tickets to under 26 year old’s.
The theatre has extended the scheme from just Thursday nights to all weekday performances.
The Night Less Ordinary scheme was set up by the Arts Council England over a year ago in an attempt to get more young people into the arts and is set to continue until March 2011.
Over 200 theatres across the country are participating in the scheme which is supported by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
The Lighthouse is offering free tickets to over 20 shows including Of Mice and Men, George’s Marvellous Medicine and The Mermaid Princess.
Tickets are available over the phone or in person at the box office for Monday to Friday shows.
Full listings of the performances covered by the scheme can be found on the Lighthouse website.
This article was published on BUzz.
Interview: Stephanie J. Block
A fully fledged Broadway star, Stephanie J. Block has held her own as the leading lady in The Boy From Oz, Wicked, The Pirate Queen and most recently, 9 to 5.
This Sunday she’s heading to London for a one-off date, showcasing songs from her career and her self-produced album, This Place I Know, for UK theatre fans.
You had your London debut at Scott Alan’s concert back in October. What made you come back to do a solo concert?
My London debut with Scott Alan was a great experience. Although I only sang two of his songs, the audience was very warm and very welcoming. After the performance, I was out in the front of the house and got to meet almost everyone who attended the concert. So many people said, “I’ve seen you on YouTube singing … (fill in the blank) … and I wish I could see/hear you perform it live”. So, Simon Greiff, who produced Scott Alan’s concert, approached me about coming back to London and presenting my solo show. And now, that’s what I am happily doing!
What material can we expect to hear? Will you be performing anything new?
I am not going to share my set list. : ) I want the music to be a pleasant surprise. However, there will be a few tunes that I love singing that I have not yet recorded or sung professionally. They will be songs most musical theatre lovers know or have heard before.
What did making your album and getting a great response mean to you?
Recording and producing This Place I Know has been my most gratifying, artistic achievement. It was such a labour of love and one that took years in the making. I think I am most proud of being its executive producer. I was intimidated taking on that role as it was my debut album. But I wanted to make all final decisions, from the cover design, to the song choices, to the arrangements, to the mixing and mastering sessions, etc… Sometimes being a performer means giving up a lot of control. In making This Place I Know, I wanted to be more than “just” the voice. I wanted control. I wanted to infuse myself into the whole album. And now that it has been well received, I feel such accomplishment… as an artist and a producer.
You’ve worked with some amazing composers. Is there anyone else you would like to work with that you haven’t yet?
There are many composers I would love to work with… John Kander, Adam Guettel, Stephen Sondheim. Stephen Sondheim tops my list. Growing up, I envisioned myself playing certain roles and singing certain scores. Into The Woods is one of my all time favorite scores. It’s passionate and challenging… it’s art. I really hope there is an opportunity for me to work with Mr. Sondheim in the future.
What ambitions do you still have for your career?
I still want to do sooo much! Don’t get me wrong, I feel extremely blessed and am grateful everyday for the opportunities I have. But I am a “type A” personality and have always been one to have 1 year goals, 5 year goals, 10 year goals. Right off the top of my head… I want to sing at Carnegie Hall. I want to star in a great off-Broadway play. I want to star opposite my husband, Sebastian, again. I want a romantic role in a period film. Shall I go on…? : )
Who was your biggest inspiration when you started out? If that’s changed, who do you now admire and look up to?
Hmmm… I was inspired by many. I grew up with the MGM musicals, so Judy Garland was my first inspiration. Her way of singing a song was just like telling a story. She made every lyric clear and accessible. I wanted to do that. I didn’t need to sound like her. I needed to communicate like her. I then found Barbra Streisand and was obsessed, of course! I had a similar tone to her’s and found that her songs sat comfortably in my voice. I would listen to Judy and Barbra over and over and over.
Then I was introduced to Broadway cast recordings. I would normally only buy a cast recording if I was auditioning for a particular show at a local theatre. But, I soon ventured out and bought any and all Broadway albums. Joanna Gleason, as The Baker’s Wife, was perfect! I SAW her performance while I listened to the recording. The power of Patty LuPone’s voice gave me chills. Liz Callaway’s angelic tones… gorgeous. I continue to be inspired by these women, these artists. But I would not have had the courage to dream and believe without my parents, Steven and Rosemarie Block and my voice teacher and mentor, Jill Grande Goodsell. They started everything.
