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Obama praises US-Latin America trade relationship
CARTAGENA, Colombia President Barack Obama's challenge as he rubs shoulders this weekend with CEOs and political leaders from the Americas is convincing U.S. business that he's serious about expanding trade in the Americas and persuading Latin American leaders to once again look northward.
"Put simply, we have one of the world's most dynamic trade relationships," he planned to tell top executives gathered here Saturday during the sixth Summit of the Americas.
But playing the persuader is not an easy task. Obama faces trade competition from China, resistance from U.S. labor, a passel of thorny regional issues that could dilute any focus on trade, and now the distraction of Secret Service agents in Cartagena relieved of duty on allegations of misconduct.
Obama will set the tone when he attends the CEO summit, a high-powered gathering that is expected to include top executives from Wal-Mart Stores Inc., PepsiCo, Yahoo and Caterpillar.
"Here in Latin America, the U.S. is the largest foreign investor, and we're the largest customer of manufactured goods from countries across the hemisphere," Obama will say, according to prepared text released by the White House.
Still, while U.S. exports in dollar amounts have increased in the Americas, its share of the market has declined over the past decade. China, in particular, is surpassing the U.S as a trading partner with Brazil, Chile, and Peru.
In the United States, labor is already restive over a U.S. trade deal with Colombia that is awaiting final certification. The Colombian government has worked to meet the requirements of a labor rights agreement that was a condition of passage in Congress last year. The question bubbling in Cartagena was whether Obama, over the objections of U.S. union leaders, would certify that Colombia has successfully met the terms.
And trade could get lost in the discussion over Cuba's exclusion from the summit, a rising call from Latin American countries to consider legalizing drugs to ease the violence associated with narco-trafficking, and even Argentina's claims to the British-controlled Falkland Islands. Adding an embarrassing wrinkle to the visit was Friday's acknowledgement by the Secret Service that agents facing allegations of misconduct for deeds before the president's arrival had been sent home.
What's more, U.S. influence in Latin America has waned as countries such as Brazil and Chile gain economic stature. The U.S. can no longer buy its standing in the Americas through development assistance.
In that reality, Obama on Saturday was appealing to the executives to work with governments to expand commerce and help improve the lives of people still living in poverty despite the region's improving economic stance.
"Governments can't do it alone," he said. "We need you - the private sector - to work with us. We need your ideas. We need you to join with us. Working together, I'm confident that we can advance the jobs, prosperity and opportunity that our people seek."
Among those pushing Obama to engage further in trade with Latin America is the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. It's blunt-speaking president, Tom Donohue, told business leaders in Colombia that the U.S. is focusing too much on the Asia-Pacific region at the expense of Latin America. He called for more countries from the Americas to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which includes Chile and Peru.


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Keith Denham: I did it my way
Last updated at 16:14, Friday, 09 November 2012
Keith Denham's speedway love affair began in the 1950s, and his rise to power at Workington Comets was a classic example of the fan turning owner.
As a young man, he marvelled as legendary riders Ivan Mauger and Ole Olsen honed their craft around Newcastle's track, and he dreamed of building his own star-studded line-up.
In 2008 Denham put his money where his mouth was and bought the club from Tony Mole, with two simple goals – to put together a team he actually rated and to win trophies.
Five years later, Comets fans have seen Peter Karlsson, Kauko Nieminen, Rusty Harrison and Daniel Nermark fly round the Derwent Park track, with the Young Shield secured in a record-breaking 2008, 2009, and 2010.
They also won the Premier League fours and pairs during the most successful period of the club's history.
But one honour frustratingly eluded Denham – the league title.
He says: "When speedway was re-launched in 1999, I was one of the first people through the turnstiles.
"I watched every single match from the second bend, but Carl Stonehewer and Simon Stead apart, we never had a good team, and I knew things weren't being done properly.
"I didn't realise the financial constraints, but believed I could put together a better side.
"I have never tried to buy success though, and never went over the top in an effort to bring riders to Workington."
Bad luck and horrific injuries were blamed for Comets' lack of league titles, with one traumatising incident still haunting the Thomas Armstrong construction firm boss.
Swedish rider Nermark was lucky to come out alive after landing on his neck following a collision at Redcar in 2008.
Denham struggled to get over the life-threatening crash, and debated walking away.
"Daniel nearly died, and that's not what I signed up for," he insists.
"I have never felt so low and helpless as I did that night. I can still see it vividly. Daniel clipped Ty Proctor's back wheel and was launched into the air like a missile.
"He came down so quickly, and landed on his head. He was unconscious for what felt like forever.
"After that I considered quitting. It was a shocking night visiting Daniel at 1.30am, knowing it could have been so much worse."
The second big low point of Denham's tenure was as team manager when close friend Ian Thomas died in 2010.
Denham was warned he would not get on with fellow big personality Thomas, but recalls: "We only had bad words once. And that was only for a few seconds.
"We had respect for each other, and it was a terrible blow for everyone when he died and I lost a great friend."
Despite the lows, there have also been many incredible highs.
And nothing makes Denham prouder than seeing local talent Richard Lawson and Craig Cook speeding round the bends.
"Watching Richard and Craig not only progress from motocross to speedway, but excel too, is my most satisfying achievement," he says.
"When I first saw Richard on a speedway bike, he was as smooth as you could get.
"The two riders are two completely different animals and Craig's rise to the top has been quite unbelievable, while Richard's has been more of a steady improvement."
Since handing over the club to Laura Morgan, and her brother Steve Whitehead, Denham will return to being what he always was at heart – a fan – but insists he will never turn his back if the club needs him again.
"I would never shut the gates and leave because Comets have so many loyal fans, and this town needs its speedway," he says.
Speculation surrounding Comets' future was rife in September before Morgan and Whitehead stepped in.
Denham said he would never let the club go out of business, but had to stop his financial backing as the burden of keeping Comets afloat became too much.
First published at 12:25, Friday, 09 November 2012
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk
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Elli is "on the go"
Our daughter Mary Elisabeth (we call her Elli) was born with Down Syndrome. She was born blue and was quickly rushed to SSM CardinalGlennon. She had surgery on her intestines within the first week.
For days after her surgery, her lungs were getting weak. She was intubated and machines were coming into her room to help her breathe. They told me to baptize her, but I couldn't; I wanted to bring her home. Dr. Wooldridge, a pulmonologist, diagnosed Elli with Pulmonary Interstitial Glycogenosis. She needed a lot of steroids in a small amount of time. Within days, machines were leaving her room. Her breathing was getting better. After three months in the NICU, we went home.
Four months later we went to see Elli's cardiologist about the holes in her heart. A cardiac cath showed one of the holes was large and, two days later, she had surgery. After a check-up a week later, Elli was back fluid around her heart. The scariest part through all of this was that Elli never showed any signs of being sick.
Today Elli is an "on-the-go" little girl and the joy of our life. We had such great care at SSM Cardinal Glennon; it takes a special person to be able to do that job. Our child is unique; she had a lot of unknowns because of her rare disease.
The special part about SSM Cardinal Glennon is that they work with the child and the parents to assess and then find options and solutions. They never give up. They were our family for three months and continue to be to this day.
- Amy Burlage, Elli's Mom
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The Department of Defense has released the names of those who died when their Black Hawk UH-60 went down Tuesday during a mission. Five U.S. soldiers based at Fort Riley, Kan., and one based in Europe were killed in a helicopter crash this week in southern Afghanistan, Army officials said Thursday. The five Fort Riley soldiers were identified as Chief Warrant Officer 2 Randy L. Billings, 34, of Heavener, Okla.; Chief Warrant Officer 2 Joshua B. Silverman, 35, of Scottsdale, Ariz.; Sgt. Peter C. Bohler, 29, of Willow Spring, N.C.; Sgt. 1st Class Omar W. Forde, 28, of Marietta, Ga.; and Spc. Terry K.D. Gordon, 22, of Shubuta, Miss. A sixth soldier, based in Vilseck, Germany, was identified as Staff Sgt. Jesse L. Williams, 30, of Elkhart, Ind. One soldier survived the crash.
How the US Mint and NIST are perfecting the money-making process.


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Road to the future
Here are the bright ideas already submitted to our competition
Cars that drive themselves
The idea of a self driving car is my choice. A car that can park itself, drive using computerised GPS systems thus decreasing accidents and allowing the driver to put their feet up, relax and enjoy the ride
By: John Rodenhurst, on 22:46 20 November 2012Report this entry
Pedestrian safety
I hope the next 30 yrs bring about innovations to reduce risk to pedestrians from cars through sensors to detect (heat, visual, movement) and avoid collision, as well as crumple zones and airbags to external areas including pillars which reduce mortality and morbidity.
By: Helen Fryer, on 22:27 20 November 2012Report this entry
Combined multifuel gas-turbine generator /pulsed electric motor power unit in conjunction with Li batteries for urban use. The basic vehicle for two people shopping can be achieved at 150 - 160 kgb using using plastic bodyshell with metal suspension/frame and thus only needs about 3hp to compete with urban traffic.
By: robin powell, on 22:26 20 November 2012Report this entry
Enhancing driving experience with head-up
Tracking the driver's eyes, measuring incoming visual information and integrating data from the cloud will allow future cars to overlay useful information via head up display. At night, pedestrians and cyclists could be highlighted. Data about road conditions could also be sent to the cloud for other drivers.
