***VIDEOGAMES***
THE PURCHASE/PLAYED LIST...
1. Dead Space 2: CE (Xbox 360)
2. Bop It! (iOS iPhone)
3. Shadow Era (iOS Universal App)
4. Mad Skills Motocross (iOS Universal App)
5. Spike Dislike (iOS Universal App)
6. Grimm (iOS iPhone)
7. Dead Space 2 (PS3)
8. Typing Maniac (iOS iPhone)
9. Clay Shooter Mania (iOS iPhone)
10. Tiny Wings (iOS iPhone)
11. Mike Tyson - Main Event (iOS iPhone)
12. Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP (iPad App)
13. Dead Space HD (iPad)
14. Max & the Magic Marker HD (iPad)
15. Dead Space: Extraction (PS3)
16. Michael Jackson: The Experience (PS3)
17. Homefront (Xbox 360)
18. Sissy's Magical Ponycorn Adventure (FLASH Browser game)
19. Dragon Age II (Xbox 360)
20. L.A. Noire (PS3)
21. Portal 2 (PS3)
22. Texas Hold'em Poker (iOS Universal App)
23. The Tomb Raider Trilogy (PS3)
24. BreakOut Mania HD (iPad App)
25. Super Snake HD (iPad App)
26. NBA JAM (iPad App)
27. Battleship (iPad App)
28. Battlefield Bad Company 2 (iPad App)
29. THE GAME OF LIFE (iPad App)
30. MONOPOLY (iPad App)
31. Speedball 2 Evolution (iPad App)
32. Back to the Future Ep. 1 (iPad App)
33. Back to the Future Ep. 2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5MaOXDCQmA)
34. Back to the Future Ep. 3 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68_LX_8QPNM)
35. Back to the Future Ep. 4 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWUDrfAjdSc)
36. Back to the Future Ep. 5 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hF4HP6bJzGs)
37. Catherine (PS3)
38. Tomb Raider Trilogy (PS3)
39. WWE All Stars (PS3)
40. Portal 2 (PS3)
41. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D (3DS)
42. Pilotwings (3DS)
43. Excitebike 3D (3DS)
44. Fight Night Champion (PS3)
45. Alice: Madness Returns (PS3)
46. The Sims: Medieval (PC)
47. Bastion (LP: http://youtu.be/G5FuG0H3x2k )
48. Shadow Of The Damned (PS3)
49. Sid Meier's Pirates! (iPad App)
50. Battleship! (iPad App)
51. 1000 Bornes (iOS Universal App)
52. Jetpack Joyride (iOS Universal App)
53. BANG! [HD] the Official Video Game (iPad App)
54. The Sims Social (FB Game: http://apps.facebook.com/thesimssocial)
55. Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 2 (PC)
56. CivWorld (FB Game: http://apps.facebook.com/civworld)
57. Star Fox 64 (Nintendo 3DS)
58. Infamous 2 (PS3)
59. Batman Arkham City (PS3)
60. GoldenEye 007: Reloaded (PS3)
61. Driver: San Francico (PS3)
62. Bop It! {iPad App)
63. You Don't Know Jack (PS3)
64. Dead Island (PS3)
65. Deux Ex: Human Revolution (PS3)
66. Duke Nukem Forever (PS3)
67. Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (PS3)
68. Battlefield 3 (PS3)
69. DC Universe Online (PS3)
70. Assasin's Creed Revelations (PS3)
71. Saints Row: The Third (PS3)
72. Super Mario 3D Land (Nintendo 3DS)
73. Mario Kart 7 (Nintendo 3DS)
74. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (PS3)
75. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (Nintendo Wii)
76. Assassin's Creed Recollection (iPad App)
77. Snuggle Truck HD (iPad App)
78. Nintendogs + Cats [Golden Retriever] (Nintendo 3DS)
79. Curling Micro (iOS Universal App)
80. Curling3D HD (iPad App)
81. Wild Chords (iPad App)
THE TOP TEN (handheld/mobile)...
10. Wild Chords (iPad App)
A clean UI and it functions well. From a young child to ageing adult a great edu-game.
9. Super Mario 3D Land (Nintendo 3DS)
Like a successful Bubsy 3D, seriously. It is the Mario you know but perfect for the 3DS.
8. 1000 Bornes (iOS Universal App)
Really fun card game made into a convenient and fun iPad App.
7. Mario Kart 7 (Nintendo 3DS)
Refining the formula to perfection and lightly introducing new elements. Good and easy online experience.
6. Tiny Wings (iOS iPhone)
So simple but so fun. Engaging graphics and music. Can be used to relax as much as it can be a videogame.
5. Curling3D HD (iPad App)
Good physics and all the fun of the real game. Great way to play on the go and the best iOS simulation of the sport.
