We Have Moved

By the power of Wordpress we have now moved to http://www.ninjafatpigeons.co.uk

Please update your links and RSS readers.

NFP Show Ep14: Percy Awards 2008

De Mote joins Xan, Garf, Deep and Leg in our annual Christmas award show, complete with Christmas music. Did Too Human win game of the year...listen to find out?

Music from Garage Band (creative commons). Bespoke music written and performed by Garf Spaceman [garfspaceman.com]. Closing song written and performed by Deep Squirrel.

iTunes Store: [http://bit.ly/nfpitunes]
Podcasts: [http://tinyurl.com/nfppods]
Download (AAC): [http://bit.ly/nfp014m4a]
How do I play an AAC/m4a file?: [http://bit.ly/nfppodfaq]

Backlog: Full Auto (Xbox 360)

We are launching a monthly Ninja Fat Pigeons community event called "The Backlog".

The purpose of The Backlog is to get hold of an older game and play it with/vs/alongside the pigeons for a month. We will then review the game on the monthly podcast.

Will will include a mixture of multiplayer and single player games, and different genres. All of the games in the first few months will be '360 launch titles that you can pick-up for under £10 on eBay, PlayTrade (play.com), Amazon Used (amazon.co.uk), or rental queues.

Each month we will hold a poll. The game that wins the poll will be the backlog title for the following month. The games that come second & third in the poll will go into the next month's vote.

So, the steps if you want to be involved:

1. Vote for the backlog game on the forum
2. Buy/rent/own said game for a month.
3. Play it offline and online (if supported) with your fellow back-loggers. Get achievements and have fun. Visit the forum to join-in backlog gaming nights.
4. Write a review on our forum or appear on the podcast. If you have already played the game, you can always refresh your memories and join in again.

Upcoming Backlog Games:

• December's game will be Full Auto on the Xbox 360. Secondhand copies can be picked up cheap online.
• January's game will be Need for Speed Most Wanted on the Xbox 360.
• A poll for February's game will appear on the forum in the new year.

Many thanks to Spirited Phoenix (and 1up FM) for the idea.

NFP Show Ep13: New Pigeon Experience

De Mote joins Xan & Pres in the Pigeon Pod to tell us about the New Xbox Experience, which he is lucky enough to have. We also review the latest releases from Little Big Planet and Fable 2 to Fallout 3 and Gears of War 2.

Music written and performed by Garf Spaceman [garfspaceman.com]; Theme Tune written and performed by Deep Squirrel.

The podcast goes live at 2300 GMT on 9/11/2008

iTunes Store: [http://bit.ly/nfpitunes]
Podcasts: [http://tinyurl.com/nfppods]
Download (AAC): [http://bit.ly/nfp013]
How do I play an AAC/m4a file?: [http://bit.ly/nfppodfaq]

NFP Show Ep12: Sleepless in the Shire

The Young Guns take over the pod in this bonus episode to preview the October release schedule. Sweapt, Leg, Mista Gav and Mr Briz even give us some special musical additions (and a pre-show outtake!).

Please note there are some minor sound problems - blame Skype!

Music by The Tribal Effect (Youngbloods) [myspace.com/theyoungbloods07] & Garf Spaceman [garfspaceman.com], NFP Theme Tune written and performed by Deep Squirrel.

Podcasts: (http://tinyurl.com/nfppods)
iTunes Store: (http://tinyurl.com/2dlmje)
Download (AAC): (http://bit.ly/nfp012)

New Funky Forum

Thanks to all the hard work put in by De Mote we now have a new, funky, more powerful forum.

To access our amazing new forum you will need to reset your password. If you follow the link below and you will be mailed instructions on setting your password -here-.

Once you have logged in there will be a little house keeping to do:

1. Please check that your signature is correct in your user profile: Select User CP > Edit Signature

2. Try keep your Avatar to 90x90 pixels or less as your avatar is now displayed horizontally.

3. Add your Gamer Tag to your profile: Select User CP > Edit Your Details. This will add you to a gamerscore leaderboard.

4. If you are a fully enrolled Pigeon, you'll need to join the clan group: Select User CP > Edit Memberships > Ninja Fat Pigeon > Join Group.

5. Remember to update any bookmarks to the old forum with the new address:

http://www.ninjafatpigeons.co.uk/forum

NFP Show Ep10: Viva Pudgeons!

