#You might be able to skip the simon says portion; I am not sure if it's one of those segments that you have to do to progress or not

[sigh-the-kraken]

Beasts of Maravilla Island [Review - minor spoilers]

DEVELOPER: Banana Bird Studios, LLC

PUBLISHER: Whitethorn Games

Description from Steam: Beasts of Maravilla Island is a 3D adventure game where you take on the role of a young wildlife photographer who traverses Maravilla Island's magical ecosystems to discover extraordinary creatures, learn their behaviors, and, most importantly, photograph their majesty.

Time taken to complete: < 3 hours

Played on: PC

Rating: 2 out of 5

Positives:

Wildlife/Environment Designs - the designs for the wildlife are very endearing [some below the cut] and I enjoyed hunting around for the creatures. I also appreciate the variety (although limited) in the environments and the specific wildlife found in them; particularly big fan of the bio-luminescent wetland/riparian zone.

General atmosphere - there is no time limit and it’s almost impossible to miss photos, so it is very chill, very laid back until the finale

Chapter Selection - I really appreciate that they included a chapter selection as I missed a couple achievements. Rather than make me play fully through the game a second time, I was able to jump around to tie up the loose ends.

Journal - I like the journal entries on the animals; they’re helpful for the “objective” animals and add a little bit more flavor to the game.

Neutrals:

Story - An attempt was made and I could see what they were going for (conservation message), but how the journal is set-up at the start of the game gave away the “big reveal” and the execution overall was ‘eh’ for me.

The “Good Dog” Achievement - Some people will enjoy the “Good Dog” Achievement (which is playing fetch 20 times); I am not one of those people (because of the controls), but I understand the appeal.

Gameplay - I enjoy a good wildlife photography game. I really like that the animals react to your whistling and that there are some candid shots for some of the more adorable designs; I wish there was more behaviors from the non-“main objective” animals to observe. I also wish it was longer by one more zone as the last zone transitions into the finale pretty quickly compared to the prior zones - I would have liked more for the beach zone.

Negatives:

Glitches - I ran into a couple movement glitches, but the worst glitch encountered was an audio glitch during a cut scene in the Singing Jungle that left the game screaming for the entire cut scene. I think I encountered a glitch with the photo camera as some of the images look as if they have a grey filter over them(?).

Controls - It does not control well. During climbing segments, I got stuck (character wouldn’t release or step down on platform except in one spot despite visually being on the platform and having pushed the release button). There is no run button, so the character is stuck at a set pace; this made back-tracking for photos kind of frustrating as some animals are tucked away in alcoves and only found there. The photo camera is a bit slow if you are trying to catch animals in flight; you have to kind of line-up and wait rather than taking a photo on wing. PICKING UP ITEMS WAS NOT GOOD!

Camera - the game camera (not the photo camera) went haywire a number of times while just walking around. This made me kind of motion sick.

Accessibility - while it does have captions and a variety of languages available, it does not have fully voiced dialogue, journal entries, or audio narration options (that I could find). I am not sure it would work with a reader. I did not see options for high contrast. The Simon Says segment, I feel, might be unplayable for gamers with disabilities. It’s a segment where you match your whistling to the singing of one of the objective animals; this is strangely difficult because it’s a bit like a game of simon says with Morse code. I was able to do it by accident (or the game took pity on me), but I was mostly using my eyes to see the subtle colors of the notes (difficult to see) rather than matching the sound as the sound was hard to keep up with.

Who might enjoy it: If it didn’t have the glitching/control issue and was more accessible, it would be a nice unwind game for adults if you just like walking around while looking at cute colorful animals and don’t have a lot of free time in your evening. Children would be into it also I imagine; I’m not sure keyboard would be the best console for them, but I think they’d like the same aspects as the adults would.

Obligatory screenshots of some of my favorites under the cut.

[random-meee]

Forever

 A/N: I present to you an angsty fic where they are still at Watford (so AU) and they’re both going through some things and need comfort.