4. Sid Meier's Pirates! (iPad App)
A perfect game for five minutes or five hours that you can take on the go. Well suited to the iPad for the most part.
3. Shadow Era (iOS Universal App)
CCGs are a favourite of mine. I enjoy the challenge and building decks but do not enjoy the interaction. Until an iOS Yu-Gi-Oh comes out this is the best out there.
2. Jetpack Joyride (iOS Universal App)
The videogame version of "Tiny Wings". Excessive fun and full of compelling bonuses and side missions.
1. Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP (iPad App)
Music is the main element in this remix/deconstruction of videogame and storytelling tropes. Timeless gameplay married with story, sights & sounds; the best!
THE TOP TEN (home consoles)...
10. N/A
9. N/A
8. N/A
7. Driver: San Francisco (PS3)
Fun, engaging and weirdly justified story and gameplay. Amusing dialogue and maps.
6. Dead Space 2 (PS3)
Solid sequel of the gameplay I enjoy & I think all the story & characterisation stuff really makes it an improvement & I am interested and invested enough to want to know what is next.
5. Saints Row: The Third (PS3)
Not as good as the second one; which worries me; but loads better than anything Rockstar makes. An open world thrill!
4. Infamous 2 (PS3)
A successful superhero game & a successful open world game, this PS3 exclusive is the Unicorn of videogames.
4. Infamous 2 (PS3)
A successful superhero game & a successful open world game, this PS3 exclusive is the Unicorn of videogames.
3. Catherine (PS3)
In the midst of silly Anime clichés, is a really story with real depth and subtext as the icing between a pretty sweet action puzzle game cake.
2. Assassin's Creed Revelations (PS3)
A great game only made less great by the fact that we are one game away from having been back to the well too much. The gameplay is getting stale but the story is without peer.
1. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (Nintendo Wii)
A reinvention of the wheel. It is the first real motion game and darn fun to boot. A spiritual successor to Wind Waker and while the overworld is not as sweet the rest is pure gold.
***MUSIC***
No EPs, no soundtracks, no compilations in the top tens.
THE PURCHASE LIST...
1. Adele "21"
2. Avril Lavigne "Goodbye Lullaby (Deluxe Edition)"
3. Beady Eye "Different Gear, Still Speeding"
4. Ben Folds "The Best Imitation Of Myself: A Retrospective"
5. Bon Iver "Bon Iver"
6. The Cars "Move Like This"
7. David Cook "This Loud Morning (Deluxe Version)"
8. Eddie Vedder "Ukulele Songs"
9. Eisley "The Valley (Deluxe Edition)"
10. Eleanor Friedberger "Last Summer"
11. Ellie Goulding "Lights"
12. Foo Fighters "Wasting Light (Deluxe Version)"
13. The Get Up Kids "There Are Rules (Bonus Track Version)"
14. Glee Cast "Glee : the 3D Concert Movie (Motion Picture Soundtrack)"
15. Ida Maria "Katla"
16. Jewel "The Merry Goes 'Round"
17. Kathryn Calder "Bright and Vivid"
18. Koji Kondo "The Legend Of Zelda 25th Anniversary Soundtrack"
19. Marketa Irglova "Anar"
20. Mates Of State "Mountaintops"
21. Michael Parks "The Red State Sessions"
22. Miranda Lambert "Four the Record (Deluxe Edition)"
23. Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds "Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds (Deluxe Edition)"
24. Radiohead "The King Of Limbs"
25. Rivers Cuomo "Alone III"
26. Selena Gomez & The Scene "When the Sun Goes Down"
27. She & Him "A Very She & Him Christmas"
28. Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks "Mirror Traffic"
29. Steve Martin "Rare Bird Alert [with The Steep Canyon Rangers]"
30. The Streets "Computers and Blues"
31. The Strokes "Angles"
32. Various Artists "Muppets: The Green Album"
33. Various Artists "The Book Of Mormon"
34. Various Artists "Sounds Of Bollywood: Volume 8"
35. Various Artists "Songs for Japan"
36. Various Artists "SXSW 2011: Featured Artist Sampler"
37. "Weird Al" Yankovic "Alpocalypse"
38. William Shatner "Seeking Major Tom"
THE TOP TEN...
11. Selena Gomez & The Scene "When the Sun Goes Down"
Just wanted to mention this album because I listen and enjoyed it so much. Good pop.
10. Eddie Vedder "Ukulele Songs"
I love the simplicity, honesty and warmth of the Ukulele and Eddie's voice. They blend so well and so satisfyingly.
9. Marketa Irglova "Anar"
A cool lo-fi indie pop album by a lovely girl with a haunting voice.