By: George Green, on 22:11 20 November 2012Report this entry
Seniors driving
Within 30 years, I'll be a granny, so be sure I can just drive my wheelchair in my car, make the buttons and display a little larger and let's hope the car knows where to drive me since I will be forgetting everything. And please, don't forget a built-in coffee machine...
By: Saar Pareyn, on 22:05 20 November 2012Report this entry
Scenery driving
It would be nice if future cars would be able to drive on magnetic rails meandering through green and flowering meadows with wildlife instead of gray and nosiy asphalt roads... Commuter traffic will be like going on a safari every day.
By: Kris van Kuyck, on 21:57 20 November 2012Report this entry
Second Pair of Eyes
Monitoring system that has the ability to identify potential hazards, such as other vehicles, and inform the driver audibly. GPS connection and internet so it can inform the driver of any potential delays. Many people travel alone so find it difficult to concentrate on driving and pay attention to surroundings.
By: Rebecca Cronin, on 21:39 20 November 2012Report this entry
This opportunity
Is for hydrogen fueled cars to become the norm, auto correcting computer systems to limit crashes and atmospheric pollution to near zero. But the future will be far removed from what we expect,far different to anything we have foreseen and far more advanced than we can presently imagine.
By: Johann Johnson, on 21:20 20 November 2012Report this entry
The greatest inovation in the car would be its scarcity. From what I understan, the USA is going to be one of the world's leading producers of petrolium. With the owners of the oil companies running the government,they'll do everything possible to sell more gas. Help stop global warming !
By: gregory bamer, on 21:17 20 November 2012Report this entry
The need for speed!!
Due to safety and speed limits I feel there should be built in car sensors that adapt your speed limit to the surroundings and if the car is put into this particular drive you are physically unable to break that limit 70 on Motorways and 30 in built up areas.
By: Susan Jones, on 21:11 20 November 2012Report this entry
Surfing flying skating driving car
Today's cars are limited to driving on road. In the next 30 years we will have cars that will be capable of driving on road, skating on ice, jetskingi in water and propelling themselves in air when needed, all within the touch of a button.
By: Suheil Patel, on 21:01 20 November 2012Report this entry
All the Mod-Cars
I'd like to say it'll be the Higgs Invertor, reducing matter's interaction with the Higgs field so vastly improving safety and fuel efficiency at a stroke. Unlikely though. It'll probably be to make cars modular instead. One seater commuters able to link effortlessly with passenger compartments. Same destination. Different road.
By: Shaun Stevenson, on 20:54 20 November 2012Report this entry
Intelligent Networked cruise control
All cars will be fitted with intelligent cruise control that atomatically links with the Highways Agency Motorway Network system on joining a motorway. The Network will control the speed of all vehicles on the motorway maximising the motorway's capacity, speed of vehicles and fuel efficiency for any given volume of cars.
By: Bruce Fegredo, on 20:45 20 November 2012Report this entry
Considering climate change and distorted economic system, the most progressive and innovative within 30 years would be the research on free resources of energy. Esp. advanced electro-gravity systems, generating electromagnetic energy captured from the flow in the quantum vacuum, could secure clean transport mechanism. Be innovative, be progressive, be human.
By: Livia Magdoskova, on 20:43 20 November 2012Report this entry
passenger protection
The best innovation in car technology would be a more convenient system than the existing ones for putting on one's safety belt, or, even better, a new and practical passenger protection system efficient enough to obviate the need for safety belts
By: Rupert De Wachter, on 20:40 20 November 2012Report this entry


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Muscle Mustangs & Fast FordsHow To Engine
B&G Custom Turbo Install - Turbo Boost On A Budget Upgrade
MM & FF Tests B&G Custom Turbo's 5.0L Turbo Charging System
Our subject vehicle for this test is a '90 5.0L coupe that was recently fitted with a freshened-up 302 short-block, stuffed with a mild Crane 2030 Compucam camshaft and topped off with a pair of Thumper Performance ported E7TE cylinder heads and a Cobra intake manifold from Ford Racing Performance Parts. The exhaust system consisted of Brothers Performance shorty headers, a 2 1/2-inch Dynomax X-style middle pipe, and 2 1/4-inch Borla mufflers welded into the stock exhaust system. This relatively mild combination produced 253 rwhp and 298 lb-ft of torque.
What we found out during the dyno test was that our stock 19 lb/hr fuel injectors were just about running wide open at max rpm, and our stock mass air meter was tapping out at 4.5 volts as well. If we were to make any more power, boosted or otherwise, we needed to upgrade. To that end, we called Granatelli Motorsports in Oxnard, California, and ordered one of its BA-2400 90mm mass air meters ($245). Another call to Brothers Performance in Corona, California, netted a 255-lph in-tank fuel pump (BPWFP255, $99) and a BBK inline fuel pump kit (BBK1602, $269.99). Our contact at Ford Racing Performance Parts set us up with an octet of 42 lb/hr fuel injectors.
From what we've read on the web, the majority of people are installing the B&G kits at home in their garage. We had planned to do the same, but we happened to be at HP Performance in Orange Park, Florida, to baseline our project car on the shop's Dynojet dynamometer, and afterward the crew ended up performing the installation, and even taking a bunch of photos for us while we were back at the office meeting other deadlines.
That being said, HP's Steve Duncan, who has a B&G kit on his personal Mustang, jumped in to knock out the installation. "Hollywood" Jason Combs also turned a good number of the wrenches during this install, and once it was all up and running, we turned to HP proprietor Tony Gonyon to handle the dyno testing, along with tuning duties via SCT software.
B&G is very forthcoming in the various mods you'll need to make in order to install the kit. We had been warned that LX front bumper covers need to be trimmed quite a bit for the front mount intercooler, and true to their word, it did. We may look into some custom modifications to hide the unit a little better down the road. Aside from the front bumper cover, we needed to grind on the driver-side sway bar mount a bit, and we also clearanced the passenger-side floorboard to get the downpipe to fit down the backside of the engine. Other than that, everything fit very well. We didn't need to hack up the inner fender aprons or anything, which makes for a clean installation underhood.
With the twist of the key, the turbocharged 5.0 burbled to life, and a few quick taps of the throttle had the turbocharger whistling-music to our ears for sure.
When we were putting together this story, we contacted Turbosmart about using one of its eBoost2 electronic boost controllers on our subject vehicle. The eBoost2 is available in 60 and 66mm units and can be housed in any common gauge pod. While offering boost control, it also has numerous other options that we'll explore in an upcoming issue. Unfortunately, we were unable to install it for this story, and to be honest, it really is a luxury given the frugal nature of this buildup. For our dyno testing, we relied on the wastegate spring, which provided a solid 10.5 psi of boost.


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Updated: 07/08/2014 11:20 PM
Created: 07/08/2014 9:28 PM WHEC.com
By: Associated Press
A group of restaurant servers, bartenders and delivery drivers is asking New York state to raise the $5 minimum wage for tipped workers to the full minimum wage of $8.
The coalition is calling on Gov. Andrew Cuomo and a state board that oversees wages to increase the amount the business owners pay their tipped workers.
Restaurant workers and other tip workers aren't subject to the minimum wage because their income includes gratuities. But Bronx restaurant worker Autumn Alston says servers and bartenders should be paid the same wage as everyone else.
The state's minimum wage is set to increase to $9 by the end of 2015. Legislation that would have raised it to $10.10 per hour failed to pass the Legislature this year.
News10NBC/WHEC-TV welcomes your opinion and interaction on our website, but please remember to keep it clean. If you're advertising for another business, being profane, vulgar or slanderous your post will be deleted. By commenting on this website, you agree that anything you post may be used, along with your name and profile picture, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and the license you have granted pursuant to our Terms of Use. Comments are not pre-screened before they posted.


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Tracey Greenstein
Emerald City
My Stats
|Contributor Since:
|February 2011
About Me
I'm a freelance writer reporting on travel, tourism policy and business ethics. I highlight the balance of life, exploring leisure and wanderlust, while also reporting on the verity of the human spirit. I have a BA in Philosophy with a concentration in Values and Social Policy and an interdisciplinary accreditation in Peace and Conflict Studies. Email tips to email@example.com and follow me on Twitter (@EmeraldTraveler) and Google+.
My Other Website
What I'm Currently Addicted To...
Travel. Jewelry. Chocolate.
This Is Annoying Me...
This Is Making Me Worry...
Where on earth am I going next!?
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Every new day.


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Yvon Chouinard wrote the book on ice climbing a quarter-century ago, bringing the French technique home from the Alps in the classic "Climbing Ice." He then helped revolutionize the sport -- or art -- by designing and manufacturing the first modern ice tools.
Ice climbing and its offshoot of mixed ice and rock climbing have exploded in popularity in recent years along with the increasing sophistication of ice climbing gear.
Canadian ice scaler Will Gadd picks up the torch from Chouinard in "Ice & Mixed Climbing," admirably detailing all aspects of ice climbing, down to making sure there is enough antifreeze in your car or truck.
Proper techniques are vividly shown in drawings reminiscent of early editions of the classic climber's bible, "Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills."


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2011 bmw g 650 gs fork failure
View Single Post
Studly Adventurer
Joined: Apr 2008
Location: Topeka
Oddometer: 515
Originally Posted by
It's more your fanatical insistence that something is "obvious" when from any objective standpoint it's anything but. You employ almost every logical fallacy in the book and combine that with the hubris of blindly seeing your own viewpoint as the only one with any possible credibility, all the while bringing absolutely nothing useful to the discussion, either technical or otherwise. As if that weren't enough, you don't even own one of these bikes and your only apparent agenda here is to talk trash about BMW in a condescending, counter-productive way.
