Top Games of 2018

2018 has been a bit of a twisty turny year for the industry. From the sad news of Tell Tale Games closing down to reading about IGN firing one of their reviewers for plagiarism, there's never been a dull moment on my news feed. In terms of games though, its been pretty steady if occasionally unremarkable. In some cases you have to look a little bit harder to find some true gems, especially since 2018 marks the year when Battle-Royale games exploded in popularity with Fortnite leading the charge. So in the spirit of a Battle-Royale, it felt apt to whittle down and rank the best games of 2018 until only ten were left standing - here is that list:

10. Overcooked 2

I put the original game on my best of 2016 list and this sequel serves up more of a good thing. Up to four players take charge of a restaurant as you collectively cook and prepare orders. While it starts off friendly enough, the kitchen inevitably falls into chaos as chopping boards teleport around the workplace, ingredients fall into lava and your girlfriend drops a completed dish into a swamp. Friendships will be tested since communication and cooperation are the only means you and your team-mates can rely on if you want to successfully get through the 40+ levels. If you were a fan of the first then its an easy recommendation, but with an easier difficulty level overall I could argue this one is better suited to newcomers. Either way, get some friends round, get a few beers in and boot this game up and you're guaranteed to have a good time.

9. Donut County

If a more charming game than Donut County came out this year then I'd like to see it.The concept is irresistibly daft: You play as a hole that goes around eating things, the more you eat the bigger you get, so you'll start off nibbling on sticks and flower pots before you start devouring barnyards and airplane hangers. It would be horrific if it weren't for the happy-go-lucky tone of the game which keeps your conscious clear while you separate a families to sate the hole. Beyond this though, the game has an almost meditative quality since it's simply relaxing to clean the screen of objects and messiness. Like any good doughnut, the game is short but sweet and its hard to resist going back for another helping.  


8. Guacamelee 2

 The Luchador Juan returns in this brawling metroid-vania. Instead of whips and axes you'll be doing suplexes and uppercuts to get through hoards of the undead in order to save the 'Mexiverse.' Yes, the game's story is written with it's tongue buried deep in its cheek, but the demanding gameplay is no joke. Combat sections can be as tough as they are flashy and dimension hopping platforming will challenge even veterans of the genre. Guacamelee 2 doesn't shake things up enough to feel like a truly great sequel, but if you liked the first game then there's a lot to love here. 


7. GRIS

An elegant puzzle-platformer with a truly gentle level of difficulty, GRIS puts an emphasis on the player journey. The gameplay and story are intentionally minimalist but you will feel a real sense of flow and purpose as you accompany the nameless singer on her journey to bring colour back to a monochrome world. The music and the artwork are the things that'll really keep you pushing forward through this gorgeous world. Every new zone is stunning and the game has a wonderful habit of surprising you with it's wonder every ten minutes. The world is a beautiful place, and GRIS is all about reconnecting with that truth.



6. Octopath Traveler

 

A delight for the eyes and ears, this RPG centres around the tales of 8 distinct characters as they learn about their place in the world. While it lacks a cohesive story that involves all the characters, the combat is what keeps me coming back. Each character has their own class and the innovative 'break system' gives each battle a compelling tug-of-war rhythm, once you've mastered the combat it becomes remarkably rewarding. If you've got an old school RPG itch that has gone for years unscratched, then this is just the ticket.

5. The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit

The game is a playable day-in-the-life of Chris, a young boy who believes he has superpowers. While Chris loves to indulge in his fantasy world, the reality of his life is truly painful. An alcoholic Father and an uprooted school-life are just some of the tragedies Chirs has had to endure, and by exploring Chris' household you may begin to understand why he's chosen a life of escapism. It's impressive just how easily the game taps into themes of innocence and imagination and it may very well remind you of your own childhood and the make-believe games you used to play on a lazy Saturday morning. What makes this experience even more impressive is its price tag of nothing. You can download and play this game for free right now.


