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Lego Digital Designer
We're big fans of Lego - the Mindstorms NXT kit, which we reviewed back in 2006, is just one of the company's remarkable innovations of recent years.
Another one has just been released: version 2 of Lego's LEGO Digital Designer software is a clever tool that allows you to put together a virtual Lego world. It's great for creating models of the models you're going to make, or if you're short of actual Lego bricks (or living in a country in which Lego is banned) you could use it to actually create your Lego models without any bricks at all.
It's clever enough to be able to sort the available bricks by boxes, so it will limit itself to the bricks you have, and it supports the Mindstorms and other kits. There are several templates supplied, too, so you don't have to start from scratch.
And the best bit is that, once you've created your model, the program will tell you how much the bricks will cost to buy (in local currency) and can put together a shopping list for you to go and buy them.
UK misses out on Microsoft pricecuts
There's word from the TestBed blog that Microsoft has decided to cut prices on Windows Vista, only not in the UK. Apparently this is because they have already been cut here, despite still being higher than in the US.
Still as Clive points out, Office Home and Student Edition is a really good deal, just £80 in PC World for a three computer license. No Outlook but there's plenty of decent alternatives such as Mozilla Thunderbird.
What is worth investigating is One Note, note taking and audio recording software ideal for students.
Sony's PSP Messenger
The PSP console from Sony got a boost last week with the launch of a new messenger program. The Go!
Messenger, which Sony has put together in conjunction with BT, is a free download from BT's website, and it allows users to make voice and video calls using their handhelds, as well as offering text-chat facilities.
The software can make use of the camera if one is attached to the device, and the software is also available for PCs so that you can chat to non-PSP-owning friends. Sadly, there's no connection to other instant messenger networks (not even to BT's own Yahoo! Messenger client) so you'll need to sign up for this service separately.
Look out for a full review soon.
Update for Mozilla Thunderbird released
An update has been released to fix a security flaw in Mozilla Thunderbird.
The problem could allow an attacker to run programs on a computer.
To be safe you should be running Thunderbird 2.0.0.12. It should check for updates automatically, otherwise click on the Help menu and then on Check for updates. A restart of Thunderbird (not the computer) is needed to complete the installation.
Mozilla SeaMonkey is also affected and should be upgraded.
Internet Explorer and web standards
I do a little bit of web design here and there and it has to be said that the biggest headaches come from Internet Explorer. And, as that's the browser used by well over 80% of potential visitors it's a big headache.
The problem I had last night was with a clever little bit of JavaScript called Nifty Corners Cube. It adds rounded corners to boxes on a web page with just one line of code. There are some people who don't have JavaScript enabled but the other ways are a lot more work.
The finished page looked fine in Opera (my default browser) and in Firefox but not in Internet Explorer. Even worse, Internet Explorer was showing some of the boxes with proper corners and others without. Frankly I find inconsistent problems even more annoying than if it didn't work at all*.
There's been quite a lot written about the extent to which Internet Explorer 8 will follow accepted standards for web design. The most recent decision is that it will have a full standards mode but that it won't be turned on by default.
I'm not entirely sure who is really going to use a non default mode other then web developers. I don't really think that adding a small sign to a web site recommending people change their browser mode is going to catch on.
The problem with having the standards mode on by default is apparently that it would break an awful lot of web sites around the world.
When I first started writing this post I was of the opinion that this would be a bad thing and the people calling for full standards should be more pragmatic.
After the stress of last night, I've changed my mind. Most of the web standards are there with good reason and lead to better looking pages that load faster and don't break in different browsers.
That
*If I'm honest there is some logic to the problem. IE applies the Nifty Corners Cube properly to divs with an id but not those with class. But I though that wouldn't really be interesting to most people
Free Microsoft software for students
The Microsoft DreamSpark program lets Higher and Further Education students register to receive Microsoft software for free.
The titles include Visual Studio developer tools (such as Visual Studio 2008 Professional Edition and XNA Game Studio 2.0) and the Expression Suite of tools including Expression Web (review here).
To get the software, students must register and be verified.
It's worth pointing out that the Visual Studio Express Edition series can be downloaded by anyone, although they are limited in many ways. Still a good way to have a quick go at programming without having to spend any money.
A reminder to backup
I know I go on about backing up a lot but it is with good reason as these pictures show.
Apparently the only sign that anything was wrong was a 'nasty rattle'.
More horrifying pictures to be found on the original forum post.