Simon

Packing my bags to get ready for another year at Watford I couldn’t help but think back to how awful this summer had actually been. The Mage had sent me to a Catholic orphanage where there were too many kids and too little food, there was also the fact that I always smelt like smoke so the teachers would “discipline” me as to let go of my “sinful ways” honestly it was terrible. The kids were mean and ate the small portion of food that was supposed to be mine while regularly teasing me.

I was so ready to finally get to Watford and see my friends I took out my list on the first bus not being able to wait any longer.

Baz

“Basilton I’ve been talking to the old families and they think you’re ready. Did you hear me Basilton, this will be the year we finally take down the Mage and his pesky little heir!” My father had been going on about this since he had come back from the gathering which had been about a week ago, and each time without fail my stomach churned at the fact that mine and Snow’s fight was so close. I knew it was unavoidable, Snow would inevitably kill me and I would still love him.

:3 :3 :3 Time skip :3 :3 :3

Simon

I arrive in the room and see Baz’s things are already here. “Weird” I think as I am usually one of the first students to arrive while Baz only came a week or two before, he probably needs to set up whatever traps he’s prepared for me this year.

I pushed these thoughts aside and headed down for tea, Penny should be arriving in a few days she’ll want to get ahead on our classes to “be ready for exams”, I don’t understand why she worries so much exams are only halfway through the year and she’s worrying about them before the year even starts! Not many people sat at the cafeteria a couple of third and fourth years near the front while at the back I could spot Baz picking at some biscuits, he looked up and just got a second out eyes met before he got and left. When he stood I noticed how much skinnier he looked any thoughts of him coming earlier to kill me vanish.

Baz

Snow came in making a racket as usual, and had to hold back a gasp. He looked horrendous, he was way to skinny even more so then when he usually returns to Watford, he had a bruise forming on his jaw and he seemed on edge. I understand that with the Humdrum still out there he would be apprehensive but he flinched at everything. 

I tried to ignore what my father had said as he hadn’t specifically given me an order nor a plan. Snow stared at me all through out the day, during lunch i sat with my back facing him picking at my food and even then I could feel his eyes boring into me, and for all I know with that weird magick of his I might as well have two holes in the back of my head.

*****Time skip*****

As I make my way to the catacombs I dully notice Snow following me, I’d try to shake him off but I honestly didn’t have the energy, so I let him follow me and knowing I was so far ahead I left a trail of drained rats behind me. I collapsed in L'tombe de l'enfants shortly after Snow came in.

Simon

When I had followed Baz down to the Catacombs I had expected him to at least try to get away not leave behind a trail of rats for me to follow. When I find him in what looks to be some sort of tomb he doesn’t even look up, I approach him slowly and not really know what to do I sit next to him “What is it Snow?” there’s no malice in his voice I turn my head to look at him to find he had already been looking at me “You haven’t any food all day.” He rolls his eyes at me but doesn’t say anything and I think he expects me to keep going, so I do “And… I don’t know” he sighs exasperated but no snarky reply leaves his lips “Just tell me what’s wrong” I don’t know why I ask but he seems to gloomy and I generally want to know but the question seems to send him into shock.

Baz

Did Simon Snow just ask me what was wrong? Thoughts fill my head coming and going I don’t even have time to process what they are. After a few minutes the shock reduces and I am able to get out what I hope was a coherent sentence “Wh-why do you care Snow?” his face goes red and he looks so adorable I’m not sure if I’ll be able to control myself “Be-because… I- I just do” “That’s not an answer Snow” I can see he’s getting angry and down here there is no Anathema, no one would find my body  I think mindlessly “Please tell me Baz, I-I want to help” of course he wants to help because he’s Simon bloody Snow and he expects me to just bare my soul to him just because he asked. But even through all these thoughts that is exactly what I find myself doing, and I tell him everything I tell him about my mother, why I come down here, I tell him about my father and his plans. I tell him everything, by the end I’m a sobbing mess and not even sure if he can understand the words I manage to sob out “And I love you Simon!” I drop my head to my knees and let the tears fall readying for the blow, for the onslaught of  yells and insults i was sure to receive. It doesn’t come though instead I feel strong arms wrap around me as he lifts me up and carries me to what is most likely our room. Usually I would never agree to appear so weak in public but as the school was practically empty I let Snow carry me up the stairs, one step at a time. 