4. Super Smash Bros Ultimate

Boasting a roster of 76 fighters, it makes all those photo-shopped 'dream character select screens' from the Internets golden days look modest. Everyone really is here in the biggest Smash Bros game ever and this comprehensive installment offers the most polished gameplay in the entire series. Between fighting (online and off), completing challenges and playing through the all new 'World of Light' adventure mode, there is an overwhelming amount of content here. With even more fighters promised in the future, this one is sure to keep multiplayer fans happy for a very long time. 


3. Celeste

I hasn't been since Super Meat Boy that I've sworn so loudly while playings 2D platformer. As Madeline, you are blindly determined to climb Celeste mountain, even though an old lady warns you that bizarre things occur to those who try scale it. As Madeline learns about herself, so too will you discover how far you are willing to push yourself to complete some fiendishly difficult platforming sections alongside ever evolving game mechanics that'll engage your brain and challenge your thumbs in all the right ways...

Also her best friend is called Theo, so I may be a little biased with this one.

2. Florence

Even as I'm writing this, it's a little difficult for me to fathom putting a mobile game so high on this list, but after a lot of reflection it does more than enough to earn such a high spot here. You join a young woman called Florence who is stuck in a monotonous daily routine, pretty quickly though she starts to develop a crush on a local busker and both of their lives start to change rapidly. All of Florence's story and gameplay is expressed through simple tap and swipe motions - you'll assemble puzzle pieces to hold small talk or shake around polaroid pictures to develop holiday memories. While simplistic, its the message that each action conveys that really drives the experience home since each chapter of the game is paired with an emotional truth, some will warm and others will break your heart. The fact it can be played on your phone means it's genuinely accessibility and its universal themes of love and loss means that is truly a game that anyone can play an appreciate.

1. God of War

This is a story about a Father and Son. Sure you get to decapitate some demons along the way, but the game never loses sight of that core relationship which grows organically across the adventure. You travel across a wildrenss steeping in Norse mythology to spread your wife's ashes atop the highest mountain in all the realms, but even this seemingly innocuous task is fraught with peril and has attracted the likes of malicious Norse Gods. It's also a game which is greater than the sum of it's parts, the combat is good but not great and the upgrade system doesn't feel immediately impactful, but none of that manages to tarnish the heart of this remarkable game. Brutal, cinematic and powerful it's my pick for the best of the year.

Famous Faces and Other Games

For the last time this Christmas I returned to Newbury for a one-off day to spend a bit of time with Mum's side of the family. Its the biannual get together where I see several members of my extended family and eat a buffet lunch which comprised of Dad's great coronation chicken and some petite cheeses, although if you ask some folks I apparently cut the brie totally wrong. Nevertheless we all had a good time playing a smattering of party games like name game, catch phrases and the infamous favourite: famous faces. The turnout was a bit smaller this year round, but as a result the event didn't feel cramped, nor did the games feel bloated with players. It turned out to be a really good mix this year and spirits were notably higher all round.

Spicy Countryside

After setting Rebecca's sat nav to Welsh mode (awful accent not included) we headed west to soak up the countryside. Rebecca got a new pair of walking boots she wanted to break in so we visited a Tower and some Roman baths as part of our Cadw membership - gotta make the most of it before it expires next month.

Seeing as I wasn't the one driving for three hours, I opted to do some cooking and rustled up a pad Thai. Usually that's Rebecca's signature dish but I added a few little spins to it. Mostly I rubbed in some chilli salt into the chicken and added a few dashes of sriracha for good measure. Hot sauce is definitely my new thing for 2019.

Happy Feet

Don't know why we were so busy at work today, guess its that funny period between Christmas and New Year were people are milling about, you would have thought people would have the decency to do that at home. At least I got to put my new work shoes through their paces and they are a total life saver. A college moaned about how their feet were hurting just as we finished and I just smiled a knowing smile as I though about my happy little toes tucked into a new shoe. Today also technically marks my last working day for 2018 since I'm not on shift again until New Year's Day, I got some small plans in between though so I won't be twiddling my thumbs too much.

