Anyone with an XBox 360 or PS3 not played this yet? If not why not? OK, so maybe I’m being a little pushy in pushing my opinions on people, but I’ve loved the GTA games ever since playing the original ones on an old mac running Virtual PC (Yes, I’m a mac head).

But what is it about these games that keeps me coming back? I’ll be honest with you here. GTA 3, in my opinion, was the best of the GTA 3 series. There was something about it that was so good, and something that Vice City and San Andreas never managed to capture. There was something about this living, breathing city that is Liberty City. You could drive any car, do pretty much anything and the city was laid out in a fun way. The ones since have been bigger, with more to do, but somehow, they never captured that magazine.

And with GTA IV, I think Rockstar Games may have re-captured that original magic! Why? Liberty City is once again resurrected, but this time it’s got a lot more depth, a life of it own and feels like it might actually be based on something real! Cruising the streets, there’s people wandering the streets, and cars driving by, But now the people mingle and react to one another and you. Car drivers go about their business and crash into each other occasionally and apologise. There’s a real feeling of purpose and history to this place!

Liberty City feels like it’s been around for a long time and grown to what it is now. Some neighbourhoods are run down with graffiti and burnt out cars, with only a few cops to guard the streets. Other areas are very affluent, with nice modern cars, cobbled streets and lots of protection. There’s industry that might actually support the residents of the city. And the story covers a range of topics, letting you into bits of the city, and give you a hint at what’s happened to them over the years.

Weather is prominent too. On a sunny day, the streets are dry and cars handle well. Then the heavens open and cars start slipping and sliding, and – this is a simple but impressive touch – the people get their umbrellas out and put raincoats on. It’s such a little touch, but it really makes a difference. And one thing that impressed me no more was a thunderstorm! A thunderstorm that feels real! A crack of lighting illuminates the screen casting some amazing shadows, then the thunder comes making the controller rattle as if you were in the game with the character. I’m struggling to do how impressive this looks and feels but trust me, you’ll know it when you see it!

Then you move onto the vehicles. Lots of vehicles! And every one of them feels unique! That’s no mean feat. Jump in an American Hot Rod and your good for high speed in a straight line, but try to corner and you’ll struggle as the suspension wallows. Drive a big 4 x 4 and nothing gets in your way, but it’s a little slow but you can real feel the power. Jump in a sports car and it’ll weave through traffic. Fancy driving a lorry? Their slow, but somehow so much fun! And bikes… Well, they’re a struggle I find, but I’m sure some people love them.

Performing on foot has been improved immensely! I used to struggle with the old controls, but now it feels almost as good as Halo (nothing’s beaten that yet though). And the targeting system is improved through the simple act of letting you lock on fully (trigger depressed fully) or part-depress it, and you get free aim. It’s a simple thing but works so well! And combine that with the new duck and cover button, and you can’t go wrong.

What else can they do to improve the experience? Well… There’s the new physics engine that brings everything to life – knock the garbage bins over and they roll along and down hills. The graphics are a lot more comic book like – gone are the old simple textures of the old one. And the character animation is amazing! Some of the details you almost don’t notice, but crash your car and anyone in the car lurches. Corner too fast and their head rolls to the side. Jump out of a moving vehicle and your character – Nico – rolls along the street just like the movies.

Any faults? Well, sadly yes. Cover gets a little confused at times, but that I think is something very hard to get right. Even Gears of War got it wrong occasionally, and that’s an amazing game for the duck and cover idea! And being in Australia – and this is really upsetting – the game is censored. Come on Australia, WAKE UP!!! There’s no rating above 15 here, so the language has to be toned down. One example being how Nico thinks that Michelle is a “really good listener”, after he’s “Talk to me! Talk to me” in a rather enthusiastic way. It’s a little sad really.

But, that’s it. That game is simply amazing and damn near perfect in my eyes! The one thing that I’m concerned about is what happens when I’ve completed it… Just have to try and complete the myriad of micro-tasks within the game.

If you don’t have it, get it now!!! Why are you still reading… Get down the shops and buy it now!

So, this is the 2nd year I’ve been in Australia for Anzac day, and this year, I decided to do it properly. For those that don’t know about ANZAC day, I suggest you read the article on Wikipedia. In summary, it was the first major military action in the first world war by the Australia and New Zealand Army Corps, and this day celebrates the pride of these countries in this corp. It’s celebrated all over the country, and the services start as early as 4am.

One of the games that was invented by them was 2-up and the only day you can legally play it in Australia is on Anzac day. The principal behind it is to flip 3 coins off a wooden paddle, and whichever 2 sides match is the winner, hence “two-up“. There are some rules though: You have to get a good flip on the coins – if they don’t spin enough when you through them up, it’s a no-throw. Likewise, they have to get a good height – but not too high or hit the ceiling. And on hitting the ground, they have to all stay with the defined boundaries.

Now that sounds pretty dull in essence, but it’s a actually a blast! The reason being that you bet other people in the audience, and everyone – I mean everyone – gets involved. You can shout out a bet of say $10 on heads, and someone will say I’ll call you tails. The person who calls heads looks after the bet until the result is known. Then if they win, they keep it, and if they lose – tails – they give the money to the other person. You’d think people would try to cheat the system, but they don’t. The spirit is absolutely amazing! Everybody has great fun and chats and laughs and you just can’t imagine how much fun it is. It’s just a shame that it only happens once a year.

