The Ultimate Sci-Fi Blu-Ray Movie Christmas Gift Top 10

It's December and you've already missed one week of Christmas shopping to playing Skyrim (or is that just me?). Next week you'll be Force gripped by the launch of Star Wars: The Old Republic so maybe you should take a moment to get some gift shopping done?

I've put together a list of sci-fi movies that should make great Christmas presents for anyone with just a little appreciation for science fiction. They are great for presents for any fellow geeky family members, or perhaps as a little self indulging gift from you to you, with regards from Cyber Santa.
You can also pass along the list to gift givers and possibly avoid another pair of hand knitted socks (not that those aren't great!).

10: Star Wars: Blu Ray Box Set

I know I have bitched about what George Lucas has done to the old Star Wars movies. I completely stand by my criticisms, but despite Lucas' best efforts to mutilate my childhood memories to a degree that would make even Jack the Ripper uncomfortable, the fact of the matter is that Star Wars remain some of the best sci-fi movies ever made.
And even though this Blu-Ray box served as another opportunity for Lucas to mess with perfection it's still pretty great to see the old trilogy all polished up like R2-D2 at a medal awarding ceremony. Damn you Lucas! Just wipe that smug look off your face and take my money already!



9. Inception

I was very positively surprised by Inception, when I first saw it. It's the kind of movie that works really well the first time around, but if you start spending too much time thinking about the plot it starts to come apart at the seams a little. In that respect it reminds me a lot of another DiCaprio movie Shutter Island, which I can also recommend by the way.
But try not to think too hard about the logic of bringing people into the dreams of other people, or the silliness of going into a "dream within a dream" and Inception is a very entertaining movie, which also has some slick visual tricks up its sleeve.

Light Speed Gaming Sci-Fi Game of the Year 2011 - Top 5 - 3

Last week saw us through the top 10-6 sci-fi games of 2011, from the disappointment of Red Faction: Armageddon, to the beauty of Crysis 2.

Now it's time to continue on down the list and take a look at the games that made it into the top 5-3 places. These are some of my favorite video games of 2011 and if you are an avid gamer then every one of them is worth checking out.

5: Warhammer 40k: Space Marine
I'm sure many people will shrug their shoulders at Space Marine and dismiss it as nothing but a passable Gears of War clone.
I can certainly agree that Space Marine did not revolutionize 3rd person shooters in any way, but that does not mean that it is not a ton of fun.

Granted my love of all things Warhammer 40k may be influencing my judgement, however I truly think that the visceral combat that this game offered us is an experience that you can't find in very many other games of 2011. As I wrote in my review of Warhammer 40k: Space Marine it feels great to blast Orks to pieces with your hefty bolter from afar, only to then charge straight at the filthy greenskins and carve them to pieces with your whirring chainsword.

Even with my weakness for power armored Space Marines I can't overlook some of the issues with this game, though. Even though the combat felt pretty satisfying, the monotony of the gameplay did start to drag towards the end of the game.
I'd also really have appreciated less corridor shooting sequences and have had some more big battles to fight in, which would really have given us the chance to immerse ourselves into the role of a Space Marine in the middle of a large war.
Oh well, maybe something for the sequel I guess?

Just look at that screenshot and tell me that doesn't look fun!

Light Speed Gaming Sci-Fi Game of the Year 2011 - Top 10 - 6

It's time to kick off the Light Speed Gaming "Sci-Fi Game of the Year 2011". As I have previously discussed, this will be my top 10 of the best science fiction themed video games of 2011.
Remember that you can vote for the "Readers Choice" Sci-Fi Game of the Year by voting in the poll in the top right corner of the site!


In this first round of great sci-fi games of 2011 I'll be going through the games that made it on the list as number 10 through 6.
Most of these games are worth your time and money and I have spent a good number of hours playing the majority of them, but they are lacking just that special something to make their way to the top spots on the list.

10: Red Faction: Armageddon
Okay, so when I just said that almost all the games on the list are worth your time and money... Red Faction: Armageddon is the exception to that. It's on the list because it was a much anticipated release of a fairly large sci-fi franchise that managed to break most of the things that made its predecessor fun.

Gone is the open world levels of Red Faction: Guerrilla in favor of linear cave levels with stupid AI alien enemies. The destructible environments, which have always been a big trademark of the Red Faction franchise, is used to decidedly underwhelming effect in Armageddon, and the whole experience simply leaves you with a sour taste in your mouth and a baffled expression on your face, as you wonder how the series could make such a wrong turn.

Red Faction: Armageddon is a testament to all gaming developers that they need to stay on their toes and continue to make an effort designing quality games even on the larger and established franchises. I hope that Volition is going to make a triumphant return to the Red Faction series and give us a great game that can wash away the unpleasant taste that Armageddon has left me with.

Some genuinely interesting futuristic weaponry is not enough to make Red Faction: Armageddon an enjoyable game

9: Rage
Like Red Faction: Armageddon, I was left somewhat disappointed after playing ID's latest kill-em-up. But unlike Armageddon, it was more of a "oh, is that all there is to it?" disappointment, rather than then "Get this revolting pile of donkey feces out of my console!" type of disappointment.
Rage was hyped up to be something like a cross between Fallout 3 and Crysis. That is, it was meant to offer some meaningful open world gameplay in addition to the satisfying quality first person shooting experience that ID is known for making.

But when the game came out it was clear that the "open world" part was little more than deciding if you wanted to play some different mini games or go to the next linear shooting mission. The whole driving sequence, which was also heavily advertised as a major gaming element, turned out to be a pretty minor gameplay mechanic that allowed you to travel between said linear missions.

Now, all these criticisms aside, ID *did* manage to deliver a very solid and entertaining FPS games in some very good looking surroundings. Rage is not going to win any innovation awards and it's not really advancing the FPS genre, but if you enjoy shooting stuff and like some Fallout-esque wasteland setting in your games, then Rage is perfectly capable of keeping you entertained for the 10 hours or so that it's going to take you to play through the campaign.

Despite its shortcomings you can find a very solid shooting experience in Rage

10 clues that your boyfriend is a Jedi

You've seen the signs.

The blue glow and low humming noise coming from the living room, when your boyfriend thinks you're asleep.

The constant talk about inner peace and calm from emotions.

His best friend is a poorly dressed scoundrel that's always hanging around with a Wookie.

"This? No, this is just a big glowstick, hon"

These are subtle hints that might make you think; "Hang on, is my boyfriend a Jedi?!".

Well, here are 10 clues to help you determine if the Force is indeed strong with him.