Missing Christmas

While I know Christmas Day has been and gone, it didn't truly feel like Christmas was over until I left my parents and my Grandparents this evening. Grandma Margaret came back home with us last night and it's always nice to catch up with her especially. I bumped into her early this morning and we made a cup of tea together and that was a nice moment. With a heavy heart I bid farewell to everyone and it got me thinking about the holidays overall. In the whole run up to Christmas I didn't even remotely feel like celebrating, but now that its over my heart ached for just a little bit longer with my family. A chance to play games with Louis, help Mum with the jigsaw or do a bit of cooking with Dad, all these things came and went in the blink of an eye. I'm already looking forward to next year just so I can do all those things again.

Boxing Day 2018

Most of today was spent in the car heading to and from our Uncle and Auntie's house to meet up with the other half of the family. After eating nothing but gravy-soaked meats recently, they dished up a dinner that really hit the spot in the form of a nice curry! Not a traditional Boxing Day dinner but I was so ready to dig into something with a bit of spice. I got gifted even more items for my ever-growing Christmas hamper: more coffer, chocolate and hot sauces to take home with me - 2019 is looking like the year where I finally invite chilli sauce into my life as a permanent resident.

Happy Christmas 2018!

Here we are again, another Christmas Day. Decidedly a bit more of a quiet affair this year as it was only Mum, Dad, Louis and Granny Sue round to share the festivities with. It was relaxing to take everything down a gear though and just camp out by the fire watching Dad's Army and snippets of The Muppets Christmas Carol.

In particular, the food my parents rustles up this year was really superb. I mean they always do a good job, but today everything tasted so good, from the glazed gammon for breakfast, down to the cranberry sauce with the turkey. I certainly got my fill anyway, although now that I think about it, I could have gone for thirds on Christmas pudding.

Present wise, I got a swanky electric toothbrush (because I'm an adult now) followed by a good little travel coffee cup and a lot if Vietnamese goodies. Also got a copy of Codename Pictures which I managed to get the whole family involved with - happy to say it went down well too! All the gifts I gave out were hits too, I got Dad a whetstone to sharpen his kitchen knives and Mum got a collection of wooden Nordic Elves which she proudly displayed almost immediately, and not just to humour me.

It crazy to think about not only how quickly the day came to an end, but also how quickly Christmas has come back round again this year. Feels like only yesterday I was wishing my family a Merry Christmas as I toddled off to bed, its been quite a busy year for me in many ways but I feel so privileged to be able to spend some quality time with my family.

To everyone reading, I hope you got the Christmas you were hoping for and that the day didn't go too quickly before you got a chance to show the people closest to you how much they mean to you. Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve 2018

Literally, never felt jollier at the start of work today. All three of us on shift were greeting people with genuinely warm smiles, offering seasons greetings and wishing them a Merry Christmas as they left. It was going to be a quiet day today so if we pace out the cheer, they day will be lovely. Then we got monstrous busy and that cheer evaporated immediately.

Just about managed to push through the day though and I ran home to hop on a train back to Newbury. Got back just in time for the Christmas party and a big old glass of mulled wine. Feeling super festive now and ready for the big day tomorrow. Can't wait for a big slap up meal and some quality time on the sofa.

Skinny Latte Man

Guess I should cone out and say it, I haven't been feeling even remotely Christmassy this year. After the roaring success of last years 'Quest for Christmas' I thought I could rest on my laurels and the seasons cheer would flow through me effortlessly. In reality, I feel as festive as a tea bag. That was until about lunchtime today at work...

