Darren Straight's Blog

Over the last couple of days I’ve been playing Cod4 MW (Call of Duty Modern Warfare) Multiplayer, it’s just one of those games that once I start playing again I can’t stop! Anyhow I could’nt play any server that was using the Anti Cheat system PukBuster as I kept on getting an error message saying PunkBuster is not installed, I reinstalled and downloaded the latest updates but still nothing, eventually I fixed the problem as well as some issues involving being kicked out every time I tried and kill someone. :S

But then I started recieveing the following message:

NOTICE: Darren PunkBuster kicked player ‘Darren’ (for 0 minutes) … RESTRICTION: Disallowed Program/Driver [125120]

Took me a while but I found a solution on the steam forums here.

It seems that you need to do the following, open up Steam and Disable steam overlay in games, by going to: Settings > In-game tab > uncheck steam community. Not the best solution if you still want the steam community window open in game, but at leat it works. I’m sure someone else will have the problem so I thought id post my findings here. Enjoy!

Samsung, has announced the Samsung S2 Portable, a fully transportable external hard drive, pre-loaded with the movie ‘Michael Jackson’s THIS IS IT’.

Timed with the DVD and Blu-ray Disc(TM) release of ‘Michael Jackson’s THIS IS IT’, the pre-loaded external HDD will be available at major European retailers from February 22, 2010.

“We are excited to present this movie starring Michael Jackson, the greatest entertainer of all time, pre-loaded on the Samsung S2 Portable,” said H.S. Lee, Vice President, Storage Marketing, Samsung Electronics.

Samsung’s S2 Portable has an increased capacity of 500GB and its improved data recording technology makes it the perfect solution for the increasing number of consumers who are building their personal movie collections on their PCs.

In addition to the pre-loaded ‘Michael Jackson’s THIS IS IT’, the Samsung S2 Portable boasts USB On Board Technology and supports various user-friendly features such as Samsung Auto Backup that enables real-time or scheduled backup and SecretZone™ that encrypts and stores data on a virtual drive as well as SafetyKey™, a powerful data-security function that offers dual data protection through a password.

The special edition will be available through retailers in Europe from February 22. Availability in other regions will be determined following the initial launch.

The Namco Arcade is open! The new digital discovery and delivery service from Namco Bandai Networks Europe (NBNE) is available on Facebook now. Users will be able to try out popular games, and have exclusive sneak previews of exciting forthcoming titles.

Launching with classic NBNE games including Time Crisis Elite, PAC-MAN™ Championship Edition, Rolling with Katamari, PAC-MAN™, Inspector Gadget, PAC-MAN™ Pinball 2, More Brain Exercise with Dr Kawashima, and Namco Arcade Golf, Namco Arcade hosts iconic titles for Facebook fans to enjoy.

Namco Arcade will also see the return of Ridge Racer to mobile gaming, with Ridge Racer Drift arriving soon. 

Playing in the Namco Arcade booth, users can write mini-reviews, become a fan of those games they just can’t walk away from, and share games over Facebook, Twitter, Digg and email.

Becoming a Fan of the application allows users to share their reviews and meet new people who love the same games they do.

Buying your favourite game so you can play wherever you go is easy. Simply click on “Buy Now” after the demo, enter your phone number and you’ll receive an SMS link on your phone to download the game from the NBNE WAP site. Users will not be charged until they click on the “download” link on the WAP page.

The Iron Fist Tournament is coming in the spring, so get training…

Following up from both my previous posts (post 1 & post 2) about the Harry Potter Hogwarts Express Fan Trip Train Ride 2009, which gave you the chance to travel by steam train from Paddington to Oxford aboard the Hogwarts Express (GWR Hall Class 4-6-0 no 5972 Olton Hall) steam train on Saturday the 18th of July 2009.

I have now had the chance along with my girlfreind (see her post) to travel on this Hogwarts Express Journey, it was really enjoyable and worth going, the atmosphere around people was a great experience.

I have just finished uploading all the photos I took of my journey on the Hogwarts Express (5972 Olton Hall). My photos include both outside and inside photos of the main steam engine train and the carriages, along with some photos of Oxford and a few of London.

I shall soon be adding my Hogwarts Express Videos to this post too, which are definitely worth viewing, even if you didnt go!

Following up from my previous post about the Harry Potter Hogwarts Express Fan Trip Train Ride 2009, which gives you a chance to travel by steam train from Paddington to Oxford aboard the Hogwarts Express (GWR Hall Class 4-6-0 no 5972 Olton Hall) steam train this Saturday the 18th of July 2009.