He places me on what appears to be his bed and sit there sitting against the wall me a hideous mess sobbing into his shoulder and him sitting there patiently petting my head waiting for the tears to end.

Simon

I’m not entirely sure what to do I was never good at the comforting thing much less to someone who was suppose to be my enemy.   So I just sat there letting him shed what seemed to be years worth of tears on my shoulder as I thought about everything he had said. ‘And I love you Simon!’ the words echoed in my head, the more I thought about it the more I thought maybe I didn’t hate Baz, maybe he wasn’t bad after all he had said he only acted that way to cover up his feeling because he had thought I hated him. Which I did, but after seeing how broken he actually was and hearing the truth I can’t help but think that maybe Baz wasn’t evil, maybe he was capable of kindness. “Snow. Why are you doing this for me?” he sounded so weak and when I turned to look at him my heart sunk “Because Baz, maybe you aren’t so bad and I’m so tired of fighting. Why don’t we call a truce and maybe…you know, be friends?”

Baz

Simon Snow just asked me to be his friend. Simon Snow is tired of fighting and he wants to be my friend, “O-Ok” I don’t know what’s wrong with me Snow is usually the one stuttering but, Simon Snow my former 'enemy’ wants to be friend! 

()()()()(three days later)()()()()

Since that day Snow made good on his promise befriending me and going as far as to invite me to sit with him during meals although I don’t know if that was just to make sure I ate, and after a while I realised I never got a chance to ask him what was wrong with him. He still flinched a lot and avoided teachers at all costs. So one of these days we were laid down in our room Snow doing homework while I read a book I decided to ask him “So, Snow” he looked up and turned to face me “Yes dear Basilton” I rolled my eyes at the use of my full name but decided to continue “I was wondering. Well, how was your summer?” I asked guessing that whatever happened during summer was the cause, apparently I was right as instantly after I asked his eyes clouded over and his face went blank “Fine. Why do you ask?” his voice held no emotion and I found myself becoming more concerned as to what actually happened during Snow’s summer. 

Simon

 "Simon" he spoke quietly as he got up from his own bed and got on my I turned so we were face to face, we were so close “Simon, you can tell me” I felt tears sting my eyes at his quiet voice, his words were so innocent but if I were to speak they’d surely break along with me. So I decided to show him instead, unbuttoning my shirt I avoided looking at Baz I couldn’t bare to see his face of disgust once he saw how broken I was.

Baz

When I saw his hands unbuttoning his shit I was shocked at first but as his tawny skin came into view I saw the bruises that marked it , the lower he got the deeper they seemed to get. When he reached his abdomen I saw scar that had surely bled without really meaning to I stretched my hand to touch them, but when he flinched back I retreated my hand bringing it to his face instead, I lifted his chin forcing him to look at me and as I saw his tear stained face I couldn’t hold back. I enveloped him in a hug “Simon, tell me who did this to you” he had his head in the crook of my neck sobbing wildly as I help him close. 

He pulled back taking my hand instead “Simon, please tell me what happened” I asked this time more pleadingly, he shook his head and he looked so scared. I squeezed his hand as if begging him to tell me, he was staring so intensely at me and he must have seen how desperate I looked because he  nodded his head ever so slightly and began to tell me his story.

“Th-the Mage had sent me to ano-another home like he does every year, b-but this h-home was Catholic a-and there wasn’t enough food to properly feed everyone s-so when it was m-my turn to e-eat th-the kids would steal my f-food.” I brought him back into my arms and he turned so his back pressed against my chest, I could feel my own tears threatening to fall as he continued “A-and I always smell like sm-smoke, s-so the teachers thought I-I was a smoker and wo-would beat me if they could smell it” his voice cracked at the end and I held him tighter. I knew the Mage was bad but to send Simon to such a place, how could he! How dare those people hurt my Simon for no reason! Do they not know who he is! Who I am! 

