• Zath
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Shop
  • Write For Us

Zath - UK Tech Blog

Technology & Gaming, Reviews & Features

  • Tech
  • Software
  • Games
  • Reviews
  • Features
You are here: Home / Archives for Features

Video Game Cover Art – How Important Is It?

21st July 2010 by Ender - Last Updated: 28th September 2020

midnight resistance commodore 64 video game cover artVideo game cover art has been around for just about as long as video games themselves. If anything, back in the early days of video games, it was even more important than it is now. This was because that was the best way of conveying the game designers’ vision of what the game itself represented. This was because the early video game graphics had to be very basic, so the players themselves perhaps needed to use their imagination a bit more than they have to now.

I remember the first-ever game I owned which was Midnight Resistance on the Commodore 64 and I thought it was amazing. It was in a box with 3 other games and I can still remember the box art, but I used to look at how good the graphics were on the back of the box.

The cover and graphics on the back of the cassettes that I got for my C64 had to look good for me to buy them. “Wow! Mum! Can I have £2.50 to buy this game for my new Commodore 64? The graphics look amazing!”

But now I’ve been playing games for a good 20 years, does cover art now sway my opinion on whether to part with my cash for a game? It can’t help for the cover to be aesthetically pleasing as developers/publishers want to show off their game before you even play it.
[Read more…]

The Digital Nomad: Travelling With My Netbook & Public WiFi

13th July 2009 by Christian Milsom - Last Updated: 28th September 2020

acer-aspire-one-netbook-navy-blue-colourHere at Zath, we’ve been covering the development of netbooks pretty much since they sprung onto the market in the surprisingly small shape of Asus’ Eee PC, and we’ve kept you up to date with the new releases, done a few reviews and even seen how people have confusing netbooks with notebooks. But what we haven’t done yet is given a good account of what it’s actually like to live with one — until now.

We’ve already covered being a “digital nomad” in using Windows with your media, so I thought, what better way to follow up on that and give the whole netbook lifestyle of living off “the cloud” a good workout than take it on holiday to France for 2½ weeks and see how it pans out. This article will document the advantages and disadvantages of having a netbook (including a more detailed insight into the one I’m actually using), how practical it is to use in France and of course a diary on the technology related thoughts I have on my travels.
[Read more…]

Google Street View In The UK – Its Early History & Development

6th January 2009 by Simon Barker - Last Updated: 28th September 2020

Google Maps Street View Logo

It Was Announced That Google Street View Was Coming To The UK In January 2009

In case you haven’t heard of Google Street View in the UK before, it is basically an addition to Google’s already impressive mapping services which form their online Google Maps website, Google Maps mobile software, their Google Earth web experience and Google Earth Android and iPhone apps. This added feature of Street View means that as well as seeing a location in map form and from a satellite view, you can now ‘go down to street level’ and navigate around using a 360° horizontal and 290° vertical panoramic interface that allows you to travel virtually around an area. [Read more…]

When The Windows Blows: A Post-Apocalyptic Review On Vista

1st October 2008 by The Average Windows Nerd - Last Updated: 27th March 2019

windows-95-boot-screenI remember Windows 95 on floppies and it was rubbish

I think Windows 95 came on about 17 of the little buggers (proprietary 2MB formatted so don’t think you’ll be backing any of them up).

Of course, I couldn’t wait to crowbar the thing on to my 486. As the “Start me up” advert with the Rolling Stones resonated in my memory, I was about to install the RTM version of Chicago!! The true power of my Multi-Media PC was about to spring to life! It was all going to be perfect because Mick said so!
Well, it made a grown man cry.
[Read more…]

What Does Playing Video Games Say About Me?

12th February 2008 by Simon Barker - Last Updated: 2nd November 2019

South Park gamer stereotype characterI don’t think you’re an open book to people just from the type of video games you play, I mean just because I, Simon Barker play a Grand Theft Auto game, that doesn’t necessarily make me a threat to society, does it? Despite what certain people would have you know about games such as these. What does playing certain video games say about me?

However, that said if people were to play the following games they could perhaps get an insight into who I am as a person and therefore get to me know on a certain level — or at least I can interpret what I think playing these games say about me. I mean, if you were to play them you’d take your own personal experiences away from them which may not be what I would, don’t you think?
[Read more…]

New Year’s Gaming Resolutions – Are They Worth It?

6th January 2008 by Simon Barker - Last Updated: 1st June 2019

new years resolutions list write cartoonNew Year’s Resolutions? Are they actually worth anything? I’m normally someone who believes that if you need an excuse like New Year to make a change, then it is probably doomed to failure.

That said, I’m not normally one for making them, but I’m thinking that it is perhaps time that I outlined some “general gaming objectives” that I’ve come up with over the past few months, since in recent years I’m having real problems with gaming, mostly around the “not finding the time to play” all the games that I buy!
[Read more…]

The History Of My Civilization Memories!

1st December 2007 by Simon Barker - Last Updated: 2nd November 2019

Civilization 1 Box Art - MicroproseBlog Banter is an idea from Hawty McBloggy where she gives a bunch of gaming-related blogs the same post title and a brief. We then all go away and write what it means to us – it sounds like a pretty cool idea, so here’s the first post of Blog Banter which is about Memorable Gaming Moments, from both past and more recent games.

I’ve already written about various gaming moments during the course of some of my previous posts such as Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe on Xbox Live, Ghostbusters 3 Game and Football Manager Demo, so I thought I’d approach it from a new angle this time around – from a series of games I’ve liked for around 17 years, namely Sid Meier’s classic Civilization games, where you must ‘Build an Empire to Stand the Test of Time’!
[Read more…]

Search Zath – UK Tech Blog

Follow Zath

  • 1,524Likes
  • 3,037Followers
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

Zath Reviews

  • LaCie Wireless Space Review
  • Mover Connect for Mac & Mover+ for iOS App Review
  • Startech Infosafe 4-bay eSATA RAID Enclosure Review
  • HTC Sensation XL With Beats Audio Review
  • Duracell MyGrid Wireless Charging Pad Review

Zath Features

  • The History Of My Civilization Memories!The History Of My Civilization Memories!
  • Video Game Cover Art – How Important Is It?Video Game Cover Art – How Important Is It?
  • What Does Playing Video Games Say About Me?What Does Playing Video Games Say About Me?
  • The Digital Nomad: Travelling With My Netbook & Public WiFiThe Digital Nomad: Travelling With My Netbook & Public WiFi
  • New Year’s Gaming Resolutions – Are They Worth It?New Year’s Gaming Resolutions – Are They Worth It?

Follow Zath – UK Tech Blog

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2021 Zath - UK Tech Blog - Technology & Gaming, Reviews & Features