Turok

I grew up with Turok; there was something fundamentally awesome about a Native American warrior fighting dinosaurs. A combination perhaps only rivalled when a Japanese toy maker decided to combine toy robots with toy cars to make The Transformers.

The story has changed over the years from a warrior taking shelter from a storm finding himself in a prehistoric world full of monsters, to a dystopian future full of half dinosaur, half men trying to wipe out humans once and for all.

It hardly seemed to matter that it had a story as coherent as the Highlander series. Nothing was going to slow me down in turning dinosaurs into arrow filled pincushions. Finding yourself on distant planets fighting humanoid lizard men at the behest of Adon - a space born Lara Croft imitator - whom my partner refers to as the boob-lady.

You don't have time to ask how you ended up in space just pick up the shotgun and start clearing some streets. Besides, who's going to ask questions when there's a T-REX within earshot

Turok for those who haven't come across it has been a series running since 1954 and continues to this very day in various incarnations. In fact I was only playing a flash game the other day when I heard in the intro music the powerful words of "I am Turok!"

It's also a cross platform series with comics, games, action figures and even an animated movie.

For anyone who had an N64 it was Goldeneye that mastered the FPS deathmatch. It was Turok Rage Wars however which perfected it. Npc "bots" are usually lacking any significant challenge in games even nowardays, especially when pitted 1 on 1 with a good player.

Rage Wars (excuse the cheesy title) not only delivered the solid AI to give you a good run for your money but at times during the campaign you'd be fighting three on 1 in a real test of wits.

Imagine your favourite fps game now had the option to play deathmatch against 3 Voracious Velociraptors. Yeah...you've got a new favourite fps.

Throw in a few inflator guns, brain drills and monkey transformations and you've got all kinds of carnage.

Turok 2 is worth a mention because of the great story but it was totally overshadowed by Rage Wars.

The next time I came across Turok was on the PS3 (not going to even acknowledge the PS2 game my friend made the mistake of buying). It got a lot of negative press for being too hard for today's gamers...

Admittedly it was pretty rough in places. I don't understand how that's supposed to be a bad thing though!

It's not your average MMO that allows you to mine enemies until you're good enough to take on bigger ones. It's hard. You step out of a corner and get pinned down with mini gun fire to be blown up by a grenade lobbed behind your cover.

During the last boss TREX battle I was running round crates desperately firing arrows up it's nostrils. Only to have it disappear. It had doubled back and snuck up behind me. It's as scary as it sounds. The oldest trick in the book but instead of your buddy it's a TREX as big a plane. Boo...

It's a shame to see that Turok inhabits the bargain bins of both game and comic shops but a great chance for new fans as well as old to discover/rediscover a great character who may just outlast those who enjoy his story.

~Fraser

All artwork is owned by Touchstone games, Propaganda Games and Dark Horse Comics respectively

The Square

If you're in need of a political, humanitarian, eye opening documentary make sure you check out The Square.

Unless there is some serious change in Egypt I imagine in a couple of years they will call this the forgotten revolution. There are a lot of people in their military who need held accountable for their actions.

This film is not for the faint of heart...

https://m.youtube.com/watch?sns=fb&v=oZ-hv81LmVs

~Fraser

Green Greens

Taking a stroll at lunchtime past another company a familiar dialogue plays out.

"How's it going?" A man asks as another walks by

"Living the dream" he replies without missing a step.

It could have been any company -- it could have been my company...

~Fraser

Old Adversary

I was half way through writing an article on the middle east when I had to stop.

It's old news, I was bored writing about it. Things have been in a constant state of change there for 2000 years.

I suppose it's like a river, you can never step into the same one twice. That said it's still the same river.

Without getting too philosophical I thought I'd instead write about a story which is new. Or rather a hidden piece of history only recently uncovered.

It's easy to imagine war with the most unlikely of allies, thrown together to battle a common foe. What about unlikely enemies?

Recent documents from the Library of Congress have revealed America's WW2 plans for war with a number of countries. Russia, South America, China, (the usual suspects) and Britain.

No that's not a predictive text mistake - war with Great Britain and her colonies.

I'd always found it weird that the USA distanced itself from events in Europe when fighting was at its ugliest. Why they only intervened at the last.

It makes sense that it was a wait and watch. If Britain had steam rolled over Hitler's plans they may have resorted to taking measures to stop us trying to invade.

Before Pearl harbour shocked the USA into facing facts and taking action they had even began to mobilise troops along the Canadian border, building secret air bases ready for an invasion.

Following WW2, we continue to enjoy a lasting military alliance with the USA but it's amazing to think how different things may have been.

In fact we've only just taken down flags together in Afghanistan - where our joint militaries have been for the last 13 odd years.

Here's to a lasting friendship -- and please, no more surprises!

~Fraser

Too much TV -- You talk TV?

I think I've been watching too much of the TV series 24 on netflix lately, as when I was coming off the motorway I saw a black van with tinted windows run a red light at the roundabout doing 60mph.

All I could think after cursing the potential accident I almost had was that maybe it was a government agent. Or maybe even a criminal.

Or just maybe, it was yet another moron who owns the road...

~Fraser

 

Rotheram - The Pandora's Box of Britain

A systematic series of child abuse has been revealed in Britain. In the town of Rotheram gangs of mostly Pakistani origin were found to have groomed and raped girls as young as 11 years old. This is not a localised incident -- other instances have been found around the UK. How can we have failed so badly?

How can a police officer dismiss and turn away a child who says they were raped?

Once would be a mistake in judgement. 1400 times is an outright disgrace.

Putting aside that there are scum in this country who think that behaviour is acceptable. There have always been degenerates and their always will. It is the measures we take to prevent and remedy that define us.

Britain has always been a country of balanced and tempered resolve, but without a full and swift retaliation on these offenders and those who have not done their duty to protect these children, it will only continue.

It's difficult to watch the news as interviews bring in those directly involved as blame is passed from person to person, department to department until the story dies down. No-one is willing to do the honest thing and admit their failings. Not only do we have people who are failing in their jobs to protect the children of this country they are dishonest and cowardly as well.

What hope do we have to stop this from happening if the people involved do not take responsibility for their actions.

And what of the criminals themselves? Some of whom already are free from their sentences to walk the streets. It's a mockery of justice.

Mugshots of Perps involved in the grooming and rape of children - Jailed in 2010

I will wait to see how the government responds to this issue I hope they take this opportunity to redeem themselves and take action against the lack of prosecutions and lack of activity from the authorities involved.

Only a campaign of action will set a president for this criminal activity. Stop them now before more children suffer as a result of complacency.

~Fraser

Getting cold

I've just uploaded a new header on my Blog - and while it may be a bit premature as Autumn is still getting under way, I think I'll be the first to welcome in the cold weather.

Another year is hurtling by and soon we'll all be huddling under our blankets at night.

I wrote this message in the snow for my (then, girlfriend, now) fiancée so fond memories attached, but I also like to think of it as message from Winter

We'll be seeing you soon

~Fraser