One of our most frequent regulars is a chap we've dubbed 'Skinny Latte Man'. He popped in today, ordered his usual and a college went off to give him his coffee, she returned holding a rather large present and a glum look in her face. After chatting with him, she discovered that he comes in often because he used to come in all the time with a good friend, who sadly died of cancer earlier in the year. Coming to Coffee #1 is his own little way of staying close to that friend and reminding himself of all the good times they spent together. The present he offered was to thank all of us for being consistently warm, friendly and accommodating whenever he comes in. He got us a box of Milk Tray and its fair to say that none of us were expecting a present like that, and this particular act really touched me. While I know that Christmas is the season of giving, this moment reminded me that Christmas is a chance for all of us to be the best possible version of ourselves and to offer thanks to one another for all the good times shared throughout the year. That spark for the goodness of the human spirit returned to me for the first time this December after that humbling act, so much so that I even found myself involuntarily singing Christmas songs while washing up. Thank you Skinny Latte Man, I'm now even more eager to get home and spend some quality time with my family this year.

Chris-SMASH Once Again

Got up bright and early to go to work today, initially I was dreading it but it turned out to be a really good day. There was a real sense of synergy within the team at work and that was refreshing and a little invigorating. Ran home from work so I could hop in the car with Rebecca to head home to Newbury for a whistle stop tour (literally had time for a haircut and a coffee) before tripping out to Reading to participate in 'Su-Beer ChrisSMASH Bros' our friend's Smash Bros tournament. Probably was one if the best Smash events I've been to with that lot, the games were hype and the energy levels were incredibly high. Walked out holding the trophy (retained my title!) And now I'm on the midnight express home to Bristol.

Been a long old day, but I'm immensely glad I made the effort to make the trip all the way out and back again. Got to see Mark and Dan again for the last time before Christmas so I got to wish them a merry one, that pair have recently shown to me the importance of our friendship and that's something I truly value - hope they both have a very Merry Christmas!

Prezzies Done and Dusted

And with that, all my Christmas shopping is done. Went out with Louis and Rachel to pick up presents for the last few people on our lists and boy is it a liberating feeling. Even though my cold was in full force this morning, I've felt myself getting better throughout the day - a big cheese on toast lunch probably had something to do with that.

Got a big day ahead of me tomorrow, got to open up the coffee shop early doors, then I'm headed to Newbury for our Smash Bros tournament... And coming back to Bristol in the same night - ready for it!

Suffering Onna Sofa

I can't remember the last time I had as bad a nights sleep as I had last night. My nose was bunged and my eyes were watering for ages so my breathing pattern was all over the place, I got to 1am without sleep so I got up to have a little walk about the living room before trying again to get back in bed. Another hour went by, still not asleep. I got up again, sat down on the sofa and closed my eyes. Next thing I know I hear Rebecca calling my name as she find me in my pants huddled up on the sofa with a throw over me - not my best look by any means, but at least I got some kip.

The cold got progressively worse while I was at work and all I wanted to do was cuddle up on the sofa under the Christmas tree. Thankfully, that's exactly what I got to do once I got home and Rebecca and I even exchanged gifts, I got a lovely navy suit jacket which I actually cannot wait to wear. Going to look very swish at the next function I'm heading too!

For now though, I must do battle with sleep once more, I'm so shattered after last night I should just conk right out, but I guess we'll see...

Christmas Cold

Felt a little bit cruddy as I walked into work, I chalked it up to simply feeling just a bit homesick around Christmas, but then about halfway through the day I literally felt my throat go from normal to sore in about 60 seconds. Then I started sneezing. Then my eyes started watering. Think I've got a Christmas cold.

To combat the naffness in my sinuses I invited Louis and Rachel round for a super mini Christmas thing with a half roast for dinner followed by plenty of Smash Brothers. Louis brought with him a recommendation for some Christmas jazz to play during social events and the moment he left I begun downloading the soundtrack to A Charlie Brown's Christmas - just what I've been looking for this year!

