Just Lyrics: Bruce Springsteen Devils and Dust

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"We're just trying to survive

what if what you do to survive

kills the things you love"

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Blood Elf Cosplay Lena Lara

Character: Blood Elf from World of Warcraft
Cosplayer: Lena-Lara
Photographer: Christoph Gerlach

Full size images and more from their respective websites.

Is it any wonder it takes me ages to get round to a proper game post.  But at least it's game related!

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Elderly: Psttt! Alf!  do you think I got away with the excuse?
Alf The Helper: Ahhh, just checking, but if I get this question wrong, it's food rations again?
Elderly: Yes!
Alf The Helper: In that case, well yes, I think you got away with it!
Elderly: Good....thought so!
Alf The Helper: ....sigh!!

Demi Lovato Skyscraper

A career defining song from Demi Lovato, American singer, songwriter, musician, and actress, pushing her voice to the point of breaking.  No pyrotechnics here, none needed, as the song builds to a spine tingling final chorus.

Official Website

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Batman Noel Lee Bermejo

Batman Noel is an 112 page hardcover graphic novel written and illustrated by
Lee Bermejo and published by DC Comics on November 8, 2011.

Inspired by Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, the Dark Knight must come to terms with his rogue's gallery of the past, present, and future, while exploring what it means to a hero.

While most assuredly a stretch for both Dickens and Batman fans, with a review score of 8.5 on IGN review, and described as "an instant classic," on Ain't it Cool.com, by all accounts the premise works.

Lee Bermejo Blog

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Screenshots, Xiba, Kung Fu High Impact, Sherlock

Soul Calibur VXbox 360 and Ps3
Due US January 31, 2012, EU February 3, 2012
New Character "Xiba" from Soul Calibur V and news Ezio (Assassin's Creed) will be a guest character.

Kung Fu High Impact
Xbox 360 Kinnect Exclusive
Due November 2011 ??
A side-scrolling brawler, in which your likeness is scanned in by the Kinect camera to act as the hero.
More screens on eurogamer

The Testament of Sherlock Holmes
Xbox 360, Ps3 and PC
Due? game site says "Late" 2011
Adventure game in the "Adventures Of Sherlock Holmes" series developed by Frogwares
More images from Official Website

Skyrim Vampire Cure

Disease to some, to others a way of life, in the never ending story that is Skyrim.

People keep saying I look sick!
Thankfully Bethesda inform you when you've contracted Sanguinare Vampiris, however if you've missed it then off to the "Magic" menu with you (press b, then left on your controller), once there select the last option "Active Effects" and see what ails you. You may not have contracted vampirism just yet.

Oh no!! I'm a vampire!!!
Don't panic, you've got 72 hours (game time) to find a cure before you reach Stage 1

Stage!! whadda mean stage?
There are four stage of vampirism, each bringing with it a gradual change in your demeanour. 
Gradual aversion to sunlight, health, magicka and stamina are reduced and do not recover,
A gradual weakness to fire,
A increasing benefit from "feeding" on npcs
Increased ability to reanimate dead bodies to fight for you.

But I digress, full details on the stages and the benefits of being a vampire from the definitive Skyrim Wiki. 

So a cure already!!
Within the first 72 hours, you can get rid of the disease with any common disease-curing potion, or by visiting an altar in a  church or altar in front of a Statue of the Eight (ie. Talos in Whiterun).

Once you’re a Stage 1 vampire, normal disease cures won't work

Stage 1, Too late!, my mother's going to kill me!
Speak with any Inn Keeper or Bartender about rumors. You'll discover that a man called Falion in Morthal (east of Fort Snowhawk) is studying vampires!!

If you haven't got one, Falion will sell you a Black Soul gem, and a soul trap book (read to activate).

Before being cured, you’ll need to fill the Black Soul Gem

Fill a Black Soul Gem!? how the ...?
Cast a Soul Trap spell on a bandit, or npc, then ..erm...kill them!!

A soultrap Spell?..... don't got one!
How to use and where to get a Soul trap spell from the aforementioned wiki

I got it!!! :) back to Falion?
Yup, speak to Falion to complete the ritual and voila, cured!!!.

Talk to Falion? When he's attacking me?
If your at stage 3 or stage 4 there's a good chance Falion will attack you!! bug fix on the way I hope.  One work around from the forums is to feed on someone before you go.. if you feed, you'll drop back to Stage 1

To hell with this nothing works!
...and for some of you this is unfortunately true, there is an instant cure but that means turning into a werewolf...and that's a whole other story.

Saints Row The Third Review Summary

On release with an 18 certificate, in US and Australia, set for Eu release on 18th November 2011, for xbox 360, Ps3, and Windows.

You control the leader of the Third Street Saints in the city of Steelport, with the story focusing on the gang war with The Syndicate, a rival criminal group.  The game blends third-person action and driving sequences through an open-ended storyline, with freedom to complete missions as you see fit. However your decisions will ultimately affect the game's ending.