You’ve originated several roles – what is it about the creation process that’s so appealing?
Just the word “creation”… that’s everything. That’s why I do what I do. There is such beauty in bringing to life something that never existed before. It’s a very complicated process and it brings with it tons of uncertainty, tons of frustration, tons of emotion. But when you are in the room, collaborating with other actors, musicians, technicians and everyone is working together to create the same vision… it’s a remarkable feeling. And then, you hope that vision will touch and inspire others.
One of your most well known roles was in Wicked. What do you miss about playing Elphaba?
I have performed professionally since I was 12 years old. But my career started in 2000 when I was introduced to Wicked. I have such a deep connection to this show and the role of Elphaba. She is a beautifully written character who gets to express herself through passionate, heartfelt songs. I miss her a lot. But I also know what it costs to be her 8 times a week. Playing Elphaba is exhausting… vocally, physically, emotionally. She is a blessing and a curse (no pun intended).
Do you still feel like you could ‘pick up the broom’ and fit back into the role easily?
I could play Elphaba tomorrow, if need be. I think she will always be in my blood. Would I jump back into it easily? No. Saying “easily” and Elphaba in the same sentence… Well, the two just don’t go together.
Stephanie’s performances are scheduled for 6.00pm and 8.30pm at London’s New Players Theatre, this Sunday 28th February. Tickets are available from www.newplayerstheatre.com and www.ticketweb.com with full details at www.simgproductions.com.
This article was published on ATTN: Magazine.
Brand spanking new – the games of the Eurogamer Expo
Right, so the Eurogamer Expo had Uncharted 2 on show – we all know it’s a good game but I’m sure you don’t want to hear about that. Let’s be honest, all anyone cares about are those games that are yet to grace the shelves.
So, what did the Expo have to impress everyone travelling to the capital?
With two floors of glorious gameplay, the Expo set out to give the eager attendees time to try out future games – a bonus on both sides. It was a chance for developers to show off their hard work and hopefully shift a few more copies, plus a brilliant opportunity for the hardcore gamer to get their hands on some of the best new releases of late 2009 / early 2010 ahead of time.
The third floor was a prospective game developer’s heaven with career stalls from the likes of Relentless, Ubisoft and Sega hoping to snatch the cream of the crop. BAFTA surgeries were also held by game designers, artists and programmers from top game development studios passing on pearls of wisdom to future developers.
Back on the gaming floors, certain sections of the Expo were always going to be predictably busy. Assassin’s Creed 2, anyone? There was no chance of getting to try out the game unless I waited around for a long period of time along with everyone else who had the same idea in mind. What I did see of the game was true to the hype - a better, improved version of the original, the former repetitiveness distilled and the graphics pushed up a notch.
Elsewhere for more casual gamers, Nintendo showcased its big future releases in the form of New Super Mario Bros Wii; Red Steel 2 and Mario and Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story for the DS. New Super Mario Bros Wii pulled in the crowds who were kept in order by a Nintendo rep ensuring everyone had their fair share. In true Nintendo style, New Super Mario Bros Wii builds on the concept of Super Mario Bros DS but shakes it all up with the addition of party style four-player mode. The game really shines as players battle to gain the all important items around the screen, whilst single players can still enjoy the classic side scrolling platform at its best.
MAG could have done with Nintendo-esque reps controlling the crowds as fans sneakily spent more than their allocated time on the game. When finally getting the chance to try out an online match versus those already on the game in the USA, I was pleasantly surprised by the gameplay and detail of the map scenario in which you fire those deadly shots. This game should be a hit once everyone has got over the release of Modern Warfare 2.
Despite little being known of the intricate details, Heavy Rain already looks to be one of those groundbreaking releases. A PlayStation 3 exclusive, the game utilises a unique gameplay system where the player can choose the emotional response and their character’s actions during the dramatic cutscenes. The character graphics were immensely detailed and the game thoroughly slick. This is gonna be one to watch.
This game was always going to be 18+. Wisely, the creators of the Saw game have stuck to it’s massively popular movie roots but have created an entirely different experience for gamers. The story pans out in similar fashion to the movies but effectively blends together aspects of puzzle, adventure and inevitable gore as your character tries to escape from Jigsaw’s mind games.