Hole in my Shoe

The Young Ones popularised the track Hole In My Shoe and it was all I could hear in my head while I walked into work, mostly because I was experiencing the lyrics in a very literal sense as my shoe was indeed letting in water. I wrung my sock out once I got to work and the water was jet black, I very nearly nipped into the nearest charity shop to buy another dry sock to wear on shift.

Dampness aside, My evening turned out to be a warming experience since we went out to visit friends for a Christmas get together. Got to eat a lot of beige food plus we got in a few rounds of Codewords which is always a good time.

Can't believed its a week until the big day now... Still got presents to buy!

Day of Two Extremes

Walking to work I was expecting a nice, quiet Monday to ease me back into things after some busy filming days, instead I was greeted to Hell on Earth. There was only two of us on shift too so we each had to do battle with a very constant feed of customers with no opportunity to clear tables - it was a bit of a mess. But right after midday, the crowds subsided and we were back to being a sleepy coffee shop.

The thought that got me through the day was knowing that Rebecca picked up the new cardigan I ordered from town, I fell in love with it the moment I tried it on, and now that I own it in the right size I'm even more chuffed with it. Think it'll be my look of 2019!

New and Old TV

Woke up forgetting that I bedded down in a hostel last night. For a brief moment the room felt totally alien to me, but then again the way the room was arranged and decorated looked like it was done by aliens. I travelled over to meet up with Rebecca and her parents for breakfast and later lunch before heading back home to Bristol. Rebecca's parents recently got a brand spanking new television so they donated their old one to us, and boy what a difference its made to our viewing experience! It was incredible watching The Apprentice final on it and I already can't wait to play plenty of games on it! Can take the old one back to Newbury again to put back in my old room.

12 Killers Day 2

Battled against the elements for most of today. First order of business was setting up a big old gazebo in case we needed to put kit underneath, a few hours later we packed it up again because the whole thing just got too damn wet. I kept morale up by prepping some more meals and making some fine coffee for several supporting actors that came in. Somehow managed to get through this shoot without being asked to be a background actor, even though I was ready to get into costume at a moments notice.

I'm tucked up again in the Air B&B, this time without Mark since he had to drive back to Newbury tonight. That guy doesn't get enough credit for all the hard work he puts into these shoots, he's a real good egg.

12 Killers Day 1

Rode on down via the 5am Megabus down to London (slept all the way, bloody dream trip) to work on yet another Wildseed shoot. Really got the chance to do a bit of everything too, mostly catering but I helped out everywhere else where I could. At the end of the day, Mark and I marched wearily to bed, although we had a bit of a Planes, Trains and Automobiles moment when we got to our Air B&B though as we noticed there was only one double bed. We've been through a lot Mark and I, but I don't think we've ever had to share a bed together until now.

The Cardinal of Cardigans

Went out on a total Christmas shopping bender with Rebecca today and I'm happy to say I've ticked most people off my list now. Most importantly though, I found my cardigan white whale while shopping in M&S, I've been looking for a navy jumper with buttons, pockets and a collar for what feels like all my life, at long last I found one and at a good price too! I daresay I never need to buy another jumper now since I have one for every social vibe now, don't quote me on that though, 6 months down the line I'll be pining for something else.

Cross about Croissants

Battled my way through the 6th day of work on the trot now, the closing down procedure is now burnt into my brain and I already can't wait to not dismantle an orange juicer tomorrow. One perk if closing the shop is getting a goodie bag full of cakes and pastries, seeing as our new manager is learning the ropes on how much stock we need to take out, I've been coming hone with a lot of treats. So much so that Rebecca had to have a little intervention and tell me to stop bring home croissants (very middle class thing to complain about). I was about to fight my corner, but when she pointed out we had nearly a dozen stale pastries sitting in the fridge I had a bit of a Gordon Ramsey Kitchen Nightmares moment where I had to swallow my pride.

Can't wait for breakfast tomorrow though!

