Between looking at my blog, and also the email asking why I haven’t updated, I’m now very much aware that I kinda disappeared for the past 4 months! Unfortunately my first trip to the USA wasn’t really all that good on the whole, but I did have a few nice moments and while it wasn’t all gloom and doom, I ended up having to write it off. Still, I’m better prepared for when I next go there. Anyway, because of all my hiccups across the pond, I was unable to do any episodes of the DiggerFeast like I planned, especially given the aftermath I was trawling through right up till late last month. However, I have at least managed to make preparations for a pilot episode, though whether I am doing it solo or with others is currently dependent upon whatever happens over the coming weeks. The DiggerCast was subject to a similar fate, but rest assured, now that I’m back home, and in (somewhat) of a right mind, I can continue the DiggerFeast and DiggerCast soon.

However, given that I’m going forward with my Stormhaven Media idea, it is very likely you won’t see a DiggerFeast episode for a few weeks, at least till I get the blog setup there. As for the DiggerCast, expect a new episode in the middle of October. Why then, you say? Well, the idea is to release eps every first and third week(end) and I need to focus on getting the team back together, as well as a couple new additions, plus given I haven’t worked on it for a while, I need to update the site list and also setup a page template! Rest assured though, the final format is nailed, and thus is the most complete show. Coincidentally, the DiggerFeast will likely follow a similar skeleton framework, for the reasons of consistancy at least. I am wondering at present as well if it’s a good idea to put everything in a single blog, although that said, WordPress is powerful enough to be modded for multiple purposes, so I think it would be the best option, in all fairness, especially once I learnt how to sort the domain stuff out. I’ll think of something eventually.

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I’m doing pretty well this month… two three posts!

Anyway, I figured that I’d give a little update on things.  First of all, I’d like to make a couple of announcements, one of which affects this site directly, and one which is to do with a related website.  The most important announcement is that over the next few days, I’ll be moving all my websites over to a new web server, which means that some of the sites I own may be down for up to a couple of says (in rare cases, it may be longer).  Additionally, I’m doing a reshuffle of the structures of some sites, so you may find that even after the move is completed (it will be announced), some sites may be down while they’re moved to their new homes.  I’l post up more about this at a later date.  Additionally, I’m hoping to upload a new DiggerCast episode either before the end of this year, or not long after New Years.  Yes, I’ve been a bit slow with it, but I’ve been having issues with the recording software which caused a lot of recording to not be saved!  I need to record the final few minutes of this episode and upload it.  There will be a special episode recorded this month as well, but it isn’t due for release until after New Years.  I’ll make a post on the DiggerCast website in due time elaborating on all this more.

Now, another thing I have to mention (and this is quite big) is that the Pocket Games Review will be done in multiple parts, starting from this week.  I’ve finally managed to organise someone to film with, so we can play the games and give a better review of  the game, seeing as playing them alone is no way of reviewing them!   Also, seeing as Gamed Up won’t be up for another month or so (though it does have its own blip.tv and YouTube accounts), I’m both announcing it on here and posting the videos part by part on my personal YouTube account (TheStormkeeper for those who don’t know – though I don’t think anyone did!), then I’ll post up a more combined video up on the Gamed Up accounts.  Admittedly, this means that the videos may still actually be split up into parts on YouTube, but at the same time, they’ll be a little more coherent in some ways.  I can’t tell you what I’ll do yet, but rest assured, I’ll sort something out.

If any of you have been following my tweets over the past 2-3 weeks, you’d have noticed that I have been in touch with the lovely people over at pocketgamenews – who are a part of Cadbury, who set up a pocket game competition a few months ago as part of their new chocolate bar Spots v Stripes, which was created to commemorate our winning of the Olympic bid – and they are eagerly awaiting the video which I said I’m going to do!  So first of all, seasons greetings go out to the Pocket Games team and secondly,  I hope to have the first part of this video series recorded and uploaded by Tuesday, with a blog entry on here following not too long after the next videos are to be uploaded.  As for what’s in this first video, it’s essentially going to be me introducing the games, showing each of them off (and avoiding touching the chalk if possible!), then talking about them a bit, and essentially giving my first impressions of them.  Due to the fact that I’m using my laptop’s webcam for this, I won’t be able to show off how everything works with them in this video, but that’s why I’m doing it in multiple parts!

The following part will be myself and my friend Ollie (who some of you will know from the DiggerCast) demonstrating the games better, then playing each of them and giving them a verdict at the end.  This ensures that we give each game a fair amount of playing time and makes things easier  in the long run.  And of course, in the great Spots v Stripes tradition, we’ll each be either supporting Spots or Stripes.  As for who will be which though, all will be revealed in the next video!  In the meantime however, I need to get myself a haircut, to prepare for my video début as I need to make myself look reasonably professional, though I have no idea how I’d manage that overall… though I can but try.