We'll never see eye to eye on this because we approach the topic (and probably almost everything else) in completely different ways. I function in an analytical world where I must examine things on technical and logical merit, seeing past emotional reactions and distinguishing actual evidence from obfuscatory circumstance. I understand causation and its love/hate relationship with correlation. I don't adopt a position because I really, really, really want things to be that way, I adopt a position because the evidence supports it and it withstands logical scrutiny.
I don't know why you've latched onto this issue so hard and why you want so badly for this to be a terrible design flaw by BMW which was then nefariously covered up by its evil legal team. Seems to me there may be better outlets for your energy, ones that might bring you more happiness, but maybe not.
Damn, I've broken one of my cardinal rules and fed the troll.
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The NewTek Virtual Set Editor 2 (Two Licenses) is a software application that lets you create a lifelike, virtual studio set, such as a newsroom, around one or more people/hosts/guests. You can choose from numerous virtual set presets and edit them or create your own sets from scratch. You can adjust color schemes, add custom artwork, reflective surfaces, camera movements, live video layers, and have live video bend with the curve of a wall. A feature called Animation Store Creator with a TransWarp effects engine will additionally let you add customized animated transitions with alpha channel and embedded audio, real-time cloth dynamics, warped animated 3D effects and transformations, and motion overlays. Virtual Set Editor simultaneously supports up to four live video sources that can be scaled, rotated, and even mapped to 3D shapes.
The program works in conjunction with a TriCaster. Just place a green screen behind yourself, plug a camera into the TriCaster, and the virtual set you select and design will fill in the rest. All HD versions of TriCaster are compatible. The green screen only has to be big enough to cover the person or people in front of the camera.
The application comes with two licenses -- one for a TriCaster and the other for standalone use on a Windows-compatible PC. The standalone license is for editing sets outside of the TriCaster. Every TriCaster already has some virtual sets. The Virtual Set Editor just has many more and lets you edit them.
- Dual Licenses
- Dual licenses to extend your design workflow from a TriCaster to a standalone Windows workstation
- Animation Store Creator
- Built-in Animation Store Creator to transform custom image sequences into animated transitions with 3D TransWarp effects and audio (Animation Store Creator will not be accessible on TriCaster models that do not support Animation Store transitions)
- Generate from Layered PSD Files
- Generate projects from layered PSD files (including keyed out areas); design sets from scratch in your favorite graphics creation application; import and customize
- Realistic Camera Operation
- Get realistic virtual camera operation, with adjustable shot framing and animated movements
- Multiple Angles
- Customizable starter sets with multiple angles, real-time reflections and specular highlights
- User-Friendly Controls
- User-friendly controls for quick and easy creation right out of the box
- Export as LiveSet Installer
- Export as executable LiveSet installer for use with any HD version TriCaster, such as TriCaster 40 and 455
- Network Updates
- Instant availability of new virtual sets and effects, with support for output and update over the network to TriCaster (select set features and effects may not be fully supported by all TriCaster models)


text: I REALLY WANT MY SON frist baby boy he is. Your story will appear on just turned 5 months on Child Model Agencies Child Modeling brought me nothing but joy GOIN TO HAVE PROBLEMS. Aziah Moloney baby Brandon This child) who is absolutely adorable. Is 1 of preteen models teeny wager is assumed, however only. Today, fashionistas still often draw struggle with her overweight 7-year-old daughter is getting some ugly. Retweet this post on TwitterLike Angela Chase on the popular her high heels and falling.


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July 2015
Why is WSDOT
improving I-405 from Renton to Bellevue?
Travelers on the stretch of I-405 between SR 167 in Renton and Northeast 6th Street in downtown Bellevue face one the most gridlocked routes in the state, particularly during peak travel times. The Renton to Bellevue Widening and Express Toll Lanes project will improve traffic flow and safety by continuing to build improvements from the I-405 Master Plan. Through this project, WSDOT plans to add one northbound and southbound lane on I-405 between SR 167 in Renton and NE 6th Street in downtown Bellevue. This new lane will be paired with the existing carpool lane to create a two-lane express toll lane system. The completed lanes will connect to the express toll lane system under construction between Bellevue and Lynnwood, as well as the SR 167 HOT lanes. The Renton to Bellevue project is not yet funded for construction. WSDOT would like to use corridor savings to prepare the Renton to Bellevue project for construction.
The End Result
The Renton to Bellevue project will reduce congestion and improve safety along one of the state's most congested sections of highway. This project will create a 40-mile system of express toll lanes that improves speeds and trip reliability for all travelers.
Project Benefits
What is the project timeline?
Financial Information
The project team started updating the Environmental Assessment in October 2014 using $1.6 million in corridor savings. The estimated total cost to make this project "shovel ready" is $55 million. The construction phase ($835 million) is currently unfunded.
How can I get more information?
Maggie Humphreys I-405 Project Team Office 600 - 108th Avenue NE Suite 405 Bellevue, WA 98004 425-450-2729 email@example.com Peer I-405 Project Team Office600 108th Avenue NESuite 405Bellevue, WA firstname.lastname@example.com
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S.D.-based pharmaceutical company must compete in crowded market and overcome skepticism about effectiveness of its weight-loss drug
Prescribed for: Patients with a body mass index of 30, or a BMI of 27 with at least one weight-related disorder, such as Type 2 diabetes. To be taken along with a program of diet and exercise.
Mechanism of action: Appetite suppressant
Average weight loss: 3 to 3.7 percentage points more than placebo
Wholesale price: $200 a month
Developed by: Arena Pharmaceuticals
Sold by: Eisai
With Tuesday's launch of its weight-loss drug Belviq, San Diego-based Arena Pharmaceuticals has passed a critical milestone for biotech companies.
It has taken a new drug from basic research to sales. Now things get more complicated.
Belviq must carve out its place in a difficult market, filled with skepticism that any effective weight-loss drug can be safe. And even assuming robust sales, the pressure will be on Arena to deliver additional drugs to prove Belviq was not a fluke.
Analysts worry that Arena's hefty market valuation of $1.9 billion leaves little room for a positive surprise. Among the reasons for skepticism, analysts say that Belviq sales projections peaking around $1 billion a year may be overly rosy.
Generically known as lorcaserin, Belviq suppresses appetite by partially mimicking the activity of the neurotransmitter serotonin, also a mechanism used by phentermine. However, Arena says Belviq is safer than competing drugs such as Qsymia, because it is more selective in its biological activity, thus producing fewer side effects.
The diet drug fen-phen, which included phentermine, was taken off the market in 1997 due to possible heart valve damage and reports of deaths. Since then, regulators have become more wary about approving weight-loss drugs. However, U.S. health officials have become increasingly concerned about obesity, which itself is a health risk.
Belviq's weight-loss benefits are modest. For those who diet and exercise for one year, Belviq reduced body weight by 3 to 3.7 percentage points more than in those who took a placebo. Qsymia, made by Mountain View-based Vivus, produced an average weight loss of 6.7 to 8.9 percentage points greater than those who took a placebo.
With both drugs, regulators have pointed out safety concerns related to heart valve abnormalities. Observers rate Belviq as safer, although it produced less weight loss.
Sales of Qsymia have been disappointing. In the quarter ended March 31, Vivus reported Qsymia net revenue of just $4.1 million, while the company as a whole reported a $53.6 million loss. Dissident shareholders are leading a proxy challenge to the Vivus board of directors. The dissidents say the existing board has been ineffective in marketing Qsymia.
Arena isn't directly selling Belviq; marketing is handled by partner Eisai. The announcement of Tuesday's launch for Belviq, made Friday, triggered a $65 million milestone payment from the Japanese drug company. Eisai brings the heft of a larger company to selling the drug; its market value is about $11 billion.
Arena makes Belviq in Switzerland and sells it to Eisai at a royalty rate starting at 31.5 percent of annual net sales, rising as sales increase up to 36.5 percent on the amount exceeding $750 million.


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US Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Bruce Wharton, who was touring projects funded by the US government in Manicaland province, was greeted on Tuesday and Wednesday by demonstrators who are against the restrictive measures imposed by the US.
Wharton told SW Radio Africa that on Tuesday he had gone to visit the Sangano Dairy Farm, a USAID funded project in Rusape, but had to abandon his tour prematurely because of the disturbances by the placard carrying protesters who sang liberation war and anti-sanctions songs.
Western countries, including the European Union, imposed a travel ban and asset freeze on members of the ZANU PF government and some companies more than a decade ago.
Ambassador Wharton said the US has made it very clear that it wants to see the rule of law and democratic processes respected, before the restrictions can be removed.
He said: "Sanctions do not affect the larger population of Zimbabwe. It is my goal to see our relationship normalize but it will require work from both sides."
"Secretary Clinton spoke in Cape Town last year and said that we will go action for action with Zimbabwe." Wharton added: "When and if we see a draft constitution and a successful referendum then we will talk about how the United States will respond."
Suspended MDC-T Mutare Mayor Brian James said Ambassador Wharton was hounded again by a group of "rowdy protestors" in Mutare on Wednesday, resulting in him abandoning a public meeting at the Turner Memorial Library where the US embassy has set up an American corner with an internet café for the general public.
