Timeless Classics: Wacky Wheels

I wonder how many of us remember the first computer game we played... I guess one of the first games I played was on a 486 kB RAM computer that runs on DOS OS. Used to play them very often: Raptor - Call of the Shadow, Battle Chess 1 and 2, and most memorably a game called Wacky Wheels.

This arcade-style game, developed by Beavis Soft and produced by Apogee Software (creater of Raptor and Duke Nukem!) in 1994, is basically a Go-Kart racing game similar to that of Super Mario Kart. The game also features a selection of a handful of cute animals (shark, tiger, duck, camel, etc) to select from.

Lineup at the starting line

Why does this game rock?

1. For an old game, it actually features a lot of game modes. Single Player Race(duh!), Multi-Player Race (split screen/online/LAN cable direct), Wacky Shoot-out etc.
2. Lets you use collectible hedgehogs and bombs to take out or distract ur opponents.
3. Has a game mode that lets you go around shooting as many ducks as possible in a 2-minute timeframe.
4. What could be more fun than facing off with your friends in a deathmatch mode (similar to FPS games), using cute animals.
5. It's OLD SCHOOL!

Overwhelm your opponents with ammunition...

... or just go duck-hunting!

One fatal mistake and you're out! Oh well, at least you have 2 lives more

Recently I got my hands on it again, so I guess I'm gonna start shooting some ducks and racing some animals.

p/s No ducks were hurt in the production of this game.

The End of The World??

Finally went to watch the most hyped up blockbuster of the season, 2012. In fact the movie had so much hype surrounding it to the point that tickets all over Malaysia were being snapped up the very moment the counters open. Even in Ipoh itself, tickets for the whole day were all SOLD OUT when the gf and I reached the counters at approximately 5 p.m., but fortunately there were still tickets to watch "A Christmas Carol" (which was pretty nice).

After the movie, it was 11 p.m. and somehow there were some people who gave up their bookings for 2012 last-minute, so we very conveniently managed to catch the midnight show. Even though we were a little tired, this was still the movie with the hype. In fact I had not heard a single bad review about the movie.

After coming out, I would say that my verdict: Disappointment of the year.

I guess maybe I had my hopes a little too high. Or maybe it really was bad. First of all,

What I would expect from a typical end-of-the-world movie:

1. Total Annihilation

• Basically the idea is that everyone dies, leaving no room for survival. Otherwise, the survivors are desolate, living in a world that is neither dead nor alive.

2. Overwhelmingly scary-looking tsunamis that can make you pee your pants

• This picture is basically seconds before a tsunami strikes... I guess you get the picture.

3. Extreme tension (and scares!) and unpredictable twists

• Nail-biting from beginning to end, makes you go "Oh crap..." for the whole show. A brilliant twist in the movie always does good. Makes you go like, "Whoa, I never thought of it that way... Ingenious..."

4. Crazy volcanic eruptions that make nuclear bombs look like jokes

5. Lastly, an emotional underlying theme that makes you think of what you would do if it comes

to this

• The hallmark of a good, if not brilliant movie lies in its ability to make you ponder about your own life. It helps you to relate it to yourself. Would you be able to keep your marbles together if you are faced with the same situation?

Why I thought the movie was disappointing:

1. The people survived by getting onto arks, mirroring Noah's Ark. There ain't nothing wrong with that. However the thought of the Ark actually surviving water intrusion and multiple impact at full force actually isn't logical.

2. Although the trailer looked scary, the tsunamis in the movie were highly disappointing. the waves and the waters flooded the lands, but honestly, I didn't feel anything when I saw it.

3. Predictable story. There were no surprises throughout the movie. Yes, the tension was there,

• But somehow you just knew that a really really long limousine would be able to drive past the falling buildings and make it on time before the building came down.
• And you would be able to predict that the jet planes would be able to take off in the last moment despite having a limited runway.
• Oh yes, and not to forget. The Indian man who provided them with the information that saved them all was betrayed.
• There are 5 minutes left. You are the only person who can save everyone on the ship. But you still have the time to share a long passionate kiss with your wife and argue with your son about whether he should follow you or not. Good job, now you've got 2 more minutes!

4. Potong stim.

• Seconds before a tsunami is going to hit you. You are with your whole family, whom you will never see again. The first thought, "I'm gonna call my best friend to remind him that he betrayed me!!" =.=
• You actually have cell phone reception at a time of a tsunami attack. =.='
• Before dying, the man looks to his son... calls his name, looks like he's about to say something touching... they all die. =.=''
• Scientist tries to woo president's daughter. They are in an ark, and you can't get OUT to even the decks. President's daughter asks, "Are you asking me OUT?". =.='''
• The inspirational President's last words before death were "Oh s**t!"

5. The volcanic eruption scene was made to look like a joke by the antics of this weird radio DJ character. I was laughing during that scene.

