Hold the middle

This is me, as I appear on the killing grounds of Halo 3. I've spent a lot of time there recently, mostly in what are called Big Team Battles. 16 players, 8 to a side, fighting it out across maps that once existed solely in the minds of those magnificent people at Bungie and now brought stunningly to life on my telly-box.

It's marvellous. Technology aside, I love the spontaneous camaraderie of 8 people, who may never have met in the real world, banding together to strive for a common goal. Or, as can happen, 8 people running around, getting in each other's way and just having a blast.

"Hold the middle" Copyright El Burrhito at TTL.

The picture above is an un-retouched, hi-def, screen grab. It reminds me of 80's sci-fi paperback cover art. Stunning, if you like that kind of thing. Which I do.

It's been Team Swat this weekend. Teams of 4, limited weapons and instant-kill headshots. It's fast and furious and just so much gosh-darn fun. Ach, it's not for everybody but whatever gets you through the day, right?

Weapon of Mass Distraction

Aye well, it had to happen sooner or later. I thought I did quite well, lasting a whole 2 months before signing up to Xbox Live. It's now a week later. A week of playing Halo3 and rising to the rank of Sergeant - Grade 2.

Xbox Live is great. It's like Web 2.0 with guns. You get to meet people from many different countries and cultures and then engage them in battle. Or, and this is my favourite bit, team up and fight alongside them against complete strangers.

And it's only £5 a month. A fiver to kick whiney, American teenagers' asses for hours on end*. What's not to like?

It's a terrible distraction tho' and I can only apologise for the lack of any activity on the blogging front. Normal service will be resumed shortly.

Coming soon, "Pitlochry Redux - A tale of hills unclimbed, pies and killer ducks".

*Or, by turns, have your ass kicked by little girls with too much time on their hands.