by | 24/12/2009 · 12:00 am

THE SNOWMAN – A British Christmas Classic

By Marty Mulrooney

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With Christmas nearly upon us, I thought I would do a quick post about one of the greatest Christmas films of all time. Based on the 1978 Raymond Briggs children’s book, The Snowman is a 1982 animated winter classic.

Shown originally on Christmas Eve ‘82 on Channel 4 in the UK, it has since been shown every single year. A review would be pointless; this is a perfect, if not slightly bittersweet adaptation.

What I do intend to do is offer a few good reasons why you should give it a watch this Christmas, British or not. Oh, and Merry Christmas from Alternative Magazine Online!

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by | 21/12/2009 · 12:00 pm

GAME REVIEW – Blue Toad Murder Files Episodes 1 & 2 (PS3, PSN)

By Marty Mulrooney

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Blue Toad Murder Files is a new downloadable episodic gaming series from Relentless Software, perhaps most well known for their hugely popular ‘Buzz!’ series of video games.

Much like the ‘Buzz!’ games, Blue Toad Murder Files has a focus on accessibility, fun and group gaming. The first two episodes have just been released separately and also in a bundle on the PSN (for PS3)… so how do they measure up?

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by | 19/12/2009 · 12:00 pm

ALTERNATIVE MUSINGS – Why Achievements Have Ruined Gaming

By Duncan Voice

xbox-360-avatar-caption-generatorI was having my monthly nostalgia moment in my local retro shop recently, gushing over the hundreds of Mega Drive, SNES and N64 carts they have there. Each one I exclaimed to my not-at-all-interested girlfriend was ‘my favourite game’ growing up (I have since settled on Rocket Knight on the Mega Drive, by the way).

It got me thinking about the days where LA Lights were the must-have pair of trainers for the fashion conscious 11 year old and begging my Mum for 25p to go and get a packet of Premier League stickers, even though I’d always rip the top of them. It reminded me of the first time I knew I wanted to play games, watching my big brother speed through Green Hill Zone on Sonic the Hedgehog.

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by | 18/12/2009 · 12:00 pm

MUSIC REVIEW – John Mayer: Battle Studies

By Marty Mulrooney

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John Mayer has just released his forth studio album. Comprising of 11 tracks, with a total runtime of 45 minutes… I thought this was the safe bet of 2009. I have seen John in concert (I’m seeing him again in January), I have all his albums and I know where he’s at. At least, I thought I did. Battle Studies has completely blindsided me.

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