Oxycutor makes his debut on the 'cast, as we preview some of the games coming out in the autumn rush and throw some light on the best Star Wars video games. Join MrBriz, MistaGav and Xan on another unprofessional and poor sounding jaunt in the world of the Ninja Fat Pigeons.

Music by The Tribal Effect (Youngbloods) [myspace.com/theyoungbloods07] & Garf Spaceman [garfspaceman.com], NFP Theme Tune written and performed by Deep Squirrel.

tinyurl.com/nfppods
iTunes Store (tinyurl.com/2dlmje)
Download (AAC) (bit.ly/nfp010)

How do I play an AAC/m4a file?

Forum Problems

The forum is experiencing performance problems again - possibly due to its database. If you are unable to post or use the forum, please leave a comment here and check for updates.

We apologise for the re-occurring problems.

The Forum's New Home

The forum now has a new home at www.ninjafatpigeons.co.uk/pigeonsmf/index.php

The old links will still work, but you should update any bookmarks you have.

Forum Maintenance

Our Forum has been suffering from performance problems over the last few weeks and we have taken the decision to move it to a new hosting server.

The forum will be unavailable from tonight [Fri 29-Aug-2008] at 1930BST whilst we move the database to a new home.

Revisit here later for further updates.

Call of Duty 4 Prestige Ranks

I am occasionally asked what rank of prestige i am on and 90% of the time i dont know. Below is a lost of all the levels of prestige and the badges you are rewarded with.

Level One Badge
--->Rougesolo72 is currently at rank 9.
--->Mista Gav is currently at rank 35.
--->Brumnick is currently at rank 55.


Level Two Badge





Level Three Badge

---> Leg of Time is currently at rank 48.



Level Four Badge





Level Five Badge





Level Six Badge
--->Maine is currentlyat rank 16, therefore some catching up is involved mister.
--->I am currently at rank 53 so will soon be prestiging again.
--->Last Likely Lad is currently at rank 50.



Level Seven Badge





Level Eight Badge





Level Nine Badge





Level Ten Badge





I will update this list with new ranks every so often, or if someone has a big increase in rank let me know please.

NFP Show Ep8: Raiders of the Lost Perch

MrBriz, fellow Pigeon and Cranky Gamer, joins Xan, Leg and Deep as we discuss Sweapt, Tea Bags, Forums, Selfish Londoners, and of course video games.

Music used with permission:
Temporal Visitation & Follow The Muthaship! (Megarithic 2006) by Garf Spaceman [www.garfspaceman.com]
NFP Theme Tune by Deep Squirrel [http://www.myspace.com/jamesclarkemusic].

This podcast can be listened to in-browser via Google Reader, or downloaded and played with QuickTime, iPods, iTunes, Xbox360 or Playstation 3:

RSS feed
Download (AAC)
iTunes Store

NFP Show Ep7: Prefer This Pigeon

This month we are invaded by the flying Squirrel battalion as we discuss the greatest games of all time and the results of the first “Prefer This Player League” match. (www.ninjafatpigeons.me.uk)

RSS feed
Download (MP3)
iTunes Store

Memories of the Mansfield Meet Up

To celebrate the anniversary of the formation of the Ninja Fat Pigeons clan several of us descended on Mansfield for a day of drinking, bowling, drinking, eating, drinking and then some drinking.

On Saturday April 12 we took over a range of establishments at our annual gathering where we proved that gaming doesn't turn people into antisocial hermits and that there is never a good time to drink barley wine.

Starting early a small group began the day sampling real ales and ciders at the Mansfield beer festival. A great suggestion from CAMRA members Miniminx and Xantiriad. Myself and Oxycutor were also easily swayed and set off at ridiculous times in the morning to arrive at around 11 to see how quickly we could get through the minimum purchase of £5 of beer tokens. The venue was large and the beer range impressive and an hour or so later we stumbled out to catch the bus to the King and Miller to meet up with the masses.

There was a good turnout for the event and on entering the pub it was great to finally put faces to the many voices I had chatted with over Xbox Live over the last year. We took over three tables for some much needed food, essential to soak up the morning's beer. In no particular order assembled at the pub were Murtel and Fluff, KungFuStu, organisers Scooby Mad and Squeeek, Leg of Time, Leg's sister Kay, Monkeypuzzler, MonkeyPaws. (If I have missed anyone I apologise but you must have evaded the photo's, I spent the majority of the day pleasantly drunk!) Sweapt, we were told, was still en-route due to train issues.