A bit late for many of you, but I hope you all had a Merry Christmas and have a great (and safe) New Year… I know mine will be better this time round!  I’ll see you all next blog entry.

I imagine that these ones will be shorter than usual as I’m adopting a drip-feed stance at the moment, for some reason. This will essentially mean more posts, but smaller ones. Anyway, I have a few things I want to mention. First of all, there will be an important development from next Monday. I’m going to be moving servers, so the site may be down for a few days, though this also means I have the opportunity to implement new things, although admittedly, the things that get priority are existing concerns, as while I do have websites to start up, I think the existing ones need more attention first. I do have a few projects planned though. First of all, I have found a way to keep track of my top 250 movies list with an app on Facebook called Twofifty, which I saw a friend of mine add, so it shold be a bit easier for me to keep track of what I watched now, although I may have to keep in mind that the top 250 on that list are going to be in flux at the bottom, though at the same time, there shouldn’t be too many changes given a lot of the films are classics; I’ll just have a buffer of 10 and then essentially make up the 250 from the combination of the moving movies. Additionally, I signed up to a website that does book stuff, but the name escapes me at present although it looks like I’ll be switching to allconsuming.net, as I just signed up to its sister site, “43things”… after much hassle in getting my username and linking it to Facebook properly! Thank god I won’t have to do that again!

Actually, it seems my hassles won’t give up, as even though I deleted my accounts, it still thinks it’s linked into Facebook on those accounts. I’m not happy, but not much I can do at present… at least I have the nickname I want. I’ll sort out FB integration later. Anyway, after that exercise in frustration, I figured I’d also mention that I’m going to be making a couple YouTube vids and a blog entry related to the Matterbox, which I just received in the post today. There was a chocolate bar in there (emphasis on was) and also 2 games there which people are asked to review, so what I’m going to do is make an entry, and using pics that someone else has taken (properly attributed of course) write a bit about it, then the first video will talk about the stuff in it, and the second one (possibly a pair) will be with a person playing both games. It’ll make a change from the DiggerCast, which coincidentally is moving home, but the domain will still point to the DC’s current location, and in the future, it’ll be like it is now, although for the foreseeable future, the blog will get moved into its own space, till I work out how to move stuff into a multi-blog and put a domain on top of it. Of course, that’ll happen after everything has been moved over. Oh, additionally, I will be using the Rating WP plugin on the current DC site and future Podcasts website, so people can rate the episodes (be gentle!). It goes without saying that the Gamed Up website’ll use it too for its reviews system, though people will be able to give the game their own score..

I’m also hoping to gather a team of people for the DiggerCast, so we can make sure it sticks to the new pattern I’ve planned out for it (once every 2 weeks is an episode). I plan on uploading the 2 episodes I have recorded soon, but the new eps recording this coming weekend won’t be up till Xmas Eve; I will upload the 2 outstanding eps that weekend though just to have them sorted. There will be one ep in January which will be a farewell episode with regards to the Phase designation, meaning it’s going right into production! Regular series episodes will start in February, and will be uploaded once every 2 weeks, recording the weekend before, giving time to edit the episode and eventually transcribe it. Either way, with the server move happening, it gives me an opportunity to integrate stuff better and get a decent system going. Hopefully by the start of next year, everything will be sorted, and I won’t want to tear my hair out >.>

I’ll add more updates in due course. Oh, and before I forget… I’m not playing Guild Wars for a while now, given I’m getting into Lord of The Rings Online, and hopefully will be setting up a kinship (when I have enough people to). I’ve gotten myself and 2 other friends addicted to it, so we’re gonna be travelling Middle Earth for some time. If anyone is actually interested in joining us, let me know here and we’ll see about questing together. Additionally please note that we’re on the EU version of LoTRO, so US people can’t join us, but I will at least make inroads to have an equivalent US version of what we’re doing.

Watch this space for updates.

Edit: I’ve just made progress with my 250 movies goal, although admittedly I’ve seen them in the past but I’ve seen them so much, i want to take them off the list so I can focus on other movies instead, especially ones I have but haven’t seen in a while. or even haven’t seen at all!  Still, progress is progress.  I can also update the entry regarding podcasting, seeing as the DiggerCast is going into a proper production phase which I”m going to dub G2, given that There was a G1 ep posted (under Phase 1), and phases 2 and 3 were planned with a few test recordings (but never released), so the 3.5 phase is the true G2.