The ever ellusive Blood Bowl

Dec 27th, 2009

by Dan.

I am not a huge computer gamer. I enjoy them, don’t get me wrong, but out of all the things that compete for my time, playing computer games comes fairly low down the list (just before personal hygine).

However there is one game I’ve lusting after ever since it was announced: Cyanide Studio’s Blood Bowl.

As you may or may not know Blood Bowl is a board game released by Games Workshop that mixes American Football with Orcs, elves, Zombies, and all that sort of stuff. I used to play it in my youth and recently got back into it after impulsively buying a set on eBay a few months ago. I’ve even gone so far as to set up my own local Blood Bowl league.

Yes, yes, I realise that I’m very sad. But just remember, all you non players are in some pretty dodgy company – Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot, Ghengis Khan: none of those people had a game of Blood Bowl in their life. A coincidence? I very much doubt it. (Well, Ghengis did play once at university – but that was the 2nd edition rules, so doesn’t really count).

Anyhow, when I learned that Cyanide were bringing out a Blood Bowl game I knew I had to get it. Even the fact that I didn’t actually having anything on which to play the game wasn’t enough to deter me. Way back in August I bought myself a nice shinny new (well refurbished) Xbox 360 all ready for the game’s release at the end of November.

Just before the game’s release Kerry asked if I had any requests for Christmas presents. Figuring that I’d waited three months already, and that getting Blood Bowl as a gift would mean I’d have something exciting to play with on Christmas Day (plus, you know, I wouldn’t have to pay for it) I decided to delay my gratification for a bit and add it to my wish list.

Fast forward to Christmas Eve round at Kerry’s parents house. I am passed an Xbox game shaped parcel and, sure enough, out pop’s the Blood Bowl computer game. Unfortunately it’s the PC version rather than the Xbox, but all’s not lost – they have retained the receipt and I head on down to HMV bright and early on the 26th in order to exchange it and claim my glittering prize.

At last! Blood Bowl glory is mine!

I get home. I turn on the Xbox. I insert the game. It crashes.

No worries – probably just a one off. Apart form it happens again. And again. And again. until finally I attempt to turn the machine on and I get this:

Shit Arse Fuck Tits!

For those of you not in the know the picture above depicts “The Red Ring of Death”.

This indicates that there has been a internal hardware problem and that the entire machine needs to go back to Microsoft for repairs – a process that can take upwards of six weeks to complete.

As I say: Shit Arse Fuck Tits!

Stupid bloody Microsoft. Why can’t Apple make games machines damnit?

Bookmark It

Posted in: General.
Tagged: Blood Bowl · Games Workshop · Geek · Microsoft · Red Ring of Death · Xbox

32 Comments on “The ever ellusive Blood Bowl”

#1 JJ Daddy-O
on Dec 27th, 2009 at 11:58 pm

… aside from the fact that an Apple game console, if such a thing existed, would cost 900$, you mean?
JJ Daddy-O´s last blog ..Adventures in Retail

Reply
Dan Reply:
December 28th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
@JJ Daddy-O, I’d pay it. but then again I’m such an apple fanboy.
Dan´s last blog ..The ever ellusive Blood Bowl

Reply
#2 Chic Mama
on Dec 27th, 2009 at 11:58 pm

Ooops- how annoying…glad that hasn’t happened to my sons’ PS3 or I know we would all be very unhappy. I hope it doesn’t take that long to get it fixed.

Reply
Dan Reply:
December 28th, 2009 at 1:55 pm
@Chic Mama, you are probably safe with the PS3 – Xboxs are notorious for the fault.
Dan´s last blog ..The ever ellusive Blood Bowl

Reply
#3 Seattledad
on Dec 28th, 2009 at 1:47 am

Ooooh, that really blows.

Why don’t you give it my number. I will have a beer with it while it is here in the area. We can have a few laughs at your expense.
Seattledad´s last blog ..I Wanna Play Cards Daddy

Reply
Dan Reply:
December 28th, 2009 at 1:55 pm
@Seattledad, i’m hoping they have a factory somewhere nearer – I’ll be especially annoyed if it turns out I have to ship it to the states.
Dan´s last blog ..The ever ellusive Blood Bowl

Reply
#4 Insomniac Mummy
on Dec 28th, 2009 at 2:21 am

Damned X-Box. That’s just rude!
Insomniac Mummy´s last blog ..Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas!