Suitably refreshed we moved on to Superbowl for some bowling, Murtel in particular shone for his skils and distraction techniques! More beer was consumed and Sweapt arrived finally to join us. I stupidly bowled despite my sprained ankle and my insistence I wasn't going to, but the beer numbed any pain. Many photos were snapped and we stole all the lightweight balls from the neighbouring children's lanes. Though eventually gave them back.

After bowling we piled into cars and taxis and headed off the the main event, the Red Brick House Hotel, situated in a nice rural setting, not so far out of Mansfield. We set up in the bar before moving to our private room for the meal and cake ceremony. The cake was fantastic, and certainly not a lie!

More food was consumed, the cake was cut by the earliest members of the clan, Murtel, Leg and Oxy and we all ate our gamer cards. KungFuStu introduced Sweapt to Guinness and allowed him to understand the term 'acquired taste'. We headed back into the bar, as it was easier than carrying the drinks to the function room and took over half of it. It was a great experience to be out in a pub, talking about games and irritating level bosses, without ever feeling like the nerds we proudly are!


As the night came to an end those of us who had chosen to stay at the Red Brick House said goodbye to those heading back home to Mansfield or to the Travelodge and stayed until last orders for the late night drinker's club. Finally heading off for a well deserved night's sleep and the inevitable hangover.

To set everyone straight for their various journeys back on Sunday we met up one last time for breakfast in Frankie and Benny's. Hangovers were evident in some of us but we managed to get a few games of Mario Kart DS played whilst we tanked up on coffee and food. Then it was over.

It was a great weekend and it was nice to meet everyone in person after speaking to you all for so long via the forum and Xbox Live. I am sure we will do it again soon and hopefully those who couldn't make it will be able to join us next time, wherever that might be. Thanks must go to Scooby and Squeeek for the work they put into sorting everything out and thanks from me to Mini and Xan for the lift back to the station afterwards! I hope everyone enjoyed it as much as I did and we'll have to do it again.

If anyone who was less drunk than me wants to share their memories and maybe refresh mine then please post them here!

NFP V Lox

Last night, on the 21st of February a battle took place between us winged folk of the sky and the friends over at Lox gamers. The match was originally meant to be on Gears of War, but after recieving an unscheduled invite for ChunkyMunkey i headed over to find the Lox gamers and Munkey in a COD4 lobby. After originally intending to head off to do some Coursework, an hour or so had passed and the games had ended.

As it was just a friendly match i did not remember to take any scores, but that more or less works out for us pigeons im afraid. The biggest problem myself, ChunkyMunkey and Jimbo faced was that there was barely anyone else on in COD4 to pitch in and help us, but we werent about to make excuses asking them to get one or two of their players to leave as it was all in the spirit of fun. With some team complications that first match kicked off, which i think was a Team Deathmatch on vacant, and if my memory serves me correctly i do believe we one this round.

The following match ensued and it was a Search and Destroy on Wetwork. The team on this map consisted of ChunkyMunkey, myself and one of the Lox guys that had ocme to help as one of our guys (jimbo) got stuck on their side. So it was 3 against 5 but this didnt damped our spirits. The match ended with, from what i can remember, a 4 to 1 win for the Lox guys. But i was able to get a few good kills so wasnt to upset.

The final match began with the map being everyones favourite, Shipment. The game type was a headquarters, but some of the rules were changed to make it a game of only headshots only. So thanks to the big M60E4 light machine gun i was able to rack up exactly 100 kills, but this wasnt going to help us as the Lox guys were always quick on their toes to catch the headquarters and the match went to them. But seeing as it was all in the spirit of fun, the loss just didnt seem as bad.

So in the end, thank you very much Lox and i hope to shoot it up with you all again.

On XBLA this wednesday: N+

This wednesday (Tommorow) we see a classic flash game called N+. I don't exactly know the reason for the name but I'll roll with it. It's an excellent platformer with a ninja so what more could you ask for aye!

I'm curious actually how this will work on the xbox control system compared to the keyboard arrows and spacebar as well as some of the other functions.