Latte Artist

Figured that since I spend a fair amount of time making coffees, I might as well get the hang of creating some latte art. Over the years I've tries to watch YouTube videos on how to do it properly but I've yet to find a single one that's decent. They all just end with 'and its as easy as that!' While omitting the key techniques required to actually create latte art. One of my colleges happens to be pretty good at it however so she showed me the ropes. I'm happy to say I've got the heart (the easiest one) down pat now so its just a matter of time before I'm going nuts with what I can create.

Christmas Cheek

Been keeping Rebecca feeling chipper by being a bit cheeky while putting up our Christmas tree this evening. When I wasn't intentionally putting decorations in rubbish spots I was playing 'alternative' Christmas songs that really wound her up (best one was Tom Waits Christmas song). Her cold seems to be on the way out now so I think she's fair game for a bit of teasing. Out flat is looking rather festive now too, I didn't realise just how many unique tree decorations we've collected over the years now, the tree's got a bit of personality and isn't simply wearing a bunch of baubles.

The Weekend Crowd

Every moment it seemed like I was about to go on my break at work the queue picked up again. Been a while since I've worked a double weekend shift too and I can now say with confidence that I'm not a fan of the weekend crowd. I did get the chance to dive into the Sunday market that was going on nearby and I got myself a witty postcard for free! Felt a bit bad I didn't have 50p on me but the chap was just eager to share his wares I think.

Rebecca came back from Edinburgh tonight with an almighty cold. I know this because she keeps telling me how ill she is every 5 minutes. But its OK, I just keep acting sympathetic every time she tells me and that seems to comfort her - hopefully she'll feel better in the morning. Really hoping I don't catch this cold too...

Cog in the Coffee Machine

Muscled my way through a very long day at the coffee shop. There was a local rugby game going on which meant we were a little swept off our feet with customers... But at the same time we had too many staff members working too. It was a case of 'too many cooks' at the height of it all, sometimes I felt like a key team member, but other times I felt like a spare part.

Got home to see Louis and Rachel again, I think Louis just wanted to play some more Smash Brothers but it was still nice to see him. At the rate we're going, we should probably start to look for places where friendly tournaments are happening...

Smash Bros Ultimate

Got some butterflies in my stomach during my shift today, the kind that only an anticipated video game can give me. This time, it was perhaps one of my most desired games for the past few months: Smash Bros Ultimate. Once I finished work I hopped on a bus and ran into Game to pick up my copy and then ran back home to boot it up (can't remember the last time I ran so fast to play a game). But even with all the jogging, I waited for Louis to come round so we could experience the beginning hours of the game together, and what a hell of a great experience that's been. Unlocking characters left, right and centre, the game drip fed us entertainment and smiles. Nothing brings us together like Smash Bros.

Bath Christmas Market - The Redemption

Very early driving lesson was on the cards first thing this morning. It marked the first time I drove in the darkness and also against a fair bit of rain. Still felt that I did rather well though and it was a good lesson overall.

Tomorrow marks the day the new Super Smash Bros game comes out so I spent most of today counting down the hours. What made the time go by very quickly was a meet-up with Louis and Rachel to go out in the evening to Bath Christmas market. I heard reports that it was hell on Earth, but since we went late on a weekday it was a perfectly good level of people, I'd even say it was quite empty in places! Really glad we got a chance to see the market after being snubbed by it last year, felt really festive as I munched down on a wild boar burger and sipped a hot chocolate - we even got a little decoration for our tree!

Manager Meet Up and Goodbye

Had quite possibly, the quietest day at work I've ever encountered so far since being at the coffee shop. Between 1-3pm I think I only served 5 people, there were 4 of us working too and after we cleaned everything there was literally nothing else we could do aside from chat and drink coffee - I'm getting paid either way so I'm not complaining.

