Alex's Blog

Book review: The face of death : Cody MacFadyen (Thriller)

2010-10-05T08:22:00.000-07:00

Don't let the title fool you. Cody McFadyen's The Face of Death is not just another scary-as-hell serial killer novel (although it is that in spades). Drawing a chilling portrait of a child stalked by a serial killer seeking revenge, McFadyen's second novel is surprisingly moving, standing out in an already packed genre by focusing on victim Sarah Langstrom and her struggle to survive. McFadyen knocked our socks off with his first book Shadow Man, but this arguably better sequel gives readers more time with Special Agent Smoky Barrett (Harris fans should imagine a stronger, more deeply scarred Clarice Starling). Barrett is a remarkable character--a ferocious survivor and reluctant heroine who only realizes her true potential in the face of unspeakable tragedy. Shocking, gruesome, and terrifying as it may be, the big kicker of this second novel is that it may also move you to tears. Easily one of my favorite thrillers of the year so far, The Face of Death is a perfect book for fans of Deaver, Koontz and King. But don't let me convince you, have a gander at the first chapter and decide for yourself.

Book review: Shadow Man : Cody MacFadyen (Thriller)

2010-10-02T08:01:00.000-07:00

Smoky Barret was one of the best serial killer hunters the FBI had, until the day an unspeakable act of violence brought her world crashing down...

With her husband and daughter dead by the hands of a killer that she hunted, Smoky believes she has nothing to live for. Relieved of her duties with the FBI, Smoky is on the verge of suicide, until another act of violence pulls her back into the FBI.

Smoky receives a phone call that one of her best friends has been murdered and the killer has left a message specifically for her. The last thing Smoky needs is to be back in the business that took away everything she loved, but when she hears that her friends daughter, who also happens to be her god-daughter, is in a catatonic state as a result of the horrific ordeal she knows she needs to stop this killer.

As time starts running out and the killer's sick game becomes more brutal, Smoky races to stop a madman before she loses her mind.

'Shadow Man' is the most gruesome, twisted, and scary thriller to come out in a long time. As fast-paced as a book can be, it echoes 'Silence of the Lambs' with a razor-sharp plot, and a killer as ruthless, and terrifying as any in a novel in recent years.

Cody McFadyen has crafted a masterpiece that will rocket up the best-seller lists and establish him as a major new author.

Be warned...this thriller might not be for everyone due to it's sick and graphic killings, but those brave enough to dive in will be rewarded with an amazing, and un-put-downable read.

Do NOT miss this excellent book.

League of Legends | Watch pros playing | Part 1/3

2010-10-01T09:36:00.000-07:00

Hi guys,
i read that many of you play League of Legends or are thinking of it so i decided to give you a little tutorial on how to start and how to improve your gameplay :)

What's this post about?
- Map
- Team (which champions to choose?)
- Laning
- Different tasks within a team
- Summoner spells
- Item decision
- Jungling
- Crowd Control
- Ground Control
- Harassment
- Clash
- Baiting
- Wards
- Runes/ Masteries
- Armor/ Magical resistence
- Often used abbreveations

THE MAP

1: Redbuff: The player gets an aura which slows the enemy and deals additional damage.
2: Manabuff: The player gets an aura which increases mana regeneration and decreases the decay time for 15%
3: Dragon: +130 Gold + Ep for the whole team
4: Nashor: +250 Gold + Ep + Nashorbuff for the whole team
5: Neutral creepspots

TEAM

Ideal team:
1: Tank
2: Support
3: Caster
4: Range Carrie
5: Caster/Range Dps/ Melee

Good Tanks

Good Supporter

Good Caster

Good range Carries

Good Meeles

LANING

Mid: Caster/Range Carrie
Top/Bot: Mana Buff lane well for caster/supporter
Top/Bot: Sololane/ RedBuff lane well for Dps und Melee

Champions being able to handle a sololane:

Lane-combinations:
Janna + Range Dps
Taric + Veigar/Sion
Soraka + Sion/Kassadin
Ezreal + Anivia
Blitzcrank + Annie/Veiger/ Anivia

You should try not to send 2 farmer together on one lane, otherwise they will steal the needed creeps from each other.
Also it's very important to CALL MISSES when an enemy champion isn't viewable on your lane anymore.
VERY IMPORTANT: try to make last hits ONLY to avoid pushing the lane too much. Otherwise you have to fight the enemy on his tower and this might easily end in your death.