Reply
Dan Reply:
December 28th, 2009 at 1:56 pm
@Insomniac Mummy, it is. It’s very rude. In fact I’ve a good mind to write a strongly worded letter to the Times about it.
Dan´s last blog ..The ever ellusive Blood Bowl

Reply
#5 Heather
on Dec 28th, 2009 at 9:02 am

American football with orcs and elves? Anything to make American Football interesting, i guess. do they still make the elves get on and off again every time the ball goes into the offensive/defensive? I imagine that would make the game rather stilted. much like the original, huh?
Heather´s last blog ..The Naked Christmas Party

Reply
Dan Reply:
December 28th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
@Heather, no – it’s more like rugby in it’s flow. No stopping and starting.

I’m not sure you really have any interest in knowing that however :)
Dan´s last blog ..The ever ellusive Blood Bowl

Reply
#6 Gail
on Dec 28th, 2009 at 9:28 am

SAFT are similar to the expletives my 16 year old used when he got the ring of death a few months back !!
See you should have kept the pc version.
Oh well you’ll be able to play the game around June time when you get your XBox back!

Reply
Dan Reply:
December 28th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
@Gail, I don’t have a PC, so the PC version would be rather redundant.
Dan´s last blog ..The ever ellusive Blood Bowl

Reply
#7 Craig
on Dec 28th, 2009 at 12:17 pm

My xbox died too, and mine wasn’t covered under the stupid warranty. I bought a second hand one for cheap to replace it as the cost was about the same as getting it repaired but had the bonus of an extra controller and some games. I still wish I’d just got a PS3 instead though. Ho hum.

Reply
Dan Reply:
December 28th, 2009 at 1:58 pm
@Craig, I would have probably gone for a PS3 if not for the fact I really wanted to play Halo 3 and Blood bowl.
Dan´s last blog ..The ever ellusive Blood Bowl

Reply
#8 Rosie Scribble
on Dec 28th, 2009 at 12:45 pm

This is obviously a boy post.

JoBo has added that it is a geek boy post, which is actually quite an offensive thing to say.
Rosie Scribble´s last blog ..Good Heavens!

Reply
Dan Reply:
December 28th, 2009 at 1:58 pm
@Rosie Scribble, I’m fairly comfortable in my geekdom. And my boydom, come to that.
Dan´s last blog ..The ever ellusive Blood Bowl

Reply
#9 Martin
on Dec 28th, 2009 at 5:43 pm

Hmm, mine is sitting here, in perfect nick, doing nothing.

I feel smug. And mean.
Martin´s last blog ..I blame Disney

Reply
Dan Reply:
December 30th, 2009 at 1:15 am
@Martin, send it to me damn you.
Dan´s last blog ..The ever ellusive Blood Bowl

Reply
#10 Emily O
on Dec 28th, 2009 at 11:14 pm

Merry Christmas from Microsoft then. We thought the children had broken our PS3 but managed to take it apart and fix it by following an anorak video on YouTube. Maybe there’s a DIY solution for the Red Ring of Death on there. Or maybe that would mess it up even more. Good luck!
Emily O´s last blog ..Our first week as five

Reply
Dan Reply:
December 30th, 2009 at 1:16 am
@Emily O, there are a few DIY options, none of which are supposed to work very well. It’s still under warranty though so I’d rather get it done by someone who knows what they are donig
Dan´s last blog ..The ever ellusive Blood Bowl

Reply
#11 Arjan
on Dec 28th, 2009 at 11:22 pm

I’m going to steal that argument about those horrible people being none-gamers!

Oh and ‘Shit Arse Fuck Tits!’ @ the crash.

Reply
Dan Reply:
December 30th, 2009 at 1:17 am
@Arjan, steal away.

None of the members of the spanish inquisition were gamers either.
Dan´s last blog ..The ever ellusive Blood Bowl

Reply
#12 Gary
on Dec 29th, 2009 at 4:46 pm

Oh dash bad luck sir ! (snigger)

Did I mention that we got a Wii from Santa ?