If lack of software is holding you back, have a look at Drive Image XML, it's free and can make complete backups to a network share.
Drive encryption cracked using compressed air
Windows Vista includes some new software called Bitlocker that promises to lock up your disks - not just files, but entire disks - so that they can't be accessed without a password. That's great news for some businesses, who need to make sure that, should a notebook computer get lost, the data still can't be accessed. In fact, the government could probably do with a bulk order.
But here's the thing - it's not quite as secure as we thought. A group of computer scientists from Princeton University has found a way to get around the encryption technology with something as simple as a can of compressed air.
Essentially, the way it works is to rely on the fact that memory chips, although they lose information when they're switched off, they don't do so instantly. It takes a few seconds, and if you cool the chips down (which is where the cold compressed air comes in) you can slow the process further. Because the drive password is stored in memory you can then remove the chips and read the password.
It's not just Windows, either. Both Macos and Linux implement drive encryption in the same way, so the same hack applies to them. You can read the paper on their research, or take a look at a video they've posted that summarises the process, with handy pictures.
2008 to be the year of Vista or Linux?
As usual, the beginning of this year saw plenty of rallying calls by the Open Source community saying that this would be the year when Linux takes over the desktop. As there were last year. And the year before that.
I'm sorry to disappoint but I just don't see it happening. The most positive outcome is the 'beginning of the end' but even that requires quite a stretch of the imagination.
Whatever its faults, Windows Vista is stable, has a host of useful utilities that people need such as parental controls and is very familiar. And let's not write off Windows XP just yet either. Support is going to continue for many years yet, and there are still new computers available with XP installed.
Linux has made great strides in the last few years but it still often seen as being hard to use. The reality is quite different for the most part but reputations like this are hard to shift. Think of how often the Mac and Linux camps complain about Windows instability when what they are really referring to is Windows 98.
The other problem is the wide diversity of Linux distributions. Distrowatch.com has a chart for the most popular one hundred Linux distributions. That's daunting for me and I've been using Linux for years now.
Finally, choice of operating system has as much to do with the available software. OpenOffice can fulfil most Microsoft Office tasks but there are times when the alternative just won't do. As I found out the hard way when opening a planning sheet in OpenOffice Calc once.
I also enjoy playing around with music creation software, such as Magix Music Maker and Studio, and Ableton Live (download the demo here), which keeps me on Windows. Or Mac at a pinch.
I'm sure that Linux will continue to gain ground throughout the year as long as distributions like Ubuntu keep up the good work they've been doing. But Windows is going to dominate for some years yet.
New version of AVG Internet Security released
AVG (the company formerly known as Grisoft) has released a new version of their Internet Security software.
One new addition is the LinkScanner (the free version can be downloaded here). AVG bought Exploit Prevention Labs last year and have integrated their technology. Put simply it checks on behaviour rather than relying on lists of suspicious files. These days the more malicious hackers try to keep their attacks small enough to avoid notice, so definition lists are not as effective as they used to be.
You can keep up to date with the latest discoveries by Exploit Prevention Labs on their blog.
Hopefully some of the new features will trickle down to the free version soon.
RIP Netscape Navigator
We knew it was coming but the last update ever for Netscape Navigator has been released. If there are any problems or security vulnerabilities discovered, the won't be fixed.
It seems strange to be sad about the end of a software program but Navigator was the first browser many of us used. I say used rather than experienced because back in those days it was much better than Internet Explorer.
Netscape still lives on in the form of Firefox and Thunderbird, that take on the browser and email sections of the browser.
Google has a long memory
Very amusing post by Ed Bott over at ZDNet.com on the similar reaction XP got to Vista when it was launched seven years ago.
For the record, having been a fan of Windows 2000, I took to Windows XP as soon as I installed the Beta, and that was on a computer with just 128MB of RAM (my requests for more were turned down!). Given the alternative was Windows 98 in the office I never looked back
For my evidence that Vista has not fostered the enthusiasm that greeted Windows XP, I look at the number of manufacturers that still offer Windows XP.
Still it's good to see human nature stays the same
Windows Live SkyDrive launches
Another online storage service, this time from Microsoft. Windows Live SkyDrive now offers 5Gb of online storage without any cost.
One benefit is the ability to share files with other Live users.
While all of these services are very useful it becomes a hard choice as to which to pick (I can't really remember five or passwords more passwords for regular services). Part of me wants to use these services to share and so make sure that other people are using the same service.