8. Mates Of State "Mountaintops"
A blast of fun. After slowing down on the last album, this one burst with high energy dance pop with sublime boy/girl contrast vocals.
7. Avril Lavigne "Goodbye Lullaby (Deluxe Edition)"
Not for the taste of most but I love her voice and I think the songs on this one are all a lot stronger than they were last time.
6. Miranda Lambert "Four the Record (Deluxe Edition)"
This gal just makes great albums full of songs I want to listen to over and over.
5. Steve Martin "Rare Bird Alert [with The Steep Canyon Rangers]"
I love me some Martin and some new banjo music, this has both! In spades.
4. Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks "Mirror Traffic"
With Beck at the knob, this is the most digestible and least "wanky" Malkmus since Pavement. I love it!
3. Eisley "The Valley (Deluxe Edition)"
Trading magic for heartbreak but worth it to get the edge from the original EPs back. I always thought the studio stuff sounded too polished, this is great though.
2. Kathryn Calder "Bright and Vivid"
Her first CD kind of changed my life, so this one took a while to grow on me but grow it did. It sounds like going through issues but in a GREAT way.
1. Ellie Goulding "Lights"
Terrific and unique voice and not a weak track on the entire album. Really resonated with me this year.
BONUS:
Top 10 songs of the year (with videos)...
10. Hamster song from the KIA Soul advert (http://youtu.be/4zJWA3Vo6TU)
I saw this advert and thought, "What an amazing song!" then I heard the whole song and thought, "What a boring terrible song!" So in the end, I just like this advert and the clip of music from it.
9. Lady Gaga “Born This Way” (http://youtu.be/wV1FrqwZyKw?t=2m50s)
Super catchy song with fun choreography. I am positive I like this kid's cover version better... http://youtu.be/J5ftgv3BHd0
8. Rihanna "We Found Love" (http://youtu.be/iVkaRlDrF_4?t=50s)
So redundant, so catchy though. I only like Rihanna in fast tempo, generic dance beats mode.
7. Eleanor Friedberger "My Mistakes" (http://youtu.be/jjK-Ab8t7Ug)
Great song. I love the space-y vibes and the lyrics. The video is so foxy and suits the words well. I feel slightly bad I would have chosen "Roosevelt Island" http://youtu.be/V4h51YBt2lA if it had a sexier video.
6. Glee [Lea Michele] "Firework" (http://youtu.be/PAwhn-QJ6PY)
I could have chosen "Rain On My Parade" as well but this one always ALWAYS makes me cry. I love Katy Perri songs but cannot stand her voice and I LOVE Lea Michele's voice so this works out best!
5. Selena Gomez & The Scene "Who Says" (http://youtu.be/BzE1mX4Px0I)
I might be kind of a sucker for self-impowerment songs but I think this one is special and sincere. So infectious too.
4. Kathryn Calder "Right Book" (Not on YouTube, here is her personal site: http://kathryncalder.ca)
I love all the songs on this album but this one just sounds like someone dealing with something, it is so heavy. I really dig it! Her latest video is quite lovely quite different... http://youtu.be/s5ijtdj4EdQ
3. Eisley "I WIsh" (http://youtu.be/Vh5YAFZPIMQ)
I could have gone with any song on this album so I just chose the one I most like singing along to. Fantastic album!
2. Ellie Goulding "The Writer" (http://youtu.be/H-ru2glqXAg)
Off my favourite album of the year is this, my favourite song off it. The lyrics and the way she delivers them... so moving. The live acoustic video is pretty good too... http://youtu.be/1SsLnNazxY0
1. Miranda Lambert "Fine Tune" (http://youtu.be/mgDawr8WvnU?hd=1)
The sexiest song of the year and my favourite to boot! The way it was produced... it is just oh so delicious!
***BOOKS (technically iBooks on my iPad as that is the only way I buy/read)***
[This is only for books *released* this year which reduces the list when I catch up on older things.]
THE PURCHASE LIST...
[For reviews go to my GoodReads... http://www.goodreads.com/ci0ci0san]
THE LIST...
1. "Zombie Spaceship Wasteland" Oswalt, Patton
2. "The Poison Tree" Kelly, Erin
3. "Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother" Chua, Amy
4. "The Tell-Tale Brain: A Neuroscientist's Quest for What Makes Us Human" Ramachandran, V.S.