Described as ‘what Burnout should have been’, Split/Second was the biggest surprise of the day. Developed by Brighton’s Black Rock Studio (a part of Disney Interactive Studios) the racing game was nothing like I expected. The whole environment you’re racing through changes drastically before your eyes. Definitely think Burnout but with a lot more destruction, intensity and pizazz. Ignore any preconceptions you might have of a Disney studio – this hasn’t had Hannah Montana anywhere near it.
The latest offering from social party game heavyweights Relentless, Blue Toad Murder Files looks to have the recipe for a surefire hit. Combining the increasing popularity of puzzle games, murder mystery and their trademark social focus, the game looks set to reach a massive demographic. Set in a quintessential English town, you solve tricky puzzles whilst trying to find out Whodunnit. This episodic tale will be downloadable from the PlayStation Network in December ready for Christmas and the family party season.
This feature was published on ATTN:Magazine.
This Is It
Not knowing quite what to expect, we set out and watched the Michael Jackson documentary film on its opening day and, as expected, the cinema was busy and buzzing with a great atmosphere.
After the obligatory trailers the film propelled us into the gargantuan world of his planned shows, created by director Kenny Ortega and meticulously detailed by Michael Jackson himself.
Thankfully, the film didn’t draw heavily upon the singer’s controversial death and instead wisely focussed on the talent that made him who he was.
The film had great pace as the star brilliantly sung and danced his way through his well known hits such as ‘Billie Jean’, ‘Earth Song’ and ‘Man in the Mirror’, in superbly edited pieces of footage displayed as raw and edgy roughcuts of the preparation behind this hotly-anticipated set of comeback concert dates.
It was clear that there was to be no expense spared as the concert prepared to delight London audiences with an array of stunning visuals. They created a CGI army, planted Michael into a black and white film for the performance of ’Smooth Criminal’ and recreated the well known horror scene in the video for ’Thriller’.
It’s clear that diehard MJ fans will love the movie, but it’s the ones who weren’t so convinced who will be bowled over by the level of effort and involvement Michael put into his work and the pure professionalism poured into every last lyric and trick of the feet. An aching reminder of just why he was the King of Pop - this would have been more than a show to remember.
Nintendo announces Wii price cut
The price of the Wii is due to be slashed throughout the world, Nintendo has confirmed.
The 20 per cent cuts are due to begin in the US and Japan, in a bid to reignite new interest in the best-selling console.
At beginning of the year, the price was increased in the UK by £20 due to pound depreciation, although many retailers chose to maintain the £179 price tag.
This time around however, Nintendo confirmed that the UK price drop is likely to be ”determined by retailers themselves”.
This cut follows the moves of Sony and Microsoft who have cut the costs of the PS3 to £250 and the Xbox 360 Elite to £199, ahead of the Christmas shopping season.
This article was published on Geeks.co.uk.
Get muddy with Facebook farming
It’s not every day you hear about a game which entices someone into buying a brand new laptop just to play it – especially when the game is a Facebook app and the ’someone’ is not necessarily your typical gamer.
The new craze sweeping the world of Facebook is, of course, Farm Town or FarmVille, both near enough the same game - a type of farmy simulation where you build and manage your very own farm. Sounds familiar? It will if you have played Harvest Moon, the popular multi-platform franchise.
A rivalry has emerged between FarmVille and Farm Town with fans taking a staunch allegiance to their favourite. Farm Town came first, but the still in beta FarmVille looks to have won through with over 33 million monthly active users. Farm Town has fallen behind in comparison with over 18 million monthly active users. A slicker game than its rival, FarmVille succeeds with emphasis on interactions with your Facebook friends and better graphics.
Farm Town was developed by software company SlashKey and released in February. FarmVille followed suit in July from the hands of Zynga, who are already known for their copycat games. They fell in hot water earlier this year when they were sued for releasing Mafia Wars, a copy of another popular Facebook game, Mob Wars.
So, why has this simple format of a game appealed to so many people? Maybe it’s the joy of tending to your crops, maybe it’s the way you can add your friends’ farms to be your neighbours or maybe it’s a magic feeling of reaching the next level. Who knows?