Then again, as I don't actually know anyone who might want to share files with me like this, perhaps I should just make a decision. If I'm going to use online storage I might as well have some online tools as well. For that reason the myGOYA online desktop is quite tempting. It includes the Zoho software for editing office documents.
More updates can be found on the SkyDrive Team blog, ht to the Vista Team Blog
Get Word and Writer to play nicely together
I've installed OpenOffice on just about all my computers, even those with Microsoft Office already on them. It's a useful backup in case of problems, and can get around 
some of the more basic password protection in Word and Excel (or at least in Office 2003).
OpenOffice can be told to use Microsoft Office formats, and this is probably the first thing you should try. As much as it seems to defeat the object of using an alternative, setting the default to Office does make life easier, especially when sharing files with other people.
More information can be found here.
Another useful tip is to install the Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for Office 2007. Even if someone remembers to save the file in doc rather than docx, they may use the new fonts. This pack installs them onto the computer. It shouldn't require Office to install, but if it does complain the Word Viewer utility (download for free from here) should solve the problem.
Gaming nostalgia
Even with the amazing graphics and surround sound available to modern games, there are some classics that defy time.
Of course, nostalgia tends to look with rose tinted glasses. I have found that I think of the game graphics as I would expect to see them today, normally leading to disappointment when giving them another go.
There are several web sites with plenty of old games that are considered 'abandonware', that is to say the companies are not bothered that they can be downloaded for free. A website called the underdogs has a very large collection but it hasn't been updated for some time. Abandonia has regular updates.
Few old games will work without a helping hand in Windows XP or Vista. Help is at hand from the marvellous DOSBox. This creates a window running DOS that can be set up to mimic older computers. There are various utilities to give it a more friendly look including although my favourite D-Fend was sadly closed. DOSBox is open source and available for Linux and Mac.
Gamespy published a list of games they would like to see updated with modern graphics. Looking through the list, some games have already had worthy successors or updates.
One I've been playing recently is Titan Quest. There's nothing explicitly mentioned but it is very similar to Diablo. But in a good sense, as it is great fun and hasn't broken anything good about Diablo.
Sometimes the updates are enthusiast projects. I have been very impressed with the work by the Dark Forces mod for Jedi Academy. Dark Forces is one of my favourite games of all times, and was a brilliant first person shooter. It was more technically capable than Doom 2 and really felt like being in part of a Star Wars Movie. You will need to have a copy of Jedi Academy, but apart from that it is free.
Other games I think are worth a look are Carrier Command, Gods, Might and Magic II, Flashback and who could forget Elite?
XP still selling as much as Vista
Over a year after the launch of Microsoft's latest operating system, business computers with Windows XP installed are selling as many as those with Windows Vista installed, one computer company has told us.
Toshiba's notebooks, like those from other manufacturers, come with Vista installed as standard. However, for some of those computers it's also possible for customers who don't want Vista to buy the same computer with Windows XP installed instead.
What's interesting is that, for computers where the choice is available, some 50 per cent of buyers are opting for the older operating system rather than Vista.
Interestingly, some of the business notebooks the company sells, which are loaded with Vista, also come with a recovery disc that allows customers to make the downgrade themselves: using the disc they can remove Vista and replace it with XP. Doing it that way, it's possible to switch back to Vista for free later on, should users decide they need some features of the new operating system.
But Ken Chan, the product manager for Toshiba's computer systems division, told us that, when the choice is offered, roughly 50 per cent of users are still choosing to buy the computers with XP installed at the factory instead.
Microsoft's support for Windows XP will end in just over a year, on April 14, 2009. But in June this year, the company will stop supplying Windows XP to manufacturers such as Toshiba, so they'll no longer be able to install it on computers they sell.
Despite that, Ken Chan said Toshiba will continue to be able to supply Windows XP 'downgrade' discs in the box, and that the company will do that "for as long as we can".
Chan was speaking to us at Toshiba's 2008 product launch. At the same press conference, the company clarified its position on HD DVD, saying that it had no plans to start making Blu-Ray equipment.
Can Thunderbird repeat the success of Firefox?
Mozilla has launched a new website to promote their email software called Thunderbird at Mozilla Messaging.
Thunderbird is to Outlook Express (or Windows Mail) what Firefox was to Internet Explorer 6. It has a built in spam filter, which is almost reason enough on it's own to upgrade along with the ability to read lots of different email accounts and RSS feeds.