5. "The Lover's Dictionary: A Novel" Levithan, David
6. "The Lost Gate" Card, Orson Scott
7. "Reality Is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World" McGonigal, Jane
8. "Mr. Funny Pants" Showalter, Michael
9. "The Fates Will Find Their Way: A Novel" Pittard, Hannah
10. "A Widow's Story: A Memoir" Oates, Joyce Carol
11. "5 Very Good Reasons to Punch a Dolphin in the Mouth" Oatmeal, The
12. "Unfamiliar Fishes" Vowell, Sarah
13. "Talk Show" Cavett, Dick
14. "All Your Base Are Belong to Us: How Fifty Years of Video Games Conquered Pop Culture" Goldberg, Harold
15. "This Is a Book" Martin, Demetri
16. "Sisterhood Everlasting: A Novel" Brashares, Ann
17. "Nerd Do Well" Pegg, Simon
18. "Flash and Bones" Reichs, Kathy
19. "Seizure" Reichs, Kathy
20. "The Visible Man" Klosterman, Chuck
21. "Happy Accidents" Jane Lynch
22. "There But For The: A Novel" Smith, Ali
23. "Robopocalypse: A Novel" Wilson, Daniel H.
24. "Talk Show" Cavett, Dick
25. "Things the Grandchildren Should Know" Everett, Mark Oliver
26. "Comfortably Unaware - Global Depletion and Food Responsibility" Richard A. Oppenlander
THE TOP TEN...
I did not feel like doing one. That said I do think it would have been "Comfortably Unaware - Global Depletion and Food Responsibility" by Richard A. Oppenlander that would have been at the top.
***FILMS***
THE VIEWED LIST...
[The * denotes that this was seen in the cinema]
1. NO STRINGS ATTACHED*
2. THE RITE*
3. HALL PASS*
4. CEDAR RAPIDS*
5. THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU*
6. PAUL*
7. I SAW THE DEVIL*
8. RED STATE*
9. SOURCE CODE*
10. HANNA*
11. RUBBER*
12. INSIDIOUS*
13. SCREAM 4*
14. HAPPINESS IS A WARM BLANKET, CHARLIE BROWN
15. RED, WHITE & BLUE*
16. FAST FIVE*
17. FORKS OVER KNIVES
18. BRIDESMAIDS*
19. MIDNIGHT IN PARIS*
20. HANGOVER PART II*
21. X-MEN: FIRST CLASS*
22. BEGINNINGS*
23. SUPER 8*
24. BAD TEACHER*
25. ATTACK THE BLOCK*
26. HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS : PART 2 3D*
27. HORRIBLE BOSSES*
28. WINNIE THE POOH*
29. COWBOYS AND ALIENS*
30. CRAZY STUPID LOVE*
31. RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES*
32. THE HELP*
33. FINAL DESTINATION 5 3D*
34. GLEE: THE 3D CONCERT
35. SHARK NIGHT 3D*
36. MY IDIOT BROTHER*
37. YOUR HIGHNESS
38. SUPER
39. 50/50*
40. KILLER ELITE*
41. DRIVE*
42. SHAME*
43. FOOTLOOSE (2011)*
44. PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 3*
45. IMMORTALS*
46. THE MUPPETS*
47. UNKNOWN
48. YOUNG ADULT*
49. MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: GHOST PROTOCOL IMAX*
50. PEEP SHOW
51. THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO (2011)*
THE TOP 10 (plus one)
11. INSIDIOUS
A modern yet classic haunted house tale with a twist! Despite all those buzz words this is a legitimately scary and great film.
10. BRIDESMAIDS
A end to end laugh out loud film and a win (finally) for Paul Feig. My crush on Kristen Wigg only grows as she showcases her talents.
9. FOOTLOOSE (2011)
I do not like the original. This remake takes the story and makes it relevant, fun and engaging in a way the original never could.
8. FAST FIVE
Only Tom Cruise could steal the best action film title from the combination of Vin Diesel and The Rock. This flick is Bad Boys II levels of fun and fury.
7. FORKS OVER KNIVES
I admit this doc is very "dry". BUT, the information is so direct and serious that I have to pay attention. The truth is all this film needs and it has it in spades.
6. MIDNIGHT IN PARIS
A very cute and very referential and; most importantly; very funny film! A real comedy comedy framed by lovely Parisian nights.
5. MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: GHOST PROTOCOL IMAX
Amazing visuals and vistas and a perfect paring of script and director. The first film that I feel was enhanced by IMAX more than any 3D film the immersion and tension is incredible.
4. BEGINNINGS
A tender touching film with incredible acting from its leads. The film maker's touch so deft and light, a work of art and honesty and truth.
3. RED STATE
A blast of a film that gets better and better on repeat viewings. The twists and turns pause only to let the actors and their ACTING shine.
2. PAUL
This film is homage not parody that succeeds from the nerdiest genre fans to just someone who wants some laughs, tears and a good story a lot to love.
1. RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES
This is the most fun I had at the cinema. A successful reboot of a beloved franchise. A great popcorn flick that also provides loads of conversation material long after you have left the theatre. Thought provoking and terrific.