6. The show wasn't very thought-provoking or emotional. Even when the man who saved their lives (he happens to be the new boyfriend of the heroine after her divorce with the main protagonist) died a tragic death, they only said "No!!!!" and shed a few tears before totally forgetting him by the end of the movie.

Liverpool 2 - 0 Manchester United

This is probably old news, but hey... This is a crucial victory for Liverpool fans out there. More importantly, it just shows how unpredictable football can be (considering how everybody thought that Liverpool could not have had any worse opposition after a 4-match losing streak).

Several highlights here from the match. The most notable being the performance of Yossi Benayoun. Outstanding work rate and skill. Throughout the whole match he did not give up, and we don't even need to mention the sublime pass to Torres that supplied the all-important goal.

Scorer and assister

Equally important was the comeback of Jamie Carragher to top form. He has received a lot of criticism in the previous games, critics even suggesting that he was way past his best. But as Paul Tomkins said in his column on Liverpoolfc.tv, not even with 1000 beach balls on the pitch would United have scored against the defence of Carragher and Agger. =P

Still at his best

On the other hand, another saga continues as Nemanja Vidic has completed his hattrick by getting his 3rd red card in as many matches against Liverpool.

This was from the previous match

For Lucas critics, this was arguably his best performance in a red shirt. I was impressed with his play. He has improved but yet has much to prove.

But to be fair. This is only but ONE game (albeit a very important one!) and the season is far from over. I can only say "we shall see" and we shall not assume we will beat United again at Old Trafford later in the season, as they cannot assume that they will win the season this time round again (Even though both did happen last season).

The Orphan

It's been quite a while. Haven't been able to go online for a long time. But I'm back from a week of wonderful blessings. Have been having so many free dinners the whole week, and to top it off Renae won some tickets to watch the premiere of The Orphan, which was in GSC Midvalley Megamall. Unfortunately she couldn't make it, so Aaron Lat followed me to catch it.

Started out early to try to avoid the jam, but as usual the roads were jammed up all the way from the Damansara exit toll until the ss2 junction. It was going to rain, as the lightning was flashing all over the sky. Seemed like a great atmosphere before catching a horror movie. =)

Unfortunately I couldn't quite catch the lightning on camera though. Well, after a rather jammed up journey to Midvalley, we finally got there early enough to collect the tickets.

*Spoiler Warning*

The Orphan revolves around the story of a couple with 2 kids of their own who, after losing a possible third child in a miscarriage, decides to adopt an orphan and love her as their own.

In the orphanage, the husband stumbles upon a particularly bright and well-mannered 10-year old girl who goes by the name of Esther. The couple are immediately captivated by her maturity and her charming way of conversation. They would take her into their household. For a while life seems to be getting brighter and more cheerful, but will it remain so? Or is Esther really who she seems to be?

All-in-all a great thrilller that will excite you and keep you interested right up to the last moment. And NO, Esther is NOT a ghost, nor does she possess any supernatural abilities that make her dangerous. That's it, I'm not going to spoil the movie for the rest of you. But yeah, do watch it. =D

_______________

*Spoilers end here*

So i would say this is a good movie for all horror enthusiasts. =) Oh, and those who love SAW and Final Destination too. Thanks again sweet! =)

Mojoe's 1st Review: Plants vs Zombies

Here's a little advertisement for the creators of this game. (I have not been paid to do this!)

If you enjoyed games like,

1. Typershark

2. Zuma

3. Bookworm

4. Bejeweled!

YOU ought to try out the All New (okay, not that new) Plants vs Zombies!!

This is, as with all the other PopCap games, highly-addictive and highly-adorable. What is this game all about? The whole idea of the game is explained "helpfully" by this picture...

Anyways, the whole idea is that zombies are coming to attack you house to eat your brains. The only defence you have against them is a whole arsenal of...... PLANTS!! (How helpful is that?) Somehow the system works, and you gotta exercise your green fingers to save yourself (and your brain!) from destruction.

You are given time to plant some plants on your lawn. You can choose from a whole range of plants that provide various options including the "Sunflower", which provides extra sunlight for you to plant more plants, the basic "Pea Shooter" that well, just shoots peas and kills zombies, and those are just to name 2 of them.

There are also many kinds of zombies to fight with, ranging from the regular weak zombie to American Football zombies to even zombies driving a bob-sled or riding on dolphins (they're undead too, mind you!). All that effort, just to eat your puny little brain! *phew*

There are many levels that vary in terms of scenario as you progress, and if at any point you get bored of just planting and blocking zombies, you can unlock 3 other game modes with multiple levels of their own. So in other words, this game provides a lot more depth than other games of similar simplicity.

Daytime scenario with all kinds of crazy zombies

Those glowing things are sunlight btw, and it's a wonder how the tombs spawn at night

And, in the event where all your plants die, and the zombies attack your house, you have a last line of defence, which is a lawnmower which will flatten the intruding zombies. But, if after that you let another zombie through...