Like most open source projects, it is possible to get involved yourself. It doesn't matter if you're not a programmer, they also need designers and people willing to just try the test versions and report problems.
You can download Thunderbird here.
Mindmapping roundup
I like mindmapping; it's a great way of planning and, although it can be a bit hungry on screen space can help organise complicated projects relatively easily.
There's a very useful list of add-ins for MindManager to be found over at the Mind Mapping Software Weblog. MindManager is by no means the only mind mapping program, but for versatility and sharing information with Microsoft Office, it's one of the best. There is a demo version available.
A really big list of add-ins can be found at the Mindjet Partner Solutions page.
An interesting aside on the Mind Mapping Software Weblog is a survey on why people find mind mapping helpful.
New version of the Opera web browser
Quickly preview PDFs in Outlook with Foxit Reader
I often wax lyrical about PDF. It's a reliable way to distribute documents without worries of missing fonts or changing page margins. It's not exactly open in the opensource sense of the word, but it works well enough for me.
Sometimes though the Adobe software can be a bit slow. It would appear that this is a problem for previewing PDFs in Outlook. Help is at hand from an alternative preview program based on the Foxit PDF reader. Actual download link is here.
The downside, it's only available for Outlook 2007 on Vista, and as it's not an 'official' Foxit program (though made with their support) it's not supported.
Forget dual booting, run two operating systems simultaneously
There's nothing very remarkable about dual booting these days - my notebook has three operating systems, and apart from using up a lot of disk space all is fine.
Even virtualisation (running an operating system in a window of its own) has lost that new and exciting shine. Not to mention the fact that it can make a computer very slow.
So how about two operating systems (2000/XP/Vista and Ubuntu) at the same time. That's what andLinux is all about - thanks to LifeHacker for bringing this to my attention. And for providing some good instructions for getting started.
Why? Well there are some programs that I like in Linux that do not have versions for Windows. They are not crucial enough to reboot (or make the switch) but still worth having.
The other great thing is being able to share files between the two. For a long time I had a small FAT32 partition for saving files, though USB memory keys have taken on that role now.
A word on security
It is worth considering this warning on the andLinux homepage:
"It is recommended to use andLinux only on single-user-PCs or in a trustworthy environment because the communication with the X-Server and the launcher is not secured, i.e., every user who can login to Windows can access andLinux."
Check this list before installing Vista SP1
Vista Service Pack 1 is not quite out yet, so take the time to check with this list to make sure that you do not have any software that will not work.
There's nothing drastic in the list (it's safe to assume Office will work I think), although the majority of problems appear to be security software including Trend Micro Internet Security and Zone Alarm Security Suite.
Looking closer there appear to be fixes for all the software mentioned but this may be a site worth keeping an eye on.
Better Instant Messaging
Like many in the office, I use just one program for Instant Messaging (IM), rather than a separate apps. It's far more convenient to keep all the messages in one place, and most of the third party programs for this keep records, which can be useful.
My IM client of choice is Pidgin, formerly known as GAIM, but others in the office use Trillian. There isn't really a right choice, it's just what works for you.
Like many open source projects, Pidgin has the ability to use extra plugins. There is a useful list of these on Lifehacker. Worth taking a look if you have been considering Pidgin.
Change the Windows Start Menu
Given that the Start Menu is so central to using a computer, it sometimes surprises me that so few people change it.
Vista Start Menu is an alternative Start Menu with a Vista styling that works with Windows 2000, XP and Vista.
The menu is rather large and does look quite daunting at first but it is set out in sections, which go a long way to make it easier to navigate. The use of larger icons helps recognise individual programs.
If the Start Menu is not working for you, it is also worth considering a keystroke launcher like Launchy. Just start typing the name of the program and it makes suggestions of what you might be looking for. Similar to the Search box in the Vista start menu but a lot more versatile.
How do you make music with your computer?
The good people over at Magix are running a survey on how people music creation software such as Music Maker and Music Studio.
It doesn't take long to complete and there's prizes on offer including an iPod Touch
You can enter the survey here.
Repairing Vista Performance Information
I received an interesting question today from someone who had an empty Performance Information and Tools window.
At first I wondered if it was related to a change in hardware. I had a look on my notebook and saw that the update link had moved to the top because the Vista Performance Rating had not been updated since I upgraded the memory in my notebook.
What I hadn't realised until I was sent a screen grab was that there was nothing in the window apart from the 'Not sure where to start' link. And that didn't work either. It helps to have a sense of humour at these moments.