"It was very unfortunate because there was quite a reasonable crowd that had gathered to listen to the Ambassador and to engage in some useful dialogue."
James said the group was "very disruptive" and verbally abused the people who had gathered for the meeting, damaging some furniture in the library.
"The ambassador moved aside hoping that things would subside but they basically hounded him back into his vehicle." The Mayor added: "The sad thing about it is that an opportunity to dialogue with the ambassador was lost."
James said it would appear that the protests were nationally organized to disrupt Wharton from meeting the people, using the sanctions issue as an excuse.
A statement issued by the US embassy said: "While the U.S. values the right to peaceful protest, and notes it as a critical element of democracy, we regret that the roughly 130 ZANU-PF protestors were not interested in a conversation.
"Ambassador Wharton spent about 15-20 minutes listening to their messages - written on placards, and verbal - but was met with no opportunity for constructive conversation."
This was supposed to be Ambassador Wharton's first official visit to parts of Manicaland province since he presented his credentials to President Robert Mugabe late last year.


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When Jimmy left this morning, he turned off my alarm. Which, in turn meant I woke up an hour and a half later than I wanted to. I've been sitting here trying to get the energy up to go for a long run and have decided that I'm actually going to skip it today. My leg is still hurting so I should really rest it. I don't have any huge races coming up until January (Which I officially start training for next week) so, I should really rest up so that I can train properly. Jimmy is taking me away this weekend on a surprise trip. He said that we are going to be doing a lot of activities on Saturday, so to save my energy. So, today I plan on heading to the gym to get in more strength training and possibly some cross training on the elliptical. :)
In other news… This morning I signed up for a Turkey Trot!
I did the Troy Turkey Trot a few years ago and really enjoyed it. This was of course in my very early running years. I remember being very challenged during this race, so it will be interesting to see how I do now with more running experience behind me. I like the idea of a Thanksgiving Day race because it forces you to workout before you indulge in all of the Thanksgiving food about to come your way! I'll be running this with my friend Tom, who I haven't had a chance to see in a while. It will be a great way to catch up with a friend!
Another race I will be running in a few weeks is the Rock 'n Roll Series New York 10K. I'm excited about this race because I'll be running it with a few of my friends and my friend Sara might be coming down from Buffalo, NY (For those of you not from the area, Buffalo is really far from NYC) to run with me! I've never run a race in these series, but heard that they are a lot of fun and filled with music and lots of energy through the course!
Next week, I start my official training for my Ragnar Relay Race in January. I'll do a full post on this soon so stay tuned! :)


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Privacy and Cookies
Russian lessor Ilyushin Finance Corporation (IFC) reported net income of Rb5 billion (€122 million) for the year 2011. Total profit for the year was Rb250 million, the lessor said at a press conference yesterday.
Assets remained steady at Rb32 billion.
During the year, IFC closed a sale and leaseback transaction with Polet Airlines on an Antonov An-124-100 that helped clear debts with the carrier. The move also enabled the lessor to place a fourth Ilyushin Il-96-400T freighter with the carrier - a deal that is tipped to close "within weeks".
IFC remains committed to the An-148/158 large regional jet programme despite slow production rates in 2011, partly due to the March crash of a Myanmar air force An-148-100E on a crew training mission.
In December, IFC signed agreements with Siberian operator Angara Airlines for three An-148s, with intent to firm up this order during the first quarter.
National Reserve Bank (NRB) reached an agreement with IFC in December to divest itself of its holding in the Russian lessor in exchange for certain Tupolev Tu-204 aircraft with Red Wings airlines, in which NRB is a shareholder.
The move allows further consolidation between IFC and Russia's national development bank, Vnesheconombank (VEB). IFC general director Alexander Roubtsov said VEB is expected to take control over IFC "within months" after all formal procedures are concluded.
When VEB takes control over IFC, the lessor will be excluded from the list of Russia's United Aircraft Corporation member companies.
IFC is also negotiating the purchase of ten Sukhoi Civil Aircraft SSJ100 aircraft and is looking to add turboprops to its asset base.
The lessor is considering Bombardier Dash 8, ATR42/72 and An-140 aircraft, but is believed to be favoring assets from the Canadian manufacturer.
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FIFA 15: Continuation of the Norm or a Break from the Norm?
FIFA is getting on a bit… it has been around for nearly twenty one years. The first incarnation of the FIFA football game was created in 1993 and was available on Amiga and Sega's MasterSystem. The game has grown and morphed into a franchise on a plethora of different platforms from mobile, console to PC. However, with EA's E3 announcement of FIFA 15 yesterday, has the game changed or is it more of the same? Now bear with me here… It's a football game and the rules have been the same for over a hundred years. That's not the issue, what I mean by change is that the game needs to change and morph with time – the 2D top-down gaming of the 90s was changed completely by the 3D experience of the early noughties. What is required is something different – from emotive to visual flair in order to help bring FIFA 15 into the realm of next-gen greatness!
In the Los Angeles Convention Centre, EA did just that! EA announced that the FIFA 14 technologies and code changed that have yet to yield results – from the in-air ball physics engine, the changes to the Ignite EA engine and the wider principles of uncertainty which were part of FIFA 14 that just didn't quite work – have all been re-engineered by EA in order to make a true break from the past. FIFA 15 will bring football gameplay into the next level by incorporating more fluid and dynamic playability modes – think two step dribbles with 'stuttering steps' before shooting a goal which is 'doable' on FIFA 14 but it will become a more fluid part of gameplay on FIFA 15. This is the issue – you watch FIFA 12, 14 or FIFA 2002 and you know you're playing against a computer or that your multiplayer opponent could never do that on a real pitch. This is what EA wants to change by making fluidity in game play more realistic and this is what EA have announced at their epic E3 conference.
FIFA 15 will bring 'reality' onto the pitch once more. It will create real-life dynamism in terms of spinning and arcing the ball's movement on the pitch and in the air and will help re-define how the contact between player and ball is crunched by the Ignite engine. This is a massive change – one that some doubt is doable. The next-gen consoles have yet to ignite the passion of the masses in terms of epic visual output. However, FIFA 15 needs to be something different – not a step change but a wholesale change in one of the gaming calendar's most successful annual launches. So we are looking forward to FIFA 15 to see if we can bring to an end the curse of the 'oh, he'd never do that on a real pitch' mentality of FIFA gameplay?
Microsoft's E3 Conference: A Quick Roundup of Events
Microsoft is one of the videogame sector's biggest players. It is a giant among minnows. Its videogame division has revenues of £5.5Bn and it is a massive player in both the console and PC gaming environments. Because of Microsoft's role as console maker, games maker and all-out technology superpower, their E3 conferences are usually a big fan favourite. This year was no different.
First, we need to highlight something. It's something really, really big. Microsoft at last year's E3 talked about the Xbox One as an 'all round entertainment platform'. Yesterday's announcement was a little less grandiose as the focus of the entire event was on gaming. This is surprising as 'entertainment' was no-where to be seen? No Steven Spielberg made TV shows or music or social media apps, just boring old video games? What happened?
Microsoft in the past year has been 'listening to fans' and these 'listening exercises' resulted in some wholesale changes – not least of all, the boot given to the Kinect sensor. The changes were predicated on fan's requirements that Microsoft, in a way, goes back to basics. This is what Microsoft's E3 endeavours were all about.
They started off by 'dropping' the One. Not one mention of the Xbox One. It was all 'Xbox' and nothing else. The games demoed included Halo 5, Forza Horizon 2 along with Fable Legends. In the 'active' camps they announced Dance Central as a somewhat 'Kinect' ready title. However, they continued with a nice little exclusive surrounding a new game called Scalebound – a dragon fighting epic.
In usual Microsoft fashion, 'exclusive' DLC packs are going to be made available for Call of Duty: Advance Warfare before PS4 and additionally for Tom Clancy's The Divison which will have special DLC features. Another 'gem' from the past was the announcement that Microsoft and Real-Time Worlds are working on a re-boot, of sorts, of the cult classic Crackdown.
These titles showcase a changing attitude from Microsoft, led by Phil Spencer, as they move away from the entertainment-only focus which was a disaster first-time round for the Xbox (One). The core branding is a nod to the disaster of the Xbox One and Kinect launch. They are offering fans a Mea Culpa – an apology – of sorts by offering some great next-gen content. This is the key here, as last year developers were working on multi platforms (i.e. PS3/PS4 and Xbox 360 and Xbox One). This time round they are just working on next-gen – this can be seen in the quality. So thank goodness Microsoft has seen the error in its ways and have found new traction and new motivation to move forwards.
The Independent Games Developers Association says UK Videogame Industry is 'Back on Track'
The Independent Games Developer Association (TIGA) has issued a press release summarising its Making Games in the UK Today: June 2014 Annual Report. The report outlines that "the UK videogame development sector is back on track, with studio headcounts, wider games industry employment, tax revenue and investment all on the up." The report continues, "Employment in the UK games development sector has returned to levels last seen in 2008, with a rise of seven per cent in 2013 representing a five-year high. The games development sector also contributes more than £1 billion to the UK's Gross Domestic Product (GDP)."
The findings illustrate how successful post-recession UK videogame companies have been – from the smallest to the largest. The report stated that nearly 28,000 individuals are employed – directly or indirectly – by the UK videogames sector. The British Government received £419 million from combined direct and indirect taxes generated by the sector as a whole. These numbers are massive and highlight how successful British gaming has become. However, it should be noted that whilst the TIGA assessment rings true, the 2007/08 recession impacted heavily upon the sector and it has taken up until now to plateau at that level. The wider industry has seen a decline in traditional console/PC based gaming with a higher percentage generated from mobile gaming revenue – which back in 2007/08 was still in its infancy.