I can now confirm travel times as obtained from uksteam.info.

Saturday 18 July 2009

GWR Hall Class 4-6-0 no 5972 Olton Hall

(alias Hogwarts Castle)

TIMES

Steam hauled: Paddington-Oxford

The Hogwarts Express Steam Train and Carriages have also been spoted making it’s way down to London from Scotland:

•  5972 ‘Olton Hall’ heads away from Carnforth for Southall with ECS. 5972 was heading down to London to work a Harry Potter special on Saturday for American fans from Paddington to Oxford.
• 5972 Olton Hall in charge of the Hogwarts Express ECS from Carnforth to Southall in conjuntion with a railtour from London Paddington on Saturday to coincide with the release of the latest Harry Potter film
• another shot of Olton Hall in a downpour. the train was running as 5Z59
• 5972 Olton Hall, 5Z59, Hest Bank, 16 July 2009 – 1348 1
• 5972 Olton Hall, 5Z59, Hest Bank, 16 July 2009 – 1348 2
• http://railways.national-preservation.com/download/file.php?id=3896&mode=view

One of the best Live Video Streams of Michael Jacksons Memorial Service I’ve seen is the one on My Space:

http://celebrity.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=celebrity.icon

Today is the public memorial service for Michael Jackson. MichaelJackson.com will begin broadcasting the memorial service beginning at 12pm EDT.

Please visit MichaelJackson.com to share in the memorial service, pay tribute on the “Tribute Wall”, watch Michael’s music videos and listen to his music.

Pop Star Michael Jackson has died at the age of 50 after a Cardiac Arrest at his home in Los Angeles. The star’s brother, Jermaine Jackson, confirmed the news of his death.  ”My brother, the legendary King of Pop, passed away on Thursday June 25 at 2.26pm.”

He was just weeks away from beginning a 50-date comeback tour in London, that of which I had tickets to see!

His unexpected death has devastated fans and sparked a flood of tributes from the biggest names in the music industry. It of course has also led to speculation as to what killed him.

Pop Star Legend Michael Jackson Dies at the Age of 50

Keep on meaning to post this, thanks to my Girlfreind Emily for finding it!

HP Fan Trips has announce the limited availability of tickets for a steam train journey in the carriages used for the Hogwarts Express in the filming of the Harry Potter movies. These tickets will be sold on a first-come, first-serve basis. The cost is $145 US (approx. 79 GBP) per ticket.

On July 18, the train will depart from Paddington Court Station in London in the morning for travel to Oxford in the carriages used for the Hogwarts Express in the filming of the Harry Potter movies. (Exact departure time TBD.) Clients purchasing a train only ticket (as opposed to the HP FAN TRIP) will be given a map of filming locations that they can use for a self guided walking tour of Oxford. While in Oxford they can take in pubs, shops, and the sights of Oxford. They will be given a time to return back to the Train Station in Oxford to Board the train for the journey back to London and Paddington Court Station. Return time will be in the late afternoon (exact time TBD.)

TIMING – the Journey to Oxford will be approx 2 hours and the return will be 1 hour

Infants less than 2 years – free
2 years to 7 years – 50%
Over 7 years full price.

For more info about this hogwarts express train journey tomorrow, click here!

Teen superstar Miley Cyrus will kick off her first ever UK tour on 13th December and 14th December at the world famous The O2 arena in London. This highly anticipated show will be the first chance for European fans to see one of the most exciting shows of the year. Miley will be supported by the chart topping pop/rock group Metro Station featuring older brother Trace Cyrus on vocals and guitar.

Miley Cyrus first burst on the scene starring as Miley Stewart/Hannah Montana in the smash hit Disney Channel series Hannah Montana.  Following the success of the show, a soundtrack CD was released in October 2006, and Cyrus’ solo music career began in earnest with the release of her debut album, Meet Miley Cyrus in June of 2007. Her second album, Breakout, was released in July of 2008, and turned the young performer into a superstar.  Both albums debuted at No.1 on the Billboard 200.  2008 also saw the release of the Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert film which were huge hits across the globe.

Cyrus also earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Original Song for “I Thought I Lost You,” from the soundtrack to the successful animated 2008 film Bolt, which also featured Cyrus’ voice in a starring role.  Hannah Montana: The Movie was released on April 10, 2009, for which Cyrus recorded the main single, “The Climb.” Cyrus was listed as one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in The World in 2008, while Forbes ranked her No.35 on “The Celebrity 100″ list.

Tickets go on sale on Friday 12th June at 9.00am and can be bought via www.theo2.co.uk or by calling 0844 856 0202.