Overview:
The games open world action, drew praise from critics, however many felt the story missions themselves do not allow for much creativity.  The games self aware humour however had the critics divided, some describing it as borderline offensive, others praising it's creativity. 

One odd and I hope, tongue in cheek, theme running throughout the reviews, embraces the notion that onscreen mindless violence is what video games are for. 

Score:
This hasn't detracted from a rather extraordinary current score of 87% xbox 360 and 81% Ps3 on Metacritic.com

Quote of the bunch:
"When you just want to indulge in some mindless violence and sexual depravity, this will more than suffice"
IGN

Reviews Summary
Ludicrous and lewd, but it's also a joy to play
Some amazing moments... and some truly abysmal ones
A lack of technical polish and weak combat overshadow its achievements
The ultimate sandbox, fans of the series will have a blast
A fun romp that doesn't take itself too seriously, defines what it means to have fun playing games
Shining novelties fueled by base guffaws quickly devolve into gimmicks
It's juvenile, occasionally objectionable
More intense, more chaotic, more bizarre
Missions vary wildly, and they're almost all bombastic, popcorn-movie affairs

Official Website

Assasin's Creed Revelations Which Edition?

Release for Xbox 360, Ps3 on November 15th 2011
To ensure you walk out of the store with exactly wanted, I hope the following is of some use. Verifed at the time of posting, things change, so be sure to check content before you purchase.

As your aware there are several different limited editions of Assassin's Creed Revelations. The Animus, Collector's and Special editions are available on all platforms but only available in Europe, Australia and New Zealand, while the Signature Edition is only available in North America through GameStop for all platforms.

Retail:
Standard edition (game and soundtrack only),

The Collector's Edition features Special Collector’s Edition packaging, a 50-page art book, an animated short film and the original game's soundtrack. In-game content included is an exclusive mission and two additional multiplayer characters (both in-game content are the same as featured in the Animus Edition).

The Special Edition consists of a standard box with exclusive artwork and the original game's soundtrack. In-game content included is a Turkish Assassin Armor in single-player and two additional multiplayer characters (The Crusader and Ottoman Doctor).

Pre order only:
Signature Edition: Pre-orders with GameStop will automatically upgrade to the Signature Edition of the game at no extra cost. The Signature Edition features exclusive packaging, a bonus single-player mission (Vlad the Impaler Prison), an exclusive multiplayer character (Ottoman Jester), weapons capacity upgrades, an animated short film (Assassin's Creed Embers Movie) and the original game's soundtrack.

Ultimate Bundle: US only, the Ultimate Bundle features all content from the Signature Edition, but the Ultimate Bundle also comes with Leonardo da Vinci’s flying machine replica and an Ezio 7-inch action figure.

Update! latest review from Eurogamer

Post your Skyrim Character Photo

It's the middle of Winter, but she insists she isn't cold, and with her current tally of slain bandits and Draugr I'm not going to argue. 

To post your own photo, simply Click Here! (opens a new tab) and leave a link in the comment box. 

I'll add them right here. Thanks in advance :)

A WTF Gaming Moment, Dark Souls

Big Bird!!! a WTF moment from Dark Souls on xbox 360, luckily I had no bird seed on me. 

If you got your own WTF gaming photo and would like to share..
 just click HERE (opens a new tab) and I'll post a handful of them together.

Online Game Magazines November 2011

Okay I admit it, I'm a late comer to the world of online gaming magazines, ebooks, and pdfs, until now, I always felt more secure with the feel of paper on flesh than mouse pointer on screen. 

But I've been won over!!

First change of heart came from an essential free pdf and ebook listing on Gnomeslair, maintained by an quite industrious and often kindly Gnome. And more recently by the equally industrious and knowledgeable "Nreive" Editor and Designer and his much praised and most impressive "Retroaction"

Retroaction: is a quarterly interactive PDF magazine featuring old and new games on retro platforms such as the Amstrad, Sinclair, Commodore, DOS, Arcade, Atari, Sega, Nintendo, NEC, MSX, Acorn, Apple, and more.

Featuring reviews and previews of new games on retro platforms, articles on classic retro games, interviews and articles with people in the retrogaming scene.

The magazine is fully interactive with website and email links and takes advantage of PDF functions such as bookmarks, anchors and indexing, all at the click of a mouse button.

So to recap:
Retroaction Games Magazine
Nrieve's  Retrogaming Zines list
Gnome's essential Free pdf and ebook listing

Happy reading :)

Arkham City Forum Avatars

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Fresh from the vaults of the elderly gamer, take it away there Alf!!

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Space Battleship Yamato Movie DVD

A film adaptation of the 1974 anime TV series Space Battleship Yamato. The year is 2199 and after five years of attack by an alien race known as Gamilas, Earth lies ravaged by radiation bombs. The remnants of humanity have fled underground with only 73 days until the radiation will drive humanity to extinction.