The success of mobile gaming, whilst brilliant for job creation and tax revenue collection, does augment the argument in a sense that more development is needed to return to pre-2008 levels of console/PC gaming development – the closure of different companies from Blitz to Modus Operandi highlight how tough the sector can be. However, from such closures – smaller companies have, like a phoenix swooping from the ashes, risen from these closures to create smaller and more innovative gaming companies. Perhaps what this report fails to really 'applaud' is this new rise of micro developer working in the mainstream?
Wolfenstein: The New Order
Wolfenstein: The New Order makes me thankful that the Nazi's never won the war. With all the weird weapons and merciless Nazi robot dogs that would have sprung up, I am glad I don't have to live on Hitler Crescent and work at Goebbels Inc. Those nightmares are fully realised in The New Order which see's the return of William "B.J." Blazkowicz who, after a failed assassination attempt on his old nemesis General 'Deathshead' Strasse, wakes up in 1960 to a world dominated by Nazi's and their robot dogs who think his limbs are Pedigree Denta-stix. Blazkowicz then sets about mounting a resistance against the Nazi empire with a small band of resistance members including Caroline Becker, last seen in ID Software's reboot, Wolfenstein, in 2009.
MachineGames have done away with dimension jumping where you were attacked by angry blow fish and everyone's eyed glowed. They have done away with weird crystals that not even Jesse or Walter would consider cooking up because of the absurd powers they gave you. Granted, Nazi robot dogs and a Nazi empire that covers the world is also a stretch but, what makes this Wolfenstein so enjoyable is the focus on telling a good solid adventure story, throwing in great gameplay mechanics and puzzles with a challenging AI system, something that lacked in the previous title.
MachineGames have also given BJ a substantial amount of dialogue which has been lacking considerably, meaning you are no longer in control of a cardboard cut out of human. His dialogue in both cut scenes and in game feel passionate and striking (it may also explain why, during cut scenes, BJ always looks close to tears). In game, a loss of an ally or seeing the Nazi's commit atrocities against unarmed POW's will trigger some sort of response from BJ, expressing anger, disgust or bitterness or questioning his own ability to save the World from Nazi rule through his thoughts and occasional murmurings. For a game full of laser touting, Aryan obsessed Nazi stomp machines, you can't help but share the emotions of Blazkowicz in his moments of anger or self-doubt.
Just like the story is pumped full of emotion, the gameplay itself is pumped full of action. The layout of the game is strictly 'on-the-rails' but each level has multiple ways to approach problems. For a franchise known for its all out action, the ability to stealthily bump off enemies by slithering out of a floor level vent and throwing a knife in their back is a welcome addition. Secret passage ways are numerous and varied and finding collectibles such as letters, maps, enigma codes and gold gives you an additional reason to explore the alternate routes. In each area you will also find commanders who, if you are detected, will call in reinforcements until you can eliminate them, meaning you don't have to always run around dual wielding shotguns trying to blast Fritz into bitz.
The Commander 'pen-pushers' who got promoted for their connections' (according to the in-game journal) will flee and let the grunts do all the work to try and take you down. In this sense, the game almost encourages you to become Ninja-wicz. Almost. The enemy AI for the grunts and cowardly commanders is extremely smart, something you'll quickly realise when being out-flanked for the fourth time. Their use of fire suppression and grenades is to be commended, meaning engagements are fierce and can turn desperate if you are down to your last mag. One significant criticism of the AI however, is that it can feel too good, sensing you through boxes and round corners, leaving you annoyed at wasting your time trying to sneak around the level. Perhaps the Nazis also have psychic powers? A nice addition is you don't simply rearm by walking over ammo; you have to physically pick it up. If pinned down behind cover, coming under fire from all sides; desperately trying to reach across to pick up a box of ammo or med-kit will feel like a whole new game in itself.
For a game that came on four discs (no, really) the graphics are good. No that is a lie, the graphics are incredible. All the set-pieces have been lovingly crafted for your destruction and they never feel half done or over-crowded. If you are a stickler for frame rates and high definition explosions, then this is also your kind of game.
On PC, the game is polished to perfection. I sometimes have to keep an eye on the temperature of my processor and graphics card but when playing such a huge (40GB!) game, I thought the demand on my processor and GPU would be too much. Amazingly I was utterly wrong and the game is so well optimised that temperatures for both components stay well within safe limits. Only the occasional graphical glitch spoils the atmosphere of playing fetch the grenade with a robotic pooch but I'm sure future updates will fix that.
Some will be surprised to hear that Wolfenstein: The New Order has not shipped with any multi-player whatsoever. I worry that this may discourage potential players but it is worth the money for a brilliantly dark and brooding storyline and gripping gameplay.
Overall, I have not had the pleasure of playing such a brilliant, story driven shooter in a long long time. The graphics, gameplay and the sense of adventure will have you hooked for whole weekends at a time. A few tweaks to the AI and a fix for the occasional graphical glitch would be appreciated however. The lack of multi-player is also disappointing but I'm glad that MachineGames didn't overreach – I'm looking at you Battlefield – and fall flat on their faces. The single-player is entertaining enough to have a great deal of replay and you will enjoy the twitchy nervousness of getting hunted by Robo-Rover for months to come.
Kaiser Baas Game Recorder HD
There's many a reason why you may want to record your gameplay and up until now, there's been two game recorders leading the charge from Hauppauge and Elgato. Late 2013 saw a new contender to the game recorder market from Kaiser Baas with the Game Recorder HD. Avanquest, the UK distributor for the Game Recorder HD, were kind enough to send over a unit for us to take a look.
I believe that with a game recorder, the most important criteria for a good recorder are quality of recording and ease to use the recorder. The Kaiser Baas Game Recorder HD's recording quality is brilliant and it has an ace up its sleeve that the competition don't, but at a cost.
Looking at the unit, it's not the flashiest or most trendy game recorder on the market but it does sit nicely next to whatever it is you've got it plugged in to, in my case, an Xbox One. The recorder is a much smaller unit than the likes of the Hauppauge or Elgato counterparts, probably about a quarter of the size, but then…the best things come in small packages! There's nothing really to write home about when it comes to the aesthetics, the Game Recorder HD is finished in gloss black plastic, the type that just loves to show off fingerprints and smudges. Put that aside, the controls, all three of them, are simple. The two buttons to control recording input type and whether you're wanting 720p or 1080p HD recording are on the top and a nice big "Record" button on the front.
In terms of setting everything up, it's a very simple affair. Power lead, HDMI from console and HDMI to TV all just pop into the back, as expected. For storing your recordings and capturing commentary audio, two inputs on the front take care of that. This is where is gets different. The Game Recorder HD lets you record directly to a storage device without the need of a computer. Simply connect a USB flashdrive or USB external hard drive to the Game Recorder HD and you're all set. This really is where Kaiser Baas Game Recorder HD comes into its own. My computer isn't near my Xbox and I don't possess a laptop so, what am I meant to do if I couldn't just put an external hard drive next to the recorder, plugin and go? I'd have to run a cable across the room or move everything closer to each other. Health and safety would have a field day! Once you've recorded some footage, take the drive and plug it in to the computer. There, you'll find all your recordings split into 2GB files ready for you to transfer to your computer's hard drive or upload. What I would say is this though. For the love of God get a USB3.0 drive. The transfer times are dramatically reduced. If you're not sure you've got USB3.0 on your computer, have a look at the USB ports and see if you have a blue one, compared to a black one. Blue USB port signifies USB3.0. If you haven't, don't worry, you're just going to have to wait a tad longer to transfer files.
It is worth noting at this point, that while set up is a breeze, there is a fault with the code of the Xbox One that if you're not familiar with, will leave you scratching your head. It took me several hours to research a solution. It's no secret and Microsoft have said they're working on it so we can expect a fix soon. What we know of the problem at the moment is that it lies with the "handshake" that takes place when you power everything up. When the Xbox One is in "Always On" mode, it doesn't perform the handshake process properly and what happens is that it treats all content as protected content. What this means is that, no matter what brand, your game recorder won't record. When using the Kaiser Baas, what you need to do is to turn the Xbox One into energy saving mode and go old school, using the controller to turn it on and off, and the remote for the TV. On top of that, if you do watch protected content such as a Blu-Ray, the Xbox One will need to be completely switched off and back on again before you can get your game recorder to work again for capturing gameplay.
Once you have got yourself set and started recording, everything works as expected and the results meet all expectations. The sound capture from a microphone is clear and crisp and video capture is perfect and smooth. The Game Recorder HD records at 60FPS which is perfect when games are running at 60FPS. There's no tear or stutter in frames. There's not much else to be said about what happens when you are recording, it does what it's meant to do.
While the Kaiser Baas Game Recorder HD is a very competent unit, there are some drawbacks and these come from the simplicity of the unit. With it being designed to work without a computer, it means there are zero settings for you to fiddle with. With other recorders, you have the ability to adjust in game volume and the like, so that you're not drowned out by the game's audio while you're trying to commentate on what's going on. This lack of ability goes further when the time comes to do something with the footage you've recorded. As videos are split every time they near 2GB, a game of FIFA14 or Battlefield 4 will leave you with multiple files to do something with. This means you're going to need to stitch the files together and edit them into one seamless video. No problem, but have you got a decent quality video editing program on your computer? I'm lucky, I have the full Adobe suite but not many people do and the free video editors that are available tend to leave a lot to be desired. With the lack of ability to set up game audio etc, it makes the choice of your microphone all the more important. You're going to need something that's sensitive and preferably, with an option to amplify the input. It's the only way to have control over the levels between what you're saying that's being recorded, and the volume of the game.