Whatever it is, the games are doing something right. Before you know it, you’ve gone and got yourself addicted, checking your farm all the time, waiting for the minute when you can harvest your patch of strawberries.
Of course, you need a Facebook account to be able to play the games, something which is not desirable for all people. Yet, as Facebook is the world’s most popular social networking site, any game has high possibilities for success.
Facebook has attracted a wide range of people with many older members of society joining to link up with old friends and work colleagues. Some have heard of Farm Town and FarmVille and signed up for Facebook just to play it. People have been known to rush home in order to harvest their crops at the optimal time.
This phenomenon is still rising and we’re yet to know how high. The games have their differences so try them out and find out which one you prefer.
This feature was published on Geeks.co.uk.
‘Gigantic jets’ caught on camera
Upwards lightning, otherwise known as ‘gigantic jets’, has been filmed for the first time.
This rare form of lightning occurs when electricity from storm clouds flows upwards into the Earth’s atmosphere. Similar in strength to your average cloud-to-ground bolts, upwards lightning is known to reach the edge of space.
The research into the lightning has been carried out by US scientists at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina and was published in this month’s edition of industry journal, Nature Geoscience.
‘Gigantic jets’ were first discovered in 2001 and still little is known of them. As the event happens very quickly, footage has been difficult to obtain. Steven Cummer and his team caught the shots by chance whilst trying to film ’sprites’, another electrical phenomenon, using a low-light video camera focused on the sky over a long period of time.
The film was captured in July 2008 during Tropical Storm Cristobel, in a field near to Duke University’s campus. The footage is particularly significant as the jet rose to a height of around 65km compared to other sightings at much lower heights.
“The fact that we can see it so clearly when the background sky is quite bright suggests to me that this may be the biggest and brightest jet that has been recorded,” said Mr Cummer.
This article was published on Geeks.co.uk.
Online Dating – the Geek way
It seems only natural that a Geek might come across a fellow Geeky friend via the
gem that is the World Wide Web.
This seems to be the idea behind numerous sites aimed towards finding Geeky love (or a purely platonic Geeky friendship), harmoniously brought together by a shared love of all things Geek. But shouldn’t a clever Geek be able to navigate their way around the deep, murky depths of internet befriending by themselves?
It seems not. One quick Google search unearths a minefield of Geek related dating sites – as if Geeks have a hard time finding love.
First up is Geek2Geek who first off, proclaim that Geeks should (quite rightly) be appreciated. They have also provided a nice little list of the Top 10 reasons why Geeks make the best partners. In traditional dating site style, you can create your own profile and showcase it across the Geeky world. Perhaps you’re a big fan of Anime – you can add this interest which is then compared to other likeminded Geeks. And as an added bonus, it’s free.
If you’re a veggie Geek, you might like to meet other veggies who share the same Geeky outlook as you do. Or maybe you’d just like to hang out with some other vegetarians. If you do, then VegetarianDating is the place to be. The site is fitted with some cool ways to match, such as character, interest or sexual matchmaking.
For globetrotter Geeks, there’s a rather inventive idea for a dating site which allows people to meet a potential date whilst jetting off on holiday or a business trip. AirTroductions lets you find out who’s going on your flight and gives you the chance to meet and chat before flying off. Of course, the arrangement might not be such a good idea if your hopes for a date fall flat and you’re stuck sat next to someone you dislike for hours.
PodDater is currently on hold but this site is perfect for techy Geeks. Users looking for love can update their profiles with a video of themselves and the best matches are downloaded to view on your iPod. Nifty, eh?
For the online gamers among you, OMGPOP is the perfect outlet for online gamey types to meet other people. The site started as iminlikewithyou back in 2006 but has evolved into a more shiny, polished site, but with the same aim. Play some games and make some friends along the way. There are some well placed little quirks to the site such as forums and chat tools.
If online games aren’t your thing and you’re more of a hardcore gamer, maybe Game 4-a-date is for you. The site advertises itself as an online dating and friendfinder service, so if it’s love or just a buddy you’re after, then here you go. Those with a profile detail their hobbies and interests in the hope of finding a mate to share them with.
Perhaps a few Geeks out there have tested out some of these sites or know of a few others. Have there been any Geek success stories? Any embarrassing moments? Or maybe the whole idea sends your mind into an angry frenzy.
This feature was published on BUzz.