As far as I'm aware this is the only title this week and yes it will be 800 m$ points. Now it's a good game and all but seeing as you can play it online for free and it is very enjoyable for when your at work or in school but I'm not so sure about the price tag associated with this one. Still it's cool to see flash games making its way onto the Arcade so maybe we should see some more. Personally I want to see Boxhead (http://www.kongregate.com/games/SeanCooper/boxhead-2play-rooms)


More info below, taken from the xbox website. Also if I tend to blab please let me know so I can condense these a bit.

In a futuristic world of inadvertently homicidal robots, a daring ninja must use deft acrobatic skill and guts of steel to survive. N+ is a peerless action-puzzle platformer with more than 300 levels in which to hone your ninja reflexes, plus a built-in level editor for when you're hungry for more. N+ also features unique, physics-based controls, stylish graphics, unlimited lives, competitive and cooperative multiplayer, plenty of gold, and several flavors of sweet, sweet action. Running, jumping, and dying in an unpleasant-yet-comical manner has never been more fun!

• Addictive gameplay: N+ features run-and-jump gameplay with hilarious ragdoll physics. It's easy to get into, but challenging enough for the hardcore gamer.
• Many, many levels: Featuring well over 300 all-new levels, the game also includes a built-in level editor for players to create their own levels. Additional level packs, including the classic N levels from the PC version, and multiplayer level packs, will be available in the future.
• Multiplayer modes: Multiple cooperative and competitive multiplayer modes are included. Try survival, race, or co-op play.
• Replays: Each level can be replayed to see how fast you completed the level.
• Additional content: Check out additional ninja costumes for both single-player and multiplayer games, and skin your dashboard the N+ way.

Updates On Frontlines

Well on a bored Monday night I was randomly searching the net and I came across a few cool facts about the game. Yes I should be doing coursework but this took priority (as per usual....)

ok first of all the release date, it's set to launch on the 29th February 2008. The ps3 version has been delayed somewhat and there was even rumours of it being cancelled altogether. I'm not sure why they delay the PS3 version, probably to do with the hardware, blu-ray or some other paranormal stuff. Expect to be seeing Battlefield 2 like maps with lots of space, tanks, jeeps, apcs, helicopters and even jets. If memory serves there are more then 60 vehicles and weapons in the final game. There are 6 different classes which are the Assault, Heavy Assault, Sniper, Anti-Vehicle, Special Operations, and Close Combat. Also a multitude of drones from Uavs, RC bomb drones, helicopter bomb drones, a mortar drone and a gatling gun treaded drone.

My Favourite update has to be that the player capacity is jumping from 32 to 50 players on the console versions! Yes that is correct the largest seen in a console game yet something which can really rival BF2.

It is mainly due to Kaos (the developers) and Microsoft entered a deal allowing Frontlines to use dedicated servers. This is something halo 3 couldn't even pull off which would have helped greatly. so basically we should see up to 50 players in the game with little lag and with the possibility of even more, Kaos states they did manage to "hit 73" during testing which is bloody astounding for a game! No doubt the PC and PS3 versions will be pulling these numbers too and even more due to their more third party oriented systems.

All in all I am extremely excited for this game now and will probably get it day of release even though I know I shouldn't. 50 players are going to be damn chaotic especially with all of those bomb drones flying about! I’ll see if I can find other stuff about the game in the meantime.

Yes I am aware there is a single player and multiplayer demo on the marketplace. You should definitely go check out the multiplayer demo as this is really setting a standard in ‘FPS’. This is also my first blog post so excuse me if it is too long…

The Valentine's Day (After) Massacre

Valentine's Day, a day to spend with a cherished one, telling them how important they are to you and buying them flowers, chocolates or rude beer glasses. It's all well and good but after that it's nice to have a change isn't it. With this in mind Spirited Phoenix invented the Valentine's Day (After) Massacre.

Friday 15 February nine Ninja Fat Pigeons assembled with one aim, to beat Sweapt at Halo 3. Well there were other aims but that emerged as the night's theme. The party was made up of Spirited Phoenix, Deep Squirrel, Leg of Time, Sweapt S T F U, WillyC3000, Paradroid 476, Oxycutor, Martimo, and myself. Having assembled we entered into round one, Lone Wolves style Slayer on Guardian. A good warm up match, some fun banter and plenty of beatdowns with Leg of Time emerging as the winner. Sadly Oxycutor left us at this point, such is the merciless nature of the Valentine's Day (After) Massacre.