After closing up the shop we all hung out again at a nearby pub for our managers leaving party. It was the first kinda social event we all attended outside of work and it was nice to see everyone with a beer in them and a bit of Christmas cheer. I brought Pass the Pigs with me as a bit of a joke, but after I presented it everyone wanted a go! It went down remarkably well since everyone wanted a go and someone even brought their own copy of the game off Amazon there and then so they could play it later. After we put down the pigs, we presented our manager with a gift (a copy of Watchmen as recommended by me) and a card, he was smitten since he wasn't expecting anything at all.

It was a bitter sweet event, no one had a single bad word to say about him and we were all happy he was moving on, but deep down we all wanted him to stay. In the time I worked with him I'd dare say that we became good friends and it was especially hard to say goodbye to him once we all left. If you're out there Mitch, know that you're a damn good egg and it's sad to see you go.

Not Quite a Panto

Once the working day was done Rebecca and I rushed home to head out to the glittering streets of downtown Bristol to go and see a play at The Old Vic, specifically A Christmas Carol. This particular production had a kinda Tim Burton / steam punk vibe to it which gave it a unique identity without losing sight of the main story. I asked Rebecca if it was a panto and she assured me it wasn't, moments later they were asking the audience to get up on stage. Bless this one little girl, they picked her out to play Tiny Tim and she did a smashing job, she spent most of the second half sitting in the wings because they needed to bring her back in every now and then but she was a good sport. Really enjoyed the show though thanks to some creative staging and some visually knock out moments.

Starting to feel the Christmas spirit a bit now. First thing we did after the play ended was buy a bottle of advocaat, which as we all know, pairs beautifully with a mince pie.

Manager Meet Up

Wrote up a little 'to do' list last night and I successfully followed it to the letter. The centerpiece was heading into town for some Christmas shopping, not only did I get some good bits and bobs, but also a calendar for next year and some Christmas tree decorations. In the evening U met up with my manager at work for some very casual drinks at the pub, was really great to hang out with him outside of work, sadly he's leaving us in a few days time and I really relished the opportunity to grab a drink with him.

StratLAN Day 4

Even though Mark was quite literally banging on my bunk bed to wake me up, I managed to sleep in until 11am this morning. So I dragged my weary bones back onto my desk for one final day of games, we were ready to stick on our PC's all day but Mark spotted a VR headset in the corner of one room. Since trying out VR, Mark and I have been desperate to play a game called Beat Saber, and today our wish was granted. It was a total revolution too, after I beat a challenging level I took of the headset and exclaimed 'That was so much fun!' I can't remember the last time I said that about a game.

A little while later, I packed down my desk and said farewell to Daniel as we hit the road. My feet and heart felt heavy after we announced we were leaving, its been a really amazing experience staying in the camper van and playing games with my close friends all day for a long weekend. In some ways, games are the ultimate rejection of reality and I feel that knowing that real life would rear its ugly head tomorrow made the prospect of leaving all the more difficult.

StartLAN Day 3

Committed to trying to involve myself a little more with the crowd here at StratLAN today and Mark and I managed to integrate neatly with some chaps sitting near us. Started off with a good old game of Worms Armageddon followed by several shooters and Golf With Your Friends. Our other goal was to go at it quite hard tonight too so we ended up playing board games until 4 in the morning! Did quite well I reckon.

Here's a handful of pics took by Mark and me of the event as promised. Got one of the campervan (I'm in the top bit that's all puffed out) really cosy camper.

And here's a few of some of the set ups in the dark, that's about 1/6th of the amount of people and computers at this event, blooming mental!

StratLAN Day 2

Woke up to a hell of a good view of the sun rising over the race course, it was practically beaming today, much to the chagrin of all the serious gamers here who wouldn't stand for even a smidgen of screen glare.

Spent the day playing a few more board games than expected which was a nice change of pace. Dan even cracked out the new Mario Party for some 4 player fun. I want to take a few more pictures tomorrow so I can make a little slideshow for Rebecca, make her chuckle at least.

Big shout out to Mark's BBQ beans too, kept my belly full and my lips tingling - just what I needed this afternoon to keep me going.