This isn’t a review, as there are a bunch of those on the internet better than I can create. I just wanted to share with you my first game mod for Skyrim. If you’re unfamiliar with mods, or a (HA!) CONSOLE player, then let me explain.

Many PC games have the ability to be modified in various ways. Talented people (and sometimes the game companies themselves) come up with various bits of software which allow a person to extract and modify the game’s files. From simple texture replacers to full blown new worlds and quest lines, mods allow the game to live on well after the original stories have been told.

Personally, I like mods of two categories. First I like fun mods. Importing bits and pieces from other worlds and environments to give myself a bit of a laugh, and just because I can do it. Secondly I like adding things to the world that make my characters life easier. Often in games you have an inventory of items, which you collect over time. You have a weight limit usually, or a ‘slot’ limit, but you can carry items which don’t show on your character’s body at all. You can steal a giant golden urn and it fits in your back pocket… or somewhere. So, I enjoy making things like backpacks to put my stuff in. It just seems more natural to me that way.

Anyway, the first bit of tinkering I’ve done for Skyrim is in the fun category, and it adds in a shield styled after Captain America’s famous red, white and blue shield.

Not a great deal can be done with modding yet, until the creators release some software to allow adding in of additional items. From what I’ve (briefly) read it should be coming some time in January.

Captain America's Shield for Skyrim

The last two years I made it, but it is a lot of stuffing around for someone who doesn’t cook much and the chance to buy a pre-made one was too good to pass up.

It came in a box about fifteen inches long and cost around ten bucks.   Yes, it was a bit expensive, but it’s Christmas.   I thought the actual gingerbread man would be one of those small ones you see in supermarkets on occasion, but it wasn’t.  It turned out to be a good eight or nine inches long.   Plus, there’s two in the box.   Worth it!  Also in the box are a piping bag filled with icing, sprinkles and M&M’s for buttons or eyes.  You get plenty of each.

ALDI Gingerbread Man

I haven’t eaten it yet, so I’m not sure on the strength of the ginger and the density of the biscuit, but I’ll let you know when I’ve eaten him.

If you’ve ever struggled to open a metal lid jar and tried all the old methods like banging it or running it under hot water, get this tool.  It has little legs that slip under the lid of the jar and up pry it up.  It pops the top and with NO effort allows you to open the lid.   When I first used it I thought it woudl be a gimmick, but it’s seriously awesome.

Being a guy and large etc, I can open most jars pretty easily, but every now and then you get some that stick pretty well.  When they do I use this tool.

If you want to get a great present for Christmas for a mum, especially an elderly woman, you seriously can’t go wrong.

You can get a variety of colours and they are readily available on E-Bay and probably stores like Big W and similar.

Thank me later!

Jar Key

So, I picked it off and almost let loose a torrent of unspeakables from my rear side as it clutched onto my finger.

I am pretty sure I didn’t scream and flail about like a little girl, but as there were no witnesses and I wasn’t paying that much attention, anything is possible.

Flinging the stick insect away, I slowly composed myself and checked to see my heart was still in it’s correct place.

Returning to my normal state of composure, I went to investigate the stick as he no doubt tried to settle himself down as well.

This was him.

Frightening Stick - Click Pic to Enlarge

Ramin Karimloo as the Phantom

Recently, it was announced that for the 25th anniversary of the musical, there was to be a limited screening of the performance from the Royal Albert Hall.   It was to be shown in selected cinemas, and it was by chance that mum noticed it.   Not wanting to miss this opportunity,  we organised to go to the matinée session today.  This version of the show has Ramin Karimloo as the Phantom, Sierra Boggess as Christine and Hadley Fraser as Raoul.  All of them were great, but particularly Christine.  Honorable mention goes to Kiera Duffy and Liz Robertson as Carlotta and Madame Giry respectively.

The cinema version started with the seating of the audience, which went of for some time.  It was done as though you were actually in a the Royal Albert Hall and already seated.  You could see people playing with their phones and looking for their seats, and so on.  Once it started, several cameras took over and it became more like a film.  Having a run time of 210 minutes, there is a 20 minute interval halfway through, which took the audience I was with by surprise.  It was a good idea though, and a welcome stretch of the legs.

At the end of the musical, and the nods from the actors, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber appeared and thanked various members of the production, and a short performance by several retired stars takes place.  Some of the familiar faces were nice to see, although it did feel tacked on, having just heard the same songs in the show.

It was well worth the price of admission to see on the large screen, and if you get the chance, see it.  It is a very limited run though, and it ends soon so check your local cinema times as soon as possible.   Should you miss it, the DVD & Blu-Ray will be released on the 7th of December in Australia.   You can check for your region at the official website.

LEGO 4th Doctor with TARDIS.

Every year since 2007, James Rolfe aka The Angry Video Game Nerd, does a series of horror movie reviews on a particular topic. Every day for October he reviews one film, and this year it seems he’s chosen to take a look at a group of films in their series. So far he’s starting out with the Universal Frankenstein films and moving on to Hammer’s Dracula movies from the 70′s.

Being a great fan of the Universal movies in particular, I’ll be sure to visit Cinemassacre every day to see what’s up next.