Which would you choose?

We’re getting our carpets replaced and are at the point where we have samples at home to choose the colour/style. The choice is challenging…

Dsc07058.jpg < Carpet Samples

The dark piece at front is commercial carpet we are having layed in our second downstairs room. As for the upstairs selection, which would you choose?

Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan

About a year ago Nintendo released a game for the DS in Japan only called Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan. It is a rythym/music game, where you tap targets on the screen in time to the beats of a selection of groovy J-Pop songs. At the same time, a story is being told in the background of a group of ‘motivators’ helping people get better at something.

Ouendan.png

For instance, in one song you help a chef prepare better food to save his ailing restaurant. In another you motivate an old horse to win a race. The better you do at the song, the better they do at their chosen task.

In short the game is a masterpiece. It’s simultaneously wacky, charming and very, very addictive. And despite not being much of a fan of rythym games, I find myself really enjoying this one (which I picked up in Japan). It’s easily one of the most impressive DS games released so far, and has found itself a very large fanbase even outside of Japan.

This website is a good example, and gives you some screenshots of what the game is like to play. And here is a video (worth watching, believe me) of one of the songs being played in hard mode.

Later this year an English version of the game will release under the title ‘Elite Beat Agents’. It will be very different, with new songs, characters and stories. I’ll probably buy it, but I can’t see it being as good as the original. Hopefully the spirit of the gameplay survives intact!

Looking For Songs

Edit: list updated.

I’m looking for the following songs, so if anyone has any on CD please contact me:

The Cars – “Drive”, “You Might Think”
Lionel Ritchie – “Say You, Say Me”, “Hello”, “All Night Long”
Phil Collins – “Against All Odds”
Joe Jackson – “Real Men”
Naked Eyes – “Is She Really Going Out With Him”, “Something There To Remind Me”
Human League – “Fascination”
Honey Drippers (aka. Robert Plant) – “Sea Of Love”
Don Henley – “Boys Of Summer”
Scorpions – “Winds Of Change”
Obviously I’m trying to flesh out my 80’s playlists 🙂