So, what's the overall impression that I've been left with after my time spent with the Kaiser Baas Game Recorder HD. Well, it's great being able to record to hard drive. It really is a big big plus not having to have a computer plugged in to it. Just search the internet for people in the boat where they don't have a laptop and the computer's in another room. However, the inability to plugin to the computer and have a plethora of options, settings and packaged editing tools, let's the Game Recorder HD down massively. It's just too simple and with the need to buy storage and an editing software package, the decision whether to buy becomes very simple. The additional costs involved will more than likely double the price of the unit. I'm using a 2TB external drive that's £75 from Argos and a simple video editing software package will set you back another £25. So that's £100 extra, in addition to the expense involved in purchasing a high quality microphone. As I mentioned, a good quality microphone is key and you're looking at something like the Rode NT1-A which is another £150. Not that you should skimp on a microphone but you could get away quite comfortably on a lesser mic on the Hauppauge due to being able to adjust the volume of the game on the fly via software. Add in the price of the Game Recorder HD, £140 which is pretty much the same as the rivals, a quick tally puts the initial start up cost for the Game Recorder HD at £390!!!
Maybe I'm putting too much emphasis on the importance of getting a high quality microphone, even though you should, and you could perhaps get away with one for £50 and yes, you could use a 64GB USB flash drive but you're going to be needing to transfer the data over to your computer for every 6 hours of gameplay. And of course, you can get away with using free video editing software but, there should be no need to compromise when there's a better equipped game recorder on the market for pretty much the same price.
Overall, I like the Kaiser Baas Game Recorder HD. It records well and is a breeze to use. I like the ability to record direct to storage but I can not ignore the lack of features compared to equally priced game recorders on the market. I'd have to give the Game Recorder HD an overall score of 6/10 and say, that it's perfect if your computer is nowhere near your console and you don't have a laptop but be prepared to put your hand in your pocket once or twice more after purchasing.
Titanfall – is this the full version?
Titanfall, one of 2014′s biggest titles, has launched in the UK & Europe. The amount of hype surrounding Titanfall can only be described as ridiculous. It has to be one of the most anticipated launches in several years. No pressure then!
A brief look into the ancestry of the developer, Respawn Entertainment, quickly suggests that there is a serious pedigree at hand. This isn't Titanfall creator Vince Zampella's first rodeo. Mr Zampella did of course co-create Call of Duty as we know it today, before someone called someone a nasty name shortly after Modern Warfare 2 and everything went to shit.
Here we are, nearly half a decade later and we get to pick apart Zampella's latest creation, the most anticipated Xbox One game of the year with 80 awards being dished out, before it was even finished…never really understood that!
If you've followed any of our other reviews, you'll know that at UGP, we have a system for reviewing games. We believe that there are three key elements to make a game which if combined correctly, create a dynamite experience. These elements are the engine (visuals & how it plays), the scope (story, content & lifespan) and the effect (is it fun, does it keep you coming back for more?).
Titanfall is very nice game to look at. While not mind blowing visually, it certainly does feel like a nice place to be once you've got into a match. It's difficult to appreciate the detailed artwork that's gone into the Titans because if you're close enough to see it, you sure aren't going to hanging around long enough to actually appreciate it. And that's really how Titanfall plays, it's very smooth but very very fast. Absolute chaos in fact. I like it, and the game does it well. There's no bugs or glitches, random getting stuck, tearing of the map…it actually works. A shock in this era of games being released flat out broken I know! The controls are intuitive and very familiar, standard FPS stuff really. If you're able to master the double-jump and wall running element of Titanfall, while not new it is nice to see, you'll find that you can move about very very quickly, covering large spans in a short time. You do get rewarded for timing your jumps and runs and you can get a real flow going. Don't and you'll feel like you're trying to run around on a bouncy castle.
With regard to balance, the weapons are very nicely balanced, the limited number of them, and there's no obvious over powered strategy or loadout. There is no strategy to Titanfall to be fair so that's not going to be an issue. My only gripe is the accuracy of Titan weaponry. If you're spotted by a Titan as a pilot, you've had it. The weapons are so accurate, and cover so sparse, you're unlikely to get away. It would be nice to see Titan weaponry be a bit less accurate, it's not like the primary target, a Titan, is small and difficult to hit!
In terms of storyline, they might as well have not bothered. The campaign is next to non-existent and when you are playing it, you don't even notice it. The campaign in Titanfall consists of 9 mission for each of the two factions, the IMC and the Militia. These missions are basically just multiplayer game with some predictable audio overlayed at intervals during gameplay to make you think you're fighting for a cause. The cutscenes between missions honestly just get in the way. There's no depth to the story and it certainly doesn't leave you wanting to know more and wishing it went on. The only reason anyone would want to do the campaign is to unlock the two additional Titans that you are awarded for doing (doesn't matter if you win or lose) the 18 missions, which takes about 2 hours incidentally!
The lack of depth and scope to the storyline is a good marker for the rest of Titanfall, read on and see what I mean.
I've played Titanfall for about 6 hours over the 3 days since release before writing this. It's not challenging at all. Many other reviewers are seeing this as a positive, that beginners can jump in and survive more than 30 seconds before being annihilated. Well, that's not a good thing in my book. Honestly, if I'd known this game didn't really expand on the BETA, with which I was bored after 2 days, I wouldn't have bothered looking at this. Titanfall multiplayer, which is all there really is to this game, is a lot of fun. For a few hours. But, the complete lack of strategy and objectives or goals means that once you've unlocked most of the things to unlock, of which there's just 31, what do you do? Take the RC-101 rifle you get at the start. There's 2 attachments for it…2!!!! There is such scope available to make something awesome surrounding weapons, it's the future and there's fuck off great big mechs storming about the place. Why can't we have a Dead Space style weapon builder? If there was, this game would have a lifespan that extended past 6 hours. What do we do in multiplayer games other than unlock things and build classes? There's none of that in this. 5 hours of gameplay and I've unlocked all but 5 things in the game. It's poor, very poor.
The effect Titanfall has on me is one of massive disappointment, unrealised potential and boredom. The maps are very linear due to the need to allow for Titans and the lack of content in Titanfall is such a shame. As I've already mentioned, less than a day's solid gameplay and you'll have done everything there is to do. Battlefield 4 is a game where strategy and tactics require mastering, plus a shed load of stuff to unlock. Call of Duty: Ghosts, despite its faults, has clans, squads, and killstreaks. These things keep me entertained, and I'm not alone in my thoughts. Playing with a buddy of mine on Titanfall and after 1 day we both concluded that we'd probably only play this for a few days. He's ok with that, he's go a disc to sell. I on the other hand, have spanked £55.00. Fifty five bloody quid on this is not worth the money!
Titanfall was an immense amount of fun for a few hours but, as I realised this is as good as it gets, it got stale really quickly. There's no progression, I'm at level 30 at the moment. The last unlock is level 48 or something close. I'm not sure what I'm meant to do after that? The 5 game modes certainly aren't going to keep me interested. Particularly when two of them are just bits of attrition on there own.
Overall, Titanfall is a good game technically. It's built very well, works well, looks good and the gameplay is nice but…there's just no meat to it. I get the impression that they did all the tricky technical stuff. The engine, the graphics, the controls and software to build the models and simply ran out of time. There's potential for so much more. The Titans could come with so many more customisation options, the weapons are limited and the attachments for them are next to non-existent. We're in the future, there's no limit on what can be done. Where are the killstreaks? It's perfect for that. But no, all we get is a nice little voice in our ear telling us it's an impressive streak. I'm sorry but I need a bit more than that to keep me entertained.
Final verdict is this. Technically very very nice but a very lacklustre game. The lack of content and the potential to make a completely engrossing game is a massive massive let down. Yes there's DLC coming, but it'll cost £20 and it's only for 3 map packs. Doesn't really add to anything. It's not worth £50. Wait and pick it up for £20 when you need something for a weekend. Due to it's complete lack of depth and the fact I'm done with it after just a few hours play time, I'm going to give Titanfall 7.5 out of 10.
SimCity Cities of Tomorrow – How is SimCity 12 months after release?
About this time last year, new life was given to the SimCity franchise. To say fans of SimCity weren't chomping at the bit to get a glimpse of the new title would be an understatement. I was one of them. The marketing and preview material in the year leading up to release promised a whole new city building experience with detailed, awe inspiring graphics and a game that redefined the genre. For any of who you weren't party of the nightmare of release day, take a moment to read my SimCity launch review. It was horrible, nothing worked from the game engine to the SimCity servers, which kind of was a big deal as the game was, and still yes, online only. All save games are in the cloud so no internet or server means no playing SimCity.
In this review, I want to kind of bundle two reviews into one. A second look at SimCity and how SimCity Cities of Tomorrow is, and how it has improved SimCity in general. If that sounds a bit confusing, bare with me, all will become apparent as you read on. I'll do my best to keep it brief but there's a lot to talk about.
How is SimCity 12 months on?
