Chaos reigns
Tomorrow sees the launch of PlayStation 2 in the UK with many stores opening their doors at midnight tonight. However, the lack of non-allocated stock means it is unlikely that the chaotic US launch queues will be experienced here. Despite the pre-order scheme not going entirely smoothly, with customer confusion and some cutbacks in stock, anyone who has ordered a machine and has been contacted by Sony will be able to collect it tomorrow. The company intends to fulfil the other pre-ordered systems by Christmas but it could still be touch and go. Customers are advised to speak to their retailer.
Hard driving
Getting bored with synchronising your agenda and fiddling with your address book? Then how about a bit of hard driving? Infogrames are releasing V-Rally for Palm OS, which means it will run on Palms, Handsprings and other compatible devices. The game includes 40 tracks set in locations stretching from Indonesia to the UK and lets you choose from four rally cars to race. There is a small, but growing, market for PDA games and a free demo of V-Rally can be downloaded from www.palmtop.nl/palm/vrally.html
Bets are on
Despite its geeky reputation, online gaming seems to be growing in popularity. Apparently the number of female participants is rising, and with such consoles as the Dreamcast negating the need for expensive PCs, it is likely that playing games over LANs and the internet will become increasingly prevalent.
Last week's i-6 event, held at Newbury Racecourse, was the biggest so far in the online gaming series, with competitors bringing their PCs from all over the UK for three days of Quake and Counterstrike.
With most attendees so enthusiastic that they slept under their desks, it seems that Berkshire's pizza establishments are not the only ones keen for another event.
Crowd control
To soothe strained nerves this Christmas, the games website Flipside is opening a "male creche" at Lakeside Shopping Centre in Essex. Husbands and boyfriends will be able to play more than 40 games on the site while partners brave the retail hordes. The selection includes a mix of card and puzzle games, with prizes for winners. The creche runs from December 4-23.
Empire's herding game Sheep (see review below) was also released last week with John Noakes reliving his favourite "Shep" anecdotes at the launch.
