And Even Concrete Changes

His Masters Voice

HMV is set to go into administration after 92 years and bang goes another big name store that holds memories from my youth. As a young metalhead I used to hang around outside the Swansea HMV in the quadrant with all the other headbangers, clutching our newly bought heavy metal vinyl/cassettes and discussing our 'scene'. Truly great times when it was a joy to go to Swansea.
But times they insist on change, demand it with a stubborn fist like a barfly ordering another scotch. Like the water in our oceans, nothing stays still not even steel and concrete. Our town and city centers are vastly different to how they were in the 1980s and its not just fashion that is making the difference. I fear that all that is going to be left open are pound shops and mobile phone 'bars', which is a reflection of how cheap and lazywe have become as a collective society. (And if there is a kind way of being cheap and lazy, then this is the way I mean it. Im not condemning anyone for online shopping.) The 'hivemind' is targeted toward bargains, good things for less (largely due to the internet) and bricks and mortar shops suffer as a result.
There is nothing wrong with bargain hunting of course, as long as we remember that other things (shop wise) will get hit by it. We bemoan the fact that big stores are disappearing yet all we do is shrug our shoulders, pick up the mouse and surf on over to Amazon, Zavvi, Netflix, etc to merrily contribute to the death rattles of the high street. It seems we will miss them once they vanish for good but not that much.
Mr Jakes is no less guilty, afterall the convenience of Tesco online is difficult to ignore and its so simple these days. (Not to mention warmer/safer in the midst of the snow and ice we are currently experience in Britain.) But I admit I buy from the internet with a heavy heart (and lighter wallet,) my mind racing back to the times spent outside Swansea's HMV in the Quadrant with every virtual basket I fill. Oh so bittersweet.

Not All That Glitters Is Gaming Gold

There are going to be quite a few miserable young faces on Christmas morning. And the reason will not be the fact that Grandad has broken wind yet again or the shortage of batteries. (Although Grandpa might let a sly one off depending on the sprouts.) No, the pouting chopses will be because of videogames. Or rather because Mummy and Daddy thought they knew better and chose the games themselves resulting in wee Jimmy/Jenny unwrapping a stinker left by Santa under the tree. (Not the type Grandad usually leaves behind either.)


But Mummy said 'Sonic Black Ops ~ The Hunt for Mario' was cool..

As a regular visitor to game stores I see it all the time, parents and grandparents with no clue, heading straight for the best sellers simply on the strength of seeing some half assed advert of the game inbetween Coronation Street. Or because its the game of a recent blockbuster movie, which as everyone knows by now (or should) is always tripe. And it gets worse during the Silly Season.
Now im not saying everybody should have an encyclopedic knowledge of videogames. Thats silly. But children and young adults generally DO have that knowledge so ~ WHY NOT ASK THEM? Instead of listening to what adverts tell you to buy? *Newsflash* Those adverts are made and paid for by the games makers, they are obviously going to shower them with praise. Don't be fooled or sucked in, or else tears around the Christmas turkey will be the order of the day so you'll be cancelling that sherry with Queenie's speech.
Just because the latest war fest has been hyped to the eyeballs and news of sales are making the headlines, doen't necessarily mean the game is any good. For example the movie Avatar ~ media raved about it but it was ultimately *censored*
So listen to your little darlings. There is much danger (not to mention pouting) in choosing titles yourself if you're not a games fan. Some crafty games companies (albeit the less reputable types) will deceive the clueless shopper by releasing a less than average game in the same genre as a highly successful one and give it a similar title. Many a doting granny has fallen for that trick over the years.
Anyway if you insist on suprising wee Jimmy/Jenny on Christmas morning then allow me to at least point you in the direction of some good videogames, which while not having been plastered all over your favourite soap opera will nevertheless give hours of happiness to your little loved one and avoid the embarrassing moment when you watch wee Jimmy/Jenny unwrap your special gift, only to see their face drop for a second before recovering enough to tell you 'its wonderful!' And proceed to play the game for ten minutes until you leave then never touch it again. It happens. A lot.
So here goes ~

1. Mass Effect 2 2. Hydro Hurricane Thunder 3. Castlevania: Lord of Shadows 4. Vanquish 5. Donkey Kong Country Returns

Any one of these titles will produce no end of smiles and thrills, and are actually better (and cheaper) than a lot of titles in the charts, due to the overwhelming amount of sludge which seeps onto the shelves at this time of year.
Do yourselves a huge favour dear reader and take heed. Wee Jimmy/Jenny will love you even more for it. Merry Christmas!