We spent an impressive 5 hours in the Woolloomooloo Bay Hotel that afternoon, but not playing that all day. All in all it was a great day, and next year I’ll make sure I’m up for the dawn service.

I’ve finally started learning to sail! Something I’ve been wanting to do for a very long time, and something else that makes me feel like I’ve left London. I think I’m hooked already!

A night with John Williams movie music at the Sydney Opera House performed by the Sydney Symphony. It was a truly amazing performance! And the host was a ball!

Play is a performance of computer game music by a live Orchestra. Hearing some of our childhood favourites and some truly epic music from modern games such as Halo and Final Fantasy, performed by a live Orchestra and backed by Choir’s and Grand Organs is something everybody has to hear.

One year living downunder, and Sydney still has me captivated by it way of life, style and strange alure.

January 20th 2007 was the day that the magnificent QE2 and Queen Mary 2 ships sailed into Sydney Harbour. I was one of those mad people that was in the harbour by 5.30am to make sure I had a good vantage point – and I was still only just on time! There was a huge crowd down at Mrs Maquires Chair. Photo enthusiasts like myself, parents who’d been dragged out of bed by their kids and people who just wanted to see this floating behemoth.

When it came into the harbour, initially all you saw was the smoke from the funnels, high above everything else. Then it poked it’s nose round the corner. It was immense! It so large that the hills and treeline near the harbour mouth could only just conceal it from view. Accompanying it was a large floatila of Sydney’s boats, lead by the Fireboat that clears the way for larger vessels.

As it approached, you just couldn’t help but marvel at the scale of it. 61m above the waterline, and two thirds the length of the harbour bridge, the Queen Mary 2 just cannot help but impress. Watching it glide effortlessly round Fort Denison, before doing a pirouette to face it’s final berth.

But, as if bowing to the crowds, it started gliding backwards towards the bridge. It was making the most of one of it’s many moments in the spotlight, but setting itself up for some fantastic shots set against Sydney most famous landmarks, the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House. It didn’t seem in the least bit fazed by all the boats buzzing around it viing for attention, or the helicopters keeping a watchful eye on her as she performed effortlessly for the crowd.

In fact, the Queen Mary 2 was so into the moment, that it seemed not to care about the other ships in the harbour, making the – usually large – manly ferry wait until she’d finished what she was doing, and allowing no room to pass.

Then finally it glided past us. I was honestly amazed it could fit through the gap as it was only 10 metres from where I stood, and I was making use of the low tide to stand on rocks further out than normal.

It was one of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen. And, it was made more impressive when her Sister Ship, the QE2 sailed in that evening. Although, to be honest, as impressive as the QE2 is, it had the limelight stolen by her bigger cousin, the Queen Mary 2.

If you ever get the chance to see either of these magnificent boats, do! They’re well worth it. And if you can see it somewhere like Sydney, even better!

My second Christmas away from home, and my first in Australia. I headed down to Melbourne to visit friends, but I didn’t expect it to be quite as Christmasy as it was. It snowed just outside the city on Christmas day, and we had a log fire lit all day.

I’ve been away from home for over a year now, and it’s just hit home with a slight twinge of home sickness.

As many of you know, I’ve been is Sydney for over 7 months now, and for most of that time, I’ve been living in one place in what we’ve come to describe as a very ‘transient’ house. People usually only stay here for 2 to 3 months and move on. However, 2 of us have been here for a lot longer than that. Until now…

Unfortunately, Sarah has now gone back to her family in the USA, leaving me here, pondering my future in the Lavender House – that’s our other name for it. During her time here. we’ve become very good friends, and have made each other’s experience’s here something that we’ll remember forever.

I admit. we have had our ups and downs, but whenever we’ve needed someone to talk to, we’ve always turned to each other. It’s kind of strange not having her here now, and I half expect (hope) that she’ll walk through the door any day now. But, despite all my trying, I don’t think that will happen. You see, here experiences of Sydney have been slightly jaded by her university, that seems to have gone out of it’s way to take money from her, make it as difficult as possible for her to get anything done. Then there’s the fact that it’s an hour from the CBD – so 3 hours of traveling for her a day.

Then there’s the weather. I’m going to let out a little secret here… The weather in Sydney’s not as great as the brochure’s let on. It’s been very cold at times, with the biggest temperature swings) I’ve ever know. It can be 30 degrees one day, then 14 the next (it went to 8 once).

But, the times we’ve had here have been some of the best of my life. We’ve had many parties in the house – and it stayed intact. We started cooking together, and I think we’re now both much better in the kitchen for it – although there was my incident with chocolate powder re-decorating the kitchen, and she does still occasionally burn things. Our wanderings around town, and the close group of friends we’ve been lucky enough to make.

So, it’s with a tear in my eye that I finish this blog, and say farewell to a very close friend. I hope we’ll always stay close, and get the chance to live together again in the future. Thank you Sarah.

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Sarah’s leaving present