Its an excellent machine, gave me a WiiFit age of 37 years, wonderfully insightful it is, and I’ll excuse the fact that it thinks I’m obese and asked me to step off the thing when I first got on it with its sarcastic comment of “one at a time please”
Gary´s last blog ..On Ilkla Moor Bar T’at

Reply
Dan Reply:
December 30th, 2009 at 1:17 am
@Gary, I doubt I’d score as well as 37.
Dan´s last blog ..The ever ellusive Blood Bowl

Reply
#13 Kevin Spencer
on Dec 29th, 2009 at 7:23 pm

I used to be a huge gamer. Owned every Nintendo system since the NES. Had a PS1, PS2, XBox 360. Then I became totally disillusioned with games and didn’t touch one for about 18 months.

In the last few weeks I’m slowly getting back into it. Been gaming on my iPhone and have played Wii over Christmas.

Reply
Dan Reply:
December 30th, 2009 at 1:19 am
@Kevin Spencer, what caused you to become disillusioned?

a lot of the games are very similar – but as I’ve never been a huge bgamer I’m just picking up the ones that are considered “classics”.

Or at least I was, when I had a functioning xbox :(
Dan´s last blog ..The ever ellusive Blood Bowl

Reply
#14 Erin
on Dec 29th, 2009 at 7:34 pm

Microsoft are running a racket, I’m convinced.
Erin´s last blog ..Guest Post: Notes from the Sasquatch on the Couch

Reply
Dan Reply:
December 30th, 2009 at 1:18 am
@Erin, it feels that way doesn’t it. I’d certainly think twice about buying another of their products.
Dan´s last blog ..The ever ellusive Blood Bowl

Reply
#15 David
on Dec 29th, 2009 at 7:54 pm

I have been playing Blood Bowl on the PC for a couple of months now and it is nothing short of addictive! The game adaptation is far from perfect though, as it has some annoying GUI issues and more than a few bugs. That being said, the graphics are great and playing people online is a blast. The game is also getting quite frequent patches, which gradually improve it. The AI for single player is not very strong all the same and it tends to commit some silly mistakes. I played the 1st edition of the Table Top game and the DeathZone expansion back in the day and in my opinion the game does a good job of recreating and enhancing the Table Top version in general.

Now for the bad news! The Xbox version has a serious drawback according to everything I have read about it. Basically Microsoft did not allow Cyanide, the game’s developer, to maintain their own servers for the multiplayer on the XBox, which means that teams that play online cannot gain experience and be developed! You can play one-off matches via XBox live, but the whole attraction of Blood Bowl revolves around multiplayer tournies and levelling up your team, which is absent from this version. So if you want to level up a team then you can only do it in single-player, where the AI is not the greatest of opponents…

You say you don’t own a PC, but if you own a reasonably modern Mac then you can install a copy of Windows (I would recommend either XP or Windows 7) on a separate partition on your Mac. You can then dual boot and run the pc version of the game from within Windows. I would seriously recommend you go this route if you want to relive your Blood Bowl glory days!

Reply
Dan Reply:
December 30th, 2009 at 1:23 am
@David, I’m not keen on partitioning my mackbook – although I ordered a new hard drive for it yesterday so might have a go when it comes (as I will have more room to do it). Not convinced the macbook will be powerful enough to play games though – especially as I’m assuming that even running windows itself will slow it down.

No harm in having a go though – I shall look into it when the hard drive arrives.

I know what you mean about the attraction of blood bowl being the long term leagues – but I’m unlikely to do much playing online anyhow – I don’t really like it. I was going to use it to hone my Blood bowl skills really as I’m pretty piss poor at the moment.

It’s really anoying that the xbox version is supposed to be crap though, especailly as it was being developed longer than the pc version. I’m also anoyed that dark elves aren’t included as yet, as that’s the race I am playing next season (I know they are in a pc patch)
Dan´s last blog ..The ever ellusive Blood Bowl

Reply
#16 DJ Kirkby
on Dec 30th, 2009 at 10:58 am

I laughed lots while reading this post until I got to the bit where your computer died. That’s so not funny.
DJ Kirkby´s last blog ..Ditto! To you from us all.

Reply
Dan Reply:
December 30th, 2009 at 11:21 pm
@DJ Kirkby, No, to be honest I didn’t laugh much at the time either.

Reply

The ever ellusive Blood Bowl

32 Comments on “The ever ellusive Blood Bowl”

Leave a Comment

Who am I?

Where else to find me

Mini blog

Disclosure

Comments

Top Commentators

Categories

Meta

Blogroll

Supporting Hadrian’s Walk

Podcast Feeds