FILM REVIEW – The Invention Of Lying

By Stewie Sutherland

the_invention_of_lying_poster

If there’s one man in our time who could claim to be a Jack of all trades, it would be Britain’s own Ricky Gervais. Actor, comedian, singer, author of children’s books, podcaster, script writer, TV star and creator of Extras, The Office and the theory that supermarkets hide their cakes behind narrow doors to ward off larger-sized people. Gervais himself (I find) is a man for only a select crowd at his un-filtered best; his live tour of America, Out Of England, was a sell out but subject to criticism, poking jokes that he managed to get away with, but could quite easily have backfired on him.

Alternatively, his work on creating and staring in Extras and The Office have each received award nominations and critical success, the former winning a Golden Globe while the latter has been remade for audiences in four different countries. Both ran for only two seasons but have been the subject of their own cult followings and have proven his depth at being able to create different realities from the simplest ideas. Love him or hate him, Ricky Gervais has proven that he knows comedy inside and out, and being a co-writer, co-director and main star of his new movie, I settled in to watch The Invention of Lying with a high grade of expectancy.

Continue reading →

Leave a comment

Filed under Film

INTERVIEW – In Conversation With Jakub Dvorsky, Founder Of Amanita Design And Creator Of Machinarium

By Marty Mulrooney

jakub_dvorsky_2

Alternative Magazine Online recently reviewed the fantastic Machinarium here, an indie point and click adventure created by Amanita Design. Founded by Samorost 1&2 creator Jakub Dvorsky, the studio’s latest offering has received glowing reviews from the gaming press, showing that even the smallest indie endeavours can reach a larger audience if enough care and attention is given during the creation process.

Featuring exclusive artwork and insight into the creation of Machinarium, Alternative Magazine Online is proud to present an interview with the man behind it all, Jakub Dvorsky. Enjoy!

Continue reading →

6 Comments

Filed under Alternative Musings, Games

GAME REVIEW – Machinarium

By Marty Mulrooney

machinariumheader

The first thing that strikes you about Machinarium, the new point and click adventure game from Amanita Design (creators of Samorost 1&2),  are its graphics. Showing a dense robot city full of hustle and bustle, the artwork on display is never anything less than stunning, elevating the material far above its Adobe Flash-based engine. (Usually used for short, online-only games.)

The next thing you notice is the sound design. This game features amazing background music and sound-effects, perfectly suited to the onscreen visuals. It really is a delightful pleasure to load up an independent game from a small Czech development studio and be blown away, in this day and age of HD graphics and next-gen console gaming, by an indie offering.

Continue reading →

2 Comments

Filed under Games

GAME REVIEW – Halo 3 ODST (Xbox 360)

By Duncan Voice

426px-Halo_3_ODST_Cover1

There’s something quite unnerving walking around a big city on your own at night. It can be a lonely experience, with the fear of coming across a gang of thugs ready to ruin your evening. Overturned vehicles line the streets, corpses strewn along the pavement. No, this isn’t a stroll around Gloucester on a Wednesday evening, this is a night in the life of The Rookie, an Orbital Drop Shock Trooper.

This expansion-cum-full-game pits you as the aforementioned Rookie, as he tries to uncover the mystery behind the disappearance of his squad after they were knocked off course by the Prophet of Regrets ship, during a drop into New Mombasa. The game attempts to expand the  Halo storyline, and takes place during Halo 2 before The Covenant vitrify the city.

Continue reading →

5 Comments

Filed under Games