I stop ranting as I realised I had just said that aloud, Simon is looking at me with an incredulous look and I realised what I had just “Your Simon?” he asks smirking, smirking! I feel my cheeks go red but seeing as I hadn’t gone hunting yet it was very faint. He sat up and looked straight at me I didn’t have the strength to look away “Would you like me to be yours?” he’s so close he only needs to whisper and as he gets nearer I am at a lost of words so I just nod my head. He closes the space between us  and it was more then I could have ever imagined, his lips were wet and salty from former tears and he was doing this nice thing with his chin, I let him lead I’d never kissed anyone before. When he pulled away his lips were red and swollen as I’m sure were mine “I’ll be yours as long as you’re mine” he whispered still so close “Forever” I replied and I hope it was enough the next second he crashes his lips back on mine.

[markwatkinsconsumerguide]

Consumer Guide / No.88 / author of the UK’s First Bubbling Under Book, ‘Hits That Missed’, Michael Hows (aka Colin Driscoll) with Mark Watkins.

MW : Your new book, ‘Hits That Missed’, was 15 years in the making. Why did you set out on this journey, and what were some of the steps (and obstacles overcome) along the way?

MH : When I retired from a job that involved writing I decided to set myself a project which still involved writing. I had always been interested in 1950’s music and I recall Record Mirror published individual dealer returns from which they compiled the Top 20, but there were many other records that were in these returns that didn’t make the charts, so I set out to log these. I didn’t realise how long it would take and what a difficult journey I would embark on.

MW : Why did it take so long?

MH : I first bought up as many of the pre-1961 Record Mirror’s from ebay as I could costing thousands of pounds to lighten the load, as the only place in the UK where these magazines are located en masse was at The British Newspaper Library at Colindale, London (now at The British Library King’s Cross, London).

Record Mirror, which came out weekly, was published from June 1954 and stopped its published dealer returns in March 1961 (the time span of my book). So there are about 350 magazines to carefully trawl through and log the relevant details and put them on a spreadsheet. I could generally get through about ten Record Mirrors per visit to Colindale, but it was not a quiet library and there were lots of distractions so it was tiring maintaining my concentration at times, often meaning I had to double-check the results. I hate to think how many journeys I made to London using the Northern Line to Colindale tube station. I suppose this labour of love did not make economic sense, but it was a project I was determined to complete - although I did not think it would take 15 years!

MW : What type of support have you received along the way from your publisher?

MH : I was lucky that I quickly found an online publisher called Music Mentor with a fantastic back catalogue of 1950’s & 1960’s music books - and was as committed as myself to the project. Without this support I would not have been able to complete the task, particularly in relation to some of the more obscure entries like Jazz & Irish genres and the biographies of long forgotten artists like Nash Lorraine.

It was decided from the outset that we would include all the information from dealer returns - including Classical, Show, Jazz & World Music - not just the pop stuff which became more dominant post-1955. This was a mammoth (i.e elephant!) task and the mammoth took a lot of nibbling away over many often frustrating months - what we hope we have produced is a historical time capsule of the development of post-war music in the 1950’s and the early days of Rock & Roll in UK which so influenced the Beatles & the Rolling Stones - besides being the first ‘UK Bubbling Under’ (the charts as archived by the Official Charts Company) book. We would have loved to have had the support of the Official Charts Company but all they seem interested in was financial return so in the end we did not include their information.

MW : Tell me about the chosen format of the book…

MH : The experience of Music Mentor was key to the book’s layout and the requirement to condense all the information into a reasonable, understandable and affordable number of pages (428 including copious illustrations).

We followed the ‘US Bubbling Under Format’ and UK chart publications of previous decades but keeping our own individual way of presentation.

