SinfulShadows

Hey all, it's been a while - hope all is well with you guys…

As you probably know PS3 Portal 2 comes with a free code for PC/Mac copies of the game... It also came out today, so rather than spend £40 on a game that I'll finish in a couple of days figured I'd rent it. Plus I figured that as no-one else will have rented it before, there was a slim chance of getting the free game code.

One trip to Blockbuster later, I had a brand new, unplayed copy of Portal 2 - along with free code! Oh, and for added awesomeness I rented it for free with a voucher.

Obviously, I can't guarantee the code will be in every copy Blockbuster has but £5 is worth a gamble - at the very least you'll get an incredible game for a few days.

Good luck!

I bought it yesterday, so should be online later tonight at some point. Got yr Clan invite thanks, Nathan.

KZ3 is only £6.99 from Game if you trade Mass Effect 2 or a couple of other games - poster says £9.99 but they have some price match thing, so ask them.

Have fun!

@Bronco:

Virtual Reality > Gimmick 3D Gaming

Motion sickness is a big problem with virtual reality but if they can fix it, then yeah it would be a lot better than gimmick 3D. I think 'gaming' and 'gimmick' go hand in hand though so there'll be a lot of crap 3d-for-the-sake-of-it like in current 3D films.

That said, 3D could make some games more immersive - imagine the jumps you could get from a first-person horror game, or how good sports games could be combined with something like Kinect or Move. I already wear glasses so an extra pair on top would annoy the hell out of me so I don't think I'd bother even getting into the whole 3D thing.

I'm hanging on for mind implants like in Total Recall…

@Bronco:

3D is stupid for gaming…or for anything for that matter.

I see more potential for 3D gaming than 3D movies, but not tried.

Still, 3D is pretty useful for gauging size and distance in real life - but if you don't like it you can easily disable it by closing one eye or wearing an eye-patch.

Oooh… shiiiiiinnnny.

Photography is a very competitive industry - get on the experience ladder asap wherever it takes you. Newcastle's a nice place (and ironically full of southern students) but even if it was a shit-hole, if you stuck it out for 6 months you'd have something on your CV that most others don't.

Whatever you do, keep plugging away at your portfolio. Get a personal site (not your loganberry one) write blogs, tutorials etc and try to make a name for Scott Rudge however you can. Learn photoshop well, learn how to do HDR stuff, earn some cash and buy a camera that will make David Bailey cream his duds.

I'm studio manager at the web company I work for and there's been loads of people that need decent product shots for their e-commerce sites - you could probably approach design houses like us and offer your services as a freelance travelling product/premises photographer (light tent and a few lamps and you're sorted) and get some experience and cash.

I'll give you a shout if anything comes up here but do ask around.

Good luck!

Hey kids, after 6 months of iPhone-only gaming, Grandpa Tinpixel finally has a new PS3. How I've missed each and every one of you*….

Anyhow... What the fuck have I missed over the past 6 months? I got GT4 with my PS3 and also got the special edition Fallout New Vegas. I think the last game I bought before that was... Uncharted 2.

What would you all recommend from 2010 that I've probably missed. Anyone got a Playstation Move? Tell me, and I might give you a Worther's Original.

Also, you mofo's that de-friended me in my absence (as well as all you new SinS members) feel free to add me again. I'm at least twice as bad at COD as I was, btw... which is pretty bad.

*ok, maybe not Hawkes70

Shit… that's unlucky - but well done.

It's a long drive mate... 3hrs each way remember. 50mph average speed cameras on A1 for 15 fucking miles too. You'll probably be sat in traffic from Team Valley to Newcastle Centre for at least an hour each way. Newcastle is one horrendous bitch for rush-hour traffic (especially coming/going via A1) and a nightmare for parking.

Might work out cheaper to go by train with a monthly pass, or like you said renting/hotel during the week. On the plus side, it's a great little city if you can understand the accent and offers one of the best nights out in the country. I live about 35 miles south (near Middlesbrough) so know it quite well.

If you think you'll miss your family and friends, stay where you are - if you fancy a new adventure, go for it. The worst that will happen is you'll not like it and have to move home. Or get stabbed for being a southerner (yes, Nottingham is south to us!)

@BUBBA_BDS:

tinipixel is a doctor.

tinpixel is a web designer.

>> Click Here <<

Could be anything and nothing… depending what you've been doing.

Have you had a sudden jolt, fallen funny or done some exercise or physical work (eg chopping wood, frisbee) or anything like that? Lots of time with a mouse, sat incorrectly in a chair? etc? etc?

Same advice as ever - go see a doctor. In the meantime take some ibuprofen to help ease the pain and reduce inflammation and try not to use your neck/arm excessively until it feels better (no moshing or arm wrestling) but keep them both moving or they'll seize up.

Get a decent pillow too like this one: Click Here…

I've got a problem with my right shoulder after a car accident last year - and it's annoying as hell. It's always worse on a morning and in cold weather.

@Skittbiker:

dont drink energy drinks if you actually care about your health. There not good for you at all. if you want any sort of "energy", drink coffee. Thats the safest way to have energy in a quick drink.

Um… You're kind of right. Energy drinks are not really good for you because of all the caffeine and sugar in them - but there's roughly the SAME amount caffeine in them as a single cup of coffee. Caffeine is caffeine regardless what it's in, if you're sensitive to it, coffee is no safer than redbull, pro-plus, monster or a pint of tea (although you probably wouldn't put 6 teaspoons of sugar in coffee).