Different tasks within a team

Tanks: The tanks should try to taunt the enemy team in order to prevent it's team of damage. The tanks normaly are the first who start a team-fight and that's why they should stand in front of the team.

Supporter: Supporter are meant to support the team by their items and spells. Your main targets are the caster and meele champs in your team!

Caster: You have to kill the enemy meele champions very fast to prevent your tank from too much damage.

Range Dps: You have to do the main damage, that's the reason why you should always have the red buff and you also need very much gold (kill many creeps).

Melee: You have to be in the middle of the teamfight to deal as much damage as possible (try to kill the enemy supporters/ range dps)

Summoner spells

Important summoner spells:
x1 a team
Clairvoyance: Shows you a small part of the map for 6 seconds. Very useful to kill junglers of the opposite team. (The supporter should pick this spell)
x2 pro Team
Ignite: You can cast it on enemies to give damage over time and reduce it's healing by 50%.
x1 pro Team
Exhaust: Slows the enemy and blinds him. Perfect to eliminate enemy carries.

Useful summoner spells:

Smite: (nearly) Every jungler needs this spell

Flash: When used it teleports your champion to the location of your mouse (only a little range)

Fortify: Every tower of your team is invulnerable for 6 seconds, it's attack speed is increased and it deals splash damage.

Ghost: Increases your moving speed and you can walk through creeps

Clarity: You and your mates (in a certain range) gain mp

Cleanse: Removes Stun, Root, Slow, Fear, Spot effects and decreases the time of further effects for a few seconds

Not useful:

Healing: Heals you and your teammats (to long cooldown to be useful)

Revive: Revives you instantly

Teleport: You can teleport to an tower/ creep of your team (not useable on champions)

Rally: Casts a banner which gives you and your team a damage bonus.

Further information will follow on my next post!
Meanwhile you can watch realy great players here: http://www.clgaming.net/index.php?page=livestream

Review: Fifa 11 - the best soccer game of all time?

2010-09-30T14:16:00.000-07:00

Expected by many gamers and soccer-fans "Fifa 11" was finally released in Germany (today) and a few days before in the USA.According to the "GameMasters" tests "Fifa 11" >is< the best soccer game of all time. Highly rated is the dynamic of the single games, the graphics and the playability.
But if it's more successfull than PES? We'll see...

Gameplay:

If you wanna test the game before buying, you can download a free trial here:
Fifa Demo

Review: League of Legends (LoL)

2010-09-30T11:00:00.000-07:00

Hi there, today i'm gonna present you the game "League of Legends".
LoL is based on the well known "DoTa" map of Warcraft III and was also developed by the creators of DoTa Allstars.

The game consists of ~60 champions which you can use to be successful on 2 differnet maps:

3on3 map 5on5 map

The game principle is explained easily but it takes time to know how to play well.
The goal of every match is to defeat the opponents team by rushing into their base and destroy their nexus (the last building). But to get there you first have to destroy the towers of minimum one of the lanes (there are 3 lanes on the 5on5 map and 2 lanes on the 3on3 map) and minimum 1 inhibitor (those are the buildings before you reache the last tower/s in front of the nexus). If you destroy an inhibitor, super creeps will spawn on this lane, which do more damage and have more life than normal ones.But be careful: the lines and towers are protected by other champions.

Here is a gameplay video for you to get a better view over the game:

I hope you try the game and perhaps we meet ingame :)

Nintendo 3DS dated, priced

2010-09-30T03:19:00.000-07:00

Stereoscopic handheld to launch February 2011 in Japan, March 2011 for US/Europe; price pegged at ¥25,000 ($299) in home nation; to include Game Boy Virtual Console.

Nintendo finally announced the release date of the upcoming Nintendo 3DS. It will go on sale on February 26, 2011 in Japan. The console's European and US launch will follow one month later on March but no price details were give for those areas. The system will be available in Aqua Blue and Cosmo Black hues on launch.

Special:
- 3D display; 800x240 px; 3D can be turned off
- An analog stick got added
- 3 cams (0,3 Megapixel)
- The 3DS can play Game Boy and GBA titles, courtesy of its own virtual console.

There will be a wide spread game variety which can be seen HERE

VIDEO:

Test #2

2010-09-29T15:47:00.001-07:00

This is just another test.

Test

2010-09-29T15:46:00.001-07:00

This post is just a test.