MW : How has the book been received so far?

MH : If this Book had been published before the Millennium it would have been great - but the music scene has changed completely over recent decades, so much so that artists like Jerry Lee Lewis, Marty Wilde, Chuck Berry & Little Richard - still household names up to the 1990’s - are now forgotten.

So it is a struggle in what now is perceived as a niche market - it means working harder on marketing and this will take time. I am sure there are still an audience out there both in the UK and abroad for this book as it’s entertaining, educational and nostalgic. It is getting across the fact that HITS THAT MISSED is out there. Every little bit of publicity helps, of course.

Online sites like Twitter and YouTube help to spread the message, but some of the “target audience” (probably post-55) may not have wide internet access. There is targeting magazines like Record Collector & Vintage Rock but advertising in these can be very expensive, unlike in the past these mags like the Official Charts are run as businesses with profit margins clearly in mind. There is no such thing as a free lunch these days and when a book (no matter how important or interesting it might be) will not be a big seller it does not make economic sense to market it via this route

MW : Where can we buy it?

MH : The ISBN for HITS THAT MISSED is 978-0-9562679-9-3 so using this number you can order it through any bookshop or on-line. It is also available from the publisher http://musicmentor0.tripod.com/catalogue.html or from Amazon https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hits-That-Missed-Bubbling-1954-1961/dp/0956267998/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=hits+that+missed&qid=1559723063&s=gateway&sr=8-1

MW : Tell me about your interest in music in general?

MH : My teenage hero was Buddy Holly and I have seen the Buddy Show many times - but as time goes by I have widened my musical interests to include Folk/World/Classical but Rock 'n Roll will always be my passion - and name any rock ‘n roller and I probably have had a record or compilation of his/hers at some time. Nowadays, I rely on Radio, YouTube & Spotify to connect with music, although I still collect obscure UK artists that have not been compiled. My latest search is for Cuddly Dudley ‘Too Pooped To Pop’ - is there a copy or mp3 out there?

MW : What’s your all-time favorite single and LP?

MH : Very difficult -it does change from year to year - but I suppose for single the combination of ‘Raining In My Heart’ c/w ‘It Doesn’t Matter Anymore’ must take top spot - so nostalgic - the posthumous release after Buddy Holly’s death February 1959. LP must be Simon & Garfunkel’s ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ - not a naff track on this superbly crafted album - which is somewhat dismissed now but in 1970 was WOW.

MW : What newspapers do you read and why?

MH: I am embarrassed to say that my wife buys the Daily Mail for the puzzles etc. and I have been known to skip through the pages - particularly the sport - I am an avid and often nervous Southampton football club supporter - so a sympathetic sports’ columnist gets me interested. Otherwise I pinch a Metro from the local bus station or get my news off the TV or internet.

MW: …favourite news presenters?

MH : My favourite news reporter is Norman Smith. My favourite news anchor is Louise Minchin & my favourite weather presenter is Carol Kirkwood. Actually, the only one to wind me up is Piers Morgan (he’s like marmite, I guess).

MW : How do you relax?

MH : I have been forced to relax after a health issue this year. I am concentrating more on walking my ten thousand steps per day and eating at least my 5 portions of rabbit food per day! Besides that, I am still chart-compiling but this work is unlikely to be published. Then there’s surfing the internet, listening to music in the background, holiday planning, tending the garden, and my family to keep up with.

MW : Now you’re in retirement, any regrets looking back? What are you now looking forward to?

MH: I never look back (other than my music) but not in my life - I am a great believer in Doris Day ‘Que Sera Sera - Whatever Will Be Will Be. The only regret is that my book was not published in the heyday of chart archive publications - not really for me, because all I ever wanted was to complete my project, which I have done, and I now have my book on my bookshelf to prove it, but for my publisher, George Groom-White at Music Mentor, who put so much faith, energy, patience and kindness into the project, as well as time and money - he deserves success with this book and I look forward with help from the buying public to deliver it to him.

© Mark Watkins / June 2019