Anyhow, as I said before - best way to energy is decent sleep, healthy eating, exercise. Make sure you eat breakfast too - something that'll release energy slowly all morning until you get chance to eat again, rather than a bowl of sugary processed shit. If you need a quick pick-me-up try a banana, fruit or some nuts.

Also try eating small meals regularly throughout the day to get your metabolism running and your body used to processing food quickly and releasing energy - Just watch your calories. You could try a Vitamin B supplement too - helps your body release energy and makes your piss day-glo yellow. And If you need more sleep, go to bed earlier instead of sleeping later.

Glad you're ok. Enjoy your life - just do everything in moderation and if your body says it's hurting - listen to it.

tp

(fucking hell, how serious have my posts been recently…)

@LoVeRSaMa:

I have been laid every night for the past 2 months its actually over rated, I have almost become immune to it ='[

I've heard a few people say that about gay sex… try it with women sometime and you might just change your mind.

chuckle

@Countach92:

SinS' grandpa ofc…

Holy fuck… no idea what that makes me... I think I'm the oldest active member at 33 :S

Hope you had a good birthday btw Nate...

@Bronco:

LOL…no he's not a doctor. He's just old and knows things.

It's true, I'm not a doctor but have come across this kind of stuff before. Didn't think I was old either until about 30 seconds ago… thanks Bronco

Bubba - don't worry about it until you know for sure. The doc will start at the obvious stuff - he's not going to get you to take off you tshirt and open your chest right there or anything. His stethoscope might be a bit cold but that'll be about the worst to start with.

If your car broke down you wouldn't just pull out the engine, you'd check the petrol, battery and little stuff first so quit working yourself up, it's pointless, almost certainly unnecessary and will do more harm than good.

For the record, my gf's dad had a heart transplant about 8 years ago - the worse bit was waiting for a donor. After the op he spent a few days in isolation to avoid infection, and was walking around out of hospital after two weeks. To see him now is incredible and his life is absolutely normal - you'd never know other than he takes lots of medication.

@BUBBA_BDS:

Well im not feeling alert anymore now that i know i have a heart murmur… its just what are they going to do to me at the cardiologist?

They'll probably ask you a whole load of questions for starters - check to see if you smoke, take drugs, drink, exercise, eat, sleep properly etc. They'll ask if there's a family history of heart conditions or other health issues such as diabetes etc or if you're taking other medication etc. They'll likely ask if there's stuff bothering you, if you're coping with your studies etc. Just be honest with them so they can make the right choices.

I expect they'll check you blood pressure, maybe weight and body fat % and possibly take a blood and/or pee sample to check blood sugar, cholesterol etc.

If they escalate it, they might ask you to wear a heart monitor for 24 hours or while sleeping and analyse the results. Depending on the facilities, they might get you to do some exercise while hooked up to monitor to check everything is ok.

Depending on how frequently and severely it happens, they might prescribe some medication.

Obviously if results come back with something bad, surgery might be required - but probably unlikely. Palpitations and extra beats etc. are quite common and often just something to be aware of, rather than worry about and are often brought on by stress and fitness level etc. If it is stress related, worrying about it isn't going to help - you can see the cycle: the more you worry the more it happens.

Let us know how you get on.

@BUBBA_BDS:

Either growth spurt or the too much energy drinks.

Some people react badly to caffeine (a young friend of mine had a mild heart attack and was rushed to hospital after 2 cans of coke recently) - and energy drinks are obviously full of caffeine and loads of sugar too. Add to that the adrenelin rush of playing MW2 or whatever and you're asking for trouble.

Caffeine takes around 1hr to circulate thorugh every cell in the body - so if you have a can at 9pm, you'll be at full effect by around 10pm and it will last several hours depending on your tolerance. The sugar will kick in sooner and gives that almost instant alertness. So drinking these drinks before bed is pretty stupid (done it plenty of times myself) - your mind and nervous system are buzzing, but your body is exhausted and is not resting and able to repair itself. You end up drinking more the next day because your body is more and more fucked.

Try cutting out the caffiene completely and reducing sugar - you might get headaches for a few days while your body clears stuff out but you need to rule the caffeine out. Hopefully it's only that and not a heart problem.

To get more energy during the day, try eating a piece of fruit, or some watered down fresh OJ, and eat things with b vitamins (or take a b-vitamin supp to help release energy). Make sure you eat a decent breakfast and support your bodys energy needs throughout the day by eating several small meals.

Try getting more exercise - don't push yourself until you know where you are with the heart issue. Take a walk before you go to bed and make sure you've got nothing outstanding to do that'll be on your mind, read something, listen to music and relax.

Also, if you've got any other worries or problems, try sharing them with someone and getting them off you mind.

Hope all works out ok for you.

@LoVeRSaMa:

I feel like less of a paedophile for talking to you now

Kinda takes the fun out it though, eh

Belated happy birthday btw….

Unlucky… My ps3 is still dead from YLOD but getting it fixed this week - hopefully it'll stay alive long enough for me to back up my data.

Back up your data often, kids! You can't transfer the files between ps3's or pc.

Yeah, it's been broken for the past week or so. I don't use it as a company site anymore and have recently just been using it for testing which has broken the old cms/links etc.

You can take a look at www.richcrowe.co.uk though - (horrible design, did it in an evening for a job interview ages ago) but there's a portfolio on there of 40 odd sites I've designed. I have new design for that site if I ever get time.

I've got my new freelance design company website on the way soon too - will let you know when it's up.

Thanks for letting me know by the way!

@LoVeRSaMa:

Oh, and I am working this summer, but will be going out lots and getting laid, thats my plan for this summer.

Working AND getting laid? I read ya… Just make sure you use plenty of lube, get payment up front and don't piss off your pimp.