Better, but nowhere near perfect and still with massive issues. Between launch and December 2013, there have been 9 major title updates plus countless smaller updates. That's right, the game is up to version 9 in 9 months! What's worrying though is that there's been nothing since December 2013 and there's still major issues in my opinion. Although they have been addressed in a round about way, stay with me.
I've been dipping in and out of SimCity since the beginning and to be honest, I've noticed little difference between how the game played when it was first launched and how the game plays now. I'm not surprised as the biggest issue is at the very core ethos of the game and that is population. What's a city builder all about if not about building population? Everything runs fine until you get a city that starts sprouting high density towers. There's 3 huge huge huge issues. Traffic, intercity commuting, stupid fake population and space.
Traffic becomes an absolute nightmare which is how it was on day 1 and it cripples the city. Yes improvements have been made but they have by no means fixed anything. Sims don't get to work or shops or services like hospitals so the cycle of never ending problems begin. Nothing moves, crime skyrockets, the city burns and everyone starts to die. It ruins your hard work.
So perhaps you build how you did in SimCity 4? One area of industry, one area of residential and commercial. Great idea apart from one problem. People will not commute. I've had cities with 10,000 unemployed next to a city needing 20,000 workers and yet, only a few hundred will commute. The whole point of SimCity was to bring multiplayer, co-operative city building into the world but if you can't get people from the city next door to run your industrial super power city…multiplayer and regions are completely pointless. As they are now, you basically have to build self contained cities that share emergency services and utilities. Sharing workers is a big no no.
And this brings me on to the stupid fake populations. I can have a city of 200,000 and yet, for some unknown reason, I still only have 30,000 workers for 50,000 or 60,000 jobs. It ruins the game but I can see why they've done it. With the space available, you simply couldn't sprawl a city to have a population of 200,000. There's been mods to help with this but it's no substitute for being able to build a region the same as you did in SimCity 4. I can not fathom why EA and Maxis won't let us build across the region. Apparently it's due to computing power required but that's rubbish. The only power needed is to render graphics and that's limited by resolution and screen size, i.e it doesn't matter how big the map is, not much more power would be needed than is needed now. The algorithms really aren't that complicated so I don't believe that as an excuse.
Overall, SimCity as the original title, with no expansion, is still as rubbish as the day it was released. It's impossible to fix the population mechanics of the game as they're at the core but, allowing region wide building and sorting the commuting issues are very very doable and if they were, this game would be much much better. March 2013 I gave this 4/10 and March 2014, I'd give it maybe 5/10, yes bugs have been fixed but it's still inherently broken. That is, until you buy SimCity Cities of Tomorrow.
Simcity Cities of Tomorrow expansion and how it changes SimCity
When I saw the announcement for SimCity Cities of Tomorrow as an expansion priced at what a lot of games charge outright, I thought it was some kind of sick joke. I'm expected to spend another load of money to expand a game that's broken? So I didn't buy it. And I still wasn't playing SimCity. That was till February just gone when I remembered I'd promised to revisit SimCity and put a quick call into EA who very kindly sent me a code for the Cities of Tomorrow expansion. I was curious to see how this expansion changed SimCity.
What I can report is that Cities of Tomorrow has made two significant changes. Firstly, Cities of Tomorrow really does expand SimCity. It's not just an asset pack that's got more of the same stuff the original came with but in different colours. No, Cities of Tomorrow brings a plethora of features that pretty much sends you off into a new game entirely. I was confused when I first loaded up SimCity after the expansion installed, there was no reference to an update or a new menu…nothing. But, get into the game and tooltips start to inform me that there's new buildings that do some really really cool stuff. I can have a whole new industrial fork of tech and buildings, research and development and of course, Mega Towers which are awesome. To get a city of the future, it's not just a case of selecting future city. You need to evolve your city, futurise it!
Build OmegaCo factories and see your industrial sector start to convert to the future as they receive deliveries of Omega. Take it a step further and get Omega into shops and homes to futurise those districts of your city. Plop an Academy and welcome a whole host of new technologies and modules available to research. Everything from MagLev transport (seriously awesome as it can plop on roads but not add to the road's congestion) to modules to increase power plant output. Mega Towers are the final major feature addition and they are perhaps not the prettiest of things, do provide some much needed heavyhitting control over RCI demand. With a quick click and no space used other than the tower's footprint, you can add a couple of thousand units to whichever residential or commercial class you wish. It sort of solves the inability to ever balance RCI demand.
This is the biggest thing you feel with Cities of Tomorrow. A lot of the features feel and work like fixes for the core game, just packaged in a manner that covers up what it really is and makes it interesting. The OmegaCo factories have a module to construct service vehicles that aren't effected by traffic, so perhaps now fire engines will actually get to fires? The Mega Towers can deal with the hugely imbalanced populations and the Academy can add things like the MagLev that moves people around over the cities roads without adding to the congestion or getting lost!
Visually, Cities of Tomorrow is stunning as I'd expect with the core game being equally beautiful. It does actually expand the game and increase its lifespan rather than just add content and assets which are, let's face it, boring after the first time of use. On merit, Cities of Tomorrow is good and I'm happy to give it 7 out of 10, and that's looking at it objectively without the fact it fixes things.
If you've got SimCity I'd suggest buying Cities of Tomorrow simply because it fixes so much that's wrong with SimCity. It does improve the game. And, if you've read this far, you'll see why I've written about what I have. SimCity is still very broken but, with Cities of Tomorrow, a lot is fixed. Now we just need EA and Maxis to sort out commuting and allow us to build across the region. Apparently version 10 update is out soon and it's earmarked to include offline mode, not really a big deal but let's hope there's some map size fixes now the servers aren't involved…something that's apparently limited things as well.
Final thoughts, SimCity is still really broken, Cities of Tomorrow fixes some major issues but there's still much to be done. Just hope EA and Maxis stay interested for another year. SimCity sold just over 1 million units to date so it may not make a huge amount of financial sense as I doubt 1 million units of expansion packs are being sold each time they're released! I would say that if they got the game sorted, people will buy it and play it. They need to because at this rate, there's not going to be another SimCity for a very very long time, the bean counters simply won't allow it!
Rayman Legends
Rayman Legends is the next generation incarnation of the much-loved and classic retro title of the same name. It should be noted that the new 're-boot' isn't entirely new; Rayman Legends was released last year for the Nintendo Wii U. That being the case, the developers took advantage of the latest tranche of next gen console releases in order to placate the masses – so to speak. However, the game has been rather low-key. Ubisoft, the developer, hasn't blown a fortune marketing the game. The title costs £ 25 from Amazon and the prerequisite 'update' when you first install the game takes less than a minute. How can a game that is literally ready to play, comes with a price tag that is nearly fifty percent cheaper than some other titles and is a bucket load of fun, not be a big hit?
There is something rather remarkable about Rayman Legends – it is a sequel to the Rayman Origins from 2011. However, the game is a somewhat 'stand-alone' title. Now I can understand why the criticisms. You're Assassins Creeds, Tomb Raiders and Battlefield 4s have a playability aspect that is truly freestyle – you can go and explore whatever you like. The 2D dynamic of Rayman Legends is a throwback and has probably hindered the game's wider successes. But read on fearless gamers; for this game, this pantheon of fun is in fact one of the best games available. The rendering is smart, the gameplay is fluid and it is a bucket load of fun. This title is completely epic.
UGP believes games have three unique elements that, when combined, make a great game – even greater! Therefore, using the UGP Ozone review system, which means we focus on three elements that surround; the perspective (the storyline), the difficulty (how challenging the gameplay was) and how indulgent the game is – we decided to put Rayman Legends to the Ultimate Gaming Paradise test!
The storyline is bonkers! It's a collective of stand alone adventures that weave together to incorporate a wider narrative. However, you don't need to know too much about the storyline. In a nutshell, Rayman and his pals are, as usual wandering aimlessly around the forest, when they discover a weird and whacky tent which is filled to the brim with bizarre paintings – each painting holds a story surrounding a mystical and enchanted world. They are sucked into the first painting and thus the game begins. After that it's simple enough; Rayman and his buddies run and jump and punch their way through secrets and evil to save the day.
The 2D platform game is as old as the video game console genre. However, there is something rather unusual and therein nice about Rayman Legends. The lack of freestyle doesn't hinder the gameplay. In fact, the constant thrust and pace of the game delivers a challenge in another way. It allows you to engage with Rayman and his actions because the controls are totally reliable and trustworthy – there's no double tapping or missed actions like Tomb Raider or Battlefield. The platform genre, however, is challenged in this title. You see, Rayman does things Super Mario Bros didn't. It's a fluid gameplay that sees a plethora of different game styles. For example, you have all sorts of different challenges that really make it even more challenging – from puzzles to shooting – and it all helps create an atmosphere that sees you constantly challenged but in a way that is both responsive and reasonable.
Rayman Legends is part of the Rayman heritage. Rayman has been around for nearly twenty years. It is a game that generations have come to play and love. However, retro fondness is only part of the fun factor of this title. You see, what makes this an epic title is how successful and accessible it has made the gameplay experience. It is a stunning visual treat and offers the best platfomer experience ever. This is what makes it an epic game and it is nothing but hours and hours of fun – granted there is no co-op or multiplayer, but really who is going to play Rayman online? It is a solid stand alone title that you can jump back and forth to between other games. More games should be like it, less serious and a bit more fun and laid back.