There is a solution to be found at Winhelponlin.com. This does involve editing the Registry so make sure you have made a System Restore point before starting. A proper backup won't hurt either.
Advice on Vista Gadgets
Microsoft has some useful advice on staying safe when using Windows Vista Gadgets. These are small applications that either run in the Sidebar or on the Desktop.
I've been impressed with both Gadgets and the very similar Yahoo Widget engine. They are especially useful on widescreen monitors when on a notebook for keeping an eye on battery levels and the time.
But like any extra software there is a certain security risk. Nothing particular but anything that can access files on the computer needs some thought. So the information on this page is a useful reminder.
Now what would be really cool would be a built in GPS so I could set a reminder to hibernate when getting close to my home station. One day...
Latest version of Filezilla released
News from the Download Junkie blog of the latest version of Filezilla.
I installed this opensource app a few years back and have never found anything as useful yet, even including paid for software.
It is used to transfer files to and from ftp sites online, the most common reason for this is uploading files for web sites.
Filezilla has really excelled for me when trying to set file permissions. This is information about what different people can do with files and is an essential part of keeping a web site secure.
If you have anything to do with transferring files to web sites, Filezilla comes very highly recommended
Experiences in backing up
Well, it seems that Vista has managed to fix whatever it was that I fouled up a couple of months ago. A very helpful tech from Microsoft called and tried to work through the problems. He couldn't identify any particular problem so we decided that a repair install was the best way forward.
In order to do this, I had to uninstall Service Pack 1 RC, otherwise the repair wouldn't work. I'd hoped that SP1 might solve the problem, although this wasn't the case.
Now that it's working I've decided to make a proper backup before doing anything else.
The biggest disappointment I've had with Windows Backup is that it won't backup to a network share. I can't face sitting with a pile of 10 DVDs and in any case I would need to start very early in the morning, so the hundreds of of GB on my home server.
The best alternative so far seems to be DriveImageXML, a freeware backup utility that also works well with Windows XP recovery CDs such as Bart's PE Builder.
Interestingly, DriveImage XML has issues with User Access Control. I'd just started on the downward spiral of disappointment that none of my drives were listed when the following message appeared, telling me to disable UAC before making the backup.
So disable it I must, but I will certainly turn it back on after the backup has finished.
Get Word and Writer to play nicely together
I've installed OpenOffice on just about all my computers, even those with Microsoft Office already on them. It's a useful backup in case of problems, and can get around some of the more basic password protection in Word and Excel (or at least in Office 2003). There is some helpful advice on the Workers' Edge for using both of these word processors
OpenOffice can be told to use Microsoft Office formats, which makes sense, after I've been asked to resubmit work because it's in ODF format. To give some sense of balance, the same thing happened with DOCX the other day as well!
Try a different keyboard layout
There's a small potted history of the Dvorak keyboard layout over at Lifehack.org, along with some tips on making the switch.
One problem has always been the difficulty of getting hold of a keyboard with the Dvorak layout. Windows is quite happy to pretend that a Qwerty keyboard is Dvorak but you can't then look at the keys for reference (even though this is a good way to learn).
I did once get my hands on a gaming keyboard with
Solutions include a useful print out and keep card from DVzine.org or the Dvorak Yahoo Widget (requires the Yahoo Widget Engine). The DVzine also includes a link to a utility (direct link to download) for using the Scroll Lock key to switch between Dvorak and Qwerty, and I found one a few months ago too.
I keep trying the new layout, and each time it gets easier and faster, the problem with having to produce copy quickly is that there isn't much of a margin to learn. It's not just Dvorak, handwriting recognition has also proved to be too slow, even if it is more satisfying.
New technology reviewed
Now, normally we wouldn't link to other technology reviews sites (not when we have our own excellent reviews site, of course).
But in this case, we're prepared to make an exception.
Round up of key stroke launchers
Regular readers will know of my love of Launchy, a simple app for launching software by name, rather than searching through the Search Menu.
The good people at Smashing magazine have collected together some of the best. I strongly recommend taking a look.
Microsoft 'Vista Capable' scheme in trouble
Much has been written about the problems caused by Vista not making Christmas, but things have got worse for Microsoft with a class action suit about the 'Vista Capable' scheme.
The idea was to put badges on computers to show that they could be upgraded with Vista. The problem is that there were two labels, Vista Capable and Premium Ready. Computers with Vista Capable did not have to be able to run Aero Glass. In fact a quick glance at the Microsoft page reveals that Vista Capable only demands 512MB of memory, a spec that caused much frustration on my notebook.
