"Things will be different."

Last night, Rockstar released the first preview trailer (http://www.rockstargames.com/IV/trailer_splash.html) of the next instalment in the Grand Theft Auto franchise; GTA IV. I was in the pub at the time (more about that at a later point) but I've just watched it this morning and it is simply stunning.

It appears to be set in what looks like a complete reworking of Liberty City, as GTA III did to the original GTA's version of the city, but this time is a much more realistic recreation of the city, with several landmarks from the city it is parodying (New York) present.

Working on the assumption that the guy talking during the trailer is either the main character of at least features prominently, it would also appear that you'll play a Russian or at least someone connected with the Russian Mafia.

Oh, and did I mention that the graphics look lush? According to my trusty friend Wikipedia, the shots in the trailer were taken from in-game from it actually running on a console. The prospect of being given free run of an entire city (or perhaps even more, if they do something similar to San Andreas) which looks almost life-like leaves me wanting to get hold of this game now. Looks like I've got until October to get a PS3, then.

I'll be brutally honest. I really cannot be motivated enough to think of an amusing title for this.

Hello again. Thought I'd fire up the ol' blogger again, this being mainly borne out of boredom and more caffeine in me than is generally considered healthy.

Lots of things have been happening in my life recently, such as... no, I'm sorry. I really am, but I just can't keep this façade up. Between reading about the political life of 19th Century Parisian workers and playing Final Fantasy XII, my life will appear to the observer to be about as interesting as watching paint dry. Not for me though; Final Fantasy XII is an incredibly awesome game. I'll spare you the minutiae of why this is the case, but all I need to say is that if this game were a person I'd be marrying it.

St. Patrick's Day happened again. I think I managed to top last years (which you can read about here: http://aladdinscave.blogspot.com/2006/03/st-patricks-day.html) seeing how I managed to somehow end up sitting in someone's basement until 6am drinking gin and playing guitar in what I can only reasonably describe as some form of hippy-beatnik jam session.

I got a first on one of my essays (which, as it's name suggests, is the highest mark you can get) the other day. I am particularly pleased about this because I managed to get the first even with 5 marks having been deducted from it for being a day late. My lecturer told me he didn't agree with my argument, but since it was none-the-less well informed and well argued, it was a good essay. That's been a bit of a confidence boost, and a well needed at that, given that lots of work has suddenly piled up on me like a vicious army of words and books.

This has been a good weekend so far. Friday night... well, my memory is none too good on that one, but I can only assume it was an awesome night. Today has been spent walking up Constitution Hill*... and then back down again. The evening has been spent at the cinema watching The Number 23, a ridiculously preposterous film where Jim Carrey plays a guy who becomes obsessed with the number 23 when he realises everything can be traced back to this number, no matter how obscure or wild the link. I thought it was an okay film, but could be greatly improved with one slight modification; the actual number 23 running around and killing people. Or just some guy in a foam costume shaped like the number 23. Something like that. It would make the film far more amusing to watch.

I'm still feeling in that in between state of alertness and tiredness. Remember kids; caffeine is the high you cannot sleep off - don't do it! Me? I'm off to prevent impending war. Mmm, Final Fantasy...

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* A big hill located at the northern end of Aberystwyth seafront. Presumably a popular location for students and tourists, they thankfully had the foresight enough to ensure the café is also licensed to sell alcohol to prevent a riot breaking out when people realise they have, in actual fact, just climbed a hill where there is nothing on top. **

** Barring, of course, a game entitled 'Frizbee Golf'. I am unsure as to how this is played, but I have several theories, each of which conjures of humorous images.

I wish I had a keyblade. *Sigh*

I am going to talk, or rather type, very slowly. But since you will probably be reading this faster than I can type it or even think it in my own head, then I imlpore you to read it slower than you normally would to avoid creating some sort of time paradox.

That made a lot more sense in my head than it probably does to anyone else, and I can tell you why I am making even less sense than usual (and that's saying something), and what's more, I can tell you in two words: Kingdom Hearts II.

Oh shit, that was technically 3 words, oh well no time to move finger over to delete key, need to carry on...

This game is, for want of any other word, amazing. I can't really say it's any better than the first, but I can't say it's any worse either. The standard of both of them is one of the highest I have ever seen in a computer game; the story is one of the most engrossing I have come across. I know it's been out for a while now, but I choose to put off getting it until Christmas in order that it wouldn't interfere with my work whilst I was at university and judging by the fact I have been pretty much glued to it non stop since opening it on Christmas Day, I would say that was a rather sound call...

However, as we hardened gamers know, it is advisable to take a break every so often from playing a game, although we very rarely do. This has been one of those rare occasions where I have actually adhered to this guidance which is usually printed in small letters at the start of game instruction manuals, although the fact that I choose to spend my break periods playing Guitar Hero II instead perhaps renders the whole point a bit, err, pointless.

So in conclusion, Christmas has been pretty good thus far. I'm mainly being fuelled by pringles and ginger ale and am having difficulty distinguishing from the real and virtual worlds. But then isn't this what living is all about?

Not really, but then, uh, err, I forget where I was going with this thing.

I think I had best go lie down for a bit...

And then play some more Kingdom Hearts II.