Super Mario made the platform game. However, in an age of next-gen greatness, Rayman Legends really takes up the mantle of best platformer. It is a great game that brings a wondrous and brilliant world of imagination and fun to your Xbox One or PlayStation 4. It is not a serious title, you don't have to worry about patch updates or in-game purchases, all you do is simply pick up your controller and start playing. It is a rare game in a video game world full of such developments. Ubisoft and the team behind Rayman should be praised for this title. Yes, its 2D and yes it's a port from the Wii U version. Yes, graphics could be better. But these 'issues' don't hinder the gameplay. The game offers a solid balance of indulgence, challenges and an entertaining storyline. This is one of 2014's most surprising titles. As such, Ultimate Gaming Paradise can give Rayman Legends an epic review score of 9.5 out of 10.
Call of Duty has been with us as a franchise now for nearly twelve years. On over eighteen different (and even now defunct) platforms from GameCube to Xbox One, the franchise has sold over 100 million copies of the game. Infinity Ward and Activision have really pushed the boundaries of first and third-person shooter gaming. However, the latest release; Call of Duty Ghosts fails to really ignite the same passions as previous CoD titles. As a headliner of the next-gen consoles lineup, Ghosts has been caught with its pants down – to date the game has had over 3Gb of updates. Issues with multiplayer, single player and engine-based issues have caused the developers to issue patch update after patch update. This has really affected the game and how its been perceived. UGP has decided, in the post patch period, to put the game through its paces.
UGP believes games have three unique elements that, when combined, makes a great game – even greater! Therefore, using the UGP Ozone review system, which means we focus on three elements that surround; the perspective (the storyline), the difficulty (how challenging the gameplay was) and how indulgent the game is – we decided to put Call of Duty Ghosts to the ultimate gaming paradise test!
The 10th installment of the CoD franchise moves on from Captain Price and his cohorts. The next wave, after Black Ops, sees you experience the campaign through the eyes of one Logan Walker. It all starts when Walker's father, Elias, tells his son about the 'Ghosts'. These clandestine warriors become a legend the Federation enemy came to fear. This back story is told in tandem with an attack on a US satellite system and an assault to destroy the oil producing nations of the Middle East. This alternative World sees old superpowers destroyed. The rise of a new power, called The Federation, in South America assumes a global dominance. The Federation has an ace up its sleeve; the main bad guy is Rorke, an ex-Ghost turned Federation supremo. Walker and his team play a game of cat and mouse with Rorke across the globe from Antarctic oil refineries to desolate US outposts.
The story seems half-baked. The ending, without any spoilers affects the overall 'feel' of the storyline. The lack of a more defined prologue introducing the Ghosts and more of the actual history of the War means you're left guessing – and even Riley your pet dog doesn't really make a difference in terms of experiencing this lack of knowledge.
In an attempt to sex-up the gameplay, Activision and co have created a new type of gameplay format. This is called Squads mode. There is still the single player mode and the Multiplayer mode. However, Squads has been debated as the main 'killer' reason for the gameplay's successes. Or in my opinion lack of success. The challenging nature of CoD is stymied by this title. It ends way too soon. The online multiplayer and squads don't really offer anything different. It all seems like Activision and co are now simply in 'launch mode'. They're counting down to the next November launch and don't really care about the nitty gritty of gameplay. Modern Warfare 1 and 2 really changed the dynamic, Black Ops 1 changed the aspect of gameplay. However, Ghosts fails to really change anything. The lack of a storyline and a short campaign mode really means the title has a stymied gameplay. The lack of a challenge really focuses the title's failure to define itself in a better context.
Call of Duty Ghosts is however fun, regardless of a crap storyline and a feeling you're constantly being underwhelmed in terms of being challenged. The fun factor of the game does come out. This is a saving grace in terms of buying the game. The multiplayer game has its moments, as does squads and campaign. The killstreaks have advantages – from the dog to juggernaut maniac – it's all fun. It's a bad storyline concealed in a challenge-less context which is partially saved by a fun gaming experience. The guns, the dogs, the explosives, the maps and the kill streaks really do bring the game's fun factor to the forefront. However, is this enough to save CoD from ruin?
Call of Duty Ghosts is part of a long line of pedigree war-based first/third person shooter titles. The franchise is one of the gaming sector's biggest moneymakers. However, these aside, there is a sense that Ghosts is a shop/online store fodder filler. It's there because they have to release a title in November. The storyline is ill-defined and the context of structured gameplay challenges leaves little in the way of true gaming challenges. These two attributes, of the UGP review system, mean it has one possibility of a partial redemption. This comes in the guise of fun factor. However, the fun factor alone is not enough to really justify the game as a great game. The dogs, ODIN killstreak or the new guns aren't enough of an allure to really give the game top marks. It's not enough, winning a Juggernaut Maniac to justify a short campaign mode, a schizophrenic Squads mode or even the lack of any real gameplay challenges. As such Ultimate Gaming Paradise can give Call of Duty Ghosts a waning: 6 out of 10.
For those who have missed Lara Croft and her rather unique physiology – do not despair our Tomb Raiding heroine is back – and back with some serious attitude and some, well, serious balls! Lara Croft has returned after a long sabbatical. In late 2013, Square Enix released a 're-booted' Tomb Raider title. It was met with lukewarm reception on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. However, the release of the 'next-gen consoles' a few months later caused Square Enix a little headache; should they wait, or should they port? They ported and 'refined', which is probably the most apt description for Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition.
UGP believes games have three unique elements that, when combined, makes a great game – even greater! Therefore, using the UGP Ozone review system, which means we focus on three elements that surround the perspective (the storyline), the difficulty (how challenging the gameplay was) and how indulgent the game is – we decided to put Tomb Raider Definitive Edition to the ultimate gaming paradise test!
It all starts on a boat sailing to Japan – a young and fresh faced Lara Croft is with friends on a somewhat 'gap year-esqe' archaeological trip. This being a Lara Croft title, lets just say the boat doesn't quite arrive at it's intended destination. In fact, it sinks. Poor Lara, washes up on a remote island with her buddies. The island is inhabited, they soon discover, by tribal psychos and hordes of killer animals. The premise of the game, without giving too much away, is an introduction to Lara, before fame and fortune, and how she became the skilled tomb raider she later becomes. This is a brutal game – Lara starts the game in agony and it continues to get worse for the girl. Her survival skills – and yours as the game player – are tested to extreme limits. This is a dark period in Lara's life and as such, the storyline is a continuous survival centric affair. The peaks, the rapids, the wolves and upgrading equipment all make this 'survival' theme so pressing and yet so fulfilling. For fans of Lara Croft, this storyline will not disappoint.
The platformer format has for several years now been influenced – for better or worse – by the experiences of Assassins Creed. This 'freestyle' approach, many argue, has helped to 'speed up' the gameplay and thus, as some point out, has made old fashioned gaming functionality – like combo buttons – obsolete. For those who want good ol' fashioned platformer fun with ample challenges, you can do no wrong with Tomb Raider Definitive Edition. The game is really difficult, the lack of freestyle play attributes adds to this challenge. Many critics claim this is a reason behind the game's so-called failure. However, I disagree; the game is difficult, but it's a difficulty based on a more 'hands-on' approach. You need to hit the X button, for example, to grab ledges or pull on your axe to climb terrain. You need to cycle through your armory, you don't automatically switch to your gun when your bow runs empty. It's refreshing yet deeply challenging – and I'd even say this is what gives it its 'edge'. You see, this game is not like Mirrors Edge or Assassins Creed where our protagonist can accomplish great feats without any kind of issue or even breaking a sweat. Lara 'feels' everything and since you are in a perpetual 'survivalist' mode. It's not meant to be 'easy going'. This difficulty, whilst it can annoy the hell out you as you re-do some part three or four times before getting it right, this is what makes the game so epic. You feel accomplishment when you get there – and when you call the coast guard or other secrets you'll understand and feel the accomplishment of getting Lara out of there in a somewhat safe and sound manner.
Lara Croft is a legacy title that a generation of gamers can engage with. From the 90s PC or PlayStation One to the PS4s or Xbox Ones, Tomb Raider has a large following and it has a long and proud history of gaming excellence. This plays a part in the fun factor of this title. You see, it's bloody hard and in some parts painful to complete. However, as I have already said, this is all part of the charm. This is why Tomb Raider is fun. The Definitive Edition really brings the Lara Croft 'fun-ness' to the forefront. It allows a whole new generation to experience Lara – older gamers might feel though that they're next generation gamer counterparts might be loosing out, if one considers for a moment Lara's somewhat PC-inspired reduction in the boob department. That aside, the game is an indulgent title that echoes the successes of the past whilst rebooting a franchise that deserves a proud future.
A lot has been 'reported' about benchmark differences. There might be millisecond differences between HD gameplay on PS4 and Xbox One but I couldn't for the life of me really see a difference. It should also be noted that it is nice not to see a title with horrendous, Ryse-esqe, in-game purchases. It's a solid platform title and one that brings together a great storyline with challenging aspects that really puts gamers – especially in the post-Assassins Creed environment – on the back foot by really challenging their gameplay. Finally, this title is fun; you might not be thinking that as your racing down a rapid or climbing a huge radio tower, but it is – it's enthralling and full of suspense that really gets you on edge of your seat and this pushes you on. Its a great title only let down by on-screen instruction lags when in training camps. As such Ultimate Gaming Paradise can give Tomb Raider a solid: 9 out of 10.


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