Suitably warmed up we headed into battle again in round two. Slayer on High Ground. A frantic match lasting a mere three minutes or so. This round saw a fairly even spread of scores with the victorious Deep Squirrel and Sweapt outclassing the rest of us. In the end we had two people in last place, with Martimo honourably bowing out allowing Spirited Phoenix to survive this round.

Round three, Rockets on Narrows. I hate this map, I hate rockets. I lost. Leg of Time and Sweapt were virtually neck and neck with Leg just winning the round by one kill. Similarly at the bottom end Spirited Phoenix and myself battled for second to last place. My two careless suicides cost me my place so I headed over to join Oxycutor in the loser's lounge.

At round four, slayer on Sandtrap, the prematch prediction of Leg and Sweapt as favourites had proven to be the case. Deep Squirrel stepped up and met both of their gazes. Despite the hugeness of the map the round netted 40 kills with Leg's killing frenzy securing him victory. Meanwhile in the loser's lounge Oxy and I welcomed Paradroid 476 to our party.

Still in it at round five we had Deep, Leg, Sweapt, Spirited Phoenix and WillyC3000. The familiar game of slayer appeared again, this time on Isolation. The three titans further widened the gap with a closely fought battle that saw Deep emerge as victor and Spirited Phoenix seal his place in the next round by one kill more than Will. As we welcomed Will to the loser's lounge Mista Gav arrived having missed the start due to watching Rude Tube and encouraged us all to watch it, for the remainder of the competition I listened happily to everyone's shared laughter as they all switched over, sadly I play my 360 through a monitor so could only imagine the delights entertaining all. It's an interesting way to experience a TV program.

Back over in the competition round six, slayer on Valhalla, began. A huge map for four people to square off in but 29 kills occurred. Leg of Time nabbed the heavy machine gun and took five lives in the process with Sweapt bringing death from the skies with the Banshee. Deep took the more tradition FPS route and tagged a couple of sniper rifle kills whereas Spirited Phoenix threw caution to the wind and set about running people over in the Wraith. In the end Leg won the round and Spirited Phoenix headed over to the laughs of the loser's lounge.

Round seven took place in Epitaph. A closely scored three-man free-for-all was to follow. Sweapt grabbed 6 shotgun kills to win the round. Deep took the berserker approach and beat his way to second place pushing Leg of Time to the loser's lounge.

It had all built up to this, two pigeons enter, one pigeon leaves. The huge Construct map being the venue for this colossal throwdown between Max and Master Blaster, erm Sweapt and Deep. A battle that seemed to be largely made up of two weapons, Deep favouring the battle rifle over Sweapt's quick seizure of the energy sword. Violence ensued with both sides scoring kills in the double figures, however the sword emerged mightier in this case and Sweapt slashed his way to victory and extended bragging rights.

All in all it was a great night and I hope we can do more mini tournaments like this in the future. Thanks have to go to Spirited Phoenix for the idea and organisation and also to everyone who played. Congratulations to Sweapt for his victory. It remains to be seen which way the next tournament will go. It's North versus South, for Queen and Country, in Burnout Paradise. Sweapt, Deep and Leg will all be on the same side for that competition so expect a lot of same team takedowns!

Valentine's Day (After) Massacre Results

Valentine's Day-After massacre results:

9 Entrants: - Oxy, Martimo, Sweapt, SP, Garf, Paradroid, Deep, Leg, Willy

Rd1 - Guardian - (Oxy)
Rd2 - High Ground - (Martimo)
Rd3 - Narrows - (Garf)
Rd4 - Sandtrap - (Paradroid)
Rd5 - Isolation - (Willy)
Rd6 - Valhalla - (SP)
Semi - Epitah - Sweapt, Deep, and Leg in the semi - Now who would have predicted that? (Leg)
Final - Battle of the Giants - in the pink corner, Sweapticles......in the brown corner, Deep.......

Winner! Congratulations Sweapt. A badge will be coming to your profile by the weekend!

**** Don't forget there will be a pigeon of pigeons tourney later in the year, with prizes ****
**** Details to follow ****

(originally posted by Spirited Phoenix on the Forum)

New Website?

Mista Gav had an idea to make our website a bit more "web 2.0"

I've done some homework and I've constructed this "proof of concept" replacement for the current "tiddlywiki" site, with Blogger.

This will enable us to have multiple authors, and add news, results, podcasts, video and pictures easily to the site.

I'll send out invites to Garf, Murtel and Pheonix as authors initially. We can add more as we go.

Tell us what you think?