But the Earth Defense Force plan a counter-offensive and the crew of the space battleship Yamato are sent out on a journey to the planet Iscandar to acquire a device that can heal their ravaged planet.

Directed by Takashi Yamazaki, the film release of Space Battleship Yamato debuted at number 1 on the Japanese box-office, knocking a certain Harry Potter off his throne.  Reviews have been mixed, the Hollywood Reporter stated that the movie had a "sleek futurist look without losing sight of the ‘70s illustration style" of the original anime series.  Christoph Mark of The Daily Yomiuri said the film "lacked gravity" and criticized the production design as too reminiscent of the Battlestar Galactica remake.  There's always one!

Alf the Helper: Well actually mr.elderly there is more than one! 1,744 users on imdb.com gave the film a score of  61%
Elderly: Alf we are going to have to change your name
Alf the Helper: But I quite like the name Alf :(
Elderly: I wasn't thinking of changing that bit

Imdb critic reviews database
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Uncharted 3 Drake's Deception Wallpaper

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Apparently Game studios don't do wallpaper much anymore.  Accepted it isn't the greatest promotional method, but as a thank you to gamers it does have merits.  In the absence of any wallpaper for Naughty Dog's most excellent adventure, it falls to half blind photofiltre owners like myself and my team to fill the void.  So until software studios lean on their art team for twitter backgrounds, forum avatars, icons and wallpaper, take it away there Alf......

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Elderly at the Movies SSS Archive

Hi! Alf here! mr.elderly was too embarassed to do this himself, on account of him not been able to code html and stuff, so he threate... he asked me if I'd do the honors and apologise to you for this interuption in normal posting.  Thank you for your attention :)
Serenity the Movie, the Website the Walpaper
Silent Hill the Movie
Spiderman 3 Official Movie Website
Spiderman 3 Posters
Superman Returns the Movie

Ps3 Slim Vinyl Dragon Skins

Ps3 slim vinyl decal from Bundle Monster, includes 2 controller skins.

Alf the Helper: am is that it? aren't you going to review it?
Elderly: It's a piece of sticky plastic, what can you say about it?
Alf the Helper: Well you could talk about how it dosen't block any holes, how it's got a superior "leather" finish, that it dosen't void any warranty, and leaves no sticky residue when you want to peel it off!
Elderly:Why would you peel it off after buying it?
Alf the Helper: am... okay well if you were to...
Elderly: Right you've got the job of reviewing console skins
Alf the Helper: I do? :) thank you mr.Elderly I won't let you down!! oh look mr.elderly that Amazon guy is back... mr. elderly? hello?

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The KORE Gang (Wii) - Official Trailer

Due for dropping US November 8th for Wii.
UK TBA

An alien invasion threatens Earth and the team looking to stop it is the Kore Gang.

Explore a vast game universe packed with action, puzzles and countless surprises. Meet strange characters and even stranger creatures as you unravel the game's off-the-wall storyline. Become the leader of a wacked-out team three times more demented, three times weirder, and three times stronger than one hero alone!
Esrb advisory: Cartoon Violence, Comic Mischief, Mild Language, and wait for it...."Tobacco Reference"

Goldeneye 007 Reloaded Game Review Summary

A remastering of the 2010 Wii game, for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

Developed from scratch, featuring high-definition graphics, an achievement system, new "Mi6 Ops Missions", PlayStation Move compatibility, online play for up to 16 players (limited to one player per console), 14 multiplayer maps with nine different game modes for online multiplayer.

(deep breath)

"GoldenEye 007: Reloaded - Double 'O' Edition." is an exclusive PlayStation 3 bundle including the game on Blu-Ray Disc, the PlayStation Move motion and navigation controllers, PlayStation Eye Camera, the Sharp Shooter peripheral, and access to the downloadable character Hugo Drax.

Currently scoring 79% xbox 360 and 76% on Metacritic

Pick of the bunch
"Still Not The GoldenEye remake fans were hoping for, I would've been happier playing a $10 downloadable HD remake of the original game"
Game Informer

Reviews Summary
I suspect this will be one of the first titles to take a price drop
Clever additions and some much-needed refinements let's it stands with the big boys
A worthy successor,  gameplay delivers, both in single and multiplayer
Activision has made some incredibly intelligent decisions in their revision strategy
In the end, nostalgia just isn't a strong enough foundation to build a truly great game on.
Solo, you will be hard-pressed to get your money's worth out of the campaign and MI6 alone
Addictive multiplayer will keep you coming back for more
Invisible walls and less-than-stellar AI make the whole package suffer
Pleasantly surprised by GoldenEye: Reloaded,  it still has its English charms

 Official Website

Alf the Helper: You never mentioned Daniel Craig mr. elderly
Elderly: Nope your right, I didn't
Alf the Helper: :( Back to the Cellar?
Elderly: Yup