More worryingly the 'modern processor' only needs to run at 800Mhz. Apart from the difficulty of finding something that slow, I dread to think how slow that system would be. I have to ask whether the person who came up with these specifications actually used Vista on a computer of this capability.
Those of us in the industry know to take both Windows and game minimum specifications with a pinch of salt. But that's no comfort for those who just accept them because they don't know better. I once actually took a game back to the shop because the performance on a computer somewhere between minimum and recommended was so abysmal I couldn't play the game.
Vista as satire
Tucked away at the bottom of Charlie Brooker's excellent Guardian column today (which is mainly about St Valentine's day) is an entertaining aside:
This week Charlie bought a new computer and spent what seemed like 5,000 hours clicking dialog boxes in Windows Vista: "Which feels more like a satirical cartoon about infuriating bureaucracy than an operating system."
It's a fair point. While Vista is much easier to use in some ways - searching the Start menu, for instance - bits of it are much, much harder to use than they were in XP. Take wireless networking: it used to be fairly simple in Windows XP. Now, trying to connect to a weak network or trying to repair a broken connection is almost guaranteed to result in a spell of hair-tearing rage. Charlie, we can only sympathise.
In praise of Windows Explorer
Some aspects of Windows are so familiar or underutilised that they get overlooked. So today I'm going to redress that with some positive musing on the Save dialogue. Bear with me, there's more to it than you might think.
For starters you can change the view to include thumbnails if you are opening pictures. More?
We you can also move and rename files just as you would with a normal Windows Explorer window, and this is really useful.
To give a real world example I accidentally saved a document in the wrong place in Word yesterday and only discovered this when saving the next document. I was able to cut and paste the first document into the proper folder and then save the next file without leaving the Save as dialogue box.
A real time and stress saver.
Minor Internet Explorer annoyance
Is it just me, or do new tabs in Internet Explorer take a very long time to appear compared to Firefox and Opera? I know that it's not web traffic speed because I have it set to open a blank tab rather than load my home page.
Has anyone else found this?
One rule to guide them all
Review: Sensible World of Soccer Xbox 360 game
Those of us who did most of our real gaming
back in the 1990s on a Commodore Amiga were blessed with being able to learn to
play in a simpler age. The technical limitations of the hardware (the fact that
there was only one joystick button, for instance) meant that game developers
were limited in what they could do, and what they could make the player do.
The trouble is that if you didn’t carry on gaming into the 2000s with its proliferation of buttons on joypads, you now find yourself hopelessly lost if you try to pick up, say, Fifa 08, to have a quick game. There’s no single-button-mashing to be had nowadays – or at least, there is if you’re satisfied to lose every single game by a large number of goals.
So it’s a relief, then, to find that there is a new football game we oldie gamers can play without embarrassing ourselves. It’s called Sensible World of Soccer and, yes, it’s the same as the original. The new edition is available on the Xbox 360 through the increasingly good Live Arcade download service. You can play it in full retro mode, with the original graphics and sounds, although if you have a new big television it’s probably better to go for the new version, with graphics (slightly) spruced up for the 360.
Otherwise, it’s pretty much business as usual: push the left analogue stick in the direction you want your player to go, and press the button (only the green button is in use) to tackle or shoot. The top-down zoomed-out view remains, as does aftertouch: the ability to bend the ball after you’ve kicked it, which can make for some spectacularly unlikely shots.
The simplicity of the game is what made it special on first release over 10 years ago, and it’s the same now. It’s faster in play than modern football games, which means more exciting matches.
The career structure of the original remains: pick a team and keep playing them until they reach the heady heights of the top flight, changing your tactics and watching players’ values change along the way. What also remains are the strange names given to the teams (Chelsea are London Blues, for instance, and Arsenal are London Reds) – this being a holdover from the days before licensed football games. The updated version is rounded off with the online mode, allowing you to compete over Xbox live, which can be tricky to set up but proves to be just as entertaining as the single player version.
It costs 800 Microsoft Points (around £8) and is available on Xbox Live Arcade through your console.
Review: Rez Xbox 360 game
Synaesthesia is a condition whose sufferers
experience one sense as another. Wassily Kandinsky, the painter, was one – for
him, the act of painting created music in his head. Rez is probably as close as
any game has ever got to replicating the condition for